One of these statements is correct...

Overheard in the park the other day:

Young child, pointing at me: "Mum, look over there - that’s the cutest dog in whole world."

Mother: "That’s an Airedale, Jonny."

Oh if only I had a lamb bone for every time I’ve been called an Airedale…

A good year for the roses...

Today, for Rosy and the LLB gang's Flower Friday, I want you to come with me to visit a very special place, the Piper Alpha Memorial Garden in Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen.

Why here, why now?

Well today, Friday 6th July 2018, it is exactly thirty years since the Piper Alpha oil platform exploded into flames and 167 workers perished in the North Sea oil industry's worst ever disaster.

A statue commemorating the men who died stands in the centre of a beautiful rose garden, and this year, after so much warm sunny weather recently, the blooms are simply stunning.

I don't suppose that all those who perished were, in life, angels - they were just the usual human mix. But not one of them deserved to lose their life so tragically early, in a disaster that was entirely preventable.

Gail and I hope you enjoy the roses, and as you do so, please spare a thought for relatives and friends left behind, many of whom live locally in the Aberdeen area.

Home alone bored...

We were having such a lovely time over in what I shall now call the Costa del Torridon, I really don't understand why Gail had to drag us back to Aberdeen, where I find myself sitting bored at home waiting for her to return from work and entertain me.

Well today I have set myself the task of selecting my favourite eight photos from our recent four day jaunt across Scotland. There are loads of pictures to choose from, but as Gail has given me a free paw in the selection, you can rest assured they will all be featuring your truly front and centre.

Here I am, sitting nicely aligned with the Glenmuick Church in Ballater. We stopped there on the way to Torridon, and I scored big time 'cos the cheese scone Gail ordered in the nearby café turned out to be yesterday's so she gave me half of it, as I don't at all mind dry scones (especially cheesy ones).

On arriving at the cottage we took an evening stroll. This photo was taken at around 10 pm.

And here's me being, well, just being me, standing amongst some bog asphodels ( the little yellow flowers), although it has been so dry lately that the poor asphodels were missing their bog.

I have to say I was not so keen on sitting on this memorial bench, just up the road from our cottage, even if the temperature was over 25ºC. Please someone find a comfy cushion to cover the hard Torridonian sandstone.

You might wonder what's been happening on the hillside behind the bench. Has some dog been destuffing a monster toy? No of course not - look closer! The cotton grass is abundant this year - despite the lack of rain.

For variety, I have here included a photo of me asleep at Gail's feet, in the front garden of the cottage, taking a break from all the strenuous "sit nicely Bertie" business.

So  I was fully recovered, and on top posing form when Gail spotted this photo opportunity at Grudie, on the way home to Aberdeen.

Finally, knowing I was shortly to be cooped up inside for a few days, I gave my ear flaps a good blast of sea air on the beach at Nairn.

OK. I'm bored again now. What's next?

P.S. It turns out that what's next involved Gail and me and going round to Yvonne and Neil's house to watch the TV. There were a lot of men in red or yellow shirts running around kicking a ball and it all culminated in much jubilant shouting.

Braving the northern waters

If you walk a hundred yards west along the track in front of our Torridon cottage you arrive here.

Gail likes to think this place as our own private cove, although strictly speaking the land is part of a neighbour's croft. In any event, the shoreline is accessible to all, man and dog, but almost no-one apart from the locals know about this delightfully secluded beach where sand is exposed only at low tide.

Gosh it's been hot in Torridon for our visit this week. Yes really! So much so that Gail has going down to our beach for a swim every afternoon and cannot understand my reluctance to join her. To humour her yesterday afternoon I bravely ventured into the crashing surf...

And stayed in the treacherous waters of Loch Torridon* for a whole ten seconds before retreating to the safety of the shore and adopting my best 'now I deserve a treat' pose.

*As many of you'll already know by now, Loch Torridon is a sea inlet in NW Scotland.