Wowee, we are on our hollibobs near Ambleside in the Lake District. We are staying at a stunning 3 story house called Lowtherwood. I have come to stay with my own pack (mum & dad) and lots of my extended pack… which are:

• Grandma Barbara
• Grandad Wack
• Auntie Jill
• Uncle Richard
• Auntie Alison
• Uncle Patrick

We arrived at 15:00 and were the first here. We couldn’t actually get into our new kennel so we just went for a wander around the field. But before long the rest of the pack arrived and we all spent ages unpacking and getting used to our new surroundings. The house has lots of different floors and I am finding the stairs quite hard to navigate as they are wooden  and a bit slippy for me. However, mum has taken control and makes me sit at the top and the bottom and she holds my collar whilst we got up and down slowly together – brilliant!

Ooh, ooh, did I tell you  – we have an amazing bathroom and we even have a TELEVISION IN THE BATHROOM – RIGHT AT THE END OF THE BATH. Mum & dad nearly did a somersault when they saw it – but quite frankly, I am more please with the massive field outside out bedroom that I can sniff… now that is 5 star treatment for dogs if you ask me – Woof Woof.

Well I am off as apparently we are having chicken & chips for tea – what’s not to like?!?! Xxx

Friday – Day 2

Well today is a very special day as it is the whole reason we are having a little hollibob. Today  Grandma Barbara & Grandad Wack have been married for 50 years and as such it is their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Now then , mum told me that this meant that they had  been best friends for a very long time and had 3 pups which apparently are dad, Auntie Jill & Auntie Alison.  So this morning we had special breakfast and they got lots of special presents including a brilliant present from Grandma & Grandad Dixon. Grandma Dixon had put together a basket of things “gold” which included golden crunch biscuits and golden blend coffee…. I think Grandad Wack was particularly pleased about the biscuits. ….

After we had eaten and things, mum, dad and I all went to Ambleside and had a walk to Stock Ghyll Force which is an amazing waterfall. The walk was BRILLIANT and I just spent the entire time legging it from tree to tree  having a right old time sniffing and playing. Guess what though, at the bottom of the waterfall there was a bridge and a pool of very clear, very pure water  so guess what mum and I did???? We only went in the flipping water!!!! I was dead brave and went in right up to my chest, but mum was a big girl’s blouse and kept screaming and laughing and saying that the water was too cold…. *tuts* what a wimp!!!

On the way back mum & dad were walking SO slowly and at one point I thought “Bl**dy H*ll you two, HURRY UP!”…. I had to keep stopping and going back to check where they were as they just couldn’t keep up with Peggy the super-dog *sniggers*.

Anyway, tonight I having a chill in the den whilst the rest of the pack go out to celebrate The Golden thingy and I am just looking for a 40 winks (ok about 140)….. xxx

Saturday – Day 3

I think I can officially say that I love Lowtherwood and the Lake District in general. I have said it before but it really is one of the most dog friendly places that I have ever been on hollibobs. Anyway, I still have to tell you about last night. My pack and all my extended pack went out for a very posh meal at Holbeck Ghyll which is the hotel right next to where we are staying. Everyone was having a little drink on the balcony when a golf buggy came up the drive to escort some of “our party” down to the hotel – how posh is that?!?

I stayed behind to mind the den until everyone came back and don’t tell anyone, but I had a sleepy zzzz on the bed – woof woof .

So back to today, mum, dad and I all woke up at 6:30am which is quite early, but it’s such a lovely place we didn’t want to miss a single second. We eventually went upstairs to the kitchen at about 8:00 and mum and dad set about making a Blackcurrant & Almond sponge as part of our “Come Dine with Me” meal experience tonight.

After everyone got dressed and got up and things, we all went out together to Kendal to something called “Mintfest” which was a collection of performance art in and around the shops in the high street. To be honest though, there were a few too many people for me and I got a bit jostled and in the end mum had to shield me by getting me to walk in between her legs so that no-one could bang into me. L . But we did have a good day though as dad went to a running shop called “Pete Bland Sports” and he treated himself to some new trail shoes – he was also lovely and treated mum to a new scarf – actually dad – where is my treat? *throws dad the sad eyes* – just kidding……

When we came back we all had a chill and a sleep in the bedroom and then mum took me for a walk around the adjoining field whilst dad had a bath whilst watching the TV – heaven for us all I think.

So tonight involves us eating the following:

• Starter:  A Trio of Brochette – cooked by Auntie Alison & Uncle Patrick
• Main Course: Claridges Chicken Pie, Sautéed Savoy Cabbage & Pomme Duchesse – cooked by Auntie Jill & Uncle Richard
• Dessert: Blackcurrant Bakewell Tart with Custard  – cooked by mum & dad

I hope you noticed that I said “us” eating as I will of course be on patrol around the dining table to catch anything that inadvertently gets dropped (or passed to me) on the floor – hopefully.

So the last thing I should mention is that it is our final day tomorrow and dad’s trail race in Keswick. He is a little nervous, but I have every faith in him and am very proud of him for training so hard…. 

GO DAD!!!!!

XXX

Sunday – Day 4

Well dogbloggers, we are home and we did have a very lovely time. Today was dad’s 9 mile Trail Race in Keswick and I am pleased to report that he finished in 1 piece and whilst he said it was very hard – there was some beautiful scenery and his legs didn’t break – Woof Woof – well done Dad and also well done to Auntie Alison who also ran really fast too!

