Runaway Baby

Young pretender to the Alphapet throne, Archie Smart, turned six months this weekend. And how did he celebrate this auspicious occasion? Took off on a jaunt around the countryside and disappeared without trace for two whole days.

Six months old, me. So there!

Well - my human friends were frantic. Called at all the neighbours' houses, searched the farm next door, walked up and down the fields, through the woods, along the road. You name a part of the countryside, and they searched it. Well, didn't worry me. I quite enjoyed being able to stretch out in front of the fire on my own for a change.

Looks like a snuggle, but he's hogging the fire actually

Then just as suddenly as he disappeared - he was back. Just turned up on the doorstep. Just like that. None the worse for wear. A little scratch on his face the only clue as to his two nights on the tiles. I bet he's glad he came back when he did cos we've had nothing but wind and rain since.

Relaxing in the sink after his big adventure.

There's been lots of speculation as to why he disappeared. One theory is that something he was hunting took off, he gave chase and lost his bearings. The other theory involves lady cats, tom cat hormones and an operation that he is now booked in for.

Ahhh. Poor Archie. If only he'd known the consequences of his actions.

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Summer's time

Well. What can I say. Summer will be officially over tomorrow and summer's time will be well and truly up. The last few days have been brilliant with wall to wall sunshine. Evenings bring a chill in the air though, and the fire has been lit for several nights running. That new-kit-on-the-block, Archie Smart, has been trying to nick my warm spot in front of the fire. But I'm not giving in.

There were two in the bed and the little one said...

The trees are getting a definite autumnal look about them and, although the nights will draw in and the days will become colder, the trees will look stunning in their coats of many colours. Albert Camus (who?) got it right when he said 'Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower'

Going over to the dark side - eventually

It's this time of year when the farmers are mega busy getting in the harvest, which makes for some spectacular scenery.

View across to Blairdrummond Safari Park

Back at Alphapet Towers we have been busy with our own harvest... Combining our best products, baling some of the older ones and cultivating lots of shiny new ones. Including these stylish cat collars, lovingly chosen by the ginger ninja, Archie. Coming very, very soon.

We were even at a trade show when we could have been welcoming the brilliant Andy Murray back to Dunblane. The sacrifices we make for our customers eh? Ah well. We might bump into him or his Mum at M&S...

Well, that's all the news for now. Must go and herd my toys. Can't bear to see them scattered all over the garden. OCD? Moi?

A tidy garden = a tidy mind. Nuff said.

L8rs bloggettes. Mwah!

Gold post

What about the Olympics?!  A-maz-ing or what? I'm not usually one for sitting in front of the TV and watching people trying to hop, skip and jump faster and higher than me, but I have to admit I found all those exertions compulsive viewing and barked myself silly (OK, silly-er then). 

From a purely selfish point of view, Andy Murray winning gold in the tennis was the highlight for me. Well, he's from my neighbouring city of Dunblane so I got to visit the Royal Mail post box that had been painted gold in his honour. Wowzah!

The Paralympics start tomorrow (Wednesday), so let's hope there's another gold post box coming to the Stirling area.

And I thought post boxes were just for peeing on...

I think new-kit-on-the-block, Archie Smart, was inspired by our medal winning equestrian team. So inspired that he attempted some dressage moves on poor Max - who was not amused.

Do I look like an 'orse?

It's only been a few weeks now since Archie Smart landed at Alphapet Towers, but it seems like he's been here FOREVER.

Butter wouldn't melt

He's even got Teddy-cat running away from him now but he's got a LOT of growing to do before he'll be a match for me.

I like to live life on the hedge...

So, that's all for now. Gotta go and help unpack our new stock of bone shaped dog bowls. Hmmm. Like the look of them. Wonder if I could acquire one for myself....

Also available in red, pink and white

Olympic hopeful

I has been inspired by the Olympic torch relay, that I witnessed last month to do a bit of Olympian training myself.

On your marks...

Not for running up and down the street applauded by hoards of admiring spectators - I do that every day. No, this is for two new categories of Olympic competition, strictly for us canines, namely; frisbee and hydroplaning.

Got it!

Now, regular bloggettes will know that the Hydroplane and the HoverCraft are my favourite toys (and human friend's too, cos they've lasted so long - at least a whole year - and are, therefore, 'value for money'). So I've had lots of training and am definitely Gold material.

Hovercraft

Suffice to say, I has been training hard all year for these events and can honestly say, paw on heart, that I am the best I have ever seen. Well, OK. I haven't actually seen any of my other four-legged friends actually performing the same tricks, but that's just semantics.

 So listen up Lord Coe and co. I'm Olympic ready and panting for that gold medal. Bring it on!

Take me to the river...

 

The tail of three kitties (and a dog)

Oooh! Mega excitement here at Alphapet Towers this month with the arrival of Archie Smart - a mini-version of Teddycat.

A bit of a scaredy kit...

Of course, I had already met Archie at the farm where he was born so he was kinda used to seeing me. He had six brothers and sisters, but he was the only ginger tom - as you can see.

There's one missing, but am I bovvered?

Max and Teddycat weren't too impressed and there were quite a few warning hisses going on.

 

Is that what I'm gonna look like when I grow up?

Anyway, little Archie didn't let his (un)welcoming committee trouble him and by the end of the week he was running about, sleeping on my bed, giving Max's tail some grief and sneaking out the back door.

Oi! Are you listening to me?

Blimey! Teddycat must've shrunk in the rain.

Well, he smells like a cat...

