Collie heaven

Ahhhh, bliss.  What's my definition of a perfect day?  Well, I'll give you a clue.  It involves...a comfy bed (tick), a warm fire (tick), some sheep to look at (tick, but if I could chase them that would be a big tick), no terriers anywhere in sight (tick), no terriers within 100 miles (huge tick).  Today, huge tick it is - the troublesome twins are off on a holiday.  Hopefully a very long one...

Pie has gone off on a holiday back where she used to live before she came to us.  She was really excited about going back as she remembered what a great time she had down there and how many people used to live there that she could bark at.  But just to make sure she didn't have too much fun, we sent her down with Daisy for company.  Only joking... Daisy definitely didn't want to be left behind as she loves a trip out.  Rumour has it that she's got more than she bargained for though - there are stories coming back of long marches like the SAS do to get fit

Skye says she's pleased she hasn't gone if it's true - her idea of a forced march is once round the front field (but not round the edges) and a sharp return for a markie or two...and a warm fire - so maybe she's not that daft after all, especially since we've had more snow and we all know that just makes your feet chilly

Oh well, we'll wait for a postcard from the 'twins to see how they're getting on...maybe they're too tired to write though. Chuckle chuckle.  Poor Daisy 

Take care

Pip xx

A mixed day

Since when do storms have names?  This year all we seem to be getting is bad weather with a name...we've just had Frank so its Gertrude next I think, and we were all very disappointed to hear that D was Desmond...we've got our own little storm here beginning with D...the queen of flatulence herself...we think D should be for Daisy

Anyway, we've had it all today from the weather - we went to the beach and to be honest, were a bit dubious.  Skye stayed at home - she wasn't taking any chances.  The rest of us all skipped into the car anyway - I mean, a walk's a walk isn't it..?  It was snowing all the way there, then miraculously we had bright sunshine for the whole time we were there, and then more snow on the way home.  And it's settled a bit as well.  Cold feet for us for the next few days by the look of it

Skye was telling the puppy she reckons we're in for lots more bad weather this year - she says she's heard it's got something to do with global warming and the ninja's.  She's a bit sketchy on the exact details, and got stroppy when Pie pointed out that it doesn't seem to be getting any warmer and then wanted to know how some Japanese assassins can bring us bad weather?  The puppy settled the argument - she watches the weather every night and apparently it's El Nino causing the problem.  Skye says he must obviously be a Spanish assassin then, so clearly she was nearly right.  Quite why the weathermen are being murdered is a mystery to her, but in Skye's world, details are for others to worry about

Well, lets hope it gets better soon otherwise I'm going to get some holiday brochures.  I fancy a bit of winter sun on my old bones - we could always sell Daisy to raise the cash (only joking, honest!)

Take care

Pip xxx

Wind

I'm having to be very brave these days.  It's the wind. What a day we've had today.  I knew it wasn't going to be good but, boy, it was bad.  I hate the wind, and the first thing I saw this morning was the trees across the front field being blown about. That's never a good sight, then when I finally got the courage to go out, there were trees lying right across the road, and I mean right across it.  Yup.  What a day.  It's been blowing a proper gale.

There's been another problem with wind recently, and we're all having to be brave with this one.  Think small fluffy and white and you're on the right track.  Last night we were all happy lying in front of the fire and then smelt this awful pong.  Of course we all looked at the prime culprit - Skye, who was very indignant, but no, it seems it was fluffy...the silent assassin, keeping a very low profile.  Rest assured though she's had a warning and Pie says it's three strikes and she's out...the puppy's counting so she might get an extra life.

Pie's been desperate to get out though.  Apparently windy days are good for hunting, but we haven't been let out thank goodness.  Skye says its a shame Pie wasn't - we could have tied a ribbon to her before she went and watched as she got blown away...a Pie kite.  Skye's sailing pretty close to the wind herself with comments like that if you ask me - Pie usually comes out on top of their battles, determined little devil she is

Anyway, let's hope things calm down soon

Take care

Pip xxx

Dinosaurs cause a problem

Someone in the house is studying paleontology...

Some dogs chase sticks, some chase cars, some even run round in circles chasing their tales (I think those must be the Labradors).  In our madhouse though, the puppy has discovered dinosaurs.  She saw one in some programme on TV last night and has been chattering about them ever since.  Even Pie's legendary lack of patience has been tested to the extreme with all the questions from the puppy and she told her in no uncertain terms that she should go and ask Skye who would clearly still be able to remember when they roamed the earth.  

