July 2022

 

So what excitement did this month bring?

I had the pleasure of going to the vet to get my vaccine boosters. I'm always nervous about entering that small surgery in Johnstone. Noting my hesitancy and not wishing to drag me forcibly into the room, the vet decided to bribe me by sprinkling dog treats across the entrance. She didn't calculate how fast I can retreat after I've vacuumed everything up. I got three helpings before she realised it would work better if the treats were on the floor inside the room. She got me back though with a medicine squirt up the nose and a syringe prick in my hackles. At least I don't need to go back for another year (toes crossed, then uncrossed in case they think I've got a deformity).

I've not been at Pawz&Co so much, not now the Woman has given up her work to spend more time with me. That's the effect I have on people. Everyone loves me. If I had a pound for every time someone says I'm gorgeous, the Man wouldn't have to work either.

She did abandon me to go down to London with her mum to see ABBA Voyage and Wimbledon, leaving me with the Man and her dog, Rusty. He wasn't happy and snarled for nearly two days (the dog, not the man). Either that or he just enjoys baring his teeth. I kept out of his way. He's not always like that. It must be the Man who brings out the worst in him. 

The Man had some bad luck. First, Guns N Roses called off their Glasgow gig, then his car failed its MOT prior to their holiday so we had to travel in the Woman's car and then come back again to collect his vehicle once it had been repaired. She got a puncture and her tyre inflator broke so it was just as well we were returning to Paisley. Oh, and the dishwasher at the cabin broke too. Anyone know where we can buy some lucky white heather? 

The weather was mixed (sunshine and rain, so a typical Scottish summer) during our time at the cabin but we did experience the hottest day ever on Tuesday the 19th. We had to keep the curtains drawn to stop the sun from boiling the air inside the cabin. I was glad I'd had my haircut last month and that they had a cooling mat for me to lie on.

We did go on a few trips:

To Milton, where the man, as they drove in, worried they'd started charging to park - it was still free).

To Loch Lomond Country Park where we had a picnic on the shore and I was berated by the Man for trying to eat the skewer sticks littering the area from an earlier barbecue.  

To Mugdock Country Park, where we spotted lots of wildlife - a rabbit, lots of baby frogs, a deer (which I chased - it would have been rude not to as it was running away from me), a heron and a grasshopper. No ticks though, which was a big tick. Then lunch at the Tickled Trout in Bearsden, where I shared a roast chicken dish with a Labrador. His owner felt the portion was too large for one (which was nonsense but I was glad she felt that way because my lot were happy for me to eat a solitary Dentastix).

We walked from Bridge of Allan to Dunblane (one hour - not a great walk for views as the humans spent most of the time watching their footing), then came back on the train (one stop, 3 mins, on one of the days when they weren't on strike).

To Helensburgh, where I walked along the wall at the seafront and lay quietly while they ate lunch at The Beachcomber Cafe. It may have been called dog-friendly but the staff all seemed a bit stressed - friendliness was not on open display, which is surprising as usually, I can win them over. Later, we strolled quickly through Hermitage Park, avoiding the vaping kids and scurrilous neds. We won't be hurrying back.

To Alva Glen to see the waterfalls, then to Tillicoutry to sample Laura's Tilly Tearoom (and get tummy tickles from the tattooed, flame-haired owner), then ice cream at Penny Licks. I got to lick the Man's empty tub, much to the Woman's disapproval.  

And that's it till next month.