Off-Nob

Here in the UK we have official bodies to regulate certain key industries, and they are called things like Ofwat (water and sewerage), Ofgem (gas and electricity markets), Ofcom (telecommunications) etc.

Three days into the annual gathering at Inshriach House, one of the guests (Sean the Poet) proposed that there should be a new regulatory body, to govern the behaviour of a certain nine month old fox terrier, and it should be called 'Ofnob'. Or perhaps that is 'Off-Nob!' Or Off Knob. Whichever it is, I believe Sean was trying to make a joke at my expense.

Really, I thought I was behaving rather well throughout the long weekend, despite having to contend with ten humans in addition to Gail, and also Bonnie, a Staffie x Labrador bitch of a certain age who seemed supremely unimpressed by my youthful exuberance and charm.

It is true that the words "Off, Nobby! Off!" were being uttered fairly frequently, for example whenever I tried to jump up onto the kitchen table, or climb all over Gail's friends to distract them from the apparently upsetting contents of the newspapers they were reading. (I thought I was doing them a favour.)

And I'm afraid my high decibel attempts to warn the assembled humans of an impending badger and red squirrel invasion on Saturday night were met with initial indifference and then some rather unkind comments, including asking Gail whether I came with an 'off' switch.

By day, when out and about exploring the beautiful Speyside landscapes, I'm pleased to report that the humans stopped trying to boss me about quite so much, and the words "Good Boy" were even occasionally spoken.

And in time I made friends with Bonnie. Or at least she tolerated my company so long as I remembered not to jump on her...

We said fond farewells to Inshriach House and all my lovely new chums on Monday morning. I'm already looking forward to next year's gathering!

All's well that ends well

As King Charles might say: "Oh dear oh dear oh dear".

So last Thursday, Gail packed up the car and we set off from the cottage, heading for Inshriach House near Aviemore, where one of Gail's friends organises an annual gathering and I was to take part for the first time. So exciting! 

For the first five miles of the hunded mile drive, all went well.

Then, as we were passing through Torridon village at about 10 am, I was startled by sudden loud bang, the car swerving into the curb then a second even louder bang. I heard Gail utter certain words which I've been told not to repeat on this blog.

Long story short, punctured tyres, front and back on the left side of the car, a phone call to the AA, a wait of two hours and finally the recovery vehicle from Lochcarron garage arrived. 

Cue a slow journey to Lochcarron in the recovery truck, during which 'S' from Glasgow related his troubled life history (two marriages, two divorces, past problems with alcohol, job loss due to the pandemic, accumulating debts leading to house repossession, a move to a trailer in the Highlands) and political views (anti Brexit, pro-Scottish independence). None of this was making Gail look any happier.

Then a wait of three hours in the tea room above the repair shop, where Gail had to opportunity to peruse unfamiliar material in the form of motoring magazines and a nice lady gave me a biscuit.

The good news is that by 4:30 pm the car was roadworthy again, with two brand new tyres fitted. We reached Inshriach House shortly after dark, where my new best friend Lyn gave me the warmest of welcomes. I was happy enough, but to tell you the truth, Gail was still looking a wee bit stressed...

More about our time at Inshriach later in the week...

Celebrating my first Torridon Autumn

Each season has its loveliness,

But Fall is my favourite by far.

Hills clothed with gold. No crowned princess, 

In radiance could compare. 

 My nimble paws tread lightly through

The once green bracken, sedge and grass,

Transformed to soft autumnal hues

Of amber, russet, burnished brass.

 As darkness crowds out daylight hours

Each sunlit moment grows more prized,

For soon I will retreat indoors,

To comfy rugs and warm log fires.

Happy Nature Friday friends!

A Torridon miscellany

Breathing in the clean, pure Torridon air

Shieldaig's Gaelic graffiti artist fails to keep up

Sheep invade the village of Shieldaig

On second attempt, Gail locates the right car ...

Pink granitic rocks at the Bealach na Gaoithe

A pause to admire the view to Ben Shieldaig 

Stream crossing not attempted this time

Off-piste on the slopes of Beinn Damh

Relatively speaking

Greetings from the cottage in autumnal Torridon, where I've spent the past few days entertaining (yes I did mean to write 'entertaining' and not 'terrier-ising') Gail's lovely relatives, cousin Richard and his wife Kate.

Have you ever felt, as a young pup, that there is far too much discussion of your behaviour and wished, every now and then, to turn the tables and report on the humans? 

So that is what I am going to do today, as I am now clearly top dog in these parts.

Well I have to tell you there was an awful lot of talking going on in the cottage. These three folk scarcely ever stopped! Imagine the complaints if I had been barking for even a fraction of that time... Who knew there could be so much family news to exchange? And so much to say about bicycles (well, that was just Gail and Richard). 

Much food and drink was consumed too. Almost none of it found its way to my dog bowl. Humph. 

For a quarter of a hour period on Saturday evening I was unable to observe what the humans were up to as I was rudely interrupted in my determined and energetic attempts to excavate a hole in one of the sofa cushions, and banished to the hallway.

I can at least tell you that Kate and Richard were well-behaved when we went for a short walk, allowing me plenty of time to sniff around to my heart's content and to explore thoroughly the ditches beside the footpath. 

So all in all we had a fun time, and because I'm feeling generous I'm awarding the humans a Good Conduct badge. I do hope Richard and Kate come again to Torridon, although Gail says they live a long way away in Somerset, and that maybe next time it will our turn to visit them. 

But only if I promise to be a GOOD DOG!!

One final sad bit of news. We had to say goodbye this week to one of this blog's favourite commenters, Inca (aka Coppa's Girl), faithful and much loved Labrador companion to Carol in sunny Spain. Inca, we will so miss your always entertaining observations, but we know you had a good long life, and your human did not want you to suffer so took the kindest decision. Rest in peace, dear Inca.

PS from Gail: We are still in Torridon, where the broadband service seems to be even more flakey than usual at the moment, so apologies if communication is intermittent.