'Cheerer Upper in Chief'

I told you on Monday about the crack team of local friends who are keeping me exercised and entertained.

Today I want to show you how Gail's pals from further afield have been brightening up the house with lots of lovely messages and cards and flowers. 

The weather here in Aberdeen has turned a bit November-gloomy this week, but I am perfectly suited to the role of 'Cheerer Upper in Chief'!

Flowers from Angela and David in London

(Gail tells me my cheering up services might be in high demand today by many of our friends across the Pond, as well as more generally in other parts of the world such as Ukraine, but I'm afraid there's a limit to how much one jolly little fox terrier can achieve...)

A strong squad

Me and my 'Tuesday girl'

Can I tell you about my team of wonderful humans who are now helping Gail keep me exercised and entertained?

Close neighbours Kirsty and Edith do Mondays and Thursday afternoons respectively. Both are also dog owners and Edith's cocker spaniel Stroma and I rub along together companionably enough, but Kirsty's wee poodle Ella is elderly and never was a fan of my more boisterous side, so she doesn't usually join us for our walks. 

On Tuesday at the moment it's Anita. I'm told Anita has a penchant for running endurance marathons in the mountains when she isn't sailing around the world. But so far, and somewhat to my relief, we've stuck to the less challenging territory of Aberdeen's parks and green spaces.

My Wednesday lady is Sheila. She is, like Kirsty, a retired vet. Sheila clearly adores walking and dogs and in turn I adore her.

Friday it's the turn of Imogen, another action woman, who somehow finds time to fit me in between her cycling, kayaking, cello-playing, swimming, volunteering and other activities. Exhausting even to read that list!

First choice on Sundays is Gail's former colleague John, who likes to drive me out into the hills and give me a good workout.

Oh and finally let's not forget Saturday, when lovely young Ola and Struan take me for a walk and, if I'm super lucky, we might also go to the pub next door to their flat - a familiar spot from pub quiz evenings where I feel quite at home and am, in truth, rather spoilt.

All the best teams are backed up by first rate talent on the substitutes bench and you'll doubtless be hearing more about some of my 'reserves' in good time.

As readers will have realised, I'm having to adapt to some big, sudden and wholly unanticipated changes in routine since Gail came out of hospital, and she tells me that henceforth things will never be quite the same as they were before. 

But you know what? I'm friendly and adaptable little chap and I'm doing just fine.

Me and Stroma

Late Autumn East and West

In Duthie Park, my friends are still bowled over by my handsome haircut, and the branches of trees are also bearing less weight, having mostly shed their leaves by now.

Gail's lovely friends Yvonne and Neil made the trip west to check that all is in order at our Torridon cottage and sent us photos of the autumnal scenes thereabouts.

Yvonne brought back the 'last flower of the year' from the cottage garden, and it's now adorning our breakfast table here in Aberdeen.

Happy Nature Friday!

I wasn't fat after all!

Can you believe that of late a couple of Gail's friends suggested to her that I might just be getting a wee bit chubby?

Even my owner had begun to wonder.

It is true some things are having to change in the Gail and Nobby household, as Gail is sadly no longer able to take me on my customary frequent long walks. But fret not, I now have a crack team of willing helpers and so I am in no way going short of exercise. 

For example, on Saturday, our friend John took me on a most enjoyable romp up an old favourite, Millstone Hill.

You'll see in the photo John took on the walk that I was looking very shaggy, Gail having been neglecting my normal grooming routine this month. 

We all know the line: "He's not fat he's fluffy".

So Gail (with the invaluable assistance of dear YAM-aunty) took me for my first ever professional grooming appointment on Sunday and you know what? 

A three hour session with nice Emily at the Dog Cabin near Inverurie revealed that I was not overweight after all! 

Quite svelte in fact, don't you think?

Sophie from Romania

Today I want to tell you about Gail's new audiobook 'Sophie from Romania'.

This tale, just published, relates how former BBC Technology Correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones and his high powered economist wife 'The Prof' adopted Sophie, a dog from Eastern Europe, and then spent the best part of a year gently and patiently encouraging her to feel confident enough to venture from her safe space behind their red sofa and out into the world.

We learn how Rory, a naturally impatient man, deals with his Parkinson's disease as well as the frustrations of having to accept the glacially slow progress made by Sophie as she begins to conquer her fears and anxieties.

It is an unsentimental account in which each faltering step forward is celebrated and inevitable doubts about whether they are following the best course of action with Sophie are honestly expressed.

As a sub-plot, we learn about the reactions of #SophiefromRomania's legion of followers on Instagram and Twitter/X to her every step, and the impact this has on Rory and his wife. 

[The audiobook version is beautifully read by the author, whom Gail knew a little bit when she was in London in the early 1980's and Rory, at the time a BBC trainee journalist, lived in Battersea in the flat below her then boyfriend.]

Highly recommended to all dog lovers!