Will this social whirl ever end?

A very special announcement.

This is my 100th blog. It seems only yesterday that I started blogging but it was actually back in December 2008. In those two and a half years I have had almost 2000 hits on my blog from over 60 countries around the world. It sends a shiver down my very long spine to think that all of these lovely people have taken the trouble to read about the antics of an insignificant little dog in the South of France.

 Last time I was telling you all about the hectic social time I had been having. Well, I have to report that it continues!  First of all Uncle Steve Brann turned up from England to check up on his recently burgled house.He came round several times and we had a good old catchup as I had not seen him for ages.

As I told you in the last blog, another Uncle Steve (Hall this time) arrived from Scotland and I had not seen him since I was a pup. He came round to watch the F1 race at Silverstone and then stayed for dinner. After the race they retreated to the pool deck where dad got out the bottle stuff (no surprise there then). I joined Uncle Steve on the balancelle (swing seat to you) and decided it was about time I partook of some of this apparent elixir of fun so I stuck my tongue into his glass of rosé. I was OK but I must say I prefer beer.

My dinner was served al fresco on the deck and I was called. Imagine my horror to then find Uncle Steve apparently tucking into my evening repas. Well, I was having none of that and soon saw him off and quickly scoffed the lot. I did hear someone comment that "that was the whole idea" but I have no idea what they meant.

I later returned to find mum and Uncle Steve snuggled up together on the swing. For some reason I don't fully understand, dad was not at all put out by this.

On Tuesday we went to Auntie Mary and Uncle Tims's for lunch. Their son Matt and his lovely lady Natalie were over from the UK, and once again I had not seen them since my puppyhood. She works for one of the county's leading vets and has two big dogs of her own so we got on like a house on fire.  And it is always nice to see Auntie Mary and Uncle Tim so I tried to behave really well for them all. Rumour has it that I succeeded!


No matter how much I do of this socialising, it does not get any less tiring so I am sure you will not be at all surprised to learn that it is time for some shuteye.

Best in show!

I went to my first fete today. It was at the local rugby club and as it had been organised in part by a Brit it had many of the things that I am told are typical for such a fete in the UK. These included tug-of-war, bobbing for apples, splat the rat, and skittles. However, instead of the usual burger stalls there were stalls selling gateau, snails, and cassoulet. Very French!

There was also a dog show. At least there was supposed to be a dog show, but I was the only dog who entered. Therefore it was not much of a dog show but naturally I cleaned up and got best in show. Well, I would, wouldn't I, with my good looks! Here I am being presented with my rosette.

It was also a great chance to meet up with a few old friends and especially my mate, Steve Hall, who had just flown in from Edinburgh for a few days. Last time I saw him I was a mere pup.

All this competing and socialising is very enjoyable but in these temperatures in can be quite exhausting. I spent most of the evening stretched out on the cool tiled floor recovering, but still wearing my rosette of course!

Conned, surprised, delighted, exhausted!

So there we were, dad and I, last Thursday - two days before the Big Party - working away in the garage getting things ready. Mum had left earlier that morning to "go and have lunch with Auntie Jo in Mirepoix" (reason for the quote marks  will be obvious shortly). The front door bell rang. As we were not expecting anyone dad and I went down to investigate, only to find the godkids from England, Grant and Becky, coming in through the gate, shortly followed by their parents in the car with mum. Turned out that the whole Brigdale clan had arrived for dads party and we had been right royally conned by mum - something she planned back in December apparently. Naturally dad and I were both gobsmacked and delighted to see them all and I gave my usual extravagant welcome to each of them in turn.

Even better news was that they were staying for a whole week so I had loads of time to have fun with my mates.

Then came the day of the Big Party. Bar-Nez was fully stocked, the music was up and running, food fully prepared, and the pool freshly cleaned.  The initial trickle of party goers soon turned into a steady stream and things were off to their usual lively start. It was lovely to see loads of old friends again including by bestest mates Lily and Boudie. A few snaps of the event follow to which I will add no comments!

General concensus was that the party was up to normal standards and certainly, judging by how tired I was the next day, I sure did have a good time.

The rest of the week was really just a continuation of the party with just us and the Brigdales. As I am sure you can imagine, far too much of the bottle stuff was consumed (especially by dad and Uncle Clive) and a good time was had by all. Sadly they have just left to fly home. I shall miss them a lot as it is always so much fun when they are here. However, after all that partying I have some serious catching up to do on my kip so you may not hear from me for a while.

Hippie Birdie dear Dad

Today is my dad's 65th birthday and I have been giving a lot of thought to what I might get him as a present. I finally decided that I would have a T shirt made for him with one of the two logos shown below.

First one is a bit geeky as he loves his computers but at least my mate Jon Tack will appreciate it. The second is 'cause he can be a bit of a big kid at times. Problem is I could not decide which one to have made. In the end I ran out of time, but apparently it is the thought that counts.

I spent some of the morning helping him read his cards and unwrap his presents - just love the ripping paper bit!

