Into the Swing of Christmas!

The Hard Times In Elfland by Sidney Lanier

A Story of Christmas Eve.

Strange that the termagant winds should scold

The Christmas Eve so bitterly!

But Wife, and Harry the four-year-old,

Big Charley, Nimblewits, and I,

Blithe as the wind was bitter, drew

More frontward of the mighty fire,

Where wise Newfoundland Fan foreknew

The heaven that Christian dogs desire --

Stretched o'er the rug, serene and grave,

Huge nose on heavy paws reclined,

With never a drowning boy to save,

And warmth of body and peace of mind.

Well Santa's been and I got my pressies despite Mum saying I was naughty and he wouldn't leave anything. Left a carrot for the reindeer but got hungry during the night so that went. Didn't see him though I must have dropped off. It was all so exhausting so after lunch I just crashed out in the conservatory and had a good sleep cuddling my new toy.

Got a busy day tomorrow when Aunty Rachel, Morgan and Tyler come, I think Morgan and I will have a snowball fight in the garden before tea. Will have to get Mum to take some photographs to put on my blog.

Hope everyone is enjoying Christmas and I wish you all a very happy New Year.

No Blogging, too Busy!

Hi

It's ages since I have managed to find time to do some blogging. I have been to busy with this and that, what with swimming and holidays and then decorating, the time has flown over. Then Mum had problems with the site and lost all her wallpaper (blogging wallpaper, not for the walls). Luckily Carrie and Lesley got it sorted so here I am again.

I had a whale of a time decorating, it's amazing how much of the wall you can get done by using your ears.

Mum did not seem to appreciate it though, she kept chasing me away into the kitchen, I think I did leave quite a lot of my hair behind, so it was a magnolia and black haired wall by the time I had finished with it. The emulsion paint wasn't too bad but I got covered in gloss as well and I did not like the smell when Dad cleaned me up!

This was the least of my worries, at one point the whole of one side was covered in paint, even down to the tip of my tail.

We are doing the dining room now, I wonder how much chaos I can cause in there.

My swimming is coming on leaps and bounds but I much prefer to just jump in. I launch myself off the side and watch how much water jumps out! (quite a lot). That's all I like to do, have a quick swim then jump off the side again. When I finally get out Emma the lady who comes in with me always has to fill the pool up again.

Bedtime now, see you all later. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz



Garden Time

I do like to sit in the garden and watch the world go by.

My seat is by the plum tree, sometimes I lie underneath if it is too hot, other times I try and pick the little plums that are growing on there, I do get told off for that but it's good fun. Dad say's if I eat them all he won't have enough to make some plum wine like he did last year.

I thought Mum couldn't see me here but ....... wrong again.

Hmmm....... something smells nice, could it be Dad lighting the

b-b-q, sausages.........

I don't like anybody else sitting on this seat, if Mum sit's here I jump up behind her and wriggle about and wag my tail, till she gets off and I have it all to myself again.

New Bib & Tucker!

How do you like my new bib.

Mums been threatening for ages to make me one. I do make such a mess down my chest as I have been told I drool a little bit.

I even have a B for Bertie on the front.

I was concentrating on a lovely biscuit and a piece of ham in this photograph, that's why I was sitting so still.
Mind I don't know how long Mum's handiwork will last once I manage to get my teeth into it, I could potentially rip it to shreds in seconds. I had better humour her for a while and keep my teeth off it.

Hurry up, this posing is getting very boring!

The Wind Beneath My Ears!

Top down, ears blowing in the wind, nice and cool and not a care in the world! Thats me, not my Mum. Mum hasn't got large flappy ears.

Mum buckles me into my new harness and then straps me into the car and we're off onto the open road, eating up the miles, it makes me feel nice and cool. Now all I need are some sunglasses.

I had to show Mum how to drive this car first though. 'Now watch the pedals and do as I do',

A Little bit of history on my breeds swimming and rescue abilities.

