So, the move is now well past, and I am ‘expected’ to be settled and should be back in my own bed.  That’s an ongoing discussion……I will let you know how that ends up.   

There have been loads of new walks and I am spending a lot of time in a new place called Castle Huntly….  Well, the grounds, not the actual castle.  Love going there and love playing with the ball whilst I am there.  Great place for it.  And….extra bonus…. puddles…. puddles galore.  Love it!!  Although sometimes I spend too much time in them and must experience the dreaded ‘shower’ when I get home.     

Another plus side is new pals, there have been loads, Lily, Barney, Pheobe, Cory, Harley, (truth be told, my humans are better at remembering dogs names than human names, although my dad thought Pheobe was Archie!!) to name but a few, loved getting to know them and play with them…… although there are a couple of ball stealers out there and I need to be careful not to lose mine to them, thankfully their humans tend to bring them back to me.   

But, in the main my new pals are very welcoming to me and seem pleased to see me when we bump into one and other, love it.  I am going to like it here.   

The moral of this tail is……….. when someone new comes along, you must take the time to get to know them, in my case it’s a good sniff, for you humans, it’s finding out names, where they come from and a bit about them.  Take the time with new people, make them feel welcome, have a chat.  It does help.  Remember humans, a chat!  Leave the sniffing to us dogs.   

Well now, we have moved house…….I wasn’t expecting that.  I saw the boxes being filled, some furniture going away, but when I went off to Jim and Jackie for a trip, I didn’t expect to be coming back to a different house.  I am used to going on holiday with my humans, so, used to different houses, but a whole new house, with all my stuff moved, and the cat there too!   

Wasn’t expecting that!! 

But, on the upside, there is a whole new set of smells to get used to, and there are these birds called ‘pheasants’ that roam the fields nearby…they are very entertaining. (The picture is of me trying to see the pheasants past the Christmas Tree, which is in the way!) 

I have just about got over the shock of moving; I have just about settled in and enjoying it.  Although, empty carboard boxes can be a little scary, in my opinion, that made the kitchen a no go area until they were gone.   

All things considered, this has been a good move….and because I have been ‘unsettled’ as they think, I have had more treats than usual, and got to sleep on their bed when I have wanted to….I think I will be ‘unsettled’ for a while longer yet to see where that gets me! 

Anyway, thanks to all those who read this, and the nice comments you give to my humans.  I hope you all have a good Christmas and New Year 

The moral of this tail is………..a move is sometimes a good thing, you can get a fresh perspective on your life and surroundings, and you can get a different view.  So, don’t be put off by something new, have a good sniff, change is sometimes a bit scary (like cardboard boxes) but the new place it takes you to is worth it.    

P.S. A shout out to Freya, thank you so much for writing to me in the last newsletter. Perhaps we can meet when my human brings me to the guild early next year? 

Now, my human’s, as you have guessed by now, need a lot of looking after. It’s not always easy you know. 

Anyway, we have recently been down to one of their favourite places for a few days down in Galloway.  Whist we were there we went on all our usual walks.  This time though, the humans reached the normal fork in the road and decided to head right instead of left for a change….. what could go wrong they asked…. I’ve been out with them before, and I have a list!!  They never asked, so off we went. 

After an hour or so without consulting a map, they decided to stop and take stock.  By this time, they had no clue where they were! 

So, to add to my list of things that can go wrong on a walk with my humans is ‘if you go too far, you will have to cancel your dinner reservation.’ 

So, off we traipsed back, if they had tails, they would be between their legs.  Thankfully when they got back to the village, they were able to get a meal deal out of the local shop as they were too late for any food anywhere.  Lesson learned…. until the next time…. 

The moral of this tail is………..If you think you are lost, you probably are.  Take time to look at a map and change direction before it’s too late…. you might miss more than your dinner.  

I’ve heard plenty humans ask my humans ‘when you go on holiday, where does Dexy go, the kennels?’ If I could talk (I type well, but talking is a bit beyond me for now) I would certainly have something to say to that!  I tried the kennels twice, I’m afraid that doesn’t work for a dog like me.  Home comforts!  You might think I sound spoiled?  You would be correct!!  I do not complain or apologise for that.   

