Finn

2012-01-17T15:01:00.000-08:00

We thought we were losing Tara-cat on Saturday.

She is somewhere near 18 years old and is looking a bit frail these days, ever since her catnapping experience with the R.S.P.C.A about 2 years ago (see post Tuesday 27 October 2009) she has been losing her marbles. To stop people thinking she is a stray She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed put a collar with a bell on it on her, And everywhere she went we could hear her going ting-a -ling.

Anyway on Saturday morning she started acting even weirder than usual, sleeping tucked away in the corner behind the door, not eating (really odd for her as she usually eats anything and everything she's given and some things she isn't given aswell.) and then going to sleep in her litter tray!!!!

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed picked her up and sat her on her lap and she just lay there as if the body was there but nothing else.

The next morning we all expected her to be cold and stiff in the litter tray, or somewhere just as mad, but she was still with us. We were all thinking she would be making that last journey to the vet on Monday when She Who Thinks She Must Be obeyed had the idea of taking the bell off the collar.

What a difference, she is back to her old self again now! Who would have thought a little bell could do that to a poor old cat.

Naughty bell.

Would Finn like to go to Patch?

2012-01-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

We woz doing house werk this morning, yes I woz helping with the hoovering, when the phone rang. It woz Auntie Ann. Does Finn want to go to Patch this afternoon? Does Finn want to go to Patch ? Do fleas bite? Do Pesky cats make us chase them? Patch is only my most favourite place in all the world (except the Preselli mountains, Pengelli woods, Newport beach, Cillgeran.........). Of course Finn wants to go to Patch. I woz SOOOO excited I had to keep checking to see if she had come to take us there yet.

2 hours later she arrived with Peter and we went to Patch.

We did running in the sea.

We found a scary cave to go in.

And I tried to catch the sand She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed kicked as she walked.

When we got home we had tea, bikkies and noms. Peter couldn't understand why Tara wouldn't run away from him. Can you see me on my bed waiting to protect Tara if Peter tries to chase her?

Pee ess Peter has some PAWSOME tricks I'll be showing you all soon, so keep on visiting me.

Pawsome Peter

2012-01-02T16:23:00.001-08:00

Well here's something to cheer you all up. My friend Peter doesn't do agility, but his Human, Ann, has taught him to do lots of really clever stuff. Like playing the xylophone.

Drawing.

Playing hoopla.

Putting balls into cups.

Putting his shoes on.

And bowing and having a cuddle to finish off.

Isn't that really pawsome?

New Years Day Walk

2012-01-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

Yes it's raining again, but hey it's a new year are we going to let it get us down? Just because the sky is grey and crying are we going to sit indoors being miserable-noway, so She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed got out her welly boots and wax jacket (with a silly hood), picked up my walking rope I use to show her the way to go and said 'comeon, lets go 'n' find something to cheer us up in this awful weather'.

So I took her down a lane to these little cottages in the valley by the Dark Woods.

A woodcarver lives in this one.

The entrance to the dark woods, come on, it's scary in here by myself.

See those lonely steps down there? All the walkers have disappeared....spooky.

We found this waterfall at the edge of the dark wood. In the summer when we haven't had any rain there's no water there, but we've had so much rain lately it's come back again.

Look, there's muds here, don't slip over....OOPS, I did warn you.

Another waterfall, the water sprytes must be very happy here.

Can you see me? I'm hiding from them.

Do you think they know I'm here?

Here's a badger sett.

Is anyone home?

Look the snowdrops are peeping through, spring is coming to the Dark Wood.

This is the ruin of an old sawmill.

Is that my guardian angel looking after me as I go through the dark wood, protecting me from the ghosties of the sawmill humans?

Phew we made it home safe and sound, but a bit soggy. Just time for a quick rub down with my favourite towel before dinner.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T03:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone, hope it's truly pawsome for you all with lots of fun walks and lots of noms.

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed enjoyed her homemade Baileys Irish Cream so much, she thought your humans might like to make some of their own (but make sure they take you out first). So here's how she did it.

IRISH CREAM.
1 can whipping cream.
1can condensed milk.
1 2/3 cups Irish Whiskey.
1teaspoon instant coffee.
2teaspoons chocolate syrup. (we used drinking chocolate instead)
1teaspoon vanilla
1teaspoon almond extract. (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a blender (grrrr woof woof woof grrrr)
Bottle in tightly sealed container and refrigerate, shake before using.
Will keep up to 2 months if you've got the willpower.

The other drink she made is blackberry liqueur, but luckily it isn't ready yet or I'd have to take her out!!! We picked the blackberries on our walks in the autumn and have kept them in the freezer till we needed them.

BLACKBERRY LIQUEUR.
750ml vodka.
459grm blackberries.
600grm caster sugar.
250ml water.
Add sugar to water in pan and heat until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool to room temperature.
Pour vodka into a large glass container add sugar syrup and blackberries. Cover with cling film and leave to infuse for 2 weeks.
Strain into bottles and leave for another couple of weeks......the longer the better.

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed is being really scroogish this year and instead of throwing the vodka soaked blackberries away is using them in a crumble for after dinner today, how thrifty is that?

A Christmas Tale

2011-12-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

Here I am sitting under our Chrissymouse decorations, but Chrissymouse nearly didn't happen this year at all!

No, the pennies were in very short supply this year. There was nothing for prezzies, turkeys or Chrissymouse trees.

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed was too fed up with lack of pennies and the awful wet windy weather we have been having to feel at all Chissymousy, but I said what will happen if Santa Paws comes and we have no decorations to greet him, he might go away again without leaving anything! So She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed found this piece of twisted hazel which someone had cut and left at the side of the road and brought it home and painted it gold and hung some lights and things on it and then she made some cookies and gave them to her friends with bottles of homemade wine for prezzies and stated feeling a bit more Chrissymoussy.

But there were still no pennies for Chissymouse dinner! But She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed said 'Never mind, we've got a rabbit and some chicken legs in the freezer and lots of homemade wine and blackberry liqueur and I've found a recipe for homemade Baileys Irish Cream, we'll have Chrissymouse anyway'

And then a miracle happened!

An old friend knocked on the door and gave us a chissymouse card and in the envelope was lots of pennies and we could have a proper Chrissymouse after all!
Thankyou old friend for giving us Chrissymouse.

Taracat does not like Chrissymouse, she sat by the fire so that Santa Paws couldn't come down the chimney and leave us lots of prezzies. She says strange men in beards and red suits shouldn't give you prezzies and come into your house in the middle of the night. i don't mind who gives me prezzies so I made sure she got out of the way.

And none too soon either, because Santa Paws did come and he left LOTS of prezzies for all of us..... yes even Taracat!

There were lots of noms for all of us and this grooming glove for me.

BLISS

Taracat left a prezzie for She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed aswell! Dirty Taracat! She always goes next to the litter tray when she is in a bad mood. Good job that towel needed washing already.

After that was dealt with She who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed got the turkey ready for the oven. Yes we did get one, but we were very lucky, there were only 2 left in the shop when we got there and they were frozen solid and we had to leave it in a bowl of water overnight to unfreeze it or we would have had to have the rabbit anyway!

Here I am guarding it so that no peskycats steal it.

After dinner we went to the beach, but She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed had drunk too much gorse wine and forgot the camera!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T00:56:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISSYMOUSE EVERYONE.

Just wanted to wish yous all everything yous all been dreaming of this year. I'm going to open my prezzies now......hope there,s lots of noms. Smudge and Tara say hello aswell.

A Busy Weekend

2011-11-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

We had two shows on the weekend of the 15th October, yes two! The first one was on Saturday at Bromyard near Hereford. We set out on Friday at about mid-day, stopping for lunch and walkies at Halfway. I must admit I hadn't really been looking forward to camping at this time of year, it gets dark so early, and light quite late and what on earth do you do in a tiny tent for all that time other than freeze.Of course it had to be the coldest weekend of the year so far didn't it, with a frost on Saturday morning (the only one I've seen this year!) But it was a lovely little show with very small classes as there was another show on at Shrewsbury at the same time and nearly everyone had gone there. We were the only idiots camping and I don't think the dogs realised they were actually at a show, even when we were running it seemed as though they thought they were training! It was held at a fantastic equestrian centre with indoor and outdoor menages in which the rings were set up. Beryl came first in one class and second in another, well done Tansy. Finn came fourth in one ,but the class was so small there were only rosettes to third and he did have a few poles down.

Sunrise

setting up the ring

Our four runs were over just after lunch and we packed up our tent and set off for Monmouth for the second show of the weekend.

the new campsite

views of Monmouth from the tent

We were greeted with peels from the church bells on Sunday morning after a slightly warmer, but misty night. We had got up at 6.45 just before sunrise and disturbed a few ducks on the river when we went for our morning walk round the nature reserve next to the camp site. The rings looked so peaceful as the sun was rising.

We had another four good runs, but still managed to knock the odd pole down, so no clear round this weekend although the judge in the last class praised Finn's weaves.

After we had finished we let the dogs relax in the river. Just look at Sooty!

a soggy doggy

At the end of the show there was a hot air balloon ascent from a corner of the field, it made a perfect end to a lovely weekend.

It flew right over the showground.

Our next show is on December 10th at Cardiff, but don't worry, it's a one day one so we wont take the tent!

2011-09-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

You may all have noticed that I haven't had as many interesting walks as usual this summer, oh yes I've been for walks but not anywhere REALLY interesting, (well not as much as usual), just the same old boring ones where you've all seen all the interesting bits already. Why is this? I hear you asking, well it all because She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed has been decorating. Yes she's been trying to go through the whole house, all because the electricians came and re-wired the place before Easter and left bare plaster where they had moved sockets and switches. So far she has done the kitchen, the bathroom, the computer room and is in the middle of doing the hall. I tried to help but was it appreciated? No. I thought the door frames looked pretty cool with furry bits on them........

So what have I been doing while she has been running up and down ladders? These pictures just about sum it up.

The book behind me is called Decorating Ideas, well I've got an idea. Stop decorating and take me somewhere special. Please

a Walk with Peter

2011-09-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

My friend Peter came round this afternoon and we went in Auntie Ann's car to Aberporth and walked across the cliffs to Tresaith which is the next beach along the coast. Usually when it's just me and She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed we walk all the way, but Peter is a couple of years older than me and likes to take things a bit easier.

This is Auntie Ann on the way down to the beach, both me and Peter have gone on ahead to make sure it's safe.

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed stopped to talk to someone but we couldn't wait to get in the water.

Peter started to dig a hole,

but I wanted to go and see the waterfall.

Look it's HUGE. The camera thingy couldn't see the top!

Then we went through this gap in the rocks,

Quick, come and see what's on the other side.

It's all rocky and different worldy here.

I'm sitting on a big rock while the waves crash behind me, only She Who Thinks She Must Be obeyed got the timing all wrong and missed the REALLY big one crashing when she took my piccy.

