Safe

Up early and a walk with the dogs at the lakes. Just as we were setting off, Toni aka "Bello", the most notorious of our village residents came by and pulled up for a chat. It is very rare to go for a walk without seeing him cruising around the area in his pick-up. Apart from having the hunting rights around our house (but not in the forest), he also has various fishing rights at the lakes and bits of land spread around.

Bello informed me that 100m further on the walk we would see signs forbidding dogs. And he was right. The parish council has put up signs on a stretch of the tarmacked road that goes past the lakes but has no direct contact with the water area at all. Bello reckons the council had been constantly barraged by complaints, I suspect from one elderly man who we encountered here recently. Angie was unloading the dogs for a walk while I drove on to the recycling yard and would pick her up on my return. Without any warning, he stopped his car next to ours, got out and let off a barrage of threats. We were totally taken back as there has never been any problem we were aware of and certainly no dog ban at that time . Understandably perhaps, there is a dog ban on one of the areas directly at the waters edge but not on a public road. 

I am still a bit confused as to exactly what the sign means (see extra photo). In due course will find out more. Our parish council is getting our villages a reputation as being "user unfriendly" with increasing bans on various activities and threats of fines in the local weekly information sheet they publish. A few more "pleas" to common sense would be more productive. The rubbish bin I erected months ago at the edge of a forest offering people the chance to throw in their rubbish rather than strew in on the footpaths has been 100% successful. Never had to empty it and there is no littering to be soon now.

On to the shop in Sontheim to stock up for family's arrival and then to the airport in the afternoon. A very quick passage through passport control which the Irish flights also have to endure due to the special relationship with the UK which nullifies the Schengen agreement.

Then with sun blazing down, 10 minute drive home and the grandchildren were in the pool. How on earth daughter Kate managed to pack the crocodile and the melon in to Ryanair compatible sized cases is beyond me. However they were both a great hit.

Between dips, Charlotte raided the kitchen - see extra photo - to fill up as Ryanair's free on board catering offering is not exactly overwhelming. Charlotte is a garlic pate fan and while not from her preferred  butcher of choice, it was OK until we can visit Ottobeuren. 

In the evening, the bikes were tested - see extra photo. Angie had sourced (for free) a further bike for Charlotte, in red and a bit more sporty with 18 gears instead of 3. So now we have 5 bikes, enough to accommodate all of them. Also tested the new helmets I had sourced with strict instructions from Kate as to size, colour, price......They were approved luckily.

Fabulous to have them here and looking forward to son J arriving on Thursday