A novel concept: the refreshing dip!

You know what? Last weekend I made a most surprising discovery.

It really can be quite refreshing you know, going for a quick dip in a Scottish river!

(Hitherto I had thought of such an activity more as an endurance test).

Let me explain the context.

Although not sunny,  it was warm and a tad muggy on Sunday afternoon here in Northern Scotland when Gail took me for a long walk around Glen Tanar.

After six or seven miles I was feeling a wee bit weary and, you know what, the orangey brown river water (so coloured 'cos it contains dissolved organic matter from the upstream peat soils, nothing to do with pollution) began to look quite inviting. 

So I tentatively waded in, taking care to keep a firm footing.

Look, wasn't I brave - the water is almost up to my belly.

And I emerged feeling like a brand new dog, and came close to achieving escape velocity on the last two miles back to the car...

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).

Neighbours exposed! A tree! A birthday!

A big storm came through Aberdeen the other night, and our neighbour's recycling box blew over.

It seems they had put the wine bottles at the base and covered them with water bottles before putting the box out in the street for collection.

I wonder why they would do that?

Do you know what your neighbours are drinking this festive season?

On to a different topic. I didn't really want to show you this next picture, 'cos I don't much like being outshone. But Gail thinks some of you might to see the Christmas tree we chose so carefully last weekend. She also bought a new set of lights and boy are they bright!

Oh and finally. In my role as Bertie Boffin, Scientific Advisor to Blogville, I am pleased to announce that next Monday (14th December) I shall be celebrating on this blog a very special scientific birthday. I wonder if any of you can guess what my post will be about?

The wrong decision

I thought the flooded ground was frozen solid.

I didn't realise the water was several inches deep.

I didn't stop to think before I dashed across.

And now my legs are cold and wet.

Brrrr.

P.S. Friends, thank you so much for all your wonderful and incredibly interesting contributions to my 'science of attraction' study. If you have not yet commented on what it is that you find attractive in a fellow pup, then you still can; just go to my previous post 'My new role, science and romance' (12 January 2015).

Bertie's sideways look at photosynthesis

Bouncing Bertie Boffin here!



Have you ever imagined you were a plant?

No, don't panic, humans who were wee pups in the sixties, this is not going to be one of those dreaded  'now pretend you are a flower' musical movement exercises. This is SCIENCE!

Here in the North of Scotland we are enjoying an uncommonly warm and sunny summer. Of course, being Scotland, it does still rain from time to time.

The result is that all our plants have been growing like crazy.

(The photos in this post were all taken in the local park. As usual, I am banned from showing our garden 'cos, even more so than usual, it is so shamefully unkempt).

Anyway, today I want to stop and contemplate the amazing power of photosynthesis.

You see, unlike us dogs who are dependent on humans to supply carbon-based substances (i.e. food) to keep us going and growing, a plant need not panic about whether Gail has forgotten to order a new bag of kibble. No indeed, it simply waits around for some sun to appear and help it perform the magic scientifically awesome trick of synthesising carbohydrates from just carbon dioxide and water.

Of course you might think that hanging around waiting for your fix of sun is a rather boring survival strategy, especially in Scotland where it could be a long wait, and this is probably why predators evolved (OK, I may be missing out a few important steps in the evolutionary story here).

Personally, I am finding exposure to warm sunshine enervating rather than energizing.

Oh and I don't suppose that sun and CO2 come in beef, lamb or turkey flavoured.

I mean, no plant is going to be looking forward with eager anticipation to that especially yummy wavelength of light (600 or 700 nm perhaps) for dinner, now are they?

What's in a name? (plus bonus training video)

When random people we meet in the park hear that my name is Bertie, they often say:

"Awww, but he looks just like a Bertie".

Have you any idea what they mean?

I would love to know what it is about me that conveys the essence of Bertieness?

On another matter. You know we actually had a couple of warm days in Aberdeen last week? So much so that I had the opportunity to make a video demonstrating how to cool off in the river, WFT style.

You will notice that one keeps one's belly dry. It is all in the nose and beard action.

Bertie Boffin at the Blogville Picnic

Welcome welcome welcome!

I hope you are enjoying the Blogville Picnic and I am so pleased that you have made it over to my Science Corner. As you know, I take my role as Scientific Advisor to Blogville most seriously...

This weekend, here by the pond, and with your help, I am going to conduct a series of water-related science experiments. My aim is to demonstrate to you the scientific process of using experiments to test theories.

We are going to conduct three experiments, each investigating a different hypothesis.

HYPOTHESIS 1: The thicker the dog's coat, the more water it holds.

Method: The dog jumps in the water and straight out again. It then shakes itself all over its human. We record the breed of dog and measure the volume and duration of its owner's squeals, these parameters can be used as an indirect indicator of the amount of water soaked up and then released by the dog.


HYPOTHESIS 2: The longer a dog's legs, the faster it can swim.

Method: We assemble a sample of dogs of widely differing heights, from chihuahua to greyhound, and stand them at one end of the pond, lined up from shortest to tallest. Gail then runs to the other side of the pond with a handful of tasty treats, which she waves invitingly as she calls them across, and records the time each dog takes to swim the 25m distance.


HYPOTHESIS 3: As with human males, certain 'private' parts of the male dog anatomy shrink in size when exposed to cold water.

Method: We find a cohort of 'intact and proud of it' male dogs, preferably ones that are nicely warmed up, perhaps after chasing the lady dogs around the picnic site. We carefully photograph their undersides. We then stand them in the pond for 15 minutes (and remember that this corner of the picnic is taking place in Scotland and the water temperature is at most 50ºF/10ºC).  We take another photo when they step out. We compare the dimensions 'before' and 'after' in a most rigorous, objective and scientific manner.....

Got all that?

Now then, I would like you to comment critically on the possible flaws in the experimental designs (i.e. tell me what might possibly go wrong), maybe suggest ways in which the research could be improved, and predict - giving reasons - what you think the results should be.

I would also like you to tell me which experiment(s) you wish take part in. Feel free to volunteer your friends too!

The experiments will be conducted on Saturday afternoon and I will be compiling a full analysis of the results, to be presented in a separate post shortly after the picnic is over.

Thanks for stopping by!

PS In a parallel universe, Gail and I arrived safe and well at human Granny and Grandad's, and I was awarded a stellar 9 out of 10 for my behaviour on the train yesterday. More on this next week when we are back in Aberdeen ...