MAN RUNS AWAY FROM DOUGAL

Grandad and I were doing the canal walk yesterday nearly finished and I spotted this man walking toward us. Now I struck up my usual pose down on all fours and waited then ran towards him as per usual. He turned and ran away but I caught him and rounded him up as my sheepdog instincts tell me to do. He seemed scared, thought I was going to bite him. No chance. Grandad was shouting at him not to worry but when we got to him he said he didn't know what to expect. Has he never seen a dog before ??? Anyone can see i'm a real friendly boy.

BRONSON

Bronson is based on actual events and is about a British thug and troublemaker who somehow earned the title of Britain's most violent prisoner and who has been incarcerated for 36 years, 30 of which have been in solitary. The film is raw and violent. Rated 6/10

TWO MORE FILMS SEEN

Doubt rated 9.5/10. An excellent film starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman is set in 1964 and centres on a Nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a student. Nominated for 5 Oscars so it must be good and it was.

The Damned United looks at Brian Clough's 44 day reign as the coach of Leeds United. Another excellent film rated 8.5/10.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDAD

It's Grandad's 62nd birthday today and he and Nanna have been out to lunch with Great Grandma (lunch was disappointing I understand). Katy, Paul and Dawn came round for a slice of birthday cake. Grandad has had lots of cards.

BLOOD BROTHERS

Nanna and Grandad went to see Blood Brothers once again last night at New Theatre in Hull. Although they have now lost count they have seen this show about fourteen times from London to Leeds, Scarborough, York and Hull. They like it.

MARLEY AND ME

Grandad has been to see Marley and me - a film about "the world's worst dog" so I must be ok ! A real tear jerker about the life of a golden labrador from being a pup growing up with a young family. Rated 7.5/10 and well worth a watch.

WEEKEND IN BRISTOL

Hello folks its me again. Nanna and Grandad have been on their travels again spending a weekend with Uncle Pand and Dawn in Bristol as I went to Auntie Katy, Paul and Dawn (DK1) for a couple of days. Seems they had a good (and busy) time with Dawn and Grandad visiting the beer festival on Friday night. A visit to Bristol zoo with curry in the evening followed on Saturday with a visit to Horseworld's donkeys on the Sunday. Dawn cooked a splendid three bird roast and they returned home early evening with me having been walked home earlier.

DAFFODIL DAY

Nanna and her collegues were out in force in Driffield market last Thursday on behalf of the Marie Curie Great Daffodil appeal. They managed to collect £840.00 which is a splendid effort. There are daffodils on sale at various places around Driffield as well but these wont be collected until the end of March. Fund raising going very well !!!

WATCHMEN

Grandad's latest visit to the cinema was earlier today to see Watchmen which is a screen version of a superhero comic book. It's the USA in 1985 - but it's a different world to the one we knew. Because this is an alternate universe where costumed superheroes are a fact of life and the "Doomsday Clock" - measuring the tension between USA and the Soviet Union - is set at five minutes to midnight.

A good but long and complicated film rated 7/10.

THE 100 YARD GAP

Hello folks, yes it's me your favourite doggy again. Just come back from a nice walk up by the Big Wood but Grandad wanted me to walk so I only spent a little time digging in the wood. Anyway its a lovely morning here in East Yorkshire with the sun shining - could be the best day of the year so far !! Hope you like the up to date picture taken on the edge of the wood. Don't change much do I but I like to keep reminding you all what a good looking dog I am, Nanna also took me for a long walk yesterday so i'm doing ok at the moment. In case you're wondering the 100 yard gap refers to me always being 100 yards in front of Grandad. Well i've got four legs !!!

TWO MORE FILM REVIEWS

Despite only getting back from holiday 3 days ago Nanna and Grandad have managed to get to the cinema to see The Young Victoria then Grandad saw The International. As the title implies The Young Victoria is about Queen Victoria in her younger days and her early relationship with Prince Albert. Very good not for everybody but worth 7.5/10. The International is about a bank who are funding dodgy weapons purchases and efforts to catch them. Again worth 7.5/10.

SPRING LIKE MORNING ON THE CANAL

A canal walk for the second day running. As you can see its beginning to look like spring !! Nanna and Grandad went off to see Barbara Dickson (again) in Hull last night. Off to the cinema today.

PANTOMIME 2009/2010

Doesn't sound quite right but tickets for next Xmas panto went on sale a week ago and already thousands have been sold. Just proves how popular the show has become. It's Humpty Dumpty next time. Grandad will have to be booking soon.

BACK FROM HOLIDAY

Well with the holiday over Nanna and Grandad arrived safely back home at about 6.30pm last night looking very healthy after a nice week in the sun (and cloud and a bit of rain !!!). However they enjoyed the break and everything was fine. They even managed to get out for a couple of days visiting the animal and bird park at Palmitos and getting to Mogan and a boat trip (plus a visit to an Irish bar for Guinness and G & T).

I enjoyed my week with Katy, Paul and Dawn and had lots and lots of walks. Apart from my own food I enjoyed other delights such as tuna pasta bake and sweet and sour chicken. Lovely jubbly.

HOLIDAY TIME

Nanna and Grandad fly off early tomorrow for a weeks holiday in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. I am staying with Katy, Paul and Dawn so i'd better get my case packed. I'll be back on the blog in just over a week so i'll say bye for now - from your old doggy mate, Dougal.

SCOTLAND V ITALY

Grandad made a quick trip to Edinburgh yesterday to meet up with Martin, Mikey, Karen and Simon to go to Murrayfield for the Six Nations International against Italy. Not a classic game by all accounts but worth the effort Grandad said. At least he went by train so no driving (except back and forward to York railway station). Scotland won 26 - 6.