Messing about in the river.

When its hot and sunny, its no fun wearing a fur coat, not even a beautiful brown and grey spotted one.  So .. there is only one thing to do really, and that is whine and fuss, push and shove Mum - because she is the best pushover for non-scheduled, extra, walks.  Besides Mum goes to the meadows where the river lives.  When I first came here I was a bit suspicious of the river.  I would go in if one of my friends was already in, and I could see how deep it was - I'm not daft, in fact I am the brightest lightbulb in the pack, and I wasn't going to leap in blind and find the water was over my toenails!  As I got more used to dipping my toes, I didn't mind going a bit deeper - up to my knees.

Now, when its hot, I'm in.  Its deliciously cooling wading in where the water comes up to my tummy.  This water has some magic in it, you know.  As I wade up and down cooling off, the river turn me into a great big puppy and I have to
run around in circles and then leap all over Mum until she is as wet and muddy as me.

Its clear, cold and delicious.  I dont CARE if fishes wee in it, Mum, I LIKE the taste.



I could stay over here all afternoon, no problem.  Oh, dinner ? mmm ... Okay back to the car, I'll help you in the kitchen ....

I like helping in the kitchen.  It smells good and I know that eventually I shall get a little taste of everything when its ready.  Besides, there might even be something coming my way now if I sit patiently and look hungry.  Pointers are ever hopeful.

Fields are fun too ...

Dad takes me over the fields every day, and now that the green stuff is growing its extra fun cos I can do my disappearing act.

 I went thataway. :))  If I stay in the tractor tracks I can see where I'm going, and run fast.  I can also run a long way cos the tracks go all the way to the other side of the field.  If there is something interesting i.e. rabbit, mouse etc , I will come off the tracks to follow the scent.  When I want to know whereabouts I am - and where Dad has got to, I have to jump up so my head is above the green stuff ...

... but you gotta be quick if you want to catch me on camera .... see missed!  ..... have another go ...

.... missed again!! I told you that you have to be quick!  By the time you have fumbled around I'm long gone ...

Over the fields is where I really get to be a Pointer and do Pointer things.  I'm in my element and I can run very fast in a big circle and come back from any direction whatever ....

....see... here I come from behind you .... and I'm motoring .... clear the way, clear the way, Pointer coming through ...

... and whoosh I'm gone ....

Come on Dad, a little more effort, I'm sure you could go faster if you tried .... or perhaps not ...

...and, oh dear, look what She is up to ... we bring her out and She brings her camera.  That's okay when she is taking photos of me, cos I'm gorgeous ....

..but who want to see silly flowers? okay so they are wild flowers, I just run straight though, haven't got time for smelling the flowers, there are MUCH more interesting smells.  This is a Bridle Way, which means horses and horses means .. well horses do what horses do and if Dad isn't quick enough I will just have a taste ...
Oh, did you yell Dad?  Mum has a much better way to distract me from horse droppings, its called sausage .....

Frozen.  Still.  I know its down there and I'm just going to be a statue until it moves ....

.. so its a just a mouse ... its gonna be MY mouse .. still .... still ... dont move a single hair ...

... then ..... leap in the air and ..

                 POUNCE ....

..who made them so dratted fast??

I missed again ... oh well, I didn't REALLY want it .....

..whats in my bowl probably tastes better anyway.

Back with my mates...

I did go over the meadows this morning.  It was so nice to see all my old friends.  They have missed me.  All the old smells were still there, and the river, so I had a grand old time. 

The spaniels' Mum got the treats out ... I was there so fast I nearly burnt a path in the grass.  Those spaniels get quite good treats - not as good as my Mum's pieces of sausage, but good as extras ..




Ahh .. here comes more treats - and that Border Collie has a ball - bet I can get away with that too.

More old friends and more treats ... oh boy am I doing well today.  That's cos they have all missed me.  .... besides that Labrador doesn't really need all the treats her Dad has brought, she is a bit on the podgy side already, so I'm doing her a favour really ...




Its just right for a paddle ...

While Mum is hobbling up and getting the camera switched on, I'm off and away again for another dash around the field.  You have to be quicker than that Mum if you want to get a pic of me in the river ....





Still not quick enough ......

Ah well, you managed to snap one of me getting out of the river.  You will have to settle for that until you can move quicker.

Home for my Rice Crispies, and then my snooze.  I am really ready for my snooze now.

Update ... and a neighbourhood adventure

Things are looking up.  Lots of lovely warm sunshine for me to sleep in, and a bit of activity over the fields with Dad twice a day.

Mind you, things have been a bit hectic for me lately, so I need my rest.  Some chaps came in and made a lot of mess in the kitchen.  I spread it all over the house, as I was helping all the time.  I got my nose into places I didn't even know existed - like the back of the airing cupboard.  You would not believe what you can find on the floor at the back of the airing cupboard when someone conveniently removes that big copper tank.  Odd socks mostly, and a lot of dust - but then dust covers everything when the kitchen ceiling is pulled down - even me if I stay still long enough.  Anyway, they are gone now so its back to the usual.  Mum is very pleased with her new kitchen and I am very pleased with the rug on the floor, so much softer on my bottom as I watch Mum preparing food.

