We woke up Monday morning to a thin layer of snow.
I really would have loved a thicker covering of snow. At best we had one and a half centimetres. Not deep at all. It’s been at least fifteen years since our part of the fens has had anything worth describing as snow. Which firmly puts it into the twilight years of the wolf pack.
As far as I know this is the first time Diogo has experienced snow.
Diogo’s first experience of the snow was in our back yard. At first he found it a bit odd. But the fresh snow fall passed the lick test.
Moon still in the sky
It was funny throughout the day when out in the backyard that not only would he lick the snow but he got snow on his face.
I think it’s fair to say he enjoyed his first experience of snow.
This post is going to be less poor writing and more just a photo dump from the walks that we have had the last few days. Or as I like to think of it the start of Diego’s training to build him up to the much longer walks.
Our walk round the rugby and cricket fields (New Years Day)Our walk at South Holland Main Drain (Friday 2/1)
The South Holland Main Drain walk will always be associated with Nico. As we walked along the bank of the drain I couldn’t help remembering the sight of Nico sprinting for his dear life towards me as a flying pheasant seemed to be chasing him. Other times on this walk Nico would go missing in the wheat fields looking for who knows what. Making our walk much longer than it had to be as Strider and I looked for him.
Once back it looked like Diogo had the limp returning. So I made the decision to make Saturday a “rest day”.
Newton and North Level Main Drain (Sunday 4/1)
As you can see we’ve had the cold spell but no snow. Which is kinda disappointing. I’d like a good snow fall.
As of yesterday the UK rules for owning and flying a drone in the UK changed.
Previously I only required an operators id to fly my Dji Mini 4 pro because it came in at 249g. Getting an operators id wasn’t hard as long as you had the pennies to pay for it you could get it. The only hassle about it, if you can call it that, is it needs renewing each year. The operators id needs displaying somewhere on the drone itself.
As of yesterday to fly my drone I needed to also have a flyer id. To get a flyer id you need to take a forty question multiple choice test. Which is free to take, and you can take as many times as you like until you get a pass (which is 30 out 40 questions right). This flyer id is valid for five years.
So on New Year’s Eve I took the online test and passed first time (34/40). It’s not as impressive as it sounds. You can refer to the drone code as it’s called during the test. In fact they actively encourage it. One thing I did like at the end was for the ones you got wrong it gives the correct answer.
I will also need from the start of 2028 make sure that my drone transmits a remote id. Technically drones transmitting a remote id kicks in from yesterday too. However “legacy” drones have a transition period before they have to. My drone falls into this “legacy” area.
I’ve looked into if my drone can be upgraded in some way to do this and the answer is technically yes. It can do it now if I use the enhanced batteries with it. Which I think I may have.
Another new requirement as of yesterday is if flying at night the drone has to have a flashing green light on it. Which I believe mine has but when using the camera it may switch off. I need to investigate this more.
I haven’t done much with my drone. But I want to. And the plan is to. Like my Dji action 4 camera I want to do more with them. However I’m not sure how I’m going to use them because I want to avoid using, or falling back on the tropes and cliches currently in vogue with outdoor videos. I’ll leave my subconscious to ponder that one for me in the background.
Well it’s a new year but to get here every pet owner and pet has to go through the same gauntlet.
Despite the many pleas on social media in the run up to the new year for others to consider how stressful fireworks are for the animal kingdom. There still seems to be those that think letting off enough ordnance to put the illegal airstrike of a sovereign nations nuclear program to shame is justified in celebrating the passing of the old and the start of the new.
This would be Diogo’s first time experiencing such explosive celebrations. How would he handle it.
I’ve been lucky in the past. The wolf pack were not bothered at all by the loud explosions. Which was handy when we were living in Crook because we were living next to the towns cricket ground where we found out they held the annual fireworks display.
Nico and Loki have been ok as well with fireworks. And Dolly has been as well.
I think the secret is not to get stressed out by the fireworks yourself. I think the furballs pick up on this. So being calm and not reacting helps them.
Mums dogs Ebony and Toby were always getting stressed out by fireworks. Which I think they picked up from mum. She got stressed that they were going to be stressed. It was a self fulfilling prophecy.
Last night Diogo was in his bed when the first explosions of the night started going off. All he did was get on the bed and cuddle up next to me. As did Loki and Dolly. I was literally pinned on the bed by them cuddled up next to me.
They weren’t stressed, worried or under any duress. Just content cuddled up next to me.
I was really proud how all three handled the fireworks. I’ll take doggy cuddles any day of the week.
This morning on our walk there was very little evidence of last nights explosive celebrations. Usually the remains of some expensive fireworks display in a box type thing are left next to the dog bins or in the middle of the grass. All I saw this morning was the remains of a sparkler and a couple of rockets. I know times are hard for lots of people and this is just a tiny example of where people are making cuts.
