Dog Collared!

Well, its been a hectic couple of weeks. I've been doing some extra hours at work and we were away last weekend so there's not been any time for adding new blogs. That's not to say that there hasn't been any new material. With Sally around there's always some adventure or other to report on.

I thought I should share a little adventure that we had on Sunday afternoon. When Sally went to church. However, she was in no mood for repentance!

This is how it happened. We were almost home on our journey back from the weekend away when we decided to park the car and take a walk by a local canal. Only fair to Sally who had spent more than her fair share of the weekend either in the car or on a short lead. This was a place we felt safe and happy about taking her off lead. When will we ever stop making that mistake????

We were having a lovely family time; Joseph had found a rope swing, over a little arched bridge, hanging from a beautiful old tree and was swinging over the canal while I was taking snap shots. Tony joined him first then Sally joined in running along side the canal, barking when she watched Joseph swing out towards the water. When I look back it was then that she was getting a little overexcited and ready to do her own thing. Next to the tree, which was dazzling in its Autumn splendour stood a tiny, well kept country Methodist chapel. I hadn't noticed but sure enough the door was open. Cue adventure!

As quickly as a flash Sally had sussed out her opportunity. She scrambled up the banking, in through the church door, spotted a worshipper (in the form of an old lady) and bounded up the central isle as fast as her wet and muddy paws could caper (she'd just been swimming in the canal!) and jumped up at the lady landing her one of her sloppiest kisses. By this time Tony was in hot pursuit and just as he was about to pull Sally back the lady looked Tony in the eye and said 'You should have more control than that!' Tony apologised profusely and grabbed Sally by her collar to frog march her out of the building. Just then the vicar caught Tony's eye. Tony does some lay preaching and is known in our area. The vicar jovially shouted 'I see you have her tightly by the collar Tony!' Tony quickly replied ' Yes vicar and I promise I'll leave your dog collar well alone.' before making his hasty retreat.

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

As the Nights Draw In

Its happening, have you noticed too? Even though we've just experienced a mini miracle of a string of sunny days and clear evening skies the clock can not be stopped and the nights are starting to draw in.

Sally's walks have been getting a little earlier each evening and still I find myself stumbling through the dark on my return. Its not a bad experience, maybe a little freaky every now and then but mostly quite enjoyable. The other night Joseph came with me and he spotted a fox staring at us further down the path in the woods and 2 deer in one of the sweeping fields we walked through. Owls were hooting and bats were swooping around our heads. Sally stayed close and all was well. So good to return once again to our cosy little home, kick our wellies off and enjoy a bit of supper.

We are starting to think about getting organised for our winter walks. There is talk of safe routes, reflective clothing and even (maybe a little extreme) head torches! I quite fancy one as it means I'll still have both hands free. Its so dark around our village as street lamps stop half way down the road because half the community argued the case that street lights go against the character of the village and cause light pollution. Aye oh, that's just the way it is. I can live with it (or without them depending on the way you look at it)!

It won't be too long before the clocks go back and we're finding it a little harder to wake up in the mornings too. That's when the early dog walks start to feel like a chore. The cost of having a dog.

Anyway all this talk has reminded us of the time we got Sally and took her out on wintry strolls. Here is a poem that Tony wrote about that time:-

First Morning: 6am

Even the stars are still asleep

As Sally and I tread softly

Through the meadows.

I hear an owl hooting

Underneath the camouflage

Cover of the dark wood.

Somewhere down the far

Away lane headlights slice

Through the darkness,

Like an explorer hacking

Through the Amazon jungle.

An out of service bus trundles

Down the deserted road,

Sally is far more interested

In the state of a lamppost.

A cockerel startles the hills

With its shrill alarm clock cry.

The bank of dark clouds roll back

Retreating like the tide.

'I see you're taking your dog for a walk.'

The moon says with a cheesy grin.

'Looks like I'll be seeing plenty of you

From now on,'

The moon chuckles with its lopsided smile.

Sally looks up and sniffs.

Today, the meadows,

Tomorrow

The moon.

One Steep Hill, One Steep, Steep Learning Curve

The perfect day - or so it would have appeared!

Tony had been away all the previous week, having a whale of a time in the Lake District doing lots of outward bound activities. He had also been preaching on Sunday and out every evening this week. I needed a little of his attention!

So it was decided that after an early morning assembly in a nearby village primary school he would return home and we'd go out for a walk with Sally and then pop into our favourite coffee shop for a light lunch before we both had to get on with our working day. What made it even more idyllic was that after a couple of very dodgy rainy weeks the weather had finally turned, the sun was shining and birds were singing cheerfully in the tree tops. All was well. Not for long!!

We drove to a rural village about 5 minutes away and got our wellies on ready for a walk up a steep field and into some woods towards the 'Fairy Steps'. We've done this walk a few times so could judge that we would be back out in about half an hour in time to get some lunch at Beetham Nurseries. (The scones there are second to none.) We walked and chatted all the way up the field and into the wood. That is me and Tony chatted and got into the wood. Sally never quite made it, preferring to skirt the edge of the wood in the fields running parallel to us. Tony was not very pleased. Rightly so, Sally was not responding to our calls for her to join us. Time was against us. We had to get Sally so we came out of the woods and shouted for her. By now she was nowhere in sight. We thought we could get her to show herself by playing the reverse pshychology card. It usually does the trick. We both walked back to the bottom of the field as if we were leaving while shouting: 'Bye then Sally, we're going.' It had no effect. Tony was getting cross. I was getting worried, where on Earth could she be. By now we had run out of time for our lunch date.

I went to fetch the car while Tony returned to the woods. When I got back I imagined seeing him dragging her out of the wood but I was wrong. I couldn't see either of them, I could only hear Tony's distant calls. Eventually he returned without his dog. My heart sank. When he got down to me we looked at the time and decided that I would go one more time into the woods and he would shout me when it was time for us both to go to work. I was frantic. By this time I didn't care what my anxious calls sounded like or what I would look like to anybody walking through the woods. I just wanted Sally back safe and sound. I ran through the woods, first of all sticking to the paths then, when I thought I might have heard a dog bark I headed towards it off the beaten path. To no avail. Eventually I turned back and heard Tony, the only one of us with the time on us, calling for me to get out of the woods and head back home and to work. I realised I had lost my sense of direction and was in a private part of the woods. This was ridiculous. Then in my hast I slipped, got covered in mud and cut my hand. I was feeling pretty desperate and quite pathetic by then. How could this day have gone so wrong?

When I found my way out and back down the field to Tony we both decided we would knock on a few doors to let people know about our wandering dog incase anyone found her, then we would both return after work to search for her once again. Just as Tony knocked on the first door a Range Rover drove up to us and the passenger wound his window down.

'Have you lost a Border Collie?' 'Yes' came Tony's swift reply. This guy had got both our full attention. The conversation went like this:-

'Where have you been?'

'In the woods'

'Did you have your dog off the lead?'

'Yes'

'Why?'

'Why what?'

'What is in the woods?'

'Nothing, I thought there was nothing so it was OK to take her off the lead.'

'There's pheasants in the woods, our pheasants and they are worth a lot to us.'

'Oh, Sorry, I honestly didn't realise. I thought it was OK to have her off the lead in there.'

'Never take your dog off the lead in woods again, ever!'

At that the big burly driver got out his side of the vehicle, opened the boot and brought a very sheepish and familiar looking dog round to us by the scruff of its neck.

All I could say was a pathetic 'Thank you'.

Most of me was relieved and amazed at having Sally, almost given up for the afternoon, back with me. Part of me was dazed at finding myself, again at the end of someones wrath. I thought we had it covered after our escapade with the angry farmer after Sally rounded up his sheep. We won't be letting that happen again in a rush. Now its dawning on me that its not only sheep I have to consider, but most other living things too. I reckon its another lesson learned but I'm sure that I'm not at the end of this very steep learning curve.

I'll keep you posted!

