Denied my Dinner!!!!

More long walks guiding Mum around Bournemouth. More grey scampering, jerky fluffy-tailed tree-climbers. More shopping. More human yummies that failed to fall my way.

Then we left Granny's and had another long car journey. This really was a long one because the zoo my road was a creepy crawly road with loooooooads of cars all close together and going so slowly, I could have run faster most of the way. All this meant that I was dying of starvation! My dinner was over two hours late! I finally got to eat it in the entrance area of the giant puddle where Rosie works. I got some mega fusses there too!

We then left Rosie at work and drove to her flat, where Mum did choppy-stirry-steamy stuff in the kitchen. A bit later, Rosie and James arrived and human yummies tormented me yet again! I got my revenge with my new squeaky turkey leg! It has a really good loud squeaker! Heeheehee!

Yorkies & Boots.

I took Mum on a nice longish walk this morning to explore a bit of Bournemouth we haven't been to before. I would have loved to have gone further and explored more, especially the bit Mum said is called a chine. I could have enjoyed a good freerun there with some other doggy pals I spied a way off. Alas though, I didn't! Boo! Mum said she had to get back to the kitchen. I have that place logged in my satnav now though. I shall have to find a way to direct Mum there again sometime.

Back at Granny's I found a corner to hide in and snooze while Mum clattered about in the kitchen and Dad took Granny out. When they returned I endured the agony of starvation while the human yummies were devoured. Again, not an atom of it came my way! I am wasting away while they feast! Huff!

This afternoon included a good long walk, via a little freerun in the cliff top park area. There I met a pair of Yorkies. We only sniffed and greeted, no play, because one of them had a very sore face, with a sort of zip-like stripe. His human said that the zip was a line of stitches from being attacked by a nasty dog. Poor boy! Still, it was nice to sniff and greet. At the end of the park, Mum harnessed me up again and we went off down the steep slope to the stick-outy-platform-over-the-sea, then I had to 'find left' on through the parky bit where the gigantic go-up-in-the-sky ball is. There were oodles of those funny little grey scampering, jerky fluffy-tailed critters who scurry up trees when I get near them. Looooooads of them! Mum said I was a mega good boy for not chasing them. I made sure she backed up the praise with edible reinforcements! Actually, I would have loved to chase them, and the couple who came really close did make me emit a bit of a squeak of excitement! But I resisted temptation and remembered my job. I'll get those live toys one day!

We couldn't follow our usual route into town because a bit of the park was in a cage, so I really had to step up and take Mum a different way. That meant that we arrived into town in a new area, so Mum had to ask someone for directions to Boots. (It seems that the arrangement was to meet Dad and Granny there). Even following those directions wasn't easy because we couldn't go the way Mum thought the man had told her. I sorted it out though! I guided Mum around all the obstacles. We arrived at Boots and I stopped at the door and gave Mum my most triumphant waggytailed look to point out how clever I was! She then got the message that we were actually at Boots! She hadn't realised! I got a superb ear-rub and mega fuss and praise for that - and treats! Heehee!

I have to be very patient when I'm walking with Granny with her wheelie frame. We had a bit of a wander around Boots, then went to a talkybone shop for Mum. We had to do a lot of sitting and waiting in there while Mum got to play with a couple of new talkybones. I got a few fusses from admirers while that was going on. Mum didn't come out with a new talkybone though. Something to do with costing too many shiny disks!

Back at Granny's I had a good game of tug with Mum before my eyelids needed internal inspection. Then my tummy needed internal refuelling.

A nice long walk with Dad has rounded off the day very pleasantly.

Granny's

All change again! 

Now we are at Granny's. So, of course it has been a day of car journeys, human yummies place, and shopping. The car journey was OK. I have taught Mum now that I need edible proof that I am a good boy for jumping in and settling down on my bed! Finally she got the message! The human yummies was no good; not a morsel came my way! I maintained vigil under the table but to no avail. Not a crumb! Huff! I showed how smart I am when it came to the shopping! Dad did the slow bit with Granny, while I guided Mum off all around the huge Tesco's. She needed to get some bits of her own. I guided her to the various different aisles, then she asked me to 'find Granny'. Well, of course I found Granny! No problem! And again twice more, after further trips off around the shop to get other bits. 