Well, we nearly had to call the police to sort that one out...the puppy might be bright but hasn't got much common sense - ever obedient, over she dashed to Skye, woke her up and asked her what she remembered of the dinosaurs.  Skye's face was a picture.  Not a very pleasant one, or one I would be pleased to have painted, and sensibly, the puppy decided to make herself pretty scarce.  I don't think Pie has ever found any thing as amusing as that but I have a feeling the puppy might even the score at some stage...

Anyway, the puppy has not been put off and has decided that she wants a chewy dinosaur for her birthday, although she is not too sure exactly when this is. She needn't worry about it being missed though, last year we all made a right fuss of her, which is only right as she is still only young. 

Take care

Pip xxx

Stormy weather

What a day...wind and rain first thing then bright sunshine this afternoon.  I had to think long and hard about going out this morning, but needs must. Suffice to say, I didn't stay out long and was soon back in front of the log burner...aaaaah loggy, my best winter friend.

We have had some good news today though.  No, not my big film break yet - Pie, please take note you need to work a bit harder if you are my agent, and definitely you need to get downstairs in the morning.  You have been warned...payment of treats is definitely dependent on results.

No, todays good news was an oil delivery so the heating's going back on full power again.  Great.  You do get used to it you know.  When I was working every day I thought heating was just for softies...we were out every day and if we wanted to warm up we moved a bit faster.  But now I've learnt something from Skye, and me and the heating are getting well acquainted.  I have to pull rank occasionally to get the best spot, but I'm a canny devil (even if I say so myself) and you'd have to get up pretty early to get the better of me (and certainly much earlier than the terrier twins who won't see two 10 o'clocks today...)

The puppy says she's heard on the TV that this bad weather has come from America, 'wherever that is' (she's not very good on geography yet).  She says they got snow with it and is sure we will too, which has upset Skye.  She hates snow (amongst many, many other things) and is now blaming the puppy for the weather...talk about shooting the messenger.

Never mind, I've cheered the pup up by letting her get a good spot by loggy, and it doesn't look much like snow to me so I think even Skye will be happy soon.  It seems as though we're all going stir crazy, every day the house gets a bit madder and my days working out in the cold work seem more attractive by the minute.

Take care

Pip xxx

Sheep in the front field...very annoying

Very strange...no phone calls yet, but not to worry, I've got much more important things on my mind at the moment.

Someone has moved sheep into the front field.  My front field.  But not my sheep.  No, not just ordinary sheep either, but great big chubby things that look like they might struggle to outrun Skye.  In fact, they don't look as if they'd give Daisy much of a run. It's just not fair having them just pottering about like that wherever they please, munching away - they should be bunched up in a tight little group right over in the corner of the field, and I know just the person to make them...me.  Trouble is, I'm not getting out much these days, which was fine yesterday with the log burner roaring away but it's definitely not fine today.  

Time for a meeting of the escape committee which today consists of me and Pie (Pie sits on the committee every day, usually alone).  Today as usual there is only one agenda item, and Pie's solution is, as usual, wait till someone opens the back door and run like hell...consequences don't matter...live for the moment!  You know, maybe that mad little dog has got that right, I could be out gathering the chubby brutes in a flash.  But no, the trouble with being a collie is that having a brain allows you to think about the consequences, and the consequences are bad.  

So on balance the log burner probably isn't so bad - just as long as they don't start up with a lot of bleating.  Then I will be out, consequences or not, and puppy will be right behind me.

Now...I'm off to find Daisy, who's been looking after the phone

Take care

Pip xxx  

 

Fame comes knocking

We've made it onto the front page of the paper, me and the puppy.  It's a good photo of us.  Well to be truthful it's a good photo of me in 'sheep dog' mode, but I'm going to have a word with the puppy about that smile - it makes her look gormless. Also, I'm not sure why the house in the background is so prominent...surely you'd think the paper would have got a decent photographer in to take our picture and would have made sure we were in the middle, and maybe Mandy's friends aren't really required either.  

Anyway, Pie has appointed herself as my agent and says when all the calls come in she'll make sure we get a good deal.  She thinks a sequel to Lassie is the answer - we could 'lose' Daisy and Skye somewhere very dangerous and then rescue them...perhaps...but get very famous trying.  I've agreed Pie could have a small cameo role as well if she's well behaved.  She's not sure whether it's better to ask for snacks or money for starring in the film which is tricky, but I'm happier with snacks I think and the puppy will do as she's told.

So, now we just need to make sure we keep an eye on the phone and don't get too grubby.  I've told Pie to ask for somewhere warm for the filming - it was chilly lying in the snow..

Here's the picture...isn't it great?

Take care

Pip xxx