Morganistmus

It is Morganistmus on October 25th.  We had the dinner on Saturday 20th.  This involves turkey, stuffing etc just like the real thing.  Morgan was one of our predecessors.  One of the three Ms.  He adored Christmas.  He would sleep under the tree to look after the presents.  On Christmas morning he would shake with anticipation and when allowed to unwrap the presents he could do it without damaging anything. He would then share out the goodies with the others in the pack.  He would then ensure that Christmas dinner went properly and that everyone was fed before the pack tucked in too.  When the parents realised he was going to miss his 15th Christmas they gave him one early.  They've carried it on ever since  This was number four.  Once again there were lots of friends in the house till the wee hours of the morning.  We were both exhausted.  Couldn't get to sleep for partying humans.

MORGAN

Mirren Oct 14th

Well we've just been on our October break to Arran.  Hotel was super.  It was dog friendly so the big guy and I were allowed in the rooms.  Actually we had a suite which gave us plenty of room to stretch out.  We went by ferry.  We had been on a smaller version last year in Stratford-on-Avon so I was quite relaxed.  Magnus was the centre of attention again.  He gets his photo taken all the time.  It's ridiculous. I mean I look fabulous too.  It's just because he is so LARGE.  Anyway spent lots of time on the beach.  Walks at sunset and all that.  This suits Magnus.  Found out something else he's scared off....along with tadpoles and lots of other things...  he doesn't like rocks.  We went a walk along Shiskine golf course.  (It was really like Turnberry Pam said) That was fine but then we started going across rocks. He wouldn't move.  Something about his claws grating.  Pam said it must be like scratching your nails down a blackboard.  (What's a blackboard?)  Met a dog on the beach.  She was a collie/pharaoh hound cross or something.  She could really run and gave me a bit of a fright actually.  I'm not used to other dogs catching me.  Magnus never can.  Magnus tried to let the parents see we were having a good time by refusing to leave the hotel.  Didn't work but I think they realise we would like to go back.  Soon.

Magnus Oct 14th

Just back from an amazing trip to Arran.  Stayed at the Best Western Kinloch hotel in Blackwaterfoot .  It was just brilliant.  We had lots of walks and I got to run around on the beach, loads.  We got there on this ferry thing.  I really didn't want to get out of the cab, it was so noisy.  Once up on our pet deck, I was fine.  Lots of people wanted to pat me and take my picture.  Then when we got to Arran I felt really at home. We did the tourist thing of going right round the island.  In between we did loads of walking.  Then on our last day we spent the day on the beach.  I don't like walking over rocks.  They make my claws feel funny. I didn't want to leave and refused to come off the sand.  Eventually had to give in because I was feeling hungry.  Did refuse to leave the hotel though.  Got to the front door and then ran up two flights of stairs and back into our room.  Just lay there.  Didn't move.  Felt I really had to express my views.

Friends

Hello to all our friends who read this stuff.  Thank you.  M and M xxxxx

Mirren 20th Sept

What a guy.  Eating apples at 6am.  However, his friend was wearing a rather natty coat.  Asked Pam if we could get our winter coats out.  They're very warm with reflective stripes so I can be seen when I'm speeding about.  Magnus doesn't like his.  He has this whole butch thing about already wearing a fur coat.  Just wait until December!!

Magnus Sept 20th

Took two apples to my friend this morning.  I let her eat them all and refused even a nibble.  She deserves them all.

Mirren19th Sept

Well, I just let him get on with it.  He's got this thing about women with grey hair.  Must come from Pam.  Pretends he knows how to speak another language.  Rubbish!! I'm sure she had nae idea what he was talking about.( a little Scottish joke there) I see heartbreak when she chucks him.

Magnus Sept 19th

Met a new chum this morning.  It took a wee while to understand the different language.  Remembered not to shout as if they were deaf.  Anyway, eventually we crossed the language barrier.  I remembered Pam saying that if you blow gently down your nose and up a horse's nose they would understand.  Not sure what a horse is, but it seemed to work.  It's so nice to meet a girl who's bigger than me.  Nearly the same hair though!  Turns out we have something in common.  We both like red apples.  Ewen says I can take her an apple to share tomorrow.  Mirren ran away. Women!!

