Oil spill - I try to help my friends in Florida

Gail says that if I am to take on the role of successor to the venerable Hamish, then I need to do some ‘pontificating’. According to the on-line dictionary, that means being “pompously dogmatic or self-important; pretentious”.

Oh. That sounds awfully difficult. And not my style at all.

I think I’ll just stick with being vocal and insistent. I can do that. And I know that Hamish never shied away from controversy, and neither shall I.

My friends in Florida, the ‘Barkalot Boyz’ (with my help, by the way, Gail is beginning to understand why a pair of WFT's might be so named….) and their Mom, and Kira and Scampi and their Mom too, are so very worried about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and how it will affect their precious coast and all the beautiful wildlife. Somehow I feel a bit responsible, ‘cos I live in ‘Europe’s oil capital’. What’s more, we have a lovely next door neighbour here who is always friendly and gives me lots of treats and cuddles and is a wonderful Dad to his two cute young children and helps fix Gail’s lawnmower and stuff like that. Can you believe how shocked I was when I learned that he works for BP? He’s an engineer on one of their North Sea oil fields. If you read some papers you’d think that only nasty stupid bad people work for BP. Well clearly that’s not the case at all.

So you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to run out into the garden right away and bark a message to my nice neighbour. I think he recognizes my voice by now. I'll tell him how concerned my pals in the USA are about this horrid oil spill. I'll also demand that he tells his BP colleagues across the Pond they must do absolutely all they can to stop the well leaking and the oil reaching those unspoiled coastal areas. And to make sure that a tragedy like this never ever happens again.

I know it’s not much, Jake and Just Harry, but I'm only a young pup and it’s the best I can do.

PS from Gail: Bertie has his work cut out if he's going to bark at all our many friends and neighbours who work for BP. Well, on second thoughts, I'm sure he'll manage!

A fragrant visitor (etiquette)

Gosh it's been a busy few days.

We had a visitor, Helen, up from London, and it fell to me (Gail having some work to do) to ensure she was made especially welcome in our home.

And you know what? I've discovered that when thick woolly socks cover feet softened with blueberry moisturiser, you have a particularly appealing combination. I could have chewed on Helen's feet all day. Indeed that's what I tried to do. It's the proper way to greet guests, no?

Oh and we did go out for some nice walks too. Here's Helen and I enjoying the spectacular view along the coast south of Aberdeen. Long time readers of my esteemed predecessor's blog may recognise Dunottar Castle in the background.

And if you are thinking that Helen is focussing on whether or not I attack her boots, rather than on the castle, then you are wrong. That is just an optical illusion.

Later we went to inspect the azalea garden in Hazlehead park. I was secretly pleased to find the flowers mostly weren't in bloom just yet - surely that guarantees another trip in a couple of weeks?

Oh but they did already smell nice, those azaleas.

Almost as fragrant as a certain person's feet....

Black pudding, an explanation

It seems I have mystified some of my non-British readers with reference in my previous post to 'black pudding', one of our great national delicacies, and Gail says I owe you an explanation. The first thing to know is that, in the same way that 'spotted dick' is not a....... (oh, perhaps we won't go there, google it if you must!), well anyway, I was going to say, black pudding is not a dessert. It's a sort of breakfast sausage, and the main ingredient is pig's blood. It's really really yummy. I guess my wise Aunties Martha and Bailey must be correct when they say that it would make a mess if placed inside a trouser pocket, although have they not heard of polythene bags?

Gail also says that I don't have long on the computer today as we had a very busy weekend and now she has lots of work to do, but she has allowed me to upload a couple of pictures from Saturday of me playing nicely (it can happen) with my neighbour Jockie.

PS from Gail: I want certain doggies out there (I think you know who you are) to be aware that I am very worried about your comments regarding Bertie's behaviour at puppy class. I feel you are being a 'bad influence' and I have told Bertie that I may have to ban him from blogging unless he finds some cyber-friends who will encourage a more serious and constructive approach to his education!

Puppy class (where was the black pudding?)

Uncle Eric, you promised. You ABSOLUTELY promised! You promised, you promised, you promised, promised, PROMISED! Yes you did. Did, did, did, DID, DID!!

Did.

You said there'd be black pudding at puppy class.

Gail says I have to learn that life is full of disappointments.

Well you can say that again. (Oh. She did).

I am thinking that I might take after my Scottie friend Bonnie, and be too independent minded for all this formal education business.

I tried to tell everyone. Loudly, repeatedly and persistently. That I wanted black pudding. Where was the black pudding? I wanted it and I wanted it NOW! And by the way, what was all this guff about 'sit', 'down', and walking on a loose lead? I thought I'd made it quite clear I was expecting a quantum electrodynamics lecture, at the very least!

I have to say that all the other puppies listened to me quietly and patiently throughout. I can't imagine why Gail seemed to find this situation stressful and embarrassing, as the other dog Mum and Dads looked on with ever so slightly smug expressions.....

Some of my classmates are a bit of a pushover, you know. Although with Daisy the dachshund, it's hard to tell if you've pushed her over or if she's still standing.

And I quite like cockerpoo Baxter. I mean, he's not as feisty as me, but, well, he can be pretty lively.

Oh and everyone seems to think Lhasa Apso Freddie is just too cute for words. Teacher's pet, I say! And that's not a compliment...

Beagle Murdo seems a bit wary of me. I can't imagine why.

Well outside at the end, I sort of got a chance to 'socialise' with my new pals, and began to see that it might not all be bad, despite the lack of black pudding.

And anyway I live in hope for next week....