Matt and his mates make a splash

Matt and his four mates (sorry can't remember names very well) came over to use the pool and a great splashing time was had by all. Now Matt is the sort of half brother to my mate Lily (if you know what I mean) and he was over from the UK for a few days and brought his mates along too. I did not actually go in the pool but I did do a lot of chasing the ball and got thoroughly soaked. Great fun!

The unkindest cut of all!

I woke up this morning full of the joys of spring. Slowly I realised that things were not progressing as a normal day would. Then dad stuck me in the car and took me down to the vets. There I was handed over to Julie (nice girl) and dad left!

For the sake of the squeamish amongst you I will not go into great detail as to what happened next - in fact I do not know all of it as I was asleep for some of the time. Suffice to say that when I finally came to I found myself missing some vital parts of my anatomy, a little sore in the nether regions, and with a neat row of three stitches in a private place.

Now as you know I am not one to complain, but I mean - what have I done to deserve this? I am now sitting at home feeling sorry for myself and contemplating an unmanly future.

Remember I told you that there were two old friends of mum and dads coming to stay? Well they arrived and we got on famously from the off.




In fact I think that Auntie Karen and Uncle Dave are now my new best friends.












Whilst they were here the adults all had a party - you know, all that bottle and food stuff with loud music and lots of loud chatter. Well fortunately my mates Boudie and Paris came too so we had a bit of a party of our own.







That silly Paris even went for a swim in the pool. What is she on? You would not get me in there for all the dog bicuits in Le Clerc!








I also made another freind. Uncle Martin lives in Montazels and I did meet him briefly once before. However, this time we had a bit more time to bond and I have to say I really like him.

Of sun and food and other things

Now as you may know, I am a true Languedoc dog through and through and as such I know how to deal with strong sunshine on a hot day (unlike my predecessor apparently). I just seek out the nearest bit of good shade close to where the action is and relax. Under a tree is one of my favourites.






I had my own chair in the conservatory but at 19 kg I was getting a bit big for it so mum and dad popped down to Parchemin and bought me my very own armchair for the princely sum of €5! As you can see, I fit this one very nicely, thankyou.







Food is one of my big weaknesses and whilst I am not one to complain about the excellent premium dog food I am currently being served, I sometimes relax in front of the herb garden and dream up gourmet offerings such as Butchers Dog with rosemary and sage crust or Pedigree Chum with a basil and thyme dressing. Well, one can dream, can't one.




Last Sunday it was our local Garrenaud street party, held in a tent in a local field. I was not allowed to go to the lunch as apparently it was felt I would cause too much chaos. I did, however, visit for a short while after lunch, and I think I made my presence felt in that short time! So much so that I was taken home again after 15 minutes. Really must brush up on my social skills. Still, all the kids seem to like me.

I've been unwell

Sorry to have been out of touch but I have not been well. Not to put too fine a point on it, I have had a really bad (the vet said chronic!) case of the trots which resulted in a half kilo weight loss and a very miserable me for a while. However, after four injections and three different medicines I am pleased to report all is now well again in Django world.




That is fortunate as Auntie Mary and Uncle Tim came over on Sunday for the day so I was able to fully participate in the social activities. After lots of eating and more of that bottle stuff, the cover was rolled back from what I now know is the pool, and Auntie Mary went in followed by my dad.

They both tried really hard to persuade me that joining them would be a good idea but I was having none of it.

Mind you, when a big red ball was introduced my resistance began to crumble, but in the end I managed to get my teeth around it without actually going in and preceded to kill it.

I am getting really excited about some new people who are coming to stay in a couple of weeks. Don't know them from Adam but I am told they LOVE dogs!

Of pools & tables & pots & chairs

Lots to tell you today so I will get straight on with it. I finally found out what that big blue hole filled with water underneath my trampoline thingy is really for. Can you believe people actually get in it and swim! Today was the first official day that the pool (that's what it is called apparently) was open and there is a bit of a tradition round here to be the first to swim in what is truely quite cold water. Well Auntie Jo arrived this afternoon with my mate Boudie, took off lots of clothes, and jumped in. And they say us dogs are a bit bonkers at times! As is usually the case with most events involving humans, there was a bottle thing involved, although this time, for some reason, it did not get opened.


Now you remember the other day that I tried this "sitting at the table to eat" thing that humans do, but apparently I got it wrong - you do not sit on the table, you sit on the chairs at the table. So I tried this, but still no food appeared, let alone a nice glass of chilled wine. What has a dog got to do?


I have been studying with interest this gardening thing that seems to be going on at the moment. Apparently you put these plants into some soil in pots and they grow. Well, I have tried emptying out pots to see what is going on, but to no avail, so I thought I would try planting myself and see what happens. I got a clip round the ear, that's what happened.



All of this activity recently has made me a bit tired so I have found a new resting spot - my dads chair. It is very comfortable but not the best of places to choose when dad wants to sit down! Oh well, it's back to the dog basket I suppose.

A swim in the Salz

Big treat yesterday. We went down to Couiza and met up with my great mate Boudie, Then we chased along the bank of the river Salz near where it joins the Aude.

Now as regular readers will know, I am not a great fan of water, but when I saw my mate having such great fun in there I decided, after an initial hesitation, to join him.



It was OK but one dip was enough on this first occasion - maybe more next time.

Boudie and I then found some bits of bamboo and started tearing about with them which somehow resulted in me having a mouth full of blood. Scared the pants off mum but I was fine - only nicked my tongue or something.