Sun, sea and sand? Well, two out of three...

The sky was clear and blue in Aberdeen on Sunday and I was all excited when Gail said that she and her friend Kirsty were taking me for a walk to the Forvie Sands Nature Reserve, just a twenty minute drive up the coast. 

My turn to experience a sunny day at the beach, having missed out last week!

I have to say that, as we proceeded through the dunes, Gail's earlier application of sunblock was looking a tad optimistic.

I was a good boy and stayed the right side of the fence marking the 'no go' area where four species of tern are nesting in the sands at this time of year. 

Gail and Kirsty paused a moment to admire the sharply defined delicacy of the birds swooping overhead, but I soon lost patience with matters ornithological.

After about a mile we reached the deserted beach and I overheard Gail trying to talk herself and Kirsty into believing that the sea fog was in fact a blessing, as it meant we had the place to ourselves and I wouldn't get too hot.

However, I'm not sure she was convinced that my intense interest in decomposing substances on the beach was also a blessing...

The right decision

Us dogs get to know our humans pretty well don't we?

So I think you can trust me to give you an accurate report of Gail's thought processes first thing Saturday morning. Here goes:

"Hmmm, I suppose I really should go Christmas shopping today, so I don't end up rushing around in a last minute panic once again. Oh dear but the shops will be terribly busy and anyway I haven't a clue what to buy, everyone has too many things already don't they? And it would be a shame to waste a nice bright day by being indoors. One needs to soak up every possible ray of sun at this time of year -  they say rickets is on the increase 'cos folk stay inside too much. Plus Darren Bett on the BBC forecast heavy rain for Scotland tomorrow. And then there's Bertie. I really owe him a good long walk, after sending him off to kennels last weekend. See him sat there looking at me with that adorable, optimistic, trusting little face. Yes, the Christmas stuff can wait. But where to go? It's so muddy everywhere at the moment...(thinks for a minute or two).  I know, we'll visit the Forvie Nature Reserve. The ground by the coast is sandy and well drained. And the terns aren't nesting at this time of year, so the dune area won't be closed off. The wind today is light, so no danger of Bertie getting sand grains blown in his eyes on the beach. If we complete the circuit of the Reserve - estuary, dunes, beach, cliff path and back - that's at least seven miles, so Bertie might even be a bit tired by the end. Yes that's what we'll do, better get going, it's a thirty minute drive and we've only a few hours before it's dark again..."

All in all, I think we can congratulate Gail on a good decision. As for presents, there's always Amazon gift vouchers.

But I must say she was wrong about the (lack of) mud.

We hate Donald Trump!

Serious matters today folks.

We went for a walk by the sea at Balmedie earlier today. (Oh don't fuss, yes OF COURSE I've recovered from last Sunday. I wasn't really that tired you know...)

There's a wonderful beach, HUGE sand dunes, interesting little creeks with unusual wildflowers. All unspoilt, peaceful, pristine.

Gail told me that I could go exploring anywhere. So it was a bit of shock when we came across this sign:

What on earth could be going on?

Well.

Apparently some horrid man called Donald Trump has bought the land and is going to build a golf couse, a HUGE high rise hotel and about a thousand houses. He says the area will be "improved".

But how can you improve on what is already perfect?

Well I bounced right past the sign and went exploring anyway. (Don't worry, my American friends, you're not allowed to shoot trespassers here).

I promised Gail I would try out my brand new teeth if we came across this Trump character.

So, truth to tell, I was just a wee bit disappointed that he was nowhere to be seen.

PS I hope you like my new sand-in-the-beard look? It means you get that extra tingling sensation when I kiss....