Rain Rain and more Rain

So I'm thinking about building an ark, not to share but just for me, my toys and my Frisbee. It's rained now for days non stop. Road works due to flooding in my village means going walkies further afield is less attractive and more time consuming.
So today I woke determined not to sit in doors but to face the day, unsurprisingly it rained and rained and rained some more. I headed up to Crichton castle where the gale force winds were so strong I could barely walk forwards up the hill. My ears were pinned right back and the driving rain meant my eyes were tight shut. No chance of Frisbee today in this weather, mum braved the weather with me but it was a short jaunt along the path and then a quick jog back to the car.

Feeling disappointed and in a huff we headed back home.

Mum offered to help me put up the Christmas decorations in my room as she was decorating the living room anyway.This cheered me up no end, my stocking is out ready for Santa and my toys are all neatly put away in my room. So Iv'e been awfully good and hoping Santa will visit me, I try to leave food out for him and his reindeer but it's just too tempting not to eat it myself. I think Santa understands that about dogs :)

East Lothian days

So for the past few days we have been exploring East Lothian making the most of the patchy sunshine :)

Dad also has a new camera so he's been testing it out on the road trips,  check out the YouTube video below, guest staring yours truly as always :) . If I may say so myself still looking dapper in HD. ; )

Argyll Again

So a week ago Saturday we set off for the north west coast to Argyll, back to the big house with the Frisbee lawn, conservatory and the massive garden by the loch.

After initially settling in after packing pretty much the Kitchen sink we were soon joined by the Son, Partner and granddaughter. After teaching her how to play throw so I can fetch we were soon house bound due to diminishing light and the descending of the Scottish Midge cloud of death.

The next day was billed to be full of Frisbee, walks, swims and general holiday super-ness but unfortunately dad got a stomach bug and so spent most of the next three to four days on the toilet or sleeping on the couch.

Mum and the guests headed in to town for a look about and finished the day with fish and chips.

Next to arrive on Wednesday was the grandparents, by now the weather was a heat wave, Dad was feeling a bit better and I had the most amazing time swimming in the sea loch and spent every minute of day light wandering through the house and to the garden with my ball.

I improved my throwing accuracy by managing to be able to throw my ball through the railings of the decking for appropriate human to pick up and throw.

On the final day we were all packed and ready to go for our hike, dog food was packed as well as ball and water bottle. We were off on a five hour walk from village shop to old historical Iron Age village museum. Along the way many sights to take in including Roman bridges and Wolf Rock. (some-what of a pilgrimage for me as wolf Rock is an actual rock and is legend to be marking the place where the last Wolf of Argyll was killed.) After folding carefully their very vague instructions in to a pocket, we set off in to the amazing sunshine to begin our walk. After a bit of debate over where to start and which way to go ...... we were almost on the right track when Nana slipped and broke her ankle. 

Being the most highly trained member of the team I was the first in to action – sniffing the injury and making an assessment of the damage. After trying a nearby house for assistance with no avail I headed back down the track to fetch help leaving Granda with the patient and taking mum with me for dexterity support- (after all not being able to speak the lingo or acquire tools, I needed human back up – even if she did slow me down). 

Almost reaching the main road we came across a pick-up coming towards us containing a forestry commission park ranger. I flagged him down with my tail and asked Mum to translate specific instructions to fetch the injured party and bring them safely down the track to the main road. Mum did an ok job but not being the professional that I am we had to follow the truck and eventually I had to get in the passenger seat and give specific whisker and nose instructions myself. But hey, we got there in the end.

Whilst the Ranger and Granda helped Nana in to the truck, Mum and I headed down the track to meet Dad who was making his way to meet us to take Nana to A and E. Which was over 30 minutes drive away in the next town.

Whilst Nana and Granda waited in A and E and Nana got a cast fitted to her very broken ankle. Mum, Dad and I went in to the town (Lochgilphead) to look around. We found a smoked fish shop and Dad bought a smoked trout which we shared as a picnic in the car. I must say it tasted amazing and they generously allowed me to have all the best bits (Head, Tale and Skin)

Good Times.

After returning to the house to wait for the grandparents to hobble home, I made the most of my last night by tucking up on a sofa made for three J

Best Dog holiday ever!

Monster holiday at Loch Ness

So! I was dragged on an unexpected holiday for four days in the highlands of Scotland last weekend. Mum has been working extra hard at her new job and needed a break, so we went to a place near Loch Ness. 

I knew that something was up when my bed basket was put in the car along with me. My bed has never left the house before so this was new.

It was a long journey to the holiday house and the weather was very changeable, as we got to the high ground we hit a snow storm.

 I mostly slept through the storm and the scenery when the sun came out after was spectacular.

