Holidays, squatters and sad news

Yep I've been on my holidays again whilst my human went back to Blighty to check on our house and stock up on tea bags and chocolate.  I have noticed a distinct lack of custard creams in her suitcase this time but I'm not making a big deal of it as I'm on a diet.  At 9 years old I can't exactly claim the extra pounds are puppy fat, more like too many hot dogs and peanut butter covered biscuits - ahh the American dream.  I really have to start watching my weight as I don't get the exercise I used to do back home.  It's being on the lead all the time that does it.  Back home I used to run for miles, until my human was just a red faced dot in the distance.  Sometimes I'd run so far away I couldn't hear her bellowing at me to come back.  It's just not the same on a 10 foot lead.

My human came back with some sad news: Cindy, one of my doggie pals, has passed away.  She was only 8.  I think it was cancer or something like that.  Her last day was pretty special; playing ball with the little humans then quietly slipping away in her own bed.  Her house mate Bobby is now showing the new rescue 'sprolly' (Springer/Collie cross) the ropes.  Poor dog hasn't had the privileged upbringing I've had but he's got a really good home now and hopefully he'll come out of his shell a bit.  I'm looking forward to meeting him and his human: she makes the best liver cake ever.

As I said, I've been on holiday and had a great time.  Some of the Christmas crowd were back and it was a holiday this time, no puppy sitting.  I've had a wash and brush up and between you and me I'm looking pretty damn handsome.  I might need to start dying my fur soon as there is an awful lot of grey showing through - at what point do you go from distinguished to old?

Can you believe it, squatters have moved into our apartment whilst I was away?  A young feathered couple have made a nest in the air duct from the bathroom.  I haven't seen them yet but they don't half make a racquet at sunrise.  It's quite nice having a bit of company during the day.  I wonder if I'll be an honorary uncle when they have chicks?
  

Armchair sports fan

The incredible dog challenge was on TV this morning.  It's like the doggie olympics sponsored by a well known dog food company.  As expected the collies were top dogs on the agility course but the Labs triumphed in the diving.  Yeah, honestly doggie diving!  No, not with scuba gear, it's where a human throws your favourite toy into a pool and you run and dive in after it.   The dog with the furthest jump (measured to his nose) is the winner.  It was ace.  The top athletes were jumping over 20 feet. I tell you if I were 5 years younger, and not quite so scared of water, I'd have a go at it.  The Jack Russell hurdles was nothing short of hilarious and the agility of the flying disc competitors made my joins hurt just watching it.

Take a look at the diving dogs (Click here)  (you might want to skip the ads)

Roller derby

I was almost mown down yesterday by a woman on roller blades pushing a pram, closely followed by a man carrying shopping bags - also on roller blades.  It was like being in a tampax advert!