The Dog's Blog

Me in ANOTHER garden

Its been quite an uneventful week at our peak district cottages.  The builder has been forging ahead with mistresses extension and we have had friends coming and going but nothing particularly exciting.  Master has been grumbling about the cost of the extension – so no change there  (I think it is because he is a Yorkshireman).

Today started off a bit wet so we all wondered if we would get out at all.  The afternoon looked fine so mistress announced we were going down to look round the Bakewell open gardens. Me and idiot brother just looked at each other – MORE GARDENS. Well at least we will get to be taken out.

I am sure I saw it move

Haven’t we done enough gardens this year? So off we went in the CAR. As usual with gardens there is a lot of stopping for mistress to ‘admire views etc’. Very boring.  When we had finished with the gardens it was decided that we had to take mistress for afternoon tea.  So into the main part of town we went.  For a moment I thought we might be going to my favourite shop.

Progress with the extension

They always used to give me a doggy treat (or two) every time I went in. Mistress says the shop is under new ownership. But that doesn’t stop them handing out treats does it? But NO.  They wouldn’t let me in to find out. As usual we had to sit by while mistress and master had a very nice looking tea and cake at our usual spot in Bakewell.  Then it was back home in time for a bit of swallow chasing in the front fields. I guess it won’t be long before they head south for warmer climates leaving us here to chase the crows (which aren’t as much fun at all).

Me and mistress admiring the view

As it was such a nice day it was decided we would go for a walk over by Chatsworth which is only about 5 miles away from our peak district cottages.  We parked at Rowsley and started the walk heading to Calton Lees and on to Chatsworth.  All went well for about a mile then we came across a massive herd of cows.  Now I have been thinking about this for the last couple of weeks, so I thought now is the time to put my plan into action. So I feinted to the right (or “Go Away” in sheepdog language) and then when they started to move towards me, as I assumed they would (they are almost as thick as Smudge), I quickly outflanked them by running back round and going to the left (or “Come Bye”).   It did the trick and I was round them and over the stile before they realised. Smudge of course just walked through them.  Rather him than me.

View up the valley towards Chatsworth

The rest of the walk, before we stopped for lunch, was uneventful. Other than the constant stopping for mistress  ‘to admire the view’.  We (or more precisely they) had lunch  overlooking Chatsworth House.  I am glad we hadn’t gone to Chatsworth for the day as from where we were, it looked very busy. Unusually for lunch stops, we actually got quite a few tit-bits.

After lunch we headed up over the hills towards the Haddon Estate were we had a brief encounter with some SHEEP.  My new plan for sheep is to stay as close to master as possible.  This is based on the assumption he isn’t going to be too pleased with a sheep getting too near to him and will get rid of it.  Anyhow the plan seemed to work. Again Smudge just walked through the middle of them. Doesn’t he remember our last close encounter with a sheep?

Me on the path near where we found the bone biscuit.

Then the strangest of things.  On the very last leg, as we were approaching Rowsley, Smudge found a dog bone biscuit left in plain sight on the path.  I think he was so shocked he didn’t just wolf it down in one as he is prone to do.  Luckily this gave master time to get to it and break it in half so we both got some.  Very strange but  – hey don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Me relaxing after my mugging -

As it was such a nice evening mistress decided we would go for a picnic at our favourite spot over looking Lathkill Dale (about 1 mile from our peak district cottages).  It seems like an age since we last had a picnic (always a possibility of tit bits on a picnic). So off we went. Unfortunately this meant a short journey in the CAR.  But it wasn’t too bad. Then a walk down into the bottom of the dale and along to Conksbury bridge.  Once we are down in the dale we are allowed off our leads so we can run about.  Down by the cascades we came across a sheep with a couple of her lambs.  Idiot brother was immediately a bit wary but I took no notice of them.  Then I realised they were approaching us.  OK – I thought – maybe they want a chat.  Next thing I know I am being chased up the dale and butted in a the bum by a very angry sheep.  Idiot brother is no where to befound.  Having seen what was going on he had run off back the way we had come.  In the end I managed to get away from the vicious thing and got back to mistress.

Lathkill Dale in the evening

Master was no help as he was in stitches and nearly crying.  What was so funny, I could have been seriously injured? What did we do to upset it?  We were only walking in the dale minding our own business.  Is there a crime in that? Anyhow master had to walk most of the way  back up the dale to find idiot brother, put him on a lead and bring him back to where mistress and I were. The vicious sheep had wondered off by this time  (good riddance to the thing).

