APRIL

Morris: Been a lot of early morning, late morning and generally anytime walking. The weather is warmer so even Pam is coming on walks. She says she's coming out of hibernation. Anyway, long walks with her, on the lead, means lots of smells but no running around.

Mabel: This means that Morris goes absolutely mental when he gets home. He runs up and down the corridor, assaults my bat cave bed and tries to scare me. I go and lie in his bed and keep out of the way. Then he attacked our pig toy and made it oink for a good five mintues. In the end, he gave up.

SPRING!

Morris : After a weekend of 50mph winds and piddling rain it is now glorious. We've both been chilling outside.

Having said that about the weather I also need to address the clock change. Mabel and I don't adjust to the time change as well as humans so Ewen has carried on taking us about the hill at 5am even though it's pitch dark. Lights on again!!

Mabel : I need to point out it was Mother's day on Sunday. Made a lovely card for Pam.

Also, because we were out in the dark we did a lot of deer chasing. Both of us a bit tired and needed bed cuddles from Ewen. Note I like to keep my leg straight out. Pam can't get in and mess us up!!!

SPRING??

Mabel : Ewen has started taking us out really early in the mornings. He's mentioned to us that the human clocks change this weekend so we might need to restart again later on! We also went a fabulous walk along the Leader at Redpath. Not been there in ages. I really got to stretch my legs. Loved it. Also loved climbing back into bed and getting a cuddle.

Morris : It's true. Magic long walks again. We get to take our coats of too. That Redpath walk was brilliant. Huge, empty field just to take off in. Brilliant. Do like a long snooze after exertion though.

WEATHER!

Morris : It's all been a bit much recently. What with getting locked out, to this confusing weather, to getting wrapped up, to being to hot, to going to the pub, to meeting a gentleman who helped search the woods for me three years ago. I really don't like thinking about those lost hours away from Ewen but this week seems determined to remind me how lucky I was to get back home again. Pam says they wouldn't have got me back if I looked the way I do now. She says I'm very handsome.

Mabel : We are never going to hear the end of his kidnapping, are we?? Moving on....The weather has been very changeable. It was 21C in our back garden yesterday. Morris, of course, basked. I prefer to lie in the shade, prefereably on their bed. Today it felt like -4C. We are due snow later this week. But when it was nice we had lovely, coat;ess walks, food and drink in the local pub/hotel, and socialized round town. I met a lovely big lab chap in the Lauderdale.

Then on Sunday we had dinner outside!!!!

ABANDONED??

Morris : Well that was traumatic. We had visitors last night and, of course, Mabel and I went to greet them. Somehow, (I probably went for a pee) I got left outside. Honestly, I had flashbacks to when I was stolen. Am I ever going to get back in that warm house? Will I ever see Ewen again?? Will I ever see Pam or Mabel?? I've not had my tea! HELP!!!! I felt lost. Abandoned. Then Pam found me. I was so pleased I had zoomies through the house and over the visitors. "I'M BACK!" I even kissed Mabel. Went to my warm, cosy and furry bed and just thought "HOME." Mabel : I felt mildly sorry for him. It was actually me who raised the alarm about him being missing. Hope he remembers that. He did give me a kiss so....ho hum.

SHOCKING!

Mabel: I'm not having a great time. Sore paw means sore shoulder. Pam and Ewen have been very good cleaning and waxing my sore pad. Yesterday, they finally let me off the lead, as we walked round the Lauder boundaries. It was marvellous just to be able to take off and run.

Then I wandered over to a fence. I could smell deer and rabbit. Pulled my head back and got the shock of my life. Literally!!! It was an electric fence. Not going near them anymore. I was quite shaken up about it. Mum made it up to me by letting us have breakfast on the bed. Sheer luxury.

Morris: I have no idea what all the fuss was about. It happened to me once and you didn't hear me yapping on about it. I have enjoyed the walks and the smells recently. Yesterday, I was actually able to lie outside in the sun. It wasn't super warm but it was just great getting out into the fesh air. The toast was excellent too. Did enjoy "Petit Dejeuner sur Lit" as well. Can't knock it.

INJURED!!!

Morris : I suppose it was all going too well, Nice runs, good chases and then ....sore paws. We were having lazy mornings and busy afternoons or racing mornings and sleepy afternoons.

And then two deer surprised us and off we went. I punctured a paw and Mabel sliced off a pad. Not pretty at all.

Had to use Pam as a support post.

Mabel: I'd just got that paw back to full strength, no boots needed. I'd been rock climbing.