It's not easy keeping up with Max

Anyway, I was bored by day three cos it's not easy trying to chase Archie when he keeps going under the sofa. So I had a little excursion to see my Mum and a couple of my siblings (this year's models).

I've got a bigger tongue than you lot..

(I'm wearing my Ruffwear Hoopie collar in red currant.)

Then it was back home to the day job. Yowzah!

I'm wearing my Spencer Corduroy Collar

Groomin' brilliant!

Well this week I has been mostly getting myself looking beautiful, (well - more beautiful), with another visit to my stylist, Jennifer Brennan at Doggy Dooz Grooming. At least this time I knew what to expect and didn't mind human friend taking photos of me at various stages of my titivation.

How can she possibly improve on this look?

Human friend was horrified when Jen pointed out that my lugs needed a good clean. 'So that's why she hasn't been able to hear me very well,' she said. Ha ha. It's actually selective hearing. You know - 'would you like to go for a walk' no problem hearing that one. 'Leave that alone' however, doesn't seem to make its way down the ear canal. Anyway, human friend even took a picture of one of the offending ears. Yuck! (Viewers of a nervous disposition look away now.)

 

Do not try this at home...

Feels really good having all that gunk hoiked out though. Then it was into the bath for a good scrubbing with the seaweed shampoo.

Errr. Are you sure I need a wash?

See. I told you I wasn't fat!

 Then a quick rub down with a fluffy towel and on to the drying table to meet the hand held and super-sized floor standing dryers.

Seconds away, round five

Oi! What you doin' back there?

I had a shorter haircut this time, which I think really suits me. Well, it will keep me much cooler in the hot weather (if we ever get any).

Ooh. Suits you!

Gotta keep looking good when you're a top model like what I am. Although I did get a bit worried when human friend showed me some of our new stock. Luckily, it was too small for me. Anyway, I'm not a pink kinda girl...

Loveshack dog harness and matching lead

Carrying the Torch

Wowzah! Today was an historical day. Me and human friend went to Dunblane to see the Olympic torch bearer doing his thang.

Nice paintwork

 Dunblane's finest turned out to see torchbearer, Colin Keough, leg it around this cathedral city on what turned out to be a fine, sunny day. (Personally, I was hoping to see one of the better known locals, Andy Murray. But, apparently, he's off somewhere trying to win a tournament.)

Torchbearers wear white. Photographer wears camera equipment.

 We had a great time watching all the lorries, cars, police outriders, photographers, film crews, security guys 'n' gals, sundry Olympic event employees and some of the local population (which, I think, is less than the Olympic entourage) vying for space along the narrow high street.

Only quality ve-hi-cles for the Olympian crew don't ya know

Anyone got a light?

And we're off...

Up and running. With a wave for the cameras.

Colin Keough carried it all off with dignity and pride and even gave us a little wave as he passed by. 

Come in number 032. We need a light for the barbie.

Didn't know there were 'orses among the entourage...

Me and human friend enjoyed every minute (probably about five in total), and spent a good few hours after discussing the finer points of the event. (From the ladies' point of view it seemed to mostly involve 'hunky police officers'.)

I've got my eye on youse

 Then it was back to the day job...

Top model for AlphapetOnline

Life's a Beech

Even though it's been brass monkeys here in Scotland, Spring continues its advance: albeit, very slowly. During one of my patrols around the garden today I noticed the Beech hedge starting to turn green. Wowzahs! That is surely a sign that temperatures are due to rise (and not in the biblical sense).

Can't keep a good hedge brown

This does mean that human friend will be trundling up and down the garden with the lawn mower, gwappling thwough the undagwoth with the shears, and filling the holes where I bury my tripe sticks (spoilsport). There are a few areas of the garden, however, that are 'wildlife' havens ie untouched by human hand or machine and great for me and the cats to hide out in.

I can run, but I can't hide

There is a cloud on my botanical horizon though, after an episode of 'The One Show' revealed an interloper in the bluebell wood. Apparently the Spanish bluebell could turn out to be the grey squirrel of the forest floor. Ay Dios mio! Well, I can honestly say I've had my nose to the ground and can report that we only have the native variety around these parts; recognisable by their 'bell' shaped flowers and lovely scent. (The flowers on the Spanish version are more star-shaped. Surely Bluestars then...)

Bluebells going native

Anyway, I think I should take a leaf out of Teddy's book and be a bit more relaxed about these things. Stop tearing around all over the shop like a canine vigilante.

Go away...

Starting right now. I'm off for a siesta. Oh no. That reminds me. Need to go on Bluebell patrol again. Uno, dos, tres...

Tails on the riverbank

This weekend I has mostly been appreciating the immense beautification of the Doune river walk (or Doune by the river as we like to hilariously call it). Well, my human friend has and I has been mostly jumping in and out of the river. Yowzah!

Swimming with my favourite Hydroplane. Never go in the river without it!

Spring has been sprunging all around us and human friend has been snapping all the spring-like moments on our river-bank walk.

Wild flowers looking pretty tame to me

The river Teith

Darling buds of May

Doune Castle (Undiscovered Scotland.co.uk) where the walk began

For those of you who don't know, Doune castle is famous as the film location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail where it appeared as Camelot, the Castle of Guy de Lombard; Swamp Castle; and Castle Anthrax. No. Me neither. Bit before my time.

Anyway, it was a glorious day and a wonderful walk, so instead of a picture of me, I'd like to close with a poetic quote. 'Til the next time blogettes. Mwah!

'Is the spring coming?' he said. 'What is it like?...'

'It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...'

Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden