Met my cousin Jo at The Salutation pub car park, and she was wearing a Tigers shirt, nice work Jo! She is a Loughborough lass and husband Niall is a big Tigers fan. It was really great to have some company on this leg as it was all off road. It was not without its mishaps though. We let Muttley the labradoodle off his lead and he proceeded to not follow us up the Fosse Way, but rather eat many varieties of poo. He kind of crept about half a mile up the track poo munching, and then when we did some concerted whistling and here Muttleying, set off at an alarming rate back to the roads. So we legged it after him. I was really worried the start to the day would end in squashed dog, but we found him eventually back where we'd started in a neighbouring field munching more poo. I'm sure the run was a good warm up for us both though!So, Muttley now firmly on the lead, we set off again. Lovely track and we chatted away as we hadn't seen each other in ages and lots to catch up on. The miles seemed to pass by really quickly. So quickly that when Kevin phoned us to ask where we were to meet up for lunch, we decided that we were a good 4 miles or so ahead of where we actually were with our ace navigating, which meant he wasn't in the best mood when he finally found us back where he HAD been waiting for us before we misled him and he had to hare off to a totally different meeting point. And back again! Well, she's blonde and I'm useless, what did he expect? Had a great meal at a pub at somewhere beginning with C. There are really way too many places beginning with C round here. It's a bit like Tre-somethings in Cornwall. We also passed a village called Tiddlywink!

Photos of the famous Muttley attached, and some cats eyes which intrigued us, what are they doing on a track in the middle of nowhere and at such odd angles? 

Then we met the field of bullocks some miles after lunch around Kimble airfield. My nemesis. So we had fearless (and this has to be said Jo) slightly senseless labradoodle, field of very interested bullocks, and no way round it. Ad one very scared me. Jo, who is fearless and scared of no-one gave me the dog, opened the gate and started shooing the bullocks away, which would have worked better if Muttley hadn't woofed quite so much! So they just stood a couple of feet away, lined up waiting, as we opened the gate and went through. Jo took Muttley and we did lots of shooing, which worked at first but by the end of the field they were making little charges at us and I became very conscious of the red mac tied round my waist!

Then we got to the gate by which time I was uttering expletives and really bricking it. And the gate wouldn't open, which was OK for all of us apart from Muttley. We legged it over and he valiantly squashed himself to the size of a small rat and limboed under. Relief. Photo of scary bullocks on OTHER side of fence!

Very pleased to see Kevin at the bottom of the lane. And made quick use of my shewee in a hedge! Lovely to have the company, it really made those miles pass quickly, thanks so much Jo and Muttley.

I then set off on the scary roads again, doing my very interesting car surveys to keep me busy. It must be reported that today a coach driver did wave thank you. One out of about 20 but it's a start. And an Audi nearly mowed me down, one of those new big expensive ones. You'd think he wouldn't want gore in that nice new grille? Horrible bit of the walk to Cirencester, and my left foot was very sore so I was a bit grumpy by the end, and fell asleep in the car while Kevin was at Tesco stocking up. We also found out lovely Great Uncle George had died yesterday, very sad, only saw him a few weeks ago and he was in fine form. And Kevin's computer has become very sick and he may need to dive home to get some bits to fix it. Not a great end to the day. And have I mentioned my feet hurt? But hey, it's all for Matt, so we don't mind at all. Stop groaning.

Alix Wood ••• 01566 784065 ••• alix@alixwood.co.uk