Windy

Think today's fresh breeze was a "Föhn or Foehn Wind" coming from Italy over the Alps giving us spectacular views and pulling the mountains closer to us. Temperature rises and it is claimed by many to cause them headaches and various health problems.

May well explain why Flash had a nasty seizure/fit this morning when we were getting the horses in from a field. Although he can barely walk and is as good as totally deaf, when he sees what I am up to, he jumps in to 6th gear and sets off to do what he has done as a good Border Collie for the last 14 years. No point in shouting at him to stop, he can't hear you and even if he could, would probably ignore one. He knows best what is needed. Thankfully his 6th gear nowadays doesn't allow him to get close enough to do his famous "MOVE and NOW or I will nip you" threat.

As he headed back to the stables after mission accomplished, he shot up in the air and collapsed shaking. I jump on him, stroke and calm him and in under a minute he looks around wondering what on earth happened. Help him up and off he walks. We do often lock him away if we know there could be undue action and luckily he can't hear the horses hooves in the house. Today I hadn't reckoned on two stubborn mules who had spent the night on a fresh field and had no interest in more food of any kind. We have to feed them twice a day as Quarter Horse Rosie has to get large doses of vegetable oil as she requires a sugar and starch (grain) free diet and has to get her energy from something.

Then did a walk with the dogs and Flash was actually in "normal" form, slow and wobbly but enjoying raising his leg at every blade of grass that had been visited by his colleagues in the last week or so.

At this point that I took the photos of the Alps. The main photo was pure chance, the bird getting in the way. We are blessed with a huge population of birds of prey and the sight of them lifts my spirits except for certain species cruising above our chickens out on the horse fields.

In the extras a wide lens photo of the Alps where they look further away than in reality. But for the hill to the right, would have got them as far as Switzerland. These ones are partly the Allgaeuer Alps towards Oberstdorf on the right and the Zugspitze-Garmisch Partenkirchen to the left. I did try doing a 360° video panorama and although somewhat wobbly have posted it on my FB a/c for Friends to see.

Then in the afternoon had an amazingly good pre booked telephone appointment with the UK Govts Pension Wise service. Even though I had to wait weeks for an available date, they phoned to the minute they had quoted and a young (at least sounding) girl took me very tenderly by the hand and lead me through an hour of questions, answers, explanations and information giving. I was truly amazed at her human and technical knowledge and skills.

Sadly the automatic survey that one is linked to after the call did not like German telephone beep signals (1= delighted, 6=disappointed etc) and I was thrown out without giving them any feedback. However I did put finger to keyboard and sent off an email which I very much will give the amazing Rachel, the credit she is due. Thank you Rachel.