25th July 2010 - Fording the River Stour...Dad Style!!

Mum took us down to the river again today. When we got there...big surprise...Dad was there too coz he'd decided that he wanted to go in the river too! Only trouble was he seemed to forget that going in the river meant he had to wear his swimmies...instead he'd put on all these funny clothes including big boots, gloves & a hat...silly Daddy...didn't he realise that water is wet!! Even weirder...he was riding on this thing called a motor bike...!! Anyhows, after Rio had had a few turns fetching a ball, Dad made the motor bike make big noises & then took it in the river...weirder & weirder! I was really worried that Dad might fall in the water coz he was wibbly, wobbly all over the place...I just had to follow him in case he needed rescuing! Luckily he didn't fall in coz I don't think I'd have been able to pick up him or the motor bike for that matter...coz I haven't got opposable thumbs!! Here's a Smilebox with videos of our antics:

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17th July 2010 - Dorset Charity Horse & Dog Show

Yesterday was yet another busy & exciting day for Rio & me...aren't we the lucky ones!!

Mum woke us up pretty early - 7 o'clock...yuk...doesn't she know that we both love our beds! She took us straight out for a walk in the woods behind our house - that was pretty cool as we managed to play with some dogs that we don't meet very often. After we'd had our breakfast it was into the car - I was a bit confused at this stage coz I usually have a bit of a nap after breakfast!! Anyhow's, Mum took us to some big fields not too far from home...there were LOADS & LOADS of other dogs there (& horses too!) including my vizzie mates Alf, Ellie, Sasha & Rufus plus my honorary vizzie mate Gem!

First of all we watched Sasha, Rufus & Gem do an agility competition...I was watching really closely to get some tips for when I do my first competition. They did SO well...all getting clear rounds &, guess what, Sasha was FIRST - way to go Sasha!! I would have liked to have a go but, coz I'm a big boy, I would've had to jump at full height whereas I'm still only jumping "medium" at my classes...oh well, another time!

Then it was time for Rio to have a new experience...

Mum had entered him for the "Open Puppy" pedigree class...his very first show! I was so nervous for him that I could hardly watch!!!!

It was a big class (about 18 other dogs including 2 vizzies that we hadn't met before) & Rio was near the back of the queue so he had a lot of waiting to do. Mum kept talking to him & getting him to "stand" to distract him from everything else that was going on. At last it was Rio's turn - Mum asked him to "stand" in front of the lady judge, which he did quite nicely (he didn't do too much "hokey cokey" with his back legs!!)...though I'm not sure why Mum kept holding on to his boy bits...she's a funny Mummy!!!! The lady judge looked in his eyes & at his lovely, new, white teeth, rubbed his ears, scratched his back & tummy, & felt all down his legs...I could put up with that!! Then she felt his boy bits too...weird or what?...though Rio didn't seem to mind...double-weird or what! Then Rio had to trot round in a sort of circle...he looked very handsome & so grown-up.

After the lady judge had stroked all the dogs she walked around a bit looking at all of them again. Then...oh I'm excited just thinking about it (!)...she pointed to six dogs & asked them to go towards her...RIO WAS ONE OF THE SIX! She looked at all the dogs again & then asked Rio to do a little trot - he did it beautifully...if I'd been a hooman I'd have cried with pride (hee, hee...I'm a poet & didn't know it!!)! The judge had one more look & then pointed to 3 dogs...guess what...RIO WAS ONE OF THE THREE!

The judge then handed out these rosette things...guess what...RIO WAS SECOND & got a lovely blue rosette...way to go bruv!! Mum n me were so proud particularly as the dog that came first (a Lowchen) was nearly 1 & had a very experienced handler Mummy!! When we got home, Mum gave us both a yummy lamb rib to celebrate!

Unfortunately we haven't got any pictures of Rio strutting his stuff in the ring but here are a couple that Mum took when we got home:

Rio having a well derserved rest!

Ah, handsome boy!

Yet more cuddles for Rio!

