It is Bridgwater Fair week. Rides and side-shows. Candy-floss and toffee apples. My eldest daughter has two children. they went to the fair at least twice. had a great time.
My daughter and youngest granddaughter come to visit every other week. just for the day. shopping mainly. two weeks ago I took the youngest down to the Drain for a walk with Pluto. First thing she said when she got inside the house was are we going for a walk. I managed to stall her until after lunch by giving her sweets. but the moment came and off we went. The greyness lifted and the Sun broke through as we pulled up. It was very pleasant. Warm Sun and a gentle breeze.
I had bought two over-sized tennis balls with a squeaker inside for Pluto. Normal tennis balls he kills and skins within a few minutes. I hoped these would last longer.
The first one lasted ten minutes.
The second is still alive if showing signs of wear already.
we nearly lost that one. Pluto dropped it and it bounced down towards the river to be caught beneath a bramble bush. Pluto refused to go into the thicket so I sent the granddaughter in. I pulled the brambles away she bravely went in and got it.
I showed her where the rabbits lived. what their droppings looked like. Now home for our nap.
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Raining
It was raining but did that discourage the intrepid two? no.
We went down to the Drain. Pluto did his exploring then came back to me to shake off the raindrops, off he would go. again and again. I stood in the middle of the field sheltering beneath my umbrella. Pluto came to see why I was standing still. He soon worked out that if he sat by my legs he didn't get wet. I wondered what the people in the cars passing by must have thought. A man and his dog in the middle of a field sheltering under an umbrella.
We went down to the Drain. Pluto did his exploring then came back to me to shake off the raindrops, off he would go. again and again. I stood in the middle of the field sheltering beneath my umbrella. Pluto came to see why I was standing still. He soon worked out that if he sat by my legs he didn't get wet. I wondered what the people in the cars passing by must have thought. A man and his dog in the middle of a field sheltering under an umbrella.
Friday, 27 September 2013
friday
The Sun is shining. It wasn't this morning.
Grey and misty as we first went out. All alone by the Kings Drain. We then went to drop off some empty beer bottles at the re-cycling centre. Coming home we drove over the Huntspill River so I stopped and let Pluto have an extra run. Again we were alone.
After shopping and our nap we were out again. This time we met Odie, a little white dog. In the dog walking community we always refer to people by their dogs names. I have never know her owners name. Anyway, we had a chat. A pleasant end to the afternoon.
Grey and misty as we first went out. All alone by the Kings Drain. We then went to drop off some empty beer bottles at the re-cycling centre. Coming home we drove over the Huntspill River so I stopped and let Pluto have an extra run. Again we were alone.
After shopping and our nap we were out again. This time we met Odie, a little white dog. In the dog walking community we always refer to people by their dogs names. I have never know her owners name. Anyway, we had a chat. A pleasant end to the afternoon.
Thursday, 26 September 2013
The Boys
Well, we went out. Just as we arrived by the river the car containing the boys arrived.
The boys are three Springer Spaniels, Charlie, Barney and BJ. They are great friends of Pluto. They run non-stop for ages. Pluto tries to keep up. They are fast and agile. Pluto can mostly match them in straight line speed but doesn't have their agility. They can turn on sixpences, sometimes falling over themselves.
They were having fun chasing some balls and jumping in and out of the river. Pluto of course would only paddle. One day soon I hope he will take the plunge and follow them in.
He did get into a little bit of bother. Dogs play fight when excited. Pluto got a little too excited and nipped BJ. Only a little. I put him on his lead and had a serious talk with him. When he had calmed down I let him off the lead and he returned to the fun. Much better behaved this time.
The boys are three Springer Spaniels, Charlie, Barney and BJ. They are great friends of Pluto. They run non-stop for ages. Pluto tries to keep up. They are fast and agile. Pluto can mostly match them in straight line speed but doesn't have their agility. They can turn on sixpences, sometimes falling over themselves.
They were having fun chasing some balls and jumping in and out of the river. Pluto of course would only paddle. One day soon I hope he will take the plunge and follow them in.
He did get into a little bit of bother. Dogs play fight when excited. Pluto got a little too excited and nipped BJ. Only a little. I put him on his lead and had a serious talk with him. When he had calmed down I let him off the lead and he returned to the fun. Much better behaved this time.
wet and grey
It is wet and grey outside but will it deter us?
Not sure yet. Will see after breakfast.
Not sure yet. Will see after breakfast.
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
interesting walk
went down to the mighty Huntspill River. met some friendly dogs and their owners.
we walked on. the mist was quite thick in places. pluto sat and stared into it. I wondered what shapes and forms he could see in it. once he growled softly.
we walked on. out in mid-stream were a party of swans. about nine in total. three were mostly grey and brown in colour so would have been this years brood. they started off down the river making a lot of noise with feet and wings beating the water as the rose. then before the got fully air-borne they landed back on the water. Pluto thought this was good fun and gambolled along the bank after them.
we walked on. the mist was quite thick in places. pluto sat and stared into it. I wondered what shapes and forms he could see in it. once he growled softly.
we walked on. out in mid-stream were a party of swans. about nine in total. three were mostly grey and brown in colour so would have been this years brood. they started off down the river making a lot of noise with feet and wings beating the water as the rose. then before the got fully air-borne they landed back on the water. Pluto thought this was good fun and gambolled along the bank after them.
