The Hornet's Nest

I love dogs and have had a couple. The first was a Cocker Spaniel with a proper pedigree and a long posh kennel club name. She came from my friend in Dorset who breeds them from time to time and we had her as a puppy, hoping that our middle daughter would stop being terrified of most animals, dogs in particular. The theory was that they would grow up together and she would accept the dog as being none threatening.

Dogs being pack animals have to have a top dog, and ours quickly assumed that role. As she was not allowed to go upstairs she decide that the children couldn't go up there either, so would spread herself out on the bottom tread and growl if one them tried. As the children grew she seemed to accept the fact that she was slipping down the pecking order and first one, then another could order her off the stairs.

 

A former girlfriend had a big hairy ginger cat which was useless and her parents dog bullied it all the time. One day I was told that the cat had just had a fight with the dog and beaten it. I think the cat was just lazy and had in the end had enough. The dog left it alone for a long time after.

 

Betty what is a pug?

 

ugly little blighters - they come in black too.

 

I have been trying to convince my wife that I should get a cat to keep me company, whilst she is in France! I was actually looking at getting a Siamese, but I am led to believe they are hard work? I would love a dof but being a shift worker it would be left on its own for 13 plus hours No dog could last that long without having an accident! But a cat with a litter tray would be OK, it is just with me going to Pairs once a month there is cattery fees to take into consideration as well! Oh the decisions I have to make and the amount of persuasion I have to do on the wife Anyone any ideas?
Had a lovely meal with my children in Aylesbury went to the Bucks Yeoman in Bedgrove, never a place I would have thought to have taken them a few years ago but now I can recommend it!

 

Evening all dogs are cool (when they are well behaved!!) My German shepherd and boxer have fun chasing each other on a nearby beach ,or when they are pulling me along on the dog cart!

Been into Bergen Town centre this evening a couple of beers at the Irish pub ,there was a chinese restaurant a few doors down that was excellent, best feed I have had for a long time!!! ,back on the bus and back to the hotel! Few more people I know from the contracting circuit turning up tonight! This could be a fun week

 

I take it there still is plenty to sight see in Bergen Norway? Enjoy your week

 

Yes Al especially on a balmy summers evening , I was like a dog with two.................bones

 

View attachment 5500 Ah bliss a warm summers night, Bergen Sooooo Jealous! Mind you my good lady flies in tomorrow

 

Enjoy your stay Norway, but don't forget why you are there. Not too much partying in the bar.

 

Al you should have seen ...............ok wont go there

 

Would you like to tell me what constitutes a warm summers night in Norway?

Just spoken to daughter No 1 who tells me it has been tipping it down in Gloucester

 

20C sitting outside a serviceable bar watching lots of pretty women walking by!

 

OFH it certainly is, I just drove West from Aylesbury and the dark clouds were just looming, the ground has had a good soak and I think there is still plenty to come. So glad I cut my lawn this morning

Norway, so unfair Bergen is in my top 3 places I have visited fantastic place, very friendly locals who all speak perfect English so easy to have a conversation no language barrier. Oh the memories

 

Not been checking me out have you? Daughter No 3 lives in Aylebury.

 

Night all catch later tomorrow evening!

 

On the subject of pets - we have had a very emotional week. Mrs W_Y found a very "unlikely lady-like" protuberance on her little "girl" tortoise this week. Apparently it is not too clear as to the sex until they get to 3 years or so...so Tinkerbell is know Tinkerboy!

 

My friend gave her tortoise away last year as it was biting everyone and being moody. She had a very interesting call from her Mum telling her that when Tippy (girl) got to the new place, she started getting a bit amorous with all the other girl tortoises. Her new owners decided "she" must be a boy. It was later decided that she was a girl tortoise again with "issues" and had to find another new home on her own. Apparently its notoriously difficult to tell the gender of tortoises!

 

H-Betty
In the shop we brought got it last year for Mrs W_Y when the creature was about 2" across, they said that little boy Tortoises usually had a curved under-shell, so that they could more easily mount little girl Tortoises - so the one we picked for Mrs W_Y birthday did not have a said "curved under-shell" - seems we got a Ladyboy tortoise!

 

Our cat is very friendly and loves cuddles...never happier than when he's on a lap, usually mine, and doesn't care if the laptop is there, he'll sit on that too! He's a tabby..nothing special, but very loving (though the mice and birds he brings in wouldn't agree!)