Life – Page 2

I was fifteen on Sunday

I appear to have had something called a birthday last Sunday. I am told that I was fifteen years old which, in human years, makes me quite ancient, a little dusty and somewhat crumbly. Of course, being a stray, orphan or rejected fur, no one really knows when my actual birthday was so I am happy to get some sort of celebration.

As a result of my birthday I was loaded into my car prison cell and transported to an unknown destination. I was promised fun, plenty of shenanigans and plenty of belly rubs, head scritches and ear ruffles. Lenny came along for the ride and we looked quizzically at each other when loaded into the car. Down the lane, turn right, turn right again, follow the road for miles and miles and miles, turn left, turn right, drive along a motorway and then turn left along a narrow road. We could smell something familiar but couldn’t quite put our paw on what it may have been. As soon as we had parked up and the boot was opened we saw the most welcoming face of Sasha beagle who greeted us in typical fashion. This seemed to make a few people in the vicinity smile and laugh. Out of the car and onto our paws. Welcome to the Wirral Way the sign said. We had arrived at a place called Thurstaston and it looked really nice.

Once the humans had got their greetings completed, we led the way along the gravel path. I was immediately accused of pulling like a steam train and told to slow down due to me being of advanced years. I took no notice as we strolled along the path all the while avoiding the joggers, cyclists and other walkers coming toward us. After a while we turned right and headed along a small lane toward the river Dee. As we wandered out onto the beach I could see Wales on the opposite shore and I felt happy to see the land of my birth. Along the sandy beach we strolled (read pulled like a steam train). Lenny and Sasha walked nicely and they were very politely walking alongside each other, when Sasha wasn’t running ahead and having a lovely time.

Along the beach we went, sniffing and trying to eat any dead washed up sea creatures, all the while being watched by the parentals who were trying to ruin our fun. Up the steps and back toward the cafe. We knew what was coming next as the question was asked “Ice cream anyone?”. Us furs didn’t get any delicious looking ice cream. We had to sit and be good whilst the humans ate their delicious looking ice creams. After a while we were moved along again and found ourselves being loaded back into our travel crates for the return journey. We said our sad goodbyes and we really hope to see Sasha again soon.

We arrived home and were, for some reason, really rather tired. We managed to sleep until at least our evening dinner, which was a miracle for me, apparently. What a great day, in a lovely place, with brilliant weather and an ace way to celebrate my birthday. I am a very, very lucky lad.

There is life beyond Ludlow

As we yawned and stretched this morning we had no idea of the impending shenanigans we were about to perform. It started like most other Friday mornings and we strolled around the house trying to wake ourselves up to face the day to come. Somewhat strangely we were allowed out into the garden without being shackled to a parental. Lenny and I took the opportunity to scent the grass, eat the gifts left to us by visiting rabbits and get huge eye rolling from our watching staff. We then had a small breakfast and found ourselves each being strapped to a parent. We never made it past the car despite our efforts at trying to reach the field in front of our house. Duly loaded into our travel crates, we were taken down the lane, right, left, along the road for a good distance and then right, left, bear right, turn right and parked.

We had arrived at what I can only describe as a stately home in somewhere called Herefordshire. This was south of our previous southern travels and we had even crossed the county borders and, what’s more, we didn’t need our passports. As we leapt from the car we looked up to see a kind lady coming toward us saying “Welcome to Croft Castle, is this your first visit?”.. Lenny and I told her it was but we were told to sshh by our respective parentals. We went through the big archway in the wall and off we wandered (read pulled, puffed and strained on our harnesses) finding ourselves quickly in a very pretty walled garden full of flowers that Lenny clearly decided needed to be watered.

Once we had explored the walled garden we strolled along to, I think, the main house where the posh people used to live. There was a lovely view away to the south of the house the grounds swept down to a big lake.

