Hurrah! Just got back from the vets and the great news is that it is only a sprain and nothing more serious. I still have to take it easy for a week or so but other than that no problem. Phew - what a relief. I really did not fancy the idea of surgery defiling my perfect body. I think mum and dad are a bit relieved too as they can now carry on with some things they were planning to do and also do not have to ship over loads more dosh to cover expensive veterinary costs.

Just got to sort out a minor digestive problem now and I will be perfect. More pills, but only for five days. Then I will be ready to take on the world again.

Its not a problem for me, but apparently I am still causing a bit of a problem by waking up too early and screaming the house down. Don't they realise that by then I am starving hungry? Well actually I think they might have just realised it (with a little help from the nice vet lady) so I suspect I will be getting my dinner a bit later in the evening in future.

One cause for concern is that several times recently I seem to have heard the word "neutered" being bandied about. If an assault on my manhood is being planned I will not be a happy bunny but other than kick and scream I'm not sure what I can do to prevent it.

Other than that all is well in Djangoland. I am still trying to convince them that I should be pack leader but most of the time they don't seem to agree. However, I will live in hope and keep trying.

Just a quick update from my sickbed. Have to say the first couple of days I was pretty miserable and stayed in my bed (see photo) lots as it was hurting. However, hurt seems to have eased off, I have sussed out how to get around quite well on three legs, and as a result I am nearly back to my normal self except on three legs. Tuesday it is back to the nice vet lady to try and figure out once and for all what I have actually done. Will get back to you all as soon as I know myself.

Sometimes days just don't finish up the way you expect! Today I was really looking forward to our planned walk to Antugnac to see my mate Lily, and sure enough we had a really interesting stroll through places I had not yet ventured, had a great run around with my best mate, and then had a nice stroll home. Then I crawled into bed as I was knackered. When I woke up a few hours later, my left back leg was not working! Not just sore - not working. Now us dogs can be pretty good at getting around on three legs but it is pretty inconvenient when you need a poo and only one back leg works. Mum and dad thought a couple of hours more rest would do the trick but when that was not the case I was whisked off to that nice lady vet. It probably happened when I was chasing around with my mate but I have got an inflamed knee and could well have done some ligament damage as well. She stuck a needle in me and I'm now on anti inflamatories and joint pills and have got to go back on Tuesday to assess the damage further. Apparently the worst case scenario is surgery to fix a torn ligament but let's hope it does not come to that, eh? And it should have been such a lovely day! I suppose I am just going to be a bit more careful how I dash about in future.

Sorry to bother you again so soon after my last chat but I was just bursting to tell you the news. For the last few mornings my dad has been taking me up to the vineyards for a walk and it was great fun. Then this afternoon, they both took me up there again and LET ME OFF THE LEAD! Oh the freedom of the open spaces. I was able to run hither and thither without hindrance and it was wonderful.

Not only that but Steven appeared with the three "ginger ones" as my mum calls them - three stonking great Hungarian wire haired vislas. I have to say that was a scary moment because I've never seen dogs that big and they growled at me a bit so I had to hide behind legs for safety.

Phew - what an afternoon! Just had to tell you all about it. OK, you can go back to whatever you were doing now.

My teeth are causing me a problem. Not my nice pointy puppy teeth, but my big adult chomping set which is now trying to force its way through. In other words, I am teething. In order to alleviate this I do what all sensible puppies and babies do – I chew on everything in sight. Now generally this is not considered a problem until furniture becomes the focus of my attention. It is not really furniture but I have become particularly partial to a wooden plant trolley in the conservatory and enjoy chewing the corners. In an effort to dissuade me from this practice my mum firstly tried smearing it with some yellow concoction called English mustard. I found this quite tasty. Then she tried a red gunge called hot chilli sauce and I must say that I found this complimented the bits of wood rather well. The thing that really spoiled the party for me was when she coated it in clove oil, an evil smelling and foul tasting stuff that I cannot stand. Now it is appearing on table corners, chair legs, and all likely nibble points, completely ruining my attempts at relieving my teething discomfort, so instead I have to make do with plastic bottles and knotted tea towels.

In the evenings I usually enjoy a few hours comfortably curled up on my mum’s lap. However, the other evening I just could not get comfortable, and I was also feeling a bit chilly. Good old mum recognised this and grabbed one of my doggy duvets and wrapped me up. It was great! I slept like a baby as you can see from the photo.

We went shopping in Carcassonne today. They got my message the other day that the cage in the back of the car was not to my liking so I travelled on mum’s lap. It was great and we got to go to loads of places. The only one I was allowed in was Tridome Garden Centre which was enormous and had a special shop for doggy bits. I chose a new collar and lead as well as a bigger food bowl, as my other one was getting a bit small for the amount of food I now eat. There was a lovely lady assistant who made a fuss of me and also two little girls who just loved their faces being kissed. I like this shopping game.

The new collar and lead were tried out on my afternoon walk but in order to maintain my position as leader of this pack I made sure that they were not seen to be particularly effective by keeping up a good strong 45 degree pull all the way round. You just cannot let these humans think that some new bits of equipment and a few hours of watching the Dog Whisperer entitles them to become top dog.

