All's well that ends well

Life can be quite an emotional roller coaster sometimes, can't it?

Oh how excited I was when Gail told me we were going over to Torridon for the weekend, and that her nice friends from Holland, Angela and Florian and their boys Alexander and Sebastian, would also be staying at the cottage.

It got even better when I heard that a big hill walk was planned.

Imagine my dismay on arriving at the cottage. The visitors were out, but they'd left so much stuff lying around, and all of it indicating interests other than hillwalking with yours truly.

First I spot a musical instrument case.


And this kit is surely shouting 'sea kayak'?


And oh dear, a fishing rod...


Then there's a bag of books.


Oh, what a relief, finally I see some hiking boots.


When our friends showed up, it turned out they had already been sea kayaking and crab fishing and were now ready for a relaxing evening, noses buried in books, and I decided to join them.



In the morning they played their musical instruments (quite pleasing to the flappy little ears, actually).


But I was beginning to wonder if the promised expedition into the mountains would ever take place.

Oh the tension. ….


Well I am totally thrilled to tell you that on Sunday we all climbed MY mountain, Beinn Alligin. (You did know that my posh Kennel Club name is Granddach Beinn Alligin, didn't you?)

And look what a splendid day we had.

Negotiation and compromise

So I am cross with Gail 'cos of the lack of presents from France. Given her lamentable record in this department, I guess you could say I should not have raised my hopes, but we WFT's are incurable optimists.

And Gail is cross with me because, in a fit of post-prison pique, I did not allow her to post any more of her holiday photos (those featuring a certain famous Bicontinental Dachshund) earlier in the week.

Readers will be pleased that Gail and I have decided to honour the spirit of Human Grandad, who was known for his quiet diplomacy and his skills in conflict resolution, and we have reached a compromise.



In exchange for a chunk of Sainsbury's best saucisson sec, I have decided to allow not just one but TWO photos of Gail with my godmother Tootsie and her lovely Mom.

OK, and one more of Tootsie then. She is totally adorable, for sure. 

PS Many, many thanks to Dachshund Daddy for saving the day with his camera, after Gail's ceased to function just hours before the rendezvous with Tootsie.

Unen-JURA-ble

A certain person had better not even think about going anywhere on her bicycle again any time soon.

Yes I have been in prison camp.

Yes I barked so long and loud I lost my voice but did anyone come to rescue me?

They did not.

You know, Gail, I am not interested in hearing any more about your bicycling holiday in the Jura mountains, about the glorious sunny weather, the spectacular limestone gorges, the delicious fondues, the smoothly surfaced and almost traffic free roads, the fresh green meadows resplendent with wildflowers, the endlessly fascinating conversations about the shortcomings of algorithms used in software to calculate elevation gain on cycle computer apps…

At least now I have regained access to my blog I can tell the world how unbelievably hurt I was to miss out on Gail's end of trip rendezvous with my Swiss godmother Tootsie (aka Bicontinental Dachshund). The fact that Tootsie is apparently so cute and well behaved yet also full of character only makes things worse doesn't it? If Gail thinks that I am going to post a whole bunch of Tootsie photos today, then let me tell you, she has another think coming.

And another thing.

How hard can it really be, to find a suitable terrier-friendly present to fit in one of those bicycle panniers?

Please take me with you. PLEASE?

Yes it is that time of year again. Gail is going cycling in France with her friends, and heartlessly confining me to 'camp' for ten days.

Rumour has it she has also arranged a rendezvous with a certain Bicontinental Dachshund and her family at the end of the trip, which I am also going to miss.

Humph.

Normal service will resume on this blog in a couple of weeks.