I'm back from hibernation

Hello again all. I'm back from my self imposed hibernation. To be frank, January and February are normally pretty boring months where not much happens, but this year it has been so cold and miserable that I decided to hibernate for a while. Now I know dogs don't normally hibernate but if you have a nice warm house, a thick duvet, and regular meals, it is perfectly possible to almost do it.

However, the sun is back out and things are warming up so my bed is back out in the garden so I can bag some rays and come to slowly.


Whilst I was being dormant mum and dad celebrated Christmas for the second time at the beginning of Feb. Apparently, because we were in the UK for the real Xmas, we missed having a nice fun day with all our good friends and so they decided to do it all over again complete with decorations, crackers, turkey, Xmas pudding, and, of course, loads of that bottle stuff. Fortunately it was a nice day as me and my new mate Fig were banished to the garden for the duration of the meal which went on for hours. We did get let back in as evenig approached and Fig and I did a bit of socialising with everyone.


The other great thing about the sun coming out is that work on the garden starts up. Now I like nothing better than helping with the gardening, as you can see, but strangely it is not always appreciated.


The very thought of all that work has made me really tired so excuse me if I snuggle down under the duvet for another kip. Speak to you all again soon.

Another new mate

This weekend we went over to Auntie Mary and Uncle Tim's. I thought it was to be just one of the normal social visits but Oh No! - they now have a dog! He is a lovely 4 year old Golden Retriever called Fig (Figaro in full) and he and I are already best mates.


We had a great charge around the local countryside together and I think I got him a bit puffed out as he is not as used to it as me. Mind you, when we first met we did as us dogs do and spent an hour or so "discussing" who was to be top dog. It came out pretty even but being the gentleman he is I think Fig let me think I came out tops. In return I let him raid my dinner bowl that evening so I went a bit short on rations.


We were both quite sad to part having just set up this friendship, but he is coming over to us in a counple of weeks so I can show him around my patch. Will report on our next meeting then.

Hi there....remember me? It's been so long (over a month) since I last wrote a blog entry that I would not be surprised if you had forgotten who I am! It's just that it has been so hectic of late what with my international travelling (more later) and things that I just have had not had the time. However, here we go on the big catchup.

This year mum and dad decided to go to England for Christmas so obviously I had to go too! Now, never having been anywhere further than our local seaside, this was to be a big adventure for me. Not only did it involve hours and hours in the car (and I wasn't sick once) but also an overnight stay in a hotel. I've never been in a hotel but it was great and I got to sit on the beds (see photo below) which is something I'm never allowed to do at home.


When we got there the very next day it snowed. I have seen snow before as a youngster but this was big snow - 12 cms or 5 inches as they say in those parts. I had great fun running around in that and even found some new mates to chase around with.


Grandad John (my mum's dad) has a dog of his own - a border collie called Badger. Now Badger is 11 and can be a bit of a grumpy old man at times so he was initially none to pleased at the arrival of a lively young whippersnapper like me in his house. However, I worked hard at establishing good relations and by the end of the stay he tolerated me! In fact I would like to think that he even missed me a bit when we left.


Christmas day was a new experience for me and I really loved the opening pressies bit. It is a great opportunity to rip up loads of paper without being told off. Also, I got a new toy and some bikkies.


After Christmas I was told it was time to go to school for a bit of training! We went to see this nice man called Peter who used to be a police dog handler and now trains dogs. He had a walk up and down with me and quickly realised (very astutely) that it was not me that needed training but my mum and dad! An hour later and he had them doing all the right things and successfully walking up and down with me without a pull in sight. Mind you, I have found that since we got back, life is a bit stricter than before and I cannot get away with some of the things that I used to.



Just before we left there was a ring at the doorbell and who should it be but Auntie Mary and Uncle Tim. Well, I was beside myself as I never expected to see them there. They were there to (very kindly) take some sacks of my food back home in their car together with some other bits and pieces. Apparently because me and my bed were in our car there was not much room for things like that!

Then it was back in the car for many more hours, another hotel stopover, and finally we arrived back home.

So that was the big international adventure! It is nice to be back amongst my vineyards and to see some of my old mates again, but overall I did enjoy the experience.

