The Dog's Blog

Go Away!

Its been a bit of a boring week at our peak district cottages. Great! I love boring weeks! None of this rushing about thing. Just time to snuggle up in a corner and get a bit of shut eye.  I did get dragged down town by Mistress but it wasn’t too bad although she reckons I disgraced her. How was I to know we were in a different card shop to normal?  How many card shops can there be? I just thought the kind lady was offering me some food (as I used to get in a card shop). Well what else am I suppose to do other then jump up to the counter to take it. I thought I was showing gratitude. As it turns out she was just giving some change to Mistress and it was the wrong shop. A mistake any of us could make.

In the middle of the week Master had a bit of trouble helping move some cows. Instead of asking me to help, he and the farmer decided to do it themselves. There were cows all over the place. I could have sorted them out in seconds but oh no they knew better. Well at least I didn’t have to do a load of running about.

Why me?

Master seems to keep disappearing off somewhere with a car load of tools. Luckily he tends to take idiot brother with him so I get a nice day of peace.  The other advantage is I can do the ‘bonding’ bit with mistress which basically means I get more treats. I presume one day someone will let me know what is going on. Idiot brother got left behind today and he wasn’t happy at all. I assume master has at long last noticed just what a pain he is and left him at home. The bad news was I had to put up with him.

Why Me?

Sunday was a bit miserable at our peak district cottages. Saturday had been a beautiful day, but master and mistress were working in the garden. Anyhow they had promised us a walk on Sunday. But when they at last got up, it was a horribly murky day. Now although I was keen to get out, everyone else (including Smudge) thought it was best to stay at home. So it was decided we wouldn’t go out. Ha! Anyway I settled down for a peaceful day in. Smudge curled up in his favourite spot, master got on with some work and we thought that was it for the day. Then suddenly after lunch it was announced  that we were going out. I don’t remember being any part of this discussion and Smudge certainly wasn’t (he was asleep as normal). I should have known as soon as the short leads came out that something terrible was about to happen. Smudge wanted to stay at home but I thought we were going somewhere interesting (will I never learn). It was announced we were going to Chatsworth. That sounded good as there are lots of walks at Chatsworth. Then the most terrifying words to a dog’s ears were heard – ‘Christmas Shopping’. We were going to Chatsworth to go ‘CHRISTMAS SHOPPING’. Apparently there was a Christmas Fair on. Wow! Who cares! Go if you must but please please leave me at home. But – oh no we were dragged along.

Christmas Shopping!!!!

Mistress seemed to enjoy it. Master looked as bored as I was. Smudge on the other hand seemed to think Christmas had arrived early. There were lots of food stalls so he was pulling here, there and everywhere to get to the food (someday I must try the old carrot in front of his nose trick and see what happens). Of course with that many food stalls there were lots of scraps left on the floor so Smudge was in heaven. Master got very annoyed with him.

Luckily we went late in the afternoon so it was a lot quieter than it would have been during the day. Even so it was very busy. What is it with people and shopping. I just don’t get the attraction. What is wrong with a nice walk up on the moors. Far more interesting. Of course mistress had to stop for a hot chocolate so we had to hang around while she drank it. Nothing for us (or master) of course. Then there was more SHOPPING. Luckily the entire experience only lasted a couple of hours before we could go home. I have learned my lesson. I am keeping well out of the way till after Christmas!

Me

At long last a nice day and mistress and master not working at our peak district cottages.  So we could go out for a walk.  About time too. First it was decided we would go to Lathkill Dale. That’s my favourite walk as we don’t have to go in the car. We just walk from home. Then it was decided we would go to Padley Gorge so master could take some pictures (he still fancies himself as a photographer). We both carefully checked to make sure the sandwiches were being prepared (we weren’t going to be fooled again like last week) and made sure they picked up our leads. Then off  in the CAR we went. Luckily it wasn’t far – about 10-15 mins. Once there we managed to park at the station at the bottom of the Gorge.  We were let off our leads almost from the start which we much prefer. It was a beautiful day and the trees were a wonderful colour which unfortunately meant both master and mistress were forever stopping to take photographs. Master decided we would go up the trickier part of the gorge, nearer to the water, which we thought was great fun(scrambling up boulders etc)  but mistress found it hard going. She had to do her usual trick of sliding down steep bits on her bum which is always entertaining.

Padley Gorge

However, the most entertaining part of the walk was when master tried to get into the middle of the gorge to take a photograph.  He slipped and very nearly fell in the water. Luckily he managed to grab a rock before he went in. I went over to see if I could help but he had managed to scramble back. Of course idiot brother just sat and watched.