Let's see if she gets it right this time. No- you just can't get the staff these days.

Then we went back through the gap and met Meg and Dan, who I met on Aberporth beach at the beginning of the summer.

We all had a hoolie while the peeps talked.

Then me and Peter decided to dig a couple of holes before we went home.

But Peter thinks he's the only one allowed to dig on the beach and told me off.

Tara update

2011-09-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Do you all remember Tara's big adventure a while ago when she was CATNAPPED and sent to the R.S.P.C.A. by some new people who moved into our road just because she went to check them out a couple of times. Well it took her absolutely ages to recover from it as she was totally traumatised by the whole experience, and her mind has never really been the same since. We can't remember exactly how old she is but she must be somewhere between 16 and 18 and if the truth is told she has totally lost her marbles! If anyone feeds her, (and you'd be amazed how many people want to feed other peoples cats, I don't know why they can't get their own) she forgets to come home. In the last year I've had to bring her home from round the corner several times and stop several neighbours feeding her. She is confined to barracks now after somebody at the top end of the road fed her, put a collar on her and tried to completely take her over! She said she thought she belonged to one of the neighbours who has been taken into a home, but this is total rubbish as the children (hers included) all knew she belonged to me. As far as I can tell she carried on feeding her after I asked her not to so now poor Tara has to stay home. I don't think she minds too much as all she seems to do now is eat and sleep and make messes next to the litter tray- yes that's right, next to it.

When she first came home she decided to live on the printer,

She always was a strange cat!

Then because she didn't always bother to go to her litter tray I had to get rid of the carpet and decorate the room the printer is in. so she decided to live in the bottom half of the bookcase I had emptied to move.

Now she is only allowed in the computer room while I am in here. Finn is on guard at the door!

She seems perfectly content with life but it seems such a shame that she can't enjoy sitting outside and talking to the children anymore because of one persons selfishness.

A visit to Tremain woods ....and other things

2011-08-15T12:23:00.001-07:00

A few days ago we decided to go somewhere we hadn't been for a while, we were both fed up with the same old walks, so She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed said we were going to go on the bus. Now you might remember last time we went on a bus we went to the Vet Lady so you can imagine ,I was a little bit apprehensive about it all.

But it was alright we ended up here. At Tremain Woods where we went with Peter to see the Bluebells when they were out. Peter didn't come this time though.

We had to go across a cornfield to get down to the woods. When I was an itty bitty puppydog I used to run though the corn, it made a luvvly rustly sound, but She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed used to get really CROSS and I learnt the word 'Path' and now I'm a good pup and don't go running through the corn anymore.

We always look for the Splash Monster. He lives in here.

He's not here, mum.

The path goes past this big tree.

And down this dark tunnel.

To water and this old mill. It's someones house now and the mill doesn't work anymore. Shame.

We went across this little bridge over the stream.

To these ponds. They are very pretty with bullrushes and lillies growing there.

ooh that was tasty, don't tell She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed that I ate that.

And look at the pretty flutterby on that flower.

On the way home we came across Piglet all alone in the woods. He was very lonely and frightened (and dirty ) so we took him home with us.

Do you think he looks happy now?

Yesterday I was ABANDONED all day. Yes ALL DAY. Why I hear you all ask, well She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed took Imshi out instead of me! It was Aberaeron Cob Festival and Imshi was in the Pageant. If you're interested in horsey things go to http://www.storm-development.co.uk and you'll find lots of pictures of it all, personally I don't see why you'd want to bother but if you are interested click on Gallery, then Aberaeron cob festival, then pageant and Imshi is the grey galloping round looking very pleased with himself. He is 27 now and semi retired, She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed has been his friend since he was 4 and says he needed to do something to bring his spark back.

2011-08-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

A Tale Of Three Shows.

2011-08-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

Quite a lot has been happening since She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed has bothered to write anything on my blog, so I thought I'd better do it for her!

First of all we had a Wet Weekend at Wirral a few weeks ago. Here I am outside our tent before it started raining. It rained most of the time, in between the rain we had showers, almost the only time it was dry was when we got up in the morning. She Who Thinks She Must be Obeyed had to help on the rings on Saturday morning and was away most of the morning, so I was ABANDONED in the rain, but I didn't mind too much as I was looking after our camp.

The show was held in Eastham Country Park and we had lots of lovely walks through the woods and down to the river Mersey, (which I wasn't allowed to go in!)

In the woods there were lots of carvings, here I am sitting on a seat carved with rabbits. When we came back from one of our walks there was a group of teenagers having a party round the seat so I jumped over the wall to join them, boy were they surprised!

This is a HUMUNGOUS Beech tree, which fell over. Sorry about the picture quality, but you just can't get the staff these days.

Here I am with a carving of a flower in the Beech Grove.

And here I am in the fountain, I thought there was meant to be water in it but someone let it all out!

And here I am after a hard day knocking jumps down....... Yes you've guessed, I still haven't got a clear round but I've had a lotta fun!

After we got home I was a bit poorly and was sick and had dire rears. I didn't want to eat anything, not even the cat's food and I had to go to the vet lady. She stuck 2 needles in me, and gave me stuff to have squirted into my mouth twice a day for the rest of the week and took all the monies She Who Thinks She Must be obeyed had saved up for a new saddle for Sara (hee hee).

It was Friday lunchtime before I felt better and we decided I was well enough to go to Caerphilly show that weekend. Our club was running one of the rings so She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed had to help again, but we were more organised so I wasn't left for very long this time. It was only one day, so we didn't bother with the tent and were back home Saturday night, once again there was no clear round, those silly poles will keep falling down!

Last weekend was the STAAG show at St. Asaph. I had 4 runs each day and guess what, I went clear in the grade 1 jumping on Saturday! Not only that I was 4th! Here I am with my rosette, it matches my bandanna. She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed was so proud of me, she bought me a beefburger all to myself. I was only 3 seconds slower than the winner and I've got a new nickname - The Collie In GSD Clothing!

When we had finished for the day we went for a walk along the river Elwy, here I am with my friends.

I tried to give Tansy and Sooty swimming lessons.

And climbing lessons.

This is a picture of hopw the bridge used to look, and some writings about it.

And here it is today.

This was the view from our tent on Sunday morning.

And this is the rainbow we saw just before it rained.

It didn't rain as much as at Wirral though and She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed managed to take the tent down before it got wet.

Wye Valley Show

2011-06-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

We went to Monmouth at the weekend for the Wye Valley Agility Show, Beryl arrived just before lunch to pick us up. Finn was very excited all morning as the pile of camping stuff in the hallway grew bigger and bigger. He kept running in and out of the house to check if she had arrived yet and when she did finally turn up he squeezed through the hedge to go and meet her. It's only about a 2 hour drive, but we had to pick her caravan up en route so it was about 6 o'clock by the time we got there.

Setting up camp, Beryl has the caravan we are in the tent.

Finn is supervising and guarding the bottle of blackberry wine.

I had put some sausages and beans into a wide necked vacuum flask so I didn't have to do any cooking, so after a quick meal we had a walk along the river and into the nature reserve next to the camp site. I actually managed to keep Finn out of the water,(I told him he wouldn't be sleeping in the tent if he got wet)

In the morning it was down to the job in hand, after breakfast there were courses to be walked, although I didn't have any early runs and took my time getting ready.

Walking the course.

Finn worked well in 2 out of 3 of his runs although we are still chasing that elusive clear round! I don't quite know what happened in the 3rd one which just happened to be the only one of the weekend that I managed to get any one to video. The lure of the tunnel underneath the dog walk was just too much! When I first started doing agility with my previous dog, Jax, it was quite a popular set up, but Finn has never come across it before and it was just too tempting. After I got him back on the dog walk and over the next jump the wind gusted and blew about 3 jumps over, the judge called stop, but I didn't hear him and carried on, after all we'd already been eliminated, and Beryl turned the camera off and missed the rest of the round.

Tansy doing the whole course.

Cooling off in the river afterwards. I don't know what the building in the background is, but the lower level looks like a derelict warehouse with a new, modern building on top of it.

After a hard day it was time to relax and catch up with some old friends. This is Misty, Finn thinks she's rather nice but they were both too tired to play properly!

The ruins of Monmouth Castle, just across the river to the camp site.

There was a quiz that evening andwe managed to get a team together and guess what... we came second! There was only 1/2 a point in it!

The next day we had 3 early runs, so no lie in for us. Up at 6 for a run round the field before breakfast and more course walking. There were 2 fairly straight forward courses and 1 complicated one. Finn was working well- shame about the handler! On the first one I nearly went wrong right at the end, but just managed not to mess up completely and in the second I just couldn't seem to get in the right place at the right time to get Finn over the jumps smoothly. The complicated one ran really smoothly and we only had 2 poles down. We did all 3 one after the other with no rest in between so Finn had a well deserved swim afterwards as a reward.

Shakin'. See the droplets of water, he does like sharing!

Please throw another stick Mum

We had quite a long rest after that, but our last class was the brace, were I had to run both Finn and Tansy. Beryl had to stand in the middle of the course with Finn while I ran Tansy round the first 10 jumps, then I had to change dogs and run Finn round the second half of the course. It was good fun to finish off a really nice show. Thank you Wye Valley dog club for organising a lovely show.

A last dip in the river before going home.

2011-05-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

Can somebody please tell Smudge this is not what being on the telly is all about!

Seriously he is a very miserable little kitty at the moment. He came home 2 days ago with a poorly little front paw and has been hopping about on 3 legs ever since. It's not swollen so nothing is broken and it must be getting better because he will let me touch it today, but he is still milking it for all it's worth and making the most of being spoilt with roast chicken and fish and cheese......

2011-05-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

I was ABANDONED twice this week! Tonight She who thinks she must be obeyed left me to go to a meeting about watching Dolphins. Every year for the last 17 years volunteers sit on the cliffs and look out for Dolphins, they fill in forms about how many they have seen, what they were doing and what boats were about. The information is all put together and a code of conduct for boats in the vicinity of Dolphins has been devised using the information provided. Anyway She who thinks she must be obeyed is doing it this year, so I suppose I will be abandoned again while she is busy (or expected to sit very still for2 hours!!!!!).

On Tuesday night she went to a talk by 2 police dog handlers about the work their dogs do, now that sounds real good fun,( much better than sitting still just LOOKING at the water). They explained how the dogs follow the scent and find people, (sometimes dead people) and how they are always right. Did you know that in Holland they use police dogs in police lineups but they don't trust us enough over here to do the same! Anyway she came home thinking that my brain is not being used enough so now she is getting all enthusiastic about TRAINING again!

On Sunday morning when we woke up the Ash tree outside the bedroom window was doing a pretty good impression of the Whomping Willow in Harry Potter so She who thinks she must be obeyed decided not to go riding in the morning and we'd walk down to see the horses instead. To get there we have to go across the beach and along the cliff path, so here are some of the photies she took on the way.

Me playing in the sea, (the shutter on the camera didn't open properly so you can't see all the BIG waves.