An unnamed Newfoundland is credited for saving Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815. During his famous escape from exile on the island of Elba, rough seas knocked Napoleon overboard. A fisherman's dog jumped into the sea, and kept Napoleon afloat until he could reach safety.
In 1832, Ann Harvey of Isle aux Morts, her father, and a Newfoundland Dog named Hairyman saved over 180 Irish immigrants from the wreck of the brig Dispatch.

In the early 1900s, a dog that is thought to have been a Newfoundland saved 92 people who were on a sinking ship in Newfoundland during a blizzard. The dog retrieved a rope thrown out into the turbulent waters by those on deck, and brought the rope to shore to people waiting on the beach. A breeches buoy was attached to the rope, and all those aboard the ship were able to get across to the shore.

In 1995, a 10-month old Newfoundland named Boo saved a deaf-mute from drowning in the Yuba River in Northern California. The man fell into the river while dredging for gold. Boo noticed the struggling man as he and his owner were walking along the river. The Newfoundland instinctively knew to dive into the river, take the drowning man by the arm, and bring him to safety. According to Janice Anderson, the Newfoundland’s breeder, Boo had received no formal training in water rescue.

I don't suppose I will ever rescue anybody, but my swimming is coming on well. I like to play fetch and I swim round and round the pool chasing the toys. I still have to wear my jacket but nobody holds onto me now. I still try to wet Mam even though she wears her swimming togs. Dad kept going out of the door I think he thought I would get him too.

Makes you tired all this swimming, I always have a snooze going home, and another when I get in, and after tea I have another one. Night night zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Cooling Off

How do you like My Mum's new fashionable swimming get-up. Great eh! and all because I splashed her a tiny little bit when we went swimming!

I think I will still be able to get her wet somehow ........................



Phew hasn't it been hot, with all this hair I have been really warm so I had a lovely cooling shower on Sunday. Mum should have put her swimming togs on cos I wet her too.

Move Over Mark Spitz Bertie's Here!

Hi everyone

Mark Spitz is an American retired swimmer and he won 7 gold medals in the Munich Olympic Games in 1972, so my Mum tells me, but watch this space ...........................

It's ages since I have blogged and I have been up to all sorts of exciting things.

Today I went swimming for the first time. Mum took me to the Hydrotherapy Centre at the kennels where I go for my holidays, it's a great place and you can check it out by clicking here I had to wear a special jacket but I didn't mind I stood quite still while it was fitted onto me. I had a little shower and then Mum took me up this big ramp so it was easy to get into the water. I wasn't frightened but it did take a little time to get used to it considering I have only been in water up to my knees in the past or in the bath.



First time around I was fine but I did have a little panic and I had a good old splash with my big feet and boy did I soak Mum.





This was a super splash, I even hit the ceiling with the water.

I was a little tired by the time we finished but I thought I would pose nicely for this one to make up for all the water that Mum got thrown over her. I even had another shower and a blow dry, bet Mum wished she could have had one, she had to drive all the way home with soaking wet trousers. Hee Hee.


When are we going again Mum, can't wait for next time.

This is me and Mum getting into the Christmas spirit, I was pretending to be a reindeer!

I have just come back from my holidays, I spent it with friends at Butterwick Boarding Kennels
http://www.butterwickkennels.com while Mum and Dad jetted off to a warmer climate for 11 days. I think this is just a distant memory for them now due to this glorious weather we are having.

I do love the snow, it's great to go out and roll about in it. I like to grab a mouthful and throw it about then chase it and if either Mum or Dad will come outside I like snowballs thrown for me, they throw I try to catch. I don't always succeed but it is good fun.

Glorious, I will look like a Polar Bear shortly.

Only trouble is when I go back into the house I leave wet puddles all over the place. Never mind, such are the joys of a long waterproof coat. Bet Mum and Dad wish they had one!

Happy New Year to all my friends out there.