September 2012, Murphy's first fish!

I know, it's very remiss of me to leave blogging for so long but it's been a strange year full of change & I have been rather busy therefore I'm afraid this entry will be somewhat more pictures than narrative! We took Murphy back out to Sweden last September so he could enjoy some of the fruits of a Scandinavian Autumn - he rather took to the blueberries & especially fresh perch.

We had a trip north to Sveg where we saw a giant bear,

& Murphy decided that he was a very well mannered young gentleman & sat nicely at the table with his Mummy for his lunch at Hamra National Park!

There were plenty of Roe Deer about again wherever we went but this was the only photo we got this trip,

Daniel helped us with the last of the timber that fell in the winter storms, this time with Doris who, at the time was new to shafts but is now shaping up to be a fantastic horse,

Murphy had lots of fun with Ninja in the woods too,

We had a trip to Simmesjon both to fish & to Grillekorv with Daniel, Ewa, Tommy & Ylva. Daniel & I fished & I even got Daniel to try a float tube! We both caught - mainly perch although I did get one small trout which we grilled for Ewa.

 

Daniel's first float tubing expedition,

Murphy & Ninja enjoying a snack,

Murphy's first taste of Sushi,

& finally some atmospheric shots of Simmesjon in the evening!

 

 

 

 

June 2012 - kitchens, logs & Murphy!

Well folks I feel that I must apologise to my readers for not posting - I could say I've been busy but that would imply I've been working hard!!!!

June saw us in Sweden again with Murphy this time & lots of work to do following a winter storm. We were joined by my Mum & Dad for a fortnight & they helped us with our chores & of course Dad sign-wrote Daniel's vans!

 

 

Not long after we arrived we visited Nordvik agricultural college where Daniel learnt his craft as a farrier

 

 

and we also helped him driving a prom!

 

 

Our first job was to install Sarah's new kitchen - with lots of help from Tommy & Ewa who performed the opening ceremony

 

 

we also jacked up a corner of the cabin to try & level it a bit!

 

 

The big job of the summer was to clear a number of trees that had been felled by the wind in a storm the previous winter. Sarah bought me a chainsaw

 

  

& with Dad's help stacking & tending the fire for the brashings
 

we were able to get everything ready for the "horsepower"!

 

And here's Sarah moving logs with Lilleman!!!!

 

 

Ewa, Tommy & Daniel invited us to join them for Grillekorv at a local lake

 

 

& they took us all out for an evening to try & spot bears - as you can see we did see one!

 

 

 Ewa & Daniel also took us to Faboden, a summer farm that opens it's gates to the public

Mum, Dad, Sarah & me had a day at the coast. We stopped for a picnic at a shelter in the forest on the way but didn't stay long - the insects were eating us alive!

Daniel decorated the carriage for Midsummer & took us for a trip around the village although first Sarah had to wash Fia in our garden!

 

One of the things I did with the some of the timber that blew down in the storm was to make some log seats to go around our camp-fire. We got some foam mats (there are some places you DON'T want splinters) & invited Ewa, Tommy & Daniel to a "cowboy cook-out" to christen them!

Sarah started to get Murphy used to "Nice Beaver", I had to push & steady the canoe. I think next year he'll be OK & we'll be off for some overnight trips in the canoe!

I did get one afternoon's fishing at Simmesjon on my own - no fish but a gratuitous pic of my tricked out Sparton float tube!

 



BTS National Trombone festival

I know, another sad old git event, but I had a blast rubbing shoulders with some of Europe's top trombonists!

This was the trombone choir on the saturday - recognise the short, fat, bald one in the middle?

And here's the three Don Lusher finalists performing with "Bone Fracture"

Murphy's Birthday!!!!!!!

Happy birthday Murphy!

007......another gig!

The "James Bond Experience"

Another great evening with the Beeston Big Band helping the Notts/Derbys Inner Wheel raise money for Arthritis Research. The band was swinging & Steve & Vicky's singing was amazing as ever!

Artemis Archers

I've recently joined a new field archery club in Belper that offers everything I want in a club - great woods, a warm welcome & a opportunity to shoot with my Dad (& nephew when he visits)!

Here's my Dad taking a shot!



Say hello to.........Murphy!

Life just wasn't the same after we lost Rolo in January, the house felt cold & empty & I don't think either Mrs Labrador or myself smiled until we met.........

Murphy!

He was recommended to us by Helen at Wagtails (check them out if you need a sniffer dog) after he failed an assessment with them and was due to be returned to the Blue Cross in Bromsgrove - where we met him. He'd been rescued from a life as a stray in Southern Ireland.

He's great & has made us all smile again!