Yippee! I'm on the Ambassadog shortlist!

Do you remember a few weeks ago, when I told you that our tourist people VisitScotland had advertised for an Ambassadog, and that I was going to apply?

Many of my readers were even kind enough to provide references in support of my application.

Well I am thrilled to announce that, with your help, I have reached the shortlist of nine dogs and have been invited to a special Ambassadog Selection Day in Edinburgh next Sunday. 

But before that, last Friday VisitScotland came to Aberdeen to make a wee video of me on my home turf. Can you believe it took them 4 1/2 hours to make a 90 second video? Frankly I was mightily handicapped by Gail, who is, well, let's just say that not all of us can be naturals in front of the camera. Not to mention the minor problem of her distinctly English accent. Oh yes, and there was the worst of Aberdeen weather to contend with - even inside the house the videographer complained about the noise of the the rain lashing against the window as I was being filmed sat on Gail's lap on the sofa.

So anyway I'm sure you'll want to see the wee video.

Ambassadog Nominee - Bertie, Aberdeen from Butterfly Films on Vimeo.


Click Ambassadogs shortlist to see my competitors.

Please wish us luck on Sunday!

We'll need it.

PS from Gail: It is a bit rich being criticised for my performance by a dog who, having sat peacefully on my lap for forty minutes of repeated takes, decided to growl at the camera and head for the door the moment I started talking about "our bond" and how he enjoys being close to me....Perfect timing Bertie!


PPS You can vote for your favourite Ambassadog candidate on the VisitScotland Facebook page. It is a 'just for fun' vote, but still...

Glowing golden in the early morning sunlight

Please ignore the dripping beard.

Which I feel compelled too explain is water from a puddle and not slobber.

I am in NO WAY a slobbery dog.

PS I have now submitted my AmbassaDog application, well in time for the 6th April deadline. I am sure VisitScotland will sit up and take notice when they see all the glowing references provided by my lovely friends (again, thank you all SO MUCH).

Not so bonnie Scotland...

Regular readers of this blog will have noticed that when we go out for our walks, Gail often gets me to 'pose' for photos in a particularly picturesque spot. (Sometimes I cooperate, sometimes I don't, that's a subject for another day.)

But is this the right thing to do anyway?

You see, I have started to worry I might be misleading my blogging friends by portraying an image of Scotland that is all stunning landscapes of mountains, lochs and glens, interspersed with the occasional ancient and historic castle here and there...

Well I would be quite happy to continue colluding with this deception, if the Scottish Tourist Board, or other organisation with an interest in perpetrating the myth that all parts of my homeland are beautiful and interesting, would be prepared to hand over a generous, er, 'consideration' for my efforts (on a regular basis of course).

But the ugly truth is, you don't have to go far in Aberdeen before you are confronted by some exceptionally dreary architecture..

I can show you an almost infinite number of similarly hideous buildings, and believe me they look much, much worse when the weather is more typically grey and Aberdonian than it was this afternoon.

Now please don't let this be interpreted as blackmail but...

If anyone out there wants me to stick to only posing in front of the scenic stuff, then well let's just say that I am willing to negotiate...