Magnus July 28th.

Hot again today.  I'm not sure which annoys me more, the heat or the sound of the fan Pam leaves on to cool us down.  Ewen is taking us out for walks at some really early time in the morning.  He is very good doing this because we can run about when it is still quite cool.  He takes lots of pictures too.  This morning Mirren chased a deer.  I  joined in to help.  I am now VERY tired and have to go and lie down again.  Pam says I only chased after the deer because I saw venison sausages.  This is not true at all.  I do like them though!



Mirren July 28th.

Chase a deer!!! Huh.  Honestly that guy would have trouble catching a bus.  He just isn't built for speed.  I, on the other hand, am.  I move like a rocket.  Smooth, locked on target, fast.  I am a thing of beauty when I run.  Pam says so. Anyway, have to go lie down.  I think I pulled a muscle in my leg.  Getting a bit stiff.  I can't tell Magnus.  He'll just throw in some comments about my age.  He doesn't realise that ladies don't discuss their age.  It isn't an acceptable topic of conversation.

Magnus July 18th

Pam has been away again.  Ewen decided to get up really early in the morning so he could get work done uninterrupted.  It also meant we were taken for walks early too.  It was great.  Out in the mist and early morning rain.  Lovely.  We walked for miles and when we came home I was really tired and would just sleep all day.  Pam being away has meant I've been sharing the bed with Ewen.  I have allowed him enough space to sleep comfortably.  It is a very large bed but I am a very large dog and I like to stretch out.  Human beds are just so comfy and I can get off them easily.  I just roll to the side and stand up.  Doddle!!

Mirren July 18th.

I missed not having another female in the house but to be honest, as long as I am walked, fed, and showed love I'm always quite relaxed.  I mean it's good to have her/him back but....    Magnus, on the other hand becomes a whimpering idiot when Ewen is away.  It really is quite strange how attached he is.  Anyway, they've been playing Cowboys and Indians up the hills.  Magnus is now Big Chief Long Feather !!  What can I say?  They tried to involve me by calling me Mirren Ha-ha but I was having none of it.  Ha-ha!!!  Really.  They need to grow up.   I don't know how a dog as big as Magnus and Ewen, who has many dog years, carry on like this.  Pam is much more dignified.  While she was away Magnus took over her side of the bed.  I took over Magnus's bed.  When Pam came back she took her side of the bed back.  I'm keeping Magnus's bed.  Occupancy and all that.

We also wanted to mention "Dukey the dog's last day" (look it up).  Hope all dogs have this much love.   We still have Morganistmus.

Early Mornings on Lauder Hill.

Magnus July 7th

Been getting up really early the past week or so.  Ewen takes us up the hills at about 5am.  We run about, look at deer and sniff for rabbits.  We don't catch anything but the thrill is there.  Anyway, I think the rabbits know what they are doing and just play with us for a bit of exercise.  Ewen takes some pictures and then we go back home to bed. I think Ewen manages to catch my good side.  My tongue looks nice and pink too.

 Mirren is usually steaming when we get back.  This is not the Scottish meaning of "steaming".  It means hot air rises off her, not that she has been par-taking of alcohol.  Home and back to sleep until normal hours.  It's great.  I dream a lot about the rabbits.  Pam says I run even longer because I still chase them in my sleep.

Mirren July 7th

Yes.  I agree.  These early morning jaunts are right up my street.  We saw three deer playing tig the other morning.


 Ewen wouldn't let me join in.  I thought this was a bit mean.  He said I wouldn't be playing tig and it wouldn't be fair.  I get to really run. I get very hot.  Not like Magnus, who rarely goes above a gentle trot.  I really run.  However, I do like stopping for a bit of salad every now and again.  Then back to my bed for a nice long lie.  Pam and I are very similar.  We both REALLY like our beds. Anyway. rest is good for us girlies.

Irish Guards

Magnus 25th June.

Well.  It appears someone in the Irish Guards has been reading our Blog.  Two years ago I won fancy dress in Lauder dressed in my red coat.  They were so impressed they copied it and made one for Domhnall, their new Wolfhound mascot.  He has VERY serious eyes.  I think we both look handsome.

Excuse my alien ears in the second picture. Something walked in front of me and I didn't want my coat to get dirty so I jumped back.  Must keep the dress uniform clean.

Mirren 25th June.