Then I slice off the pad again. More pills. Met one of our new vets, Jonathan Hundal. He was great. Just got right down beside us and fixed my bandaging up.

Mabel and Morris : This week we lost one of our old friends, Micky. She was twelve. She loved swimming in the morning and running up North Berwick Law. She will be missed. The last time we saw her she went early morning, cold water swimming with Ewen and her mum, Lesley. She will be missed.

VALENTINES DAY!

Morris: We all got cards this morning. I know who sent mine!! But it's the thought that counts. Been in North Berwick again and have really made use of the big empty fields. Brilliant run today and I caught a rabbit. Mabel was very jealous and pretended she had hurt her paw again.

Mabel : I did send him a card. I mean he's my big brother. I rather wish I'd got one from Bracken. He's a lovely big, black, labrador and very frisky. Anyway, great runs as Morris said. I think his rabbit was already on its way out. It didn't run very fast. He did put it out of its misery though. Pam mentioned something about "Mixie".

Pam had to go to hospital on Wednesday and while we were waiting for her we went to Abbotsford for a walk. We both always feel at home there. It really suits us.!!

NORTH BERWICK.

Morris : Just had an amazing time in North Berwick for Ewen's birthday. It was brilliant. Fabulous shops that both Mabel and I loved. Barker and Bone in the High Street was a joy.

Then we would lie around in wine shops nibbling cheese.

But the best bits were the walks and runs on the beaches and golf courses. Fabulous. I did get really worried one morning when Ewen joined our friend Lesley to go cold water swimming, at 8am. It was a bit choppy. I tried to get in to joim him but I was too scared. Even Mikki, who is a labrador and does this two three times a week, thought it was a bit rough. I barked and whined at him to come out but he was having too much fun. I was soo relieved to see him get out.

Mabel had a great time too but I'll let her talk about that!!!!! Mabel: Ah well! Yes! I had a bit of a run in with Pam's head. As Morris said, we had a brilliant time on courses and beaches.

But then I rather lost control of my excitement. Pam went to pick up a nice looking stone. I thought I'd get there first. I hit her at 40mph just as she bent down. Wow!!! My head was sore and my nose started to bleed a wee bit. Think I hit her more with my shoulder. She was on the ground holding her head!! I had to hide in shame.

After that I tried to keep a low profile and we both did a lot of snoozing because we ran about so much.

Pam's head started to change colour after 24hours. After 5 days it looked like this...... black eye as well!!!!!

NEW YEAR, NEW WALKS.

Morris: Had some amazing runs recently. Ewen has found a new walk at the back of the castle and Pam tooks a different side of the river in Melrose. Brand new smells and news to read. Mabel does have a very good nose and is more inclined to try to follow the scent. I try and keep an eye on Ewen. It also means I conserve my energy for a good run if she finds something.

Mabel : True, we have had some different action. And I've been taking care of my teeth, which Pam says is very important. Apparently, chewing on sticks to keep her teeth healthy was something our relative, Mirren, and to an extent, Magnus, did. It really is rather fun giving a stick a REALLY good chew. There are some beauts on one of the new walks. The deer or rabbits have stripped the bark off so there are no icky bits. Morris got involved too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Mabel: We are a bit late posting this but our lives have been busy. First of all we had visitors staying for a week. I got very confused because Linda sounds exactly like Pam and I was never sure what I should do. New Year's day we didn't go down to the hunt because it was really wet and no-one wanted to go out in that!!! After Linda and Ken left we went to a big house outside St Andrew's. We stayed four days. Lots of places to run about in and we got to go to the beach. Loved it.

Chased lots of dogs who were thrilled to meet me. When we got home we were all very tired and then Morris and I had to go for hydro. Well Morris did. Katie thought it would be better if I had laser treatment on my paw and shouder. IT WAS MAGNIFICENT. Like a hot stone massage Pam said. I just slept. So relaxing. Was warmer than hydro too.

Morris : St Andrew's beach was great fun but she was a bit of an embarrassment. The dogs may have been thrilled to meet her but a lot of the owners got a fright as this orange and yellow clad dog hurtled, at great speed, towards their beloved pooch.

Then she'd go in to play mode and then hurtle back to us. They didn't know what had happened. Mabel has also shown she has a particular liking for black Labradors???????? And then there is the pleasure of getting home and getting back to home comforts.

Going away is an adventure but coming home is luxury!! Hydro was okay but I was still tired after four days of humans partying.

But then, while I lay damp in my microfibre coat, she was getting a massage from Katie!? Very envious. I love Katie's massages but a laser massage is so warm and tingly and relaxing!! Hrrumph.