HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Hello to all my friends, family and readers of my blog. I hope you have a fantastic Christmas and New Year and get to spend it with all the people you love the most.
I am looking forward to getting lots of fuss, smelling the lovely dinners cooking, playing in the snow and eating anything tasty that hasn't been put out of reach!!
I wish you the same good fortune.
Lots of love, Roddy xx

Sledging!

Hey! I have NEVER been sledging before. I'm 10 years old and this is brand new to me!
I understand the rules to be:-

1. Get to the top of a big hill

2. Race like crazy to the bottom.....

3. After repeating several times, get a lift home on it!

Happy times! xxx

So much snow!

Hello everyone. I can't believe the amount of snow we have had here! It's right up to my tummy!
I do enjoy being out in the woods and running around making big monster dog foot prints - but it is jolly cold on the nose!

My favorite beach walk in Cornwall

When we are in Cornwall, we always make sure to visit the lovely long beach near Hayle.  It has miles of sandy space for doggies of all shapes an sizes to run on and lovely sand dune walks along the edge of the beach, to enjoy the sniffs of rabbits!

As you have seen a few pictures of me on this beach before, mum added the proof that this is a new picture, taken this year.  Otherwise I might have got away with one showing less grey hairs on my chin!!

John O' Groats to Lands End in 26 days!!!

Hi everyone, hope you are well?

As you know we were on holiday in Scotland last month.  With plans in place to visit family in Cornwall only a few weeks later.  This meant that John O' Groats to Lands End just had to be done.
I would love to boast that we walked, jogged or cycled.  Actually - dad drove us there on two totally separate occasions!

Doggie friends and woodland walks

Sadly we didn't get around to taking any photos of my new friends Dux and Mia - 2 very handsome doberman dogs.
We went on several beach and woodland walks together.  Well, when I say 'together' I mean we were all out at the same time.  They are much younger than me and always raced off playing at 100mph together.
I was happy to potter behind with mum and dad!

We went to John O' Groats!

Hey there! As promised, bit more to tell you about my trip to Scotland.
As we were so far up north we decided to visit the very north tip (well, nearly) and take a photo opportunity.
As you can see, it was a beautiful sunny day....and 876 miles from Lands End.

We have an ambition to visit the other end of the country really soon and take another photo!  Watch this space!

I have been very poorly.......

Hi all, just back from a fantastic 10 days in Scotland, right up at Bonar Bridge and beyond..... more on that  in later blogs!
I have been a really poorly dog, (so mum and dad say). I even didn't eat any food for 4 days and actually refused my favorite treat of cheese spread inside my Kong. Looking back I find it hard to believe myself!
Mr Vet told us I had a very nasty bacterial infection; once he had ruled out what we first thought might be a blockage  of sticks, stones or bones from being the culprit.  Many antibiotic and steriod injections and tablets later, plus an x-ray (thank goodness for pet insurance), I am fixed.  Luckily I got better just in time to go on holiday.
Here is a pic of me looking out over the east coast way way up north, feeling much better.

Sheffield in the sunshine and flowers

Hi all - told you I've been busy!  This weekend just gone we have been up to Sheffield to visit 'gran' who was having an important birthday, (can't say the number as it's not polite!).
The weather was much nicer here than back in the Midlands and we made the most of it by having lunch outside on Sunday.
They were all eating and I was sun bathing - and hoping for a few tit bits of course!

Tea and cake down in Poole

Hi everyone, hope all is well? I have just had a very busy couple of weeks.
Here I am down in Poole with mum and dad and their friends.
It was a showery afternoon but warm and a decision was made to have tea and yummy cake (it smelled yummy anyway), under the big umbrella in the garden.
I got SOOOOO close to that cake I could almost taste it.  Sadly, that is as close as I got!

Meet my best friends from up north.

Hi Everyone,
Meet my friends Katie and Sam who have just come back from holiday overseas.  They stayed with us on the way out and on the way back too.
They even trusted me to look after Teddy and Iggle-Piggle, which I managed admirably (with a little help from a high shelf).
I have very much enjoyed their company; especially the cuddles and chats with Katie and playing football and running around with Sam.
Can't wait to see them again soon - they are fun!