Last Sunday we all went on a fantastic New Forest walk that my mate Kodi's Mum & Dad (Paula & Stuart) organised - thank you very very much Aunty Paula & Uncle Stuart. It was a mini-whizz as there were 7 vizzies there...me, Rio & Kodi (obviously!) plus Indy & Alf came with Uncle Roger & Aunty Gail, and Ruby & Lexi came with their Mum & Dad (Aunty Jane & Uncle Paul). After our walk we all went back to Kodi's house & the hoomans had this thing called a BBQ...it smelt really good but, as usual, us vizzies had to make do with bones...not that I'm complaining as I LOVE my bones!!

However, I do have one complaint...my little bruv gets LOADS of cuddles (just look at the photos below!)...what about me folks...I like cuddles too!!

Rio & Uncle Stuart...who do you reckon looks more content?!

Rio snuggled up & asleep in Dad's arms!

14th July 2010 - Rio's in trouble!

Rio’s in disgrace…on our way back from a walk this evening, he decided to roll in the wettest, smelliest fox poo imaginable – it was not only all over his back but also all down his neck AND in his ears AND on his collar....yuk!

It gets worse...I managed to pull him off the stinking pile of fox c***p & put his lead on. What happens...he tries to roll again...so his lead is now covered in the stuff...double yuk!

It gets even worse...he then decides to shake so I get covered in it too...triple yuk is an understatement! BTW, Radar, at this stage, has decided, sensibly, to keep his distance!

We then get home & I open the stair-gate so that I can go upstairs to remove the offending clothing...what happens...he manages to fly by me & promptly jumps straight on our bed & ROLLS...I probably don't have to say anything else apart from the fact that the washing machine is now on!!

Here's the picture for you to "enjoy" of Rio's back…shame it isn’t smelly vision!!!!

Anyway, the end result was that he had to suffer the garden hose treatment (he was NOT impressed!) this was then followed by a Neem bath because he still smelt disgusting (believe it or not, I felt a bit guilty giving him a cold shower so the bath was warm...yes, I am beyond help!)!! Go on tell me how to stop him rolling in disgusting stuff...he's had more baths in 6 months than Radar's had in 3 years!

But his "mischief" didn't end there...

While I was putting my clothes, the sponges, towels, his collar & lead etc into the washing machine he decided to pull a load of poo bags down off the kitchen surface & tear them into a million pieces...luckily they were unused!

9th & 10th July 2010

Just a few pictures:

Radar, Dad & me at Fritham in the New Forest

Hey Dad, didn't Hilary Mantel win the Man Booker Prize? Will you read Wolf Hall to me please?

Ummm...it's ok I suppose!

Well maybe not!!!!

Rio swimming to Dad at Sandbanks

And then having a well deserved cuddle for being such a clever boy!!!

29th June to 8th July 2010 - Our Road Trip Holiday!

Radar & me have just got back from my very first proper holiday...whoopee...did we have fun...oh yes!!

Tuesday, 29th June

We left home just after lunchtime bones (!!)...you should have seen all the stuff that was packed into the car...luckily there was plenty of room for Radar n me in the back but I think Mum & Dad were a bit squashed up!

First we went to Cirencester to see Grandma Iris...I gave her loads of big cuddles & licks which she seemed to like!! Mum took us for a walk in the old Abbey grounds - we had great fun racing round the lake tho Radar n me got a bit scared when some swans hissed at us!!

Abbey grounds in Cirencester

After we'd had our dinner, we headed off to a town called Bewdley. We arrived there at about 7 o'clock in the evening...just in time to go & see some friends of Mum & Dad's called Geoff & Jenny - they live in this really cool house right by the river. After we'd had some more plays (including Radar escaping onto the cricket pitch behind the house...luckily no one was playing cricket!), drinks n stuff Dad said it was time to sort things out before bed. I thought we were going to sleep in the house but oh no...we were in for a brand new experience!! Dad drove us to a place called a "camp site"...I was really confused coz I couldn't see any houses or beds anywhere! Mum & Dad then put this thing called a "tent" up...it was a bit like my crate at home except that it had soft sides!!! It had one little room that we slept in together...very cosy...I snuggled up to Dad for most of the night!!!

Our crate for the night!!

Wednesday, 30th June

In the morning, after we'd had breakfast, it was back in the car again to go to more new places. This time we went to visit a friend called Nigel & his very pretty Collie/Jack Russell cross girly called Poppy. They live in an old farmhouse about 10 minutes drive from a town called Kendal, on the southern edge of the Lake District. The farm is actually in the middle of nowhere which meant Radar & me got to have some great walks on the Fells. Here's a few pictures so you get the idea of where we were:

Haygarth Farm

Radar looking very hot during one of our walks!! His tongue's almost as long as my tail!!

