Bouncing Bertie, 18 Feb 2010 - 11 March 2022

Bertie 11 March 2022

Gail here:

Thank you friends for all your lovely comments on Friday's difficult post. 

Oh how grateful I am to have enjoyed over twelve years of companionship and fun with my darling little Bertie. His presence steadied me through many major life events - the final illnesses and deaths of both my parents, retirement, the Covid pandemic and so much more.

If I were to ask him to list his highlights, I'm sure he would remind us of the time he slipped his collar, jumped off a just about to depart train and made a break for freedom, sprinting down the platform at Newcastle railway station with panicking owner in hot pursuit... Or the more recent episode in Glen Mark, when a solitary mountain biker with a broken chain inadvertently donated to Bertie his last chicken sandwich. 

Bertie would also probably tell you about his exciting Christmas Day 2020 incursion into a care facility kitchen where the staff had to lure him outside again with a slice of turkey off some unfortunate resident's dinner plate.

For me, among so many wonderful memories, standouts include our two trips abroad by train and ferry, first to Switzerland in 2016 to see his beloved Doggy Godmother Tootsie (and her family Renée and Daniele), and then to Germany in 2019 to stay with dear friends Renate and Michael.

Then there were visits closer to home, notably with our wonderfully welcoming blogging friend YAM-Aunty in Dunoon. 

When travelling further afield was not possible due to Covid, Bertie always loved exploring new places around and about Aberdeen, especially when accompanied by M and J,  whose generous treat supply never ran dry. 

There are so many poignant memories of trips to Nottingham to see my father (Human Grandad - HGD) and mother (Human Granny - HGY).  Wee Bertie's presence never failed to lighten some dreadfully difficult times. 

Looking back to the earlier years, what joys we had with Blogville friends. In 2012 Bertie wooed his Valentine date Addi with the aid of a tank, and their virtual romance lasted longer than any I have ever sustained in real life! 

And then there was the time he took all his Blogville friends on a Geology Field Trip in Scotland...

Being shortlisted for the role of Ambassadog for Scotland in May 2016 was perhaps Bertie's great honour, and I believe to this day that he was only pipped at the post by winner George the golden retriever due to my all too not-Scottish accent! 

Bertie was diagnosed with an incurable cancer of the bladder in September 2020, and lived at least a year longer than was predicted. His whole life is recorded in this blog. Every minute was precious. 

So to end, here's Bertie as I most want to remember him, out and about enjoying the freedom and beauty of the Scottish hills, the perfect companion in good times and bad. 

PS I now plan to take a short break from blogging but, rest assured, a new blog featuring Bertie's successor Nobby will appear before too long and I'll let you know where you can find it.

Going gently...

Gail here again:

Thank you to so many readers for your kind and thoughtful comments on Wednesday's post.

After reviewing Bertie's condition with the vet yesterday afternoon, the sad news is that I've made the achingly difficult decision to have Bertie 'put to sleep' later today. 

With his bladder cancer symptoms apparently causing more pain, on top of his deafness, poor eyesight and signs of confusion, he has lost so much of his former vitality and I didn't want to wait for his suffering to get worse. 

Bertie has been such a splendid companion over the years, and especially during the long periods of Covid lockdown. I just feel numb right now and can't find the words, but a proper tribute will follow when I'm ready. 

Meanwhile, here's a photo of Bertie on a walk in the woods with wee Ella earlier this week, his tail alert and happy, like it always used to be. 

Bertie front and centre

It strikes me that the last few posts on this, MY blog, have dealt with topics of particular interest to my owner Gail, and I, Bertie, have not been sufficiently prominent. Today, I aim to redress the balance with various photos taken over the past couple of weeks (since we regained our freedom to roam), where I am posed front and centre, enhancing a variety of attractive Scottish landscapes.

Looking north from Scolty Hill

River Dee, Milltimber

Coire Mhic Nòbaill, Torridon

Òb a' Bhràighe, Torridon

Bullers of Buchan

Cowie Water, near Stonehaven

Polling station at Ferryhill church

That's more like it, don't you agree?

Happy Nature Friday! 

Gail's musings in St James's Park, London

Thank heavens I have a free hour before my meeting…a morning walk is so important for one's sanity…I do wish Bertie were here too….oh look what a cute Lhasa Apso…I wonder if Bertie misses me as much as I miss him…my what a lot of grey squirrels thrive in Central London….and ducks, geese, swans, gulls and, of course, pigeons…now I see a husky, poor creature, I don't think this is the right place for him…the London air smells sour this morning... not even the Queen over there in Buckingham Palace can escape it… now, we have a sparky wee terrier….and a rather sad looking golden lab…what a lot of leaves on the ground just now...I do hope Dad had a comfy night in hospital...and now this is exactly the place where I once nearly cycled into the then Foreign Secretary (Douglas Hurd) en route to work…can't spot any politicians I recognise this morning…but it's Bertie's happy, eager little face I really want to see…

Image from internet

Excluded, rejected, abandoned...

Everything is NOT right with the world today!

Can you believe that Gail is going to see a film about my namesake* and is refusing to take me along?

Several exceptionally feeble reasons have been given:

1. Dogs are not allowed in the cinema.
2. My attention span does not stretch to 118 mins.
3. I have supposedly nothing in common with the 'Bertie' in the film, King George VI, who is described by one commentator as having been 'dry as dust... remote and chill...an unnatural communicator with very little to communicate...'


First off, is it really true that dogs can't go to the cinema? I have been checking out the brochure and noticed that the Belmont has special showings for parents with babies (the 'Big Scream'), it has 'autism friendly' evenings, it even lets students in!  So why not 'The Big Bark?'  And anyway, in this weather, surely Gail could smuggle me in under that huge and unflattering jacket that she wears for early morning walks in the park? (Yes, I mean the one she was given for free about a decade ago, designed for XXL oil men working on North Sea rigs in winter).

Secondly, I would like to remind Gail of who won the 'longest sit' contest at our final puppy class party. Proof, obviously, of exceptional powers of concentration.

Thirdly, being a terrier, by nature independent minded, I would appreciate the chance to judge the movie for myself. I know that I was named after a different, and fictional, Bertie (Wooster) but since other folk sometimes wonder if Gail chose my name out of admiration for our Royal Family (highly improbable, admittedly) I feel I should be allowed the opportunity to learn a bit more about this other Bertie chappie.

Don't you agree?


*The King's Speech.

ME! Just ME! Pictures of ME!

Enough of that football stuff for now. I know what my readership likes best! All these photos were taken over the last two weeks, when I have been out and about exploring some nice new places. I wonder if you can tell which picture is the most recent? And do you think I have a 'best side'? (It's important to know so I can pose properly in the future.)

Oh and I should like to thank my dear and lovely friend Stella in Minnesota for gently reminding Gail what this blog's supposed to be about....

Opinionated already...

Hi! I'm Bertie, aged eight weeks and 5 days old. Only one day in my new home and I'm already expected to be getting the hang of this computing lark!

But you know what? That whole geek thing doesn't appeal just yet.

I so much prefer eating (where did it all go?).

And playing with my new toys..

And having a nibble of Gail's slipper..

And who knew that cameras could be such fun!

When I get tired, I just want to cuddle up against my hot water bottle..

PS. Can you believe that Gail tried to make me do a poo outside in the hail this morning? I don't think so Gail. What do you mean "Hamish wouldn't have minded"? I really don't see what's that's got to do with anything!