I did think all my birthdays had come at once when Mum dropped a whole load of huge carrots on the floor right in front of my nose! In fact, one of the biggest ones donked me on the noddle as it fell out of the bag! My tongue went into overdrive, licking my chops in anticipation of such a delectable feast! But Mum was a serious spoilsport! 'Leave' was the command. I gave her my bestest 'But Muuuuuuummm!' Look, accompanied by the most pathetic squeak I could muster......it didn't work! All I got was a load of praise and a tiny treat for being a 'good boy to leave'. It did little to make up for the disappointment but I accepted it and did my 'find a Granny' duty yet again!

I did take Dad for a lovely long walk this evening while Mum was doing choppy-stirry stuff in Granny's kitchen.

Annie Ver-Sary

Happy day! Mum says today is our anniversary. Something to do with qualifying three years ago today.

Well, I can't say that really means anything to me. However, what means a lot to me is that we had cuddles this morning, then we went to Pets at Home, then to visit Nanny and Papa, then we went for a fantabulous freerun with James's dog, Bailey. She is a 17 month old Lurcher X Labrador. She has sandy coloured fuzzy fur and she is FAST! We had superb fun running and chasing, especially as it included sploshing in acres of thick gooey black stinky mud, and swimming in the stinky river too! Yep! Absolutely awesome freerun! 

Of course, it meant the frothy warm rain when we got back to Rosie's flat. That was OK though! I convinced Mum successfully that I had to have plenty of treats in order to survive the ordeal.
That was followed by dinner wearing my bathrobe, then, after a bit of a snooze, Mum gave me treats! Yippeeeeee! A squeaky turkey leg toy, a chewbar and a rawhide ring! This is looking like a promising evening!

Two photos of me with my anniversary treats.

A closeup of me lying down with the white rawhide ring standing up between my paws

Me lying down with Mum. I am choosing the chewbar first!

Car Journeys

Cor! That was a day and a half! Three hours car ride, then lots of greetings and fusses, with a bit of workywalkies in the middle. Then the bestest bit: a Guide Dog puppy in training came! Yippppeeeeee! Junior is a mini-me! A black Labrador! The best! He is 10 months old and slightly taller than me. Oh! Wait.... That means he can't be a MINI-me! Hmmm! Oh well, we had some great fun anyway! We went to a nearby field where we both got that magic command of 'go play'! Well, we had to oblige didn't we? It was superbly wet and muddy in there and, between us, we succeeded in a very good job of decorating Mum's fur-substitutes! Heee-heee!
Back at the building, we had to 'behave' while loads of humans did oooooooodles of yacketying and human-howling and more yacketying. We did to have a few good kanoodling sessions though! Mum called me a right hussey just because I taught Junior how to roll on his back and display full glory! I taught him some hoovering techniques too!
This was all finished off with another huuuuuge long car journey ending at Rosie's home! This was all very exciting. I raced up the stairs and may have had a bit of a squeak at the door. I rushed in expecting to find my mate Pilot. But he isn't here! I found his toys and food box though! I can't get the lid off this food bin! Most miffing!

Me (left) and Junior

Re-arranged!

Oh my goodness! Now what's going on?

We've cruised all day in the soggy yucky leaky sky stuff. We've moored up in a big giant puddle with lots of other boats in. A man called Nathan came aboard to do some yacketying with Mum n Dad. He left and now the inside of the boat is all rearranged! Loads of stuff has been taken out of the cupboard behind the squawkybox, and around that area. Mum packed it into bags and put them, and other stuff under the table. Then she packed some fursubstitutes and other things into the big black bag that usually means we are going away.......Next, the table was put down as it goes to make a bed when guests come to stay. But it isn't a bed. It now has the sofa piled up on top of it! That means I will have to sleep in my own bed tonight! Huh! Well..... We'll see...... I don't think Mum has noticed yet that I am using her back paw as a pillow, on the bottom of her bit of the bed....... Maybe if I keep still and quiet........

Told you I wasn't Porky!

