Sunday was a very busy day at our peak district cottages. Well not for me but for master and mistress. I was quite exhausted by the time they had finished. Things kept getting moved around and then out to the garage and then back again. I thought for one terrible moment that we might be moving house. But no – apparently we are having a new extension on the house which means knocking down the old laundry room (where idiot brother hides when it is thundering) and replacing it with a bigger and better Laundry/downstairs toilet and shower room. Its all very exciting (now I know what is going on). All the moving around was to empty the old room and move mistress’s washing machines and dryers so she can still do the laundry while the work is carried out. There was a very worrying moment when master announced that there was no room for our biscuits and food and they would have to go but luckily mistress found a new place for them.
The weather over the last few days has been just my kind of weather – raining and horrible. I don’t get thrown outside in this kind of weather so I can spend longer checking out my duvet. Mistress does sometimes try to encourage me to go out but I just give her my ‘what -you want me to go out in that weather’ look and she lets me stay in. Idiot brother of course has not been very happy as he is always wanting to be out – rather him than me.
As it was forecast to be a bit of a wet day at our peak district cottages it was decided that we would go to the Churnet Valley Steam railway which was about 30mins from our cottages (near Leek). The journey there was very easy although Smudge grumbled all the way. When we got there we assumed we would be going for a walk. But oh no. First we had to go for a coffee (well at least mistress and master did) we then had a brief walk up and down the platform and the posed photograph. Then all excitement as the steam engine arrived. Mistress muttered something about boy’s toys and let master get on with photographing it while we watched. Its a bit of a noisy hissy thing so we kept well away from it.
Churnet Valley Railway
The journey was great fun or at least I thought so. Smudge wasn’t too sure especially when we went through a tunnel and it went all dark until the lights came on. We even got our own compartment. Every time someone thought about coming into ‘our’ compartment we (smudge and me) gave them one our ‘we are vicious dogs’ looks. So they moved on. All in all I don’t suppose it was too bad even if we didn’t get a walk. Master seemed to enjoy it and took loads of pictures. When we got back to the car it was raining so it was decided that we would drop in to Leek to do some shopping. Now I quite like shopping as there is always loads of things to see and other dogs to talk to. For some reason we are never allowed into the shops which can be a bit of a drag but over all its not too bad. Unfortunately we were left abandoned in the car while they went off. Smudge was happy as he could got some duvet time in. Me I was not happy – all those things to see and explore and I am stuck in a car with Smudge. Anyway they were not long and we were back home in no time.
I just wasn’t quick enough! Mistress decided she would take me down town to Bakewell (a few minutes from our peak district cottages) and before I could dash out of the door I was in the ‘CAR’. Now I don’t mind the town bit but the problem is that we have to go in the ‘CAR’. So down town we went. I have a very responsible job when I am with mistress. As she goes into each of the food shops I am left to look after the food bags etc (which lets face it is hard for me). Mistress has told me that this is an important and responsible job as you never know who might try and take them. In general I am very good. Just don’t mention the sausage roll incident to mistress.
After lunch we had to go out in the ‘CAR’ AGAIN. Master needed to pick something up from Bonsall so we all had to drive over there with him (why? – I was quite happy to stay at home). On the way back I decided I would try out the estate part of the car. It looked a lot more spacious than my normal spot (down behind the front seats). Well, I can report that its even worse. For one I could see where we were going (so that was bad) and secondly I got thrown all over the place. I wish master would slow down when he gets to bends.
In the Afternoon we were treated to one of the rarest sights in Derbyshire – master cleaning the CAR. Neither of us can remember the last time he did that – must have been some time last year or the year before. Maybe his age is getting to him.
Its unheard of. We actually got two nice long walks this week. Smudge wasn’t too impressed as it cut down on his duvet time at our peak district cottages, but I thought it was great. Why can’t we do it more often? Luckily my bad paw seems to be better. Not sure what I did but it did hurt for a while. Not that I got any sympathy from anyone.
Why did we get two walks? Well our mistress and master’s friends were here for a few days. You know the ones that are allergic to us (i.e. we get confined to our room in an evening rather than our rightful place in the lounge). So we all went out for a couple of days walking. The first day was over at Hathersage. We first walked along the river where I was ‘forced’ to sit and pose for my blog photo in the middle of the river. I know there were stepping stones but even still I could have fallen in – horribly wet things rivers. After this ordeal we then went up through Bamford over the top and back to Hathersage. All in all a very pleasant walk.
