After a few weeks off due to holidays and other commitments, the usual gang met up on Saturday to go for a walk.
Holly recognised the pre-walk preparations so knew we were going out and started to 'sing' and make 'hurry up' noises at me from about 8:30am.
When we started the walk, a there and back stroll down the side of a reservoir, the sun was just visible through a layer of clouds. By the time we got to a third of the way down it was raining, at the halfway point on the way down we stopped to put on waterproof jackets. We stopped again at the turn-round point to don waterproof trousers.
Despite the rain it was a lovely walk and Holly enjoyed herself thoroughly, however even she was glad to see the cars again as the rain had managed to work through the outer waterproof layer of her fur. It had also been heavy enough to go through some of my waterproofs so I had a few small soggy bits of clothing. When we got home Holly got a more thorough towelling off and I put most of what I was wearing into the washing machine.
Tuesday 27 May 2014
Monday 19 May 2014
Drowning in Drool
This weekend the sun came out, while it was nice to see it was too much for Holly who, very sensibly, decided that in the shade was the best place to be.
But as it was nice and warm for a couple of days in a row the ground warmed up enough for Holly to be able to lie out without getting cold.
So yesterday evening I got the barbecue out. It's a new one that Holly has not seen before so she gave it a good sniff all over and then looked at me to see what I was going to do with the strange metal contraption. Her ears perked up pretty quickly when I brought the charcoal out and lit it and once dinner went on to cook she started to drool.
The patch of grass where she was waiting impatiently for her share of BBQ goodies got quite damp, but her patience and drooling paid off and she shared all the things that got cooked.
Later that evening when she fell asleep her dreams involved a lot of lip licking so I think she was dreaming of warm evenings in the garden with a never-ending supply of burgers, sausages and steaks.
But as it was nice and warm for a couple of days in a row the ground warmed up enough for Holly to be able to lie out without getting cold.
So yesterday evening I got the barbecue out. It's a new one that Holly has not seen before so she gave it a good sniff all over and then looked at me to see what I was going to do with the strange metal contraption. Her ears perked up pretty quickly when I brought the charcoal out and lit it and once dinner went on to cook she started to drool.
The patch of grass where she was waiting impatiently for her share of BBQ goodies got quite damp, but her patience and drooling paid off and she shared all the things that got cooked.
Later that evening when she fell asleep her dreams involved a lot of lip licking so I think she was dreaming of warm evenings in the garden with a never-ending supply of burgers, sausages and steaks.
Monday 12 May 2014
Reading
As you saw at Christmas, Holly loves to open parcels. She also enjoys 'reading' my post.
She is not too bothered by bills, circulars and junk mail but loves cards. Whenever there is a card to open she is there by my side.
Firstly we examine the envelope, I am looking at the handwriting and post mark trying to work out where it was posted and seeing if I can guess who sent it, I think holly is checking all the people who have handled the envelope.
Next we open the envelope and look at the card, most cards sent to me have an animal theme. Holly has a cursory sniff at the outside, she is more interested in the inside.
I have to make sure that I read the inside first because once Holly has finished sniffing and, occasionally, licking it the ink has got a bit smudged and smeared and some bits have been known to be unreadable. So if I read it first I can note down important information such as changes of address before they are obliterated.
Linus sometimes joins in reading cards but he is more interested in running round chasing after scrunched up envelopes. Olaf is not interested in reading or chasing but has been known to use a pile of cards as an impromptu bed.
She is not too bothered by bills, circulars and junk mail but loves cards. Whenever there is a card to open she is there by my side.
Firstly we examine the envelope, I am looking at the handwriting and post mark trying to work out where it was posted and seeing if I can guess who sent it, I think holly is checking all the people who have handled the envelope.
Next we open the envelope and look at the card, most cards sent to me have an animal theme. Holly has a cursory sniff at the outside, she is more interested in the inside.
I have to make sure that I read the inside first because once Holly has finished sniffing and, occasionally, licking it the ink has got a bit smudged and smeared and some bits have been known to be unreadable. So if I read it first I can note down important information such as changes of address before they are obliterated.
