Glen Tanar and memories

Today's post is a double header, combining the LLB Gang's 'Nature Friday' bloghop with YAM-aunty's Final Friday Feature.  

Gail adds some context: A week ago Nobby and I enjoyed a long walk around Glen Tanar with the husband of a close friend who died over a decade ago, and this outing inspired Nobby's poem.

Glen Tanar 

I trot along beside these two old friends

As they share memories of one whom, differently,

They both adored. 

Ten years it’s been, for fractured hearts to mend,

But still there’s hurt, despite the time gone by,

Deep down, where love is stored.

The ancient pines spread out their branches wide,

Allowed to breathe, to flourish undisturbed,

And two old friends will also talk

Of hobbies, interests, topics of all kind,

And all the while, and mostly unperturbed

An undertow of sadness stalks.

She loved this place as we three also do.

As we tramp onwards through the tranquil glade,

Some thoughts are not expressed.

I’m ruminating on my favourite food,

My doggy brain is rather simply made,  

The humans’ more complex. 

Meditations from a walk along the cliffs

Happy Nature Friday to all our dear and lovely friends, near and far! 

A seasonal haiku from Aberdeen

Short and sweet today, combining the LLB Gang's Nature Friday with YAM-aunty's Final Friday Feature. 

Spring is an old car

Sputtering into action

Spark plugs needing cleaned...

PS All photos taken within minutes of each other at the mouth of Aberdeen harbour on Wednesday afternoon, the first two looking out to the North Sea and the second two looking back over the harbour and city.

Three Days

A Weekend in the Life of Nobby

Friday saw sun and all cares cast aside,

To Glen Tanar we ventured, and roamed far and wide,

Through soft birches and pines in the valley below,

Then high on on the hill into heather we go! 

The next day, a comedown, the rugby was on,

While Gail watched the telly I paced round the room.

I worked hard at obstructing her view of the screen,

But was pushed aside rudely, which I thought was mean.

On Sunday, we walked with our friends M and J,

On Stonehaven beach, then the steep coastal trail

To the World War Memorial. A place to reflect,

On how peace is so fragile a thing to protect. 

Nobby's Ode to Winter Weather

My offering today is a wee poem, suitable (I hope) for the LLB Gang's Nature Friday and for YAM-aunty's Final Friday Feature. 

Climate Change in a Week

My heart's aglow,

When I see snow.

But as for slush,

Not so much. 

Don't slip on ice,

Is good advice.

Ceaseless gales,

Bring more travails.

Now we have rain.

Oh not AGAIN!

What a bummer.

When is Summer?

PS As some of my readers know, yesterday was my 2nd birthday. I shall be posting about my not entirely satisfactory 'celebrations' later in the weekend...

Nobby's poetic response to Scotland's recent wet weather

IF (THE NOBBY VERSION)

If I were a frog,

And not a soggy dog,

I wouldn't mind the rain.

If I were a lobster

And not Sir Nobby Nobster

I'd really not complain.

If I were a walrus

And not remotely porous,

I'd frolic in the ocean.

And if I were a sealion

And not a whip-smart canine

I'd always choose a soaking. 

If I were a puffin,

For whom a flood means nothin',

I'd not be agitated

But I am a fox terrier,

And frankly I am merrier,

When my land's not inundated.

A different relationship to gravity...

Another special post today, combining the LLB Gang's Nature Friday blog hop with our friend YAM-aunty's Final Friday Feature.

A Young Dog Ascends Beinn Alligin, 22 July, 2023

Nobby, do you have springs for paw pads?

Did Oscar Pistorius

Lend you his blades?

Or is there perhaps,

Hidden in those wiry haunches,

A micro-motor stolen from

A cheating rider in the Tour de France?

Maybe you made a secret pact,

With Isaac Newton, thus to counteract,

The laws of gravity?

I cannot otherwise explain,

How you dance up

Our steepest Scottish peaks

With such apparent ease and grace.

So light of foot, 

A wonder to behold,

While I clomp slowly, far behind,

Feeling rather old. 

Poetic musings beside Loch Kinord

Welcome to today's double header - a special post combining the LLB Gang's Nature Friday blog hop and YAM-aunty's Final Friday Feature. 

  The WFT and the Water Lilies

Pictured here, a terrier beside a loch,

A scene at once so tranquil and so not!

The lily dappled watery scene beguiles,

The WFT's brim full of wiry wiles.

What better time to plot some devilry,

Than when one's human's lost in reverie?

Reflecting on reflections, she neglects

To pay attention to her naughty pet...

Don't be deceived by such a pert wee rear,

Such pretty markings, cute and flappy ears.

He's thinking up some new and rascally moves

While she's distracted by the pure white blooms.

Will he escape into the trees to hide?

Perhaps locate a muddy ditch, and dive,

Emerging filthy and malodorous,

Then spy her angry face and wonder what's the fuss. 

One scene, experienced in different ways,

A lesson for us all, for all our days. 

How dull life would be, were it otherwise.

What joy to see things through another's eyes! 

Not for the squeamish

Aberdeen City Beach, March 2023

Snow flurries and sun and a trip to the shore,

A perfect chance to exercise one’s Right to Roam,

The tail-wagging pup is now free to explore,

The vast stretch of beach is all his to comb. 

White caps on the waves are a-glint in the sun,

There’s pieces of driftwood to closely survey.

Then all of a sudden, and fast, the dog runs,

His nose is alerted, his lithe limbs obey.

The human’s distracted, too late she pays heed,

And cries “come Nobby, COME”, and more loudly again.

But he’s more than her match when he turns on the speed,

And he reaches his goal, all her shouting in vain.

What a glorious prize, what treasure lies here! 

What once was a seal is now part-decomposed.

Oh please give the dog a chance to roll and smear

His furs. This scent's much sweeter than a rose…

Happy Nature Friday friends, and once again thanks to our LLB Gang friends for hosting this our favourite blog hop. And readers please be assured that the Aberdeenshire coast is home to a sizeable population of live and healthy seals.

Setting the record straight

Well as you can see, I've been having fun out and about in the snow this week. So much so in fact that I fear I've left it rather late to get in touch with Santa Claus. But it has come to my notice how he might have been receiving 'mixed messages' about my behaviour these past eleven months, so I hope this wee poem will set the record straight...

Dear Father Christmas

Let me remind you how I'm Nice 

(It's possible you've got it wrong!)

But 'Naughty Nobby' cuts no ice,

So many good things I have done.

When Gail lost Bertie and was sad,

I came along and cheered her up,

With limitless exuberance, 

And being just the cutest pup.

I love to travel in a car,

I never bark, or whine or yap,

I love to meet dogs in the park.

I'm such an affable young chap.

In cafés I'm so well-behaved

You'd scarcely know I'm there at all,

And out on walks, when off the lead

I generally come when called.

At night I settle in my crate,

And sleep right through 'til break of day.

And then, with thanks, I meditate

On all the fun I'll have today.

And all my so-called 'Naughtiness',

(No need, I think, to catalogue),

Can, without doubt, be reassessed

As great material for my blog!