A few more pictures.

The Sun is out this week so I have been taking pictures. I went to an area of Blackwood known as the Rock and Fountain(you will know it sue_chose_this, it's where we parked when we went to the fireworks display). I have always thought it was named after the old pub of that name on the road. I haven't taken any photos of that because about 2 years ago it was 'modernised' destroying all it's character. I went there to take photos of an old, I thought, chapel burial ground. When I got there I found there were no stones earlier than the 19th century and those not very interesting but to get there I walked past this.



A stream running down a very rocky bed with a bit of it looking like a fountain springing from the rock.
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And finally at the side of the stream which flows through huge blocks of stone, a small patch that fractures a little differently
No it's not dry stone walling , that is natures work.



I think the name came from the Bible, Moses striking the rock to bring forth water in the desert for the Children of Israel as it is a fairly common pub name in this part of the world and at least one of them is in Newport City Centre. And of course we have a lot of rocky streams, most of which I have already shown you.

Mad dogs are dangerous.

I took Losyn up to Pen-y-Fan Pond for his walk on Friday. It was a wonderful day as you can see from this photo.



That tree is not in leaf it's in flower. It's a ripe male Pussy willow. Before they begin to produce pollen male Pussy willow look like this.


The water in the pond was almost as clear as glass as this photo, taken from the dam side into deep water, will testify.


The walk round was uneventful, apart from mad races between Losyn and any other dog not on a lead(three IIRC) and a swim for him to cool off,(in the shallow end thankfully). The dangerous dog part ocured when we got back to the car park side and we passed a puppy who really wanted to play. He made a rush ar Losyn who was standing between me and its owner, startling him into a tight turn and his swinging head hit my bad knee. He will be having short walks to fields or ponds and a session with a chuckit and ball on my days to walk him. Not that he will object to that ball chasing is his second favourite occupation, eating comes first and walking a very close third.

And finally I think I mentioned that my local supermarket(Sainbury's) has taken to wrapping its bananas. I called in to buy some on the way home from Pen-y-fan pond and here is the proof.

I won on the National

It is a tradition in my family that we all bet on the Grand National.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_National For those who might not know what I'm talking about) This date from a time before off course betting was allowed but Gran knew the local bookie so we could put a small bet on I was betting on this race from the moment I got any pocket money so that would be around 55 years when I was putting a half penny each way on one horse. My cousins and I still keep up the tradition and my bet has risen to a pound each way on two horses. Today was the first time in all that time that I have won on any of my bets. One of my horses came in 4th in today's National and my second horse also made it round with his rider still in the saddle. That has happened a time or two but not often. I bet £4 in total and my winnings were £3-50, so my win on the National amounts to a loss of 50p. I'll never get rich this way but I had hoped to break even.

My horses were Big Fella Thanks who came in 4th for me and Snowy Morning who made it round but came in out side the first 4 so didn't win any thing. His rider was only 17 and up for the National for the first time so I think the lad has a good career ahead of him, judging by this race. Many more experienced jockeys were thrown at the jumps, he was either very lucky or very skilled.