Go well, Belle

Belle was the most adorable puppy I had ever laid eyes on; her ears were too large to be allowed, she had a permanently quizzical expression and the pads on her little paws matched her bright pink tongue. It was love at first sight. She was a long haired Weimaraner, a present from my Dad to my Mum for her 40th birthday, and she grew up quickly into a gangly, wiggly, overenthusiastic member of the family. To say she had a presence is an understatement - tripping hazard would be more accurate - Belle was everywhere; underfoot in the kitchen, sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs, nudging at knees for a fuss while making short work of anything on the coffee table with her very waggy tail. If you gave her half a chance she'd be on your lap, failing that she'd offer you her paw until she had your attention. I missed her so much when I left home to go to University but each time I was back for the weekend I'd wake in the middle of the night to hear her scratching at my door to be let into my bedroom, once inside she'd shoot me a look as though to say 'What took you so long?' and then lay down to snooze. Like Peter Pan she never really grew up, she kept her puppyish nature right up to being 11 or so and never grew into her ears either.

Yesterday afternoon, after almost 12 years as part of the Cope clan, Belle was put to sleep - it was her time to go - old age caught up with her and there was a rapid decline in her health since Christmas. Pets can't live forever and it is always so sad to say goodbye but it is worth the heartache now to have had the years that came before. 

A Taste of Lincolnshire

I was born and raised in Lincolnshire, and while I love living so close to the Peaks here I'm magnetised to home and wish I got back more frequently to visit my family and friends there and as today I'm feeling rather homesick I've decided to pop up a few photos of home and of Lincoln itself - hope you'll forgive the self indulgent post!

These four are of my favourite part of Lincoln, at the top of Steep Hill - which believe me is incredibly steep, where the area surrounding the castle and cathedral is almost like a village in itself and there are plenty of gorgeous independent shops and tearooms dotted about.

One of my favourite views in the county - if you follow the the track around the bend you can just see the double gables of home.  Admittedly getting to it down the bumpy farm track is a bit of a bone shaker but at the end wait two very enthusiastic canines - one a lovable, wappy long haired Weimaraner called Belle and the other a sweet little Norwegian Buhund, Kea  - who give a proper welcome, along with my parents and little sister of course!

Home itself is about 4 miles outside the historic market town of Louth, we're on the Lincolnshire Wolds inside a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which also inexplicably includes a landfill site half a mile down the road!    

The house is surrounded by woods and fields, it isn't unusual so see deer wandering through the wood from the upstairs windows of the house.  There are badgers, foxes and owls aplenty and more rabbits than you can shake a stick at along with troops of game birds kept and reared by the local landowner for his shoot. 

I have to give kudos to my partner Tristan for capturing my parents'/the family home, and the dogs so beautifully in the last five photos - thanks to him I have a great selection to pore over when I'm missing the place!

Take care,

Jem xXx