Lunch time was good. Lucky for us master had packed too many sandwiches so there was some scraps left over for us. After lunch we walked back along a route we hadn’t taken before. Of course mistress got lost and master, with his sat nav, wasn’t much better. Why they don’t tell us where they want to go and leave it up to us I don’t know. Anyhow luckily we got lost almost back at the beginning of the walk. So after a short while we stumbled back on to a track along the gorge we had used on a previous walk.

Waiting for Lunch

Mistress was so full, after her lunch time snack, that she didn’t even want afternoon tea. Which was a bit strange. So we went straight home. It turns out that the walk was only 4 miles. Its just that they made such a meal of going up the gorge it took us (I mean them) ages. Anyhow it was a very enjoyable day out and even idiot brother behaved himself – for once.

Me first

Me being BORED Stiff

Sunday started off as a beautiful warm day at our peak district cottages. Mistress took us out for our morning constitution and then we sat around wondering if we would be taken out for a long walk. One of mistresses friends is staying with us so we assumed we would go on a nice easy walk. The leads came out – that was good.  So we got all excited and headed for the car. What we had failed to spot was that a) we hadn’t packed a picnic (bad news) and b)master had picked up our short leads ( not our long walking leads) – bad.  The journey started well we headed in a direction we are used to. Then suddenly we turned into a GARDEN CENTRE. Well we thought maybe it is just a bit of retail therapy for mistress. She does need her garden centre fix every now and then.  Maybe a little wait and we would be off for our walk. After about an  hours and a half later they all returned and we set of again. This time we stopped at Cromford where we often go for a walk. Out we jumped eager to get going only to be dragged to the SHOPS. We hung around outside for hours, with master, who looked as bored as we did. Ok we did get the odd person coming along to give us a fuss but even still it was boring. At last we moved on and after only about  10 mins we came to some more shops. This time it really was bad. Mistress and her friend were in one shop for ever.  Even master was getting fed up. Then when all the shopping was over we just walked back to the car. Walk! What Walk.

My Best Side

Smudge has been at it again. Whenever he sees a cottage door open he sneaks in to see if there is anything to eat. He usually gets chased out but every now and then he manages to find something interesting. He has even taken to nicking bread off the outside tables that has been left out for the birds by guests. Master keeps having strong words with him but he seems oblivious. One of these days he is going to get into major trouble. Then we will probably both be in for it.

MY Bone

Following our morning constitution around our peak district cottages grounds with mistress, I always pop around the cottages just to make sure everything is Ok and to see if anyone has left anything out to eat. This morning I noticed that Bluebell Cottage door was open so I wandered in. Imagine my amazement when I spotted that their dogs breakfast was sitting there all alone and beckoning me to help eat it. Well what could I do. Its only courteous to empty a food bowl isn’t it. I had assumed I hadn’t been spotted, so it was a bit shocked when 1/2 an hour later I got a good telling off from mistress. I am not too sure how I got caught. May be it was idiot brother who sneaked on me. What was even worse, I got a reduced ration at dinner time. I get little enough as it is. To reduce it is just not fair.

Waiting for Dinner

What is more we had to go down town shopping (I think it was a punishment). I am not keen on town. For one thing I have to go in the CAR and another we have to be on our leads. Worse still I got master (usually he takes idiot brother). When I am with master there is no stopping and I have to walk at heal or he gets very cross. I am a roughy toughy field dog not some kind of trained pet. I need the open fields, the air in my fur, the earth under my feet (and a warm duvet by the fire). Shopping is always the same. Mistress disappears inside and we are left outside with master. Then on to the next shop. Same again. And so on for 1/2 an hour or so. What is the point. What does she do in these shops. I know sometimes she brings out sausage rolls for me to look after. But I had better not go down that road. I am already in big trouble today.

Picking apples

For the first time ever we have had loads of apples on our apple tree at our peak district cottages. Usually there are one or two but this year there are loads.  Unlike, thanks to master, our plum tree that has no plumbs at all this year (but we don’t talk about that). This afternoon Andrew and Joanna came up to pick ‘some’ Apples but went away with 7 carrier bags full. We of course helped. Well actually I watched and Smudge found an apple to eat and munched happily away on it which got mistress a bit worried.  Apparently Apples (less pips) are good for us. I personally found them revolting. Give me a good old fashioned treat any day but of course Smudge will eat anything.

