summer daze

Eeeek! Where is the summer going? Seems to be flying by. 

We went to Barnard Castle. It rained – a lot. We were pants – well, mostly. There was real ale though – yummm! And there was nice hot chocolate too! Clover had a fun little play with her new big pal Flynn, she can’t wait till she’s big and strong enough to play proper roughy-toughy with him! Then we came home and dried out.

Billy Woof - just coz he's handsome & shiny x

Then we went to Weardale, in the end … Setting off on the Friday night was scuppered – We were pretty much ready to roll and then Maisie & I popped out to get the car and trailer and then home to pick up the rest of the dogs, and found Tim three-legged!! I was really worried for him as he was clearly in some discomfort. Remembering to breathe and that he has previous form with seemingly-serious-but-not-really injuries I just gave him a cuddle and stayed calm for a bit. It was getting a bit late anyway so shelved the idea of setting off north for the night, thinking we were probably going to end up with a vet visit. Soon, though, the boy started to improve, and within an hour he was back to looning round the house and garden – sound as a pound!!! I never did find the source of the problem, wonder if something could have stung him? Anyway, miracle over, time for bed and then an early start. It’s quite a long drive (2 hours) up to the show but we arrived just in time to walk the first course. Maisie wasn’t too happy, there was a bit of birdscarer noise, and we didn’t run well together, I just can’t run her right at the moment, useless human. Tim, though, pulled out on of his best runs yet. It was a 3-5 Novice Olympia qualifier and he wasn’t far off clear, and fast!! Would be just typical of him to flukily get well placed in something like that and qualify for a final then go into a big ring and look like he’d never seen an agility course before!! Got to love him :) Anyway, of course we were e’d but he did some really special stuff on that and other runs.

We had a super evening in camp with Pimm’s and plum wine (not together!!), really enjoyable, sat out on the grass, steadily drinkin’ n’ chillin’! It is a really nice show, almost surprising as it’s full of big classes – champ and qualifiers – but it retains a small, friendly feel. The walks along the river and around are smashing too.

Sunday turned into a too hot day. Maisie & I managed a scrappy clear and then retired to the shade. Tim did OK again, nice bits but I also pulled him from his last run too – too hot. The day was marred by the gang having the most almighty brawl in our garden … Still don’t know what kicked it off but Maisie seriously nobbled poor Billy (the most unlikely pair to fall out ever), then when I grabbed her, Billy took it out on poor Tim who did react back but looked equally surprised. Good girl Clo kept her distance and just looked mildly surprised. Anyway, no blood spilt, just a lot of hideous noise, and peace returned as quickly as it went and no-one held any grudges. Slightly disturbing though, my gang are just not like that at all. Dogs will be dogs, I s’pose.

We’ve had some ace walks and playtimes at home in the long summer evenings and a blissful weekend off last weekend. Far too many fair weather dog-walking numpties around at the moment though. Also, I’ve been increasing worried by some dogs up the road – three English Bull Terriers who live in a garden we have to walk past to get up onto the fields. I’m sure they’re nice dogs really but the bloke who owns them stand gormlessly and lets them lunge very aggressively at the fence and gates and, as they’re all built like brick outhouses, they are very intimidating indeed. I was feeling really fed-up about this as the only other way onto the fields is down the road and along a single-track lane which is not much further but it had a blind corner and the odd lunatic vehicle speeds round it, making it feel unsafe to walk two dogs on the narrow footpath, let alone more. Then I made a remarkable discovery!!!... A few years ago I saw a historical map of the area and spotted a right of way via “cat steps” up a snicket between cottages. By complete chance, Maisie wandered off on a sniff up on the field and I meandered after her, only to literally almost stumble down said steps!! So now we have this awesome new route onto the fields which it’s hard to believe I’ve not found before as it’s like 80yds from home!! lol! (They've obviously been rebuilt since - errr - 'historical' times ;o) & the land happens to be owned by a master craftsman waller.) Happy days. 

Cat steps. Enid Blyton couldn't have written a better Secret Way!

At last! Someone who can tire Tim out! :o)

This weekend we should be back at Barnard Castle for a Hare n Hounds long weekend … fingers and paws crossed. 

Oh, and to end the most waffle-rambliest blog ever … Clover’s posh name has been approved by the KC: Mioruilt Golden Clover – ‘mioruilt’ (it should have accents) being Gaelic for ‘miracle’, coz she so is. xxxx

AKA Little Miss Norty! :P