The House Husband

It’s not exactly what you’d describe as the most evenly matched battle but then it wasn’t a match suggested by the swans. I’m pretty sure it was all Carmen’s idea and even Day-z was along for the ride.

Carmen telling the swan how she intends to eat it

Clearly smarter than a poodle, the swan stayed in deeper water and just laughed. Actually it hissed and lifted up out of the water, menacingly.

Be off with you, silly black fluffy things

We yelled at the dogs to get out of the water but they just wanted to eat the swan. And then a second one turned up looking even tougher than the first. The poodles decided that retreat was the safer option.

In fact there was quite a lot of bird activity on Frensham Little Pond this afternoon. A huge flock of seagulls, two big swans, some moor hens (as opposed to some more hens) and a crow…which I managed to capture taking off, albeit away from me.

I'm out of here, buddy

There was also a lot of people there. Always the way – nice weather, Sunday, hordes of out-of-towners enjoying our ponds. To be fair, most of them were friendly (not the usual surly London brigade) and there weren’t any when we left the immediate environs surrounding the pond. In fact, Mirinda commented on how that’s one of the reasons she wants a house in the ‘country’ to come home to weekends – because we can go for a walk and not see another person for large sections of it.

For me, it just proves that city folk are scared of trees and the isolation a whole wood full can bring…ironically. For this reason, the tend to congregate around bodies of water with sand, both of which keep the nasty woody things back a bit.

City folk observing what real country people are like in the wild

Actually it wasn’t that bad today (though crowded) and, on the whole, people smiled, said hello and had dogs. That’s always a good sign. The dogs especially.

We left the house quite late so the light wasn’t all that good for most of our walk. I did manage to get this rather arty shot across the pond as the sun was sinking beyond the horizon. I haven’t manipulated the picture at all – this is exactly as it came out of the camera.

The sun sitting low in the sky over the reed beds at Frensham

And, basically, that was our Sunday. Glorious.

This morning we were sitting on the newly cleaned patio furniture that Carmen had decided to decorate with her paw prints, when Mirinda said, “Let’s go to Frensham.” This set poodle hearts a-racing. Mirinda went upstairs to change while I slowly prepared things downstairs.

Although I tried to time it a lot better, the puppies and I were ready heaps quicker and were sat in Sidney waiting. Every time there was movement from inside the house, two little heads would turn in that direction from the back seat.

Carmen & Day-z waiting (im)patiently for Mirinda

Eventually we set off.

We love walking around Frensham Pond. Not quite as much as Hankley but it’s a close run thing. One of the things I’m not that keen on at Frensham is its popularity. There is always too many cars parked there. Today, for the second time in a row, we were forced to use the second car park while we much prefer the first.

I’m not just being churlish about this. Logically, the more cars there are, the more people. It’s crowds I’m not keen on. Fortunately today they all seem to have been down by the water’s edge, upsetting the fishermen because we didn’t see any hordes.

We did see a few dogs however and the poodles were totally embarrassing, as they generally are with other dogs. But not this time, the swans, who managed to glide around without attracting undue attention from Carmen Swanchaser. A family were actually feeding the two swans and two ducks from the wall that Carmen leapt from last time we came to Frensham so perhaps that’s why.

Ducks and swans at Frensham

We had a lovely walk; even the burnt bits looked lovely today. And, most importantly, the gorse has started to bloom. Ah, spring is sprung.

Last May (the 18th to be precise) I took the bus out to Frensham kennels to pick the dogs and then made the long walk home. Well, I did it again today. While the day started grey, I had been promised by the BBC that it was going to all go away by mid morning, so I set off, full of the joys of spring. And the BBC did not disappoint. The day turned out beautiful, cloudless and cold. Perfect for a long walk.

Frensham looked lovely (regardless of the fire damage that is slowly growing back) as we crossed the road and headed towards the Little Pond.

Up the hill to Frensham Little Pond

The day was alive with the sounds of birds and the distant (which quickly grew closer as we approached) clackle of chainsaws as forestry people work to strip away the dead trees. A few people were out walking their dogs and the poodles ignored all of them, being intent on keeping an eye on me in case I left them again.

Particularly Carmen, who, every now and then, would jump up at me. I guess she was making sure she wasn’t dreaming. I think she hates having to be in charge (a role she takes on if Mirinda and I aren’t around) and is just completely relieved to not have to think any more. Maybe she’s trying to tell me that Day-z was disobedient. Or perhaps she’s telling me about their holiday at the kennel. Whatever it is, neither of them were going very far from me.