Me with MY apple

This morning was all a bit traumatic. The power went off before everyone was up and about. All sorts of master’s computer equipment started beeping etc. Now I am not exactly a timid dog (except for cows, sheep, large dogs, anything big, the odd napkin etc.) but I do find that beeping sounds get to me. Probably because Smudge completely looses it when things go beep. But then Smudge can be scared of his own shadow (unless there is food around). Luckily master came down soon after and let us out and turned off all the beeps. The power was off for about an hour but that was bad enough. Then what happens? They leave me with Smudge while they go off to Buxton to see a ‘Craft Fair’. We could have gone too! Or better still I could have gone and left Smudge behind. They hadn’t been gone more than an hour and it all happened again. The lights went off, the radio (for some reason mistress leaves it on for us) went off  and the beeping started again. Luckily it only lasted a few minutes and everything came back to normal. Smudge went back to sleep and I continued with my security duties.  I was, however, very glad when they got back. They really shouldn’t leave us (well not me anyway). I am sure there must be some European Dog’s Rights Act that says we shouldn’t be left alone.

Team Effort

Me being 'washed down'

Well I know it is idiot brother that is supposed to be doing this blog but its about a problem we have had with a cow so it is not much point asking him as he was hiding behind a fence.

There I was making monumental decisions at our peak district cottages  such as ‘should I turn over now’ or ‘should I leave it for a bit longer’ when a phone call came in saying there was a cow on our back lawn.  Well I was ready immediately. Cow dog to the rescue. Unfortunately Mistress and Master didn’t quite see it that way. Something about I would be more of a nuisance than a help. Cheek! Anyhow they went out in the drizzly rain to sort the cow out. Well of course without my help they made a total hash of it. As soon as they had got it back into the field it just jumped over the broken wall again back into the garden (I could have told them that is what would happen).  So they had to get it out again.  In the end they realised that they needed my skills. I had to sit guarding the broken wall (with mistress) while master went off to get a new piece of electric fence (that keeps the damn things out).

The perpetrator

Mistress was having a bit of a problem controlling them as they can be quite cunning if you don’t know them. One can faint to the left while another makes a break for the wall. However, once I was on the job some semblance of control was established. They know me. And they know I won’t be messed with. So they started towing the line and behaving themselves. Idiot brother was of course no where to be seen. You could hear a distant bark as he tried telling them what to do from the safety of our front garden. They of course just ignored him.

When at last master got back and set up the electric fence we could all relax a bit. We then just had to make sure they weren’t so stupid as to walk through it.  Luckily they weren’t and we could all go back in. What do I then get for my troubles? A wash down! I don’t think I deserved that. I wasn’t particularly muddy (well maybe just a bit). At least I got a chew for helping although why idiot brother got one too, I have no idea.

The perpetrator being disrespectful

Anyhow mistress has awarded cow no 885 two ASBOs. One for coming into the garden the first time and a second for coming in again. She nearly gave it three. The third would have been for disrespectful behavior (see photo).  I must point out that any cow getting three ASBOs in a season becomes Beef Burgers (which I hope I will be allowed to sample).

PS – I have just helped to clear the drive of cows and what have I had in return – Another Full WASH. It just isn’t fair.

Me posing with Mistress at Monsal head

At long last we have found a way of getting mistress to keep up with us. It was masters idea. Stick her on two wheels. Tuesday looked like it was going to be the best day for some time so it was decided we would go for a walk.  As the tunnels along the Monsal trail are now open there are a couple of cycle hire places along the trail. So off we went to Hassop Station (about 10 mins from our pet friendly holiday cottages).  We had to wait in the car while they got kitted out. Both came back wearing funny hats and these 2 wheeled things. They did look a bit silly. Anyway as soon as we set off we knew something was different.  We kept getting yelled at to get out of the way. Not usually a problem as we are miles ahead of them (especially mistress). Once we had figured out that it wasn’t going to be one of those backwards and forwards type walks we started to enjoy it.

Mistress keeping up with us.

Not only was mistress keeping up with us, we didn’t get any of the ‘admiring the scenery’ thing.  So we actually progressed rather than dithering about. It did mean that we hadn’t as much time to explore and check things out but it was a nice change to keep going.

We got as far as Millers Dale, where we had started last weeks walk, before mistress was complaining about being exhausted (we were just getting warmed up). So they found a bench and sat down to lunch. For the first time ever we had lunch with another group of walkers. Once I had figured out I wasn’t going to get anything else to eat from master and mistress I put on my ‘I am a starved dog’ look and went round the other walkers. Works every time. Loads of tit-bits.

On the way back mistress realised why she had felt so tired. It had been uphill all the way from Hassop which of course meant it was downhill all the way back. That made her very happy. We got back to Hassop in time for what mistress felt was a well deserved afternoon tea.