4 legs good - 2 legs better
The second day we went to Ilam and walked down the Manifold River and then up over the high ground and across to Dovedale. It was all a bit hot and the climb up from the Manifold seemed to take everyone ages – especially mistress. She looked worn out by the time she got to the top. There was the odd scary encounter with cows and those pesky sheep but once in the Dovedale it was safe again. Master kept complaining about how busy it was in the dale but we enjoyed it as we kept getting petted by passers by.
As usual, when there are friends round, we get abandoned for the evening while ‘THEY’ go out for dinner. Why can’t we go? At least we could help with the plate clearing.
One good thing. I didn’t get invited to help with getting the cows in for the farm opposite. Smudge was off like a shot (which is unusual for him). Why he enjoys helping with the cows is beyond me.
Yesterday started off bright and sunny at our peak district cottages, so mistress announced that we were going over to Youlgrave to see the well dressings. Uh Oh that means the CAR! But no. She meant we were going to walk. Yippee. Its a great walk over to Youlgrave from here. Across the fields to Over Haddon, down into Lathkill Dale and up the other side and then across the fields again. Very exciting. So off we went. Then the first problem. Idiot brother wouldn’t go down our drive because the cows are currently in that field. He had to be put on a lead and escorted to the road. What an idiot. The walk over the fields to Over Haddon was as much fun as normal. Lots of smells and swallows to chase. Then down into the dale where we stopped for a well earned drink from the river and then up the other side. All went well until mistress spotted that idiot brother was limping.
One of Youlgrave Well Dressings
He didn’t seem to be limping much to me but we had to stop. I assumed he was doing one of his ‘get attention’ stunts. Both master and mistress tried to find out what the problem was but couldn’t find anything (well they wouldn’t if he was putting it on). We walked on a little further and then it was decided his leg was not getting better and we would have to turn back. WHAT? We have only just got started, we can’t go back now! Leave him! But no one listens to me. So we had to go back down the hill to the river (with idiot brother pretending to limp) where there is a road up to Over Haddon. We (master and me) left idiot brother and mistress sitting by the river as we went back to our Peak district cottages for the car. Well to be more precise master went back for the car and I just followed – I’m not going in that thing if I can avoid it. After about 3/4 hour we got back home and master went back in the car (leaving me behind thank goodness) to pick them up.
On their return there was a lot of attention lavished on him to try to find out what was wrong. After a while it was decided that all he needed was some rest. I can do rest. I am very good at rest. Maybe I should hurt my leg. Anyhow I had the last laugh as he was tied up on his lead so he couldn’t run about. It was great fun watching him get angrier and angrier as I kept running past him chasing swallows etc. Miraculously he wasn’t limping by tea time. I wonder why?
Mind you in the evening he got his revenge as mistress still wanted to see the well dressings, so we had to go over to Youlgrave in the CAR.
I think I will howl if we get dragged round another garden. Whats wrong with taking us for a walk in open fields? Lets face it there are plenty of beautiful spots to go for a walk that are only a few minutes away from our peak district cottages. At least there we are allowed to run around off our leads. In a GARDEN we have to be on our leads and on our best behavior (which is very difficult for idiot brother). So why do we keep getting dragged to gardens? Because mistress likes them. Not sure about master! I think he just goes along for an easy life. Anyway on Wednesday we got dragged off in the CAR to Consall Hall Gardens. I suppose it wasn’t too bad as at least we had a long walk around the miles of footpaths and tracks. Lunch as usual was a total wash out – not even a crumb.
Consall Gardens
I think idiot brother has given up on ever getting fed at lunch time. He just curls up and goes to sleep. Me - I stay alert and ready. Just in case!
In the evening I was allowed to show of my cow herding skills again as master and mistress helped to get the milk cows in for the farm opposite. This is great fun and no idiot brother. He has to be left at home as he is scared of cows. I have no problem with the cows. They know who is boss. Master does seem to get a bit irate with me when I try and nip them to get them moving, but I am sure I have heard somewhere that is what you are supposed to do. I do admit I might be just a little bit over enthusiastic at times but it is only because I am trying to help.
Sunday looked as though it might have been another bad weather day at our peak district cottages so we were expecting a boring day in. Then we heard the magical word ‘walk’. It turns out mistress wanted to go and look round the ‘Open Gardens’ in the next village (Monyash) so as it was not raining, off we went. Of course we had to be on our leads and on our best behaviour so it wasn’t much fun.
