Sunshine and shadows

I decided to walk at Ockham Common today as I have not been there with Xena. They controversially installed a parking meter there last year which is unusual around here for a woodland walk. When I arrived there were a few cars parked, and a man playing bongo drums out of the boot of his car, as you do! No one was paying him any attention and maybe he just felt like he wanted to be at one with nature when playing his music. 

It was a good choice of a place to walk as it was sandy and not at all muddy. However, having wide, sandy paths and being in the middle of many farms and stables meant there were quite a few horse riders out today. Thankfully Xena came when I called her as a horse went by and she just sat next to me with me holding her on her collar, and she did not even bark at them.

There is also a large pine tree that has been decorated as a Christmas tree, which I think is a lovely thing to do - see extra. However it is very quiet with not many walkers and other dogs around, and I later found out that it is a known PSE (public sex environment) so I won't be going back there on my own again. Goodness, between dog thieves and dogging sites it is getting hard to choose somewhere safe to walk these days!!!

When Gavin fell asleep on the plane yesterday, unbeknown to him, his phone slipped under the seat and when he moved his seat back into position it crushed his phone. Actually he was not allowed to disembark on landing until a technician had come to retrieve his smashed phone, as it could have been a fire hazard due to the battery. Apparently it knocked out the electronic system. BA said this happens all the time. One wonders why they don't design their seats better. Gavin is very frustrated as he has a very busy and stressful two days in Chicago but cannot do anything without a phone so he had to try and sort something out and get a new phone as soon as possible.

Some extras of Xena, in loony mode
1. Where is it, someone said Australia is down here somewhere?
2. Landing gear going up, wings out and ready for take off