As you know, I spent the Christmas and New Year holiday in Nottingham.
Now I’ve already told you about my role in trying to lift Human Grandad's spirits. Well between you and me, by the end of the trip Gail needed a bit of cheering up too, and not only on account of losing heavily to Daniel on the Wii.
So anyway, I decided to take her for a reviving walk in Sherwood Forest before we returned to Aberdeen.
We went to see this huge and ancient tree, ‘The Major Oak’, where Robin Hood is supposed to have hidden from the Sheriff of Nottingham all those centuries ago.
Oh I just loved it there in the forest, sniffing gnarled old oak trees, romping around grassy glades, admiring the novel waymarking posts, and milking the attentions of other visitors.
This famous 'greenwood' was wearing its winter suit of brown, but Gail looked all rosy cheeked and happy again after our splendid outing.
Now that I’m back in Scotland I’ve been reading up all about Robin Hood and his Merry Men and my imagination has been running riot.
Oh how wonderful it would be if Gail and I could decamp together back to Sherwood and lead a new band of outlaws. I could be 'Little Bertie' to Gail's 'Robina Hood', and I'd roam all day in the forest while Gail honed her archery skills (last practiced on a bow and arrow won by her brother at Goose Fair circa 1967...) We would sleep on a soft bed of moss under the broadleaf canopy, launch daring raids on wealthy bankers travelling up the Great North Road with their bags of gold, and use the money to help the poor and vulnerable. I am sure that a latter day Friar Tuck (Giles Fraser?) would bring us some ale to keep us merry, and I would even be prepared to wear a coat of Lincoln green should circumstances require it...
Well blow me down with a feather.
Gail is staring out of the front window, onto our grey and chilly Aberdeen street, and she's muttering: "You know what Bertie, for once that isn't such a stupid idea of yours".
Bertie - You have all the best ideas.
ReplyDeleteBertie, you have such great ideas. Little Bertie sounds like a lot of fun and I'm sure Gail would love a turn at Robina Hood (wouldn't we all at times??). You look like you had a great time and thanks for sharing the photos of the trees - my Two Legged Ones are big fans of trees (for completely different reasons than I am, of course!) so they loved seeing this tree. And you look very handsome in the photographs. Hope the weather improves soon - my Two Legged Ones are sitting here, sweltering, and muttering about how they miss the weather in Aberdeen - those pees/two legged ones/humans are funny creatures, aren't they??
ReplyDeleteWoof.
Groucho
Oh Bertie, Gail's archery skills wouldn't have changed much after these years would they? It sounds like a great idea. Maybe we could come and join you and be your merry dogs. Rory could be 'Little John' or Little Rory as the case may be and I could be Stella Scarlett. Oh this sounds like fun. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory
ReplyDeleteDoes the Wii have an archery program? Just an idea.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great place to hang out.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
That looks like such a wonderful place! I love all the knots and twists in the trees!
ReplyDeleteFab idea Bertie! :D Roobinhood would be honored to be part of your merry lil band :) My first raid will be for some ale from a grumpy pup owner ;)
ReplyDeleteWaggin at ya,
Roo aka Roobinhood ;)
What a strange looking tree that is! Sherwood Forest looks like a nice place to visit.
ReplyDeleteI dunno Bertie, wouldn't it be chilly in that tree all night long???!!!
ReplyDeleteTail Wuggles, Rubie
We love it foing to Sherwood Forest Bertie, as you say loads of places to sniff about in. If you decide to camp out in the forest let us know and we will come over and join you.
ReplyDeleteMOlly, Taffy, Monty and Winnie
Ah Bertie,
ReplyDeleteI can appreciate how much Gail's imagination has been ignited by that trip to Sherwood forest...:) Can we have and episode of 'Bertie the Bandit' in the future perhaps?
It is simply fabulous to see that old tree. When the girls were small, we replayed Disney's 'Robin Hood' a zillion times (clearly a favourite) and the visual ideas in the 'video' certainly echo that of your beautiful tree.
