CHRISTMAS DAY 2010

Well Christmas Day has come and gone for 2010. Six for Xmas lunch at our house with a big turkey and lots of crackers and presents everywhere. Even Dougal got a dog stocking and a new big lamb bone. Lovely jubbly. We have now been joined by Uncle Pand and Laura who spent Xmas Day with Laura's sister and her family.

SNOW

Snow, snow, more snow, ice ice, more ice. Winter is definitely here. It snowed again this morning just as we were thinking it might get warmer (maybe by the weekend ??). But Dougal loves it : I burrow away in it, chase balls, turn the white stuff yellow! Grandad did manage to venture out last Monday and made it to the cinema where, he said, were massive piles of snow and ice where the car park had been cleared. Apart from that and Father Christmas and elf duties Nanna and Grandad have not been out of Driffield for nearly 2 weeks. We were all planning to go to Edinburgh this weekend but looking at how much snow has fallen in central Scotland there's little chance of that. So we won't be seeing Martin on his birthday which is very sad. But there we are, we can't fight nature and wouldn't want to. Here's hoping for a thaw sometime but its going to take a long time before this lot goes.

SANTA ARRIVES AT GROTTO

Father Christmas arrived at his grotto yesterday morning to be greeted by a giant panda in thick snow. Some of the characters from the forthcoming Starstruck panto Aladdin were there to meet him. Unfortunately (and maybe because of the bad weather) only 9 children turned up to talk to Santa on his first day.

XMAS IS COMING

Hello folks, sorry i've been a bit quiet over the past few weeks. I'm back to (more or less) walking normally again. I seem to ok in the morning but still turn right and not left at night. Put it down to fireworks and the bangs and screeches. I still don't like bangs and they can make me stop walking. Maybe it's a collie thing. Snow is on the ground again and its very cold and icy but I quite like the snow. Grandad is still making good progress and taking his pills regularly. He bought some jeans last weekend.........now thinks he's trendy!! He'll be Father Christmas shortly at the Cranswick Garden centre. Nanna is busy making a costume for Dawn who is to star as the "Genie of the ring" in Starstruck's forthcoming panto of Aladdin. She's also been very busy organising things for Santa's Grotto. Only 4 weeks to Xmas, I wonder what i'll get this year ???

A DOG THAT WON'T WALK

I have a problem. In some situations I won't walk !! Yes a dog that won't walk. Can't explain what's happened to me but I go out of the house and stop at the end of the drive. I also have problems sometimes when I am out walking (after being driven somewhere) that I don't want to go down a particular road or street. Most distressing for me and Nanna and Grandad who are doing their best to help me. I'm not too bad if I am taken somewhere (like the Woodland Walk at Burton Agnes Hall) as I was yesterday but its just a problem getting off the drive etc.

LATER :

Been for assessment with a professional dog trainer. Basically there's nothing wrong with me. Its up to my owners to get it right. Tried walking off the drive with the dog trainer, then Nanna and then Grandad. Got it right every time !! Good dog ????????

LEAKING CENTRAL HEATING

Some weeks ago we noticed a patch of water in the hall once the central heating was switched on. Despite various "attempts" to sort it out we still had a leak. British Gas have been today and dug up some tiles in the hall to discover water, mould and some very black boards. It would appear that the pipe to the hall radiator has been spilling water under the floor for some time probably since the house was built !! Gradually getting worse and worse until it showed itself above ground. Grandad has been "topping up" the system which has then been leaking out. Hopefully once the pipes have been re-soldered we will be ok. Fingers crossed !

BOWLS

In order to try and help him over his recent problems Grandad has started to play bowls joining Middleton-on-the-Wolds bowls club. He has joined the afternoon Winter league so has 21 games to play between now and mid March. On average thats once a week which will suit him well. He's already bought some bowls shoes and been lent some "woods" so he's well equipped already. He can go and practice anytime. Amazingly enough they won their first game last Thursday !!!