York, a pub lunch, and cats!

 

The humans and I went away in my campervan last week, even though it was a bit cold and sometimes very wet. But we were fed up with the wet and all that rain we keep getting, so we stayed at a campsite in York on what they call a hard standing (I think it means the van is not on grass which would be blooming wet and muddy and we could get stuck).

The York campsite is a great place for walks along by the river (think it's called the OOooze) but the humans learned that the campsite, just across the road from the river, had been closed 4 times this year because of flooding, so everywhere we walked (on paths whenever we could) was wet and sloshy. I was allowed to go on some of the grass, but only for a quick sniff and pee, as it was so muddy I might have sunk into it. With short legs that could be a problem. 

The park next door to the campsite, where I've been taken before, was closed and the tennis courts were under water. I made the best of it and liked my walk by the river on the puddly paths, but the best day was when there was no rain and some friends of the humans came to visit.

We walked into York and we had a map of the Cat Trail all ready to follow once we'd been for lunch in a pub. Now, sitting under the table in eating places is really quite good as I know when to behave myself, and this often means I get an odd titbit from someone's plate. A very large bowl of water was brought for me too.

What I was interested in was this Cat Trail thing the humans kept talking about. After lunch and lots of chatting (boring...) we set off with the map to find these cats. Would you believe - there's even a cat shop!! in York but it doesn't have real cats in it, just models and pretend cats. Boring.

We followed the trail for a while, but it looked like it was going to rain (again) so everyone decided to cut the walk short and get back to my campervan before we all got wet. The humans only found 4 cats on the way back, using the map. And I didn't get to see any of them at all because they were climbing up the sides of buildings and sitting on windowsills.

And in any case, they weren't real. Otherwise my behaviour might have been a bit different!

Addicted? Moi?

Oh it's been a while again since I shared my thoughts with you. What a l-o-n-g winter it's been and today, no blooming let up as it rained and snowed and did nasty things so I had to get togged up in my cosy onesie when I went out.

Not that I wanted to go - please tell me there are other Norfolks out there who dig their paws in when they see what the weather's like? And then behave like a bag of heavy wet washing when we're out instead of walking properly with the human.

On the whole, my humans are pretty good when it comes to taking me for walks and they know what I like:

Park! Yes, country park with deer. It's good

Car! Yes again, that means we're not going on pavements near home but somewhere a bit more interesting.

Horses! Oh yes - that means we're are going on some pavements to a lane which leads to a field where there are 3 horses, and I'm very happy to watch them and sniff them when they come over to the fence to say hello. 

Cows! Yes - had forgotten we sometimes go on a longish walk which takes us to a farm where there are big cows and baby cows, which are the nicest to watch.

Of course, it's been such a wet winter with masses of soggy ground and it's not always been good to walk far, so the humans keep me happy with a few fetch games in the house (fetching badger and squeaky squirrel) and watching a bit of Dog TV in the evening before they watch their programmes (not very interesting those).

But yes to Dog TV, birds, squirrels and - nearly forgot - Winterwatch! I loved that, Better than Dog TV and what's more, the humans like it too.

You could say I'm a bit of an addict (not sure what that means but one of my humans uses that word when I want to look at her tablet screen). I like it best when she lets me have the screen to myself, but I don't complain if she lets me sit and watch her do a funny thing with boxes and words [Ed. on-line crossword].

Roll on the good weather so I can enjoy sitting out in my garden, watching the squirrels and taking the air in the sunshine. Paws crossed it won't be long to wait for that now.

 

Barkitecture

 

 

The human who feeds me was talking the other day about something she was reading (they do this thing where they go very quiet and look at these books - no idea what they see in them, I'm a screen fan myself). Anyway, she was talking  about something called barkitecture and she seemed to think it was a bit funny.

 

All I could make out was that some houses in the Younited States have special homes built in their houses for their dogs. Funny....I've already got a home and it's lovely. It's mine. I've also got a campervan, but that's another story.