All of us at whitespider1066 towers would like to wish everyone a happy new year.
With world events as they currently are who knows what lies ahead of us in the coming year. But whatever happens we hope you stay safe and in good health.
Today Dolly and I introduced Diogo to the fenland landscape.
We went to just out side of Newton in the Isle for a walk I used to do regularly with the wolf pack. This one saw us doing a there and back to the North Level Main Drain. It ended up being about 1.5 miles in total.
This is the furthest Diogo has been on a walk since arriving in the UK.
Although the sun was out there was still a bit of a chill.
While Dolly was off the lead, a trust she has learnt. Diogo has not got to that point yet and was kept on his lead. He did get a bit longer on it than normal because I used Dolly’s lead as an extension.
Although I did my best to avoid other dogs, and the inevitable barking in excitement from Diogo. I wasn’t 100 percent able to avoid that situation though.
But I am trying to get to a point using calming dog treats (I’m very sceptical about these but time will tell). I’ve also contacted a dog trainer but had no reply yet. But then again it is the Christmas period and they could be taking the time off. I’ll give them until middle of next week before looking for another.
In the meantime Dolly and I need to build Diogo up so he can do the longer walks.
It’s that time of year once again where I bore you with the stats for the year.
This year despite one or two poor months I’ve surprisingly played more games than last year, yet had less plays! I’ve also played more new to me games.
I’ve said in a previous post this year seems to be the return of some old favourites such as Netrunner and Ashes. Which I’m glad I’ve done. I’ve really enjoyed playing these games again.
My GOTY…
I think this is probably the easiest year since I started doing this for choosing my game of the year.
As you can see from below I’ve played 84 new games (to me) this year. And there have been some crackers.
But before I share with you my GOTY I think a few honourable mentions need to be made. Any other time these games would be worthy winners.
Honourable mentions: Battle of Hoth, War, Furnace, Tir na nog, Vantage, Rebirth
Ok and now onto my GOTY. Which I think you could guess easily.
My GOTY is…
Rebel Princess.
This is such an amazing trick taking game.
It became a group favourite after the first play. It’s quick to teach. The variety from the princesses and round cards makes each game feel unique.
We have had so many moments and laughs playing this game.
This post is a couple of days late. However it doesn’t change the fact that a year ago on the 27th of December I drove down to the Farnborough area to meet Dolly’s owner.
I’d been warned before hand that if I things went well with the owner I’d be returning home with Dolly.
We met at a friends house. Dolly wouldn’t stop barking at me. I think more protective of her owner. It wasn’t until Dolly and I were given some alone time that we started to bond.
We had a nightmare return journey.
But Dolly settled in so fast with Nico and Loki. Even got on with Ramsey the cat.
I can’t believe Dolly has only been with us a year.
We did a charity walk together for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. The both of us have a great time when we are able to get out on longer walks.
She is such an amazing dog. She is beautiful, such a character, you can see what she is thinking on her face, has the cutest yawn. Although her barking at the tv when animals or scrolling text are on it can be a bit annoying. But I’ve never had a dog that watches tv before.
There is one last opportunity for some games to be played before the year is over. Hopefully that will work out. Then it’s a couple of boring stats posts and we are in the new year.
I did give away my Pokemon Splendor yesterday. My step sisters son is a Pokémon fan. He collects the cards but doesn’t play. So I decided to let him have my copy of the game.
My Christmas viewing, apart from YouTube has been a rewatch of season 1 of Arrow. Which has been fun watching these earlier, almost darker episodes again.
Diogo update
I’d say Diogo is now 98% back to full use of the leg.
I do notice a brief limp after he has been resting for a while.
Now to build him up to doing a longer walk.
I do have a new brew kit in the works. It will work with any stove. Well 99% of them that aren’t like a Jetboil type stove. It won’t be the lightest but it will be flexible.
Having a brew stop while out on the longer walks is something I really enjoy. It’s something I need to introduce Diogo to. Unlike Dolly who will have a bit more freedom while we stop. Diogo will be on his leash. Until he learns or should I say earns the trust to be off it. Which at the moment won’t be for a while.
I do need to look into training for the both of us. We need to correct Diego’s barking while excited. Whether that’s while I’m getting ready for our walk or while out and seeing another dog.
His barking Christmas Day morning at 8am upon seeing another dog did see a home owner enter into the Christmas spirit by shouting out of their window for Diogo to stop barking. Diogo’s response? To keep barking. It’s surprising how loud his bark sounds in the silence of the early morning, echoing off the surrounding houses.
I’ve tried the usual words in English and Spanish but they have no impact. I’m not sure Diogo knows the meaning or how to be.
So I’m hoping a combination of training and calming dog treats (ordered from Amazon) will break Diogo of this habit.
The other aim of any training is to get to the point where he has earnt the trust to chill freely while stopping for a brew.