That one nearly got me!

Come and get me now wave!

Looking across the beach.

Going off the beach towards the cliff path.

In the summer the local teenagers jump off that cliff into the water, even I wouldn't do that.

Looking back towards Aberporth, the waves are really pounding against those cliffs, I don't think I'll go swimming there.

Can you see all the white horses in the sea?

These lazy white horses wouldn't even get up to say hello to us after we walked all that way to see them!

Patch

2011-05-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Oh my paws! I knew something exciting was going to happen today when She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed put the waterpawroofer on her boots and started putting things in the rucksack. She was meant to go and do something for someone today, but they phoned and said not to come so as the man on the tele said it was going to stop raining by 10 o'clock (it didn't) she put on the waterproofs (I already had my allweather fur coat on, who needs anything else?) and we got the bus to Patch.

Me waiting at the bus stop.

Apparently it's up to the driver whether I'm allowed on the bus or not but luckily it was a nice bus driver who knew She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed. Many years ago when she first had Imshi, she was riding him along the road and this bus driver came the other way in his bus. He was very good and stopped, but Imshi took one look and climbed a six foot high bank at the side of the road, the bus driver couldn't bear to watch what happened next and drove off, She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed dropped the reins and told Imshi he got them into it so he could get them out of it and the driver of the car behind just sat frozen until Imshi was back on the road again, the bus driver reminds her of this every time she gets on his bus!

Me on the bus. We sat right at the front because there were loads of people already on the bus. The driver scratched my ears.

I was very excited when we got off at Patch because it's one of my favourite places. The tide was in so I got down to some serious swimming straight away!

The tide was going out quite quickly so I had to really CHASE those sticks before they got away!

I like swimming!

We walked round the headland to the sea, but there wasn't any beach there 'cos it was all covered up with water so we walked along the caravan site and back and then the tide had gone out enough so we could walk up river towards Cardigan. We didn't go all the way to Cardigan though. She who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed was looking for Marsh Samphire for her dinner because they were talking about it on CountryWise last night , but it was too early_ it must be out earlier in Devon! But I did some foraging, I found a rugby ball and an aquatoy!

Here are the toys I found on the beach. Aren't I a lucky puppy!

We found an old log which had got washed down the river to sit on and watch a Heron but the Heron didn't want to be watched so it flew off ( I didn't help it, honestly. It decided to go all by itself!) so we ate our lunch instead. We shared a humongous Cornish pasty and I washed the box it was in up so She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed didn't have to do it when we got home.

The Heron.

It was still raining and it was a long time after 10o'clock so the weather man was wrong, but it didn't matter after all I got wet swimming!

After lunch we started walking home and then it did stop raining and the sun came out and it was quite hot. We walked back through some woods and She Who Thinks She Must Be obeyed did some more foraging and found enough elder flowers for some Elderflower cordial. This is very refreshing for your humans and if they put it in their water bottles when they take you for a walk it makes them able to take you further because they are refreshed, but don't let them drink too much because they have to leave their pee-mail in special little houses and there aren't too many of them about when you go on a good walk.

I watched She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed make some and this is how she did it:

10-15 fresh elderflower heads

zest of a lemon and an orange

1 litre boiling water

750grm sugar

100ml lemon juice

Shake the flowers to get any insects out. Grate the lemon and orange zest and place in a heatproof bowl with the flowers. Cover with boiling water. Cover and leave overnight. Strain through a sieve into a saucepan and add the sugar and lemon juice. Bring to the boil and simmer gently scimming off any scum. When cool strain again and decant into bottles and refrigerate. Dilute with water to use.

(There weren't enough flowers yet to do Elderflower wine, which is probably just as well because it is powerful stuff and made Auntie Sue fall into the bushes when she had two glasses of last years brew_ mind she was on the medics and shouldn't have had any anyway, but she said it was too nice to miss! I'll give you the recipe for that another time

A Day Out With Peter

2011-05-16T14:31:00.001-07:00

The Friday before last the phone rang, I pricked up my ears and heard Ann asking us if we wanted to go for a walk in Tremain Woods, well we haven't been there for almost a year now so I barked and told She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed to say 'yes please'. Well, not only am I a bit fed up with our usual walks but I haven't seen my friend Peter for a while either. Here we are together.

and here's Peter by himself, he's 2 years older than me and taught me loads of interesting shepherd stuff cos I've known him since I was an itty bitty puppy dog. When I first met him I was right scared of him cos he was so BIG, but I soon found out I was better at dodging than him and could get out of his way real good!

Here's a little bridge across the stream, the path leads to a couple of lakes with ducks on, but we didn't go that way.

We chased along the path, through the bluebells. I'd forgotten how many bluebells there are there, the whole wood is carpeted with them.

On the way back we cooled off in the stream and got nice and wet to get back into Ann's car!

It's taken so long to write this post because She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed forgot the camera, and Ann took these pics and e-mailed them to her

Meet Alphie

2011-05-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

The camera is now talking to the 'new' computer so I can at last start catching up with some of Finn's adventures since the last post.

This is about the day he went to play with his friend Alphie, a Staffordshire bull terr

ier.

Alphie

Kitties having food! How dare they eat in front of me.

Please can we have some, PLEASE.

Alphies got some, what about me....

My turn now, thankyou Auntie Sue.

num num num

I love Alphie's Wiggley, giggly ball.

But it's so tiring playing with it!

2011-05-07T13:26:00.000-07:00

Once again I have to apologise for not blogging for a while. We've been invaded by electricians rewiring the house! First of all the computer room was a total disaster area with about two foot of floor space to walk on as everything was dumped in there out of the way, then when I turned the computer on it wouldn't and just beeped at me! So after much beeping on my part the MAN was called in, he said it was easy to fix, but yes it did stop beeping only to start SMOKING. I can definitely state that smoking is bad for you, computer is now dead.

This is a new computer so there are no pictures of our adventures over the last couple of weeks yet as I have still to install all the camera stuff onto it.

I've just been catching up with all your adventures and I'm glad to hear none of Finn's friends were hurt in the tornadoes. We complain about our weather, but that was SCARY. We don't know we're born over here.

I'm gonna go now and try to get this computer to talk to my camera so I can post some photies

2011-04-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Our agility club held a fund raiser for the dogs (and kitties) who have lost their people in the Japanese tsunami on Sunday. Before we went She who thinks she must be obeyed decided I needed a good brush, just look at all the fur she pulled out of me. I know spring is on the way but it's not that warm yet, she's still wearing thick woolly jumpers so why should I have to take a layer off? (I do look handsome though don't I?)

Ann came to pick us up at 10 o'clock, that's her sitting at the table making a note of everyone's faults as the judge marks them. The fun started at 10.30. There were 3 agility classes we could enter, agility, jumping and helter skelter. Each class cost £1.50 to enter and there were lots of entries!

Here are a couple of pictures of people waiting for the agility class.

There was a raffle, these are all the prizes people donated. Anna is looking over the partition at the cakes which people had baked for the cake stall,they looked yummy but I wasn't allowed any, and there were drinks for sale as well.

There was also an obedience class for clever dogs, I decided everyone was taking it much to seriously and put my clown hat on when it was my turn, after all it was meant to be a fun day! Sooty waited until Beryl took him in the ring to do a big woopsy- a comment on what he thinks of obedience perhaps. My friend Peter won and Ann was really pleased with him.

Sooty was being his usual bouncy self!

We tried to get a video of me doing an agility round but unfortunately the only person who seems to be able to use the camera was judging, perhaps if we'd given her the camera she wouldn't have noticed all the poles I knocked down! This is Beryl's attempt can you Spot the Dog?

I really went for it in the last class, the helter skelter and guess what - I got a prize! I knocked the most number of poles down and won one of those yummy cakes. I knew She who thinks she must be obeyed got it wrong when she tells me to pick my paws up!

We all had a wonderful day and got home at 6 o'clock. It was really good to see all my friends again.

We raised nearly £600.0 for all those poor dogs in Japan.

2011-04-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for all your birthday wishes.

It's been a sad week this week. Scrappy went to his new forever home on Monday, but Jo couldn't find a forever home for Woo, so she has gone to another friend until something more permanent can be found. (We are secretly hoping that by that time she has managed to make Andy not want to part with her as we think he is perfect for her as she already knows him). The only good thing is that they have managed to keep the cat, although whether he will like living in the middle of town, 3 stories up is something else. I can't begin to imagine how Jo must be feeling, I know I'd rather be a nomad in my tent than have to give Finn up, but then I haven't got a 13 year old daughter to consider.

When I saw Scrappy's new owner on Tuesday he had already found the gap in the fence leading to next doors rabbits and jumped a 6' fence. So I guess he's settling in fine.

Finn can't understand why we don't call in on Scrappy and Woo now and he is missing having Scrappy keep him company on some of his walks.

HAPPY BARKDAY TO ME!

2011-03-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

It's my official barkday today, I'm 5 years old now.

She who thinks she must be obeyed hasn't been feeling too good this week. She has a wet leaky nose and is making lots of sneezy type noises making me jump almost out of my skin, so we haven't been doing very much except feel sorry for ourselves this week. (This is her excuse for not showing you the pictures we took on Sunday of our walk we did instead of going to the show but I wont let her get away with it).

Anyway she dragged herself out of her pit long enough to take me for a barkday walk with Scrappy and Woo. Here we all are across the field.

Me and Woo.

Scappy and Woo,

Scappy did actually get let off the lead briefly today, but he got on a rabbity scent and was only caught again as he was trying to bite his way through a sheep fence which he luckily coudn't get under!

Woo on her own

This is actually quite a sad walk as it is probably the last one we will all do together as Auntie Jo has to move and she can't take Scrappy and Woo with her so they have to find new homes, it's too sad to think about and we are all very upset about it.

Auntie Sue who runs our dog club which I can't get to anymore phoned up today and told us about an event they are holding on April 3rd for all the doggie survivors of the Tsunami in Japan. Apparently us dogs managed to survive a lot better than you humans and so there are lots of us who have no humans now. Hopefully I will be able to persuade someone to take us, I can't imagine losing my human for any reason.

2011-03-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

Just to let you all know, after all that hard work trying to get moneys for my barkday show, we NEVER EVEN GOT THERE! She who thinks she must be obeyed spent all afternoon on Saturday cooking food for our picnics, there was leek and potato soup in a flask, salmon and herby stuffing pasties with potato salad and apple and pear lattice for after. I was going to have ham for treats as well as other surprise goodies. After spending all this time cooking and packing bags with everything we would need instead of going for a nice long walk in the spring sunshine, she opened the envelope the postman person brought with our running orders in only they weren't there! Our entry had been returned because the show was full. I couldn't believe it, I had been so excited about seeing all my agility friends and then I was so disappointed.

This is what the nasty postman person brought. GRRRRR.

I'm still too upset to tell you what we did instead but I'll put that in another post.

TRAINING!