Mirren 16th September

Well, I think I'd better give my view of the falling affair.  Magnus really can be a bit dim.  I saw the whole thing happen.  Poor Ewen came down with quite a "Thump".  Magnus thought he was playing and kept pawing him and knocking himover everytime he tried to get up.  I showed far more sympathy and gave Ewen several healing licks.  I gave Magnus a severe woofing.  He is such an idiot.  Of course, after that he was all luvey dovey with Ewen.  I am not fooled.  Unfortunately, Ewen, being a man, falls for it everytime.  Pam is so less gullible.  Much more like me.  Girlies together.  One good thing was Ewen had to lie down a fair bit.  He hadn't been able to sleep.  Pain I suppose.  This meant I got to lounge around elegantly on the bed.  Bliss.

Magnus 9th September

Oh dear!!! Went for a lovely run in the woods at Gulley Wood.  Well I went for a run.  It's great.  Trees and ferns and places for things to hide.  Water for paddling in.  I'm not up for swimming again just yet.  Anyway, I went charging off into the woods closely followed by Ewen.  Unfortunately, he wasn't following me on foot.  He tripped and fell and rolled down the slope beside me.  I thought he wanted to play.  He assured me firmly that he did not.  Turns out he's broken his arm in two places.  Has to wear a stookie for a few weeks.  He can't drive.  Pam is not impressed.

Magnus Sept 5th Went in after a duck!!

Had a great day today.  Discovered a new walk with lots of burns and trees.

Went swimming.  Thought I saw a duck on the water.  Just went in.  It was a wee bit deeper than I thought I have to admit.  It was very scarey down there.  It was cold and dark and I did hope that Ewen would keep an eye on me.  However, I remembered someone telling me I should be able to doggie paddle and I did.  Came naturally.  Thought I was very brave.  Mirren would never have gone for a swim.  It was a bit green but, that's it.  I've been for my first swim.  I didn't understand why Mirren was rolling about with her paws in the air until I realised she was actually laughing.  I marched out, shook myself dry and pretended I had meant it.  Unfortunately, I have gone very curly and this means I have had to be brushed.  Although it was a very brave experience I'm not sure I'll do it again.

Mirren Sept 5th Magnus goes swimming

Okay, he's either blind or a total idiot.  There were Ewen and I, standing on the jetty, when the big boy just carried on walking past us and walked into thin air, until his weight pulled him down.  He went straight down into the water.  He disappeared for a few seconds then came up spluttering a bit and paddling away as if it was totally normal.  Ewen, poor chap, was about to dive in because he thought Magnus couldn't swim.  Long story cut short......he's fine.  Wore a wee green, pond weed hat for a while though.  I've never seen him hold his tail so high.  I'm not fooled.  He was scared rotten.  Couldn't hide it in false bravado.  What an idiot.  You won't catch me doing that.  For a start that water was green and secondly he looks as if he's had a perm.  Not good for a dog that size.  Honestly!!

Magnus 17th August

Stupid woman.  Snuck out and then whined and moaned when no-one noticed.  I was happily snuffling on my bed and she should have been on her couch.  Are Pam and Ewen expected to check on her every hour or so??  Anyway,  I heard her.  I ran to the front door and did the whole excited barking bit, "There's something out there." Ewen thought someone was at the car and went out.  In she scooted.  Ewen was very surprised.  I couldn't have left her out there but she might have said thanks.  She ran right past me without a yip of acknowledgment.  Don't know why I bothered, should have left the silly girl out there.  Did get lots of brownie points from Pam and Ewen though.  I hope she learns a lesson.  We don't go off gallivanting at late hours on our own, without telling the parents.  Anything could happen.  We could get kidnapped!! I shiver to think of not having my huge comfy beds and several large couches.  Life could be so different.  Stupid, stupid girl.

