The Terrible Twins explore Pannanich Hill

Please be aware it was Gail who proposed the title for this post.

I was shocked at her suggestion.

Gail, I said, that is no way to refer to your friend Amanda and her sister Fiona. I mean I know they are twins and all that, but they are really nice, and not at all terrible.

Left to right: Horatio, Amanda, Fiona, Mark and me

Can you believe that by 'Terrrible Twins' Gail actually meant me and my pal Horatio (whom loyal readers of this blog have encountered before)?

We - that is Amanda, Horatio, Fiona and Mark, Gail and I - met up in Ballater on Easter Saturday morning for a walk up nearby Pannanich Hill.


I want you to know that I behaved impeccably throughout - aside from the occasional 'vocalisation episode' - but Horatio's table manners in the hut where we sheltered for lunch left much to be desired…


I still cannot believe that such shocking disregard for meal time conventions was met with a reward...



And that's not all. When everyone was cold and wet at the top of the hill, it was Horatio who held us up for ages, cavorting in a tiny patch of snow like a thing possessed.




As we descended again into the woods we heard some gun shots in the distance and Horatio stood stock still like a statue and refused to shift. In the end Amanda had to pick him up and carry him part of way back.


Twins indeed. It is embarrassing enough that we are the same breed.

A work in progress...

 What do you mean only half done?

OK so I know we're meeting my WFT pal Horatio near Ballater on Sunday but do you really think he's the type to be impressed by a smart furdo? 

And by the way, haven't you seen the weather forecast?

PS: Gail's Big Boss has not responded to my letter. Hmmm. Time to phone Ernie….

WFTs come first, right?

I have to tell you that Gail is worried she was being inconsiderate to our fellow passengers on the 12:52 train from Newark North Gate to Edinburgh last Monday. In fact, she wishes to make an apology.

I have spent all week trying to tell her she did nothing wrong. Nothing at all.

I mean, how can she be to blame if the lady with the refreshments trolley was all over me like a rash no soon as she'd spotted me in the aisle (or rather, nearly reversed into me, truth to tell)?

The fact that this lovely lady, herself a wire-haired fox terrier owner, stopped to engage in a lengthy WFT-based conversation with Gail is entirely a Good Thing, in my opinion.

So what if the passengers further down the carriage were hungry and thirsty? One could say Gail did them a favour by helping them avoid the temptation to pay a king's ransom for lukewarm coffee and a tired sandwich.

The wiry theme continued when we took a break in Edinburgh to meet my pal Horatio, plus his Vizsla brother Harris and human Amanda. It was a damp and blustery afternoon for a romp up the slippery volcanic rocks of Arthur's Seat. Gail seemed particularly keen to stay away from any ponds and avoid a repeat of the Green Dog incident….

Can you tell Horatio and me apart?

The onward train from Edinburgh didn't arrive in Aberdeen until late evening and, would you believe it, just as we were about to disembark, Gail spotted a smaller version of your truly in the adjacent carriage. Turns out she is called Poppy, is eight months old, very cute (of course) and, like me, started life at Granddach Kennels.

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty perfect day. And absolutely no apologies are necessary.

My friendship with Horatio hits a rocky patch...

Gosh I had been so looking forward to Sunday, when I met up with my wiry pal Horatio, his Vizsla brother Harris and their family.

We walked up a big hill (Morven), and I learned about life's unfairness.

I spotted Horatio was being given cocktail sausages at the summit, so I hastened over to claim my share.

Only to find that Horatio was not in the mood for sharing.

So Gail gave me a chewy treat.

Yes, that's the chewy treat you see in Harris's mouth.

On the way down I overheard the humans planning to go for post-walk tea and cake at the 'Sign of the Black Faced Sheep' café in Aboyne.

Horatio suggested that if I blacked up my face I might be allowed to join them.

I did not realise he was teasing me.

Can we move to the quiet coach please? (+HGD report)

It only takes one Glaswegian with a mobile phone...

Special prize to any of my readers who can offer an accurate transcript of this one-sided conversation overheard, at length, on the train back to Scotland.

Oh, and for those of you who care about Human Grandad - I want you to know that he seemed comfortable and no longer so anxious when I visited him on Sunday. He spotted me right away and smiled with his whole face and eyes and tried to lift me onto his lap. But Gail was worried that my 8.5 kgs weight would bruise his paper thin skin, so instead I sat on Gail's lap and let HGD pat my head and scritch my flappy little ears. Soon he drifted off into a world of his own, and then to sleep. Sadly I was removed from the scene before the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner arrived. Gail tells me that, with her help, HGD ate all the meat and Yorkshire pud, but left the veggies and potatoes. Which would have been my approach too.

Guarding HGD

A quiet corner of the 'Skylarks' nursing home

And finally, I did get to meet with my wiry pal Horatio in Edinburgh on the way home. And I must say he was being quite the bossy boots. I think this wedding business has gone to his head...

