Beach Babes

Last week we all went for a little trip to the beach. It didn't start all that well for TJam as she is captured here tripping down a little hole. Great timing with the camera Bamgee!

When we got onto the beach, TJam tried to engage me in sand digging games...

... but I had a hankering for a little more canine activity...

I begged and goaded Chips to play with me, but she was only interested in that old toy...

... so in the end I had to charge up and down the beach like a nutter on my own. It was glorious and their loss that they didn't share in the joy.

When we got back onto real land, Chips and TJam sat on a bridge and had a little heart to heart.

Then there was just time for us dogs to pose with Bamgee on a log that was artistically languishing on the sand...

By the time she reads this, Bamgee will be somewhere very hot and maybe sandy. We hope it is fabulous Bamgee! We will keep raiding bins for your delight and amusement!!

Welcome Young Bob

TJam now has a new name. AUNTIE TJAM!!
Yes, baby Bob (that's his spy name) was born today weighing in at 9lb 8oz.

Welcome to the family (you poor little sod)!

Well done to TJam's brother and his partner. (Not mentioned in order of effort, sweat or tears. I'm willing to bet his partner put in most of the effort but it was more word efficient to mention them in that order)

Slacking?

What's that you say? Not enough bin-raiding recently? I hope this semolina makes you as proud of me as I am.

Resting

Today while I was out on my walk, I was moved by the joys of spring to gambol like a lamb and then throw myself on the floor and roll in the sweet grass. While I was down, I decided I was a bit tired so I had a little 40 winks. Then TJam shouted Let's Go! and I jumped up and pretended I hadn't nodded off at all. I gamboled some more just to fool them.

Limits

Well, Waddaya know. I DO have a limit to how much I can eat after all.
Our friend does not like his prescription food so his owner gave it to us for treats.
Allowing for a 20g taste to decide he didn't like it, this 700g bag now weighs 220g which means that, assuming I didn't share with Beanz, which I don't think I did, my limit is 5 and a half days worth of food in one sitting.
I was still ready for lunch 3 hours later though. One has to try.

Academia

This morning I am busy helping Bready develop her research proposal.
It is tiring work I tells ya! All this information literacy and student stuff takes its toll on a dog.
- by Beanz hon Phd

City Mutt

we are walking in a city park today. Less sheep but more litter. Suits us fine.
- by Beanz in da hood

Obsessed

you know your owner is more than healthily obsessed when her predictive text offers woof before wood.
- by Beanz in the woods

Long Trek

TJam decided that we were going to go on a trek. Not a star trek. Just a normal one.

There was just time to take a picture of the view, not even half way up. We had to stay on the lead, because we have met a few stray houdini sheep on this path. They like to get out of their field and hide in the gorse. As you know, it is bad legal form to chase a sheep and neither Beanz nor I can help ourselves. And TJam does not want us shot.

There was just time for a little last minute bin-raiding to keep my strength up as we went through the ruins. Luckily, some picnickers had left some litter, so it wasn't a complete waste of my time.

We made it to the top of the pike. It was so windy we were blown all over the place. It was BRILLIANT. Beanz had a go of having both her ears up at the same time, thanks to the wind.

See that tiny little blob on the top of the hill? Well, that's where we were! All the way up there!

Next, we went up to the final feature of the walk, a mound of stones. There were actually three mounds of stones. It's a shame it was so hazy, because the view was amazing. It was so sunny, I had to shut my eyes.


So, TJam's dad... you've always said you want to go to the top: next time you visit, the gauntlet is DOWN!!

"What is it" Wednesday

It's been a while since life lent itself so generously to a "What is it?" Wednesday.

When it did, we grabbed it with both hands (even though it is a Thursday. We can't wait til next week.)

Although now I have watched it, I realise you can't see or hear the rain. It was there. Honest! I was loving it!

If you need a clue, think Morecambe and Wise.

If that doesn't help, think Fred Astaire.

If neither of those help, get yourself down to the video shop. Erm, I mean the DVD shop.

Did I or Didn't I?

Before I ask the question, "Did I or didn't I?" I want to tell you about this cool bed I found. TJam got some liners for some hanging baskets (don't hold your breath, she always gets as far as liners and even plants, but falls down when it comes to putting the two together).

It would seem that 12" is just the right diameter for a cosy cat bed.

I said, "This space is TAKEN. Move along please. There are no hanging baskets to make here."

TJam has been busy making Easter nests for Bamgee, Bready and Unliz. You have to imagine that the Easter hen laid flat eggs in her nest. Tjam didn't get to the shop in time to get small vegan eggs. I'm sure no one will notice.

TJam saved herself a nest to have with her cup of tea before she sets off. When she came into the kitchen, this is what she saw:

I quickly headed in the direction of the door and TJam didn't actually see me touch the cake, I just had my head near it.

There was dribble on the chocolate button, which was lying next to the nest, but since the nest is shiny anyway, TJam doesn't know if I licked the nest or not. Now she has to decide whether to take the chance and eat it anyway, or whether to play it safe and throw it away.

What would you do?

Easter Dip

I almost took my feet off the floor. I am the little black dot in the water.
- by Beanz, from the blue lagoon

Poplars and Memory Lane

Spring is in the air.

Whenever TJam sees poplars (or whatever you call those tall straight trees) she thinks about the allotment she used to go to with her mum when she was small. Her mum used to dig, and TJam used to write. Well, she used to make squiggles on the page in a long line and then look for shapes that looked like letters (mostly, if they were going to look like anything, they would look like an "m"). There was a man there that had a Westhighand Terrier . The allotment shop smelled like fertiliser.