Then Auntie Jane and Uncle Martin came round with my best mate Lily and we spent an hour tearing round the garden. Trouble is I'm not used to all this exercise during the morning and had to have a rather large kip on my dad's lap at lunchtime. Mind you, so did he!

Big party on Saturday with loads of friends coming round together with my mates Lily and Boudie. I had better start stockpiling some rest as it is going to be a tiring day, I feel. Full report later.

Early morning, vine pruning, loss of a mate, and a late night

What a day it was yesterday! It all started at 6:20 am - yes I know none of us normally see that part of the day - when I was rudely awakened from my slumbers by two cats fighting outside. Naturally I had to bark very loudly at this, in the process waking mum and dad, and then I demanded to go outside to investigate. Having satisfied my natural curiosity I then went straight back to bed to finish my kip but for some reason mum and dad seemed unable to do this!

That morning dad and I decided that our grape vine growing over the drinking patio needed a good prune to keep it in tip top condition and to allow the plentiful bunches of grapes now forming to develop. He chopped away and I tried to collect all the bits as they fell, but apparently distributing them around the garden and eating them was not what I was supposed to do. The the vine was sprayed to prevent mildew, at which point I had to retreat as we had not got a mask that fitted my muzzle.

Over the last few months I have been watching the growth of an albino baby bunny in the garden opposite and have grown quite fond of him. Imagine how distraught I was to look over the wall last night to find he had been run over right outside our house. I shall miss watching him gambol about.

Dad and I sat down to watch the Canadian Grand Prix at 6pm. Five and a half hours later (!) it finally finished, having been stopped for over two hours due to torrential rain. However, it was well worth staying up for as it was a stonker of a race and my dad's favourite, Jenson Button, won in the last lap.

So what with being woken up at 6:20 am and not getting to bed until 11:30 pm it was a very long day for me. I somehow feel that today will not involve a lot of activity on my part other than curling up on the sofa. so Shhhhhhhh! - don't wake me.

Invasion of the tinies

Now as you regular blog follwers will know, I love having visitors and I also love kids. Imagine my delight, therefore, when, in the middle of last week, some visitors arrived with children.

 It was Auntie Debbie and Uncle Chris who I had never met before (but who turned out to be really nice) and their two delightful little sprogs, Leila and Tegan. They were here to stay for a week so I was determined to thoroughly enjoy my time with them, despite the weather deciding to be unseasonably wet for the whole week!

Leila is the youngest at two and she and I formed an immediate bond. We followed each other everywhere - me at a slow stroll and her at a surprisingly fast "bum shuffle" as she does not walk yet.

Tegan, her older sister, is coming up four and is a very chatty little girl. She took to sitting on my mum's lap which is normally my position, but we soon learnt to share it.

She loves helping out in the kitchen and was soon helping mum prepare one of the many different gourmet meals she served up (to the kids) that week.

Dad, on the other hand, was content to sit on the drinking patio and soak up some sun and me and the kids were happy to join him.

 Do note in both of the previous photos the normal presence of the bottle stuff close to hand. Why am I not surprised!

The kids also loved the pool but with my natural aversion to water I was content to lay on the deck in the company of my new best friend.

All in all it was a great week despite the best endeavours of the rain to spoil it and we all had a really fun time. As usual, I was very sad to see them go. One thing I will say, though, about being with young children for a week is that it fair wears you out. I feel I could sleep for a week and probably will.

Swingers and a douche

Yes, I know. You saw the title and thought you were in for something a bit juicy! Whatever do you take me for? All will be explained in due course.

It all started last week when mum and dad decided to buy one of those swing sofa type things for the garden. Apparently they had some romantic idea of swinging together, drinks in hand, watching the sun go down (or something like that). Personally I think it was a bit of a stupid idea as I cannot imagine how they think they are not going to immediately soak it in bottle stuff given the way they fill their glasses.

Anyway, after I had sorted dad out with the assembly of said item I was then told in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed on it. Zoot alors! You could have knocked me down with with a bonio when, early this afternoon,  I was actually invited to join mum on it.

OK - I was slow, I admit. I should have smelt a rat. Perhaps the fact that dad was stripped to his swimmers and was frantically filling buckets with water should have been a give-away. But no, after just a few minutes of this upholstered bliss, and with all the buckets now full, I was suddenly lassoed and hauled off to the front lawn. Then it clicked - it was time for the summer douche (French for shower) and I had been duped again.

This ritual humiliation always takes place on one of the first really hot days of summer so I cannot understand why I was not more prepared. And why is it necessary? Do I smell that bad? Am I crawling with fleas? No, none of that. They just want me to look smart for our summer visitors! I ask you. Aren't my charm, elegance, and downright good looks sufficient to win the hearts of any passing human? Anyway, it is now over for a while and unless I find something really objectionable to roll in I could be bath free for a few months.

Problem is that all this being washed and then having to groom yourself for hours afterwards is really tiring, especially in this heat (30 degrees today). To avoid exhaustion I feel I should now rest for a while.