The picnic was as enjoyable as ever.  There are always lots of swallows for us to chase at this spot.  So we enjoyed ourselves even if we didn’t get many tit bits as we were too busy running about.

By the way.  I wasn’t that scared during the thunder storm last week.  I was just following master  and mistress around to make sure they were OK.  At least I didn’t get myself locked in the toilet, like idiot brother.

Can we have one of these -

Everyone that was anybody was at Ashover Show on Wednesday. Well we were there and a few people we know were there although we never saw them.  As it was a nicish day it was decided that we would go to the Ashover Show about 20 minutes from our peak district cottages. The last time we were taken there was about 4 years ago.  Its a far better show than the Bakewell Show as it is all about farming rather than shopping and therefore far more fun and far more dogs to talk to.  Although there were quite a few of those vicious sheep and cows about they were all firmly behind fences (where they should be).  So what with all the other dogs we met and all the attention we got from passers by it was quite a nice day although it did rain a little bit and master grumbled about it being cold.

I could do better than this

I tried to convince mistress that I could do the dog agility better than the dogs that were there but she just ignored me.  The tractors and machines all looked exciting. Especially the tractors, as they looked a lot bigger than the tractor I am use to riding on.  Of course we weren’t allowed in the food tent which is typical.  Of course mistress spent ages, unsupervised, in there as per normal.

It looked a bit big to me

Yesterday there was a bit of a thunder storm and just in case master mentions it – I wasn’t ‘hiding’ in the toilet!  I had gone in  to see if anyone was scared of the thunder and needed my help.  How was I to know there was a door closer on the door – I have never been in there before.  During the storm Smudge of course was his normal wimpy self and when the lights went out for a few seconds he was just a gibbering wreck (not really a very good advert for a collie at all).

They don't look very inviting do they

Me guarding the new stone -

How was I supposed to know I wasn’t supposed to step in the sand.  Was there a notice up? Did anyone tell me? Was there a fence round it? NO! So you can’t blame me for stepping in it.  I am sure the builder can smooth it out again even if he did look a bit cross. I couldn’t even try and blame idiot brother as everyone saw me – oops!

Apart from the odd incident (not always me) things are going well with the building work for mistress’s laundry area at our peak district cottages. Drains are in and they are about to put the floor down.  Master seems happy with progress  although he has been complaining about a bad back for the last few days.  Something about lifting stone when he went to the quarry to pick up the facing stone. His bad back meant we didn’t get a proper walk this Sunday (I knew this walk thing was too good to be true) although he has still been zipping down town and all over with idiot brother to pick up bits.

Collecting the stone from the Quarry -

I think master must have had a word with the builder as all of a sudden I don’t seem to be getting tit-bits at lunch time. Unless I annoyed him by standing in his sand! Idiot brother never caught on but I have a feeling master may have spotted me disappearing every lunch time.

Me in a field near Great Longstone

We went for another walk from our peak district cottages on Sunday.  This is becoming a regular event which can’t be bad.  This time we went off to Great Longstone (a few miles from our pet friendly Holiday cottages), then up to Longstone Edge and along the edge then back down.  All went well (including no cows) until we came to a junction that wasn’t on mistresses map.  This is not usually a problem as master has a SAT NAV gadget that tells us exactly where we are. Except this time its batteries were flat.  Very useful.  Anyhow we headed off in the general direction but as there were so many paths (due to all the quarrying over the years) it got very confusing.  Not that we cared.  It was good to be off our leads and allowed to run around.  Smudge is usually pretty good at finding the correct route but even he was a bit lost this time.  After about 30 mins we ran (well we ran but master and mistress walked) into a Park Ranger and asked her where we were. As it turned out we were only about 10-20 yards from where we were supposed to be.  Once we went up the next bank there we were.  The way back was a bit more fraught as we had to go through a field with what I thought were cows. As it turned out they were horses but better safe than sorry. Lunch wasn’t too bad, at least we got the odd tit-bit and we didn’t stop on the way back for mistress’ afternoon tea (this must be a record – twice in succession without afternoon tea on the way home).

Mistress checking her laundry room size -

The building work is going well and me and master are zipping here and there picking up bits from building merchants and timber yards etc.  For some reason Smudge seem to disappear about lunch time and then wander back half an hour later looking very satisfied with himself.  I am going to have to follow him to see what he is up to.

