summer – Dexter

Another scorcher

As the summer ploughs on, the days become warmer more frequently and I become more languid and, maybe, lazier. I think I’m allowed to be lazy now that I am allegedly fifteen. In any case, our walks with the parentals have been made earlier and earlier, before the sun is too high and the warmth makes it uncomfortable for myself and my little pal, Lenny.

As it was this morning we were walked briefly across the field outside the front of our house. We were quickly turned around and headed back toward the house. Lenny and I knew what this meant and right on cue, the car was opened so we could be coerced into our travel crates. Along the lane, turn right, turn left, follow the road, through Ludlow, across the bridge, sharp right and then on to our destination of Mortimer Forest. We haven’t been here before so our attempts at trying to leap from the boot of the car into 2,500 acres were not greeted with too much appreciation from the parentals. Something was mumbled about two idiot beagles running around and not listening to commands.

We set off at a pace along the first path, through the cool trees and trying to keep under the cover of the tree canopy. The sun was rising swiftly and we wanted to try and see as much as we could in the time available. Once we had walked briskly around a circuitous route, we found ourselves coming toward a fellow beagle called Chester who was thirteen, off lead and well behaved. What was this sorcery? I fear this is the end game for Lenny and his “training”.

Sooner than we would have liked we found ourselves returned to the car, placed unceremoniously into our travel crates and headed home. Breakfast was of course served in the utility, after which Lenny and I took our leave to stroll over to a sofa each for rest and snoozing.

It’s too hot for an older chap like me, so I suppose I should be grateful I have a walk early morning so I can sniff at my leisure and not have to worry about overheating. We also tend to stay off roads and tarmac paths as these can heat up far too quickly for our pads which burn and become very sore. Whilst the hot weather continues, we will walk early and chill out for the rest of the day.

Lenny goes to Leonardslee

We were rudely awoken at some unearthly hour. The tree surgeons were outside to trim some trees and clearly we weren’t to be allowed to snooze.

Strangely we only went out on a fairly short walk and found ourselves returned swiftly to our breakfast. Soon after we witnessed the commotion of our parents being busy and getting the car ready for an unexpected jaunt. Into the car and along the road, turn right left and then we found ourselves being divested at somewhere we had never been to before. Welcome to Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens. Lenny and I looked at each other and hoped it would be as good as the day we spent at the Lost Gardens of Heligan a few weeks ago.

As we waited for dad to pay we announced ourselves to everyone in the reception area. Then it was into the gardens themselves. Two hundred and forty acres it said on the sign. What a playground we thought as Lenny and I looked at each other with glee. Along the path and down the hill, left then right, stroll along by one of the seven lakes and then we heard a wonderful phrase uttered.

This way to the Deer Park. Oh this was going to be fun! Wallabies are here too! The potential for shenanigans had doubled in the course of two short sentences. Sadly our parents had pre-empted our ability to want to be silly and the leads were shortened, we were told to walk closer and we had to behave. Lenny and I took no notice of any of this as we entered the Deer Park enclosure. We strolled along sniffing and trying to scent the deer which were clearly one step ahead of us and hiding. We left the Deer Park enclosure having not encountered any deer or wallaby. Not even a squirrel presented itself for our jollity.

Back into the main part of the Leonardslee and we strolled through the Camellias, beneath the Rhododendron and around the Hydrangeas. Wandering back up the hill we then walked left and right, up hill and down hill taking in all the sights and smells. Lenny seemed to be flagging so we stopped for some water and even managed to snag some biscuits. Then we found ourselves back on our paws and into the gardens.

Down the hill and around another of the lakes, we strolled along the East Path and then the West Path. There were a large number of very nice statues which were around the gardens and we looked at them, sometimes with wonder.

Lenny was slowing down again in the warm summer sun so it was decided for us that we would gently stroll back to the car and return home. We had barely left the car park and Lenny had curled up in his bed for the journey home.

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens are a good place to visit and very dog friendly. There is so much to explore that I think we will be going again to have more fun. We enjoyed it all.

And then there were four

Firstly I need to apologise if anyone has missed me during my absence. There is no single reason for me not being here so won’t try to excuse myself. I will bring you all up to date on things that have happened recently.

It started the same as any other Saturday morning on 10th June. One of the parents went off shopping and we went out for a quick bimble around the local lanes. It was warm, mighty warm and humid. So it was that we lazed around feeling listless whilst trying not to overdo anything.

Knock knock, aroo aroo. There was a commotion in the hallway and I found myself being attached to my harness and lead. Lenny and I were confined to a room whilst the visitors were allowed into my house. This wasn’t in the script for a Saturday. As we were released from our enforced captivity we found ourselves assailed by two fellow beagles who were accompanied by their parents. Smudgey and Ted beagles had arranged to come and visit us. It appears that we weren’t told about the impending visit.

Smudgey and Ted began immediately to investigate my house but I was kept on a lead as I couldn’t be trusted to behave myself correctly. Also I had a major operation earlier in the year and we didn’t want any relapses or injuries. We were allowed out in the garden to sniff and explore but it was so warm that none of us stayed out for too long. Then the parents started talking so we all decided to have a sleep. Suddenly we found ourselves rudely awakened as it was realised that the local paw paddock had been booked and they didn’t want to waste the chance to let us off for a run around. Off we went, under the road bridge, turn right, through the woods and then down the lane. Into view comes the paw paddock and we all anticipated a good run around with various shenanigans thrown into the mixture. The gates were closed behind us, we drank some water near the first gate and then entered the arena to await release.

