Monday the 1st of January and a new blog started for 2018!

Wednesday the 27th of December - and the ninth blog!
I took a great many fairly useless photos of our eve celebration and the big lunch that Line's parents gave yesterday, Boxing Day of which, here is just one! Gregor always teases Dasher by carrying him around and allowing him to sniff all our delicious food - which he never gets a scrap of!!! Dasher is 8 and thoroughly used to the regular torturous procedure! Here he is is sniffing part of the prawn cocktail starters! (Both dogs were tired all next day!!!)

Kind Adrian stayed the night to help me wash up and clear next day

- we seem to have used all my cutlery, plates, bowls, glasses, serving dishes – you name it - and the place looked like a whirlwind had blown through – but we all had a wonderful time! Started 11.00 and the last present was given out around 22.00!!!  Gregor brought, (apart from all the food!), an extra delicious red wine from Conn Creek in America.

Saturday the 23rd of December
I shall be welcoming Christmas eve guests tomorrow with summer geraniums still flowering at the door! Amazing how they've hung on so long!

Friday the 22nd of December
A pretty, blood-red sunset after a fairly sunny day today! Of course the neighbours have a better view.

Monday the 18th of December
See my good-looking young, (only 24 she told me!), bus driver from this morning, who has really got in the festive spirit! No, this is NOT part of the uniform! Puts everyone in a good mood! I think she's great.

Below: View over to the island of Fyn and the very high bridge to it yesterday morning on the doggy walk. (High because huge cruise liners and container ships have to pass underneath.) You can also see all the headlights of the cars coming towards me, rightish of the bridge. We are VERY high up here.

See, the grey "strip" is a road! The sun was lighting up just half the bridge. Furthest away is the sea an a bit of Fyn.

Tuesday the 12th of December
Yesterday morning, just a light dusting of snow:

The man driving the salt machine/tractor is from the "Grundejerforening" and does not come to us or the other 4 houses at end of our road, so it's clear we do not belong in the club! So no salt for us!

On the morning walk:

Below: Then today, a whole pile of snow came in the night:

The dogs are ready for their walk this morning!

Saturday the 9th of December
Finally, the farmer has ploughed his field. So much better to look at the bare earth, that’s been completely turned upside down, so all the weeds will die.
It was awful last year, to have months with the sight of blackened and dead plants, after he sprayed.

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Friday the 8th of December
Because we are having relatively mild weather and lots of rain, some plants are wondering if it is spring, and in the weak sun today, a few birds did some feeble singing practise!!
Here is a little tree with one solitary "spring flower" on it!

Monday the 4th of December
Waiting to go inside after a walk, Dasher suddenly decided that he was a garden gnome (havenisse!) and sat in the middle of the flowerbed!!! Most strange!

Saturday the 2nd of December
A weak but so very welcome sun this morning!

We see a dead rat! Probably been poisoned.

The two horses stood with pricked ears staring at the dogs, but as soon as I got my camera out, they turned their backs. Shame, as it was a funny picture. The owner told me that one is 35 years old!

Friday the 1st of December
Solo is growing a new nail after the drastic injury! This is good protection for the little stub that's left.

Very cold this morning and thin ice on any water. Dasher got on the wrong side of the giant puddle by the school. We've had so much rain recently, the earth is sodden.

So he crossed over to get to me! Who says Italians are delicate?!!

Saturday the 25th of November
Solo is 5 years old today - and such a shame, I left them all day to go to a friend's 80th birthday party!


He's wondering what "Happy Birthday" means - is this a command?

We went on a very frosty walk....

wearing his brand new jacket all the way from England: togsfordogs.net/the-italian-greyhound-collection

Here's Dasher modelling his. Ears up as he sensed the neighbour's dog was outside, which is forbidden in his eyes! These are so perfect for the very cold days needing the chest covered.

Thursday the 23rd of November
Two days ago, there wasn't a breath of wind, sound carried for miles and there was a strange atmosphere.

Fifty shades of grey! The windmills had stopped, of course.

Solo's poor toe stub is now bald with the wear and tear of running with no protective claw on the end - but something is growing in the middle, it could be a new nail...

Friday the 17th of November
At last, some sun!

