Home is boring

I’ve come to the conclusion that I would much rather be on the boat than at home.  Somehow I seem to get overlooked at home :-) Pa always takes me out for a walk in the mornings but after that everyone seems to be so busy.  One day Ma went out then Pa went out, leaving me of course, then Ma came home and went out again.  Then they had the nerve to go out again in the evening – it’s not on really.

Still the good parts were that I got to see Aunty Vix again and of course Yoyo and Millie.  Mille has become rather brave and isn’t running away from me so much – hmm I think I need to work on my scaring skills a bit more.  Yoyo, of course, just wants to play and we had some good games in the garden.

 

Posing

Granny and Uncle Richard came to stay for a few days – silly Uncle Richard will leave things lying around the place then gets upset when I pick them up and expect a game of chase.

One day Ma and Pa had a big barbecue.  No one was really taking much notice of me and I discovered that if I got underneath the barbecue I could eat all the fat from their food as it dripped onto the ground – yummy!  Only trouble was it made me smell horribly of burgers L  One of the visitors doesn’t understand puppies as she left her plate on the sofa and went to get a bread roll – that chicken joint was just too tempting and I whipped it before anyone noticed.  Sadly it was noticed that I was chewing something that looked like a chicken leg and it was taken from me.  The lady then realised that she was missing a chicken leg – hehehe!

 

A new toy

It was very hot at home and I really didn’t know where to lie.  Aunty Vix got out a paddling pool – I don’t mind getting my feet wet but they kept on thinking that I should like down in the water – WHAT!

Trying to drink out of the fish pond

I had a trip to AS and now sport a posh new haircut – it does make things cooler thank goodness.  Apparently I still smell of burgers though.

The ten days did seem to go quite quickly though but now we are on our way back to the boat – the only trouble is that it’s still VERY hot.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

As you can see from the title of this entry I am now really up on canal names.  It would appear that we are going to be away this time for about 6 weeks and will be doing a lot of canals.

The boat was really hot when we got back to it and it was even worse the next day as Pa disappeared off and left Ma and I to fry on the boat.  Pa came back with visitors – Niamhy along with Aunty Penny and Uncle Jim.  I love having visitors but AP and Niamh disappeared off again but left Uncle Jim. 

Help I'm stuck!

We then spent two days going through lots of locks most of which I was allowed to help at.  Thankfully the weather got cooler otherwise I don’t think I could have taken the pace.  I got chance to play with a few other dogs but more often than not I was quickly caught and put on my lead as soon as another dog was in sight – why can they always see other dogs before me??

Naimhy joined us again – I do love her but she will snarl at me and I get the feeling that she doesn’t really love me L  Oh of course Aunty Penny came too!

The revs looks about right to me

We had to go through a very long tunnel and I have never been so frightened in my life.  I wasn’t allowed on the back deck with Pa – I had to sit at the front with Ma.  It was very dark, noisy and cold and I whined until Ma realised that I wasn’t happy.  She got a towel and wrapped me up and cuddled me until I felt better.  The tunnel was 3 miles long and it took an hour and a half to go through – I thought it would never end but suddenly there was daylight again – phew!

Is it safe to get off?

I fell in the canal today – I guess it was my own fault as I tried to jump from the bank onto the boat and missed!  However I almost made it but not quite and hit my face on the side of the boat before crashing into the water.  I swam to the side (yes I actually swam) and Pa pulled me out.  I didn’t make a big fuss as, I have to admit, I was rather ashamed of myself.  There were no warm towels and sympathy for me – great parents I have eh? 

More time on the canals

Gosh where did the last four weeks go to?! One minute I was writing my blog saying that we were going back to the boat and now we are home again. 

We have all got into a good routine aboard Mary H.  I sleep at the bottom of Ma and Pa's bed and can now read the clock and know that 7.30 am is time to get up.  Some mornings my tummy seems to be rumbling a bit too early but I always get told to get back in my bed :-(  My breakfast is the first thing on the agenda - at least they have got that right! We then all go back to bed with tea - well I don't have tea though if I can get my snout into a mug of tea I will drink it.  We are usually up and about around 8.30 am and I go out for a pee.  After breakfast Pa takes me for my constitutional as he calls it.  Meanwhile Ma gets showered and dressed and then we are off.  Most days I'm allowed to help at the locks but sometimes I'm told that I can't as it’s either too busy or there is a road nearby.  I love locks - there are usually lots of good smells and sometimes there are things to play with like a plastic bottle or a clump of reeds.

