So, the New Year is off to a good start.

Sleeping in, followed by a lazy afternoon of finishing up on partially written entries (you'll find three of them back there for the 30th, including a grouse pic: gelding the lily, last field gone, the drive home), and a feast of ham for dinner.

Heelers were in heaven. Especially when the first slab of meat carved off the huge pig roast fell on the floor, and instantly became theirs.

And the wife and I enjoyed my first volley of shooting blanks. Our first in too loong a time.

Followed within minutes (I didn't tell you that, did I... your timing was impeccable) by a too brief phone call from a new mother.

So, 2006 portends well.