International traveller

YIPEE! My blood test results for the rabies jab just came through and I PASSED. That means that from the 23rd September I will be a certified international traveller able to go to all sorts of interesting places with my own passport. In fact, I hear rumours that we might actually be going to England at the end of the year – now how cool is that! Must say all of that suffering with the big needles and all, now seems worthwhile. I even got given one of my favourite chews this morning to celebrate.

Now I seem to be a bit out of favour a bit for jumping up at the kitchen worktops. I do this for two reasons – firstly I am now big enough so I can, and secondly that is where the food is. Seems perfectly reasonable to me, but apparently not to mum and dad. They have taken to spraying me with water when I do it and, as I am not too partial to water except for drinking, I find it a bit of a deterrent, so I suppose I will have to get to like water or buy a rain hat if I wish to continue my countertop raids.


We sometimes go on a new walk now up on the hill at the back of Montazels. It is really nice and there are plenty of big piles of rock to climb, which I love. Mum always says she thinks one of my ancestors must have been a mountain goat, so I here is a picture to prove it.

Spring is sprung

I am not at all sure what he means but dad keeps muttering about "spring is sprung, the grass is ris", but what I do know is that suddenly there seems to be a lot of activity in the garden.

I keep trying to help by digging holes, emptying the trailer, and carrying tools around but somehow it does not seem to be appreciated. Still, it is lovely to spend all day outdoors, even if it does mean missing out on a few naps.

During my detailed exploration of the garden I have found a new water bowl - only problem is that it is about 3 feet off the ground. Do they expect me to grow that tall?
Having some lovely walks at the moment but there is a problem - it is the tick season. So far I have picked up two of the little sods - one on my ear and one on my belly. Dad has bought a tick removal tool but it is a little degrading being inspected each morning after the walk. Incidentally I have found this great little hidyhole on the walk where I can vanish from sight for a few minutes to munch away on whatever I should not be eating.

Back to the vets the other day for my blood test following the rabies jab - silly lady took off my collar, stuck a great big needle in my neck which bled for a while all over mum, and then to cap it all forgot to put my collar back on. We only realised this later in Esperaza so dad had to trek all the way back to get it. Mind you, I don't think he minded 'cause it was that pretty vet lady on duty.

Just had a great few days with my new friend Grant, He is the godson of my mum and dad and he came over for a short holiday. Well, I had never met him before, but from the moment I first saw him at the airport we got on like a house on fire. He really likes dogs which (of course) helps, and he plays a mean game of throw the ball. Mind you, in chasing me around the garden to retrieve said ball he managed to measure his length on the lawn and graze his arm which my mum then had to stick plasters on for him. Still, at least I did not get hurt this time!

On Saturday it was my mum's birthday and we had a visit from Uncle Roy and Auntie Jo together with my really good mate Boudie. We had a jolly old chase around and a bit of fun whilst the adults once again got into that bottle thing.

Grant has just left to go home and I am quite sad really. Also my mum has gone with him to see her dad for a few days so it's just me and dad for a while. I think this calls for a change of tactics - will let you know how I get on!

Sorry I have not been in touch for a while but I am finding the days just fly by at the moment and to be honest I just have not got round to it.

The good news of the week is that I am now trusted enough to be let off the lead for most of my walks - well, at least the "off-road" bits, as I still have lousy road sense. This makes for much more fun outings and also knackers me, especially when, as happened a few times recently, I get two really long walks in a day. Still, I'm not complaining and in fact I am doing my best to behave in order to keep my new "trusted" status. A few photos of me on some recent off-lead walks are attached.



By the way, don't you think I have grown? At last Friday's weigh-in (it's a bit like Weight Watchers) I hit 11.6 kg which is approaching half my adult weight.

The other day I stayed over at my mate Boudie's house for a few hours whilst mum and dad went to Carcassonne. Had a great time chasing around and playing, and finished up sound asleep on the sofa with Boudie and Uncle Roy. I think we must have worn him out too!

I am really excited because mum and dad's godson Grant is coming over from England this week for a few days. Never met him but looking forward to it. Also going to the airport to pick him up and I've never been there either. Life is one big adventure at the moment.

Better leave you now as all this unrestrained activity has to be followed by appropriate amounts of rest and I have not yet had my share today.

Christmas in Cazelrenoux

Christmas? I hear you ask. But it is now March already (No, I am not Jewish. It is just a form of expression). Yes, we all know that Christmas occurred some months ago when I was still in the nursery, but the fact is that mum and dad, because of a sad family loss, missed out on Christmas this year. They had planned to spend it with Uncle Tim and Auntie Mary so it was decided that the turkey and crackers would not be wasted and Christmas Day would be rerun on the 1st of March. So here I am in sunny Cazelrenoux once more, on my best behaviour, and surrounded by these fancy lights and pine trees with lots of decorations on them. Weird!



Oh, I didn’t mention, Auntie Mary’s son Matthew and his girlfriend Natalie were over from the UK too.

Almost as soon as we arrived (midday) once more those bottles started being opened – something which again seemed to continue for the rest of the day. Actually, having worked my way along the empty bottles conveniently placed on the floor licking the tops, I find myself slowly beginning to appreciate why they do this. I could well get to like it myself. Then there was this enormous lunch that seemed to go on for ever, especially as I was stuck in my crate for the duration being made to watch and smell but not participate.

Once lunch was finally over dad decided to take me and him out for a walk. It was great ‘cause we met up with my friends Chloe and Oliver (who I met here last time) together with their friend Jasmine – oh, and of course their mum and dad. We all set off on a super long walk which I spent playing with my friends, whilst dad and the parents tagged along behind. Then it was back to L’Escargot, a quick bite to eat, and a curl up on a lap.

Meanwhile there was more of the bottle thing going on, and then they all gathered round a table and got out this game called Trivial Pursuits. Well, it went on for nearly three hours, so after a bit of lap snoozing I took myself off to my bed and tried to have a good kip through all the cheering and shouting.

Eventually they all thankfully went to bed so I was able to put in some serious shut- eye time until someone woke me up about 4am. By then I had had enough of this crate so I set up a small howling session which achieved the desired result of getting my mum down to sleep on the sofa with me alongside. It always works!

Next morning there was only time to grab a light snack before being dumped in the car and taken back home. Still, a good time was had by all, and by all accounts I seemed to have behaved myself if not impeccably, then at least very well.



Another snippet which I have not yet told you about. I have discovered that the winter pool cover makes an absolutely great trampoline. I can be down the length of the pool in three bounces, and I have also realised that if I take something I should not have to the centre of the cover, they cannot chase me there! However, apparently in a couple of months this will all change and if I try to do that then I will get very wet.