Will we never be allowed to forget that fancy dress prize.  On and on and on and on about it.  Here I am modelling my Sherlock Holmes tweed coat.  I didn't feel the photographer was catchng my right side so I just trotted back into the house.
As to what frightened Magnus.  I thnk it was a beetle.  Honestly, the littlest things flies, wasps, beetles, tadpoles all give him the biggest fright.  He is such a woose. Domhnall wouldn't have been bothered.  But he's in the army.    

Mirren June 10th

Having a nice relaxing day today.  Yesterday we went to visit Seacliffs.
  We haven't been since I was a puppy.  Last time we went the beach had been washed away and was just all stones.
Now it's lovely and sandy again.  Had a gorgeous day running about, inbetween rain and sun.  Really enjoyed myself. I've had a bit of a sore leg and the soft sand was pleasant on my joints.
  Despite the pain I managed to show Magnus who is boss and regularly took the ball and rope of him.  Girl power.  Bit rough on the way home in the back of the car.  Drinking the odd bit of seawater makes Magnus really pass wind.  The smell is fairly toxic.  He never seems to notice.  Must be my more feminine sense of smell.

Magnus June 10th

I love the seaside.  If I go paddling bossy paws leaves me alone.  She absolutely hates getting her paws wet.  Ran about a lot.  We even climbed cliffs and I went up quite high and I didn't get dizzy.

 I even looked over the edge of the harbour.  I was very brave.  I made Ewen proud, I think.  I notice she hasn't mentioned this in her bit.  WE played quite a while on the beach with the ball and rope.  She's much better than running than I am but I'm stronger.  I just let her have the ball to shut her up.










Then I helped Ewen cook lunch.  Mmmmmmmm Tuna.  Slept well last night.

May 20th

Mirren May 20th
Been a busy fortnight.  Ewen went a way to Spain for six days.  Big boy was a mess for two days.  Weeping, moaning, pining, being sick.  What a wimp.  We had Pam's sister and brother-in-law staying, Linda and Ken.  Linda sounded like Pam so I felt very comfortable.  Ken was very good with Magnus and actually got him to cross a bridge.  Three times!!!  Magnus perked up with another male around.  We had one moment of Magnusism.  He was 'goosed' by a bullock.  Never seen him move so fast in my life.  Shot off like a rocket.  Boy he can move when he wants.  Wouldn't have tried to stop him.  Pam found it hysterically funny.
This week he's surpassed himself.  We went to St Abbs and Coldingham for the day.  Magnus was terrified of the harbour.  Wouldn't walk round it with Ewen and I.  Just stood and quaked.  We stopped for a nibble at the cafe and Pam shared a chip or two with me.  Magnus was still recovering and missed out. Ha ha.  He was, as usual, fine on the beach.  Chased a ball.  Showed off for the crowds.  Stopped the traffic in Melrose.  That sort of thing.  I was above it all and just looked beautiful.






Magnus May 20th

It's not funny.  I get very stressed when Ewen leaves me.  Even for 10 minutes.  He is my hero.  I just miss him for a couple of days. Till I forget.  Absence makes a fond heart etc etc.  When he came home I gave him a HUGE welcome.  Put my paws up round his neck.  Licked his face.  Whimpered pathetically.  Showed him how much I cared.  It was nice seeing Linda and Ken again but I miss Ewen.  He is the only person I hug.
It wasn't nice at St Abbs harbour.  I just looked over the edge and got a big fright.  It was a long way down and I didn't feel safe.  Came over all shakey and queasy.  Mirren didn't mind.  Chomped on chips with Pam.  I notice she's not mentioning how she embarrassed Pam at Coldingham beach.  She pooed.  Right in front of a family.  Pam had to poo bag it as they watched.  She said it was a "Marley and Me" moment, whatever that was.  We had icecream in Melrose.  Fantastic.  A woman stopped her car to say she was really short sighted and had thought I was a polar bear.  Bit concerned about the driving thing if she thought I was a polar bear!!!

Magnus 29th April

Had a fab day at North Berwick yesterday.  Walked along the beach and then into town.  Maisie, from across the road came too.  She's a spaniel.  Very bouncy.  Runs around a lot.  She must have loads of energy.  She also ran into the sea chasing birds.  She went in much further than I ever would and she's so small!! Fast too.  Mirren got very jealous and the attention seeking behaviour started.  I personally enjoyed the wee girl.  Loads of fun.  Lovely eyes.  Just made me melt.  Made me come over all protective - especially with witch-face having chucked her toys out of her basket.