We started to walk toward the lake but there were far too many sheep snacks lying about and we were quickly turned around. This was to become a bit of a theme unfortunately. Back past the house and along a small footpath we went, turning left at the end and through the gate. We were going to follow a “green” route which was deemed flat and easy to walk around. This was going to be fun thought Lenny and I at the same time. As we strolled along the fruit trees were protected by barriers and we assumed this was due to deer eating the bark. This was not the case as we saw the cows loom into view and our respective leads got severely shortened. Now I am afraid to admit that I have “history” with our bovine pals so as soon as they started to walk toward the people in front of us, it was deemed too dangerous for me to be walked amongst them. I would point out that I had already started to whine and whimper in anticipation of meeting some ruminants. Again we were hastily turned around and followed another path, this time through an outdoor play and discovery area for children to learn about nature and the environment.

Far too soon we found ourselves back in the vicinity of the car and our ride home from a morning of fun. Having arrived home we were pleased to see that our second breakfast was provided.

Croft Castle looks like a good place to visit. There are many walks through woods, fields, around lakes and up or down hills. Off track walks are mixed with strolls along gravel paths, there is plenty to see and do so I think we will return soon. Whether we will be mixing it with the cows, that’s another question entirely. Dogs are allowed in the majority of the grounds and the cafe, apart from the bit where the parentals pay for things. The big house is also off limits for us dogs which is fine as there are plenty of outside sniffs to keep us amused.

Apparently Beagle wrangling is a thing

I had no idea, I really didn’t. However we have had two exciting walks in two days and now my assistant has one arm longer than the other.

There we were yesterday as I woke up the assistants by being ill on the carpet. I had been worried by something on Wednesday and it affected me. It’s happened before and will probably happen again. I am a somewhat sensitive fella who is unable to relax, according to local sources.

In any case, Lenny and I were taken out onto the field in front of the house yesterday for a quick stroll about. We had seen car keys going into pockets which gave us the clue that we were soon to be exploring further afield. As we came back toward the house we found ourselves loaded into our travel crates and off down the lane we went. Turn right, then left, follow the road, off the slip road, over the road bumps and then right along a lane that a mouse would struggle to navigate but, somehow, we managed it in the car. We parked, the boot was opened and we let anyone who was in earshot, in Ludlow, know that we had arrived. Out and along the lane we went, toward the piggery. It should be noted at this juncture that there were a large number of puddles, muddy field entrances, muddy puddles and “field food” kindly left by the local wildlife. Lenny and I set about grazing on the snacks and our assistants set out trying to stop us. I was also trying to navigate through the dirtiest of the puddles whilst Lenny tried to avoid them. This was a battle of wills eventually won by the assistants who turned us around before we actually arrived at the piggery. This was very disappointing as we spied many, many snacks that we would have enjoyed very much. As a result of our disappointment I made it my job to try and get as filthy as possible on the return journey to Ludlow whilst Lenny made it his job to circumnavigate as many puddles as possible. He got praised, for some reason. I don’t think he’s a beagle sometimes. Anyway, we walked past the car and turned up the hill by the castle and then through the town where there was a very interesting craft market taking place. We strolled, investigated shop doorways and strolled some more until Lenny and I realised that our stomach alarm clocks were ringing very loudly. It was two hours past breakfast and this error had to be rectified. We encouraged our assistants to return to the car by trying to pull them back down the steep hill which, in turn, caused much grumbling from the top end of the leads. Having returned home we had breakfast and settled down for the rest of the day. Due to beagle wrangling there were no pictures of our shenanigans so you’ll have to take my word for our escapades.

Onto this morning and there was no strolling past the car. We were let out into the garden to run around like a couple of fools. We didn’t let anyone down. Duly harnessed up we were loaded again into the car for another adventure. I looked at Lenny who looked at me. Nope, no idea what was going on but two adventures in two days? We aren’t going to complain (too much). Down the lane, turn right, right again for about seven miles, left, across the crossroads and park. We had arrived in Church Stretton at the base camp of the Long Mynd. Unloaded from the boot we proceeded to try and pull our assistants whilst forgetting that we are connected to them and they are stronger than us. Through the gate and up the hill we went. The road snaked to the left, the sheep looked down at us from the bankside and we tried not to look at the sheer drop into Carding Mill Valley. As we climbed further we were back out into the sunshine and the views stretched away for miles both in front and behind us. Past Snailbeach and onward we went.