 

I'm now a proper boater's dog

Anyway down to what I have been up to.  We went on a very big boat lift which took us from the canal down to a river.  It was a bit scary really dropping 50 feet in the boat!  We went on a bus to a folk festival - I quite enjoyed the music even when the man banged his drum right beside me.  We moored up for three nights at Northwich where I met Izzy who is a bichon frise.  She could get out between the railings of her owners fence and we played chase up and down for ages - perhaps I need to watch my weight as I couldn’t get through the railings.

We went into Manchester - oh boy was that boring.  I had to stay on my lead all the time and we seemed to go on a lot of buses.  The best part was that Pa found some sand and I really enjoyed playing in that.  We had five nights in the rotten old city - Ma liked it but Pa and I didn't.  Coming out of Manchester there were lots of locks to do and it was pouring with rain.  I helped with the first twelve locks but started to get tired and I was very wet so I went on the boat with Pa.  I started to shiver and I heard Ma say that she is going to get me a raincoat - that should be interesting.

 

One of my friends

We got back out into the country and I was able to enjoy myself again - there was lots of goose poo to eat but the killjoys made me stay on the boat so all I could do was look at it longingly.

I learnt a bit more about computers. Ma was working on her iPad when I heard Aunty Vix - I ran to the door but she wasn't there so I ran back through the boat but till couldn't find her - but I could still hear her. Ma said that it was FaceTime and if I had stopped rushing around and looked at the iPad I would have seen her - honestly does Aunty Vix live in an iPad? I don't think so.

 

Hey this bottle is empty!

We went to Hebden Bridge which I thought looked boring but in fact was a good place as there was a park next to where we were moored and each evening Pa took me and the football and we had great fun.  We went on yet another bus - I quite like buses really as I sit on a knee and look out of the window.  While we were in Hebden Bridge Ma discovered that I hadn't got enough food to last until we got home - oh boy did I panic.  I could hear them discussing whether or not to cut my food down or go and find a pet shop - my thought transferences obviously worked as Ma went shopping :-)

Somehow I managed to fall in the canal again - well that sounds a bit dramatic really.  I slipped down between a moored boat and the bank - goodness knows how I did it but I only got wet up to my waist again, I did break my harness though.

Our last night on the boat was spent beside a very big playing field and both Ma and Pa took me noseballing.  Memo to self - check with Roy Hodgson to see if there is an opening in the England squad for me.

It's hot up here Ma

I've had a great time though it has been very hot the last few days but I daren't go down below in the cool in case I miss something up on deck!

So we are now home for ten days - I wonder if there is anything exciting planned?

Holidaying at home!

I've been told that we live on the boat in the summer and that going home is a holiday - well our two weeks at home have been a whirlwind.



Before my haircut

It started with me going to see AS to have a haircut. Ma stayed with me so that she could make sure that it was done to her satisfaction - honestly AS she really should trust you shouldn't she? I have to admit that I was getting rather dirty with my hair long but honestly it was a bit short however it does show off my legs nicely.
 

Honestly what a chap has to go through!

Granny's came to stay for a weekend and we seemed to go out and about a lot including my first visit into a pub for lunch - well everyone else had lunch but of course I just lay under the table like a good boy.

Uncle Bobs, Aunty Laura and Uncle James came up for a BBQ one evening - I just love the smell but nothing ever seems to come way :-(

Since stealing the onions I've discovered that pinching things and running around with them is good fun.  Everyone chases me around to try and get whatever I've got but I'm much too quick for them - its a good game though.  Ma had some really nice sandals which tasted lovely - I just don't understand what all the fuss was about when she saw them, I'm sure she didn't really need that strap.  There was talk of taking £60 out of my pocket money - didn't know I had any pocket money!

Playing with Aunty Vix and Yoyo

We have just a weekend with AP, UJ and Niamh. We went on another steam train, this time to Totnes. These steam trains don't really float my boat but Pa and UJ like them and it was a birthday treat for UJ. I met Ma's great nephews, Theo who is five and Isaac who is three. They are nice boys and didn't pull me about too much!  Theo and Isaac have a dog called Barney who didn't come own the train with us but I met him later and we had a great game of chase round the garden - he is much more flu than Niamh. 
 