Off the lead went Smudgey, Ted and Lenny but when I looked up at mum she told me, with her eyes, that I was too precious to be allowed off to be silly. We started to walk around the perimeter and I got to watch my furry brethren stroll about sniffing and exploring. It was mighty warm, and the shelter looked welcoming, as well as the bench in the middle of the paddock to give us all some welcome shade.

After forty minutes or so we strolled back to the pub and managed to snag a table outside so we could relax and listen to the parents chatter.

Back along the high street and we found ourselves at home where I was, finally, allowed off lead to have a good scent in my garden. I managed to stroll about for a while but then started to get too excited and was swiftly re-harnessed.

Smudgey and Ted told us they had to go somewhere else and we said our sad goodbyes. It was great to meet some new friends and have a lovely time showing them around our manor.

I know I have to be careful so I won’t be let off lead too often if we get visitors. All part of growing older I suppose.

Cissbury Ring ramble

I was going to ramble wordily around the houses as to what we did yesterday but the title gives it all away.

We allowed the parents a bit of a lie in as it was a Bank Holiday Sunday after all. Lenny and I had no idea what was happening until we turned out of our little road and went left along the old road. Sharply we were turned around and heading back to the house. Ok, so we weren’t going across the fields for a good scent of fox, rabbit and squirrel. Having ensured that we were lifted into our travel crates, we set off south along the main road. We scooted past our recent ascent of Chanctonbury and seemed to be on our way south. Surely we weren’t going to the beach. After listening to them grumbling about Lenny and I eating “dead stuff” on the previous occasions I wondered if they had relented and were going to give us another chance to visit the garden at all hours of the night for a few days. As I was wondering we turned left up a side road and into a gravel carpark. This was new and Lenny looked as bemused as me. As we leapt out and onto our paws we both looked up and up at a big hill in front of us and I could see the glint in Lenny’s eyes. We set off at a pace as Lenny decided he was going to scent his way along the path and dad was being pulled this way and that, as Lenny did a more than passable impression of a land shark through the long grass. Into the wood, then out and onto the next section of the hill.

Up the steep bank and we were greeted with a view back to Chanctonbury in one direction and the sea in the opposite.

See that clump of trees on the left? That’s our usual walk

This was fun as we could scent all sorts of creatures and we made sure that there wasn’t any laziness or strolling amongst the human fraternity. The walk seemed to be circular and we could see for miles. We went past runners, riders, walkers, other dogs and even other dogs with walkers. We got to the top of the hill, checked out the trig point and then started a descent and were abruptly halted as there were ponies in our way. Not that it mattered as we directed our parents along the path toward the little copse of trees and then out into the open where we overlooked Findon and Worthing.

It all seemed quite small and far away. I was puffing and panting like a steam train so we made sure to stop a few times to top up on water. Then I heard the worst words a beagle can hear, “I think thats enough excitement for one day for a senior beagle. I think if he keeps on going at this rate, he’s going to do himself another injury”. And with that the fun was over. We retraced our path and descended to the car park, albeit via slightly different route so we could get some final sniffs.

Within two minutes of being in the car we were both snoozing in our travel crates and we returned home for breakfast. Our fun was finished. We slept and dreamed of more shenanigans to come.

Sad yet hopeful – part the first.

I know many people do a review of the year passing or passed. Where shall I start without using the C word? Ok, I shall take this month by month and try to explain why this year, which will pass into history very soon, was seemingly one to forget but also contained some little gems.

January.

It’s on its way everyone. 2020 was starting on a chilly and cool note although January was surprisingly dry for us in Chesham, where it is usually soggy, drizzly and really rather damp. Lenny is getting used to the incessant photography, however he has yet to master the art of the silly grin. I’m working on him so please bear with us.

February.

It’s arrived although not yet in huge numbers which we will soon suffer. Raffa went to the Rainbow Bridge and many, many people were very upset at the loss of a fine and wonderful friend. The days were getting a bit longer, the mornings were misty and made Lenny look thoughtful. I spent much of the first few weeks wondering why pals aren’t here any more, why we have to go to the Rainbow Bridge and generally having a good think to myself.

March.

It’s here. Just before the quarantine took place fully I had the chance to travel briefly into London. I was intent on finishing the postcard for Raffa. She had missed the Beefeater and I thought it was only right that I get the picture for her. Then it struck and we were all locked away for a while. People panic bought toilet roll, bleach and pasta (I do not need that recipe) and we made sure we didnt make contact with anyone in the hope that this might slow down the transmission rate.

April.

Flowers bloomed in my garden. Lenny and I helped to water them as the sun grew warmer and the colours burst back to life. Out of quarantine at the end of April but it made no difference. We were living like hermits and avoiding as much contact with other people as possible.

May.

Now it was beginning to get a bit boring. We still got our walks. We still got to arooo in the garden. We still got to chase each other around the garden playing bitey face. However we were a little restricted on where we could go for walks outside the garden. Fortunately we were able to walk in places that not many others knew about so we often had the lanes to ourselves.

June.

We were still under restrictions so had to behave ourselves in and out of the garden. It had the advantage though of showing Lenny that I didn’t want to be bitten all the time and often it was nice to just chill out instead of running at 100 mph around the garden. We became more accommodating of one another as the restrictions wore on. It got warm and we became lazy or lazier depending on who you listen to. Early in the month we learned that another friend, Gracie, also passed to the Rainbow Bridge. This was another time for sadness and reflection as she was a good friend.

Here ends todays missive. The final part will be published soon. I am not sure if the year got any better to be honest. However you’ll just have to wait to find out.