With the nice weather I have been able to get out into the garden, and do a bit of investigating.  Next door put up a new fence and its lower than the last one which means I can see over the top if I stand on my back legs.  I dont jump over it though, I have found a secret escape!  Its so well hidden by the

shrubs and compost bin it avoided detection  long enough for me to explore the neighbours gardens.  Their new fence does not quite meet the wire fence at the end of our garden, and by determined pushing I have managed to bend the wire mesh out enough to wiggle through.  I got through the one on the other side of our next door neighbours garden by the same method, and found a very nice girl who was eating her breakfast in the garden.  She was so startled to see me that she left her breakfast and ran indoors.  I ate her breakfast for her. That was when Mum realised I was missing!  I got collared and taken home.  Never mind, it was fun while it lasted.

See what Mum has put on our lawn.  Silly sheep.  Dad thinks they are a bit daft too.  If she thinks I'm rounding up these three, she can think again, I'm a bird-dog not a sheep-dog!

Mum is walking again, but cant drive, so its still Dad taking me out over the fields every day, but it shouldn't be too long before Mum can take me over the meadows to play.  Maybe cousin Vivienne will bring Woody (a faster than lightening Jack Russel) and we can have a good chase.  That would be nice.

Ah well, snooze time.

Not a lot happening.

Well, no change.  Mum still wheeling about - with me alongside of course.  Dad still taking me out over the fields while Mum cant get out.  Life would be boring but I can always find something to do.  Sometimes the bin needs sorting out, but only while the folks are busy elsewhere.  Very occasionally I can find something a bit tasty.  I can also sit in the middle of the mess looking absolutely gorgeous and innocent.  For some reason the folks dont buy it, especially if I get a bit of the tummy runs as a result and get Dad up five or six times in the night to take me out in the garden.  Dad can end up with a sense of humour failure.  Mum reckons the only way to keep me out of the bin is to stick it to the ceiling.  That would work.

Dad moved Mum's downstairs bed so its alongside the patio doors.  Now I can keep an eye on the birds - and make sure that cat keeps its distance - in total comfort.  Mind you, its hard work and sometimes my eyes close ....

I have improved my wheelchair-dog skills.  Now I can jump right over the top of Mum if she is in the way when I need to do something in a hurry - like see who is ringing the doorbell.  Its also convenient if I am a bit excited and I want to mob her - I can put my paws on her shoulders and wash her to bits.  I'm a big, strong, girl and there is not much she can do about it except call for rescue.  Very satisfying that, me in control.  :))

Well, that's it for now.  Not a lot happening with her laid up.

 Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Helping Mum get Better

Gosh, this broken ankle thing takes a long time to get better.  When she is in bed I hop on too,

I have my own pillow at the bottom of the bed.

when she is in the wheelchair I am there, right there.  I am not taking my eyes off her.  She disappeared, you know, for a long time (5 DAYS which seems the same as forever to a Pointer left at home).  I am making sure she doesn't do it again.  Everywhere she goes, I go.  Must admit it takes a little maneouvering to get her, wheelchair and me in the downstairs loo but we manage. I'm helping Mum get better.

Its not boring with Mum laid up like this, cos lots of people come visiting. I like meeting people, and I am masterclass at squeezing the maximum amount of fuss, stroking and tummy tickles from visitors.  One of our regular visitors is Cousin Vivienne.  She is always good for a fuss.  This time she brought her little dog with her.  His name is Woody and he is fun. I'm told he likes to run a lot and when Mum is better we are going to go play over the fields together.  I'm looking forward to that. 

Right now its Dad who takes me out over the fields.  I like going with Dad cos there is just so much room to run.

Today its quiet.  Mum is in bed, Dad's on his computer, so I am going to find a nice warm sunny spot and crash out - snooze time.

oh dearie dearie me

Wont be any pics for a little while until Mum is on her feet again.  I TOLD her to work on her landings before she decided to go flying again ... did she listen ?? course not .... now she is laid up with broken ankle.  happened monday.  we went shopping and I was left in the car.  No problem, they aren't long.   But this time they were long and I got bored.  Its boring sitting in the back waiting, so when I got really fed-up I wiggled through onto the back seats and went exploring.  First I explored an interesting bag and found a new toy they had bought me, so I played with that awhile.  But it did take a long time and I hadn't had my dinner so I 'explored' the Sainbsbury shopping bags and had a little snack or two just to keep me going.  When Dad eventually came back to car he wasn't very impresssed - I know he wasn't impressed cos he went straightway into Halfords and bought a dog guard so I couldn't do it again!  I ask you, how unreasonable is that?  Anyway we had to go home without Mum, cos she had to go to hospital in an ambulance.  We went and found her later though and brought her home.  Now I get to sleep all day on the bed with Mum as well as night time.