Dressing up! Huh! Is any other dog tormented in the way that I am? It is just embarrassing at times, and yet patiently I put up with whatever “herself” wants to do … well … for a little while anyhow!
Recently I was looking after a small dog - Mollie is older than me but full of life and bounce! We got into trouble a couple of times as she didn't know the house rules. Mollie’s owner is studying in America and Simon needed someone to look after her for two weeks.
One day we were very quiet (that’s not always a good sign) so when the camera came round the door we were caught in the act! Both of us were on the sofa! Oh dear! I thought that I might get away with it because we had a guest - but not a chance! We had to get down very quickly and spend the next few hours in our baskets.
Sometimes it gets a bit lonely here and I’ve been trying to persuade “the boss” to get me a friend … so far that’s fallen on deaf ears. I’ve had to make do with the dogs we meet when we’re out for a walk. Barking at them from the back of the car apparently isn’t a good thing to do, so I’m trying to learn not to do that … something else to remember! The bark is often out of me before I think … and then I’m in trouble again! But that passes quickly … “herself” doesn’t seem to remember just how often I’ve done things that I shouldn’t do.
This last picture is me on our day off last Thursday … I could not persuade “herself” to have a paddle, even when I tried to pull her in with me … I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t …?
Don’t talk to me about waiting! I do it all the time… wait till this bit of typing is finished, wait until the dinner is over, wait until Her Ladyship comes back home …. and then there’s waiting for the postman, the bin men, the unsuspecting passer-by … all of them get a good send-off! I take my role as guard dog very seriously … after all …. someone has to look after “herself”!
I’m not long back from a holiday at Ballygrainey where I’m always pampered and spoiled. Hilary and Trevor were highly amused last Thursday … I knew that “herself” was due to come for me even though no one mentioned her name … it’s a sort of extra sense that we dogs have. Every other day I lay quietly observing the daily routines … but on Thursday I was up and sitting at the fence waiting for the sound of the old Punto! One by one the staff were called to see my “strange behaviour”! Huh! What do they know?
Mind you, what I didn’t know was that “herself” was stranded at a snowbound airport in the north of England. They had to stay at a Holiday Inn … though I hear it was a short night after they’d queued for hours to rebook.
But I knew she’d come back for me and it’s been fun again following her around over the last few days. “Why are you under my feet” has been said on more than one occasion when she’s tripped over me! Maybe new spectacles should be ordered - I’m big enough to see!
I suppose you’re all waiting to celebrate Christmas … I know that I am. We have a houseful coming on Christmas Day and that’s bound to mean a few scraps will fall to the floor … maybe even deliberately if “herself” isn’t looking! I like all the food though I’m not so keen on the glittery moving things.
Living in the rectory I’m not going to get the chance to forget what is the real meaning of the season - the celebration of the birth of Jesus!
I love “Rose Week”. As often as the weather permits we’re up and into the Lady Dixon park at the crack of dawn and sometimes we return later in the day with a picnic. Actually — that’s not my picnic — I’m not really all that keen on eating our of doors — there’s too much else going on.
Come to think of it … I’m not all that excited about roses either! But I do love the extra walks and all the people who stop us to say how beautiful I am! I’d had my picture in the local paper at the beginning of “Rose Week” (well, “herself” was in the shot too) so a number of folk stopped us to ask, “Is this the famous dog?” I confess to being just a wee bit proud of that. A family of four children wanted to take me home but “herself” wasn’t having it. Maybe I’m a bit too old for that kind of excitement anyhow.
There’s talk of holiday in the air and that means seaside, mountains and many, many walks. Maybe I won’t be ignored as much as seems to be the case these days! All I ever hear is “bye, bye wee pet … see you soon.” Huh! I’ve no idea what is meant by “soon” but it feels like a long time!
I met a new dog at the parish picnic last Sunday. He’s a nice wee fellow called Cooper — I think his surname is “Scott” - he was running around after a lady whose name is Pauline! I might have been a bit rough … but that was just enthusiasm. I hope we can be friends and when he gets a bit bigger we’ll play together. He’s very good at hovering up crumbs!