Past the Ratlinghope road sign and we could see the hill cresting in the distance. Lenny was beginning to flag now so I pushed on regardless. He has no stamina that brother of mine. We got to the next ridge and looked over in Wales. The views were brilliant and we turned round to look back across the top of the hill we had just conquered.

Lenny had avoided walking in puddles on the way up but he seemed intent on walking through the puddles, bracken and grassy paths on the descent. I was in no mood to stop him as I was trying to drag my assistant up and down the grassy banks, whilst whimpering at the sheep and ponies, looking over the vertiginous drop into Carding Mill Valley and making sure that she got a full body workout whilst wrangling me.

Arriving back at the car we noticed our stomach alarm clocks going off again and this time it was over two hours since breakfast should have been served.

We arrived home and had to suffer the ignominy of having a wet wash and wipe down before we could tuck into our breakfast, albeit very late. A quick run around the house followed by a session of bitey face led to an allegation of us being a couple of idiots and we were told to go and find our beds. Lenny went off to one of my snoozing beds so we had more bitey face to sort out that difficulty. Eventually we were able to settle into a routine of snoozing, snoring and circling. A good day was had by all. Well, me and Lenny enjoyed it. So there it is, I learned that beagle wrangling is a thing. Who knew?

January ramblings

I’ve done it again. After my early January trip to the vet for my persistent ear infection, I have reverted to my thought process of considering nothing has happened that is worthy of publication. No doubt this will be judged by anyone who reads this blog as an effort at a catch up.

My ears seem to have become better in that I am not scratching them beyond the odd itch. I am still being watched constantly to ensure that I do not have any repeat trips to the vet. I suppose it’s for the best that I am surveilled permanently. The assistants seem pleased.

Snow came and went within the space of two days on 5th January so we enjoyed ourselves trying to eat as much snow as possible, which caused concern amongst the assistants that I was going to give myself an upset dietary system. Thankfully I managed to avoid the midnight trips to the garden accompanied by an adult.

The log burner has been running for a while now and it is lovely to toast our toes (metaphorically of course) once we have completed our walk and daily shenanigans. Lenny seems to have taken to the log burner quite easily, although I think it has shown his Cypriot heritage in that he also likes a blanket to snooze beneath.

His inability to keep his extremities under the blanket do correspond with being a beagle as I also seem to be unable to tuck myself in fully with all limbs duly withdrawn from the outside.

We took a stroll to Lady Halton near Ludlow and walked along the road and farm tracks for quite a way. The scenes in the bright morning January sunshine were a tonic for the normal cloudy, foggy days we seem to be having recently. We are promised that the gloom will lift so we will look forward to that happening.

In between times it has rained, been foggy, misty and generally drab. We have got wet and dirty and been washed more times that we would ordinarily care to be cleaned. Lenny has become champion at sleeping for extended periods of the day and I am happy to see that he is feeling so comfortable not only in the house, but in his own fur.

So there you have it, an update of rambling stuff which can either be read or not. However if you have got to this point, then you’ve read it and that’s two minutes of your life you’ll never get back. 😀

Back to the vet.

This is becoming a sadly recurring theme.

Apologies I nearly forgot, I should wish you all a Happy New Year for 2025 firstly.

For a first blog of the year I was hoping it would be a bit more upbeat and fun, however it seems that my ear problems have continued. After Christmas it was noticed that my ears were itchy and the eczema type problem had returned. Not wishing to take any chances with an infection getting worse I was carted off to the vet on New Years Eve so they could examine me. Having arrived I made my presence known to the kind ladies on reception and then galloped joyfully in to see the vet lady. She checked my ears, sniffed them and then put an otoscope into my ears. It felt like she was looking at my brain. I managed to ignore the parent who accompanied me and was making jokes about the light shining through from one ear to the other. It was confirmed that my condition had returned and I was given a different potion to be administered twice a day for a week or so.

