A sad week for Duthie Park dogs

Oh dear Gail, it has been a sad week hasn't it? First, on the train back to Aberdeen last Monday, you had the text from Yvonne saying how flat-coated retriever Jake had been put to sleep, his cancer having become too bad to treat or bear. And then yesterday morning we saw Sheila in the park and she beckoned us over to tell us that her wee schnauzer Sadie had died of a stroke two days ago.

Yes, our morning walks in the park won't be quite the same without those two 'regulars', will they Bertie?

You know Gail, I don't feel so bad about Sadie, 'cos she was very old, and had been blind through diabetes for at least a year hadn't she? So one understood that her life would soon come to an end. But poor Jakey. He was only two years my senior, and a few months ago he was still rampaging around with the energy of a pup. It seems all wrong that he's no longer with us.

(Gail pauses a moment before replying).

Bertie, you're right. Of course Sheila will miss Sadie a lot. She's not been so well herself - remember how we walked Sadie last year when Sheila was in hospital -  and she lives alone. I think Sadie gave her a reason to go out for a walk everyday and talk to all the other dog owners. But do you remember what Human Granny said when HGD died? That his life had run it's full course. So it was with Sadie. It's much harder to accept when someone close dies too young. 

Oh dear Gail, you are looking sad now. Are you thinking of your friend Kate? Let me come and sit on your lap and give you a lick.

Bertie, you are such a comfort. Oh I do hope you are blessed with a long terrier life. 

Henry's Dad's Hat

So Gail woke me early on Sunday morning with a cheerful shout. "Rise and shine Bertie! The weather forecast is favourable so we are going to climb Morven and search for Henry's Dad's hat."

By the way, a 'favourable' forecast in these parts in early March means little rain, wind less than 20 mph and temperatures above 5ºC.

Now about that hat.

I told you last year  about the special walk up Morven to scatter the ashes of Gail's late friend Kate. What I did not mention before was that, in the process of the scattering, Kate's beloved husband Henry lost his hat in the gale force wind. And this was not just any old hat, rather it was a splendid, characterful Harris tweed affair that used to belong to Henry's father.

Well Henry and friends looked long and hard for the precious headgear on that memorable July day, but time and incipient hypothermia eventually forced abandonment of the search.

I am disappointed to report that, despite roaming far and wide over the rounded summit of Morven, on Sunday I too failed to sniff out Henry's missing hat.

However, the elemental magnificence of the landscape was undiminished.

PS: Sunday in another world entirely, namely Crufts. I can't believe that the wire-haired fox terrier was beaten to Best in Show by a standard poodle. How will I live this down when I next see my poodle cousins Coco and Percy (who is huge)...

A very special walk up Morven

Just over a month ago (July 2nd to be precise) Gail disappeared off for the day with some of her oldest friends. I was most put out later to learn that they had all been for a walk up Morven, one of my favourite hills, and was not at all satisfied by being told it had been a "very special walk" and that my presence that day would "not have been appropriate".

Well I'm pleased to report that this weekend Gail decided to revisit Morven. This time I was allowed to accompany her and along the way I learned a little about the earlier "special walk".

It was disappointing to have to start off on the lead. Gail seemed to think I might chase after the sheep in field at the base of the hill, but I only wanted to commiserate with them over their terrible haircuts.

I regained my freedom when we started climbing the steeper slopes. I even stopped to pose in the heather, although, not being a Westie, this is not part of my contract.

Near the top Gail told me that the "special walk" in July had been to scatter the ashes of her dear friend Kate, who passed away earlier in the year in Australia, but who wanted to be laid to rest on this particular Scottish hill. A group of nearly twenty, led by Kate's husband Henry, had taken part in a simple but unforgettable goodbye ceremony on the windswept summit, on what would have been the twenty fifth anniversary of the only wedding at which Gail was ever a bridesmaid. 

In the summit cairn there is a visitors book, hidden in a waterproof plastic box, behind a wooden door.

Gail showed me what was written on 2nd July 2013.



After adding a brief note to record our visit today, we headed back down.


An off piste diversion to chase some noisy, low flying grouse (I SO nearly got 'em) led to an awesome patch of ripe cloudberries.



Gail would have been picking them all afternoon had I not pointed out the deteriorating weather conditions and that she already had enough for a nice 'multekrem' anyway.


Luckily we made it back to the car before the rain set in. Although not before I had been required to do yet more posing in the heather...

PS from Gail: Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions for a hard hat for Bertie. Please keep them coming!

Should I be happy or sad?

Happy 'cos it's so cold and windy and rainy that Gail decided to stay in with me this morning rather than take my big rival out for a spin.

Or sad 'cos it's cold and windy and rainy so we only went for a quick walk in the park.

On the basis that one can't choose the weather but one can choose one's attitude, I have decided to be happy anyway.

PS from Gail: this post is in tribute to my dear, recently departed friend Kate, whose capacity to inspire lives on. 

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