A convenient climate

As the crow flies*, the Deeside Dog Agility Club training field at Drumforskie Farm is about a mile and a half from the North Sea.

Gail took me up there on Saturday afternoon for what she called a 'remedial' training session ahead of our forthcoming trip to compete in the Ayrshire Dog Agility Show. (Apparently my performance at our club night on Tuesday had been "unsatisfactory in every respect"...)

Gosh it really was quite hot and sticky in the sunshine and still air up at Drumforskie this weekend. 

Isn't it convenient that here in North East Scotland we have this climate phenomenon known as 'haar'.

After my training session Gail drove us the short distance to the coast, and we went for a refreshing walk along the fog-shrouded cliff path, where the temperature was down at least 5ºC compared to inland.

Later, of course, I enjoyed a good nap on the sofa. 

*I'm wondering here if I should have written the more locally relevant "As the herring gull flies" but Gail says there is no way any self-respecting Aberdeen seagull would travel in a straight line if it had the opportunity to veer off course and snatch a bag of chips out of the hands of an unsuspecting visitor... 

Not barbecue weather...

Gosh I was disappointed.

How I was looking forward to Deeside Dog Agility Club's 'Fun Show BBQ' on Sunday. 

Can you imagine a better day out? Just imagine all those juicy sausages...

But the signs were ominous on Sunday's early morning walk...

And yes you've guessed it. The message came through shortly afterwards. "BBQ cancelled due to heavy rain".

Sigh. 

At least we had enjoyed a nice ramble around the Drum Castle estate with friends M,J and K the day before. 

The sun even shone for a short while. And best of all, after the walk through the woods I made a new friend in the castle courtyard café. She's called Diva. Isn't she splendid? 

Agility progress - like a seesaw?

It seems to me that readers are due an update on my progress in agility training. 

Well of course, in my estimation, I am getting along fabulously. The fact that I have heard Gail use words like 'wayward' and 'highly erratic' and 'lacking in focus' when telling her friends how I've been doing can safely be ignored.

Now that the evenings are dark, the weekly Deeside Dog Agility training sessions take place indoors in a big barn. So many interesting corners to explore! 

And I do love jumping over the obstacles - the jumps, the 'A' frame, the tunnel...

Yes of course I understand that, officially, one is supposed to run through and not climb over the tunnel but they do say variety is the spice of life, don't they?

I am not keen on this weaving through a line of poles business. As far I'm concerned, the only good Pole is a Lowland Sheepdog (a.k.a. PON) or a young person who recently voted against the Law and Justice Party...

I digress.

Gail says she wishes I would follow the example of one of my goody-two-shoes handsome and high performing training buddies, Harrison the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, he who lacks creativity always obeys his handlers' instructions. Who has a ten syllable breed name anyway? Actually eleven if you say it Sco-ti-a.

Last week I was introduced to the seesaw for the first time and, so long as it was locked in a fixed position, I was quite happy to run up the ramp (did I mention I like climbing on things?)

Then our trainer Miree made a small adjustment and the seesaw moved just a little when I got half way up. Eeeek!

NO WAY was I again going near something that shifts under my paws. What if it signalled an earthquake, an avalanche or a landslide?

Miree was sympathetic and told Gail that terriers in particular tend to be seesaw averse. She gave us some homework that involved Gail rigging up a board that wobbles so I could practice standing on it. 

How do you think I did?