The truth about early morning walks

Today I would like to clear up a potential misapprehension regarding the daily routine in the Gail and Nobby household. 

Here are some photos from my early morning walk yesterday (Thursday).

I suspect that those of my readers who live in hot parts of the world might be thinking thus:  "How considerate of Gail to take Nobby out for a walk first thing, when the sun is low in the sky and the temperatures relatively cool. We would hate to think of him frying in the midday heat."

It is true that this week has been unusually warm and dry for a Scottish September.

But it is most certainly not the case that the weather here gets so hot that a lively WFT would not want to go out for a run, whatever the time of day. Frying in the heat is not a thing in Aberdeen.

The truth is that I am not averse to the occasional lie-in, and the main reason I am 'encouraged' out of the house at the crack of dawn every Thursday morning is so Gail can spend the better part of the day joining her friends for a bike ride through the beautiful Aberdeen countryside while I am left home alone.

The cycling ladies take a break for elevenses at Midmar on Thursday morning

So now you know the truth.. 

I hope all my friends who take part in Nature Friday have been enjoying nice weather and fun outings this week! 

Magnolia malcontent

So you would think, in a week when I did Gail a VERY BIG FAVOUR* during a walk one afternoon, that my dear owner would have been prepared to spend lots of time helping me put together a particularly magnificent Nature Friday post.

But no, instead she prioritised going on a long and hilly bike ride with her friends on Thursday. 

After which I was hastily taken around the park, shoved in front of a magnolia bush and told to "pose nicely" beside the pretty blooms.

I was pretty reluctant to cooperate. 

I doubt very much that my friends will want to see Gail and her friends riding their bicycles around the Aberdeenshire countryside and picnicking beside the Dee in glorious Spring sunshine. I suppose the fact that Gail offered me these pictures to pad out the post is tantamount to an admission that the magnolia theme is in itself a bit thin.

Oh and I want you to know that I did in the end pose nicely.

Happy Nature Friday friends!

*Readers will have to wait another week for YAM-aunty's Final Friday Feature slot to find out more about this particular adventure.

A new dawn?

First of all, to let you know what a generous and thoughtful chap I am, I want to show you the WhatsApp message I sent Gail's cycling group (revealingly known as 'Scones R Us') yesterday morning. 

Now on to Nature Friday. 

Well since it's mostly been - for reasons I think you'll understand - sedate city walks this week, all I have to show you is some sunrise photos captured during my break of day outings in Duthie Park.

Gail says these images are appropriate to signal the "dawn of a new era". Perhaps you can figure out what she means. Beats me...

Once again thank you to our dear friends, the LLB Gang, for hosting this, our favourite blog hop.

We all had a blast...

So this week while I was having a (metaphorical) blast, running around the farm with my fox terrier relatives and making myself quite at home in the cosily dog dominated farmhouse kitchen...

....Gail was apparently enduring a (literal) blast, of wind and rain, as she and her cycling friends battled through the back roads of Perthshire, Central Scotland. 

Gail says: The great news is that Nobby received an A* report from his breeder Alex when I picked him up from his short sojourn back with his Craigmancie Wire Fox Terrier family. "You've brought up a lovely, happy dog, he fitted right in, he's been as good as gold." Music to my ears!

Who is getting the better deal?

This week, Gail and her cycling friends are heading down for a three day 'mini-tour' of Perthshire (Central Scotland) and I am running wild with my Craigmancie Fox Terrier family for the duration. 

I think I might have got the better end of the bargain...

MIA

Oh I do want to apologise for being Missing in Action over the last few days.

I was never warned that I would be staying in what Gail calls a "Doggy AirBnB' while she went off with her friends cycling around Peebles and Melrose in the Scottish Borders this week. 

So the nice couple I stayed with did send Gail some pictures.

And Gail seems to think some of you might like to see a few photos from her trip too (although the appeal of looking at images of sweaty cyclists rather escapes me...)

Normal service will be resumed on Monday. I have to say Gail looked just a teeny weeny bit exhausted when she picked me up earlier this morning...