One dog vendage

You may have heard me refer from time to time about this "bottle stuff" that mum and dad and their friends keep consuming. Apparently this is made from grapes.


Now I have recently discovered that I am rather partial to grapes, and as I live in the largest grape producing area of France, this is rather fortuitous. So I got to thinking, why don't I get into this "bottle stuff" myself, only I will do it the economically and ecologically friendly way without any processing or packaging but instead go straight to the source. This has the added advantage that one does not keep falling over with this stuff as mum and dad do with theirs.

With that in mind I have decided to start on my one dog vendage - grape harvest for those of you who don't speak the lingo. Yes, I know that the vendage does not officially start for a week or two yet but I thought that if I got in early I could get all the good stuff.


Over the last few weeks I have been checking on the progress of the local grapes and I now declare that they are up to my standard, so henceforth over the next six weeks or so I will be harvesting like mad. As a result, my blogs during this period may become a bit rambling or even slurred but I am sure you will understand.

I will report back on the quality of this years vendage shortly. In the meantime - CHEERS!

Boudie's stormy visit

We have just had an enjoyable,if a little bizzare, visit from my mate Boudie and his mum and dad. So there we all were on Tuesday afternoon, enjoying a spot of sunbathing and swimming (not me, but I did manage a paddle in the shallow end) before partaking of some food and (the people) some more of that bottle stuff. I even managed to get my nose into the peanut bowl before once again being severely rebuked! Guess I am going to have to give up the peanuts.


The sky was blue, the temperature was about 34C, and it was a really pleasant afternoon. Then, fairly rapidly, some dark clouds began to form over Quillan and started to head our way. It soon began to spit with rain. "No worries" they all cried - it will soon pass over (isn't that some form of religious festival?). "We are OK under this large umbrella".

Well, to cut long story short, it did not pass over, but developed into a major storm with torrential rain and hail and when the wind started driving it horizontally everyone (including us dogs under the table) decided to make a run for the house. We all made it, thoroughly soaked, battered by hailstones, and with everyone (except us dogs) clutching some item of food or drink from the table.

The house, which had all its doors and windows left open because of the heat, was somewhat awash and I actually saw mum's pink flip flops drift past in the conservatory.

The afternoon's event was forced to continue in the rain soaked house whilst us dogs were relegated to the conservatory - something to do with very muddy paws I think.

Django's domestic duties

I know how much my mum loves ironing (not!) so the other day, when I saw the ironing board and iron being got out in readiness for another mammoth session, I thought I would offer some assistance.

Now I would be no good at actually wielding the iron but I thought that at least I could help by keeping an eye on the pile of ironing waiting to be done, and releasing the odd bit to mum whenever she needed it. I felt that this would contribute greatly to speeding up the whole process and making life easier for her, but for some reason she did not see it that way.

Well, one can only try to help, and if it is not appreciated, then one can always have a nap.

Three new friends and a barbeque

The social whirl of Montazels continues apace! After two unexpected (but very welcome) visits from my mate Lily within the space of a week, on Wednesday three new people turned up for what was to be a fun afternoon.


Aunty Jan, her son Josh, and his friend Jonno were on holiday in the next village to us so they came over for a bit of a swim, a barbeque, and some more of that bottle stuff. Now although we had not met before, we all got on like a house on fire. Aunty Jan is really sweet and she plays guitar too, which I think is really clever. I've never heard anyone play before so it was really interesting.


Josh and Jonno were great fun and I spent lots of time chasing them around when they were in he pool. I still have not summoned up the courage to jump in yet but I don't mind getting splashed.



At one stage I even managed to get a quick Frog Dog snog in with Josh!



There was a great barbeque at which I managed to hoover up a couple of crisps and a bit of sausage and even got my nose in the peanut bowl at one stage, although I did get told off for that!

Unfortunately they are off back to the UK soon so I won't see them again 'til next time.

An afternoon with Marley and me

What else do you do on a rainy Sunday afternoon but watch a film? So there we were, mum, dad, and me, watching this film called "Marley and me". Now I apologise for those of you have not yet seen this film but it is all about the supposedly naughtiest dog in the world.


From what I saw I would dispute this as I have had my moments too, and from the regular comments from mum and dad such as "been there, done that" and the occassional fit of the giggles I would assume that a sense of deja vu was prevailing amongst certain sectors of the audience. Personally I could not see it but then I am a dog and his behaviour seemed perfectly normal to me.

I did relate to him closely on the visit to the vet to have certain vital bits of anatomy removed as I have been there myself recently but fortunately the sad ending was well beyond my comprehension as I hopefully have many years to go before anything like that. It was a real four hanky job for those around me and I guess some of that was to do with my predecessor's demise. Still, a good time was had by all, even if there was no large bag of Maltesers to go round. We can all heartily recommend it.

Outing to Bouisse + Serpent

Here I am again, fresh from a really busy weekend. Auntie Mary and Uncle Tim came over for the weekend and it was really exciting to see them again. The main reason for their visit was so that we could all go to the Club Braque Français dog show and field trials at the place where I was born - the village of Bouisse.

Saturday was the day for the show and I met loads more of "me" type dogs including a couple of my brothers who I have not seen for months. It was all very informal and not at all stuffy. Afterwards we had a picnic in the park before heading back home where the humans had a swim and more of that bottle stuff. I just kipped as I have not yet really got to grips with travelling in cars and was a bit sick on the way to Bouisse.


Sunday was the day of the field trials which we totally missed, much to mum's annoyance, as we could not find the field. Still, they all had a long and (apparently) scrummy lunch whilst I did a bit more kipping as once again I had been sick on the way up. I really must get the hang of this travelling lark if I am going to enjoy the trip to the UK at Xmas.

Oh, and before I go, one more bit of interesting news. We have a viper in the garden somewhere and it has been seen basking on the pool deck a couple of times. For some reason everyone is a bit pleased I have not yet seen it? It appears that if we give chase they just turn round and bite you, and that being bitten by one of these is not too good for a dog.

Must go now. Got to chase mum and the mower around the garden. Goodness knows where dad is!