2011-03-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

As we really are going to my barkday show, She who thinks she must be obeyed thought we ought to do some training.

Here I am doing the 'wait to go through the gate' that I had to do for my bronze Good Citizen certificate way back when I was a little puppydog.

And here I am sitting at the kerb waiting to cross the road to the green were we do our training.

But first of all we had a' throwabout' to get rid of some of my energy. (I get VERY excited when I see my jumps and She who thinks I must be obeyed says I run round like a headless chicken!!!!!!

Then I had to wait while She who thinks she must be obeyed set the course up. This is what it looked like. And yes that U.F.O. is back I wonder what the aliens think of my course?

I'm very good, waiting to be told to go over the jump. You won't catch me behaving like this at the show, it's way too exciting!

Here I go!

This video is an example of why you should never try to do more than one thing at once. She who thinks she must be obeyed was too busy TRYING to film me as she ran round to tell me what to do properly!

After all that exertion it was time for a down stay.

And then a sit stay.

Followed by a recall.

Comments on Crufts

2011-03-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

Well done Elmo for winning the Pastoral group at Crufts this year. It's been years since we've even seen a G.S.D. on the television coverage of the show. Commiserations on not winning Best in Show.

Although part of me is sorry that one of my favourite breed of dog was beaten in the end I'm not totally sure that actually winning Crufts does the breed as a whole any good. Once named Best in Show a breed is much more likely to become a fashion accessory and be chosen as a pet for all the wrong reasons and let's face it G.S.D's are only just recovering from an undeserved reputation as a dangerous dog and the last thing they need is more irresponsible owners thinking they are a good dog to have just because one won at Crufts.

All the same it would have been good to see Elmo on the winners stand!

A Trip to the bank

2011-03-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

We nearly had a disaster today. There is a show on the 20th of this month, 5 days before my barkday and I REALLY want to go and have barkday celebrations with all my 'gility friends, it's my barkday show. Well She who thinks she must be obeyed FORGOT to send off our entry! Today is the closing day and she said there was no money in the bank for entry fees, I wasn't impressed. So when we went for our walk I decided to look in all the banks in case there was some money there.

I looked over banks in case anyone was running off with our money.

I looked under banks.

I even looked in banks.

It was hard work and I got my nose muddy.

But I carried on looking.

I even looked next to the river bank.

But there was no money anywhere.

I even tried to get a bridging loan.

I was SO sad.

Smudge said 'Never mind we'll have the purrfect barkday anyway'.

Tara said 'Get over yoursssssself. I never go to showsssssssssssssss'.

Scrappy came to see me and tried to cheer me up, (don't get jealous Anna, we're just good friends).

But Auntie Jo said 'Finn you have to go to your Barkday show' and gave She who thinks she must be obeyed some money so we can go. Thank you Auntie Jo.

We filled in the entry form and posted it just in time.

Introducing the Terrierist

2011-03-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

Meet my friend Scrappy, better known in these parts as the 'Terrierist'. Two or three times a week we get to take him out on a walk with us while his human is doing something called 'work'. He's quite cute really but she who thinks she must be obeyed can't let him off his lead as he thinks it's his mission in life to rid the world of cats, sheep, rabbits or anything else which runs or looks at him! He's quite likely to get himself stuck down a rabbit hole or in a fence, he's even managed to fall over a forty foot cliff and get himself run over when he was an itty bitty pup!

Here are some photos She who thinks she must be obeyed took while we were walking a few days ago.

Look how well we walk together.

There's rabbits over there.

Never mind the rabbits, water's much more fun.

There's no rabbits in it though!

Just checking there's no monsters lurking behind the bank!

The rabbits are this way.

You're going the wrong way,

I don't want to go home!

Spectacular Tongue-tacular Contest

2011-03-03T16:33:00.000-08:00

I was always brought up not to stick my tongue out as it's RUDE, but she who thinks she must be obeyed seems to want me to today, so here goes.

I feel very shy about it.

It's not at all what I was brought up to do!

But it's all in aid of Anna the GSD's spectacular tongue- tacular contest.

To find out more go to her blog for details, http://annathegsd.blogspot.com/

Beryl's Birthday

2011-02-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

It was Beryl's birthday last week, so on Friday we went to see Heather at her new house to celebrate. We met Heather in Goodwick and bought fish and chips (yes, we really know how to live it up!) and took them back to Heather's house which is a lovely old cottage on the cliffs. She assured us she had a fantastic view of the sea, but we had to take her word for it as it was quite foggy!

We've arrived, I'm wearing my seat belt as I sit on the back seat now.

Wow, I've not seen Fly for AGES, must catch up with the pee-mail.

And here's Flicka aswell, must be gentle with her as she's just had an operation.

After we'd eaten our fish and chips and Heather had shown us round we went for a walk, the fog lifted and we managed to see the scenery. Here's Beryl about to go over the style with Tansy and Sooty, Heather has Fly and Flicka.

That's me in the forground with my back to Fred. He lives on the farm nextdoor and wasn't meant to come with us. He was a real pain and kept taking lumps of fur out of my trousers!

We had to go down a gorge, Heather said it wasn't the steepest one on the path and Beryl said she'd prefer not to do any others then thankyou!

Finn, Tansy and Fred waiting to get to the water at the bottom of the gorge.

The dogs paddled across but we went across the bridge.

Then we had to go back up the other side.

In 1797 the French tried to invade us. The locals defended the area vigorously carrying out guerrilla warfare, even the women dressed up as soldiers to make the Frech think they were severely outnumbered and the invaders were defeated. This is the monument they raised to commemorate the incident.

And this is the inlet were they landed.

On the way back Heather took a picture of Beryl and me, I hate having my photo taken!

Indoors

2011-02-24T13:50:00.000-08:00

As we've not been doing any interesting walks lately I thought I'd put some indoorsy piccies on to keep it going until she who thinks she must be obeyed gets her paw out and gets round to writing something intersting. (We did go to Patch with Peter last weekend 'cos it was Ann's birthday and they came back after and had birthday cake which was SCRUMMY. I know because I taste tested it when no-one was looking but it wasn't appreciated so I won't be doing it again, honestly I could have been poisoned. She who thinks she must be obeyed forgot the camera so there are no piccies of us in the water and meeting new friends and doing interesting stuff, honesstly you just can't get the staff these days).

This is me and Peter, can you tell who is who? (I'm the handsome one)

Cake, what cake? I can't see any cake!

Aren't I handsome?

It's very tiring all this entertaining

Even Tara's gone to sleep.

She who thinks she must be obeyed was looking on the internet and found the website of the photographer who was at my last show and guess what, there's some piccies of ME and Tansy.
Here is the link http://louismilburn.co.uk/index.php?Action=Home See if you can spot me. I'm at the end of Agility at the Alps Feb 2011 pt 1 and also Agility at the Alps pt 1 11/12/10. Don't I jump well!

2011-02-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we had a show at Wenvoe near Cardiff. Beryl very kindly took us, thankyou Beryl, with her 2 (yes 2 ) dogs. Tansy has a new friend now called Sooty. He's a minature poodle end he's 5 months old,

Don't you think he's cute?

Because there are only 2 cages in the back of the car, Finn now sits in comfort on the back seat, so I've had to find the harness I had for Jax, the Shepherd I had before Finn. I'm not sure where we will put all our camping things in the summer when we go away for the whole weekend.
Finn worked really well, shame about the handler in the first 2 classes. We might have had a clear round in the third class, but the judge got so close to the bottom of the A-frame that Finn jumped over him and missed the contact then knocked the next pole! The main thing for me was that we are finally working as a team, it's me that needs to get my act together now!
The dogs thoroughly enjoyed themseves both in the ring and on the exercise area. Here's a video of them letting off steam on the excercise area.

A Walk on the Wild (&Windy) Side

2011-02-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

We have had 5 days of gale force winds here in Wet West Wales, at leas today it wasn't raining!

Here are some of the pictures I took on our walk to the horses.

There was only a small patch of sand for the seagulls to rest on.

Surfs up, where are the surfers?

Let's go down to the beach

A small cove along the cliff path. Local teenagers jump from the rock into the lagoon in calmer water. rather them than me!

Hello Sonic

I'm not supposed to chase the horses, but it is fun.

It was REALLY windy. Sara's 'hoodie' had come undone and was flapping in the wind and Finn looks as though his ears are blowing off! I had taken flask of hot chocolate to drink while the horses were eating and the wind was blowing it out of the cup all over me!

I can be good!

I'm Back

2011-02-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

A big hello to all my friends. Sorry I haven't been around for a while, She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed had a massive falling out with Talk Talk and has only just managed to get re-connected. But hey let's make it a good new year (ok, it's a month late unless you're in China) and I hope I have lots of adventures to share with you allm Must go now and catch up with all your adventures.

Wye Valley show

2010-06-09T04:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, just to let you know Finn is still around even though Talk Talk have cut our Internet connection and put us on incoming calls only and up until 1st of this month I hadn't even missed a payment! But that's another story.
Beryl took us to Monmouth at the weekend for the Wye valley show. It was a beautiful weekend and Finn was modelling his towelling coat he wears soaked in water to keep him cool before he runs. All things considered we were working well together although we never got a clear round and he fell off the dog walk three times!
the campsite was next to the river and all the dogs spent a good deal of time cooling off there. On Saturday night there were fireworks in one of the houses adjoining the showground and 4 dogs went missing. 3 were found quickly, but the last was missing until 12.30 at night, there must have been about 200 people scouring the campsite for her and it looked really eerie as all the torches were bobbing about in the dark but thankfully she was found.
Sorry there's no photo's again, but I'm on a friends computer and wasn't actually meaning to use it today.
Finn's next show is the last weekend of this month and then again on the 17th July.

Watch out for us on Watchdog and X-Ray with our talk talk dispute.

Apologies

2010-05-08T02:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't written anything lately, but I'm having a bit of a dispute with Talk Talk and am having to use a friends computer for this post. Hopefully it will be worked out soon and normal service continued. In the meantime I'm really looking forward to meeting JD and Max in July, ( I think it's the third weekend I'll be at Wirral), and catching up with all your blogs.