On weddings and dogs...

Do you remember me complaining last year when Gail attended a wedding in a romantic Scottish castle and I was not invited?

Well since my recall is good (and not just in the dog obedience sense), I can also tell you that at the time Gail said this:

“But Bertie, dogs don’t get invited to weddings”.

Always, in my mind, there was a grain of doubt about the truth of that statement.

And as usual, my instinct was correct.

You know my wire-haired fox terrier friend Horatio don't you? The one who lives in Edinburgh with his humans Scott and Amanda and his Vizsla brother Harris.

Well look what we spotted this week on Amanda's occasional blog:

Scott and Amanda's Wedding Party 

She and Scott only went and got themselves married. And yes you read that right on the photo:

'WEDDING PARTY INCLUDING DOGS'

You can see the full report on the occasion if you click here.

You know, for once, Gail and I are in perfect agreement that this looks like the best wedding ever! Our favourite touch being the tweed bow ties for Horatio and Harris.

We are sure our readers will join us in wishing Scott and Amanda a long and happy life together.

Bragging rights to Horatio?

Bertie, you weren't being too friendly with your wiry pal Horatio when we met up for a walk with him and his family near Braemar on Sunday. Now why was that?

Gail, have you ever won anything at athletics? Can you list any major sporting achievements?

Well, er, Bertie, before we go into that, I would like you to answer my question first.


Oh Gail, Horatio was being quite insufferable today. Gloating about how his owner Amanda is now a world famous athlete, having won the Crathes Half Marathon the day before. Saying she is going to be in all the papers - well the Press and Journal at least - and how this makes him, by association, the top dog around Deeside at the moment.

Now Bertie, I think we should all be celebrating Amanda's awesome achievement. I trust you told Horatio how impressed you were?

You've gotta be kidding Gail. No I pointed out that he was looking a good bit tubbier than when we last met, and probably wouldn't himself be winning any marathons any time soon. I thought it was supposed to be kinder to tell the truth and so I called him a lardy-arse...

Bertie, you didn't! That is so rude. I hope Horatio rose above it all.

Absolutely not. He started on about how come I style myself Bouncing Bertie when his brother Harris Vizsla was that very moment demonstrating bouncing around in the heather to heights I could only dream about.

Well yes, Harris did put on an excellent display of bouncing I must say. I'm only sorry I didn't catch it so well on camera. 


Now going back to your sporting triumphs Gail....

Bertie will you just leave it alone? OK I did win a few 100 m races about a zillion years ago. And you've seen the dust gathering on that racquetball trophy from when I worked in Oklahoma. School hockey colours? Yes. Then remember I came in 3rd in the 'females 50-59' in the 100 km Cycle Sportive event last May. It's not so much, I admit. In truth Bertie, I have always been more of a 'competent all rounder' type, rather than a top sportswoman. 

Ha ha ha, is that an 'all rounder' like Horatio, ha ha ha?

Very funny Bertie. Not. Oh yes and I now I remember, what ever were you thinking of, embarrassing me by peeing on Scott's wellington boots right as soon as we met up?


I TOTALLY DID NOT PEE ON THOSE BOOTS IT WAS ALL HORATIO! HE JUST HID BEHIND SCOTT AND LEFT ME TO TAKE THE BLAME.


And Gail, please explain that nonsense by the wee loch, when you kept trying to get me and Horatio to 'pose nicely' with Amanda and her twin sister Fiona?



Sigh. I guess I just thought it would make a fun photo Bertie. Why do you always have to be so difficult?

Me, difficult? I think my readers will come to a different conclusion.

The First Class Traveller Look

Oh I do love meeting up with my wiry pal Horatio when we stop in Edinburgh to change trains.

We had over two hours to spare yesterday, so plenty of time for a good run around Arthur's Seat before heading home to Aberdeen.

There was Horatio, his brother Harris, their 'mum' Amanda, and of course  myself and Gail.

It was a warm afternoon, so what better way to end the walk than with a dip in a wee lake near the foot of the hill.

After all, it is important to freshen up before one gets on the train, isn't it?

Especially when one's human has gone to the expense of buying a first class ticket. 

PS from Gail: It's amazing what you can do with a two litre bottle of water and some wet wipes...

A snowy snout and a timely gift

Gosh it was a chilly scene in the park yesterday morning.

So what a nice surprise to get home and discover that Gail and I had received a heartwarming gift from my foxy friend Horatio (and his Mum). A wee note pad, for jotting down blog ideas perhaps?  

And given the events of last weekend, the cover picture absolutely could not have been more apt....

Brief Encounter

with Horatio (and his new brother Harris)

The anticipation

The meeting at Waverley Station, Edinburgh

A romp around Arthur's Seat

Exhaustion

And finally back in Aberdeen