Familiar, Yet Different

Hello again, efurrybuddy! Last week, there was another big drive, and things got busy. I am going to let new-mum Dru tell you about it. After reading this, you might like to pop over to YAM-aunty's post about her visit and Gail's memorial.

Before Gail’s memorial tea, a party of Nobby's regular walkers agreed to meet at 11:30 AM in Hazlehead Park for a walk. Warnings of the big storm, Eowyn, meant all the sporty ladies, used to Aberdeen weather, turned up in several layers of waterproofs and impermeable footwear. Not so Dru and Steve, who had very wet feet by the end of the hour! Nobby was fine; in his ever-burgeoning coat, he was beginning to resemble a Merino sheep. No sane soul but us was out, and we did a round of the park and waterlogged golf course, Nobby running in circles, the wind in his tail, then trotting from group to group to spread his attentions freely between all his well-known friends. We were pleased to find there was nothing but natural mossy objects for Nobby to pick up. We’d spent the previous day in Torry near our Air B and B trying to coax Nobby to drop cardboard or buns - luckily dragging him away from other unspeakable litter.

No trees fell on our heads, and then we were blessed by the clearing of the wind and a calm sun coming out in time for Gail’s gathering. This was lovely and quite a surprise for us and, we infer, the meteorological office.

On Saturday mornig, we took Nobby to Duthie Park for a reminiscent stroll. He certainly knew where he was and obliged us by posing on his customary concrete blocks. 

A lady - Ola - even recognised him - ‘is that Nobby!’ However, despite saying hello to a few spaniels and cockapoos, and checking out some friendly shrubs, he stuck pretty close to us. We wondered if he now viewed the park as a spot where a dog could swiftly change hands to an unexpected set of new owners if not on the ‘Qui Vive!’. 

At the end of the gathering, the cafe let me come inside and I got to sit pretty for
YAM-aunty to give me some treats that they brought out for me!

Before departing those northern parts, though, Dru had to dash back to the cafe as she had left an item there on Friday. (Sadly not retrieved...) That meant another unscheduled meeting with YAM-aunty! She was spending another couple of nights parked, sheltered from the tail-end of the storm. There is only so much travel - and socialising - a dog can do, so after a welcome Lapsang Souchong and lengthy yarn for the peeps, and a pet and snooze for Nobby at the "Yamini Salon Du Thè", Nobby lay very doggo on his fragrant cushion in our car all the way back to Cumbria.

We returned just in time to celebrate Rabbie Burns's Birthday... and Nobby's Third birthday. A tiring but very worthwhile trip.

Haggis... score!!!

Pupdate!!!

YAM-aunty here. Welcome to 2025, and some very welcome news from south of the border about Nobby and his new "furmily". I am posting both here and over on DoWY so that nobody misses out on this news. As the document was a PDF with embedded images, a straight copy and paste wouldn't work, so I used screenprints instead, hence a slight separation of some sentences. If you have trouble reading the print here, you will find the larger images on that link to my blog.

Gone

My Gail has left, and I don't know where. I will not forget her. All my toys, bedding, and lead will keep her with me. Smell is a powerful memoir. We dogs are good at smell. I will let you have news of my new chapter when I know it myself. 

Please visit YAM-aunty's post in memoriam.

(Comments are off).

Unscheduled Bed And Board

A few of you will have noted a gap here. Some of you picked up on the end of the last post about Gail's feeling frail. 

It has all become strange since then. First, I want to tell you that Gail has given Aunty Yamini permission to update you here. Before she does, let me say that I have been around the houses a bit—houses of friends, that is to say—across the road, up the street, and round the corner, so you might understand if I look a tad bemused.

All my friends have been caring and ensuring I have everything I need, including warm, comfy beds. There's even a sofa.

When we had the wintry weather last week, I was even given Bertie's Christmas sweater. It fits me well, I think you'll agree?

We are grateful to Gail's cycling friend Linda for taking these photos and for being the person I have mostly been with. This is not my furever home, though. I'm told there is another move afoot... I'll hand you over to YAM-aunty now...

Hari Om

Dear Blogville friends of Gail and Nobby, it has been a whirlwind at this end. Scarce two months back, Nobby told you that Gail was unwell. She wanted things kept low-key, no fuss. One or two of you threaded things together, but several have continued to offer 'get well' wishes. Sadly, there will be no 'getting well'. It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you Gail is in hospital, under palliative care, and I am honoured that she was agreeable to my putting up this interim post and completing the blog when the time is appropriate. I can now relate more detail to you, but for that, please 

click over to DoWY bloggy.

Regarding Nobby, arrangements are in place for him to be adopted by one of Gail's lifelong friends and his wife, who live in The Lake District, north-west England (Cumbria). My understanding is that the transfer will be in mid-December.

If I can get an opportunity to be with Nobby before he goes, I will share news of that with you, but this is most probably the penultimate post for his blog. There is no way to know quite when the last post will come...

The comments will be off for this post. However, you can leave any comments and wishes on the post linked just above. 

With Hugs and Wags to you all, "YAM-aunty" xxx

My new buddies

We've had a wee bout of the Arctic here in NE Scotland this week, perfectly timed for Gail's brother who came up from Englandshire to visit for three days.

I am thinking my husky blog pals might have appreciated the conditions more than Uncle Max did.

But once again, I was happy to permit a welcome guest a generous allocation of space on my cosy blue sofa. 

In fact now he's gone, it feels like there's something of a gap.

Other good news is that I have a fun new companion for my Thursday morning walks. Freddy has just been adopted by kind neighbours Ola and Struan and he's totally up for a race around the park in the snow. Ola reported that we were both super well behaved off the lead, give or take the odd flash of 'dominance' on my part...

Freddy is a handsome one year old poodle/shih tzu mix from Mrs Murray's (the local dog and cat rescue centre). I am feeling a bit sorry for him in the cold weather as apparently his poodly coat was so matted it had to be shaved off right down to the skin when he arrived at the rescue centre.

I hope for dear Freddy's sake the furs grows back again quickly, but meanwhile he has a nice cosy jacket to keep the winter chills at bay.

Gail is spending a lot of time dozing on 'her' sofa - the brown one - at the moment, and I am learning that she mostly just wants to be left in peace.