Me looking a bit wind swept

This week its all been a bit confusing here at our peak district cottages . We have had another Collie friend staying that is called ‘BLUE’.  One collie called ‘Blue’ I can just about cope with.  But two!!!  Idiot brother didn’t seem too concerned about it, but I got very confused.  He seemed more interested in the children we have staying this week.  They seem to like him and have been calling at the door for him. Don’t ask me why they should like such an idiot.  He doesn’t look as cute as me and he certainly isn’t as handsome. But that’s kids for you.

I am still getting on well with the builders although we now only have one who is doing the main work.  He isn’t quite as generous  with his lunch as the previous ones but I am still hopeful.  We now have the footings in and the first layer of blocks built.  I did try and  get rid of idiot brother into the footings but there always seemed to be someone around.  I am sure they would never have found him especially once the cement had set. Never mind I am sure there will be another opportunity.

there was always some one watching -

I had another of  ‘those’ trips down town with mistress this morning which meant going in the CAR.  Town was busy which was great as there were more dogs to talk to and people to pat me.  At one point and for one horrible moment I thought we were going to the vets but luckily mistress was going to the wine shop that is next door. So that was a relief.

Me Checking for Cows -

It was a reasonably nice day at our peak district cottages so it was decided we would all take a break and go for a walk.  Off we went, with Smudge doing his normal ‘I am not happy being in the car’ , over to the upper end of the Dove Valley (10 mins from our cottages).  We parked up and off we went. The first half of the walk was great as we were off our leads for most of the time .  Even the stop for lunch was better than normal as we managed to get a few tit-bits from Mistress (nothing from Master).

Upper Dove Valley -

It all went a bit wrong as we were heading off downhill after lunch.  I noticed we were about to go through a bunch of very tough looking cows (a few even had horns).  So I jumped over the wall to get out of the way. BIG mistake. I jumped straight into the middle of another bunch of cows that didn’t seem particularly happy to see me. So back I jumped again.  I then decided that if I stick very closely to master they might not get me.  Anyway in the end we go through them and everything was fine for a few more fields.  The next lot we came to looked even bigger and more menacing than the last lot so I decided I wasn’t going to risk it.  Mistress  etc all disappeared across the field as I popped over a bridge and started to follow them on the other side of the river (no cows – brilliant).  Then I realised that I couldn’t get back to the others as there was a river in the way (I am not really a water dog so I wasn’t going to swim).  I got very confused.  Master had to walk back to the bridge and call me. I was then unceremoniously put on my lead and lead through the cows.  Luckily by hiding behind master they didn’t see me.  The rest of the walk was fine.  Amazingly mistress didn’t have an afternoon tea when we got back to Longnor which must be the first time we have been there and not been to the tea room.

Me in the rubble -

Its all very exciting at our peak district cottages. The builders are now here and there is lots going on.  I like builders.  They always seem to have a bit of spare sandwich for me (I haven’t told idiot brother yet so I  get it all for myself).  Walls are coming down and diggers are zipping backwards and forwards.  The only problem is trying to keep idiot brother out of trouble.  He constantly wants to try and be in the thick of it (ie in the way).  Well with any luck they will bury him, then we can all have some peace.

More digging

Mistress is all excited that she might have her new laundry in the near future.  Master is all excited as there are plenty of things for him to check on. And I am excited as there are more tit-bits around than normal.

Me - Bored to tears

As it has been a little wet at our peak district cottages we have been kept in most of the week. We did get the odd respite to nip out to check that those cows were behaving themselves but that was about all.  It was quite fun when the ‘hooligans’ (young calves) were let into our field because they had wrecked the wall in their field (typical).  They are far more fun to wind up then the older ones.  Mistress wasn’t too pleased when she found two of them eating their way through her garden.  How they got in I don’t know.  I think they are too stupid to realise that the walls are there to keep them out.  Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to help get them out and back into the field. I am sure we could have helped.  Anyhow their field wall is mended and they are now back where they should be (and away from mistresses garden).

Winster Gardens

On Sunday Mistress decided she wanted to go to see the Open Gardens at Winster (you can see Winster from our front garden). So off we had to trail, to go round MORE gardens. Haven’t we done enough this year.  They are very boring!  We do get the odd pat and stroke as we are going round but apart from that we are mostly very bored.  Its a garden – so what.  If there was anything to chase we wouldn’t be allowed to – so what is the point.  Of course, as usual, we had to stop for mistress to have her ‘afternoon tea’. Nothing for us.