Mirren 17th August The Curious Incident of the Dog Locked out in the Night

I am flabbergasted, shocked, rocked to the tips of my paws.  They abandoned me.  It was awful.  They locked me out in the rain.  I was left to run about to keep warm and then sit at the front door crying softly to myself.  What had I done to deserve such treatment.  They went to bed.  I just trotted out for a quick wee and they locked me out.  I have to admit Magnus saved me.  He woofed and yapped till they let me back in.  I should have thanked him but he had taken his time letting them know I was outside.  I was out there for three hours.  Well okay, I did have a good run about and I upset a few late grazing rabbits but for goodness sake, I could have been kidnapped!! That would have shown them.  Anyway I totally ignored them when they let me back in.  Went straight to bed and will be slow to forgive.  I feel a few days huff coming on.  Me!!  They locked me out.  How could they???

Mirren 14th August

Pam didn't look too happy this morning.  She's gone back to work.  It'll be quiet without her and Magnus and I won't get our long lie ins.

Mirren 11th August

Roman Camp

We have just been to stay in a lovely hotel in Callendar, called Roman Camp.  It had beautiful grounds where we could run about and keep our paws clean.  We also went to Glen Coe and Glen Etive.  They were very nice but I preferred to stay close to Pam and Ewen than to run about too much.  I might have got lost.  Magnus went off, getting very mucky and then very wet.  I wasn't sure about some stuff Ewen put on our necks and tail tops.  Apparently it's to keep ticks away.  He should have put it on Pam.  She found a deer tick on her leg.  I liked Loch Tay.  I managed to fit in some sun bathing which was nice.  I also went for my first ever swim.  Ewen took me out into the water and when it got deep I just paddled.  Magnus has not swum yet.  He's never been anywhere deep enough for him to swim in.  It was rather nice but I had to do a lot of shaking and then sunbathing to dry properly.  You have to watch you don't lie on damp hair the wrong way.  It'll go all curly or kink.  Not a good look and a girl has to watch her appearance.

Me standing on a rock in the loch. !!!!!

Magnus 11th August 2012

We have just come back from the most AMAZING place.  It's called Glen Coe.  Lots of room to run about.  (I wonder if that's why they called it after that runner chap who's running the Olympics in London.  Well he's not running in this one but he's run before.  This time he's organising running............)  We ate beside a river and climbed waterfalls and ate ice cream and then we went swimming in Loch Tay.  It was just great.  We sunbathed as well and Ewen cooked.  We did lots.  I had a great time but it was good to be back home and to be able to really stretch out on my bed.  I was very impressed with Mirren.  She went swimming in the Loch.  Her first time ever.  Give the girl her due, she does a better doggie paddle than I can.

Mirren 2nd August

Okay, he won first prize but what is all the fuss about.  All he did was wear a red coat and pad up and down the A68.  I think he was too scared to run away.  That pipe band must have scared him.  I went down to the Avenue to watch but quickly asked to go home.  Too much noise and too many people for any self respecting princess like myself.  It also started to rain and I really don't like getting my hair wet.  It takes Ewen ages to brush it through.  Did see our friend Louis Brown before I left.  His Mum, Amanda, works with Ewen.  She is awfully nice to us.  Louis won a prize too, with his friend, as Olympic Security guards.  He's about to start school.  I hope it all goes well.  Anyway, I did have a sneaky hope that the dye of Magnus's fancy coat would run in the rain.  He would look really tough if he had turned pink.

 Guess Who ................

Magnus August 2nd 2012

I'm famous.  Went into my first Lauder Common Riding Fancy Dress.  Pam made me red coat, with a collar and red buttons and 2 badges with stags' heads on them.  I looked fab.  Mike was my adoptive nanny when I came to this house.  He sang to me and told me I was smelly.  The singing was fine but I'm getting off the point.   Anyway, he has an Irish Guards regimental dress uniform.  He wore that and I went as the Irish Guards' mascot.  We won FIRST prize.  We marched behind the pipe band.  People took pictures and patted me and I was very brave.  I was so tired when I got home.  Fame and the paparazzi really wear you out.

