Irish Rover

Today we pass a significant date in Project Erroll. If you've been keeping up there is a change to Dad's work situation which had a tentative date of 30th June, but because that was more than 3 months in the future, there was a risk, allegedly, that his employer could extend the time-scale without the need for Dad's agreement. This was a bit unsettling, so as we are now all up for the project around here, it's good to know that this can now only be taken away from us with Dad's say-so. Nuff said. Mind you, we do wonder whether he might be celebrating a bit quick with the pigs' ears he found for us in Morrison's tonight - look at the brand!

I have mentioned already that we got clipped to within an inch or our lives at the weekend. At this Spring clip, which coincides with the local birdies building nests, Mum and Dad like to leave the clippings out in case the birds want soft fur to line their nests with, in this case in an old onion-sets bag. You can see from the white fluffy appearance of the bag that the birds have started on this already, and have been pulling hanks of fur through the net, In Autumn, as Dad prunes and tidies, and clears out nest boxes, he reckons he can identify which dog's fur got used from a familiarity with the texture. The late Meggie's always a bit coarse, Haggis's felt-soft and very dense, mine soft and wispy and fly-away. Not a one of us have the "proper" show dog Westie double coat.

The other two pics are just the garden this Spring, the Magnolia Stellata out front and the primroses under the quince in the orchard garden

Look after yourself

Deefs

Clipped and Shampoo'd

Clipped at the weekend and now shampoo'd we are allegedly sparkly white, sweet, fragrant, silky and cute. We are certainly full of beans and Haggis in particular, rescued from his thick shaggy and presumably over-heating coat has taken on a new lease of life in willingness to play rough and tumble with me.

Mother of Ben (black collie cross, frequent Rec-walker, him of the peepy-toed black-with-white-toes feet) is not so sure and chides Dad for clipping us "in this weather". Amusingly mother of Luca (brown lurcher) jokingly gives out to Bens' Mum that she's only cold because she stands around in one place on the Rec chatting instead of walking! We are, in fact, now only as short-haired as both Ben and Luca always are.

Luca is great fun. His Mum comes equipped with a long-arm ball-throwing "spoon" and hardish-foam balls in two bright colours. He is happy to chase one while I chase the other, and we have a great game together. We move to up behind the bowls pavilion where Luca's Mum plays "tennis" which involves lobbing the balls against the walls of the pavilion and Luca trying to catch the rebounds. Dad wonders that the bowling fraternity don't get upset by the smack of balls against their nice new walls, but the lady says "Oh, you can only do it when there's no-one in there!". That's alright then!

Meanwhile, Diamond is about to go back into hospital for the next burst of medical treatment. Good luck Diamond - we are rooting for you. We know this is not going to be an easy one.

Deefski