Monday

Computer intervention! Not here thank goodness but up the road a bit at J's. I don't know how people can think they don't need up-to-date virus protection on their computer because without it viruses and malware can, will and do jump on to a computer and take up residence there - and some of them are quite sneaky - like the one on J's. It had told the computer not to let any anti-virus software run and if you didn't already have some virus protection on, it would not let you go to any website where you could download some. So, working from instructions on the internet, I was able to delete the registry entries that prevented open access to the net and all the virus protection it has to offer. By the time I left, a full scan of the computer was underway and was 7% complete with just over 11,000 infected files so far identified. But the good news is that there is now an anti-virus program installed on the computer and if this cleansing is successful, they may be able to avoid future infestations. So who is it that writes these viruses and why hasn't anyone tracked them down and had severe words with them?
Of course, that could also apply to Maggie who was halfway up the lane visiting Gundey the horse when I arrived home tonight. Thank goodness for headlights - they reflected in her eyes so I knew she was there and could encourage her to move in the direction of Latimers. She arrived home not long after I and very soon after, we were able to go in to lockdown: Pearl was almost on her bed, Beazley was up on the couch with M, Maggie with S, and Tink with me for a couple of minutes before she assumed the position on top of the Austar box.
S had made real chicken and vegetable soup for dinner which, by all accounts (that would be both S and M) was very nice indeed. Even though M ribbed her about it, the kitchen was not going to need too much cleaning up although the stove always does need a clean after anything has been cooked on it ... Ramen girl (this time M) to the rescue.
On my way home tonight quite a heavy mist hung over the valley near the river crossing and I found myself wondering why the mist never settles on Latimers proper. I would have thought we were just about at the same level - give or take a little bit - as that part of the road. And tonight it seems we were because there was a big patch of mist between L and M's and us. It never ceases to amaze how all you do with your lights on high beam in the fog is bounce the lights back at you.
The moon is still magnificent - way past full now - but still radiant and casting a lot of light - which is good because tonight (or is that tomorrow night) is the longest night of the year and ... if there were chickens at Latimers ... they would just about be ready to start laying again.