We were going to stop off at the Barley Mow in Tilford for a beer (like last time) but it was closed, so we sat on the banks of the river and looked at the bridge without a beer for a ten minute rest. Not that the poodles actually rested. I am constantly amazed at their stamina. Any normal dog would have a lay down after a long hike but not our two. They are like the Duracell bunny. Without the pink fur.

One of the two Tilford bridges

After almost constant nagging, we set off again, crossing the bridge, just in time to walk passed a young girl with a black lab. She was walking the same way as us and the only reason I passed her at the beginning of the footpath was because the lab was interested in sniffing at something on the footpath post. Then, for the next half mile, amid the sounds of nature, all I could hear was her side of a conversation with her boyfriend (I assume) as she walked and talked on her phone.

We soon managed to lose her and were once more left alone with the birds, distant cars and planes flying overhead. In fact, after her we saw a guy with one of those really ugly dogs and that was it for ages. The next people we saw were at Moor Park, which they are still working on. And then we met Archie.

Archie looked like a knitted dog. He was quite obviously still a puppy with lots of bouncy energy. He very clearly wanted to play with the poodles, who weren’t having a bar of his boisterous playfulness. He was about the size of a standard poodle and jumped and ran all over the place. His owner and her son tried to get him to return to the house but he was intent on being naughty and nothing was going to stop him.

A few times we had to stop and try and grab him – the girls were excellent bait to attract him – but he was wily and managed to avoid all of us. The woman explained that he had already been for a long walk and there was no need for all the running about. As she explained this, she interjected with various versions of ‘Archie’ ranging from begging to respect-my-authority tones. Eventually the kid (a good deal smaller than Archie) managed to grab him and we parted, the poodles very glad. I liked Archie but he could do with a bit of basic training! Like his own name, for a start.

As we drew closer to the Shepherd & Flock roundabout, I spotted this pair of horses in a paddock, obviously enjoying the sun. The one on the ground is not dead…just resting. I saw it blink a number of times.

Horses enjoying the day for a change

Rather than risk the horrid traffic of the roundabouts, I was prepared to walk along the road footpath and cut up through the hospital but then found a footpath! It runs up the side of the antiques centre on the corner and connects the two roads, coming out opposite the 6 Bells pub. When I think about the awful time we had when we went via the main road in May, I could kick myself. This was much nicer. And it only slightly brushes against the council estate.

We arrived home at 2:30 and, starving, had lunch. It was then into the garden for some serious weeding (with a break to chat with Mirinda) and partial dismantling of the cairn. I stopped when I disturbed a small frog who had taken up residence among the rocks. Normally I’d just pick him up and move him but Carmen shows an unnatural interest in frogs so, as she was sitting not far away, watching me intently (in case I was planning an escape through a tunnel) I left the remainder of the cairn for tomorrow when, hopefully he’ll either have re-homed himself or Carmen will be busy elsewhere.

I know I’m going to ache tomorrow but I feel nicely exercised and particularly lifted after a hot shower. A great day.

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Last night, Nicktor & I watched Animal Kingdom, an Australian film starring Jackie Weaver, Guy Pearce and Ben Mendelsohn (amazingly evil) along with some very talented actors I’ve not heard of before. I watched it after Joanne’s recommendation when we met in Brisbane last year. It was fantastic. Nicktor loved it as well. So, thanks Jo, it was an excellent choice. xx

And, for the record, Aldershot played rubbish football last night, drawing 1-1 with Gillingham. We have another match next Tuesday so maybe I’ll be able to write something about that one because last night was just RUBBISH!

Almost at the end of our walk around Frensham Little Pond today, Carmen decided to jump into the pond, off a high brick wall, in order to attack a pair of full size swans who were placidly wading around. When Carmen realised that the water was actually quite deep not very far from shore, she decided to turn back. Here she is heading back, as the swans realise that she is more a fish out of water than a dangerous hunting dog out for swan neck.

Carmen chased by swans

During our walk, the weather was lovely but it hadn’t been like that for most of the day. The morning was quite miserable! Well, except for the fact that it didn’t rain. It was still miserable though. In fact, because I had to go to the post office and I forgot it doesn’t open until 9am on a Saturday, I was forced to go for a wander while I waited the half an hour I was early. I generally have my camera with me so I snapped shots around the church.

St Andrew's, Farnham

Sadly, because it was so grey and gloomy, the photos all lacked any life and have since been deleted. I did manage one for my blip and the church above but otherwise…like I said, it was miserable.