Mirren 30th June

Well what is this weather all about.  Ewen is in Italy and it's fabulous.  We're here and it's pouring.  Pam and I are soaking every morning.  Of course, Magnus just loves it.  He likes paddling, and stone retrieving from rivers.  I personally can't see why you would want to get your coat wet.  Magnus threw a bit of a wobbly the other morning.  People had cut their grass and just dumped it over the gate where we walk.  Magnus wouldn't go through the grass heap.  Pam and I had to shame him into walking on.  He tried to jump round the heap but missed and so he had to leap out of it as if his paws were on fire.  I have heard he is scared of tadpoles so nothing surprises me.  He'll take on a cow but a tadpole or some cut grass??????

Magnus 30th June 2012

Well it's all been a bit busy recently. Ewen went to Italy and left us in charge of Pam.  I really missed him.  She took us for a long walk in the morning but it wasn't the same.  She kept a tight rein on us.  I think she just worries too much.  Ray and Lexi would let us out in the afternoon since Pam was still at work.  It was very wet.  Mirren, of course, was quite happy.  She'd creep up on the bed at night.  The house was really tidy too.  I was scared to drop a bit of food anywhere.  I usually like to chuck my food round the kitchen a bit.  You can usually find a feast later on.  But not then.  Had to keep my food tidy.

Mirren 29th May

He may be big but I worry about his brain size.  Does he not realise he could have been stampeded?  A girl has to look out for herself at times.  I'm too pretty to be hit by a flying cow!!

Magnus May 29th

Out really early this morning.  The temperature has fairly dropped ( from 24 to 12oC).  This meant we could run about without overheating.  Great.  Met up with some large bovines.  Mirren was a complete wimp and hid behind me while I gave them a good woofing.

Mirren May23rd

Been out sunbathing again today.  All of a sudden it's warm.  Hurrah.
We were at the beach again on Sunday.  No-one else was there.  Magnus was particularly horrible to me.  I tried to take his ball off him and he bit me!!  ME.  I just stuck with Pam the rest of the time.  Two other dogs appeared so I gave them a quick "Buzz" and then stuck by Mum.  Magnus did a whole lot of "large-tennis-ball-chasing" with Ewen and paddled a bit.  I just don't see the point of getting my paws wet. Other than that, there's not a lot happening.
Grief, how could I forget.  Of course there's something else.  I am now Pam and Ewen's Kennel Club registered deerhound.  I've been made official and they have paperwork and things. It's good to be the same as Magnus.

Magnus 23rd May

Far too hot for me out there.  Have to come in and cool down.  I think I might be a bit too hairy for this heat.
Great time at the weekend.  Ewen and I had a major spot of ball play, to coin a phrase.  Even did some paddling.  It was nice and cool on the nether regions.  The beach was quite quiet.  Ewen and I thought it might have had something to do with yesterday's football derby between Hibs and Hearts.  Hibs got cuffed.  5:1.  That's a bit like me against Mirren in the weight scale.  I was knackered for the rest of the day.  He had me running up and down sand dunes.  My poor back legs were done in by the end.  Good fun though.  Mirren couldn't keep up.  She may win the on flat but 150 lbs (68kg) of Wolfhound coming down a hill at you is not to be challenged.  I win.
Also Pam has been telling me about a book called "The Giggler Treatment" by Roddy Doyle.  It's a kids' book. One of the main characters is a Wolfhound called Rover.  He is famous, and a millionaire, on account of his rather gigantic poos.  She says it's all part of the breed, whatever that means,  But that really is another story.  Fame!!

Magnus April 14th

Have just had a great afternoon out. I met lots of other Wolfhounds. It was amazing being able to talk to other dogs, face to face. They were all really friendly. We did a lot of sniffing and chatting. Mirren was a bit put out because she was ignored. I really felt so comfortable amongst all these other Wolfhounds. It was good to feel one of a crowd and normal, instead of being pointed out as being huge. I know I'm a big chap but all these Wolfhounds were big too. I held my head higher and felt very proud to be with these guys. Mirren just kept yapping for attention. A the joys of breeding. We are joining The Irish Wolfhound Club of Scotland.