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Another day full of adventures ahead.
Got the call at tea-time yesterday that I was to pick up my eldest from work. Sat outside the only hotspot in Bridgwater, The Palace. Those girls must have been cold. So much flesh on display.
I must be getting old.
Another day full of adventures ahead.
Got the call at tea-time yesterday that I was to pick up my eldest from work. Sat outside the only hotspot in Bridgwater, The Palace. Those girls must have been cold. So much flesh on display.
I must be getting old.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
The mist that lingered.
It was a grey morning in Somerset. Pluto and I, being intrepid adventurers, loaded my Smart Car with water and dog treats.
I have had the Smart car for two and a half years now. Bought with the last of my savings as a cheap runabout to get to work and back. Then I was made redundant.
Things have changed since then. I have kept the Smart for my eldest daughter for her to use when she has passed her test. 18 months and waiting. She's been busy, she says.
There is a footpath two bridges upstream on The Drain from me. At some time the village must have negotiated with the local farmer that were he to give up a narrow strip of land then they would build the footpath and he could enclose his land. No more right of way over his property. It seems to work very well. Of course some would say that the right of way has been there for centuries and should be preserved. Looking at the size of the Bull in his field even Pluto was grateful for the fence between us.
Pluto sat beside me as we admired the Bull. He was a big boy.
I have had the Smart car for two and a half years now. Bought with the last of my savings as a cheap runabout to get to work and back. Then I was made redundant.
Things have changed since then. I have kept the Smart for my eldest daughter for her to use when she has passed her test. 18 months and waiting. She's been busy, she says.
There is a footpath two bridges upstream on The Drain from me. At some time the village must have negotiated with the local farmer that were he to give up a narrow strip of land then they would build the footpath and he could enclose his land. No more right of way over his property. It seems to work very well. Of course some would say that the right of way has been there for centuries and should be preserved. Looking at the size of the Bull in his field even Pluto was grateful for the fence between us.
Pluto sat beside me as we admired the Bull. He was a big boy.
Monday, 23 September 2013
A dull, grey day.
It's a dull, grey afternoon. we have had our nap and now is time to venture out for another walk. I wonder who we will meet.
Sunday, 22 September 2013
walking by the river- early morn.
My daughter needed picking up for work which entailed me getting up before 6am. She was duly delivered and Pluto and I went down to the River. Really it is a drainage ditch built in the reign of Charles the second probably. That was when they did a lot of this work.
Anyway. Early mornings are a good time to see wildlife. Except of course if your name is Pluto. I saw Rabbits scurrying to their holes, a Heron take to the air ten yards in front of us and a Stag, with Antlers as the Rutt is about to start, bounding and leaping in the near distance towards a small copse.
Pluto, of course, was more interested in finding things to roll in to notice.
Still, we both had pleasure in our own ways.
Anyway. Early mornings are a good time to see wildlife. Except of course if your name is Pluto. I saw Rabbits scurrying to their holes, a Heron take to the air ten yards in front of us and a Stag, with Antlers as the Rutt is about to start, bounding and leaping in the near distance towards a small copse.
Pluto, of course, was more interested in finding things to roll in to notice.
Still, we both had pleasure in our own ways.
Friday, 20 September 2013
Dogs and their owners
I am retired, mostly. I have a dog. Pluto by name. 15 months old tomorrow. He is large and clumsy. Pure breed mongrel. Got him from a rescue centre here in Somerset, UK.
We spend a lot of time walking by the riverbanks. watching the wildlife. it is strange to report on the attitudes of other dog walkers. I have met some very nice people with lovely dogs and some very unpleasant people who have unpleasant dogs.
The correlation is easy to see. dogs pick up on their owners attitudes and temperaments. I don't know about owners looking like their dogs in time but a dog can easily become the mirror of the owner.
Pluto was born in kennels, lived for a time with a Polish family then went back into kennels. I wonder sometimes whether it would have been easier for me to learn Polish then try to teach him to understand commands in English.
We spend a lot of time walking by the riverbanks. watching the wildlife. it is strange to report on the attitudes of other dog walkers. I have met some very nice people with lovely dogs and some very unpleasant people who have unpleasant dogs.
The correlation is easy to see. dogs pick up on their owners attitudes and temperaments. I don't know about owners looking like their dogs in time but a dog can easily become the mirror of the owner.
Pluto was born in kennels, lived for a time with a Polish family then went back into kennels. I wonder sometimes whether it would have been easier for me to learn Polish then try to teach him to understand commands in English.
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