But that all changed after lunch when the clouds decided to venture to other points of the compass, leaving the sky blue and crisp and the sun shining brightly. We took immediate advantage of it and headed for Frensham.

It’s the first time since the fire that I’ve been up to the ridge where the bronze age burial mounds are and, what once were mere marks on a map and covered in gorse on the hill are now vivid mounds proclaiming the strength and power of their inhabitants. As they should. OK, I’m not keen on the fire and, obviously, it was an awful thing but the mounds have reclaimed their power over the countryside. That I really like.

In the bronze age, men and women of power were buried high on hills for everyone to see. Far off tribes would approach and, in viewing the long line of dead ancestors high up in often inaccessible places, would possibly turn around and go home again. These human-made mounds were symbols of strength and wealth and everything important for a tribe to grow. They are now, once again, how they should be.

The mounds aside, we took the long walk through the mud woods and down to the back of the pond, finally walking the circumference, back to the car. Exhilarating.

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Congratulations to Claire who has been sent home! I knew you could do it.

Frensham Little Pond

Last August, there was a huge fire at Frensham Ponds. I briefly mentioned it in a blog entry. We haven’t really been back many times since to see what has been happening. Today we decided to give it a try. We were not alone!

Where we normally park was full up as was the bigger car park just along the road. We were forced to park up the top, on the side of the road. I have never seen it so busy. And it wasn’t like it was a nice day, either. The sun generally brings the townies out in droves. It was grey and grim and definitely more locals-with-dogs weather.

It was also not early or around lunchtime, the usually bad times. It was 2:30, generally time for the townies to go home.

Of course, January 23 is the feast day of Saint Maimbod so maybe they were all out celebrating him. Though not all of them had gloves that I could tell and none were blind. Mind you, the old ways of saint feasting are slowly dying out so it could just as easily been Saint Maimbod festivities.

Whatever the reason, Frensham Little Pond was quite the hustle and bustle today. A fair sprinkling of ‘greeters’ and just as many ‘miseries’ and many vigorous dogs to freak out the poodles.

There are signs everywhere explaining how the land is being managed in order to repair the damage created by the fire last year. There is also a warning about heavy machinery. I spotted this as we walked around and thought it would make a great blip (I decided on some fungus instead):

Heavy machinery at Frensham Little Pond

I think Bob would be hard pressed recognising it, even though he walked around it every day last time they stayed at the cottage. Speaking of Bob and, naturally, Claire, I thought I’d better let everyone (by which I mean the two people who read my blog) know how Claire is doing.

VERY WELL! This past week she managed to stand up from a chair unaided and the trachie was removed (she started talking instantly). Yesterday she had a whole flood of visitors because it was her birthday, which tired her out a bit, but she enjoyed them all, particularly the three nurses who sang Happy Birthday “…like angels“.

Though she can’t see it, I’ve taken my hat off. She is showing an amazing resilience and determination to get herself up and out of bed. Obviously she wants to get out of the hospital and she wants it YESTERDAY! Go Claire!

Last Sunday I wrote about how lovely Hankley was even while temporarily in the grip of a war zone. On Thursday, the headlines in the local paper screamed out the news that 90 acres of the heathland had been devastated by fire. A few weeks ago, a similar fire left most of Frensham looking like the Australian bush after a summer fire. We feared the worst.

It took 12 fire crews the best part of a day to put the fire out but they valiantly managed to keep the fire within a relatively small area. As we walked towards the Lion’s Mouth, we could see a strip of black, cutting a harsh swathe across the top of the small valley we walk up. When we reached it, the smell was awful and the landscape alien.

You don’t realise what the ground looks like when it’s covered with vegetation but now you can see the pockmarks, dips and whorls in the ground.

As we reached the look out point we looked down on the dead land. The bowl where the army guy had yelled at us last week was black – the soldiers would have to wear black camouflage as the green would really stand out! It wasn’t as extensive as the fire at Frensham, which is something to be grateful for.

Apparently the Frensham fire was started by some moron lighting a camp fire. While the fire service is still investigating, preliminary thoughts are that the Hankley fire was started by some idiot burning a car. Clearly there are people who don’t care about beauty, wishing to destroy it. They must have very sad lives indeed. I am SO glad I’m not one of them.

I’ve patched together two photos to give a rough idea of the extent. This is the view from the hill we regularly stand on.

