STORMS OVER CALAIS

I've never been a fan of the industrial town of Calais, in Northern France. It serves as a port to get to and from the UK but I haven't yet found any other reasons to visit. However, I do think their belfry is one of the nicest in Flanders. Snapped this shot on my way back from my interview over in Kent - it had been a totally manic and rushed day full of crucial transport connections and stumbling around unknown territory. I took a moment out before heading on the train home to breathe in and look behind me, and was treated to a lovely bit of stormy dark-light.

I'll soon be heading over the sleeve myself as I did get a job offer following this interview...they were even happy to hold the position for me until I'm back from my trip to Australia! More changes afoot...

OVER THE SLEEVE

I finally had a job interview last week with a wildlife park in Kent as I've recently been considering a move to the UK if I want to get work in my field, anywhere near my field, 3 paddocks over from my field...Mr Francais has also expressed an interest to move also but for now I'm thinking mostly of my own career goals as the compromises I have been making career-wise to stay in France are not doing either of us any favours.

CANAL

water! the horrors!

One of the advantages of having a brand spanking new puppy to try and keep trained and/or exhausted is getting to know some local scenery. I walk down by this canal near our apartment a lot, and the enclosed pathway has been very useful for teaching the pooch a bit of off-leash training and recall. It's quite a pretty walk and great for keeping watch on the unfolding spring season...and I imagine that without the persistent prod of a pooch that wants some outdoors time, I would never even have found out about it.

EVEN MY DOG HAS A CHIROPRACTOR

I've never had a dog before. In fact, I've only very sporadically had cats and have never had the occasion to take any of them to the vet. However, being as I am a newly responsible, mature and adult dog owner (read 'wallet on legs') I have had a couple of recent visits for booster shots and the like. This last visit came with a singularly bizarre witch doctory chiropractic session where my fairly confused and generally overexcited dog was treated to some reiki style micro manipulations from the local vet who, as far as I could tell, appeared to be casting out localised stresses with dramatic flourishes of her wrist.

Oh well, he's no more or less insane than usual.

YPRES (IEPER)

A few snaps from the town of Ypres in northern Belgium