Nearly back to normal

Hello Readers, just wanted to let you know how I am getting on following my lump removal operation.
Well, as you can see from the photos I have repaired well.  I had the stitches out 12 days after the operation and was allowed to discard the t-shirt, go back to off-lead walks and jump into the river again 2 days after that.

Can't say I miss the t-shirt, though it did get me lots of attention and extra fuss, but I really missed running around in my own garden.

Cats and squirrels beware - I AM BACK TO FULL FITNESS!!

Poor old me!!

Hi everyone.  Before you jump to conclusions and think that I have turned into an 80's fashion victim with my ripped t-shirt look, let me fill you in on what has been happening this week.

The little lump on my front left leg, just below my 'elbow' if you like, has been growing and my vet said it was time to remove it before it got too big. Thursday morning we got up as normal, except I had NO breakfast and spent the day at the vets.  I had a big sleep and awoke to find someone had removed the lump and sewn my leg up!

I was destined to wear a lampshade for the next fortnight to stop me nibbling at my stitches, as they are a bit sore and irritating.  Then mum came up with the idea of a t-shirt to cover the stitches so I would leave them alone.

I am making the best of it and trying not to whinge too much, but it is rather undignified being walked around my own garden on the lead and wearing mum's cast-offs! and being instructed to 'do a wee' before being marched back in again!

In case you think I am making a fuss about nothing, take a look at this picture! I have eight stitches (currently!) and they are going to leave a scar.  I hope my fur will grow back to cover it or I will look like a right trouble maker when I finally get to walk off the lead again!

Another Bank Holiday!

Hi everyone,
I hope you have all had a lovely bank holiday.  After a lazy rainy Saturday, yesterday we went out for the day with a picnic to Church Stretton and onto the Long Mynd.  It was a lovely sunny day and you will be pleased to know I managed 8 miles!  Mum and dad kept me on the lead to stop me overdoing it (and chasing the sheep!) and I am glad they did now because I was very tired by the end of the day.
You may have guessed that Bank Holiday Monday has been a much more sedate affair!!

A pleasant afternoon

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a good bank holiday last weekend. I have been at my hotel for a few days whilst 'mum and dad' were away with friends.

 I enjoy the break, but I am always keen to get back to my toys and the garden to make sure all is well.

Yes, I am confident there have been no problems here in my absence.  I just need to catch up with my football chewing!

Fun Weekend in the South West

Hi everyone,

I had a brilliant time with my walking pals this weekend.

We walked along rivers and streams, up and down hills (Tors actually!), along old forts and quarrys and generally had lots of fun.  I even had a bit of a swim in one of the quarry pools.

And yes, you've guessed it.... the only lost tennis ball on the whole of Dartmoor?  I found it!  Brilliant.

A busy bank holiday

Hi everyone! We had much better weather than forecast in the Midlands, so we made the most of it by playing outside with some of my tennis balls.

I must say I am not used to so many youngsters sharing my toys with me, but it was fine. I had lots of cuddles and so many strokes and pats that my tail was wagging from dawn to dusk.

We spent the whole time having lots of fun, running around, throwing and fetching balls and generally enjoying ourselves. However I must admit I was really tired when they went home and I slept soundly on the night!

Happy Easter!

Hello there.  Don't be too upset about the weather this Bank Holiday.  Chocolate Eggs taste just as yummy in the rain, or sat indoors in your bed.

Whatever you do, have a lovely time. xx

Me and my best friend

Last weekend my friend Callum and his family came to stay.
Whilst dad was digging the garden, Callum was helping plant seeds in the greenhouse, so naturally I wanted to help too!
The trouble is, it was so warm and cosy in the greenhouse, I must confess my eyes kept closing as I started to doze off!

Really I was just waiting for Callum to finish off planting so we could play some more football! (Once I had finished my snoozing that is!).

Northumberland is nice inland too

Here I am having a quick rest! This was a very steep climb back through the woods on a walk not too far from Newton-on-the-Moor.
I had a big snooze later, before going to the pub for a nice doggie-treat off the landlady and a fuss off all the customers - lovely!