Here we are with Mum walking down the "road" towards the farm

Pretty isn't it?!

Not another house in sight!!

My handsome bruv standing in one of the meadows!!

We woz really lucky coz we got to stay the night at the farm but because Nigel is having to do loads of work on all the buildings there was nowhere for us to sleep in the main house so...guess what...we slept in a funny little shed called a "bothy"...here's a picture of it:

We had a really great time with Nigel & Poppy...here's a video of us dogs playing together. I think Mum thought I was getting a bit too amorous with Poppy (whoops...sorry...so rude!) but she was so nice & smelt yummy!!!

Thursday, 1st July

After breakfast we headed north once again...this time towards Scotland &, in particular, Edinburgh. We stayed with a friend of Mum & Dad's called Kathy...she's got this cute little boy called Lewis who we both loved playing with. Kathy lives really near a brilliant park called Holyrood Park...it's ENORMOUS so we were able to have some really great walks there. Here are a couple of photos of the park:

Friday, 2nd July

Today was really lovely & warm so Dad, Mum, Kathy, Lewis, Radar & me all went to a really big beach called Gullane, on the Firth of Forth.

Gullane Bay

I bet you can't guess what Radar & me did on the beach...yup, you're right...we did loads of swimming & digging...just for a change!! Here's a Smilebox with just some of our photos:

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Saturday, 3rd July

Mum & Dad went to something called a wedding today but we weren't allowed to go (SO unfair!!) so, instead, we spent the day with Kathy & Lewis...they took us for some great walks in Holyrood Park & spoilt us loads by giving us some yummy treats & chicken wings.

Sunday, 4th July

In the morning Mum & Dad took us for a walk to Arthur's Seat which is in the middle of Holyrood Park - Mum was a bit concerned that the walk would be too much for me coz I'm only little...she didn't have to worry..I managed no problem!! Here's a picture of Arthur's Seat followed by a bit of information about it that you might find interesting reading!!

"Arthur's Seat is the main peak of the group of hills which form most of Holyrood Park, a wild piece of highland landscape in the centre of the city of Edinburgh, about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. The hill rises above the city to a height of 251 m (823 ft), provides excellent panoramic views of the city, is quite easy to climb, and is a popular walk. Though it can be climbed from almost any direction, the easiest and simplest ascent is from the East, where a grassy slope rises above Dunsapie Loch.

Like the castle rock on which Edinburgh Castle is built, it was formed by an extinct volcano system of Carboniferous age (approximately 350 million years old), which was eroded by a glacier moving from west to east during the Quaternary (approximately the last two million years), exposing rocky crags to the west and leaving a tail of material swept to the east.[2] This is how the Salisbury Crags formed and became basalt cliffs between Arthur's Seat and the city centre. From some angles, Arthur's Seat resembles a lion couchant. Two of the several extinct vents make up the 'Lion's Head' and the 'Lion's Haunch'."

Monday, 5th July

Today we left Edinburgh & started our journey home but our holiday was definitely not over as we had a few more stops to make! Before we left though, Radar & me had a bit of quality time playing with Lewis...he's such a cute hooman!!

Radar enjoying a story!

Here's me listening to Lewis talking about his tiger!

Ah...so cute! Radar looks like he wants to give Lewis a morning lick...or it might be the marmite on the front of his pj's that attracts him!!

After we left Edinburgh we headed south to a place called Penrith in the Lake District. This time we were staying with Uncle Mike & Aunty Jayne (friends that Mum & Dad had met skiing) & their Springer called Milo. As soon as we arrived Mike took us out for a walk at a place called Beacon Hill...it was a great walk through woods & undergrowth...loads of new sniffs to smell!

Tuesday, 6th July

Today was very special coz, guess what, Radar & me did our first "Wainwright Walk"...you impressed yet?!

