Nature Friday (sort of)

Well it's been one of those weeks.

Glorious sunshine and unheard of February warmth on the days when Gail was too busy at work to find time for a 'Nature Friday' photoshoot. The when finally she had a free afternoon, thick grey cloud had descended on Aberdeen, and the best we could manage was this picture of me posing in Tolohill Wood on the outskirts of the city, moss and ferns providing the only sign of greenery.

Absent anything else more interesting to report, I hacked into Gail's employer's 'intranet' and found some recent photos posted on a page titled 'The View from my Office Window'.

It seems that there is wildlife a plenty in the fields around Gail's office - a badger was reported early this morning but no-one managed to catch it on camera - and the big picture windows afford excellent viewing opportunities (only in the brief moments when the workers are not 100% focussed on their day jobs, obviously...)

All the more frustrating then, that the workplace has a strict 'no dogs' rule...

From around the world, it is clear that some of Gail's colleagues get to enjoy more nature...

View from office in Northern Norway

...than do others.

View from office in Shanghai

PS I am promised a very special adventure this coming weekend. Watch this space...

Sausage!

Long time readers of this blog will be aware that by and large us pups are treated pretty handsomely when we travel by train in the UK.

Many a time has a train attendant, in the course of ticket checking duties, slipped me a morsel or two of shortbread along with a fond pat on the head.

So when travelling back to Aberdeen yesterday, I read the sign above the thoughtfully provided water bowl at Newark North Gate station, and I said to myself yes, that seems fair enough (although Gail did raise her eyebrows at the 'all our customers" bit).

Well I have to tell you that the standard of service on the 10:46 am LNER train to Edinburgh on Monday morning actually exceeded my already high expectations.

Yes really!

No soon as Gail and I had  settled comfortably into carriage L than a fairy dogmother steward appeared bearing what looked (but did not smell) like a cup of coffee and said to Gail "Here's something for the dog".

And this is what we found inside.

Warm slices of sausage, glistening with fat, which Gail says were probably left overs from the First Class breakfast service, but I like to think had been specially prepared in anticipation of my distinguished presence on the train.

Oh those sausages smelled divine and tasted even better.

I was a most contented chappie for the rest of the long journey home.

A visit to Nottingham

Gosh it's been quite a while since I went on a long railway journey. Gail was worried even that I might have forgotten my "train manners" but of course that was not the case.

On finally arriving at Janet's house in Nottingham, I was pleased to discover a colourful new cushion and set about making myself at home right away.

Yesterday we went to see Human Granny and Grandad. I must say, they have a lovely spot for their final resting place. The parish burial ground is green and tranquil, and the warm (for February) fresh air was alive with birdsong as the sun fell gently on HGY's newly minted headstone.

We paused a while beside the graves, then after a romp across the heavy clays of the arable Nottinghamshire fields, our outing was concluded with a most satisfactory visit to the Old Ship Inn in Lowdham.

The day before, we had visited my poodle and human cousins. Gosh I think I could take some lessons from young Jonathan in the matter of rolling in the dirt...

Gail says she is sure Jonathan "scrubs up nicely" for his day job at Barclays Bank in Canary Wharf, and that however dressed, Human Granny would still think him the most handsome and wonderful young man in the world. However, we are both grateful to be travelling home to Scotland on a comfy train, and not in Jonathan's BMW 'track car' with its stripped out interior and, at the moment, no functioning shock absorbers...

No snow just snowdrops at Fyvie Castle

Welcome friends! Once again I am delighted to be joining the LLB gang for Nature Friday. 

This week's expedition is to Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire. I am pleased to report that in winter the castle is closed - which means that dogs get taken for walks round the grounds rather than being locked in cars while the humans disappear inside the building for hours and hours looking at old furniture and paintings (yawn). 

Hmm. I think I can smell spring in the air.

And oh look a carpet of snowdrops! Isn't it pretty?

After last week's 'squashed daffodils incident' I hope you can see I am being careful where I sit. 

Happy Nature Friday folks!