Hankley - the bowl after the fire

On a happier note, dinner at the Pride of the Valley was very nice last night. Not quite on the level of St Johns (although they do very good desserts) but still lovely.

If I ignore the grapes mushed up in the middle of the creme brulee, I would give it easily 9/10 – better than mine. Sadly, I couldn’t ignore the mushed up grapes so it gets just 6/10.

They have regular dinner and jazz nights so we may go again for one of those.

What a lovely weekend we had! First the Chawton visit on Saturday then a lovely relaxed day at home with the garden and the puppies. We rounded it off with a very long walk around Frensham Little Pond yesterday, visiting late in order to avoid the sun a bit. As it turned out, we could have left it later as it was still hot.

On the way home we stopped in at The Barley Mow at Tilford for an icy cold beer (yes, I had a lager) and a cider, enjoying them in the gorgeous countryside that surrounds the beer garden. The cricket match had just finished on the green and the spectators were lined up on the benches outside the pub, beers in hand. It was idyllic.

Before we left, we popped down to the fence to have a look at the river that I claimed wasn’t there. On a small island made from bits of mud and foliage, were huddled a family of ducklings. Mum wasn’t far away, keeping an eye out as her brood squished up together on their tiny bit of land. It was so cute, I had to take a photo.

Huddling ducklings behind the Barley Mow, Tilford

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We watched two films this weekend which I want to share. On Saturday night we saw Avatar. I tend not to believe the hype around big blockbuster movies. I wait to see them myself and judge then. If anything I’m turned off by something that claims to have cost extraordinary amounts of money and to be the biggest selling movie of all time. Especially when I’ve seen some wonderful films that cost very little. However, I thought Avatar was brilliant. At 2 hours 40 minutes, it’s long but not once did it falter. The story is engaging, the acting superb, the special effects…well, they are so incredible I thought it all looked real. You forget you are watching CGI. The Na’vi are so real, so utterly convincing, that you feel their pain and their love for their planet. A masterpiece of cinema. I couldn’t fault it at all. I particularly liked the Na’vi Rough Guide! Cute.

Last night we watched a very different movie. We watched Did You Hear About the Morgans?. It, honestly, could not be more different. It stars Sarah Jessica Parker (who I normally can’t stand) and Hugh Grant and is a RomCom. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from the two assistants, I thought it was very witty with Parker and Grant playing well off each other. The two second leads (Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen) were wonderful and shone a little brighter. If you like a RomCom, you’ll like this a lot. Even if you don’t like Sarah Jessica Parker!

The poodles woke me at 6am, damn them! This meant that by 4pm I was ready for bed. I was also not feeling too well so that may have had something to do with it.

We had a day at home today; a bit of gardening, some study, some sleep. The weather wasn’t too hot and the clouds kept hiding the sun. I planted the remaining snapdragons then started digging the hole for the green cone while Mirinda pottered about between reading articles for her degree.

At about 3 we popped up to the garden centre for some sweet peas. WE FOUND SOME! Yay, finally we can see them growing up the obelisks. We also bought a few other plants and a couple of strange tools that Mirinda insists we need.

I gradually felt worse as we approached home so I went to bed while Mirinda took the poodles up to Frensham. I was asleep about four minutes before I closed my eyes and put my head on the pillow.

I woke at 6:30 feeling a lot better, though the cough is still driving me mad. Tonight we watched Midsomer Murders, which is always a cack. A bonus in this episode as Cally was in it!

I picked the poodles up from Frensham Kennels today. I caught the bus out to the ponds, walked to the kennels and then we started the long trek home. It took us over 3 hours! After a short wander around, to make sure everything was as it should be, they both crashed and refuse to move while I ate my lunch.

It was a lovely walk. We went along the edge of Frensham Little Pond and then through to Tilford where we stopped for a beer at the Barley Mow. How idealic. Sitting in the beer garden, overlooking fields, poodles treading all over me as I sipped a pint of Old Hookey. The sun was out but every now and then would have clouds scuttering across it, cooling everything down.

We walked along the Moor Park Nature Reserve which was lovely. The path is part of the Greensand Way, which starts in Haslemere and is woodland on one side and open fields full of wildlife on the other.

We stopped and checked out Mother Ludlam’s Cave. Well, as far as you can. There’s a massive great locked iron gate in the front of it. She was, apparently, a witch who lived in the cave and doled out herbs and potions. She was a white witch but, clearly, mad. There are many legends associated with her. Interestingly, the name, Ludlam, could have a number of sources but the most common is that it is of Celtic origin. Either after Ludd, the founder of London, Lud a healing god or Ludwell which means ‘bubbling spring’. Whatever the history, the spring is still there, bubbling out of the cave. The poodles had a big drink from it. Anyway, here’s the cave as it looks now.