Me and Niamh with our bones

Yesterday Ma and Pa took Niamh and I to the beach. Niamh wasn't interested at all and silly Ma and Pa took their shoes off and went into the water and tried to get me to go in too. They kept throwing the ball in expecting me to bring it back - mad or what? That water was freezing. 
 

Oooo that water is cold!

So here we are heading back to the boat. I'm not sure where we are going but who cares - I'm sure it will be fun.

More on the boat

Last week Pa and UJ tried to teach me to swim.  They threw a stick into a lake and expected me to fetch it – now I really like sticks but why get wet when with a bit of encouragement I got Niamh to go and get the stick and then I pinched it from her when she got near me – not daft am I? 

  

If I just wait .....

Yeay - I got the stick.  Why bother to swim?

Another good place we stopped at had a big grassy area and Pa got my football out and I had a great game of noseball – I didn’t even know they had brought the ball with us.

  

Further down the canal we found AP’s motorhome – goodness knows what it was doing there!  I had a good nose round and it certainly was theirs – I remember peeing on one of the wheels when I saw it last.  We went for a ride in it – it was a bit like a bus but more comfy.  I settled down and went to sleep but Niamh just lay next to me hating every minute.  She really is a strange dog as she doesn’t like cars or boats – I have to say that I would rather be running around but usually I just settle down and sleep so that I’m full of energy for the next stop.

 

AP, UJ and Niamh went home – I missed them when they had gone as it had been great fun leaping on UJ in the mornings – his is the only bed I can get up on – and giving him a good wash.  He kept saying that he didn’t need a wash but everyone has a wash in the mornings - don’t they?  Everything was very quiet but I’m sure I will see them all again soon.

 

Me and Niamhy - we are friends really

We went on a bus again – this time to a miserable old town where there was nowhere to run around.  I really don’t know why they insist on going to towns – they know I don’t like them.

 

It was Pa’s birthday the other day and we went back to the nice grassy area which was a bonus for me.  Out came the football again and also the tennis balls – wahey!  We even had friends, Julie and Jeff, join us and I had great fun.

 

I've found a few friends recently - sadly though it's very unlikely that I will ever see them again.  Dennis was a Jack Russell and we had a great game on the towpath, then there was a collie at a lift bridge and we played in a ploughed field - Ma wasn't too pleased with the state of me, I have to admit I was a bit muddy!  There seemed to be a dog at each lock to play with - some nice and some not so nice. Yesterday we stopped for lunch and sat on the towpath however I got a bit bored and found something wonderful to roll in. I went to show Ma and Pa but all they did was say what's that smell, looked at me then hauled me off to the shower - why can't they understand that dogs like to be smelly!

 

I really didn't need a shower

So we are back in the Marina again so I guess we will be going home tomorrow. I wonder if anything has changed while I've been away.

Back on the Boat

We’ve been back on the boat for a week now and it’s been all go.  I got told off at our first lock as I was so excited to be back on the canal again and got a bit carried away – nearly falling into the bywash! 

On the second day there were lots of locks to do and I have to say that Ma is quite good at operating them and we seemed to whizz through.  There was lots of walking between them and I was exhausted by the end of the day. 

I have discovered a couple of new things on the canals too.  One is a very dark tunnel which I don’t like at all as the engine makes a strange noise.  Ma now lets me stay down below when we go through which is much better as the noise isn’t too bad.  The second is a very high bridge like thing which takes the water into the air – I am informed that it is an aqueduct but who cares?  All I know is that it is a blooming long way down to the ground and I don’t intend to jump Pa so don’t worry!

On Sunday I went on a steam train – bet you didn’t know I even knew about steam trains did you?  Pa likes these huge black lorry like things which make loud noises and have chimneys – bit like the boat really and he has told me all about them.  It was OK I suppose but a bit boring – hey I had my own ticket though J

My train ticket

In the afternoon my cousin, Niamh, arrived with Aunty Penny and Uncle Jim.  They are staying with us for a week which sounds like fun.  Pa and UJ took Niamh and I for a long walk in the afternoon – I thought it was great but Niamh is getting a bit long in the tooth now (haha – long in the tooth get it?  Read my last blog if you don’t) and she gets tired quickly.

