MORE PRESENTS

Auntie Katy, Paul and Dawn (1) joined Uncle Pand and Dawn (2) with Nanna, Grandad and me of course for a present opening session. I spied several new "Tiggers" and lots of donkeys. As most of you know Grandad is a "Tigger Nut" and Uncle Pand is a great fan of donkeys (although not quite on the scale as the Tigger Nut !! Even Nanna got in on the act with more ducks to add to her growing flock.

We then all went to see Uncle Colin, Jan and Conor, Scott and Oliver to deliver even more presents and have something to eat with them.

SNOW WHITE

WINNING BROWNIE POINTS

Hello everyone its Dougal here again. Just to tell you that i've been earning brownie points again. Despite my indiscretion (running off) a short time ago Grandad took me for a walk to the BIG WOOD again one of my all time favourite places. Although I heard a few bangs I managed to keep going and concentrate especially as there were lots of rabbit holes for me to dig in. No rabbits though - still waiting.

Another good walk on Monday through the Driffield streets but we met lots of nice people and visited the pet shop where Grandad bought a whistle. Seems I respond quite well to it !! Also got three lamb chewy treats.

Everybody going to watch Dawn (1) in Panto tonight.

Oh yes nearly forgot Uncle Pando and Dawn (2) arrived last night.

AND SO HOME AGAIN

We travelled back fairly early on the Saturday after Boxing Day after Grandad had de frosted the car. Edinburgh suffered a -4 degrees overnight so the car was a bit iced up. However we were on our way just before 8am and headed for the A1 road which was very quiet. We managed a stop just before the Tyne Tunnel for sausage and egg muffins and coffee (a few biscuits for me) and a quick stroll about so I didn't get too stiff (and a quick wee wee here and there). So we arrived safely home again. Visited my own garden again and made sure our Xmas tree was damp !!!!!

BOXING DAY

Now the idea is that Nanna and Grandad take me for a walk with Martin and Mikey riding bikes along with us. Great idea. Half way Mikey says "i'm thirsty" so he and Nanna go back home and Martin and I carry on and they will catch us up. Still waiting Mikey. Martin and Grandad with Dougal carried on but Mikey gave up. No stamina. I did well as Grandad had already taken me out for an hour at 7.30am when it was still dark. And I found two rabbits but Grandad just managed to hang on to me although his right arm is now longer than his left. If only...............

We were joined before lunch by Auntie Karen's Mum and Dad and sister Claire, so Martin and Mikey had all grandparents at once which hasn't happened before. A very happy time for all and more presents for Martin and Mikey and even more football cards !!

FORTY WINKS FOR GRANDAD AND DOUGAL

Well what else do you do after a Christmas Dinner ??

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Auntie Karen and Uncle Simon prepared a wonderful Christmas Dinner for us all. We started with melon and palma ham followed by traditional turkey with all the trimmings. Even Dougal gets a bit of the turkey and I like turkey !! They both worked very hard and we all thanked them very much. Because there is so much to do at Xmas time it is good that it only comes round once a year !!

CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas Day arrived with lots of ripping paper and things flying everywhere. Uncle Simon has already written a lot about the boys so I wont repeat it all but the boys were very good, got lots and lots of new games and toys, CDs and DVDs, new Liverpool football tops and lots of everything but their favourite at the moment is "football cards" and they got lots and lots of them. Apparently there are 20 teams in a Premier League and each player has one of these cards so you can collect hundreds and put them all in an album. Very exciting - well the boys seem to think so. They should now have enough new "stuff" to keep them going until it all starts again next Xmas.

DOUGAL THE BLACK NOSED REINDEER

Well hello to everybody. I hope you all had a super Xmas. I went with Nanna and Grandad up to Scotland to see Martin and Mikey, Auntie Karen and Uncle Simon and although we were running a couple of hours late we arrived at about 5.30pm on Xmas Eve. Just before we got to the house Grandad changed into his Father Christmas outfit and I became one reindeer. Anyone passing us during those few minutes would have seen Grandad taking his trousers off by the side of the road !!! So we walked up to the house and got lots of waves en route as people spotted Santa with a black reindeer. The boys were very excited to see us and I got lots of hugs on arrival. We were just in time for dinner (or we were late and dinner waited for us). I got lots of presents including a new big bone as you can see in the picture.