At Hassop for afternoon tea

Just an aside. I must tell you what idiot brother did before we went off for a walk. Mistress took us out for our morning constitutional but he spent the entire time in the bushes behind the car park. When he emerged he was absolutely covered with those little sticky balls.  You know the ones that get everywhere.  The idiot had been crawling through the weeds and everything. Master spend about 30 mins trying to get them out of his fur and from behind his ears etc. There were 100′s of them . I think he still has a few stuck to him.

Oh and before you ask – yes they are both complaining about sore bums today.

Me in Chee Dale

Well as mistress was convinced we were going to get some nice weather we all sat down to plan where we would go. Plan A was to go to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park & National Coal Mining museum. It was decided this wasn’t a good idea as dogs aren’t allowed down mines. So although it would have been fun to see the sculptures, we would have had to sit in the car for part of the day.  So we vetoed it. Plan B was Biddulph Gardens – we vetoed this as it is National Trust and they don’t like dogs so we probably wouldn’t be allowed in the grounds. Plan C was to go to the National Arboretum – we also vetoed this as they don’t like dogs either. Plan D was a walk in Dove Dale – we were up for this as we like Dove Dale. However, mistress stubbed her little toe last week and she thought it was a bit of a long walk. Plan E   was a walk in

Me with a friend

Chee Dale. Everyone agreed that this was Ok. So we set off from our peak district cottages to Millers Dale (about 10 mins away) and started out along the Monsal Trail and then dropped down into Chee Dale. We were allowed of our leads from the start so we went off ahead to check things out. After about 15 mins we found out that Chee Dale had been a very very bad mistake. Not only was there a lot of  ‘admiring the scenery’ by Mistress but worse, because she thought it was a bit slippery (we didn’t), we all had to go at a snails pace. I must admit even master found it a bit slow going at times but mistress I think was wishing we had gone with plan D. Anyhow as everyone was watching were they were going we could get on with exploring without too many interruptions. Even Smudge lost his footing on one of the stepping stones and nearly fell in. I thought it was particularly funny.

Me checking to see where everyone was

Anyhow mistress recovered when we got out of the dale as there was somewhere to buy an Ice-cream. They didn’t buy us one although we did make friends with a little dog who lived there. We sat down high up looking over the Monsal Trail in glorious sunshine where everyone but me had a rest. I though I should explore a little more just in case. At least the journey back was a lot quicker as mistress didn’t have to watch out for slippery boulders etc. There was a bit of a scary moment when we went through a field with some sheep but I kept close to master just in case. We arrived back at the car just in time for mistress’s afternoon tea. Amazingly she didn’t want to bother. I think she was exhausted from the earlier part of the walk. Well there has to be a first time for everything but I have a feeling we won’t be walking in Chee dale again for a while which is a shame as we enjoyed it.

Me near the Lion

Well it is that time again! Chatsworth Sculpture time. As Chatsworth is only a few minutes from our peak district cottages we always pick a nice day and go for a walk around the outdoor sculptures. Well that is what they call them. Master calls them something else altogether. Its always a pleasant day out (even if we do have to be on our best behaviour and on our leads). Chatsworth is huge so there is plenty of walking, sniffing and general exploring to do. Unfortunately there is also a lot of sitting and admiring as well (or in masters case a lot of ‘what is that supposed to be?’) I must admit I would have thought the Duke would be very cross with the people that dumped a load of rusty metal on his front lawn.

Me next to the rusty metal thing

Master would have gone up the wall. We all agreed that the best ‘sculpture’ was the lion. The worse was a couple of rocks in amongst existing rocks. I personally think they just put a rope and sign around it to fool people. Of course we weren’t allowed around the house – as usual NO DOGS! we did manage to join master and mistress for lunch outside at the cafe. Not that we got more than a few scraps.

One of our favorite guests has just left. For years we have had great fun with the lady as she is scared of dogs. Ever since we were puppies we have been able to make her do what we want.

Me in our fields

I personally can’t see how anyone can be scared of idiot brother but I must admit that when I put on my ‘bad dog’ look, I can look mean. Anyhow, this year something went wrong. Either we are losing our touch or she has become so used to us she is no longer scared which took the fun out of things.  I suppose the upside is she did make a nice fuss of us and even gave us the odd tit-bit. Maybe I will work on my ‘bad dog’ look for New year when they are returning.

Master has put some more pictures of the Sculpture things on our cottages facebook Page see http://www.facebook.com/peak.cottages.4u