Finn's Big Adventure

2010-04-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we decided to go for our usual walk to the cliff path at Dead Mans Gulch, we've done this walk millions of times so I didn't bother to take the camera as I have loads of pictures of the woods we have to go through to get there. It was a beautiful afternoon and the sea was like a millpond, there was what was probably a seal swimming close to the shore but as I didn't have the binoculars either I couldn't be sure. There is a zig-zaggy pathway cut in the grass down to the cove and the tide was out quite a long way so there was a fairly big, deserted beach down there. We have never gone down there as it is quite steep and usually quite slippery. Anyway I decided the time was right to try it, so I put Finn on the lead and we started to go down very slowly. Finn wasn't really happy going down, he must have thought I'd gone mad going over the edge of the cliff! When we were nearly down and it looked safe I let Finn off and he went running on ahead, keeping sensibly to the path and then going in the stream. The views were fantastic, I must go back on my own with the camera. Looking back along the valley, the stream had plunged over a massive drop dividing in two as it fell. Finn came back to me to tell me to hurry up and then went off in front again, the path went between the cliffs and when I came out the other side Finn had found the sea and was down on the beach. Nothing wrong with that I hear you all saying, he loves the sea, he always goes in the sea, he thinks he's a dogfish! The trouble was the beach was about 6-7 foot below the path, with only one narrow step down, easy enough for an excited German Shepherd to go down, but how on earth does he get back up? Not by himself that's for sure. After lots of calling and encouragement and I must admit PANIC it was obvious he couldn't get back up. I tried pulling him up by the collar, but it nearly came off, so I had to go down halfway to the narrow step and eventually with lots of heaving and pushing and pulling he was up thank God and any other deity within earshot! I put him straight back on the lead and we sat looking out to sea, me giving thanks and him puffing and panting. The seal which had inadvertantly caused the problem looked on from the safety of the water. After a while we made our way back up the path and halfway up caught sight of three dolphin just off the headland. It would be nice to think they had heard me trying to get Finn up and had come to help, but I somehow think that unlikely, despite stories of them helping people in difficulty in the sea. Finn was a little bit subdued as we made our way home, but at least he's lived to tell the tale to Tansy when he sees her tomorrow!

Tremain Woods

2010-04-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

First of all let me apologise for the delay in writing this post. I've been having computer troubles, but hopefully they're all sorted now.
On March 2nd we went on a marathon 7 hour walk! There was a Le Trec competition at Tremain Woods and being a nice day we decided to take a picnic and go and watch. Of course being a Sunday there were no buses!
It took an hour of walking on roads before we got to this bridle path. When we had a car this was one of our favorite walks. It feels as though you are on top of the world here.

After following this track through the wheat fields you descend into the woods.

The path follows a stream

To Trewindsor Mill,

where Finn had a paddle and a drink.

Past the mill and up the hill to Trewindsor farm where the event was taking place. We arrived just as my friend Wendy (who taught me to ride) was just about to compete. Le Trec competitions normally consist of two parts the first being orienteering where competitors are given a map and sent off on a ride past various checkpoints to return to complete the second part where they have to negotiate various obstacles. Control is the key element here.

Once they had completed the first obstacle(opening the gate, going through it and then shutting it all without dismounting or letting go of it) they had to walk through the poles without touching them.

Next they had to walk around the bollards without knocking them over, whilst holding a rope attached to the flag pole.

There were a few more thing like loading in and out of a trailer, going over a waterjump, crossing a bridge, walking fast and cantering slowly then walking through a pair of poles and reining back through them without touching them.

And then it was over!

When Wendy had finished we wandered off to have our lunch back in the woods under the trees.

We found a place amongst the snowdrops where Finn could play in the water (he'd been so good while we were watching the horses and hadn't barked once!) while I ate my picnic.

After I had eaten and he had got sufficiently wet we carried on along the path to these ponds.

Why can't I go in here then?

This was the turning point and it was time to turn round and make our way home.

Looking across the valley there were some horses grazing on the far side of the stream.

It was a long day and we arrived home tired and footsore. Finn did make a token effort at keeping me amused in the evening by throwing his ball at me, but I don't think he was too disappointed when I didn't throw it back!

He slept well that night and the next!

An Invitation to Aberporth

2010-03-03T00:48:00.000-08:00

Hi there to all my bloggie friends. This is another post in answer to the comments, particularly JD and Max, but anyone else who wants to come and meet me and see where I live. I can't wait to meet you JD and Max so when can you come?
She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed has a friend who runs a dog friendly guest house in Aberporth, she's found a link to theweb site, http//www.yourdog.co.uk/Dog-Friendly-Holidays/Ffynonwen-Country-Guest-House.html, also the slightly posher Penrallt hotel which is just around the corner to us http//www.thepenrallt.co.uk/. And if this isn't enough there's always the tourist informationboard http//www.tourism.ceredigion.gov.uk/saesneg/cardigan.htm.
Can't wait to meet you all, but must go on a new adventure now as She Who Thinks She Muest Be Obeyed is just about to pick my lead up.
Bye for now
Finn

2010-02-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

This post is a response to Shawnee's comment from my last post.
I AM very lucky to live where I do and really do appreciate it, but you know what they say about familiarity breeding contempt, when you do the same walks all the time you become just that little bit blase about it all, and don't really appreciate it the way you should.
Having lost my car last year I am quite jealous of your walks Shawnee, all those magnificent wild places you get to,WOW.
I really miss some of the walks we used to do on my way to and from work as a milk recorder, travelling around to different farms within a 30 mile radius.

Places like these pictured below.

Brynberian burial chamber

Sunset at Rosebush

Bedd Arthur on the Pressellies

Pengelli woods

Newport and Carn Ingli.

But having lost my car I am really glad that I do live in such a lovely place with so many good accessible dog walks. Having to walk everywhere has made me explore local footpaths and find places quite nearby that I never knew existed before, and we really do appreciate the times we get a bus, or a friend takes us somewhere a bit different,

Another thing I have just recently come to appreciate is how safe we are when we go walking here. I thought your lovely red coat, Shawnee, was just a cool fashion accessory your mum liked, I didn't realise until your last post that it was to stop someone shooting you! And in another blog I was reading about how to spring a trap if your dog gets caught in one. These are things we just don't think about here.

A Winter Picnic

2010-02-23T13:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was such a beautiful dayI decided to pack a picnic lunch and take Finn for a special walk along the cliff path and make a day of it. we set off across the fields and Finn soon found one of his favoritewatering places, I'm sure there's a bit of warthog in him somewhere!

The path leads through the woods to the cliff path.

Finn always goes on the lead on the cliff path as you quite often hear of dogs going over the edge, and there is no way I will risk that happening to Finn. It is suposed to be only 4 miles to Mwnt but there are so many inlets that I'm sure it's twice that in reality.

You can't get the idea of how steep the drop is behind Finn here as I couldn't get in quite the right position with the camera without going over the edge myself!

looking back the way we had come. You can often see Dolphins playing round the headland where the currents meet, but there weren't any about yesterday. I often see a Peregrine here aswell and once I saw a Merlin hovering over the cliff face.

Looking forward. The plan was to have lunch in the field overlooking the rocks where the seals come to lie in the sun, but there was a strong North wind blowing off the sea and I decided to find somewhere more sheltered.

Finn is off the lead for this bit as it is far enough away from the edge and is quite a steep slope, which I don't appreciate being pulled down!

Another favorite watering place.

He does like the water.

Back on the lead here.

We waited till we were off the cliff path to have our lunch.

We found a small, sunfilled clearing just off the path, next to a stream where Finn could play while I ate my cold meat salad and apple crumble, possibly not the best choice for a day when the ice stayed on the ground all day
but a flask of coffee did a good job of warming me up before we carried on up this path, which in autumn is lined with blackberries.

Which led to this field.

and into this wood which will be thick with Daffodils soon.

Across the road to the Daffodil wood is this waterwheel, which looks quite forlorn standing alone.

Finn went for a closer look,

and so did I.

So far I haven't been able to find out anything about it's history, but I haven't given up yet.

Further along the road it was back into fields again. The path goes past this abandonned farm house, where if I had the money I would love to live. The land goes down to the cliff path and there are lovely seaviews and some useful out buildings.

Across another couple of fields and Finn finds a lovely muddy stream.

He's really pleased with the state he's got himself in, just look at that tummy.

And now it's back home for a bath!

I'm just thinking how lucky I am to have this walk right at the end of my road!

I Want To Be the Person My Dog Thinks I Am

2010-02-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

The following poem was inspired by this fridge magnet sent by JD and Max's Female Human and the picture of me from the last post!It's my first attempt at writing poetry since I was at school many moons ago so please don't be too critical.

I wakeup in the morning
Aching limbs and stiff in the joint
Finn by the bedside
'Come on Mum, let's go for a jaunt'.

I want to be the person my dog thinks I am.

I look in the mirror,
Face lined and gaunt.
Finn by my side
'Come on Mum let's go for a jaunt'

I want to be the person my dog thinks I am.

I put on my hat, put on my coat,
Caught by a neighbour wanting to talk.
Finn by my side,
'Come on Mum, this is a walk.

I want to be the person my dog thinks I am.

We tramp across fields,
Splash through streams'
Finn by my side,
'Come on Mum, this is the walk of my dreams'.

For a while, Iam the person my dog thinks I am.

I sit for a rest
At the end of the day.
Finn at my side ,
'Come on Mum, it's time to play'.

Iwant to be the person my dog thinks I am.

Ann's Birthday

2010-02-21T15:47:00.001-08:00

It was Ann's birthday yesterday so she invited us and Beryl and Tansy to go for a walk at Aberaeron followed by lunch in the best chip shop in Ceredigion!
She picked us up and Finn had a ride in Peter's campervan, which is much more comfortable than a normal car even if he wasn't allowed to sit on the bed!

Ann with Finn (left) and Peter (right)

Me with Finn and Peter, while we were wating for Beryl to arrive

Tansy and Finn. The path goes along the back of the beach and gradually merges into the beach which is all pebbly here. You can walk all the way to Aber Arth from Aberaeron although we didn't go that far yesterday.

It was really weird to see the snow on the hills as it was really warm in the sun.

Can you see the snow on the mountains of North Wales in the distance?

Ann, Beryl Tansy, Peter and Finn.

The path goes up onto the fields and although it is not stony underfoot it is very muddy.

Shall we jump?

At this point there was quite a drop down to the beach and Finn delighted in giving me heart attack. I don't think he would have jumped down, but I was worried about the edge giving way as it isn,t very stable.

After our walk we left the dogs in the cars (with windows and sunrooves open) while we had the best ever fish and chips served with a green salad, then we had a look around an exhibition of local artists before reurning home.

Thankyou for a lovely day out Ann.

Back to school

2010-02-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for your get well wishes for Jesse, she is feeling better now and has regained most of the weight she lost. Maria was really touched when I told her you had sent messages for her.
Finn had a nice surprise yesterday, he went back to school! Yvonne came and picked us up and he went in the car with Mishka, a chocolate Labrador. He knew something was up when I put a bag of treats in my pocket, and he was outside waiting by the gate for about 1/2 hour before she arrived.
When we arrived the previous class was still drinking their tea and he went to talk to Ruby, a Burmese who he remembered from his puppy days at school. Our class was just a fun class just for social reasons rather than serious training, there was Ginny a golden retriever and Tarka a wire haired Dachshund who belong to Sue the trainer from the previous class, Emma awhite Pomeranian who he used to know from puppy days, Jack a whippet and Maisie another chocolate Labrador who was also one of his old friends and of course Mishka and Mick a Beardie collie belonging to Jim our trainer.
We did heal work on and off lead and a 2 minute stay which Finn did very well.
Then we all stood in a group in a corner while one of us left their dog and went into another room before calling their dog to them and then leaving them in the room, returning to the group and calling their dog back again. Finn managed the first part alright but didn't quite let me get back to the group before he decided he ought to come and make sure I wasn't being kidnapped!
Then we played a couple of games with bits of carpet. In the first one we had to get our dogs to circle the carpet pieces in alternate directions, I expect the dogs would have done it perfectly if only the owners knew what they were meant to be boing! The next game was a bit simpler, the dogs had to walk to heal (off lead) and sit on each carpet square on the way up the line, then on the way back we had to leave the dog, go down the line 2 carpet squares, recall the dog and get him to sit on the first carpet square, repeating the exercise until we reached the end of the line. Finn was very good at this although the bits of carpet were just the tinsiest bit close for him and he did overshoot a couple!
Then we had tea, bicscuits and choccies because it was somebody in the other class's birthday before returning home.
A big thankyou to Mishka for letting Finn share his car.

