Walkies and puppies

You will I am sure be pleased to hear that, on our one day of nice weather this week, Gail decided to prioritise my need for an outing over her desire to meet up with her cycling pals.

We went to an old favourite, Millstone Hill, a place whose tranquil beauty never grows stale. 

In common with most of our forested areas right now following the recent storms, the first part of the walk was something of an obstacle course.

And if these days I stop more often as I ascend the Hill, let me assure you it is only so Gail has time to take in the lovely scenery on the way up and nothing whatsoever to do with what she sometimes calls my 'not as bouncy as they used to be' four legs!

There is no holding me back on the descent.

I was a bit surprised that when we got back to the car Gail didn't head straight home but instead drove a few miles further west and up a farm track. She then parked in the farm yard and instructed me to stay in the car and enjoy the view across the fields to the Ardmore whisky distillery, while she disappeared into one of the farm buildings to "spend a bit of time with Nobby"...

Oh and finally, by the way, here's a photo Gail took on her bike ride this week. Shame it wasn't sunny for them that day...

Happy Nature Friday to all our friends. Especially the LLB Gang of course. I hope you all have been making good use of any nice weather that came your way this week!

What no treats!!!

Today we return to an old favourite, Millstone Hill.

In younger days I would scarcely have noticed the gradient, but I will admit it now seems quite steep.

It was a warm day (yes really!) so I needed to rehydrate when we reached the top.

And now finally I was ready to pose for my summit shot.

Can you believe Gail had forgotten to bring treats?

Another photo? I don't think so...

Happy Nature Friday!

Knitting assistant Bertie gets bored

It is absolutely not my fault that Gail took for ever to finish the woolly jumper she started knitting back in the Spring...

In case you were wondering, I did not get in the way, I provided support.

Finally, courtesy of a very rainy weekend, the apparently never ending task was complete.

And thank goodness there was still time for a damp Sunday afternoon romp around Millstone Hill. 

Posing time

One is prepared to pose patiently and demurely only for so long...

... before one feels impelled to make it known, loud and clear, that a treat is overdue...

Even in Scotland...

 On a sunny May day...

When climbing a hill...

One can get quite thirsty... 

Glug, glug, glug...

Phew, that's better.

Did you go for a nice walk this weekend?

Just another winter walk

Green with envy?

Here's a picture from a recent walk up Millstone Hill. It's one of Gail's favourite views and is presented here today especially for those of you who live in parts of the world where the summers are all brown and dusty.

Into Thick Air

I could have told Gail before we set off that there would be no good views from the top of Millstone Hill on Sunday morning.


As we ascended into the mist, the only thing to become clearer was the accuracy of my prediction.




Of course, you might think my presence at the summit counts as a 'good view'.


Which would be entirely reasonable.

All around the bloomin' heather

O the summer time has comeAnd the trees are sweetly bloomin'And the wild mountain thymeGrows around the bloomin' heatherWill ye golassiego?
Chorus:And we'll all go togetherTo pull wild mountain thymeAll around the bloomin' heatherWill ye golassiego?
You know the folk song don't you? Gail was humming it (out of tune) as we walked around Millstone Hill yesterday. You'll be better off with the Corries' version: 

But where is my lassie?

If only Addi were here....(sigh).

"Why the long face, Bertie?"

I hear this question too often. I think it is supposed to be some sort of a joke.

Like the way people will look at me and say "oh I used to have one of those, with wheels on"....

Of course, regular readers will realise that the 'long face' thing merely pertains to the shape of my head.  That I am the happiest, bounciest little chappie you could hope to meet should be clear from these photos from Sunday's outing to Millstone Hill and Paradise Wood, where it was so nice and sunny I even ventured into the river Don for a wee paddle, voluntarily... 

I kept my back dry and my paws on terra firma, mind.

Oh and Happy 4th July to all my American friends!