Mixed feelings about today's work:
On the downside, Mum and I got absolutely soaked going to the human vets this morning. Mum got given some kind of flappy markysheet by the lady behind the counter. Then we walked on around to the other end of town where I had to 'find Boots' for Mum. In there, I then had to 'find the checkout' at the back of the shop. Except it wasn't exactly a checkout, but I knew what Mum meant. She handed over that markysheet and the man there swapped it for a little box. Apparently that box contains lots of the white disks that Mum swallows when her eyes are ouchy. So that was that job done. The next command was 'find the way home'. Well I did ..... OK, maybe it was a tad slowly and maybe I didn't respond overly well to Mum's 'Huppup' or 'Let's go' commands! Well, it was very soggy. I really don't like working in the leakysky stuff!
Then, when we got to the towpath near the boat, Mum added to the 'downside' stuff: When we got to the bit where I like to rinse my paws (and belly, and tail, and.... well .... all of me really!), I gave my very bestest 'Pleeeeeease Mum' look. It didn't work! She just said 'Nope. Not today. You're quite wet enough already!' Well, it wouldn't have made any difference then, would it? You see..... that kind of water is nice water....when I can go in paws first ..... of my own volition .... nice and cold and muddy and fishy. Not like the nasty water that falls from the leaky sky.

The upside was that it was a good long walk. Also, it was confirmed by a very nice lady that I am NOT porky! She said that I am delightfully BEEFY! I LIKE that lady!

Porky? Moi?????

Harrrumph! I woz conned! I thought we were going for a nice walk. Mum mentioned the word 'park'. Off we toddled. Yes, OK, it was a nice walk. Quite a long walk. Not to a park though. It seems that the park was just part of the directions! We walked all the way on road-routes! Huff! That meant I had to work on harness all the way. Well, OK, I admit ..... I do love working guiding Mum...... but when park is mentioned...... hmmmmm!

Anyway, where we actually went was a Vet's! Well that was OK while we were waiting outside the little room. There was a couple of other black labradors to meet and greet. Then a nice vet man came out and called my name. That was great - nice happy greetings, fusses and waggy tail stuff. Then he put that funny tube thing into his ears and came at me with the terrifying other end, with the disk on it. I did my best to dissolve into the floor to escape that thing but to no avail. He got me with it. He prodded it against my chest and my tummy. Thankfully, he didn't get away with doing anything else with it. Mum says he wouldn't have done anything else with it anyway. Too bloomin right he wouldn't! I made sure of that! I rolled over on my back, put my paws in the air and rumbled and snorted my biggest protest!

That bit was over and we were friends again. More fusses and a treat! That's OK then. I thought.

I thought wrong! He came at me again.... this time with a shiny spike in his hand! Aaaaagggghhhhhh! I remembered that those spikes get stabbed into my neck, so I did my very bestest to roll over again. It didn't work. He got hold of a big handful of my neck and stabbed me - while I was lying on the floor trying hard to press down into it! Well.....I have to assume he stabbed me with it anyway..... I can't say I actually felt anything.........but..... just the thought of that spike was enough!

Mum says that is me now protected from nasties for another year. Hmmm!

I let her know of my disdain for her deceit and for the atrocity that she took me to; I plodded as slowly as I could possibly manage all the way back home to the boat! That'll teach her! She can call me Ploddypaws, Sulkysocks and Grumpalump as much as she likes but it will take a lot of treats to make up for this!

Oh! Hang on though...... she said something about less treats AND a bit less food coz my numbers were too big on the big shiny mat. Mr Vet man said that 33.5kg is my absolute upper limit. I must not get any porkier! Porky! How DARE he?! He says that because I now have a weetabix in every meal, I need a little less kibble. I really don't think I like him! But then...... he did say I am nice and muscular...... well that is NOT porky is it?!!! Mum..... please don't starve me...... please?!!!!

Calendar Work

Not a lot to report today - except that a one-eyed-clicky-box man came and clicked at me and Mum. Apart from that and a couple of nice walks, it has been a chill-out day for me, and a day of ooooooodles of clicketyfingersing for both Mum and Dad.

This has been good clicketyfingersing stuff though - it is all to do with MY CALENDAR. 

