Early Birds

No, I'm not referring to the feildfares or black headed gulls who are still sitting on the grass of the Rec as early as we are out there, but the dog walkers and dogs. No matter how early you get out there there always seems to be someone about. Today it's not much after 07:00 and as we reach the Rec we can see in the distance, 2 year old handsome boy-Westie, Jasper, and the "old lady with the black poodle" (who seems to shuffle off at the approach of anyone, dragging her dog behind her, quickly out of sight)

Jasper spots us too, and is soon making a bee-line in our direction. He likes a good run around with me, and the H often joins in. Both Jasper and I are quickly grimed up with the dew and dust, so that a shower seems likely this afternoon. The man gets chatting to Dad about getting "them groomed" and is fascinated to know that Dad does us himself, getting supplies from the Wahl European service centre which happens to be in Herne Bay, not far from here.

The man thinks he may go look at prices and have a go himself. Dad offers to show him the (very) basics but warns him that professional groomers we are not!

Mum's off to look after Diamond, Dad heads in the direction of the barge - it's "our turn" on the volunteer rota, so some pics and an update on that soon. Dad comes home with some mildly grubby bed linen from a lady called Nicole (ahhh Nicole? Papa?). Mum raises an eyebrow. Some unlikely story about a couple with a Dutch barge alongside at Cambria's wharf concerned to find that the town has no laundrette. So now we're "taking in washing".......

(The fragrant and showered) Deefski

Dodger

With everywhere in the UK except here apparently blanketed in snow, it seems like a good idea to stay put. Diamond and Mum though, decide to jet off to Glasgow to meet a gang of chums for some socialising over the weekend. Look out Glasgow. While they're still in the air it comes on "Sally Traffic" that Aberdeen airport is closed with all flights being diverted, so we are waiting to hear whether the Dynamic Duo are down safely.

Here, as I said, just rain, all be it very cold rain with a definite nip in the air. Won't take much to turn it into wintry showers. On the Rec we meet another new kid - 3 month old red and white staffie, Dodger. Very sweet. He's quite timid but we seem to bring him out of himself and he's soon chasing about. Megan (tart) as usual changes from stately Dowager Duchess to coy young thing bouncing around and flashing her eyes at the "young man". Cradle-snatcher, I say.

Have a great weekend

Deefski

Banjo on my Knee

None of the forecast snow yet; we wake up to beautiful clear skies and bright sunshine. That biting wind is still blowing, though. We get two walks today, one round the Rec to let off steam, and have a good run around with brown nondescript terrier (no offence!) Murphy and one, later to Challock Forest. In between the humans have a bit of a lazy morning reading the papers and what-not, and Dad scoots up to the allotment to give it one last tidy-up mow before winter really sets in.

Mum's off to the shops with Diamond in the "normal" car, so Dad and we dogs are 2CV-ing it to the forest. The leaves are all down - the chestnut, larch and even the beech are in stark skeleton form, and the forest floor is a blanket of the russets and browns of slightly soiled, bedraggled autumn leaves.

Here we meet and chase about with 6 month old black and white Staffie, Banjo. "Why Banjo?" asks Dad. Well, when he was a pup he used to like perching on my knee when ever I sat down, and "her indoors" called him Banjo on my Knee, and the name stuck. Fair enough.

It's a good walk, and now we're all crashing out in various corners of the house to sleep at each other.... Dad included

Deefer

Scooter

Once again, apologies for not keeping this up. There's been so much on we've barely had time to draw breath, but now, at last, a shot of the rather gorgious brindled Staffie, "Scooter". She has a rather fetching fuchsia coloured neck tie - her Mum and Dad say that this is to make sure that such a butch doggie is not taken to be a bloke!

Being dogs ourselves, of course, we have no such confusion but here she is at 2CV camp (that "corrugated iron shed on wheels" in the background is called a Citroen H-Van) and I managed to get well wound up every time she was racing around and I was loose.

Regular readers may recall that at a previous camp I tested her patience to the max and then got shouted at (which they all said I deserved) - this time was a bit easier and I got used to her more quickly.

I think you'll agree she is a beautiful girl

Deefer