MOORLAND.

Morris: We have had the best of walks. The hill sheep have been brought in for mating and the hills are clear. We have been running about, chasing each other and playing, without boundaries. Pam has been on holiday so we've all been out together. I cut my paw, so I had to wear a bootee when I was out and a sock when I was in the house. Bit of a nuisance but it's better now. I trotted along with Ewen most of the time after we had played tig, unless I had to go and herd Mabel back in.

Mabel : He sent me a Valentine's card so I can't be that bad a sister. I just love to run and this week my sore leg miraculously stopped hurting. Bliss. I can fly over the hillsides. We didn't wear our coats the other day which made me happy too. I love sniffing out birds. Great fun. Very tired when we get back home.

BEEN ABROAD!

Morris : Well not really abroad but we've been across the border to England. Went to investigate a chain bridge over the Tweed, between Scotland and England. Very old apparently. Had a bit of a trot around and met some English dogs. Other than that, a quiet week.

Mabel: Quiet week???!!! I've been on the lead for a week. And they gave me some Metacam. I suppose he means I've not been chasing after him all the time because I'VE BEEN ON THE LEAD ALL WEEK. Had a bit of a zoomie at this bridge thingy but back on the lead again. Pam says it's just a couple more days. Hurrmmmph!

WINDY AGAIN!

Mabel and Morris : We have been bothered by nearly two weeks of really strong winds. Sometimes they are cold and dry. Sometimes mild and dry. Sometimes wet and cold. Sometimes mild and wet. We have coats for all combinations. These are our mild and wet coats. Ewen is similarly dressed in mild and wet gear.

Pam is says we are due a lot of snow this week. We've not had proper snow to play in yet. We live in hope. Other than that, after fighting strong winds, we have slept a lot!!

HYDRO 24!

Mabel : I have no idea why they call it a spa day. It may involve warm water and a bit of massage but involves lots of work and no lying on a lounger. At least Pam brought a blanket with her. Ewen usually forgets. I was very tired when we got home and just wanted to be in one of my cosy places, under a furry on the bed. It's been very cold but at least it's been dry. We all think I look like little Red Riding Hood in my warm winter coat. Morris growled something about me being more like the wolf but I'm ignoring him.

Morris : Been back to see Katie at Greenside for our hydro. Wonderful to see her again. The water was warm and it was quite tiring again. She really makes me work. I just had to sit on her when I was getting massaged. She says we are both doing really well, very strong and very fit. I tried resting my head on the top of the tank but it's much more comfortable face planking against the side. Mabel got in first, which was excellent because afterwards, she just lay under the blanket Pam brought, and went to sleep. It meant I could get a bit of peace instead of her pacing around the tank urging us to "Let's GO!

Met a lovely chap on the way out. He was goimg in for hydro too. His name was Yoda and he was a French Bulldog. Very chatty. Katie would need a lot less water for him!!!!!!

SNOW.

Mabel : Been snowing today. We have had on our winter coats when we go out. Nice and cosy and don't make scratchy noises. I like a good run but I'm also really good with my nose. I can tell where the deer have come down and trotted over the field. I can follow them all over the fields. I really do enjoy using my nose and hunting things out. It's as much fun as raising pheasants and giving them a good chasing too. They make a lot of noise though. We realised today I can do something Morris can't. I can put my front paws on a wall top and look over. Morris can't. Must be his hip?

Morris: Honestly, she has cloth ears when she's scented something. I prefer to stay close to Ewen but I do, as I've said before, feel it is my duty to keep an eye on my wee sister. She has a bad habit of ignoring Ewen and Pam's calls and doing her own thing. I don't understand it. It's not as if we need to hunt food. She just loves to run. Sometimes we play chase and tig, which is fun but it can get a bit rough. I'm bigger, heavier and stronger. She's smaller, faster and more agile. She just drops the ball and lets me have it. Sometimes I drop the ball so she can get a run with it. Family.

TAD CHILLY

Morris: Been very cold around here. We have had lovely runs though because the ground is frozen but not solid and soft but not slippy. I suppose we are a bit like racehorses. We like the going soft but firm, if you know what I mean??? We've also been sleeping quite a bit. Greyhounds have to conserve energy because we don't have thick coats. Bare tummies just about. I am hairier than Mabel because I am more Deerhound than her. She's really smooth. Even so, she's the one that goes through this whole rigmarole of trying to avoid getting her waterproofs on???

Mabel : I don't like my waterproofs. They make me feel sweaty!!! Don't mind my thick, woolly, winter one though. We went to Dumfries on Tuesday and I had the most amazing run around. The graveyard is bliss for a real flat out run. You get to weave around all the stones. It's fab. Ewen took a picture of us the other day. Think he may have had to work on it because, as usual, I can't stand still.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024

Mabel : We seem to have been deserted a lot by our Parents. They have been out a LOT. Not impressed. They do try to make it up to us in long walks and foody treats. So we excel in making them feel awful. It's a talent. You welcome them home ecstaticly when they arrive back. You follow them around and try and kiss and lick them loads. You look at them with sad, adoring eyes. You cuddle into them as close as possible. It's really torture for them. Love it.

Morris : What she neglects to mention is that as soon are they are out of sight we take over their bed and stretch out. We really should listen harder because sometimes we miss the key turning in the lock. I'm not bad at quickly jumping to the door but Mabel is inclined to take her time. She does yoga strstches off the bed and then ambles down the hallway at her own pace. If we are going to succeed in hurting the Parents we have to be at the door, wriggling with pleasure.