Anyhu, all of that was YEARS before we were born, in the days when dog poo turned white and you could still get Green Shield Stamps.

Here we are, posing by the poplars.

Our Weekend

We had a very busy weekend the other weekend.

We went to visit Tjam's parents.

We went for a walk and I had to wait for TJam to take a photo of this boring tree with ivy on...

...before I posed for my Super Hero shot.

Then I balanced FlipTop on my nose.

Poor Chips was wiped out with all the activity and had to take refuge in the flower bed for a rest.

Then there was just time to watch TJam's dad sort out his pond. By this time I was too tired to help.

In fact it was all I could do to find a patch of shade to recuperate from my busy time.

Spring

Spring must be in the air. Happy spring everyone!

Amateur

I had to roll in the white line markings on the football field so TJam took my pic.

Then she tried to snap our friend Eddie. Eddie is not a poser of professional standards yet...

...but he is getting there. He's only a pup yet.

- by Chips on the move ...

Do Not Bother

- by Chips

Do not bother stealing a block of frozen spinach that has fallen on the floor.

It is a big disappointment.

Times I Am Glad I Am Not a Mouse

Loyalty Is Cat

Carls has been living amongst dogs long enough for our best traits to wear off on her. Look what we return home to after our walks. I might start calling her Greyfriers Carlsberg.
- by Chips

Compare the Meerkat

- by Beanz

When I was a pup, and before I managed to get my ears into the ten past eight position as so:

.... I sometimes looked like this:

As you know, my parentage and heritage are not exactly known, although there is collie in there somewhere. But the advert below indicates that there may actually be a completely different and previously unconsidered bloodline. Don't you think that guy could be a relative?

Early Shower

I had to take an early shower on my walk this weekend. My poorly leg is back. I gaze sadly at what is so near yet so far. Meanwhile Chips disappears off over the horizon.

Thomas Edison

As Thomas Edison said, "I haven't failed, I have discovered a thousand ways not to make a lightbulb" so TJam said, "I haven't failed, it was a good idea and now I have discovered a way not to cook a jacket potato."

TJam will not be getting any more ideas from Harry Hill's TV burp. You may be able to poach a salmon in the dishwasher, but cook a jacket potato, you cannot.

(Do you notice that salmons have been mentioned twice in the last week? What is going on?)

Modern Art

I call this creation, "Satisfied paw prints on white"
- by Chips Sewell

Early morning run

Forgive me for looking a bit tired here. I have just run across this field and back. Why? In a word, deer. Hello lead walking and practising my recall. It was worth it though. I am WIRED.

- by Beanz, the roving blogger

Salmon

Do I look like an impressive bear catching salmon? I model myself on david Attenborough's Natural World. Now I just need to work on my roar. And my tree climbing.
ROAR!
Did i trick you?

- by Beanz, the roving blogger

Flamingo

I am also mobile now. Here is my poor flamingo on its last legs. He has no stuffing but he's still good for a tug of war. Here's to mobile blogging and talking the hind legs off donkeys. Field reporter Chips over and out.

- by Chips, on location

Am I mobile?

TJam has been workin all morning (and neglecting us) to get us blogging from her mobile. If you are reading this, then a miracle breakthrough has occurred.



---- 
Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

Pass the Mouthwash

This is the mouth
Attached to the dog
That nimbly hopped onto the worktop
(like a mountain goat)
And sniffed out the bowl
That contained 6 cloves of crushed garlic in olive oil
That is now empty

This is the mouth
Attached to the dog
That will not be attacked by vampire
For a long long time.

Can you smell it from there?!

I dare you to come close to the screen!

This is the mouth
That is sporting a rather impressive set of whiskers
(Now I come to look more closely)
Even if I do say so myself.

Spot the Dog

by Chips.

Can you spot me?


(yup, that's my nose sticking out on the right hand side)

Who Says Crates are Cruel?

We love our crate. Today, Beanz was in it and I wanted to get in it and she wouldn't get out, so I got in with her. It was a bit of a squeeze but I managed it.

Valerian Teabags

- by Carlsberg

Today, Bamgee brought me a present. When she said, "Valerian Teabag wrapper" you could forgive me for not being all that excited.

Until I smelt it, that is.

Then I was very excited.



Now I am sleeping off my trip in a hazy eyed stupour.

cool man.

Peace out

Carls
x

Snow

By Chips

Well, it's been a roller-coaster of a week regarding snow. The weatherpeople getting our hopes up and us drooping our ears and dropping our tails in disappointment most days. While London got snowed in and ground to a half, it was work as usual round here. Boo hoo.

On Monday, we did get a little covering. Beanz thought the pond was frozen over. She soon found out that it wasn't. This is the exact moment she realised that she was up to her chin in icy water and reversed out at the speed of light. Doesn't she know? You should NEVER walk on a frozen (or not frozen) pond. If only the camera hadn't been slow you would have seen her at the actual point of realisation. Never mind. This is almost as good. If you enlarge you can see the hole she just came out of.


Tuesday was no snow.

Wednesday was no snow.

Thursday, when we looked out of the window, things had started to look up...

(yes, our world actually is neon blue)

That morning, Beanz had a little lay in the snow and I dug up a stick.

And on Friday, the flakes were so big, Beanz and I looked like dalmations in negative (except longer haired and floppier and not as good at following carriages).


It didn't stick, so there was no snowman. So, all in all, our snow experience has been minimal but still quite fun.

In other news, Bamgee has been in hospital and out again. She is poorly enough to need medicine but not too poorly to play with us. We are especially not allowed to jump up as she has got a drip in her arm but she can sort it out at home now. She is practically a trained nurse! We are very proud of her. Plus we are glad she is there to remind TJam to give us an extra chew.