Our Dad and sister
Whenever we are out, we seem to attract attention and people come up and make a fuss of us which we enjoy. I always put on my best cute look just to make sure I get more attention than Smudge. We were about half way round when one family took a major interest in us and started to say how much I looked like one of their dogs (they obviously had a cute dog too). Mistress told them where we had been born (Monyash) and the family announced that they were the owners of our farther. So, as they lived in Monyash, we dropped in to see our DAD. It turns out that not only does our dad live with this family but so does one of our sisters. They have a field behind their house so we were all allowed to play in it for half an hour or so.
Monyash Open Garden
There were a lot of snide comments from master about how well trained our dad and sister were compared with us. We are well trained, we just have a more independent spirit than they do. Of course we all had to sit for the family photo before we left. So it wasn’t such a bad day after all.
Yep its a bridge. Even I knew that. So why did we have to go all the way from our peak district cottages to New Mills in the CAR to see it? Apparently because it is one of those things you are supposed to see. Big deal. It was a terrible day so I was expecting a nice restful all day encounter with my duvet. But oh no we got dragged over to see The Bridge. I suppose if nothing else we did get a 30 minute walk which was better than nothing. Even if we did have to be on our leads. I suppose the bridge is sort of impressive or at least master and mistress thought so. We thought it was all a bit boring. Just a bit of metal suspended over a river – nothing very interesting at all.
Sunday started off as though it was going to be a disaster at our peak district cottages. It was raining so no walk! Luckily it brightened up by lunch time and we had a lazy lunch time sitting watching the cows from our front field and chasing the odd swallow while master and mistress had their lunch. After lunch it was decided that it was nice enough to walk over to our village hall (in Over Haddon) where they were putting on an open day showing what the ‘new’ Village Hall will look like. So off we went across our fields and then across Andrew’s (our neighbours ) fields. We always like this walk as we don’t have to be on our leads and we know all the best places to sniff etc. There is always a good selection of swallows to chase as well. The only problem is that there could be COWS. Andrew’s fields were fine but once we got into the next set of fields – there they were. Luckily they didn’t spot me so I crept around the edge of the field and over the wall sharpish. The rest of the walk into Over Haddon was uneventful.
Mistress having a drink at the Lathkill
Once we got to the village Hall we were unceremoniously tied up outside. Something about dogs not being allowed in. So what they are doing to the village hall I have no idea. After a brief stop (enough time for Smudge to get a doze in) we were taken on to the pub for master and mistress to get a drink (nothing for us). Its rather nice at the Lathkill as you can sit in the beer garden which has a spectacular view over the valley. Then it started raining. We waited a bit but then it was decided that we would ‘risk it’. Luckily it wasn’t raining too bad. I managed to avoid the cows in the first field but when we got back to our own fields the cows were waiting for me. Now I know I am not allowed on the road on my own but these were extreme circumstances. Master was very annoyed with me but what could I do? I am not running through that lot. In the end master came and rescued me and put me on a lead. He then ‘FORCED’ me to walk through the cows with him. I think the cows are a bit intimidated by him, so they kept well away from us. I was very relieved when we got back to the house and I could make sure there was a fence between me and those cows.
Its silage time again so all the big tractors etc are out cutting, rowing, chopping and collecting – very exciting. Although there is no silage collection on OUR peak district cottages fields it does mean we have a lot of cows in our fields at the moment. Idiot brother is not happy at all. This morning master took us out for our walk and we went over to watch them cutting the first field on our side of the road. It meant we had to go through 3 fields of cows. Not a problem for me but idiot brother had to run all the way round the back fields to get round them.
The new cutter -
The young hooligans in the 3rd field were a bit uppity. I haven’t had a chance to train them yet. They will learn who is in charge just as soon as master isn’t watching, then I will sort them out. We spent a pleasant 10-15 mins watching the new cutter zipping up and down the field then wandered back to our own fields. Poor idiot brother then had to run all the way back round the back fields to avoid the cows again.
The rest of the day we were left on our own while master and mistress went of to do the monthly business shopping. They claim there would have been no room for us in the car along with all the shopping. I didn’t mind much as I could get in some extra duvet time. Usually during silage time my skills as a cow dog are called on to help bring in the milk cows but I wasn’t needed today.
We are the Bolehill Holiday Cottage Dogs. Along with our Master and Mistress we live at Bolehill Farm http://www.bolehillfarm.co.uk