Upon arriving home I was entombed once more in the Cone of Shame and strolled about wondering what was happening. The potion has been applied morning and evening now for a few days and my ears are cleaned regularly. One advantage of the potion is that it makes me feel deaf so I have an excellent excuse for not listening to the parents, apart from being called for breakfast, dinner and walks. I still fool around and try to start bitey face games with Lenny but it’s getting a bit much now, having to wear the Cone of Shame so regularly. I am allowed to sleep without wearing it although, to be honest, its quite comfy and keeps my face and ears warm.

I suppose the moral is that I am getting toward fifteen years old, I am going to have some issues and need to just get on with life. I have a home, beds, food, walks, tickles, a brother and pals who like me. It could be worse. I shall soldier on and, in the meantime, adventures need to be attended to.

What a cracker, second part

I would like to continue my run down of our year 2024. Lenny and I had so many fun things to do and see. Here are some of them and I apologise if I have left any out.

July

Lenny and I ensured that people behaved themselves whilst performing their civic duty at the polls. We managed not to mess about for around five to ten minutes.

We went for a climb up onto the hill at Flounders Folly and welcomed our friend River to our house. Griff came along to join in the fun too, which is always good.

Our fruit trees were starting to produce fruit which needed to grow further. We helped water them.

We were so tired after all our July exertions, we needed a lie down to recuperate.

August

The weather was warm and trips were planned. We went for a walk up to Wart Hill and we went almost into Wales when we visited Clun.

The Victoria Plums ripened on our tree and they were devoured greedily by our assistants.

We finished our month with a polite and quiet stroll around Town Brook on the Long Mynd which was great fun, if somewhat tiring for me.

September

The month started with Lenny needing to go to the vet for a blood test. They wanted to make sure he didn’t have a nasty disease so he had a blood sample taken. I felt sad for him but there was a lull in bitey face games for around 30 minutes.

We went to Llangollen to meet up with Sasha, Griff, Smudgey and Ted in the hope of going for an interesting walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Unfortunately Lenny kept on trying to get through the railings when we were high up so we turned around and strolled along the canal itself. It was lovely, despite being somewhat soggy under paws.

Lenny and I decided we would take the assistants for a walk from Bromfield to Ludlow but we had planned it badly as the cinnamon bun cafe wasn’t open. There was much disappointment all around.

It rained, rained some more and then poured down. The flood plain did its job thankfully and the river took the flood waters away.

October

The days became cooler and the mists began to rise more often, shrouding our area in a cloak of secrecy. Lenny needed the Fingerposts to be able to navigate some days.

It rained even more than it had done in September so the flood plain and river were called into action once more. It was like a giant duck pond.

The fields in the valley stretching away toward Bromfield and Ludlow became misty and mysterious. And muddy, very muddy.

November

We decided on a trip to Carding Mill Valley in early November, just to stretch our legs and explore a new place. It was great fun.

My ear trouble flared again so I was forced to go and see the nice vet ladies who looked after me admirably. They still made me wear the Cone of Shame though.

The sun was lowering in the sky but it still managed to shine over Norton Camp whilst I was out on my walk.

And then if rain wasn’t enough it decided to snow, turning our meadow into a snow filled playground for Lenny and I. We love the snow albeit it disappeared within a few days.

December

Just to prove our assistants wrong, we proved that we could snooze together without antagonising one another. Maybe it was a brief lull in shenanigans but it was a lull. We were being watched as my time in the Cone of Shame continued.

We met with Griff for a pre-Christmas stroll from Bromfield to Ludlow and this time the cinnamon bun cafe was open. We returned via a slightly longer and different route which gave us some lovely views over the hills.

Lenny got the chance to explore slightly off-piste on Christmas Eve and he dragged his handler up onto the top of the hill so he could survey all that we would like to wander across.

And to finish we had a Christmas morning walk up onto the top of the Long Mynd. It was a wonderful quiet stroll and we enjoyed ourselves very much.

