On Being a Film Star

It's been an exciting week this week for all of us: On Monday we left our permanent mooring just outside Chester. For Leelu, our collie dog, this meant leaving the large fields that he loves to run around chasing a ball or frisbee. 

He is happy on the canal boat now, lying down at the back near to where we steer, often looking out at the ducks and water going past.  Although there was a moment where he over enthusiastically jumped back on to the back of the boat after we had moored and slid...not far but enough for him to panic at the water getting closer.  He didn't go in though - phew!

We then travelled to North Wales where he learnt to be a crag dog.  We went to Castle Inn Quarry, near to Colwyn, which is a beautiful area with all different climbing grades available.  He would lie at the bottom of the crag in the shade we built out of our rucksacks and have a snooze whilst we did a climb, then we would have a little walk and he would chase the tennis ball, then we would do another climb in the sun. It was fabulous and there were lots of butterflies, collared doves and a sparrowhawk to watch.  A really peaceful spot in the sun.

We found a beach to cook up and eat our dinner at whilst watching the sun set over the sea then went for a lovely walk along the beach just as it was getting dark.

Thursday was the big day! We had volunteered to be filmed by Mountain Training for a promo film they are making to promote hill and mountain skills training. We had camped overnight in the van (the small one!) at Abergwngregyn and met the other 4 volunteers plus Nic and Rob who where doing the filming.  Leelu was so good and so patient but most impressively, although slightly puzzled by the filming drone that hovered around in front of him, didnt bark or anything like that, he just stayed put.  He also did an impressive jump easily clearing the stile we were going over. And then did it again so it could be viewed a second time from a different angle. So proud!

On a different scene, Jason, Leelu and I were sat in front of Aber falls being filmed and Leelu let go of the tennis ball...he still hasn't got the hang of this gravity thing...the ball disappeared over the edge but we couldnt move to get it as we were being filmed. He kept looking at where it had gone over the edge then back at us then at where it should have been...! Fortunately it had got caught up in the grass and not rolled all the way to the bottom so we managed to retrieve it fairly easily.

We finished up and went to Newborough Warren beach on Anglesey for a lovely long walk, paddle (not Leelu!!) and tennis ball throwing and chasing before going to stay with the lovely Sarah & Dave where Leelu got inordinate amounts of fuss and treats and we had a lovely chilled evening with a beer in hand watching the sun set over the skerries.  Thanks guys!

Photos below:
• Learning to be a crag dog
• Keeping in the shade at the crag
• Watching the filming drone
• Taking time out from filming
• Watching the sunset at the beach from the comfort  of his bed
• Running in a big field during filming
• On the beach at Newborough Warren

The Cows are back!

The clocks have changed, the birds are singing loudly in the hedgerows, everyone is awake a little bit earlier, the sun is shining more and there is heat in it, the grass is growing and the sound of lawnmowers are evident.

But where are the cows?

On the 1st April every year for the past few years at our permanent moorings, the cows have been let out from their barns, back into the fields, the large fields that are right next to the access track to our narrowboat.  They are normally out until around November, depending on the weather and the saturation of the fields.  This means that, for those precious months, puddles and ponds form on the clay based fields, the ducks move in to wander between the pools and this year we had a flock of redwings make their home there too.  It also means that Leelu has the whole area, more or less to himself, as long as we keep an eye out for others pesky, noisy, playful dogs - or anything else with 4 legs that might scare him!

The cows appeared on Monday - the 3rd of April - maybe they were having a relaxing final weekend indoors.  They are quite dirty from living in a confined area, the rain will soon clean them up.  This year they are a slightly older herd of heifers (young female cows) with a young bull amongst them too.  They are much braver than the first set of cows last year.  This herd have joyfully skipped and cantered their way around the 3 fields, exploring all of the edges of their new freedom.  They have wandered around after the ducks, gently blowing down their nostrils, trying to work out what the strange creatures are.  They are happily munching on the fresh lawn clippings some boat owners have tipped into the field for them...and they don't know what to make of Leelu yet: you see he is also black and white and can move more quickly than them - but wait, he chases around after an orange ball - what a strange calf he is!

Yes, the magical orange ball from 'chuck it' has been brought out again.  Whilst the grass has been short, tennis balls have been easy to see.  Now that the grass has grown, we can no longer see the tennis balls so the orange ball has come out again.  It is a much better ball - no fluffy bits, strong, easy to see - but expensive if you lose one (over £5 each!).  Look after it Leelu!

So back to walking in the bits of field that the cows aren't in and down the towpaths, now that they have dried up a bit.