Uncle Mike (Aunty Jane had to go to work...boo, hoo) took Mum, Dad, Milo, Radar & me to walk "Latrigg" which is 1203' (about 367 metres) high & is near a very pretty town called Keswick. We basically walked to Keswick & back - on the way to Keswick we walked up to the top of Latrigg & on the way back (having had some lunch in Keswick) we walked along the disused railway next to the River Greta...which, of course, we got to swim in! Once again, Mum was a bit worried that the walk would be too much for me...she didn't need to worry...I managed really well & didn't have to do too much climbing! Here's a few things that Alfred Wainwright said about Latrigg that Mum particularly likes & thinks are appropriate:

"Latrigg: a small hill, an excellent viewpoint, a great favourite of local folk and visitors. Latrigg is pastoral and parkland in character, not rough fell, and the summit is the easiest of promenades, so that this is not a climb calling for old clothes and heavy boots: 'Sunday best' is quite appropriate dress."

"The River Greta flows along the southern base, occupying a wooded gorge of outstanding scenic beauty, appreciated best from the disused railway from Keswick to Threlkeld."

"The top of Latrigg is a grand place, especially for fellwalkers on the retired list: here they can recline for hours, recalling joyful days when they had energy enough to climb to the tops of all the mountains in view."

Here's a Smilebox with some of the pictures Dad took:

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Wednesday, 7th July

We stayed last night with Uncle Mike & Aunty Jane again but in the morning we had to say goodbye & head south again...I was very sad coz I really liked the Lake District...I'll have to try to persuade Dad to take us there again one day...I want to walk some more Wainwrights!!!!

We planned to stay at the camp site in Bewdley again tonight but we still had time to pop in to say "hi" to Nigel & have a quick play with Poppy on the way. Here's some photos of Poppy & me:

Isn't Poppy is pretty girl?!

Oh come on Pops...please, please play with me!!

Ok Poppy, you hide & I'll try to find you!!

After leaving Nigel & Poppy's place we drove (well Dad drove actually!!) to Bewdley & to the camp site where Mum & Dad set up the tent again for the night. Before bed, we went to see Geoff & Jenny again. Radar & me had a really good night's sleep in the tent...Radar decided he was going to put his duvet right next to Mum...I then cuddled up on top of Radar...I like this tent sleeping stuff!!!!

8th July 2010

In the morning, Dad took Radar & me for a walk next to the river...Mum stayed at the camp site so she could catch up with some sleep...apparently Radar & me kept her awake last night with our snoring!!!!

Then, after lunch, we set off again & I got the BIGGEST BESTEST surprise ever...you'll never guess where we went! We went to see my doggie Dad (Digby) & my hooman Granny Lynn & Grandad Roy...I was so excited to see them!! Granny Lynn wanted me to practice "standing" ready for the shows Mum's entered me for...I wasn't too keen as I'd been in the car for ages but I did manage to stand still long enough for Mum to take one reasonable photo of me!!! Here's a Smilebox of the pictures...plus there's a few of Dad & me getting to know each other!!

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At this stage I just want to apologise for my big bruv's behaviour while we were seeing Granny & Grandad...do you want to know what happened...I bet you do!! Granny Lynn breeds chickens & ducks...they walk round the garden all the time quite happily coz Granny's 4 vizzies are used to them - can you see where this is going...bet you can?!

Well...Radar was walking round the garden & met Granny's PRIZE cockerel...he followed him around for a bit & then decided he wanted to play...oh dear...not a good idea! Radar grabbed the cockerel by the tail feathers and.............the cockerel ran away leaving Radar with a mouth full of feathers. Luckily the cockerel was ok but Mum was mortified...I thought she was going to cry as she was REALLY embarrassed!!!! I think/hope Granny Lynn has forgiven her & Radar!

Well back to our holiday stuff...after we left Granny & Grandad we went to Cirencester to see Grandma Iris again...more licks for her!! Then it was home to Bournemouth - Radar & me were pretty sad that it was the end of our brilliant holiday but it was REALLY good to be home again.

Thanks Dad & Mum for a great time!

25th June 2010...more fun at Sandbanks dog beach!

Mum & Dad took us back to the dog beach at Sandbanks today...what fun we had swimming fetching the dummy & wubba from the water. Here's a few pictures of us doing what vizzies do best:

We just have to fetch the wubba together!!

Radar looking very elegant!!

Rio...the mini torpedo!!