Tag: meet

Catch me

Bert is off to Badminton Horse Trails next month. I’ll be there too. I know I get on really well with the people I’m going with. Bert is a bit of an unknown quantity. So today he met the two dogs he’ll be going with.

Rambo wasn’t that fussed about Bert. He preferred to mooch round the dog park enjoying the sniffs. Buster, on the other hand, was very happy to run around like a loon chasing him. So funny watching them tear around and play.

I’m very relieved that they got on. A little bit too much as Bert tried to hump both of them. A tad embarrassing. He’s a raging sea of hormones at the moment. The joys of adolescence eh? Let’s hope that’s calmed down otherwise it’s going to be an interesting trip…

Sunbather

So it seems Bert is a bit of a sun worshipper too. He and the kittens have been laid out sunbathing today.

He was a rather hot pupster after our walk this morning. But insisted on a bit more sunbathing over lunch. We met a lovely couple on our walk today. The wife was gardening and Bert wanted to say hello. Ended up talking to her and her husband for a long time. She even got Bert a bowl of water while we chatted. They were telling me some of the history of Strumpshaw village. They’ve both lived there all their lives. In fact the husband was born in the house they live in. 81 years ago. She was born down the lane.

I love it when I have random meetings like that. It’s really cool to find out stuff about the area I live in.

Pupped out

Bert was all pupped out earlier. He’d had a lovely day though. First up was Puppy School. We were working on sit and down again. Then loose lead walking. And finished with some recall practise.

He aced them all! Each week I am seeing improvements in him. He was so excited to be at Puppy School that he jumped out of the car and dragged me across to the door. Not quite the control I’d hoped for… Made me giggle as he was so keen to get to school. Reminded me of those kids who leave their Mum’s for dust in their haste.

He had a quick nap in the car on our way to Centre Paws. He was meeting Oreo there (and his owners). Oreo is a Sprocker too. He’s 3 and not that much bigger than Bert!

It was very busy in the field, so the perfect setting to check my recall. Gold star for my baby boy. He came back each time. Even when he was distracted by other dogs.

Getting him away from the Alpaca wool was a bit more of a challenge! He loved eating it! He loved eating his first ‘pup cake’ more though.

Next time I think he’s going to want a ‘puppuccino’ too. He has more of a social life than I do!!

Aunt Sally

I have had the most wonderful day. I met up with this glorious human being, my ‘aunt’ Sally. I first met her when I lived in Sweden. Not sure of the exact year, but we moved there in 1983. Her husband worked with my Dad. She’s been a part of my life ever since.

She now lives in New Zealand so we haven’t seen each other in the flesh for a few decades. But we are in touch by email. She’s back in the UK to support her youngest daughter who’s had her first baby before Christmas. As her daughter and husband live near Newmarket, we arranged to meet at Elveden for lunch.

It was so good to catch up with Sally. Growing up in a foreign country is an amazing experience, but can be a bit lonely. Sally became a surrogate aunt/mother to me. She was always there for me. Even when she had her own kids. I valued her wise words and advice over the years. She’s always seen me and accepted me for who I am. Something we all need. Especially during adolescence.

I remember when her youngest was born, now she’s a Mum herself. Makes me feel rather old in some ways. But meeting up today was like no time had passed at all. Just wonderful.

I’ve been saying for a long time that I want to go back to NZ again. And see her. Wonder if 2025 is the year I make that happen…

Jester

Bert met Jester today. He’s by far the biggest dog that he’s met so far. And for the first time, I saw an overwhelmed Bert.

It didn’t last. Once Bert realised that as big as Jester is, he just wanted to play too, he was fair game. Jester was so gentle with him. Even when Bert was bouncing all over him. Though Bert was submissive too.

It was so cute. Definitely the start of a beautiful friendship…

Animal planet

When your puppy gets invited round to meet your friend’s dog and it turns into an episode of Animal Planet!

Now Frankie has a bit of a reputation as a humper. He frequently goes to town on my leg. Tonight, he was having a whale of a time humping Bert’s head and my arm at the same time.

Bert gave as good as he got and was trying to hump Frankie in return. There was lots of playing going on too. Safe to say that Frankie and Bert are going to be firm friends.

Camps could be interesting if the humping continues. There’s a joke in there about lorries rocking….

Connections

I met up this morning with a lady I’d connected with from the Lucinda Green XC Academy. There are members on there from all over the world. And she lived just down the road from me. Small world huh?! We chatted all things horses for over 1.5 hours.

This afternoon, I had a lesson with Simon Grieve over at Willow Farm. She asked if she could come and watch. And very kindly took some videos of us in action. Buddy was on top form. I love my lessons with Simon. He makes me feel like I can achieve anything with Buddy.