Sorry for the lack of commitment!

Oh dear, my commitment to this blog has been lacking a little hasn't it? I have so much to update you on, I will update it and backdate the entries so that they appear correct chronologically.

Today I had a great morning (after such a disaster of a weekend). I completed the morning feeds in record time, with my faithful assistant Sheamus. We've formed a real bond and I feel he is privy enough in the lay of the land to come out for little wanders with me regularly now. He has his favourite spots to visit such as the plateau in the bush paddock, the long patch of grass on the hill in the moonlight paddock and beside the drain by the vege patch. I'm so glad I used the 'shakey tin' from day one, if you haven't heard about the shakey tin is is basically a lidded metal tin containing some pebbles, I shook it before every feeding time for the first week. He didn't have a name he knew when he came to live with us so until he learned his name I thought it would be good for him to have something he could associate with. Now, as soon as Sheamus hears me shaking the tin he comes running, he gets rewarded with a scratch behind the ears or if it is feeding time he'll go into his enclosure and be fed. I use the tin very rarely though because he now knows his name and the tones in which I use his name he often comes when called. We're quite strict about feeding, he only gets fed in his enclosure from his designated bucket and occasionally Sam will hand feed him but he has to sit before the food is given to him (dropped on the ground, not placed in his mouth) and our reasoning behind this is that he is an extremely heavy and strong animal that could bowl over anyone with enthusiasm. So we make sure that we show him love by spending time with him, scratching him behind the ears, on his back, tummy etc, cuddles and lots of talking, he loves to be talked to. He rewards my affections with contented grunts, following me around like my shadow and generally being great company. He is quite independent at timesbut seems to fret when he is out and about and can't see us. I hope that in time he'll be able to stay out a lot more but that means we need to make some Sheamus free zones such as near any rubbish bins or boxes that might possibly contain delicious morsels but 99% of the time don't.