Mirren April 14th

OOOOOO!! Just been at the Scottish Hound Show in Kelso. I felt very beautiful and was much admired all afternoon. I know I could fit in well in this sort of situation. It's about standing well, posing, being nice to the judge and looking fabulous. I think I might be a natural. I spoke to several really nice people. Was awfully embarrassed by Pam and Ewen though. They just don't know what to say or how to behave at these things. Someone asked where Magnus came from and Ewen replied, "Near Cleethorpes." Of course I knew they meant who his parents were. He's actually Triad Tangle out of Hannikins Helle and Anyanka Vengence. I'm Hiltie Siltie out of Cusidh Righ Innse Gall and Tartraven Humla. (Where do these names come from??) Anyway, I think I might be going to some shows in the future. Magnus met lots of Wolfhounds and they were all really friendly and pleased to meet him. Pam and Ewen can't show Magnus because he's "altered". He has to enter some different competitions. I, of course, am perfect and can enter anything.

Magnus in April

Got a new ball. Red, solid, lots of stitching. Fabulous weight to it. There is no way The Girlie is getting to touch it. It's mine. Boys' toys. I'm sure she wouldn't understand. Cricket. The glorious game.

Mirren in April

Well, that was a turn up for the books. One minute I'm sunbathing and the next....it's snowing. I was freezing. I'd started to lose my winter coat so it really was very chilly.

Big Boy has a new toy. For the first time, he won't let me have a shot or take it off him. It's a cricket ball. He throws it around the house and catches it himself. The things that keep him occupied. Pam thinks he may have played cricket in a past life. I quess he'd have been Silly Mid Off or something equally as confusing a name.

The string of the stitching has unravelled a bit...Magnus has quite a grip. He got the string stuck in his teeth and he kept chucking the ball around but it didn't go anywhere, it just bashed him about a bit. I rolled over laughing.

Magnus 27th March

How can anyone waste so much time just lying about. There are far better things to do. I keep a watchful eye out for the sparrowhawk that bothers our bird table. And as for that cat. It is seriously asking for trouble. I gave it another good woofing. It must be thick. It really isn't getting the message. It has been warned!!

Mirren 27th March

I do like sun bathing........

Ewen puts a big downie out and I just lie there and look fabulous. Big Boy prefers to stay cool. I suppose he feels the heat being a big guy and fair haired. I, on the other hand, just love the sun. Might have to borrow some sun block from Pam.

17th March 2012 (Magnus’s 6th post)

10^th March 2012 (Magnus’s 6^th post)

Been away again. It was great. All boys together on the golf course. Ewen was away with some golfing buddies and we got to go too. By we, I mean Mirren and me. It would have been better if it had just been the guys but she had to tag along. Pam was working. It was great. A place called Brora. Fabulous golf course, great beaches and views. Felt very at home. Mirren had a few moans about wanting her hair brushed and needing to lie down somewhere soft. She didn’t think the beds were up to the standard of those at home!!!?? I don’t know. What do women expect? They want holidays and then say they would be as well at home where everything is the way they want it!!

17^th March 2012

Gullane beach was great. Played football with a man and his son. Well, they kicked the ball to each other and I ran up and down after it. I was totally knackered.

Played some “Stick” with Ewen. Mirren and Pam went off on their own. That was nice to see. Pam has missed Morgan for ages and Mirren paying attention to her is really nice. It suits me too since it lets Ewen and I do “Male” games together without her, Mirren that is, butting in and ruining everything. She can be so bossy and likes things her way. Ah well. What’s a gentleman to do?

I also organised a Mother's Day card and present for Pam. Mirren is probably too young to understand this tradition. We know she's not really our Mum but she's now the closest thing we have. Flowers and a card. Ewen helped. I wanted burgers and gluten free cup cakes (Christine's of course) but Ewen said it hadn't to be about me!!! I think she'd have enjoyed them.