A compromise post

 

Sometimes I think I understand my readership better than my human does. 

She said I should put a bunch of her photos of mushrooms in various states of decay on today's post, but I just know you'd rather see pictures of me happily trotting through the forest last week while Gail had her camera mostly pointed towards the ground.

Since compromise is at the heart of any good relationship, we agreed to feature both me and the fungi.

But I was right (about which pictures you'd prefer) wasn't I?

PS from Gail: It's been a relatively good week with Bertie.

Happy Nature Friday! And thanks to our lovely LLB Gang friends for once again hosting the blog hop.

What a difference a friend makes...

.... Especially one bearing an apple core.

Yes finally we are allowed to meet up for walk and picnics with our friends again. Hooray! Here I am on Friday just past, enjoying warm sunshine in Durris Forest with our lovely neighbours Neil and Yvonne.

Since Gail was far too busy nattering with her dear pals, she neglected to take any more photos of this most agreeable six mile walk around the edges of an irregular patchwork of ancient woodland and conifer plantations. Well anyway, the phone camera would have failed to capture the calm green tranquility of the views across the Lower Deeside hills, the slight buzz of excitement felt at the sight of remnant patches of snow on the distant Cairngorm plateau, the heady coconut smell of gorse mingled with the sweet pine scents nearby, the fresh colours of wildflower abundant meadows, and the lively birdsong soundtrack still relatively undisturbed by road and air traffic...

Life feels better!

Older and wiser?

We are all growing older, I fear.

Yesterday afternoon Gail took me for a walk round Durris Forest. It's been a long time since we were last there - over four years, I'd say.

Apparently on that previous occasion I chased a deer into the dark depths of the conifer plantation. Gail claims I "shot off like a bullet"  and did not come back when called. She says she spent ages looking for me, and was really worried 'cos it was winter and it would soon be dark and ours was the only vehicle in the car park.  

[I have to say, this is not how I remember it at all. Not for the first time, I find myself wondering if my owner suffers from false memory syndrome.] 

What is true, I admit, is that when I was a young pup I was firmly convinced I could chase down even the biggest of stags, if only given the chance.

These days I am older and wiser, and am aware that my dreams of deer-hunting were a tad unrealistic given the discrepancy in leg length. In retrospect, it was all a bit of a waste of time and energy, wasn't it?  

So anyway, Gail has decided to reinstate Durris Forest on our list of nice places for a weekend walk, hence the outing yesterday. 

Our favoured route is circuit of just over seven miles. 

It seemed shorter four years ago. And it was easier in those days to bounce into the car at the end of the walk too...

Durris: one wood, two stories...

You know what?

It turns out that I am not the only AWGV* working on the VisitWoods project. And possibly not even the cutest.

Meet wee Kate.

She came along to Durris Forest with her Mum Cathy, who, like Gail, is an 'official' Web Guide Volunteer.

Kate seems very keen and intrepid. While I was patiently posing by the entrance to the wood... 

... young Kate was off and away exploring the forest tracks all by her ownsome, well equipped with her smart ladybird backpack and integral hood.

 

It is a most enticing place, for dogs and humans. 

Now there are two versions of why Kate is here being held high in the arms of her Mum, and I am skulking in the background.

My story is that I ran up to wee Kate, jumped on her and barked loudly, simply to warn her to keep clear of the oncoming forestry vehicle, so she didn't end up looking like a companion to Flat George.

Gail's story is that (and yes she actually said these words when we got home) "Bertie you were being such a brat, getting all excited and scaring the poor little girl over and over again. Really, Kate was very brave, and Cathy most tolerant and gracious about your appalling behaviour. You need to learn how to conduct yourself calmly around little humans. Nobody would ever believe that you spent the first two months of your life in a household with five young children. I'm quite ashamed of you. And you are usually so well behaved when we go out for hikes. Whatever happened? No wonder Cathy in the end decided to lift her precious daughter safely out of reach. You'll be staying on a short lead for the whole walk next time."

Gosh Gail did go on. 

Whose version do you believe?

*AWGV - Assistant Web Guide Volunteer