2010-02-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update on Jesse, the rottweiller who lives across the road and shared our bus on her way to the vet yesterday. She is a very poorly little pup, and had to have a hysterectomy as she had a really bad infection. She is back home now but is feeling really sorry for herself and isn't eating or drinking, let alone taking her antibiotics. I found a syringe I had to worm the puppies with a few years back in the hope that Maria can get some water into her with that, otherwise she will have to go back to the vet.
Hang on in there Jesse we're all rooting for you.

Sun, Sea, Sand and Surprises

2010-02-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed has been a bit busy (lazy) just lately so I'm taking over blogging duties today!
It was a luvvly day with lots of suns shining in a blue sky and lots of winds blowing. We went to my most favorite place in the whole world, but we nearly didn't get there 'cos Jesse, a Rotty who lives in our road and NEVER goes out, (imagine never going anywhere but your own back garden!), decided to be ill and go to the vet on the same bus as we had to get on and the bus driver man said he couldn't take 2 dogs on but She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed said I was very good and he said I could get on after all. I was VERY good even though Jesse is in season and I had to walk past her to get on and off!
We got off the bus at Patch and I went swimming in my favorite swimming place.

Then I had a good shake.

Then I fetched the stick and then we did it all over again.

Then we walked along the beach, right the way to that hotel in the distance, then we came back again and walked the other way.

I found a BIG jellyfish-good job I didn't find it while I was swimming!

Then I found a coconut!

IT rolled like a ball.

After about an hour we started walking home because I was all wet and sandy and we didn't want to make the bus wet and sandy so that the driver man wouldn't let us on any more. It should have taken us about 2 hours to get home but after we had gone halfway the bus came along and the driver man said get on even though I was wet and sandy cos I had been such a good man on the way there!

When we got home there was a luvvly surprise in the postbox! There was a prezzie from JD and Max!

Here's what they sent. Some writing paper with G.S.Ds on for She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed, a fridge magnet with writings on and some luvvly, tasty chews for me. Thankyou JD and Max.

The chews were DELICIOUS.

Showtime

2010-01-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

Finn had a show on Sunday, at Moor Farm near Haverfordwest. We haven't got any photos because I left the camera behind, but he enjoyed himself so much I'm glad there's no evidence to prove it!

Beryl picked us up at 7 o'clock in the morning and we arrived in plenty of time to have a stretch before we walked the coarse. Finn was SO excited, there was lots of pee-mail to catch up on round the exercise area and he really didn't want to wait in the car while I walked the coarse. It was a very nice coarse and we were due to run 8th. The weavy poles were obstacle no 3 and we were eliminated before we got there! He went through the 12 poles like greased lightening and then managed to get eliminated another 6 times before the end of the coarse! Everyone loved him!

After this I took him back to the exercise area and we had a lovely walk around the fields, there was a stream, lots of mud and a pond which I didn't see until I heard a splash! (Have I mentioned in previous posts that Finn is part Warthog?). There was a horsey cross country coarse and Finn tried some of the horse jumps out to see if they were safe for the horses. and some little paths leading through woody places.

By the time we got back to the car they were setting the 2nd coarse, circular jumping. Again it was a lovely, flowing coarse and I came up with Plan B- to run round as fast as I could, ignoring my dog as much as he ignored me in the last one! It worked in as much as he went round the proper coarse, but we got the record for the number of faults (50) acquired without being eliminated! We left 2 out of 20 poles up! The reason it was only 50 faults was because on the second circuit there wasn't anything left to knock over!

Then it was lunch time. We had a picnic of carrot and coriander soup, pigeon pie with potato salad and vegetable salad followed by fruit cake. Finn had dry dog food mixed with meat.

After lunch we had our last run, this was an agility round with the dogwalk, A-frame and seesaw in it. I think he left most of the poles up this time, but he was so wound up I had to get him to sit twice in the middle of his run to get his head together, after doing 12 weavy poles perfectly in the first class he decided 6 wasn't worth bothering with but I was informed afterwards that he got 2 out of 3 contacts, only missing the 1 on the dog walk.

Although Tansy didn't manage a clear round for Beryl she was working well and listening to what she was supposed to do. In Finn's defence nearly all the dogs were a bit mad because they hadn't been able to do much training because of the weather. At least Finn enjoyed himself and entertained everyone and he was very tired Sunday night!

Beryl, Finn and Tansy.

Another walk in the snow

2010-01-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures we took on our afternoon walk today. I forgot to take the camera this morning when the snow looked really magical through the woods, but if the weather forecast is to be believed there will probably be a few more photographic opportunities this week and probably next week aswell!

The sheep were cold and huddled behind the hedge.

Well the sensible ones were!

Looking back towards Dead Mans Gulch.

This is taken from the gate looking back the way we had come.

On the way back we made pawprints in the snow, (well we did on the way out as well, but I didn't take a picture of those!

Our house, nice and warm after a cold walk in the snow!

2010-01-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

THE COAL GOT THROUGH, yes we can be nice and warm now , in fact I'm justgoing to light the fire now.
It's amazing, the coal lorry came from Ammanford, but the dustcart hasn't managed to get here today!

2010-01-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

We had lots more snows today. I pestered and pestered and pesterd until She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed took me out. It was AWESOME, I didn't have my lead on because it was slippery and there weren't any cars about.
I played snowballs with the boys.

Then we went into the field where the sheep aren't and played more snowballs.

Then we came home and She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed siad Christmas is officially over now and we had to take the decorations down.

This is really sad ,it's the last ever photy of me with this years tree.

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed is getting all stressed out bcause there's only enough black burny stuff for the fire for today. The man with the lorry who brings it is meant to come tomorrow, but he comes from Ammanford which is millions of miles away, and today the cars couldn't even get to Cardigan which is only 8 miles away because they all slidded and bumped into each other on Tremain Hill this morning.

I don't know why she needs a fire to keep warm, why doesn't she just grow a nice thick fur coat like mine?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

First of all Happy New Year to you all.
Sorry there haven't been any posts since Christmas,but the computer decided to have a holiday and wouldn't talk to the camera or the mouse! They all seem to have settled their differences now and returned to normal. (Whatever that is).
Hope you all had a funtastic christmas with lots of goodies from Santa Paws. Finn had lots of chews and treats, a squeaky ball and a squeaky hedgehog and a TURKEY dinner. He had 2 good walks, (but we didn't have the camera with us) and a ride in Scott's van which he thought was best of all!

It snowed last night, so this morning we went for a tramp across the fields before breakfast and before it all got spoilt.
We even went out before the moon went to bed!

Throw me a snowball.

Can you see the rabbity paw prints in the snow?

There were foxy ones as well.

On the way home we played 'Find the glove', although Finn seems to think it's finders keepers!

We'll have to work on that one.

2009-12-25T15:37:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISSIEMOUSE EVERYONE

It's official Santa Paws is coming!

2009-12-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's official, Santa Paws (no Finn it's Father Chrissie Mouse, Smudge says), is coming. I was getting a bit worried 'cos everyone else had their deco's up but She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed hadn't got ours, but yesterday she put the tree up so it must be true. He is coming soon. He leaves lots of luvvly prezzies under the tree and me and Smudge love opening them, but Tara thiks it's all silly and won't have anything to do with it.

I don't know why she's put a witch on top of the tree instead of the star we usually have though, I hope it doesn;t frighten Santa Paws away! I tried to get it down while she was out, just in case, but the tree fell over and she was cross when she came back and put it all back again. I hope Santa Paws isn't frightened..... I like having prezzies.

There was a party at the dog club I can't get to anymore on Wednesday and they had a photo fancy dress competition. I won it last year with my Bob Dylan imdogonation, This year I did'The pen is mightier than the sword' (her idea, I think it was a stupid idea everyone knows swords hurt more than pens), anyway we didn't win this year, but this is what I looked like.

I just hope no one comes along with a great big sharp sword.

Lazy Morning

2009-12-15T15:25:00.000-08:00

All that jumping and running about and meeting relatives at Cardiff this weekend was Very tiring. E is for exhausting aswell!

Finn just had to have a lie in to recover.

The Three 'E's (entertainment, excitement and enjoyment unfortunately also ELIMINATION)

2009-12-14T12:59:00.001-08:00

We went to Cardiff yesterday, for the B.H.C. agility show at Wenvoe. The alarm went off at 4.00 am as Mark was suposed to be picking me up at 5.30 on his way to milk next door to Beryl who was taking me. Finn was so excited he was sitting at the gate waiting at 5.00. Mark finally arrived at 6.00. Beryl was waiting at the end of her driveway and Finn jumped out of Mark's car and couldn't wait for Beryl to open the door of hers, he was so keen to get in!

There was a fantastic sunrise as we were driving along the motorway. We arrived at Cardiff in plenty of time but we got lost and wasted a lot of time driving round in circles, narrowly escaping death and causing complete mayhem as we changed from lane to lane in an effort to find the right road (I hate Cardiff, every time I go there we get lost!).

We missed walking the course for the first class, but it was quite straightforward and we watched a few people run it before it was our turn. It was so exciting to be at a show again , and we haven't managed any training since our last show, so I can't blame Finn for getting a little bit carried away and jumping off the dog walk halfway down and jumping the wrong jump at the end! The next class was the helter skelter and it might just as well have been a demolition derby! We were eliminated in that one aswell. The last one was better, it was me who messed up in that and got us eliminated again. Finn was going really well and did everything I told him, unfortunaetly I got in the wrong place and pushed him over the wrong jump. But the main thing was he enjoyed himself.

We did a bit of obedience training on the exercise field with other dogs chasing balls all around him and he didn't break his stay and did almost everything I asked him to do, so I was really pleased with him.

We met his neice, Freya, and nephew, Flynn. He doesn't look too impressed does he?

Tansy looks really pleased with herself. She got a clear round, Finn looks a bit embarassed to have been E'd in all his classes, but he says E is for Entertainment, Enjoyment,and Excitement aswel as Elimination.

