Introducing the fandamily

Although I've posted pictures of where I live, I haven't yet posted any about who I live with. This is in part due to Ash's reluctance to have photos taken - his excuse is that, as a photographer's son, he had his fair share and more taken in his childhood!! This means that if I try and take his photo, more often than not I get a photo similar to the one on the right - Ash ducking out of shot, grinning like a monkey! Grr.

However, Ash is not the only member of the household, and others have proved a bit more forthcoming about having their pictures taken. There is of course Ciara, Ash's daughter. After months of careful study it would appear that her natural habitat is in the playground - she is definitely her Daddy's daughter when it comes to a three-year-old's version of extreme sports! As is demonstrated by calls of 'Higher!' 'Faster!' and of course, the regularly-heard 'I want to go on the big swing!'

The menagerie also includes Casey, Ash's welsh sheep dog, who was a rescue puppy almost seven years ago now. She is lovely but also quite mental. She obviously misheard her job description all those years ago, and is completely uninterested in sheep, and instead saves her efforts for squirrels. She hasn't had much luck in herding them so far, but appears to be certain in her own mind that if she can just catch up with one of them, that will all change... In the meantime, she diligently practises her skills with a basketball.

Smallest but certainly the most important family member (at least in her own eyes) is the cat, Zoe. Originally belonging to Ash's grandmother but rehomed because she is such a ferocious hunter, Zoe is at least 15 years old and still leaving us presents of birds, mice, and rabbits on a regular basis - in fact rather too regular! Her favourite things include being carried round like the princess she is, and regular doses of catnip - in a pinch she will make do with her catnip bird.

Casey and Zoe normally tolerate each other, but with the onset of autumn and colder nights, they have delared a truce of sorts and are becoming far more willing to share space as long as that space is by some sort of heat source, preferably the coal fire but with Ash and I coming a very close second. This has led to some very cute moments on the nights where it's been chilly, but not quite chilly enough to light the fire... Thanks to Ash for agreeing to pose for this one, though he did grumble that he wasn't 'agreeing to pose' so much as 'unable to move'!!