Thursday

We got slightly more than we bargained for when I sent Pearl out to "get the ducks" out of the yard. She raced up the back (eventually - she did have a couple of false starts - she was expecting to do Fetch not Ducks) and managed to send the two ducks on their way - and it is at moments like these when a camera comes inn handy - because in the setting sun - they cast some glorious shadows against the backdrop of the stables - so it looked like there were four ducks in flight rather than two. Ah well. But as soon as she had despatched the ducks, and before she could come back to the house, she was dive-bombed by one of the plovers (nesting in Hermes' paddock) - and then the other. They didn't get her but it did seem very close and they each had a couple of goes before she was out of their "territory". Does this more protective behaviour mean there is something happening in the nest? I don't think I am going over to investigate - although if I were going to I could use the innovation as included on the bicycle helmet J at work was given recently by a mate when she started cycling - it had cable ties on it to scare away birds - although from the way J described it was more aptly described as cable ties held in formation by a helmet.

Meanwhile, out the front in swallow land, the hatchlings have grown and have literally flown the nest - but not very far. M noticed them sitting on the light out there the other morning and doing test flights. It doesn't take long for nature to do its stuff when you think about it.

M and I did make it to CSP this evening. For a moment there it looked as though F and Mi would join us, but in the end it was only F. Mi had spent the day helping a friend move and elected to stay in and have a rest rather than come in to The Big House. Which is just as well, because the tables were pretty disappointing this evening. But M and I had a good meal at Spinners - even having the "2 for 1" special thanks to our server - and I managed to get in a couple of laps of the Casino floor between games to boost my steps for the day. But will tomorrow be the day that my pedometer is subjected to a "spot check" or audit? Those taking part in the Foundation Pedometer Challenge received an email the other day saying that in the interest of fairness, they would be instituting spot checks and audits. Mind you I had wondered how some people were logging so many steps but we know (thanks V) that at least one of them is doing the steps - upwards of 50,000 a day (seems he is always walking) - so much so that he feels he is carrying his team - which is now in 1st place. We are in a respectable 6th.

M was in at the hospital again this afternoon and reports that M had a full body scan today. They are now just waiting on the results.