A beach EVERY day!

Hi all, here I am sitting on the harbour walkway in Amble, just before big waves came and splashed me and mum.

Here I am enjoying the sea air at Embleton. You can see Dunstanburgh Castle ruins in the background. We saw sealions eating big fish there. It was a lovely walk too.

A dog has to chomp a few sticks on holiday! This was a big smelly one!

We had a lovely holiday!

Hi Readers, just thought I would update you on our fabulous holiday on the Northumberland coast. We had lots of fun on the beautiful beaches.

We visited Bamburgh Castle - here I am playing "King of the Castle".

Nearly holiday time!!!!!

The evenings are staying lighter longer and the mornings are arriving sooner. All signs that spring is on the way at last.
Another sign is mum and dad getting things ready for our first trip away of the year for the three of us.
It usually involves a long drive in the car, which I quite enjoy, watching the cars go by and the scenery change from city views to the countryside.
When we get there, all the new sniffs and walks and treats always make me so happy and excited!
I can hardly wait for the weekend to arrive and for us to be off on our way.

Tennis ball tidy-up

Hi Readers, here I am relaxing back in the house with Yellow Spiky ball, after a rather busy hour in the garden with 55 other balls!

As you can see - lots and lots of balls! Mum decided to have a clear out in the side entry and hoover up all the winter spider-webs. This meant taking all my balls off the shelves to clean behind them! And the acid test of a good ball?... does it bounce down the garden!

What fun! I had the garden full of nearly every type of ball you can think of: 39 tennis balls (5 of which were thrown away, as too badly chewed and did not bounce anymore - sigh!), 1 mini football, 1 Santa ball, 1 spiky ball, 1 'holey-moley' ball, 2 cricket balls, 1 baseball, 2 funny shaped balls with ropes on, 1 glow in the dark ball and 7 other rubber balls. Brilliant!!

Meet my new friend Amber.

Hi Everyone, when mum and dad invited their friends round to our house for dinner, they brought their new dog Amber with them. She came from a dog's home just like me and she really appreciates her new home and family just like I do. She also likes tennis balls, running, chasing sticks and balls and popping and chewing footballs - we have so much in common!

Once we had run around together in the fields and woods and I had stopped grumping at her for trying to steal my sticks, I really started to notice what a nice dog Amber is. I hope we can be friends for many years to come.

I will never forget Zakky-Boy, but it is nice to have a new friend to share sniffs and run round with. And in the evening, when the family are all sat around the table eating and chatting and no snacks are coming our way, at least we wont get bored playing together.

Sunshine and a stinky ball.... perfect!

Hi everyone, I hope you had the chance to enjoy a little bit of sunshine on Tuesday afternoon like me.
After walking in the woods, I brought back a fabulously slimy and stinky tennis ball and lay out in the garden for a chew.
It was jolly cold really, but I managed a good 20 minutes before coming in for a warm by the kitchen radiator.
Is spring around the corner? Let's hope so.

Why are we (well, me) waiting!

Hello, hello! This was me on Sunday being a little bit impatient. If you look closely you can almost see me drumming my toes with slight irritation.

Why does it seem to take so long some days to pack up the computer and head out for a walk!!!

The mystery of the pink ball..

What a surprise yesterday lunch time. I ran down the garden to check on my football, the squirrels and my other usual daily tasks when I stopped and stared!

A pink ball had appeared in the garden! I couldn't remember finding it in the woods and bringing it back and I don't think mum or dad had bought it for me, as they seemed surprised too!

Could Mr Fox have left it for me as an apology for all the other toys he has 'borrowed' over the years? Or could it be a present from our kind neighbours?

Whoever left it for me - thank you very much.

I'm not leaving it out though, just in case it mysteriously disappears again!

End of the snow?

Hello everyone! At last the snow is thawing and my toes are less chilly!

I don't know why Mr Snowman is looking so sad? He does seem to be shrinking a bit and reluctant to chat about it.

I told him I am very happy because the thaw has revealed several tennis balls and a football I had forgotten about, great fun!