Cured & smoked

Woke up still feeling "under the weather", nothing specific just lacking any energy. Thought I would have to stay in bed but as Angie had her hands full getting ready for family visit, I managed to force myself to take the dogs for their morning walk. Set off in to the cool, grey and misty morning but as we came home after 90 minutes, the sun started to fight back and my spirits had picked up. Think I am cured. Flash seemed to thoroughly enjoy the walk, trotting ahead at a good speed.

Despite the ever increasing moments of sunshine it was still cool and even lit the wood fire. Lunch, coffee and cake, a beer and schnapps or two and lots of talking.

After the initial "meet & greet", Flash hid in the car, quite normal as he hates all the noise and movement. After visitors left in the evening, Angie took the dogs for a walk and again he was in good form but back home made a somewhat unhappy impression. On doing the nightly tick hunting session, Angie kept feeling lumps & bumps and trying to remember if they were normal. Could be we are reading too much in to it but will have to watch him tomorrow. On Tuesday the stitches come out so we will have him checked through. Unbelievably he is still not scratching or licking his wounds. Occasionally he starts to lift a leg to scratch but stops the second we say no.

Although we looked at Blip during the afternoon, I forgot to take any photos during the day so had no choice but to do a quick group photo as they were about to head homewards. Blip is of Angie, her sister Sigi and son Tobi with girlfiend Ramona, husband Gerhard and his mother.

They had brought lots of goodies: beer, bouganvillia, chocolates, homemade Tiramisu and sundry items of refuse Angie had told them to bring, including an old rotary washing line! A highlight was a Gerhard speciality, "Holledauer Geräuchertes" smoked meat from the area they live in, north of Munich and the hop growing center of Bavaria (also the worlds biggest hop growing area). Gerhard's mother told us about the times when a cut of smoked meat was a handy alternative payment method. Useful for getting one's children through school tests or even easing the pains felt by the driving licence tester when the clutch/accelerator footwork didn't quite coordinate.

Smoked meat is the basis of a breakfast prepared by Gerhard together with salamis, cheeses of various consistencies and smells, (lots of) fresh garlic cloves, spring onions, chili peppers, chives and dark bread all carefully cut with a sharp bone handled knife on a wooden plate. Initially washed down with a cup or two of freshly brewed coffee and if the session goes on long enough, perhaps a wheat beer to clean the palate. A feast.

Thanks guys for a pleasant day.

After clearing up, putting the horses to bed, Angie finally sat down and as is now becoming a daily habit, grabbed the notebook to look at the days photos. Then eventually wanted me to do her a collage as she couldn't decide. While I did this she started the animal tick session and got me involved holding down scratching cats and treating them with an anti tick fluid. While washing my hands, she grabs the notebook again and starts surfing in the Blip world and as it is with Blip, got more & more involved in other journals. Finally after a bit of commenting , she hands over notebook at about 1:00am with the words "all yours"! Grrrr.

So again I don't get to do any commenting and now slipping off to sleep with the all too common word....sorry! Hope all have a great Easter Monday, mine started a few hours ago.