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

Pups away

It seems like only yesterday that I heard I had eight new siblings, but the time has now come for them to pitter-patter off to their forever homes. I'm not sure how my human friends managed to resist, but I'm still an only child. Although there is still one likely candidate - who looks a lot like I did as a pup (not quite as good looking obviously). So I don't think he'll be available for very long.

2012 boy model

2010 me model

I know I've got model looks, but I don't have the diva attitude. You can keep your money; I'll happily get out for bed in the morning for a good walk or a bowl of tripe and biscuits.





Anyway, I guess posing must run in the family judging from these two.

Auditioning for McCartney's remix of Ebony and Ivory

So it's goodbye for now to my furry family, although I may bump into a few of the locals when I'm out and about.

I'm warning them now though - if I see you down by the river - stay away from my hydroplane (best toy EVER).

I love a bit of Ruff