Anything in White will Do!

Here's the next Arran instalment.

About the middle of our holiday and we were deciding what we would do for the afternoon. The last time we came we went on a beautiful walk known as 'The King's Cave Walk', aptly named as it is a circular walk down to King's Cave and back to the car park near Blackwaterfoot. The scenery all the way around is absolutely stunning. It starts in woodland, opens up to fields then drops down cliffs with open ocean views to the craggy caves before taking you back up through woodland to the car park and safely returned to your vehicle. Once this option was offered it was quickly snaffled up. It was reasoned that it would be a new experience to sample it in Spring rather than in Autumn and that as the sun was shining it was as good a day as any for a bracing walk along the coast.

It wasn't long before adults, children and dog were all positioned in the car, raring to go. Coats? check. Walking boots? check. Sally's lead? check. Drinks and snacks? check. Cash for coffee and cakes? check. Been to the loo? oh Joseph - go back and hurry up! Everybody ready now? Check. Finally we were off.

One of the great things about this walk is that there are no sheep in sight. That should mean that its an ideal walk to let Sally off her lead, which we did. Maybe we should have thought a little more carefully. You see, this is a very popular walk on Arran and attracts lots of holiday makers. People choose which way round to do this walk so although we didn't see anyone going in the same direction as us we did meet quite a few groups and couples heading towards us. Sally was still very young and bouncy and hadn't quite got it in her not to jump up at people. What we discovered on this walk is that she has a particular penchant for anybody in white. If she can't have a white fluffy sheep, anything in white is fair game. Although it seems to me to be an alien concept to want to dress from head to foot in white while on a muddy path we did meet a few holiday makers who did just that. These ladies took a particular pride in their appearance. The last thing they wanted was a big muddy dog jumping up at them!

I noticed one such white clad lady coming towards us, about half way around the walk, and tried my best to collar Sally but it was in vein. As soon as she clocked the whiteness approaching she headed off at a speed of knots. All I could do was hand Tony the lead and tell him to get Sally off the lady. Way too embarrassing for me! I hid behind the boys (My nephew Sam had joined us). The lady in question was very good about the muddy paw marks but I could tell it had not made her day!

We had a fab walk. We walked it anti clock wise this time so got different views which were equally stunning. The sky put on a spectacular light show as it displayed a magical rainbow over the fields. The boys laughed and played together the whole way and Sally bounded on ahead then bounded back to us looking the perfect picture amongst the heather and long grass. All had gone well. As we neared the car park I almost froze. Guess who had got back there about the same time as us?? Yes, you guessed it, the lady in white! The trouble was that Sally saw her first. She ran up much more excitedly than the first time and jumped up at the lady taking all 4 paws off the ground time and time again. The lady's smile disappeared. Tony, again, was shoved forward with the lead. Eventually he got Sally away. As the lady passed me she said in a menacing tone: 'You have a very bouncy dog!' With that we were away. Back in the car and driving away from Blackwaterfoot like highwaymen on the run. Naughty, naughty Sally!

Sally Went AWOL again!

Had a great time this morning. After talking about it for the past 6 months I finally got my act together, met up with a friend and took both our dogs out for a walk. Sally and Rosie were so excited to see each other we stood well back for the first couple of minutes and let them bound around like giddy kippers.

Up into the woods (and I mean up) then into some fields to be greeted by a magnificent view of the rising fells. It did the soul good just being up there. One thing I've become much more aware of since taking Sally out on walks is the changing of the seasons. Today I noticed some vibrant purple heathers, green leaves turning all shades of gold and plenty of ripening blackberries and elderberries. Such a rich season. I love it.

On the way back a very familiar thing happened. After chatting with my friend I looked up to see that Sally was ... nowhere. First of all I was a little worried, after all she'd never been here before, maybe she had got lost. I retraced my steps and did plenty of hollering. After around 5 minutes I spotted her milling around, completely ignoring my calls! She had done it again. Gone AWOL about 5 minutes before she would have to have the lead put on. She does this all the time around the walks in our village but I thought that was because she knows the routes like the back of her paw. I now realise that she must calculatedly take notice of every route and work out a place to go hide on her return. I really think that she is that clever. Once I realised she was playing a game with me and that I had no way of catching her I headed away from the woods with my friend and her beautiful and loyal Golden Retriever as if we were continuing home. Once Sally knows I'm not hanging around she comes running. We continued chatting and headed for the far end of the next field. When we looked around we noticed that Rosie had disappeared too! This was ridiculous. Where on Earth could she have gone? Then we heard a bark, it was unmistakeably a Sally bark. We turned to face the woods where the sound was coming from. The next thing that happened was a beautiful sight. First Sally came bounding out of the woods followed by Rosie bounding behind her. Well well, Rosie had gone back to retrieve Sally. What a good dog! Just like something from a Lassie film. Bless. Warms the cockles of your heart!

Not my new Fat Face bag!

As I write Sally has weedled her way onto the sofa with me and is flopped out resting her face on my foot. Looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. It's hard to believe what a little rascal she has been tonight!

To be fair she's had a pretty boring day. It was Joseph's first day back at school so I pampered him and drove him there through the wind and rain then went shopping before going to work. That meant that there was no time for any walkies til after tea. No good for Sally. Like a child with ADHD it was absolutely no good at all. In the end she lost the plot, ran downstairs, pulled all my stuff out of my new (and much loved) Fat Face bag and started chewing it up - just like the time she found my favourite old eiderdown (See picture).

I was none too pleased but that's all it took to shake me from my chair, get my coat and wellies on and reach for the lead. We had a walk together in the dark, and surprisingly it felt great. Its funny but without a dog you wouldn't catch me walking around in the dark and now I realise how much I have been missing.

It was a full moon (or near enough) tonight and the sky looked magical. The moonlight landed in the puddles that I purposely squelched through, like a kid, well no-one was looking and it felt fab, and the wind rustled through the hedgerow like some mysterious ancient musical instrument playing a tune just for us. I came back feeling more awake and alive than when I set off; wowed by the wonder of nature.

Good old Sally. She's sending out the zs now so I guess the walk did the trick for her. It certainly did for me.

The Bleeping thing!

Ever been to Arran? If you have you'll know what a beautiful little Scottish island it is. 'Scotland in miniature' is a phrase often used to describe it as it contains highlands and lowlands, forests, glens and glades as well as some delightful coastline too. If you're lucky it won't be long before you see a Highland coo! Notice the rhyming there? OK its terrible, I'll stop and leave the poetry to other more gifted types.

We first discovered the Isle of Arran a couple of years ago when we came in Autumn and stayed at Machrie on the mid west side of the Island. We loved it so much it didn't take us too long to get back. We were there again this Easter, staying in a little holiday cottage in Lamlash. Machrie, Lamlash, don't the names sound so cool!

This was only our second time away from home with Sally and we decided she would be happiest sleeping in her crate in the boot of my car as it is a space she knows and normally seems to enjoy. We said goodnight and went inside. We could now rest our weary heads and gain some energy for the week ahead. All was well. That was until about midnight when the car alarm went off. Yep, sure enough Sally was moving around, hoping to get our attention, and had set it off. We were surrounded by other properties and to say we were glad when the alarm went silent is an understatement. Off to sleep - for about an hour! For the rest of that first night the alarm went off around 6 times. What a nightmare. I reckon we let everybody know of our presence on the peaceful little island that night!

You may wonder why I didn't just turn off the alarm. If only it were that simple! If only life were that simple! I must have the only car on the planet that has a permanent alarm. I took the thing to our local garage where the mechanic tried his best to switch the thing off but drew a blank. It works whether the car is locked or not and can't be switched off without breaking the thing. Would you believe it? Very tempting at times.

Funny thing is Sally knows how to make it start to get our attention. When she is happy and settled she never sets it off. When she wants to get our attention off it goes time and again. Bless!!!! It didn't go off again the whole holiday. Thank goodness for that!