All that towing my dad round the block has pooped me so I am off for a lie down.

As expected, what a hectic few days I have had since my last communication. Saturday we set off to Aunty Mary and Uncle Tim’s for the day with me in my cage in the back of the car for the first time. I was not too happy about this as I much prefer a nice soft lap, so I expressed my displeasure by regurgitating the contents of my breakfast and mid morning snack all over my bed and cage halfway through the journey. Surprisingly this did not provoke a hostile reaction – more one of sympathy for me “suffering from car sickness”. Little did they know!

We eventually got there safe and sound and, after a cursory inspection of the house and garden, I settled down for a bit of a rest whilst they started to open the first of many bottles. Honestly, I don’t know where they put all this fluid. I decided to adopt a policy of being well behaved for the day as I felt it was in my best interests to extract maximum sympathy and cuddles rather than lots of shouting and admonishment. To this end I dutifully curled up in my cage during meal times and sat on laps for most of the rest of the day. There were a couple of walks to enjoy, except when the Mayor’s dogs started to sound off as we passed, which scared the life out of me.

That evening some neighbours came round for dinner and more bottles were opened. However, they did bring their children Chloe and Oliver, with them who were quite nice and for whom I put on a special show of my now famous “sit – paw” routine. No photos as dad forgot the camera!

My tactics for the day paid off as I was rewarded with a nice soft lap for the journey home.

No rest for the wicked. Next day it was off to Esperaza to meet Boudie and have a look round the market. He and I had a pleasant walk together before retiring to his place for a bit of tearing about and falling over, which was great fun. I think he and I are going to be good mates but I do need to put on a bit of weight to be able to totally hold my own with him.

Then it was on to the market – thankfully quiet at this time of year – where I did a bit of socialising with both dogs and people, and attracted more than a few admiring glances and comments, even if I say so myself. I can’t help being so devilishly handsome, can I?

Then a big surprise in the afternoon as my new mate Lily popped in for a dash around. Mind you, I have to say it nearly finished me off but thankfully it was a short visit.

I am writing this from the comfort of my bed, where I feel I could well spend the rest of the day recovering from what has, so far, been a demanding week. Nothing much planned for the next few days so will speak to you again soon.

F R E E D O M !

Star date Wednesday 4th Feb 2008 – I am released into the outside world. Hurrah!

Having spent all of my life so far confined in fairly restricted spaces I was absolutely champing at the bit to explore further afield, and on Wednesday my dream came true. I was taken out for my first walk. I must say it was ever so slightly scary at first and I had to keep checking mum and dad were still to hand, but I soon got the hang of it and must say it was all very interesting (and tasty in parts – like rabbit poo!). A photographic record of my first tentative footsteps was commissioned and is attached.

As if that wasn’t enough, the next day I had my first friend round to lunch. I had heard all about Lily but had never met her, so I have to say I was a bit shy at first. Mind you, it did not take long before we were both tearing round the garden flat out, bowling each other over in the process, and generally having a great time. After more than two hours of this, whilst the adults had lunch and loads of wine, I was decidedly knackered (as was Lily) and as soon as they left I was straight into my bed where I stayed for most of the evening.

I must say I am quite enjoying this new, fuller life style, and it continues tomorrow with a visit to Aunty Mary and Uncle Tim. Will report on this visit later.

Forgive me but I must now crawl back to bed as I am still a bit shattered.

You will be pleased to know that I am fully back to normal after my little session at the vets last week. In fact, I was so back to normal that my mum said I was a “right little sod” the next day. Well, I had slept for most of the day previous and all of that night too, so I had plenty of spare energy, so a dog’s got to do what a dog’s got to do!

Other than that, the main news of the week is that this place seems to be turning into a mini Stalag Luft 3. Firstly, a fence was erected between our nice neighbour and us. Then this gate thing appeared in the hall (see pic) blocking my access to the bedrooms and all that lovely clothing that I love grabbing and running off with. To crown it all, whenever I go out in the garden now I get this long bit of string thing attached to my collar which somewhat hampers my escape and evasion tactics. Next it will be watchtowers, floodlights and machine gun posts!

Had I mentioned that I have now more than doubled in weight since I arrived here? The trouble is that now being much bigger I have loads more energy but as yet cannot go outside the house and garden. However, all that apparently changes this Wednesday when I am free to meet the outside world, and I have quite a hectic programme lined up to take full advantage of this. On Wednesday I have got two walks planned to explore the local area. Then on Thursday my soon to be new friend, Lily the miniature dachshound, is coming over for lunch and a bit of a chase around the garden. On Saturday it’s off to see Aunty Mary and Uncle Tim so that will be an exciting trip in the car and a new place to terrorise. Sunday is a trip to the market in Esperaza for a bit of socialising, and to meet Boudie. After all that I may just crash out on Sunday afternoon to recover.

I am now the proud possessor of a lovely green ball from Uncle Trevor and have discovered the delights of chasing this around the garden and retrieving it for my mum. Mind you, she was not too impressed when I threw it outside the gate!

All this journalism fair takes it out of you. I’m off for a kip. Speak to you all again soon.