I have to confess that I whilst I enjoyed the whole holiday and just loved the open space of Lowtherwood – I am shattered as love being back at home -  I get to do a very long sleep, which is ace…..

Hope you enjoy the photos and videos….. xxxx

So this weekend has been about dad training for his trail race next weekend, mum training for her 10k in October and me sleeping & making suspicious smells from time to time. he he he.

But this week is going to be ace as mum & dad are only in work for 2 days, but more importantly and MUCH more significantly, my brilliant cousin Lola-Mai starts school on Wednesday….

Good Luck Lola!!! xxxxx Woof Woof xxxxx

My dad has been training SOOOOOO hard as he is taking part in a trail race in the Lake District on the 5th September which is a week on Sunday…. In fact, mum & I even went to surprise him the other week on one of his long runs..we laid in wait with a milky way and a big cheer….

Here I am cheering – I think he was made up:

I always go running with dad & mum in the winter as the weather is cooler and I don’t get too hot. In fact for the Manchester 10k they did in 2009, I trained with them nearly all the time - Woof Woof. You see the thing is too, my dad is a dead good runner and even when he decides not to go out running for a while, he just picks it straight back up and can run 3 miles without even catching his breath - how ace is that?!?!

Anyway, dad’s training starting informally whilst we were on holiday in Anglesey as  he went for a run around Cefni Reservoir. But, since then he has STEAMED ahead and been running 3-4 times a week and is now like woofing lightening and as fit as a fiddle (or me). He has had poorly shins and had to cut back slightly at one point, but his ice packs and human medicine has meant he is race fit again and raring to go – I love my dad I do. ♥ So I am sure all you dogbloggers will help me wish him GOOD LUCK for his race which is just over 1 week away and I just hope we can contain our excitement till then…

Before I go though, its only fair to mention that my mum has been training too for a race both her and dad are doing on October 17th. Is a 10k race at Victoria Park in Southport for Cancer Research. She has been using something called MiCoach which she discovered after seeing this advert…

She figured that if it’s good enough for Jess Ennis, then it’s good enough for her. Woof Woof. She seems to be enjoying it too, so good on ya mum!

But dogbloggers, thats enough about them two, back to me……. erm….. I’ve done nowt…..erm….. I had a sleep……twice……erm…..

Night night then. xxxxxxxx

oh dog biscuits, I nearly forgot…. if you would be so lovely as to sponsor my mum to run, I would be very grateful and would give you a very special Peggy lick and I may even give you my paw – just click on this button – thank you xxx

Winner: Josie, 2nd: Dave, 3rd: Mario, 4th: JJ, 5th: Andrew.

Now then, I’ve got no idea what Big Brother is or even if they have pups? No pups or woofies would be rubbish?!?!?

Oh well CONGRATULATIONS JOSIE whoever you are xx

You see, the thing is, I love lying on mum & dad’s things – it doesn’t matter  what it is – towel, shoe, cushion and in this case – mum’s damp t-shirt from her wet run the other day. My mum decided to leave the t-shirt on the floor for a while to see how many different ways I could invent to lie on it - turns out the magic number is 9 Brilliant xx

Yesterday, was Grandad Dixon’s birthday and I stayed at home minding the den whilst the rest of my extended pack took him out for tea at Lymewood Farm. Mum said that everyone  had a lovely time and eat as much carvery as we could manage – sounds yummy.

Anyway, today mum & I went for a run and although it was warm and mum said I was a mithering so and so – I loved it.

Happy woofly days… xxx

Happy Birthday Grandad!!!

• The carpets, coach and my bed area have all had two overnight spray treatments
• I have had two specific flea treatments where mum dropped some medication on my neck and back
• Everywhere in the house has been extensively hoovered – including under the bed
• Dad has thrown away the car seats out of the back of his car and hoovered and sprayed his car

I didn’t have a lot of fleas – in fact mum only found 3, but it’s still “minging”. We checked the Internet (as you do) and most sites we consulted founded that fleas could be caught from other infested animals or from long grass. Well I go in long grass ALL THE TIME – so I am surprised I haven’t got them before now. Apparently fleas jump onto things, so I am not that surprised actually, as I am lightening fast and they just probably haven’t been able to catch me before now!! Woof Woof.

Anyway, here are a couple of things my mum suggested that you might use if you ever catch the dreaded flea lurgy…..

However, the only fly in the ointment (literally) was that when we got home, dad noticed that I had been scratching and upon inspection – mum & dad think I’ve got fleas…

So dad had to give me a good brushing just to make sure and mum went to Tesco to get a plethora of Flea treatments. I had to be brushed and sprayed and all sorts and it kind of make me shake as I wasn’t sure what was going on – mum said I was a nervous wreck. *whimpers*

But after an overnight treatment and everything in sight being sprayed, we think we are in the clear and I’m not scratching any more. Phew… lets hope we have a better day today….

But guess what too, I haven’t been very well this week, I’ve had a poorly tummy and mum and dad couldnt feed me for a few days – I was STARVING though…. Thankfully it didn’t last too long and I feel much better now and am raring to go again.

This weekend I think my pack is going to have a quiet one – I think tomorrow we are going to Grandma Barbara & Wack’s house and I am dead giddy as I always get lots of tickles when I go visiting – Woof Woof.

Then maybe tonight and over the weekend, my pack will take me out for lots of walks and I might even get a treat or to…… well off for a zzz and to wait for mum & dad to come home from work – or maybe I should see if I can get the remnants of last night’s tea out of the kitchen bin… whaddya reckon??