Woodlands..........

A stop in the woodland on the way to the shops this morning made a change from the usual lane & field walks near my pad. Lots of good places to have a sniff around the old oak trees and piles of fallen leaves on the ground.

I sniffed and looked in all the leaves and had a ruffle around,

But search as I did for quite a long time

No truffles could be found !

It's taken over !

Chest puffed out and muscles flexed,

With wild eyes it jabs and pecks.

To teach this ruffian some respect

So on his actions he might reflect
I'll chase and loudly bark and growl

Until I see the end of this fowl!

There's got to be a limit!  When the Guv is working in the poppymobile kennel it's my job to help him. 

Now the flighty bird is interfering.

Look he's coming in as well !!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
to all my canine & humans friends around the world

I did not wish for any personal doggy Christmas presents this year, my wish was that ALL homeless and unloved canines find a good loving home in 2019

Flighty bird!

Not much going on recently at my pad to tell you about, well that is apart from the new friend.  No matter how much I bark it stays around.  In fact it now gets fed each day by the Guv or the Missus!  Its even taken to following the Guv around the garden and sometimes even when he walks up the road !

Christmas is coming.....

The Missus has been very busy this last couple of days getting my pad ready for Christmas. One tree in the family room, one in the lounge and even a small one in the reception room. The Guv tends to keep well out of the way when this is going on, as do I. Now I must keep a look out for the mistletoe to avoid all this kiss, kiss stuff......

Yes, yes it's mine...

On 6th December we celebrate Saint Nicolas and I told the Guv I'm only 10 years old so he must have Saint Nicholas bring me presents on 6th!  Well I think the reindeer must have been held up by the "Gilets Jaunes" as all this came for me with the postlady!

Tripe sticks and jerky, mmmmmmm  smells good !

and by golly it tastes good as well

Its got colder.....

Well this mornings walk was just a bit chilly and a light frost over all the fields. Now the Missus feels the cold far more than I do so the Guv lit the first fire of the winter in the wood burner, I might just take advantage though and enjoy the warmth.

It's all mine....

One good thing about this time of year is that the human tourists tend to stay away and even the local humans become sparse around the river walks & play areas.  That leaves it free for ME!   Oh yes and as you can see I have my eyes shut, that means I can't see that sign in the background...

A real twit.....

Well I think the Guv got this one wrong!  He said by putting a pretend owl in the car kennel it would stop other birds coming in and causing problems....I think they now come in for a tweet.

I also give thanks.......

My photo the other day showed a bare and empty field,

I walked that field today and thought of men who did not yield

To tyranny and oppression that in the world existed,

Even though I'm just a dog, I'm glad those men resisted.

Will humans ever learn though to live in peace together

Love, worship and enjoy life, no matter what the weather?

Or will they still fight "cat & dog", a phrase I do not like

Because they differ in race or creed and believe only they are right!

I think about those fields far north of where I live in France

And for those who gave their lives for peace across that great expanse.

Their names humans will recall today, in Britain poppies will adorn

In France the bleuet is worn, throughout this remembrance 'morn.

So at 11am I'll join my folks and give thanks to those so courageous

So we could live a life of peace and hope human love is now contagious .

New life

Winter is near, gone has the summer heat

The fields lay fallow, muddy but neat.

Gone are the sunflowers,oats and the wheat

But deep in the earth new life lies asleep.

La Poste

Not been a lot happening recently around my pad.  I do get to go out every morning with the Guv for an early morning walk, but you all know that. Some mornings we get to go shopping, sometimes I'm allowed in, other times I'm not.  Fickle lot you humans to where you let canines go.

This morning the Guv said we had to go to " La Poste ", now when my male canines friends say that I know just what "post" they mean and for what purpose!   .......however the Guv meant a different post.

I had to wait outside....................

Chop, Chop !

I think winter must be coming soon as our good neighbour arrived today with his tractor and trailer with all this wood for my people.  The Guv and the Missus started stacking it away in the barn, I just supervised.

Well half done and my people decided they needed a rest

Chop, chop Guv!

Another hour.......

Don't know why you humans mess with time !

A treat for the weekend

Now as I was saying in my last blog with all those swords pointed at me I was getting a bit concerned I could end up as a kebab!  Mentioned it to the Guv and I got even more concerned as he took me to a human eating place where they were cooking!  Of course I need not have worried it was just time for my people to have lunch, not a bad place either but I just got the usual bowl of water.

After my people had ate here it was off to have a look around the town and the church.

I thought I should give thanks for my life and being saved from the streets by the Guv and the Missus (if you do not know my history go the very beginning pages of my blog to read about it). I also prayed for all my Greek canine friends left on the streets, mistreated and hungry.

Now if you have not worked out where this is it is the city of Condom.  Known in history for the protection it offered pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela and was made famous in the French film "Happiness in the Field". I wonder if that has anything to do with the cities name?

Do you know where I am ?

D'Artagnan, Athos, Aramis, Porthos and ME !
However I'm not too sure if the saying  "all for one and one for all" is quite correct.  

This could be "all for one and all for me!" , either they are going to knight me or make me a kebab!

Take cover !!!!

Now this place scared the heck out of me.  I was siting nice and quiet in my best pose for the Guv to take my photo and the air raid sirens went off!  (see the bottom photo).  I think I'd much rather the sirens from homeland, at least they only frightened the sailors.

The town of Fleurance is yet another French town that dates way back even before the Guv was born. In the 15 century it became famous for its fabric factory making serge. Now it is known for having the largest astronomy festival in France each August.

...and the next place

So my next stop was the village of Lavardens. This was the former military capital of the Counts of Armagnac and you can see why with the castle overlooking the small village below.  Guarding the people below, 

just like I guard my people!