 

So these houzis for dogs are like real ones, but smaller, sort of dog size, and they have  couches and sofas and shelves and pictures on the walls and some even have a tv.

 

These houzis are built under the stairs (we have a cupard there and it's too full for me to even try to get inside it), and they have a proper door. I reckon I'm lucky as I have my own special tabel house in the living room, and I go there to snooze and snuggle down.

 

I get a good view of the TV screen from there too, but if there's anything interesting on, like cats, squirrels, sheep, cows and horses, I don't stay there and watch, I get up close to the screen and balance on my back legs with my paws on the TV table.

 

I don't need any special barkitecture. I do very nicely with that table and it gives me a roof over my head and space just for me.

 

[Ed - Bosworth is occasionally in trouble, but never "in the doghouse"!]

 

 

Long time no postings

 

 

Bosworth here....long time no news from me, but you do know it's all down to the human who feeds me to get the words out, and she's been pretty busy. Well, I have too. A few snippets to update you:

The humans took me away with them to France in my campervan,and we stayed at their favourite campsite place for a few weeks. I like it there too, been a few times, know my way around and which walks I like best. And it's not bad at all sitting outside my campervan watching the world go by.

Only trouble was, if someone came a bit too close to where were (think it's called a pitch?) I had to tell them not to come too close, so I did get a bit told off for barking, and when I made that low quiet growly noise, the humans said "No growling!" to me. And all I was doing was keeping guard on my territory (or should that be terriertory?!).

Lots of other odds and ends of exciting things have happened. We all went to visit their daughter - the one with the cat - as she's moved to a new house. And would you believe it...? That cat was there too! And I still never really got to find her as there are lots of new hiding places in the new house.

A few days ago, when it got sunny (oh it's been SO wet, I've had to go out in the rain quite often, and I don't like it) we went out for the day in my campervan to the sea and beach. I had a great run on the beach with some other dogs who were taking their humans out for a walk.

I was tired out and needed a good snooze after that. I slept all the way home but did like being back in my campervan again, only though it was only for the day.

 

 

 

 

A Dog's Eyeview of Vanlife - Part 3

 

When we’re on our travels and away from home for a while, more packing goes on before we leave, although I have noticed they keep some of my things in my van all the time. When we do what they call a “trip”, we sometimes go to what the humans call “a-broad”, or “you-rup”. My van goes on a train or a boat, but as long as I can snuggle down comfortably while we travel, I’m OK.

Wherever we end up, the most exciting bit of all is when we arrive and I can smell and see where we are when the door opens. If it’s somewhere I’ve been to before I always remember it. I insist on leading the way for the first walk I get soon after arrival, so I can check out the lie of the land. If I know where we are, I set off an a familiar route. 

The humans were surprised I could do this when we arrived at a campsite in that “a-broad” place we’d not visited since I was a puppy, but I definitely knew my way about.

Campsite dog walks – the bits fenced off specially for dogs – I rate as anything between zero (tiny, tidy, short and narrow boring path) to ten (large field with oodles of space to run, play and make friends with other dogs).

 

After my first walk, wherever we are, I’m happy to settle down outside my van on my long lead, keeping watch on any comings and goings while I take the air. This is even better when it’s warm enough to leave the sliding door open as I can sit in the doorway and watch the world go by. 

 

And when the humans set up their table and chairs outside, and carry out my food and water bowls, we can all eat together. I like this a lot.

 

My rating for vanlife? Ten. It’s perfect!

 

A Dog's Eyeview of Vanlife - Part 2

The main drawback when we set off on travels and adventures in my campervan is that I can’t see where we’re going. I’m quite small and my legs – perfectly proportioned as they are – are also quite small. When we travel I have to sit on the floor on my cushion or in my bed (thoughtfully placed in the cab by the humans so I’m close to them) which means I can’t look out of the windows and take in the views.

I never know where we’re going until we get there, but I’m always keen to get out and explore when we arrive, nose pressed against the crack where the door opens. When I hear that exciting whoooshing sound of the sliding door I’m raring to go and I leap outside, my little legs well up to this activity.