To sum up then. Wow, what a year it has been for us. Moving home again (apparently it is the last time we are moving) and having some lovely places on our doorstep is a huge bonus. We are closer to one of our best buddies who is happy to show us the places we don’t yet know about, as well as accompany us to the places we do know of. We will explore further to see what else lies beyond our current horizons. One thing is for sure though, we will try our best to enjoy ourselves.

What a cracker

Not Christmas but the year in general for Lenny and I. Until I sat down a short time ago, I didn’t realise that we had packed so much into it. So here goes for a year in which we moved house, got a new house, lost dear friends, gained new acquaintances, found new places, left old areas, when it rained, rained some more, was sunny and our fruit trees were prolific. All the time we were surrounded by love and friendship despite having a few vet visits thrown in for good (or bad) measure. First part of the review will be today and the second part tomorrow.

January

It all started so badly when a great friend to so many made his way over the rainbow bridge. Our wonderful pal Hamish told his mum that he was ready and she took the bravest decision to allow him to run free.

Beyond the sadness of his passing we realised that we still had shenanigans to perform. Lenny and I took our cue from one another and continued the long tradition of silliness.

February

We knew something was afoot as there was far too much activity in the house that didn’t involve this “work” thing that we are continually told about. Lenny hid in his cave bed and we enjoyed the sun when it finally showed itself.

March

The day arrived mid way through the month when we found ourselves standing in an empty house as all our belongings had been packed and stolen by removals men. Lenny and I were transported to another house, hours away up the motorway amid much huffing and puffing from the driver.

We started to explore our new manor and we found Ludlow too. Lenny was still intent on being silly.

April

We had a visitor from the US who bought us gifts. We played nicely of course, as you would expect from well behaved beagles.

We explored more whilst the sun was out and the area became greener and warmer.

May

May arrived and we were finding our paws more. We went out with our neighbour and extremely good pal Griff who showed us some of the local sights.

Our fruit trees started to show signs of life and then we had a visitor all the way from Yorkshire. Hector came to see us and brought his parents. We weren’t allowed in the garden due to his bad paw but we still had a chat.

June

June started with Lenny and I being taken on a long walk around a place called Wart Hill via a hamlet called Cheney Longville. Apparently it’s in the Domesday Book. We were tired afterwards for ages, so we think it was a cunning plan.

We explored at every chance we could get and it rained. Quite a bit. Which will become a recurring theme.

That’s it for the first half of the year. I am sure I have missed out some of the things we got up to and I apologise. There were so many things happened that it is too much for an old beagle to remember them all. Part two to follow.

Eleven years and counting

Today is the anniversary of my arrival in my rescue home. Eleven years ago I strolled into a house which had two people who would spend their days running around after me to make sure I remain comfortable, safe and loved. And fed of course, very important is the food aspect.

I have managed two house moves, welcomed a new brother and kept everything running smoothly for twelve Christmases now. Little wonder that I have aged and feel a bit wobblier on my paws. Will I make it to next Christmas? Who knows as I am fourteen after all. I am going to try and be around then. In the meantime I suppose I should thank my assistants for looking after me, as well as be grateful to Lenny for being a good pal and brother.

Gotcha Days as they are known in the canine rescue community are special days as we can finally get the chance to feel safer, have a roof over our heads, food in our bowls and be able to say

“I am home, this is good”.

Don’t scratch your ears they said

Having never taken much notice of my servants, I continued to ignore their requests for me to stop scratching my ears with my back paws. I argued that the ears in question were, after all, mine to do with as I wished. Sadly my scratching made my ears raw, they itched more and I scratched more.

So it was that a couple of weeks ago I was loaded into my travel crate and we set off for some exotic and far flung destination. I realised after a short time that Lenny wasn’t in the car with me and this could only mean one thing, that I was off to somewhere neither far flung or exotic. Duly arriving at the vet, I dismounted from my travel crate and found I was expected. The vet was pleased that I had my Cone of Shame already around my neck as this appeared to stop me scratching and making the ears worse. I was thoroughly checked, prodded and poked. Discharged with some new potions and lotions as well as recommendations to my mum I returned home where even Lenny looked at me like I was foolish to keep on scratching my ears without considering the veterinary consequences.