The house we went to was really snug and spacious with a fire and under floor heating. 

In the evening there were big snowflakes and in the morning I could play in the snowy wonderland it left behind.

Each morning we set out on a new adventure, we saw Deer, stags, castles and the Caledonian Canal loch gates at Fort Augustus. No Loch Ness monster though. 

Really want to go back next year – 4 out of 4 paws for pawfection

A few highlight snaps from the holiday

Selfie of me and mum

Snow?

What snow?

New Year at Crichton Castle

So after staying up late for the Bells for New year it was a weary roll out of bed at 11am for Mum this morning. We decided the roads would be quiet and we would head for the rolling hills and views of Crichton Castle.

We invited some friends along too

After having some running around fun with the Frisbee, the ball and Leigha-Jay, we headed for a cup of tea in the car. This was the first cup of tea in the new car and Mum, Leigha-Jay and I had great fun playing house in the back of the car.

Mum put the kettle on and Leigha-Jay helped get all the things out of the bag and arrange them ready for making the tea and coffee. Leigha-Jay's Dad and my Dad talked cars and spent time checking out each others car engines and comparing engine sizes as guys do.

Once the tea was made and all the things were put away, Leigha-Jay pitched in and helped with the cleaning. It was all very muddy in the back of the car with peoples shoes and my muddy fur so we had a lot of cleaning to do.

We had a really nice time watching out of the window looking at other people and other dogs going for a walk up to the castle.

Christmas Stuff

Hello all,
I haven't blogged in a while but at this time of year Mum seems to have the time to sit down and write up what I have been jotting down in my diary for the last few months.
A few weeks ago we had a guest come to stay, well actually he was a runaway that mum and dad brought in from the cold. He made himself quite at home, ate my food, drank my water and slept on my sofa given half the chance. Only issue was he wasn't too keen on me being here, he wanted me gone and my Mum and Dad all to himself. So eventually we were split from arguing by Diesel being sent to to the Kitchen for time-out (Ha ha).When his owner was finally located, Diesel left the building and what a relief, I can tell you. I spent the rest of the night reassuring myself that I was the one and only puppy in the house and that this Dog was not a new Christmas present.

Speaking of Christmas it is a year of big presents, mum and dad have splashed out on a new car. The new car is a bit odd, in that it is the same as the old car, same shape, same size, same inside but a different colour, different sound , different smell. The new car was needed because mum crashed the old one (thanks Mum). Mum not happy because Dad is making her drive the old dented one to work everyday until it won't work any more, whilst dad get to drive the shiny new one. This is ok with me because I'm with dad most of the day so I get to be chauffeured around in the new one.
So under the tree this year is not that many gifts but mum is satisfied that she has them all wrapped in time.

I say under the tree it's a tiny tree, more of a Christmas scene created in the fire place, but it's quite cute and the use of the acoustic guitar make it very rock, folk.

A slight hic-up with the presents is that Iv seen my present already. I located it with my nose amongst the other gifts before it was wrapped, now all I have to do is sit by my stocking with big eyes , tilted head and ears forward until she lets me have it early.

The final bit of news is that I have learnt a whole new word, it's called HAM ( large roast ham joint) and it's the most fantastic food in the whole world. A lot of the past few days has been spent sitting staring lovingly at the large tin foil shape either in the fridge or on the side board.
So Merry Christmas Everyone !!

Birthday Road Trip

So another year passes and the big 4 arrives, I can't believe where the time has gone.

The morning started early, we were on the road by 9:30am heading towards Crichton Castle. The forecast was for sunny spells and showers but in fact the weather couldn't have been more perfect. Autumn sun shining on colouring leaves and I might venture to say that with a slightly brisk walk it could even be considered a warm day.

We parked up and read the notices, there was no information pertaining to the banning of dogs, always a good sign,  better still nothing to say I have to be on lead either, bonus.

Looking at the track ahead and the rolling hills of long grass it was a gun dog's dream location. I bounced high over, in and out of the tall grass; small seeds clinging to my fur making me look less than glamorous. At the top of the short walk we were not disappointed by the stunning views and enormous castle. It was positively picnic weather at the top but we had left the supplies in the car. So after a run around and some photographs we headed back. 

Just before leaving, a wedding party started to arrive to the church we were parked next to. What a perfect day and location for the happy couple who had opted to have their photographs taken near the castle.

Upon arriving home there was more birthday treats in store. My good friend Nico had come round to play. I was a little cautious at first as I ventured into my house sniffing the air of foreign dog smells. However, I soon identified the culprit and was excited to be spending an afternoon chasing round the garden together.

Thank you to everyone on Facebook for my Happy Birthday messages, I have had a great day.