On van days out I’m always on the lookout for dog friendly cafés. The ones I like best have inside and outside seating, and the waiters always bring biscuits for me when the humans have coffee or treat themselves to lunch.

My legs, as I’ve already mentioned, are just wonderful, but I have to admit they’re a bit too short to allow me the amazingly athletic leap I think I can make on to the seats in my van when we’re static. I can’t quite manage that without help from the humans.

I know how to turn on my most intense and appealing gaze and look at them, asking silently if I can come up on the seat/their laps/the back of the sofa where there are good views through the window. If they don’t respond quickly enough I have to remind them with a quick bark. That gets them moving; they give in pretty quickly and then I’m up in the mainstream, on guard and keeping an eye on the goings-on outside. I’m torn between the views from the back of the sofa, and the comfort of the front seats, with the windows and windscreen.

The humans have to admit that it’s rather useful having me with them if we’re staying somewhere overnight. We usually stay on one of those campsite places. But wherever we are, if we’re inside at night time and I hear anything or anyone coming too close I’ll give a warning bark so the humans know. They like me doing this. 

Got to earn my treats, you know!

 

To be continued....

 

A Dog's Eyeview of Vanlife - Part 1

As I've written about my travels in my campervan (well, the human who feeds me
does the writing and I do the thinking and dictating), I thought I’d share a few thoughts on what this vanlife thing they talk about is like if you’re a dog.

For a start, let’s get this straight. It’s my van. The humans might like to call it “their” van but in reality it has to be mine because there are a lot of my things in it, and I’m the one who sits patiently in the open sliding doorway checking that everything that’s needed for me is on board and packed before we set off.

Food and treats, for a start.

I’ve been travelling in my van with my humans since I was a puppy, so I have a few snippets of canine know-how about vanlife under my belt. Sometimes I’m able to pick up hints of what’s about to happen van-wise from what the humans are saying. 

“Shall we see what the weather’s like tomorrow and go out for a day in the van?” is often mentioned before we take off for a day out. 

This means a minimal amount of packing – just essentials of food for their lunch and some treats for me, plus my evening meal in case we stay out later to watch a sunset (the humans like doing this when we go to the coast for the day). They transfer my bed, cushion and blanket to the van, slip my harness over my head, hook me up to the anchored lead and off we go.

Of course, when this happens I have no idea where we’re going. It might be to the coast, and that’s excellent, as there are beaches. 

Or it could be to the local nature park and that’s good too, as there are woods and paths and long walks.

If we go to the big National Trust park not too far from home that’s really good as there’s loads of space for me to run in, plus deer and sheep to watch, although I have to go back on my lead if they’re around.

Sometimes we go for a day out in North Wales, with more beaches, and walks on a thing called a pier, finished off with takeaway fish and chips in my van at the end of the day before we head back. This is especially good as I’ve now perfected scrounging chips, even if I’ve already been fed. 

[Ed. not good for his weight; only a couple of tastes then we ignore the beseeching eyes]

To be continued.....

My hols with THAT cat...!

I mentioned last time when I had my paws on the keyboard that I thought I was going away on holiday - I was and I did!

When I got to the human's daughter's house, where I've stayed before, I lost no time at all making myself at home. 

The most interesting and annoying thing about staying at her house is her cat. I hardly ever get to see her and I don't know why. Her name is Kitty and she lives somewhere behind the big cardboard boxes their daughter puts on the stairs so I can't get past them and find her!!!

Don't why she does that. I have seen her before and chased her into a bedroom. Then she disappeared. She's a nice cat and I only want to be friends.

 Anyway, I had a great hol. I was taken out on lots of walks. One day it snowed, another day it rained so hard my dog coat got soggy and wet, and on another day we went in the car to visit a friend who has a dog called Hugo. 

I was very badly behaved (so I'm told) because I pinched some of Hugo's food from his bowl, but Hugo's owner gave me a few pieces of delicious meat to eat [Ed. it was lamb]. Although it was good to eat my tummy got all upset and their daughter had to call the humans and ask for advice.

