These boots were made for walking

The results from my Sunday morning cross country race through the mud of Haddo have been posted. Pleasing, yet conversely disappointing. A personal best at this distance, 4th in my age group, but my time was recorded as 30 seconds slower than I'd estimated (average of 6 minutes 45 seconds per mile).

My trainers have absolutely had it though..........

The next meet is a week on Sunday. Again it's a cross country race, although this time in Balgownie. I may bring a snorkel with me this time.

The week has started anew again, with the daily grind of work and school for us all. Luca seems to be struggling the most, with his weekend excursions still affecting him. However, I only realised last night that his ability to read hasn't progressed as much as it should have over the past few months. Indeed, he seems to be struggling more now than last year.

I'm afraid I'm negligent here, as due to time and work I haven't spent enough time over the past 2-3 months with him at night time, and should have been reading with him a great deal more than I have. It's crazy how a drop in activity over such a short period can affect him so, but at least I'm beginning to notice. It may be time to pull my head out from my ass.

Harvey is still stable (and will continue to be over this new 8 week course of drugs), but interestingly Carole has been offered another horse on a long term loan by another owner. An offer only to be considered if the worst case scenario occurs, but a generous offer nonetheless.

The canine fart machine (Isis) is doing well though. At her age, with almost complete deafness and terrible vision too, life is a trial - for us all. Yet her energy levels seem to have increased again lately. I barely jest when I suggest she may outlive us all.

Bedtime has improved/worsened lately, depending on how you view it. Carole is very much a night owl, whereas I prefer an early night. However, both she and the dogs have shown a preference for an earlier sleep of late, assumedly due to the consistent cold weather we're enduring. However, as gratifying as the company is, I'm being used by all as a makeshift hot water bottle.

I've been waking breathless in the middle of the night every night for the past week with Carole cuddled tight on one side and Yoda cuddled tight on the other. No amount of shuffling will move either even an inch, with Yoda surprisingly the most resilient to my attempts to create space to breathe.

Although only about 6kg in weight, our Jack Russell has the strength and immovability of a bison on a diet of Krispy Kremes.

**Useless fact of the day - A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year**