Linus sometimes joins in reading cards but he is more interested in running round chasing after scrunched up envelopes. Olaf is not interested in reading or chasing but has been known to use a pile of cards as an impromptu bed.
Tuesday 6 May 2014
A Couple of Hours Under Canvas
Last Summer some friends had their summer holidays camping in the UK. They emailed their friends with which campsites and the dates they would be there and an invitation to join them for as much of the time as you wanted to. Some people joined them for a few days, some overnight and others, like Holly and me, just for a day.
Holly thoroughly enjoyed her day out at camp. She got to explore the campsite and met lots of people who were interested in the wheels. We went for a nice walk in some gorgeous countryside. And then Holly's favorite part of the day, we had a barbecue.
I knew she was happy and relaxed because in the evening when we retreated into the tent to play card games and chat Holly promptly went to sleep.
As Holly had been so chilled and relaxed at her day at camp I thought I would buy a tent and we could have a night or two away every now and again. The day at camp was in August 2013, I am sure it will come as no surprise to hear that it took me until April 2013 to buy a tent.
I decided that the first trial should probably be fairly close to home, just in case. So after a trial pitching in the back garden we set off to have a night out under canvas.
The trial pitching was entertaining. I wanted a tent that I could stand up in and also had room for both me and Holly to sleep comfortably in so I went for a 3 person tent, the guide says the external footprint is 390cm x 230cm and that it is 205cm high. It didn't look very big in the display field, but it was alongside some 4, 6 and above person tents. It looked a lot bigger on my little lawn.
As the tent was pitched I thought we would start off with a night on the lawn, home was (very) close by if needed. Unfortunately it was needed. We settled down OK and soon went to sleep. I woke up a few hours later feeling cold and quickly worked out that Holly had claimed most of the space and covers. She was also trying to burrow further into the pile of blankets as she too was cold, even with all the blankets. A quick check of the thermometer showed it to be below 10C. The old girl does feel the cold now, so we headed back indoors where it was warmer and Linus came and snuggled up to Holly to warm her up.
Holly enjoyed herself because every time we went out she headed straight for the tent and stood there waiting to be let in. She was not impressed when it came down a couple of days later. The tent-bag is temporarily in the kitchen, every time we go through she goes and looks at it, I think in the hope that it might get put back up again.
But as happy as both of us were in the tent I think future camping is going to have to be postponed until warmer nights come along.
Holly thoroughly enjoyed her day out at camp. She got to explore the campsite and met lots of people who were interested in the wheels. We went for a nice walk in some gorgeous countryside. And then Holly's favorite part of the day, we had a barbecue.
I knew she was happy and relaxed because in the evening when we retreated into the tent to play card games and chat Holly promptly went to sleep.
As Holly had been so chilled and relaxed at her day at camp I thought I would buy a tent and we could have a night or two away every now and again. The day at camp was in August 2013, I am sure it will come as no surprise to hear that it took me until April 2013 to buy a tent.
I decided that the first trial should probably be fairly close to home, just in case. So after a trial pitching in the back garden we set off to have a night out under canvas.
The trial pitching was entertaining. I wanted a tent that I could stand up in and also had room for both me and Holly to sleep comfortably in so I went for a 3 person tent, the guide says the external footprint is 390cm x 230cm and that it is 205cm high. It didn't look very big in the display field, but it was alongside some 4, 6 and above person tents. It looked a lot bigger on my little lawn.
A Very Green Tent
Pitching time is stated in the instructions as 20 minutes, it took me an hour! I think that time will come down significantly now that I know which way is up/front, how to identity the bits and also what "insert poles into appropriate sleeves" means.
Once it was up Holly was very keen to explore, and as soon as she found the air-bed (I have too many creaky joints for just a sleeping mat) she plonked herself down and looked quite at home
Holly enjoyed herself because every time we went out she headed straight for the tent and stood there waiting to be let in. She was not impressed when it came down a couple of days later. The tent-bag is temporarily in the kitchen, every time we go through she goes and looks at it, I think in the hope that it might get put back up again.
But as happy as both of us were in the tent I think future camping is going to have to be postponed until warmer nights come along.
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