The Three Beaches Walk

2009-12-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

Finn has had a pretty boring time just lately what with the weatherbeing so awful, so when we woke up yesterday and IT WASN'T RAINING we decided to go for a looong walk. I packed a flask of soup in the rucksack and headed for Penbryn.
We set off for Aberporth, the tide was in so we couldn't go on the beach there, but there is a pathway along the back of the beach onto the green and from there onto the cliffpath to Tresaith. We cut across the beach at Tresaith and stopped for a cuppa and a bit of stick throwing before making our way round the road to Penbryn as the cliffpath between Tresaith and Penbryn is very steep and slippery after all the rain. I haven't managed to do all of it yet, but I will one day!

Finn found it thirsty work and had a drink from a mini waterfall at the side of the road.

We arrived at Penbryn beach just as it started raining again, but Finn didn't mind and played in the sand while I sat under the cliffs (and my silly hat) and had my lunch.

After lunch we walked along the mile and a half beach before turning for home.

The path goes through woodland which along with the beach (which dogs are only allowed on in the winter) is owned by the National Trust.

Looking down on Penbryn beach from the cliff top

We arrived home halfway through the afternoon. Finn was suposed to be as tired as I was, but he still expected me to play ball all evening!

How do you tire a G.S.D. out?

Heather's birthday

2009-11-28T13:23:00.001-08:00

It was Heather's birthday yesterday, so Beryl took me over to give her a birthday present. Here are some of the pictures we took while we were there.

Heather with Fly and Finn.

Finn (out of shot) wanted Fly to play. But Fly didn't want to

Tansy looking cute

Fly looking innocent

Finn and Tansy

Finn and Fly......Truce

Finn looking puzzled, why won't Fly play with me?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER

Lost Dog

2009-11-18T14:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, as we were returning from our walk, a strange brown chocolate labrador ran and hid in our gateway. It was a stand off for a few seconds, with the lab waiting for us to go on and me wondering how to get past him. He was friendly, but quite nervous and lacking in the steetcred of a seasoned street walker. In the end I got Finn to sit while I caught him and checked his collar, luckily he had a tag with a phone number on, so I put finn indoors, left him in the garden and phoned the number, naturally there was no reply, so I left a message saying where he was. When I went back outside he had escaped into next door! I retrieved him and put him on Finn's lead and wondered what on earth to do with him. I didn't want to take him indoors as both cats were in and Tara still hasn't recovered from her advevture with the R.S.P.C.A. yet and I didn't want to traumatise her anymore. I remembered hearing but never seeing a large dog barking at the end of the road, was this were he had come from? so off we went to find out. No they had a black labrador, back we came, none of the neighbours Knew him and I was getting really worried by now, I didn't want to have him indoors, I couldn't let him go as I'd left the message saying were he was and he didn't look as though he was used to fending for himself anyway, I didn't want to get in touch with the R.S.P.C.A. after all my comments regarding my neighbours and Tara, and I REALLY didn't want to stay in the rain in the garden with him! luckily at this point a car came along the road with his owner in. She was really pleased to find him and he was pleased to see her and everything ended happily. It just shows how important it is to make sure the name tag hasn't got lost...........must check Finns.

Frosty Morning

2009-11-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

I woke up yesterday morning and realised that the sun was shining! It was a lovely crisp frosty morning, just right for tramping across the fields with my camera, so before we'd evan had breakfast off we went. Here are some of the photos we took.

This side of the hedge the sun was shining.

And this side was thick frost, the first we've had this winter.

The wood pigeons were still asleep in the hedge.

We went to the end of the track and then turned round and came back again.

Past the disused sewage works which is now an unofficial nature reserve were you can usually hear several different birds singing at once.

And back home for breakfast, egg and bacon for me and dog food for Finn.

Guy Fawkes Night

2009-11-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

Finn had a wonderful time barking at all the whizz bang whistle noises happening outside tonight. To be honest it was only the whistley fireworks which made him bark, he didn't really take much notice of the others. Poor Smudge dived behind the sofa at the first 'pht' and Tara really must be going deaf because she just sat still and didn't take any notice at all.
Sorry there aren't any pics for this but I was eating my dinner while all this was happening.

Autumn Leaves

2009-11-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Finn has been helping in the garden, the sound of a broom or wire rack drives him demented, and he does enjoy being 'helpful'

Would somebody please tell him we couldget the job done twice as fast if he DIDN'T help

Photo of the week

2009-10-31T14:32:00.001-07:00

tadpole, originally uploaded by finnandblue.

This week has been spent clearing the leaves from this little fella's home, there was only about 2'' of water above all the debris

2009-10-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Tara cat is going a bit senile. She must be getting on for 15 and spends most of the day sitting in the middle of the road,expecting cars to go round her! When she's not doing this she's either playing dead sleeping in nextdoors garden and upsetting all the local children or visiting the neighbours pretending to be starving.
A couple of months ago she found some new people to feed her and I had to keep dragging her back home hissing and spitting. Then instead of coming in 3 times a day for food she started coming home about once or twice a week until last week when I didn't see her at all. I wasn't really worried because she often disappears for a week or so and I know she has lots of places she goes for food.
Anyway I was talking to a friend this afternoon and she happened to mention that there was an ad in the local paper saying a thin black and white cat had been found IN OUR ROAD. I found the number and it was the local branch of the R.S.P.C.A! When I phoned up I was told she was with one of their fosterers about 20 miles away and when could I go and get her. I was a little bit annoyed to say the least, not only I haven't got a car, but my cat had been catnapped from the road she was born in by some do gooder who couldn't even bother to ask if anyone knew where she lived. She was taken to the local vet (who thought she was about 1 year old and couldn't even tell whether she was male or female) and vaccinated. then whisked away to a strange house with lots of strange cats (she's not very sociable)and put in a cage which she hated. When I got there she had been liberated from the cage and was hiding in a corner, she came out purring when I called her and since she's been home she's not moved from the top of the carrycase she came home in, except to have a bowl of food and a saucer of milk.

I know she is a small cat, but her coat is shiny and she's not bony, I know she spends most of her time outside, that's where she's happy. The road is her territory and she's staked her claim on it for the last 14_15 years, why can't people mind there own business and let her get on with hers? I'm scared to let her out now and she's going to go mad if I don't!
Thankyou Joanne for taking me to get her back. She might be a bit of a grump indoors but we missed her when she wasn't here.

My Bed pt. 2

2009-10-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

Finn doesn't like his new bed and refuses to get in it.

But Smudge has taken to it.

My New Bed

2009-10-24T14:04:00.001-07:00

Finn has been given a new bed, he's not too sure about it yet, he usually prefers to sleep on the floor. or his half of the sofa.

What's this?

Am I meant to fit into THIS?

It's a bit small

A Walk to the Horses

2009-10-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our walk today.

The road into Aberporth.

I'm a Soggy Doggy

I like surfin'

Seaweed tossin'

What a view

Aberporth beach from the green

It's really good now, we can go on both beaches now the holidaymakers have gone home

From the cliffpath

Why can't I go in the pond

My friends, Sara and Imshi

2009-10-09T15:03:00.001-07:00

BLISS!

2009-10-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

My big reward bone is sooo tasty.

I'm sooo glad Smudge didn't steal it.

A Dog's Day Out 2

2009-09-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

If you click on the following link http://www.louismilburn.co.uk/Wales_Photographer.php?Action=Home there are a load of pictures the poffessional photographer took on Sunday, not just Finn, but the whole show_ well the agility bit anyway. When you're on his site click on the Burns agility box.

Dog's Day Out

2009-09-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

Finn went to Pembrey on Sunday for A Dog's Day Out, it was a fantastic show with lot's going on apart from the Agility. We had 3 runs. Beryl videod the first one for us, But unfortunately I didn't manage to get anyone to do the other 2. Anyway here's the one that got caught on camera!

Our 2nd run was much better, we were clear! Unfortunately we were 1 second out of time so it didn't count, but it was our first ever round without any faults and I was SO proud of him.

The 3rd run was a tunnel challenge. As we've never done one of these before we didn't know what to expect. There were 16 obstacles 13 of which were tunnels with a jump at the beginning, middle and end. They were set out at angles and we had to do them in the correct order and enter at the right end. We flew! Finn really enjoyed himself and didn't put a paw wrong, as we finished everyone cheered! Finn stopped and looked up as if he thought 'They're cheering ME!'
We came 17th out of a class of about 200! And got our very first Agility rosette. I was VERY proud of my little man.

We met Ann and Peter, Peter had won first prize in the Best Trick class in the dog show . Here he is showing us how clever he is. He puts 3 balls into 3 cups in order.

And here he is playing with Finn. Can you tell who is who?

There were lots of displays in the main arena. There was a display of Carriage dogs.

Cheshire Dog Display team gave an absolutely unfollowable display with dogs climbing stepladders, retrieving flaming dumbells and jumping throug hoops of fire.

I felt really sorry for the search and rescue team who followed them, they gave a good display,but it was nothing like as spectacular as the previous one.

Ther was a display of Newfoundlands, an obedience display and lots more that we didn't have time to watch.

There was also a Cani-x event being held were you run with your dog, there were the dog olympics, but we didn't see those so we can't say what was involved.

There were lots of stalls selling things for doggy charities, the Dogs Trust was there and you could get your dog microchipped there.

Just before we went home they had the presentation for the Tunnel Challenge when Finn got presented with his rosette.

This is Finn with his very first Rosette! He's very proud of himself. I'm very proud of him aswell and bought him a big bone as a reward for being a good boy.

The Smudge cat tried to steal my big bone reward!

misty morning walk

2009-09-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

As we've been having some really beautiful misty autumn mornings we've started having long walks across the fields looking for mushrooms (we've found 5!) before breakfast, well it's no good getting them after breakfast is it? Here are some pictures we took one morning last week.

What are these ? Do Fairies have net curtains?

Who's walking across our field?

It's alright, it's only Finn

Pembroke County Show

2009-08-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys there are no pictures for this one, everyone was too wet to be bothered with a camera! Pembroke show is our local show and up until this year the agility part was run by our club, but Mike has finally relinquished responsibility to another club, which means that Cantref Gwaelodd members were free to enjoy the rest of the show instead of being tied to ring party duty. It is a 3 day show and we would normally camp there for the 3 days, but as I am dependant on the goodwill of friends to get there this year we were only there for the day yesterday,( thank you Beryl and Tansy).
As I said, the weather was slightly damp (but not as damp as today!). We had 4 runs, 2 agility and 2 jumping. The first was an agility, after getting E'd on Saturday for going on the A frame at the wrong time Finn decided he shouldn't go on it at all in this class! We were E'd for 3 refusals. the second class was the other agility class and we did slightly better, only having 2 refusals due to over enthusiasm and lack of concentration. The first jumping class we had 4 poles down, but I was really pleased with him as I had the feeling we were working together. The last class, the ABC (anything but a collie), which has always been the one I really want to do well in was a total disaster and it was all my fault. Finn was running really well, but something pulled in my leg and I couldn't run properly so I wasn't in the right place at the right time and we got E'd for backjumping, sorry Finn.
As it was raining quite hard by now we decided to go straight home after Beryl had finished her runs and we were back by 5o'clock! Beryl was very pleased with Tansy as she had a clear round well within the coarse time although unfortunately not in the places. Well done Tansy.