My CALENDAR is taking shape!
We will be offering a choice of format;
A4 spiral bound wall calendar (£10 +p&p) or
A5 spiral bound desk calendar (£8.00 +p&p).
Each month will have a picture of me, plus a clear calendar page, showing key dates including Bank Holidays, and space for you to use your own markystick to write your important appointments etc on.
All profits will go to Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (UK), via my fundraising account.
There will be an online ordering facility on my website -www.guidedogoakley.org.uk

We will need orders to be placed and paid for before Friday 13 November. Expected delivery time will be before the end of the month.

To enable us to guage how many calendars to have printed, please comment below to let us know if you would be happy to pay up-front and how many calendars you would like. As soon as we have sufficient commitment here, we will go live with the online ordering system. This will show a thumbnail of the calendar designs.

Stinky....

Phhhooooooeeeeee! It's a bit niffy around here!
Mum says it is something to do with the big bone I was gnawing on yesterday. I really cannot begin to work out what she means. All I did was to thoroughly enjoy stripping all the yummy stuff off the outside, then I broke apart the big beastie lump and gnawed on the hard stuff. How on earth can that possibly have anything to do with the smelly air today?

I did have some great fun today: Mum and I were getting ready to go out. My harness was on and we were about to step off the boat. Then there was a toot-toot from another boat that was coming along beside us. I looked out the waterside of the bowdeck and what I saw made me all squeaky! What I heard made me even more squeaky! I spied my human pals Pete and Chrissie on the boat, and I heard my bestest doggy pals calling to me from inside that boat! Heeheeheehee! My tail went all blurred!
They used the boat's leads to tie it onto ours, Mum took my harness back off again and it was party-on-the-towpath time! Yaayyyhayyy! Shadow, Tizzy and I had a fantabulous reunion, running, chasing, twirling, twisting, jumping and chasing again! Shadow is getting a bit too senior for so much frivolity, but He watch Tizzy and me and joined in as much as he could.

Tizzy had very kindly left some of her breakfast so I had to go and make sure I didn't turn down her generosity. Whilst on board their boat, I also discovered a huge box of dog food. Sadly though I couldn't get into it. The lid was too firmly secured! I did try very hard but to no avail. I shall have to leave that for Shadow and Tizzy to work out.

After a great fun time while the humans did the inevitable vast amount of yacketyyacking, it was time to return to normality. They had to go on in their boat, and I had to switch back into work mode. So, it was on with the harness and off into town guiding Mum. We left Dad behind. First of all I had to 'find the post office', which of course I did! Then it was off to find the human vets. This I also did without fault! Well, it was only a few weeks ago that we went there! Mum did some yacketying with a lady behind the counter, then we set off back into town to 'find Boots'. I remembered exactly where that was too! After a bit of boring waiting while Mum squinted at the shelves to find what she wanted, she asked me to 'find the checkout'. I headed straight towards the door. Well, that is usually where I find the checkout! Not in this shop though! Sorry Mum! I shall remember next time that it doesn't even look like a checkout. It is a zigzag course through some shelves laden with highly sniffables! I nearly got away with trying a sample! Only nearly though! Huff!

Once back home, it was time for a well earned snooze while Mum and Dad did some clicketyfingersing. Then a man came who disappeared into the big hole in the back deck. That's a scary big hole. A huge rumbly monster lives in there and this man not only stood in there with the monster, he also put his paws in there! I watched from a safe distance! Then meany Mum realised I was out on the towpath and hoiked me back inside the boat! I sulked on my bed for a bit! Harrumph! The monster-tamer man did a lot of yacketying with Dad then left. Dad said something about that was the annual check up. So perhaps the man was a rumble-monster-vet?

This afternoon, I had to pose for Dad's one-eyed-clickybox. First of all beside the boat, then in a big pile of crunchy leaves. This was to do with something called a newspaper, and for my calendar.

Work is underway on my calendar. Watch this space for news in the next couple of days. This is going to be to raise more shiny disks for Guide Dogs

Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon!

Ooooo! I like this kind of Sunday!

A nice leisurely walk to church. Friends, greetings, fusses, and a bit of hoovering there. Freerun in the big park on the longer route home. Then a yummylicious bone to while away the afternoon!

Photos of me on bowdeck of boat with my big bone. Taken from inside the boat, looking outwards onto the deck, with the doors open.

Sit and look (me in a 'sit' position, looking longingly at the big bone in front of me)

Sniff and lick (bum up, head down)

Chomp! The bone is as big as my head!