So, what does happen to me when they go off.  I have tried to look sad and give them the ‘why are you abandoning me look’ but to be honest I love it, I go on my holidays too.   

Off I go, across the bridge to this house, when I get there, I must start to bark because I get so so excited. I trot up the road at speed and look forward to a couple of weeks with my holiday humans daily long walks with my pals, what feels like endless supply of treats, a nice settee to sleep on and cuddles and belly rubs to my heart’s content. I love all this 

This last time, I got to go for an extra walk with my holiday human’s mum’s dog and after we went to a place called McDonalds and I got a thing called a chicken nugget!!  Who knew such things existed.  A whole new world opens for me. 

But, when my holiday come to an end, my humans come and get me. I can tell they are excited to see me, and if truth be told, I love to see them too, it’s nice to know my humans look out for me and make sure I am safe and looked after when they are away.    

The moral of this tail is………..When you get to spend time with the people you love, friends or family, or the people who look after you, make the most of it, enjoy it, its precious times.  It’s love.  You might experience something new, like a chicken nugget. 

I’m a very trusting dog, you know.  So, when my humans suggest something, I assume they are sensible and know what they are doing! 

Well, off to Edinburgh on the train we went.  Now, when I am on a bus, I like to sit in the isle or as near to it as possible, because I like to see out the window and watch where I am going. But, on a big train, seemingly sitting in the middle of the isle wasn’t an option!!  Apparently, I was ‘in the way’, I mean really, there was more than one door!  

We arrived and seemingly we were there for a treasure hunt kind of thing. So, off we went up and down a place called the Royal Mile, it didn’t look very Royal, then to the Grassmarket.  Thing is, when you get there, there is no grass!!  Not one blade!  

Then the rain started, and it came down like a shower, and I hate showers, I’ve told you that before. 

So, we then spent an hour dodging the rain trying to work out the clues. We spent so long wandering round Greyfriars Kirkyard, it was evident they had no clue at all! 

So, thankfully they called it quits, and we headed for a place of warmth and out of the rain in something called a ‘dog friendly pub.’ I was lying thinking to myself, thank goodness that is over and done with.  But, no, I heard them planning to come back again and finish it.  Oh, woe is me, you have no idea how many naps I missed out on that day.  

The moral of this tail is………..When the rain is pouring all around you, make sure you have a place of refuge, then you can regroup and face it all another day, there is no point in getting washed away.   The sun always comes out again 

Well, it appears it was a special day, and I was invited along, cause, I’m a Good Boy, or so I’m often told.   

It was going to be a nice early tea, so I was getting a walk too.  Must have been a really special day as they both got dressed up nice for the occasion.   

I was getting taken to Glamis Castle for my walk, but not through the main gates this time.  My humans went that way before and got a telling off for not buying a ticket, but that might be a story for another day.  So, off we went down the other path to the grounds, along past the river. 

Really a nice walk, they had the ball, all good, so a nice run, play lollup about.  All in all a class walk.  Until we got to coming back…… 

Well, by this time I needed a drink.  So, I thought the burn looked quite appealing.  So, I thought a wee drink wouldn’t do any harm….so, I slithered in, I was quite surprised they shouted my name quite so loud!!   

The water was a little deeper than imagined, but I was good with that, what were they getting all excited about! 

Then I looked up. 

The bank was must higher from the bottom than it looked from the top. That’s when the trouble started.  I couldn’t get out, that meant dad had to clamber down.  Jacket? Dirty.  Trousers? Dirty.  Then to haul me out and pass me to mum. Now he was wet and dirty. 

Then, how did he get out? I couldn’t get a good view as I was tied to a tree by this time, but mum had to get down on her knees and haul him out, that will be her all dirty too. 

I don’t hear much Good Boy for a while after. The seemed more concerned about getting to the restaurant all covered in mud! 

The moral of this tail is………..Be careful what you get yourself into, it might look appealing, refreshing, inviting, it might well be more trouble than it’s worth.