I never had any more lamb [Ed. too fatty] but I did get chicken and rice for my meals for a few days while my tummy got better. 

Apart from the snow, rain, upset tummy and not being able to find the cat, I had a lovely holiday....I think.

Oh-oh, here are the suitcases

 

 

 

You know that feeling when the suitcases appear, and the humans start being a bit twitchy and not very relaxed as they're rushng about putting things into these suitcase things. The feeling is a bit unsettling, and it's when I get a little bit worried.

 

I wonder what's going to happen, because suitcases always mean someone is going away somewhere. It may be the humans, it may be me, and it may be all of us together, but when we do that we go away in my campervan and we don't take suitcases. We (well, they actually) put stuff in big bags, take it into my van and pack it away in the cupboards and wardrobe there.

I knew something was up so I made it very clear from the start that I wanted to go too. First I sat in the case belonging to the human who does school and treats with me, then I moved into the case belonging to the human who feeds me. I was just trying to make a point, you see. And I was keeping a close eye on things, I can tell you.

 

 

All became clear a few days later, when their daughter, who I adore, turned up at our house in her car, stayed the night (after making a delightfully huge fuss of me), took the humans and their suitcases away somewhere - it sounded like some kind of port they were going to [Ed. airport]  then came back, gave me more fuss, packed my important belongings...food of course, and treats....in the car.

On went my harness and my car seat was already in her car, so off we went. I had a good idea about where we were going and it seemed like I was going on holiday! Yes!!

To be continued......

The cup of biscuits place

Me in the cafe, waiting for biscuits!

I was a bit excited. We went out for the day last week in my campervan and stopped at the same place we'd been to before, where the humans have that cup of coffee thing they like. I remembered it because when they were given their coffee, I was given a small cup with BISCUITS in it!

Well, that was pretty exciting last time, so this time, as soon as I saw where we were heading after we'd parked the van, I couldn't get inside the coffee place fast enough! Once through the door I made a squeaking bee line for the counter where I could smell those biscuits.

The humans were a bit cross with me as I kept squeaking with excitement, but I did calm down and just about managed to sit still until their coffee stuff was brought to the table, along with a small plate of biscuits for me! 

I noticed there was another dog sitting at the next table. He was better behaved than I was but his humans said he was 10, and I'm 5, so maybe I've got a bit more energy? I don't know, I quite happily get worked up if there's a new place and/or food involved!

The coffee was drunk (what do they see in it? smells horrible to me) and I was allowed to have most of my biscuits. A couple were saved for later. Oh yes, and we went to a big wood with lots of statues and a river [Ed. The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire]. It was a pretty good place to walk, lots of space, nice woodlands, had to stay on my lead of course, but very dog friendly.

All that and a plate of biscuits = a good day out!

A walk in the park

The humans took me out to Tatton Park for a winter walk in the sunshine. It was good. We went in the car and I sat in my comfy seat wondering where we'd end up. I was really pleased when they opened the door so I could see where we were. One of my favourite places!

In the park there are always lots of those cows with trees growing out of their heads [Ed. antlers] . Some are small light brown ones and some are huge and dark brown. They have big trees on their heads.

Well on this walk, I suddenly took off and the human who feeds me was on the other end of the lead and got a bit of a surprise when I had this lurch and put on a sprint. 

What she couldn't see, but I could smell  was a group of the big huge cow things. They were just out of sight but my trusty nostrils told me they were there. When we walked past them I was itching to get closer, but she wouldn't let me. She did let me stand for a while and watch them though, and my nostrils were filled with the scent of them. Yum!

It was a good trip out and I was a bit tired when we got home.

Oh, the snow!!

That walk we had in the snow was just great! We'd had a walk a day or two before it snowed and I HATED it as it was so cold. My breath was coming out like puff from a dragon, and my humans looked the same too. Worst of all was that my paws were perished and I really, really didn't want to go out (we terriers are pretty good at getting our preferences noticed). The humans were kind though, and we only went a short way so I could get back to snoozing on my cushion near that radiator thing where it's usually warm.

