Living on the coast we get all kinds of weather.  Today we walked the whole length of the promenade between North Shields Fish Quay and Tynemouth and didn't encounter another soul on the whole of that part of the walk.  

To say it was a grim day would be an understatement but no matter how bad the weather looks before you go out of the house it never seems as bad when you're out and about (40 days and 40 nights of biblical weather will follow this post as I have clearly jinxed the weather for the foreseeable future)....but if the dogs don't mind, I don't mind.  As long as i'm wrapped up it's pretty easy to stay comfortable, if anything i always end up getting too warm.  Not sure what Mae thought of our walk today though...

I have been on the lookout for a second pair of hands to help me out for some time now and I am pleased to report I have found someone and the bonus is that I have known him for years, he's a recently retired chap who I have worked with in the past and is also a parent at our respective kids's school.  I am really chuffed as he's not expecting a full time job which is great as some weeks i only need him to take up the excess on a couple of walks and some weeks I won't need him at all.  What it does mean is I can continue to take on new dogs and not end up in this situation...

So that gets me off to a great start in 2016.  I've had John out with me and he's done a few walks on his own too and being a dog owner himself (2 Spaniels) he's used to a lot of the situations that will come his way.  All the dogs have taken to him and all of the owners are happy to have John on board too.  Everyone, it seems is a winner!