Sunday, 28 November 2010
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
I seem to have a real gundog
Well, almost.... Henry and I are just back from our first shoot!
Sorry no pics, this was not exactly planned and I didn't have my camera with me...
So, this morning I drove up to my parents' house in Leicestershire, and when we arrived I took Henry to Bosworth Battlefield for a walk. We saw this group walking towards the path towards us, I thought they were ramblers so put Henry on the lead... but it turned out they were a load of beaters and guns about to start a drive. Got chatting to a nice man (Mike) with a cocker called Charlie, and he asked if I'd like to tag along for the last couple of drives! So Henry and I have been beating this afternoon!
Hen was quite good, he did whine a bit, but just through excitement. I kept him on the lead, and we ended up stood quite close to a gun, but he was ok. At the end of the last drive I let him off, he was off in a flash to meet all the other dogs and thoroughly investigated the pheasants (and tried quite hard to pinch a squirrel someone had shot). In fact he ended up in the game wagon.... I am taking this as a sign he wants to go again. He liked it so much that as we walked away and I let him go, he turned round and tried to get into the game wagon again - the shame! But someone caught him and so all was well!
We can't have been too much of a hindrance as we were invited along again - although sadly they shoot during the week and are 100-odd miles away from me, or I would definitely go. Everyone was really welcoming and even though Hen was not on his best behaviour no one seemed to mind.
So I am just sitting while my dog walking coat goes around in the wash - it looked a bit mucky after all that climbing through the woods... All that worry about being properly dressed, and I end up wandering around in a bright green puffa jacket...
I don't suppose they will see this, but a big thank you to Mike, David the shoot owner (who looked a bit non-plussed to have gained a beater halfway through the day, but didn't seem to mind!) and all the other lovely people who I spoke to!
Can't stop grinning!
Sorry no pics, this was not exactly planned and I didn't have my camera with me...
So, this morning I drove up to my parents' house in Leicestershire, and when we arrived I took Henry to Bosworth Battlefield for a walk. We saw this group walking towards the path towards us, I thought they were ramblers so put Henry on the lead... but it turned out they were a load of beaters and guns about to start a drive. Got chatting to a nice man (Mike) with a cocker called Charlie, and he asked if I'd like to tag along for the last couple of drives! So Henry and I have been beating this afternoon!
Hen was quite good, he did whine a bit, but just through excitement. I kept him on the lead, and we ended up stood quite close to a gun, but he was ok. At the end of the last drive I let him off, he was off in a flash to meet all the other dogs and thoroughly investigated the pheasants (and tried quite hard to pinch a squirrel someone had shot). In fact he ended up in the game wagon.... I am taking this as a sign he wants to go again. He liked it so much that as we walked away and I let him go, he turned round and tried to get into the game wagon again - the shame! But someone caught him and so all was well!
We can't have been too much of a hindrance as we were invited along again - although sadly they shoot during the week and are 100-odd miles away from me, or I would definitely go. Everyone was really welcoming and even though Hen was not on his best behaviour no one seemed to mind.
So I am just sitting while my dog walking coat goes around in the wash - it looked a bit mucky after all that climbing through the woods... All that worry about being properly dressed, and I end up wandering around in a bright green puffa jacket...
I don't suppose they will see this, but a big thank you to Mike, David the shoot owner (who looked a bit non-plussed to have gained a beater halfway through the day, but didn't seem to mind!) and all the other lovely people who I spoke to!
Can't stop grinning!
Monday, 8 November 2010
The Balloon of Doom
Something that happened a while back, that I remembered this morning...
So, I walk Henry around the fields at work before I start work each morning. So you have to imagine that on this occasion I was wandering round frozen fields in a smart skirt, tights, wellies, and something of a daze (I really don't do mornings).
As we wandered I noticed a deflated foil balloon caught in the hedge - one of those ones you can buy for people's birthdays. Henry was quite interested in this, but left it and on we went.
On the way back it occurred to me that really, I should pick the balloon up and bin it. After all, it looked messy and besides that, some poor groom might have to try and lead a horse past it later. With the special equine sixth sense in such matters, any horse would instantly recognise that balloon as a cunningly disguised pony-eating monster and all manner of trouble would surely result.
Of course, as soon as I showed an interest in the balloon Henry had to have it. However he was too slow and I got there first. It was then that his demonic intelligence surfaced. Shooting me a sidelong glance, he shot under a fence into a paddock and started eating frozen horsepoo (bleurgh), ignoring all my cries for him to desist from this revolting behaviour and come back to the authorised side of the fence. Angered by this recalcitrance, I dropped the balloon and started to climb over the fence. At which point Henry, seeing I was stranded astride the top rail, abandoned his snack and shot back under the fence to seize his foily prize, parading around brandishing it like a trophy. Which was when I noticed for the first time that I had an audience... my boss and another director.
It's times like these that make you wonder why dog ownership seemed such a good idea. And I laddered my damn tights too!
So, I walk Henry around the fields at work before I start work each morning. So you have to imagine that on this occasion I was wandering round frozen fields in a smart skirt, tights, wellies, and something of a daze (I really don't do mornings).
As we wandered I noticed a deflated foil balloon caught in the hedge - one of those ones you can buy for people's birthdays. Henry was quite interested in this, but left it and on we went.
On the way back it occurred to me that really, I should pick the balloon up and bin it. After all, it looked messy and besides that, some poor groom might have to try and lead a horse past it later. With the special equine sixth sense in such matters, any horse would instantly recognise that balloon as a cunningly disguised pony-eating monster and all manner of trouble would surely result.