Heart of Wales Show

2009-08-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

Looking down on the showground

We finally made it to a show this weekend! Beryl and Tansy took us to Builth Wells to the Heart of Wales show. The agility show was part of a game fair, so there wa lots going on. Finn had 3 runs, one agility and 2 jumping. We did the agility first and I didn't get any one to video it because I thought he would be totally MAD. As it turned out I got really choked up walking the course and, considering we haven't done much training and haven't got to any other shows this year, Finn was really good. Of course we got eliminated, but that was my fault for not stopping him going for the A-Frame which was cunningly placed to trap unwary handlers! (He always used to be more interested in tunnels than contact equipment). We got eliminated in the other classes aswell, but he was trying and I was really pleased with him.

Here are the videos of the jumping classes.

(It's probably a good job the photographers forgot to zoom the camera in and you can't see what's happening over the far side properly!)

In between runs we managed to walk around the rest of the show. There was a Husky team talking about Husky racing, I never realised it was so big in this country.

There were ferrets , Finn was totally fascinated by them, the man got one out and while I was stroking it Finn couldn't tak his eyes off it, when it went back in the cage he sat and stared a it ad wouldn't move for ages!

I bought Finn a new collar, I've been looking for one that's a bit different, not too macho and not too woosy, for ages now. It's really difficult finding one that's just rightI thought I'd found one last year but it cost £16.0 and I thought that was a bit much for a strip of leather that will probably get ruined in the sea!

My new collar

There was a Falconry display and a coarse fishing display, lucher racing, a lurcher and terrier show and lots more.

At the end they had a pay on the day fun agility class which we had a go at and we got ALL our contacts! (Finn touched all the yellow bits at the end instead of jumping off halfway down). He was a very tired little pooch by the time we got home!

Penbryn

2009-08-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

Today we had a special treat, we got the 'Cardi Bach' to Penbryn. The Cardi Bach is a special bus which runs during the summer for walkers. It runs from Cardigan to Newquay twice a day and passes the end of our road. It was about 1/2 an hour late so we nearly did something else instead. Finn was so excited to be going to one of his old walks that he hasn't been to for AGES.
Penbryn is owned by the National Trust and dogs aren't allowed on the beach in the summer,(GRRRR from Finn), but there is a walk through the woods behind the car park where the bus dropped us.

We left the car park by some quite steep steps which lead down to a stream and this waterfall, Finn was so excited he rushed up and down the steps and into the water. The walk goes through the woods into a field which overlooks the sea, we could hear everyone enjoying themselves on the beach and the waves breaking on the beach. Finn was rushing on ahead and coming back to say 'Hurry up' and rushing off again. I had visions of him going the wrong way and going on the beach by himself, but he was very good and stayed with me.
They have quite recently made a new section of cliffpath from Tresaith to Penbryn which also goes into this field, we thought about walking back that way, but decided to do it another day.

This is the beach which Finn wanted to go on. I was really pleased with him for not rushing on down there! It is such a big temptation.

We carried on round the woods and back to the carpark, which brings me to my first BIG MOAN. As I said before Finn was very excited and excitement does embarrassing things to his stomach. Yes you've guessed, he had made an embarrassingly sguidgy mess right in the middle of the path quite near the beginning of the walk, which I had picked up and put into a (pink!) plastic poobag as all responsible dog owners are supposed to do, I had carried this bag along with a swarm of attendant flies for almost an hour, when we got back to the cafe in the car park the bin had 'NO DOG POO' written on it,on going in and asking if there was a bin for the aforesaid I was told that there wasn't as the council wouldn't collect it ! I'm afraid there is a pink plastic bag still in the car park as I don't think it would have been accepted on the bus home! I'm all for picking up after your dog and I think dog owners are their own worst enemy when it comes to it, but PLEASE give us somewhere to put it after we've cleared it up.

Anyway we still had another hour to go before the bus home so we went along the cliff path towards LLangrannog. I haven't been this way for years and Finn has never been.

This is as far as we went. Ynys Lochyn is the bit sticking out in the distance. LLangranog is just before it. It was lovely up on the cliff tops. There were lots of yachts out from Tresaith making towards LLangrannog, but we didn't see any dolphin which are quite common in the bay.

On the way back I had my second moan of the day, stiles. Why can't they put dog friendly stiles on footpaths, most of the ones we've come across in Pembroke are. I thought we were going to miss the bus because Finn had trouble getting back across one which was higher one side than the other, luckily he eventually managed it without either hurting himself or going over the cliff.

We did get back in time to catch the bus which drove along our road and dropped us by our front door.

Training Again!

2009-08-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a military style operation by my friends Finn managed to get to dog club for some proper agility training yesterday. Mark, on whose land l keep the horses, Imshi and Sara pictured below, milks on the farm next door to Beryl. He took me over to Beryls and then she took us on to training. On the way home we met Mark halfway and he brought us back. Life gets a bit complicated without a car!

Finn was really excited to see all his friends again and it almost made up for not getting to the show on Saturday. The first course we did was a bit mad, but after everyone had had a go we broke it down into exercises and then did the course again at the end which he did much better.

He was a very tired little pooch last night!

Thankyou Mark and Beryl.

Disappointed dog..... and human!

2009-07-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

Finn was very excited today, Beryl brought Tansy over to do some training together, ready for Brecon Show on Saturday. we got ALL the equipment out and made a proper course. Here is a sketch of the course we used, 1,5,6,8,9,10,11&13 are jumps, 2 is a long jump, 3 is the seesaw, 4 is a tunnel and 7 &12 are weaving poles.

We spent almost an hour practicing and had lots of fun running and jumping and barking and generally giving the neighbours a bit of entertainment. It would be lovely if some of them would bring their dogs to have a go as well instead of just saying 'Isn't he clever, mine would never do that!' We did the course twice in both directions, changed it a bit and did a bit more until both dogs had had enough then after we put every thing away went in for a drink.

Beryl had just left when the phone rang it was the show secretary to say the show has been cancelled because the ground is waterlogged. We are both really disappointed.

The Search for the Splash Monster continues

2009-07-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

We went on another Splash Monster hunt, on the way Finn found a new friend called Scrappy. No Finn this is NOT the Splash Monster.

We found an old wellyboot someone has lost and Finn demonstrated what he will do when he finds the SplashMonster,

Is he here?
This is the perfect place fora Spalsh Monster to hideout.

A walk just isn't a walk if you don't get wet and muddy!

Do you think someone should tell Finn that the reason he can't find the Splash Monster is because it might be him all the time!
( sorry about the quality of the last video, te batteries were getting low).

Medieval Day

2009-07-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

It was Medieval Day in Cardigan today. There was a parade through the town to the Castle, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/history/pages/cardigan_castle.shtml) there were stalls and displays of ancient crafts.

My neighbours Andrea and Buddy are Sandwitch, they were playing at the entrance, and were also in a display of Morris dancing, unfortunately I went home before they were on. Sorry Andrea!

The Mayor of cardigan was wandering round talking to everyone

The Wizard cast a spellon us_ I hope it wasn't a curse!

These two characters were pushing an apothecary's cart round and were 'curing' anyone unwise enough to admit to any ailments.

Bravery Award

2009-07-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Finn would like to award Anya, the police G.S.D. on the news tonight , a big, bright, shiny bravery award.
Although she was stabbed she managed to save her handler who was also stabbed. Finn knows she was doing her job and has had special training but he still thinks she was very brave and I think he's fallen inlove with her, but don't tell anyone or he'll get embarrassed!

Agility training

2009-07-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Finn's getting excited, Beryl has very kindly offered to take us to a few shows next month, so we thought we ought to do a bit of training before we go! We haven't mnaged to get to dog club since we lost the car.

Tony, a friend who lives a few doors away took this video.

I think we need A LOT of practice!

A Rainy Day

2009-07-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

It was raining today so we did some indoor things like playing catch with my squidgy ball.

And playing Find It with the squidgy ball.

And then it stopped raining and we went outside to play ball with the new(ish) ball throwy thing. It throws them everso far! We do this most evenings after dinner, it keeps Her Who Thinks She's In Charge amused for five minutes, but it's really quite tiring and I take her back in as soon as I think I can get away with it!

And then I settle down with Smudge for a nice relaxing evening while She Who Thinks She's In Charge goes off to write all about it for all my friends to read. Thank goodness Tara wasn't about or it wouldn't have been so peaceful. I don't know who invented the saying 'fighting like dogs and cats' it should be fighting like Tara and Smudge!

Goodnight.

On The Beach Again.

2009-07-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

The weather has been so hot lately there's only one thing to do! So we went to Aberporth beach again this afternoon. Finn spent all his time swimming in the sea. We're really lucky here because there are two beaches at Aberporth, on the smaller one, dogs are banned from May to September but they are allowed on the bigger one all year round. Further along the coast at Tresaith they are only allowed on half the beach in the summer and further along still at Penbryn they are banned altogether in the summer, but there is a good walk round the woods between the carpark andthe beach. I still haven't done the cliffpath fom Penbryn to Tresaith, it's a bit of a long walk when it's too hot, but there is a special walkers bus which runs twice a day during the summer which just happens to be driven by one of our neighbours, so maybe when the weather cools off a bit we will explore a bit further along the coast.

He does love the water!

a walk to the Roundhouse

2009-06-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

First of all I'd like to apologise to you all for not writing anything for a while,things have been happening here, but hey it's O.K. now. There's loads of pics to share with you all but I won't put them all up now instead I'll just share the walk we went on tonight.
My son, Scott and his girlfriend Laura came over this evening and took us on a walk to the roundhouse at Abercych. Finn was so excited to be going in the car, he misses my car more than me!
Along the pathway to get to the roundhouse there are various sculptures, I think this poem is lovely

Thre's a wagon made from horseshoes. Sorry about the quality of the picture, Finn always seems to move when I point the camera at him!

There's a wild boar that frightened the life out of him when he first met it, but they're great frinds now!

Inside the roundhouse. The walls have coloured bottles set into them in patterns, as it's dark inside the light shining through looks really pretty.

Scott and Finn outside the round house.

The Hunt For The Splash Monster

2009-05-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Finn is determined to find the Splash Monster after he escaped from the mudhole in the previous post.
Is he here?

Mum, Is he here?

I'm sure he is Mum.

Mum, he's getting away!

If anyone sees a Splash Monster, could you please let Finn know?

Mud Puppy

2009-05-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

A walk is just not a walk if you can't get wet and muddy

I think the splash monster got away today, but Finn will be hot on his trail next time!

Sguidgy Blue Ball

2009-05-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

Finn loves exersizing his jaws on a nice sguidgy ball.

Oh bliss!