But then next day it had snowed. I went out to take a look and my paws told me it was better than that very cold day. My paws kind of sunk into the snow stuff and it felt....well...interesting!

We all went out to Tatton Park, which is  great big huge place with lots of grass and green open spaces for me to run..except that it was all white and covered with snow!

I loved it and we stayed out for ages. Only thing was, there were lots of those brown cow things with horns [Ed.deer] in the park and the humans don't let me off the lead if they're about as I'd go belting off to get closer to them. But it was pretty good being out, and on my long lead I was able to get quite close to them [Ed. close enough!].

Looks like the human who feeds me took a photo of my paw prints in the snow on the patio. It was so cold that morning when I went out before my breakfast, I was blowed if I was  going to go far, so I made a large yellow puddle in the snow on the patio.

Well, needs must!

So this is Christmas

Hmmmm.....look what happened last week. The humans got the tree thing from the loft and fixed it together, then they hung bobbles on it (I think they called them bobbles).

Then they found a bag with antlers on headbands and the human who feeds me put one on her head and one on MINE! Then she took a photo of me. I usually get a bit excited when I see a photo op coming up but this time I was a bit grumpy because I had this thing on my head.

To her credit, she took it off straight away after I'd posed and it's not been seen since. Thank goodness.

And of course, we had all that wet white stuff they call snow and it was blooming cold out, slippery too. They put on my warm fleecy onesie coat when we went out for walks, and they took walking poles with them as the snow had frozen and it was icy. My paws held up OK but it was nice to get back in the warm.

They took me to the Heath, which looked very white. There were other dogs there in the snow too, so that made it more interesting to run about in.

Then they went away to somewhere called Lincoln to see some family but they didn't take me as they were going to sing carils in the caffeedroll and stay overnight in a hotel. What are carils? The radio keeps playing these carils songs and yesterday I got pretty excited because the caril song said holly and I thought it was about Holly the Cat who lives near my house and sometimes comes into my garden [Ed. "The first tree in the green wood it was the holly..." was the carol and it had  

I went to stay with my Fan Club across the road, where the girls who love me live. Sometimes they come to my house for a play date and they like to groom me, so the human who feeds me packed my grooming brush and comb so they could do this while I stayed there.

I watched while their mum wrapped up presents then they played with me and we all watched something called football. No idea what it was about but people kept running about after a ball and I liked seeing them moving around in a big field. 

It was almost as good as Dog TV.

Hunkering down

I don't know about you, but this chilly weather and these dark days, I'm not very keen to leave my cosy cushion, or bed, or sofa, or lap to go out very much or very far. The humans make me go out every blooming day for a walk - seems like it's at leaaaast 5 times every day [Ed. it's not].

I have to admit that today's walk wasn't too bad. That's because they took me in the car and I didn't have to walk to the park, and of course, I really like the park - it's called Tattern or something [Ed. Tatton Park, National Trust] and we can walk there from my house, but it's a looong walk if we do that and then walk around the park and back home again. I like it best when we go in the car, not that I'm lazy or a wimp or anything. Perish the thought.

Anyway, it was all dark and gloomy and grey outside today but I did enjoy my walk and saw a few deer (got steered away from them though). It was good to go out because it's been pretty busy at my house with visitors coming to stay. All week.

The human's daughter, who I adore, came to stay with some person called a boyfriend. He made a real fuss of me and to be honest, I rather liked sitting on his lap and being walked by him. The adorable daughter was a bit miffed because I didn't give her so much attention. Must make it up to her next time she visits.

They went home and then another visitor came, a friend of the human who does school with me. He liked me and played with me and talked a lot to my humans. He seemed to have known them for a long time and they talked about things they did a long time ago at something called a yooneeversity. No idea what that is but it sounded like a lot went on there.