The social whirl continues

On Thursday I got a chance to put my new found social skills into practice once more as Auntie Jo and Uncle Roy came round to dinner. Now they understand all about the calm assertive approach to us dogs (more Cesar Millan fans), so when that was combined with the new, more mature me, it appears that everyone was most impressed by how well behaved I was. That was until the food arrived of course, although even then I was not as bad as I have been previously. In fact Auntie Jo was so pleased that she actually got down on the floor and played ball with me, which was great fun. All in all a pleasant evening was had by all, including me. I find that I'm beginning to actually enjoy this "being sociable" lark. Roll on Christmas!



Then the very next day I get back from my afternoon walk to find Auntie Jane had brought my best mate Lilly round again. Well we just had to have a good old run around for a while before Uncle Martin arrived to take them home. I tell you what, after all that socialising and running about I was totally shattered.

False alarm on the swine flu

Following on from my last blog I am now pleased to report that I do not appear to have swine flu after all. The sneezing has stopped (must have been dust) and I seem to be behaving better. However, having browsed the internet for a possible cause for my condition, I now think that I may have a vitamin D deficiency. As a result, I am spending as much time as possible relaxing in the sunshine, as I believe this helps with the vitamin D bit.



Mum and dad had a bit of an apero evening (nibbles and bottle stuff) for a few friends on Monday night. Auntie Jane and Uncle Martin came, as did our new friends Auntie Jo and Uncle Stuart. This was my first full blown social occassion of this ilk and, on the hole, I think I behaved reasonably well. Although apparently a bit too active and "participative" in the early stages, I soon settled down and finished up sharing my time around various guest's laps. I even managed a bit of a kip on Uncle Martin's lap! Uncle Stuart and I had a bit of a game with my plastic bottle so he now rates as an OK person.

I think I may have swine flu!

Today my dad popped over to Quillan to have his swine flu vaccination as he comes under the heading of "Fragiles" according to the French health service. Now I have spent quite a bit of time with dad today and I have started to exhibit some strange symptoms. Firstly I am sneezing rather a lot - something that I rarely do. Then there is the fact that I am being rather extra naughty today. For example, this afternoon I chewed through the electric cable that makes our front gates work - they don't any more! I have therefore come to the conclusion that I might be coming down with swine flu so am considering retiring to my bed for the next few days and I would advise my best friends to stay well clear for a while.

Further medical bulletins will be issued as the situation develops.

Happy Birthday to me!

Wow! What a weekend I have just had. I'm absolutely shattered but felt I must just tell you all about it before I crawl into my bed for a well earned kip.



For those of you who are not aware, it was my first birthday on Friday (30th October - make a note in your diary) and that heralded the start of a weekend of celebrations. Unbeknown to me a surprise party had been planned and the first people to arrive were Auntie Mary and Uncle Tim who had come for the whole weekend. Then Uncle Martin appeared with my absolute best mate, Lily, and finally Auntie Jo and Uncle Roy (they are always last to arrive!) with my other great mate, Boudie. Not only was it great to just see them all, but they all came bearing presents for me and even a special doggy birthday card. The adults then settled into their usual food and bottle stuff consumption whilst us dogs did what we do best and just tore around the garden playing. Boudie and his parents had to leave by early evening but everyone else was there 'til late.



The fun continued on Saturday when I met up with Felix, Tasha, and Paris (aka "The Ginger Ones") on my evening walk and we all had a great chase around. Now although she did not come on the walk with us, I felt that, as the wild boar hunters were about in force, Auntie Mary should wear some safety equipment as I do in those situations. She did not seem too impressed but Uncle Tim seemed stangely excited by the sight of his wife wearing a collar and bell. Can't think why.



With her mum away in the UK and dad busy for Sunday morning, Lily came over to stay for a few hours, so there was lots more chasing and rolling about action then. And all of that was preceded by another walk with the Ginger Ones (to be a regular feature over the next week or so as their dog sitter has injured her knee)and all brought to a close by dad and I settling down to watch the last Formula 1 race of the season.



So you can see why I now need a good rest to recover! Oh, and I forgot to mention, I have managed to get the remaining beer mat stock down to 489.