It’s been pretty chaotic on the boat with four people and two dogs but hey it’s all good fun really especially as AP and UJ keep forgetting about the “nothing on the floor” rule and I have found all sorts to play with J

I found a new friend while I was tied up by the boat.  Beau is a 12 weeks old retriever, that’s three months younger than me but hey she is the same size, something is wrong somewhere!  We had a great scrap and I was really sad when she went home L 

 

Me and Beau

Niamh had to get involved!

On Monday Pa took me mountain climbing – well up a very steep hill to see a castle that had fallen down.  Was it worth it I wonder?  Niamh gave up half way and had to go home – wimp!

Wednesday I experienced another first – going in a taxi.  I didn’t think much of it as I had to sit on the floor when I really like to sit on the seat, but we didn’t go far.  We went to see a castle, well Ma, AP and UJ did, Pa and I went for a long walk as apparently dogs aren’t allowed in castles – hmm.  We did meet up for lunch though which was good as I needed a rest and a drink.

 

Catch up

I can’t believe how long it is since I last posted a blog.  It’s been all go though so hopefully you will excuse me.

When we got home from boating it was Ma’s birthday – a big one apparently but I won’t let on as to which one!  Pa was taking her out for the day and I was a bit worried that I was going to be left alone all day but I was whisked away to a doggie paradise by Amber, a very nice lady who was going to look after me.  Amber has six dogs but my favourite was Willow who is the same age as me but quite a bit smaller as she is a Jack Russell.  Amber also has cats, chickens and horses.  We went for a long walk and by the time I got home I was exhausted and needed a long sleep before Ma and Pa got back.

Bored

Next excitement was Niamh coming to stay though things didn’t quite go to plan as Ma was poorly and her birthday party had to be cancelled.  Niamh was also poorly so she wasn’t much fun to have around.

I knew something was up as later the next week the suitcases came out and as I didn’t notice any of my things going in I got the impression that I was being left behind – AGAIN!  Amber came and collected on the Friday and a big deal was made of saying goodbye to me – Hm now I know why as Ma and Pa were gone for 8 days!  I stayed with Amber on Friday and Aunty Vix over the weekend.  I went to see Aunty Vix’s friend, Karen, on Saturday and disgraced myself by being sick in the car L  On Sunday Aunty Vix took me over to see Aunty Shelley and left me there for what, I thought, was going to be a hair do but in fact it was 5 days!  I had good fun though as AS has 2 dogs.  Shadow is a black Labrador and Tallulah is a terrier, there are also 2 cats one of which was very bossy and didn’t like me chasing him at all – spoilsport!  I got stuck in the gate one day and AS wondered whether she should call out the fire brigade to release me but somehow I managed to wriggle out before she found her phone to call 999!  We did quite a bit of training as AS is very good at that sort of thing and I had a hairdo.  I was so pleased to see Ma and Pa when they came to collect me though as I was beginning to think that maybe I wasn’t going home at all.

The day after we all got home Pa was planting potatoes and I decided that he could really do with some help.  I helped dig the trench and did try to put the potatoes in but it was much more fun to scatter them around the garden for Pa to hunt down.  Ma and Aunty Vix reckoned I needed a bath – can’t think why!

 What makes them think I need a bath?

Two days later the suitcases came out again but I noticed that my things were being packed too so was a bit more hopeful this time.  Ma’s friends Maggie and Richard came and we all bundled into their car.  I usually travel in my crate in the car but with Ma and Maggie on the back seat there wasn’t any room so I sat between them – I could get to like that.  We went to see Aunty Penny and Niamh but, guess what, I was left there while the others all went off again in the car and didn’t come back for 24 hours.  Still I had a good time playing with some doggie friends of Niamh’s which was just as well as Niamh was worried about having nine teeth out the next day.  Uncle Jim wasn’t too good either but he did take me for a nice walk the next day.  M & P collected me and we all went home.

A week later I noticed more things appearing in the hall – oh goodness where was I going this time but, joy of joys, we drove up to the boat and here I am now on a wet Thursday afternoon catching up with my blog as it really isn’t a day for being outside - even for me!

Oh I nearly forgot to tell you – I can now cock my leg when having a pee.  I feel a real man now J  Only trouble is that Ma and Pa keep talking about balls and vets.  The last time I saw a vet he stuck a needle in me, I didn’t realise that he was a nice man who played with balls – Ma gets mine from Pets at Home!