Fast forward a week or so and my life was still blighted by the Cone of Shame. When I had been released from its grip I had immediately started scratching again. So on the orders of the vet I was returned to their custody to be examined. This time however it was with my other parent. I knew I was in trouble as he would tell the vet everything that I had got up to. Right on cue my inner secrets were divulged and the vet gave me some serious side eye which I would have been quite proud of to be honest. The vet looked in my ear with her otoscope (is that not a great word for a beagle vocabulary) and I was told there was an infection which needed to be cleared up. And NO scratching, so the Cone of Shame was to stay in place. Once again I returned home to Lenny smirking at my alleged foolishness.

For the last week I have been captured once a day by my parents who have administered the drops to my ears so I can try to have a life without the Cone. The last two days or so I have been a “Cone free zone” albeit whilst being watched permanently by two humans and my younger brother (who’s not actually my brother but…). Don’t tell anyone however I feel free and I haven’t tried to scratch my ears as they don’t itch anywhere near as much. Whisper it quietly as it is hard to accept that my parents are right and I should listen to them. Maybe! 🤭

It’s snowing Lenny, get out of bed.

Yesterday was a dull, dank and dreary day. You know the type of day one where you regret getting out of bed let alone looking through the window to see the grey leaden skies which surrounded us. In any case we went to bed last night leaving the rain falling steadily.

Upon waking up this morning we bimbled downstairs as is our usual ritual, whereby I get some pre breakfast food and Lenny gets tricked into putting his harness on. It always works and he always falls for the ruse. I know I should tell him but, hey, it is fun to see him suffer the indignity of being trussed up against his will. Anyway back to our morning wander. As I stood having a drink I looked up, somewhat bleary eyed, expecting to see the garden wet and unappealing. The white stuff on the ground met my eyes and I was happy. It had snowed lightly and this meant that our walk would be fun, all the scents were closer to the surface and I would continue in my quest to try and get Lenny to eat yellow snow. As we made ready to go out on our morning patrol I was pulled to one side and noticed that there appeared to be a dog coat sitting on the drainer in the utility room. I smiled as I envisioned Lenny being placed within the coat and then felt my heart sink as it was put on me. Apparently it is cold outside, I am an older pup, it’s for my own good and I don’t look like a fool in it.

We made our way out of the house, walked slowly down the driveway in case it was slippery and then turned right into the field in from of the house. Lenny and I were quickly at the end of our respective leads, sniffing for treats hidden in the snow and trying to get as much snow on our noses as possible. We explored both sides of the path and then, once through the first gate, expected to continue our walk along the path. However we were gladdened to see that we were directed into the field to the left and alongside the river. Cue more pulling, huffing and puffing, along with associated shenanigans from the pair of us. Around the field, through the children’s playground and then back out into the field. We went through the deeper snow, around the bends of the river and then through the little line of trees back to where we had originally entered the field. It was here that Lenny and I stood quietly next to each other Lenny nose bumped me and we leapt, gazelle like, in opposite directions. We forgot that we are permanently harnessed to our staff so our bid to escape, and have fun, failed at the first hurdle.

We stopped opposite the church which backs onto the river so we could have a breather, and to allow one of our staff to readjust his harnessing equipment.

By this time our paws were getting a little chilly so we decided we would drag our respective staff back to home and, hopefully, extra treats for being so good on our walk.

Duly cleaned and dried off we ran around the house like a couple of possessed fools until we were warned that breakfast was not being provided until we behaved appropriately. This seemed to calm us down, as breakfast was served and we settled in for the day having had a lovely and fun walk this morning.

Now we just need the snow to freeze, become icy and then watch as our staff fall about all over the place on our walk tomorrow. I still haven’t got Lenny to try yellow snow. Hmmm.