The perfect host?

We have two lovely ladies from the USA staying with us in Aberdeen right now. I am thinking that my canine pals might appreciate some tips on how to look after visitors from overseas.

I believe guests will always enjoy kisses and licks on their face while sipping their early morning coffee.

Then a trip up Royal Deeside to Balmoral Castle is of course a must, especially if the visitors are American. It is however a bit embarrassing if one's (English) owner consistently shows her ignorance when she is bombarded with questions about the British monarchy...

Back in Aberdeen, even the hardest working tour guide will deserve a break to play with canine friends down at the harbour mouth. 

(I am thinking that my later ball-stealing antics  at the beach - sadly unrecorded on camera - provided a highlight unmatched by all other tourist entertainments available in the Granite City. Imagine, I kept our friends amused for a whole twenty minutes while I evaded capture and refused to return my prize to its rightful owner...)

 

Oh and one more thing. Your guests will surely be thrilled if you insist they accompany you to your beginners' agility class and you make them stand around in a field for an hour swatting away the midges while they video the finer points of your performance.

Yes, I really think I've cracked this 'perfect host' business, don't you agree? 

A change of regime

What dog lover did not feel a twinge of sadness at the sight of of the late Queen's corgis, Muick and Sandy, watching the Monday's funeral procession at Windsor?

Sadness turned to deepest sympathy when Gail later read that Muick and Sandy are now in the joint custody of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson...

Meanwhile, there is a change of regime at Buckingham Palace!

It was well known how Queen Elizabeth adored the corgi breed, and I've no complaints about that. Each to their own etc. But I admit I am delighted to report our new King and Queen Consort are, in my humble opinion, much closer to the mark in their preference for Jack Russell Terriers.

As we all know, life is merrier with a terrier! 

About three years ago, Gail and a fellow Plantlife volunteer were out at the Balmoral estate conducting a wild flower monitoring survey. As they were being driven down a forest track by one of the estate rangers they passed Camilla out walking her beloved JRTs Beth and Bluebell (both rescue animals from Battersea Dogs' Home).  Camilla gave a cheery wave before she strode on down the track. She was wearing wellies, a well worn Barbour jacket and slightly muddy leggings and Gail says she looked entirely happy, relaxed and in her element. 

We wish King Charles and Queen Camilla all the best in their long anticipated new roles, and hope they still can find time, every now and then, to escape from the pomp and circumstance in London and relax with their dogs at their Scottish estate. 

 

Meanwhile I, Nobby, am happily imagining the mayhem that might result from two Jack Russells rampaging around Buck House...

PS from Gail: I absolutely promise to those suffering from monarchy overload that this will be final word on the UK's Royal Family for a good while on this blog, but I've just found a picture of King Edward VII's beloved wire fox terrier 'Caesar' taking pride of place behind the coffin in the King's funeral procession in 1910.  Reportedly, Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire was annoyed at a 'mere dog' being given such precedence!