Alert

It's a while since Gus had a blip all to himself. Look closely and you will notice that he is not looking at me, but past my left shoulder at his surrogate sheep Rowan who was trying to lift a large log. The two collie friends were reunited today for a walk over Hampsfell, the first time they'd seen each other since not long after we came back from Raasay at the end of June. It was the first time I had seen Sue in that time too. Rowan the reprobate is shown in the extra, minus the log.

After a lot of running, Gus is very tired tonight. He is an older dog now, and not so quick and nimble as Rowan. He struggled with the stiles over the high walls, and we had to lift him over the wooden ladder stile. And he's put on a bit of weight this year. Part of that may be down to getting older, but part is that we have finally found the diet that suits him. He doesn't have the frequent tummy upsets any more, and his nose is black and shiny again after a couple of years when it was quite dry.

It was a bright morning after three days of cloud and rain, though when we got to the top of the Fell, we could see another heavy shower coming in across the Bay from the Irish Sea. We didn't have our waterproofs. It was worth getting wet though to see Sue and Rowan again. I've missed them throughout the months of isolation, it is so good to be getting out and about and seeing friends again.