Hobble hobble

My day started off uneventfully. A spot of breakfast. A nice little walk. A rabbit that couldn't see me because of the sun behind me (must try and use that again in the future) and came running RIGHT AT ME. I couldn't believe my luck but I still didn't catch it.

Then I came home and supervised while TJam started on the garden. She is at the "I can lift things if I bend my knees and keep my back perfectly straight" stage of recovery. That's the second time those stones have had their photo on this blog. I predict it won't be the last either.

It was a tough job, but I made sure that things kept moving.

This evening we went to visit Pin and Huddersfield Town and had a sit down on their decking. It was all going lovelily.

I went for a little splash in the pond. TJam carried on walking. She called me but I didn't appear. Her super sense told her something was wrong (or was she coming to reprimand me for a shoddy recall?). Then I limped over the bank of the pond and stood pathetically. TJam even broke into a run. That's how pathetic I looked.

I was quiet and I couldn't move my leg, but I was still normal. I still wanted a treat. I wasn't crying or licking. I just didn't want to move. So I sat down. I couldn't move my leg into the middle. This photo was taken straight on and my leg is not resting on anything. (Don't worry, TJam didn't prioritise art over my immediate well being. She had decided to ask our friend's opinion on what to do next. Like I said, I wasn't distressed. Just subdued.)

TJam didn't know what to do. We were about half a mile from home and I couldn't walk. So she phoned Nerospal. Nerospal and Jo (that's their spy names) came to the rescue. They drove cross country (literally) along the tiny dirt track like you can see behind me.

They jumped out of their car and galloped to my rescue! N&J you are the best!

I hobbled into my carriage and they put me in. It was quite a posh car so TJam was mortified that I had just come out of a stagnant pond. This was a real test of friendship and TJam owes them big time.

And so, because Chips and Carlsberg have all had a go at the emergency vet after the 6pm cut off point for maximum fee, and so that I could make it a complete set, I went to out of hours vet. Now I am really one of the hardcore gang.

The vet was lovely. She said I had a crunchy elbow and that it just needs plenty of drugs and rest. Maybe it popped out and in or luxated or something. She also found I had a tick so she showed TJam how to remove it. Then she said, "I'll get you an injecsheroony." I was a bit disappointed to find that it was actually just an injection, but after my injecsheroonies, she gave me a rich tea biscuit. A whole one! To myself! I am going to ask if we can change vets.

Plus she gave me a whole bottle of those lovely beef flavour tablets that I love.


And then TJam drove me home and I got back in my bed and I am ready for a lovely sleep, while TJam phones her friend Nerospal and tells her how much she appreciates what a fab friend she is. And how fab Jo is too.

Lifting and Backs

If your human throws stones into the van and then has to lean over to get them out and doesn't carry out back hygene and pulls her back, this is what your hall will look like. Probably for a few days too, til she can bend her knees and lift things PROPERLY. And no TJam, that does not mean you don't have to hoover. Although you probably won't anyway.

As you can tell by the look on my face, I am disgusted and a little indignant. And a little disbelieving. I am very subtle and complex.

TJams says she purpose put extra junk in the hall on purpose to create a lived in atmosphere. Obviously it is usually show home, but she didn't want to make you feel bad.

Loving Water

I love water! I love water! and I love lovely blue skies.

(but I only love water up to my elbows)

Balloons

At the weekend the humans abandoned the dogs to go to a sunny human birthday party.

Happy birthday cousin Xaja!

I would have liked to join you in your inflatable ball pool, bouncy castle thing, but I don't think it would have worked, what with my claws and all.

Horsey Achievement

Today I laid in the grass next to a horse.
In the old days I would have barked wildly in its face.
But not today.

In fact, once at the Dogs' Trust open day, I showed curiousity at a rescue pony, and I went up to it and when it sniffed me I barked and we both jumped out of our skins.

This horse has shown endless patience with me (in return for a few pieces of carrot) and now I choose to lie by it rather than anywhere else in the area (this was not posed).

Go me!
And go fabulous horse!

Winnie the Poo?

This weekend, TJam and the dogs went down to London town to visit the family, and they deserted me here at the homestead. I actually lounged around all day, sunbathed and ate my food in peace, but I purred and chirped when they came home so they felt suitably guilty.

On Saturday, they all went to the place where Winnie the Poo lives. They went with Piglet and Puppy (that's their spy names) and their parents. They didn't actually see Winnie, but TJam did think she saw a flash of yellow in the bushes, so who knows...

They also saw a herd of young and frisky cows (or maybe bulls as they had horns) but they managed to keep out of the way and safe.

It was lovely and sunny and at the end they all posed for a photo.

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?)