Those autumn leaves

I’ve just thought. The last decade was the ‘naughties’. And in two years time we’ll be in the teens. But how do we refer to 2011 and 2012?

Anyway, the big news last night was the shooting of the US Congresswoman and a sort of constituency surgery in Arizona last night. Some guy walked up to her and shot her in the head. I feel so sorry for her. But it does appear as though she will survive. He then pulled another gun and killed 6 people, including a child, and injured a further dozen or so (reports seem to vary). He was 22 years old, reportedly had mental health problems and had been turned down by the US military. So what was he doing with at least 2 guns, one of which appears to have been an automatic weapon? Does the right to bear arms really outweight the right to life? And Sarah Palin has a lot to answer for: posting 20 target states, including Arizona, with crosshairs on them, simply because they supported Obama’s health bill. I try not to get involved in foreign politics, or even UK ones too much, but there are times I am glad I am not an America.

Meanwhile we watched the film Iron Man (more weapons and killing) on TV. We had seen it before, but I have this funny feeling I watched it in a drunken stupor. Chris could hardly remember it either, so it makes me wonder what the occasion had been that we had both drunk so much before watching it before.

Today has been nice and sunny, although there was a sharp frost overnight. I took the dogs over Canford Heath for a walk, wrapped up well, and then was too hot. When I came home I finished raking / sweeping up the leaves (well, apart from the front lawn). There are now nearly 30 bags of leaves waiting to go to the rubbish tip for composting. Chris had said he’d do it, but apparently planned to start after the football finished. It took me over 2 hours to do it, so given that the footie finished at 3,30pm, I have to wonder just how Chris thought he was going to fit it in.

Max was with me in the garden all the time again today. He just bounces around and never stops, which I feel must be good for his weight. In fact, both Chris and I think he’s starting to look thinner, although it’s hardly surprising as we are virtually starving the poor dog (on vet’s advice, he says we won’t hurt him). Jez is still not right. She’s quite bouncy in herself (and Chris has taken her for another short walk now), but clearly has trouble standing at times, especially after she’s been resting. I’ve still got her on her Previcox to help ease any pain and inflammation.

If you look at the Flickr uploads on the sidebar of this blog you’ll see photos from today. I would post them in here, but won’t have time before Chris comes back from his walk.