MARIE CURIE SANTA'S GROTTO 2008

Nanna has completed her help with Santa's Grotto at Cranswick Garden Centre this afternoon which was the last day. There was a last minute rush with lots of boys and girls coming in to see Santa during the last half hour. There was a raffle as well and a "Guess where the Santa is" to win a large chocolate Santa Claus. It is hoped that with all their efforts over the last few weekends that they will raise a few hundred pounds for the charity. Stay tuned and I will bark the amount to you as soon as I know.

DOUGAL IN THE DOGGY DOGHOUSE

Guilty as charged. Left poor old Grandad a quarter of a mile away and headed back to the car. Heard a "little" bang and that was it. In my defence I say that it was those fireworks back in November that have done me cos I was fine before that. Now every time I hear a "bang" i'm off. Forgot poor old Grandad is managing on one and a half legs still. I also made the cardinal sin of running over a main road. Sentenced to all walks now on lead. Review at end of January.

EFFORTS HELP CHARITY

STOP PRESS NEWS. THE GIRLS RAISED £31.50 FROM THEIR CAROL SINGING WHICH HAS ALL BEEN DONATED TO MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE CHARITY. WELL DONE GIRLS

DAWN AND FRIENDS GO CAROL SINGING

Dawn and three of her friends from "Starstruck" go carol singing in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Relief. We will let you know how much they raised when the box is opened and independently counted and verified. Well done girls.

NANNA DOING HER SHUFFLES TAP

Nanna is the one with the two television aerials on her head !!!

WEATHER PICTURES

Grandad took several pictures of the red sky over Driffield last Sunday and sent a few into the BBC. They sometimes show viewers contributions but haven't seen any so far.

VERY BUSY WEEK THAT WAS

Well we have finally got rid of the snow and ice but it took a long time and definitely cost me walking time. We still have a lot of snow at a place called Garrowby which is a long steep hill on the main road to York. However the snow was replaced by a monsoon which lasted 24 hours. Garden under water again. Water water everywhere. Dawn was starring in her school Xmas play - she was a wise woman !! Nanna and Grandad said the show was very good. Then on Friday Dawn's Starstruck Theatre Group put on a singing show and once more Dawn made a good contribution. (They do their pantomime very soon). To round off the week we had both Nanna and Dawn starring in a Shuffles Dance Class "Showcase". Lots of tap dancing with the little ones doing some cheerleading. All very entertaining. It was Martin's 10th birthday last Friday but you can read all about that on Uncle Simon's blog http://simesstuff.blogspot.com/

After all the snow and ice Grandad took me to the beach earlier today. We're lucky really that the beach is only 10 miles away but the sea was a bit rough and there were lots of dogs about. Yes I chased around with a few. Found one that was chasing me in a big circle and then we changed over and I chased him. Got cream crackered a bit. Good fun for an hour or so. Must remember not to drink seawater - it has a sort of flushing out effect !! No comment. Hope you like the picture - only taken three hours ago

HUMAN HORROR PLACE

Hello folks it's your old mate Dougal here again. Haven't written for a few days but pleased to report that Grandad's visit to the Vet (sorry thats hospital in human language) was successful although he is still suffering from mild akneemea (dogs can't spell). Anyway they didn't find any horrors. He was not a happy bunny on Monday and Tuesday (will spare you the details but safe to say he had a season ticket to the toilet !!!) but seems reasonable now although still suffering with the on going sciatica. He's a bit of a wreck, unlike me thats been leaping about in the snow we've been having lately. Early winter. We live in the middle of the Yorkshire Wolds and we tend to get snow as we are at a slightly higher level. Some schools are closed today but Dawn's is open (though I think really she wanted it shut). You can see a picture of our house and the lying snow. It's supposed to stop anytime now then get warmer and brighter. Nana and Grandad are due to go to York tonight to watch "Blood Brothers" so they are hoping the weather improves. They have seen Blood Brothers at least a dozen times but always go when it comes around. They've also seen it several times in London, in Leeds, Scarborough , Hull and York. I wonder if they like it ??