Of course, as soon as I showed an interest in the balloon Henry had to have it. However he was too slow and I got there first. It was then that his demonic intelligence surfaced. Shooting me a sidelong glance, he shot under a fence into a paddock and started eating frozen horsepoo (bleurgh), ignoring all my cries for him to desist from this revolting behaviour and come back to the authorised side of the fence. Angered by this recalcitrance, I dropped the balloon and started to climb over the fence. At which point Henry, seeing I was stranded astride the top rail, abandoned his snack and shot back under the fence to seize his foily prize, parading around brandishing it like a trophy. Which was when I noticed for the first time that I had an audience... my boss and another director.
It's times like these that make you wonder why dog ownership seemed such a good idea. And I laddered my damn tights too!
Monday, 27 September 2010
Progress
He CAN do leave it... in the living room anyway!
(Just in case you can't see, it's Henry resisting the temptation of a chicken breast. Sorry it's sideways, I don't know how to fix it!).
Now, all we need are some volunteers to have a picnic so we can see what happens... anyone? Don't all shout at once!
(Just in case you can't see, it's Henry resisting the temptation of a chicken breast. Sorry it's sideways, I don't know how to fix it!).
Now, all we need are some volunteers to have a picnic so we can see what happens... anyone? Don't all shout at once!
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Leave it. LEAVE IT! REALLY!
Gah, why did I get a spaniel...?
So, the subject of today's training class was 'leave it'. (Rolls on floor, laughing hysterically).
The first stage was ok, as I could hang onto the lead, and by adopting a position similar to that of a water-skiier I was able to hold the ravening beast away from the plates of yummy food that had been provided for the purposes of the exercise.
However, Henry managed to devise Stage Two. There wasn't meant to be a Stage Two you understand, he made it up all by himself. (I'm an innovator - Henry). You see, all the dogs were taken off into the big field for a run, and recall practice. Sadly Henry felt that all these big boisterous labradors were not to his taste and took himself off for a wander.
To the far side of the field.
Where there were spectators.
One of whom had one of the plates of food.
On the floor.
You can see where this is going, right?
Happily, the hardy spectator was able to remove most of the food from Henry, so he only got a good gnaw of the food (toast, as it happens) and some clingfilm, which is not even on the top ten of worst things he has eaten.
Hey ho....
I said LEAVE IT!
So, the subject of today's training class was 'leave it'. (Rolls on floor, laughing hysterically).
The first stage was ok, as I could hang onto the lead, and by adopting a position similar to that of a water-skiier I was able to hold the ravening beast away from the plates of yummy food that had been provided for the purposes of the exercise.
However, Henry managed to devise Stage Two. There wasn't meant to be a Stage Two you understand, he made it up all by himself. (I'm an innovator - Henry). You see, all the dogs were taken off into the big field for a run, and recall practice. Sadly Henry felt that all these big boisterous labradors were not to his taste and took himself off for a wander.
To the far side of the field.
Where there were spectators.
One of whom had one of the plates of food.
On the floor.
You can see where this is going, right?
Happily, the hardy spectator was able to remove most of the food from Henry, so he only got a good gnaw of the food (toast, as it happens) and some clingfilm, which is not even on the top ten of worst things he has eaten.
Hey ho....
I said LEAVE IT!
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Thwarted at every turn!
By the Environment Agency and their bloody flood defence work. Why they are doing flood defence work going into the wettest time of year I don't know. But it meant a lot of footpath closures, which royally buggered up todays walk.
At first I thought we could furtle round, but then we were defeated by a flooded path through a marsh... not a great option when you're walking solo, really.
Not that Henry minded the stinky marsh mud - guess who got to ride in the boot on the way home?
On the upside, our alternative, considerably shortened route took us past Walberswick Church, which looked quite normal from the side we approached on...
But turned out to have this on the other side!
Didn't see this until after having a good explore... oops....
Fortunately we were not squished by a falling church (not that that sign would have been any help to the parochial church - you can't sign away liability like that....)
Proof was obtained that some people have no souls at all
Navigation dog is unimpressed by your navigational skills
Oh look, a rare sight round here - an open footpath (not bitter at all, then)
It said dogs had to be on leads - it never said anything about holding onto the other end...
Yet another reason for Henry to ride in the boot!
I can't believe you're making me ride in the boot....
At first I thought we could furtle round, but then we were defeated by a flooded path through a marsh... not a great option when you're walking solo, really.
Not that Henry minded the stinky marsh mud - guess who got to ride in the boot on the way home?
On the upside, our alternative, considerably shortened route took us past Walberswick Church, which looked quite normal from the side we approached on...
But turned out to have this on the other side!
Didn't see this until after having a good explore... oops....
Fortunately we were not squished by a falling church (not that that sign would have been any help to the parochial church - you can't sign away liability like that....)
Proof was obtained that some people have no souls at all
Navigation dog is unimpressed by your navigational skills
Oh look, a rare sight round here - an open footpath (not bitter at all, then)
It said dogs had to be on leads - it never said anything about holding onto the other end...
Yet another reason for Henry to ride in the boot!
I can't believe you're making me ride in the boot....
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Grump, grump, grump
I want to be here:
Or here:
Or here:
And instead I'm stuck here in Norfolk, short of both petrol money and inspiration.
*sigh*
Or here:
Or here:
And instead I'm stuck here in Norfolk, short of both petrol money and inspiration.
*sigh*
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