And willows, willow-herb and grass ...

The river bank just downstream from the Bridge of Dee always looks appealing, but Gail hadn't taken me there before this week, deeming the path too boggy. 

"Too boggy"? Is that really a thing? 

Well what with all the recent warm dry weather here Aberdeen, she finally relented. 

So Gail happily photographed the flowers and trees, while murmuring to herself lines from the third verse of one of her favourite English poems*...

"And willows, willow-herb and grass,

And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry..."

....And yours truly got down to the serious business of the morning.

Happy Nature Friday friends! 

*'Adlestrop' by Edward Thomas 

A misunderstanding regarding F1 cockerpoos

I met Jasper on the Aberdeen city beach on Sunday afternoon.

When he said he was an 'F1' cockerpoo I thought that meant he wanted to race! 

He certainly could show Lewis Hamilton a thing or two about cornering technique...

PS Explanatory note for readers - especially those across the Pond: F1 is an abbreviation of Formula One, the form of motor racing popular in many parts of the world but perhaps less well known in the USA. In the dog breeding world, F1 of course refers to a first generation cross.

Mountaineer in training

It's been very frustrating. As you know, Scotland has mountains a plenty, all begging to be climbed by a lively WFT, but until now Gail has only taken me on relatively low level walks. Some ridiculous idea about not over-straining growing limbs, apparently. 

Anyway, now that I am nearly six months old and getting more robust by the day, my dear owner finally last week decided I was ready for an ascent of Millstone Hill, an elevation of just over 400 m and an old favourite of both my predecessors.

I learned that here, and I'm told this is the general rule for Scottish hills, no matter what the conditions when one leaves car car park it is always windy at the summit. 

One down, four to go...

 I'm really hoping my owner has learned the error of her ways.

You'll be shocked (or perhaps not) to learn that when staying with YAM-aunty last week, Gail was so absorbed in watching the Tour de France on TV one evening she ignored clear signals that I needed to go outside and the result was a 'wee' puddle on the living room carpet. 

You would hope this mortifying incident might dampen Gail's enthusiasm for all things bicycle-related. 

And guess what? Result! Shortly after we returned home to Aberdeen earlier this week, a friendly woman and a very sweet teenage girl called Marta turned up at our house, and Gail handed over one of her bicycles.

Marta, who spoke excellent English although I'm told she comes from Ukraine, seemed genuinely thrilled with this gift and, after a small adjustment to the saddle height, she went on a short test ride up the street and then took the bike away to her temporary home here in the city. 

Right, that's one bicycle gone, four more (including a rarely used one rusting away in Torridon) to go.

PS from Gail: We have a few hundred Ukrainians recently arrived here in Aberdeen and recently a plea went out to all the local cycling groups for bicycles that might be of use to the refugees. I was delighted to be able to help someone whose life has been turned upside down by this terrible war in a small but practical way. I hadn't been expecting to meet the recipient of the bike - that was a lovely bonus.

PPS from Gail: It later occurred to me there were echoes here of my mother's experience as a 'war guest' (i.e. an evacuee) in Toronto from 1940-44, when she stayed with a kind and generous family who provided her with a bicycle and much else besides.

Socialisation boot camp

Gail has pointed out that my recent tour  'down south' amounted to an eleven day socialisation boot camp. I clocked up a long list of notable 'firsts' - see below for a list of the top ten - and am pleased (and Gail is mightily relieved) to report that I graduated with flying colours and a self-awarded grade of 90% Nice Nobby*.

First nights in a hotel (Buccleuch Arms in Moffat and later the Dalesgate near Ilkley)

First time in England (as far south as Leicestershire)

First nights staying with Gail's friends (Janet, then YAM-Aunty)

First time in a cafe with another dog present (several cafés actually)

First train journey (seven minutes, Beeston to Nottingham)

First meetings with Gail's relatives (Gail's brother, sister-in-law, niece and cousin)

First male lap to sit on (Janet's friend Steve in Nottingham)

First visit to a pub (The Roebuck, Utley)

First time on a car ferry (Gourock to Hunter's Quay, Dunoon)

First visit to a church to check out the water-driven organ (St Mun's Church in Kilmun: https://youtube.com/shorts/EQ9vB7VVpKw?feature=share)

*Self-assessment is the order of the day, right? Gail says 90% smacks of grade inflation. I will admit that the Ilkley Moor bog affair was a misstep..