Now it's back to just me and my humans and keeping warm and snuggling down. Oh yes, one thing I really like at the moment is dog TV, which they put on for me to watch for a while before they watch a human TV thing. Although I have noticed they both watch the cats and dogs on dog TV too and seem to like it.

Humans are a bit odd at times, but where would we, or I, be without them?

 

Keeping watch

 

 

It's true to say that I've been a tad inactive just lately in sharing my comings and goings and so on. It's all down to the human who feeds me to get the words out for me, but she's been soooo busy writing something (another travel article about our trip to France in my campervan I think).

Oh yes, and the humans both got that Covid thing where you do a funny test and poke a stick in your throat and up your nose and see if red lines appear. Humans do some very strange things at times. It didn't have a big effect on me as they were glad to have me around. They just had what they called "a thing like a cold" and sneezed a bit. But they had to be careful not to give this Cobid thing to anyone else and they were tired.

Then it got a bit interesting when they were better as a new person came to stay in the house. Someone from France [Ed. from our extended family] where I went on holiday in my campervan. She came to make her English better and she spoke to me a lot and did school and  tricks with me. I could tell she wasn't used to dogs so I was very kind to her and always sat by her feet under the table when we were eating. She liked that.

The humans took us all out to North Wales, which I liked because we had some good walks in Conwy and Llandudno and went in a cafe for lunch where they gave me biscuits. And we went on this pier thing where you walk over the sea.

Then after she went back to France the clocks changed. No idea what that means but it does get darker earlier so we get my big walk in while its still light. Then I hunker down because it's getting colder and do you know, the humans are being very careful with the heating so it's not on all the time but if it gets chilly I have a big soft cushion to snuggle up in.

I'm keeping an eye on things though, and I think there have been all sorts of happenings with the Prime Minister (don't know who that is but they seem to change quite often). Think it's best if I let it all wash over my head and focus on the important things in life, like checking the peemail when I go out and saying hello to the dogs and people I know.

Going to France

Published in October issue of Campervan

Hello! I've been on holiday, and as my human was with me, I've not been able to get her to write anything until now, as we're back at home and not on holiday any more.

Well, where did I go and what did I do? 

We went to France...I think it was called that....and I know I've been there before, but on a train when I stayed in my campervan on the train journey, with my humans.

This time  it was a bit different as I went on a boat (not sure what that is) but the sea is involved and my van had to go inside the boat along with lots other vans and cars.

My humans let me stay in the van with some water to drink and a few treats but they went off somewhere else  while the boat took us to France. The human who feeds me came back during the boat ride to check I was OK and I was fine, just snoozing and I wondered what all the fuss was about.

Before we went to France I had to have a trip to the vets and she gave me one of those needle things in the back of my neck and checked I was healthy (I am). Then she had to fill in masses of paper to say I could go - something to do with that strange breakfast thing they had.

[Ed. post-Brexit regulations for taking dogs abroad are a nightmare of paperwork. They replace the Pet Passport and have to be done every time you take your pet to the EU. Read about "The Pet Passport that is no more" here].

 

When we got to the France place we found a big shop [Ed.garden centre] to buy me some food as - weird - we can't take my dog food with us. There was plenty of the right sort of food in the French shop, the smells were pretty good, and there was a BIG dog, which turned out not to be real so it didn't scare me!

Then we got on our way and headed for a campsite near the sea. The human who feeds me wrote all about getting this Animal Health Certificate thingy, which has masses of stamps on each page. Not sure why.

And the story about getting the certificate and about ME! has been published in a magazine [Ed. Campervan, see header picture].

 

 

 

Hot dog

 

What is one to do in this blooming heatwave? 

Hunker down, it's the only way, so I've got a few ways of managing the heat:

1) Sleep, snooze, doze, as long as it's in a cool quiet place, like on the wooden floor under the kitchen table.

2) Retreat to my dug out under the stone bench in the garden (they - the humans - can't always find me there but I can see them).

3) Go into the deepest parts of the garden and right into the corner where a) it's shady and b) I can keep an eye on what's going on next door through the crack in the fence.