Mother Ludlam's Cave, Moor Park

Apparently in earlier, Victorian days, it was a big tourist spot. It had a little picket fence around it and was furnished. Going back to Mother Ludlam, one legend claims she would loan out cooking utensils (don’t ask me why) and one day she lent someone her biggest and bestest brass cauldron. It was never returned and eventually ended up in Frensham church. You can see it there today, though the church people claim it was a bowl used for brewing church ale.

The oddest part of our walk (ignoring the pig that looked dead) was when we reached the Shepherd and Flock roundabout. There are claims that it is the biggest settled roundabout in Europe. It has a big pub and a number of houses on it as well as a heavily wooded area. It’s like a little village. Well, the path I was following went under the road and straight into a little lane of, what looked like worker’s cottages (Victorian and possibly used by the original railway workers) and a Tudor farm house. The lane is quite low so any casual walker would have no idea they had suddenly set foot on a busy roundabout – if they were deaf. As you walk up the lane and the pub hoves into view, the traffic becomes visible and you realise, with horror, there are cars constantly whizzing by.

We finally reached the house and I made myself a late lunch and much needed coffee. I figured the poodles would just stay, flaked out on the floor. Silly me! They had a brief rest with me then ran around like idiots, playing with Day-z’s toys. They have a hell of a lot more energy than me! I stayed collapsed.

An odd day today. First of all I had to take the puppies to Frensham Kennels. It had occurred to me to walk there. It’s only 5.5 miles but the first 2 miles is along busy roads which I wasn’t that keen on. So, instead, I ordered a taxi to take us all to Frensham Little Pond. The taxi driver told me how he’s been given leave to live and work in Australia but is waiting for the dollar to pound exchange rate to improve. His dog died in January but it had lived to 16 and had a lovely life running all over Frensham.

It was lovely today. The sky so blue, the temperature warm. The puppies loved it. It’s the first time I’ve been there alone as Mirinda usually drives. I walked around the pond and up to the bronze age burial mounds. Took some photos then kept walking along the ridge.

Frensham Kennels is by the big pond so I was heading, roughly, in that direction. Halfway down the hill I found a memorial I’d never seen before. It’s sat alone on the hill side, over looking the big pond. It reads:

“Frensham Common was bequeathed to the National Trust by WA Robertson in memory of his brothers Norman Cairns Robertson, Cptn, 2nd Batt, Hampshire Regiment who died 20th June 1917 at Hanover, Germany and of Laurance Grant Robertson, 2nd Lieut, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who was killed in action in France during the battle of the Somme, in or near Delville Wood on 30th July 1916.”

I didn’t know that. I thought Frensham Ponds was always owned by the Bishop of Winchester. Maybe it was sold off by the crown after the dissolution. Anyway, it’s a striking monument, all lychen covered and stark.

From the memorial, it’s just a short stroll down to the main road, across it and along the rim of the big pond. I arrived at the kennel and the puppies were not happy about being fooled. They enjoyed the walk so much, I don’t think they knew where we were going until it was too late. Day-z was happy enough to go but Carmen kept looking at me as if to say “Don’t leave me here. Please?”

Too bad, Carmy, I said, and left. I had decided to get a bus back so I walked back to the middle of the road between the ponds and waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually a bus appeared and I made my way back into Farnham.

I forgot to mention that the other day I was in Starbucks and one of the Baristas knew my name. I don’t know how. She said, as she started to prepare my usual “Are you drinking in today, Gary?” I just said yes, automatically. A little later it struck me that she knew my name. Freaky.

And finally back to a very quiet house. It’s odd when the puppies aren’t here. I keep expecting them to bark or jump on me or lick me and it never happens. I miss them. Though I did get to have all the roast beef on my rolls for lunch rather than sharing with them.

After lunch, I mowed the lawn…again. Damned thing. Just keeps growing. It’s always that first mow. Once you start…

I had an email from mum this morning asking if I could strip the sound off a video she’d sent me of dad (and others) singing and burn it onto a CD. It took me most of the afternoon and evening but I managed it. I amaze myself sometimes.

I haven’t heard from my dear wife today so I have to assume she’s having too good a time without me. I’ll see her tomorrow and give her a piece of my mind!