My goodness, is that the time? “Herself” wants this piece by ‘yesterday’ so I’d better finish up now. `
My holidays are over and we’re now back to the usual routine of me being left to amuse myself for hours on end. I was rather spoiled during those three weeks in August when we headed off to the beach or the mountains first thing in the morning. I saw it as my responsibility that not a minute of the holiday was wasted … so we were often out walking well before 6.00 am! Mind you, even I find it a lot easier to bounce out of bed on bright mornings.
This is my newest toy that I thought you’d like to see. It is a good sensation on my gums and when “herself” has a minute I tease her with it! We had a spell running round the coffee table until she flopped in a chair leaving me wondering what to do next.
Of course, it is even more fun when Angel comes round to play although she hasn’t quite got the hang of tugging … at least I’ve managed to teach “herself” that she’s just supposed to hang on to the rope while I pull and pull!
Every morning at the minute we’re checking the post box very carefully. It seems that there’s a toy skunk doing a world tour and he’s making a journey from Iceland to Belfast where he’ll spend a week with us! (I’ve been told that I’ll not be allowed to “play” with him.) He’s called Frank — so if you see “herself” wandering around with a little black and white furry animal — I’ve not shrunk — it’s just the skunk! I think we’re sending him on to Christmas Island … He’s already covered thousands of miles and met all sorts of people. Frank’s owner works on an American submarine somewhere in the South Pacific! (Photo of him above right)
Now, the next job is to get my letter written to Santa Claus… not long now until we hang up the stockings!
Sooty, my friend from next door, came back from holiday this evening. He (a lovely wee collie) and I enjoy a good conversation through the hedge from time to time. As soon as I knew he was home it was only manners to rush out to welcome him back…. well… you should have seen “herself” move! Don’t you know that it’s almost midnight?
Such a fuss — but all done in a stage whisper! It would appear that one isn’t supposed to bark at that time of the night unless there’s a human walking around the outside of the house… There are so many things to learn if you’re a dog and some of it is just a bit confusing. All I want to do is play, and eat, and play some more…and then sleep…. oh, and bark at the postman!
I had a holiday myself at the beginning of May. Trevor knows how to treat you well and I came back expecting to be waited on hand and paw… but no such luck. And no fresh mince in my dinner either! Isn’t there a training school for dog owners so that they can learn how we like to have things? Apparently “herself” was in Turkey. That seems to be the wrong way round — usually the turkey is in me — or at least the few measly scraps that I get.
Don’t start feeling sorry for me — no — I ’m not starving to death though I’ve noticed of late that fewer tasty treats come my way. I’ll have to have a word with the management about that.
You’ll notice from the photograph that I’m sitting in the Iris bed…. that apparently isn’t the done thing either! The whole story is that Angel had come for a sleepover and we were playing hide and seek. The tall leaves of the Iris are just a perfect hiding place so that I could pounce out when no one was looking. I’m told that the plants will not recover this year — but we had FUN!!
Okay, must go… there’s a bluebottle to chase… but they don’t seem to have much stamina… I don’t mean to hurt them … they must be delicate wee things!
You don’t think that I was actually allowed to play with this duck, do you? It was yet another one of the “Photo Shoots” to which I’ve been subjected in recent weeks. I can imagine that other dogs might just run away and hide but I’m reasonably patient especially as it often means some treat or other will come my way.
Apparently it is all part of a project to take and publish one photograph each day this year and so I feature quite frequently on the blog. [The address is therevandadog.blogspot.com ]
What’s a blog? I’m not terribly sure but I have been told it is a kind of public diary that you find on the internet. In my opinion if you can’t eat it or play with it then why bother?
I’ve been feeling a bit like a minor celebrity (well...maybe not “minor” but I’d not want to boast)! It seems that “herself” has been talking about me on the radio again and now everyone wants to meet me. Do feel free to stop us and talk to me. “Herself” will tell you that I’m not allowed biscuits but that didn’t stop the Junior Monday Club feeding me their snacks—just don’t let “The Boss” know that!
Resisting temptation is all very well but it has been a long time now since I’ve had a Chinese meal. Lent is a funny time if you’re a dog...I’m not sure that I understand too much about ‘giving up’ things for Lent although I’m told it is a discipline. I suppose that’s a bit like learning how to behave and that I do understand. I don’t always do it though—so perhaps I should try keeping Lent as well?
Happy Easter Everyone!
(No chocolate for me though!)