4) Drink water.

5) Lounge around in my cool coat which they put on me during the hottest part of the day.

6) Lick the ice lolly on a plate the humans have made for me with a few bits of kibble & treats frozen into the water. Delicious and interesting.

7) Make sure I'm in the slip stream of the fan when it's on.

8) Drink more water (they remind me to do this as I can get distracted by things - like their daughter's cat who came to stay for a few days).

9) Enjoy my morning and evening walks, when it's cool and there are lots of other dogs about having walks, so we can exchange sniffs and pee-mail.

That's about it. Stay cool.....

 
 

The Pet Passport that is no more

Me having my rabies booster

I've been to the vet. Not exacty my favourite place but it always smells interesting there and I do have a big fuss made of me.

It was something to do with my pet passport, which my humans have used (on my behalf) when we've taken off in my van and gone to mainland Europe. I've been to France and Germany (just saying, cos I'm just a bit proud of having been to what the humans call A Broad).

But since there was this weird Brexit (breakfast?) thing, I can't use my pet passport anymore. I have to have an Animal Health Certificate instead, which my humans are quite narked about. 

I'm a bit miffed too because that passport photo of me is just great. 

But that's no longer needed and it's all about paperwork and forms and doing things the way the government says we have to because of this breakfast thing, and not being able to take very much dog food, and nothing meaty either, and only being able to leave the country in a 10 day period once we have the certificate. 

And blimey! We have to do this every single time we want to go, and we have to PAY every single time too, which we didn't have to with the Pet Passport. Unfriendly growls all round from me and I've heard several suspect naughty words spoken about it by the humans too.

So a few days ago we went to the vet to update my rabies jab, which was about to expire, and although I got a needle in my scruff, it was on the whole an OK visit because my vet made such a fuss of me and she's very kind. Although I don't look too happy in that pic of me having the shot!

When the humans have decided when we'll go to the A Broad place, they'll take me back to the vet so she can do the paperwork. She says it takes her an hour to do and isn't very happy about the paperwork involved. 

She would far rather have the pet passport too, like me and my humans.

 

Ed: For more info on the required Animal Health Certificate see 

https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/getting-an-animal-health-certificate

and good luck making sense of it all!

Only cows and horses

 

 

There's nothing quite like being out with my humans and coming across another four-legged creature. Sometimes it may have more than four legs, like those insect thingys. But it's the four-legged ones who hit the spot for me and I stand and watch them for ages and stay absolutely still until my humans decide it's time to go.

It happens with cats when I'm out on one of my local walks. In fact, I get very excited when we get near the house with an old grey and white cat and a young black and white cat. Both of them roll on their backs and wave their paws at me but the human walking me won't let me run at them as they say it will scare them. 

So I stand completely still watching them, but oh my goodness, my body does twitch with excitment when I do this.

The spotty pony horse often comes to see me and say hello when we pass his field. We just stare at each other. The cows were some we saw on holiday last week. They were very young and very interested in me. We all stared at each other for ages.

Speaking of holidays, my humans have started saying things about my Pet Passport and that I can't use it any more. Something about needing to get a certificate from the vet if we go in that train under the sea to France.

More on this next time. I want to go to France!

A portrit of me

 

I'm very excited. I've had my portrit painted!

It was a big surprise, especially as I didn't know it was being done and I didn't pose for it (like I pose when I see a camra pointing my way). This kind of picture is called a portrit, so my humans say, and it was made with paint (not sure what that is) but it's come out looking very good indeed, and really like me.

What I like best is the hat I'm wearing. It's something called a berry and while my humans were admiring the portrit they were saying I looked very French. Well, I have been to France and I have a pet passport but I understand I can't use that any more and my humans are rather cross about that because they have to get all sorts of different papers signed now instead. I'll tell you about that some other time.

Anyway, back to my portrit, which has a delightful blue theme (suits my colouring nicely and matches my collar and lead) and as you can see, some blue pawprints have been included as well.

Today I'm feeling as happy as I look in my portrit.😊