Not surprising that Gail was immediately upifted by that walk. How simply wonderful!
Sending lotsaluv
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA
(PS Bertie is 'too cute', lol!)
(pps. Tx SO MUCH for your lovely email!!!)
Oh YES.. this is a Brilliant Idea fur sure.. and speaking of Brilliant.. taking us to the REAL Sherwood Forest is just FANGtastic.
ReplyDeleteNow THIS is just the kind of post that proves how much our lives are enriched by our Blogville Furends. How ELSE would we EVER have seen that most famous TREE.. the TREE that we have all read and DREAMED about for our entire lives. We often say Thank You fur Sharing in our comments, butt this time..... I believe we really must say it LOUD and STRONG.
THANK YOU fur SHARING this POST.
Holy crap Bertie did you find the real Robin Hoood?
ReplyDeleteNow that is one cool adventure
Benny & Lily
What a delicious idea. Depending on how the elections go here later this year, you may have to franchise a branch in the USA to give back to the poor what the rich seem determined to continue taking!!!
ReplyDeleteBut what do we know, we're just canines, right?
Wirey woofs,
Jake and Just Harry
You would be a great Robin Hood
ReplyDeleteStop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
Darling boy This is a FABULOUS idea..I have been thinking about it a lot.. Perhaps I could be Maid Marion and wear one of those hats with the stuff trailing off the top( although Archie said he would grab it and hang off it) and maybe Archie could be Friar Tuck(he said he could wear an outfit that would be all green so he could blend in with woods and he wants to get a bow and arrow.We are not too sure about that but PL2 said she would think about it. Listen We could all do this and form some WFT thing. Think about it.. Love Friar Tuck and MM(Maid Marion for short..)
ReplyDeleteLooks that place is nice for hang outs isn't it...lol
ReplyDeleteDog Fence
Pet Solutions
Its All About Bichon
Now that's one forrest I would like to get into and sniff around in!!!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fantastic idea Bertie! Could we put our name down to be in your new band of outlaws?
ReplyDeleteWe love the old tree in the forest.
Have a good weekend planning.
Big nose Pokes
The Thugletsx
Yes, I bet even one bag of gold would supply us with a lifetime or treats. Great idea Bertie, I thinks you and Gail - sorry, Robina Hood, should move at once.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of exciting stuff I has to catch up on. I is so glad that you were able to cheer up HGD. Too bad about your winning tactics not being allowed in the wii thing. I got rather excited at one point during crisp mas, humped one of TNP's brothers...
Never mind aye.
~lickies, Ludo
I think that is the coolest tree I have ever seen. I would like to mark it as my own!
ReplyDeleteWyatt
hey Bertie,
ReplyDeleteI love how you always come up with such fantastic ideas, but this one is one of your best! I would absolutely join you and Robina Hood! Your pictures of Sherwood Forest are beautiful, and the Major Oak is one of the most pawsome trees I, and my human, have ever seen. Stunning! And the history you must have felt being there - amazing! Question: what is the item in the second to last photo? Is that natural twisted wood? Very cool.
Sorry to read, though, that your Gail is feeling blue. We hope she cheers up, and that it is nothing serious making her feel down.
Suka (and K)
Suka, the item in the photo is a waymarking post (for the red route) and we think it must have been carved from some twisted old wood. Gail is fine, she was just tired after spending two weeks trying and not always succeeding in helping her elderly parents.
ReplyDeleteHa! He is a cutie and I love love that first photo. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCan I be in your merry gang of men, sound fun.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely smiley face on the one photo
See Yea George xxx
It seems that you really had a great time during your walk in Sherwood forest and Robin Hood. I would also like to experience the beauty of nature there. I think that many people come to visit and witness the beautiful ambiance of that place.
ReplyDeleteWe're glad you're taking care of Gail. Keep up the good work and good ideas, Bertie. We've got a feeling she needs you more than ever.
ReplyDeletexxxx
Jake and Fergi