Looking back the way I have come, on path extreme left in shadow of trees and winding beyond on far left in the distance.


Thursday the 16th of November

I “fell over” the cutest little rat lying in the middle of the path this morning. YES!! They ARE cute when clearly stone dead and curled up, white stomach upwards!!! Probably has been poisoned. The dogs sniffed casually then passed on – they are only interested in something that RUNS! So I took it home in a poo-bag, in case any other dog or cat got poisoned by eating it. Children come this way to school, so not something they need to see or kick at either. That's one down and five hundred more to go!!!

Monday the 13th of November
Fauna's chimney in the evening lighting! It's getting dark very early now...


Sunday the 12th of November
The dogs waiting patiently for me to have breakfast. The second I get up to carry my plate to the sink, they jump up and can't wait for the dog walk to begin! They can go from half dead to two rockets in a spilt second!!!!

Solo's "stub" where there once was a huge nail, has healed and is not affected by all his running in the garden!

I'm pretty sure a new nail will not be growing after such a drastic injury.

Tuesday the 7th of November
Well, if I have no fun photos of the dogs to show, I can always entertain you with photos of Fauna's chimney! One is particularly award-winning spectacular!
.Left: With the moon in the early morning! (Unfort. not full moon.) Right with evening clouds lit up by the setting sun!
If you don't know what the heck Fauna's chimney is by now, then see this video of Fauna the Whippet, who suddenly looked up one day and got a shock!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeoADFWJElE

Monday the 6th of November
At the main station today and waiting for my bus home. The driver leapt off on arrival and disappeared, (he has a 15 min. break), then came back all  triumphant as he had talked to an official from Movia, the company owning public transport in this area. He’d complained that the bus signs are not up to date, and that the rules had changed from 15th JANUARY and yet only now are they beginning to inform at the bus stops!! As I know him very well, he knew I would lend a sympathetic ear, so he was explaining on and on, and I took these two photos, tut-tutting at the right moment! It doesn't affect me, as I use a "rejsekort", which electronically knows what zone I am in, but those who show a "ticket” on their mobile, MUST know the zone numbers!

He was very het up about it and I often function as a psychiatrist for drivers with something to get off their chest!!!

Sunday the 5th of November
I have seen this crow many times. It is SO casual, that it lets the dogs race right up to it and I was too slow yesterday to photograph them both just a foot or so away while it pecked at the grass, ignoring them. This morning, however, Dasher gave up, he knows it's hopeless, but Solo is wild and literally screaming to catch it, while it just walks to and fro in front of us - well knowing he is "under control"!!!

Solo is having a fit and pulling like crazy!
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Saturday the 4th of November
I was vacuum-cleaning the house today and got to the open back door, when even above the loud motor noise, I could hear this weird buzzing sound. I was very surprised to see a big fat bumble bee, probably desperate for honey, inspecting my never very "bee-popular" Campanula. Last time outside this year? A fuzzy picture as it was flying.

Below: I took this picture of the feeble sunset - and Fauna's chimney, so she can see it's still OK and hasn't attacked me yet! (That's a distant bird on the left, for extra interest!)

Funny thing on the dog walk this morning. I usually sit for a while on this "half way" bench, off the path and in a field, so both dogs went ahead and stood by it waiting for me.

I had to call them, and explain that I wasn't sitting there today.

Wednesday the 1st of November
Rounded a corner yesterday morning and suddenly there was a big fluffy cat sunning itself under the hedge. The dogs shot forward as far as their 5 meter leads would allow them and were just 10 cm from the cat's face before I dragged them back a little!! It got an awful shock and sat there, mouth open and spitting at them.
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Then it walked very slowly away, wheezing and spitting.! They didn't know what they should do! I held on tight as it's like holding 7 wild horses. Below, the clouds at sunset over the neighbour's house.

Overnight winds, piled this lot up outside the front door - I think we can say it is autumn now?

Every morning, I re-new Solo's bandage and inspect the dewclaw, (minus the claw, so it's only a "dew" now!!!). All looks fine and he probably doesn't need the bandage, but I am scared he will scrape and rip at the bare stub when running in the garden, which is very muddy. Will give it a few more days. It will need a bandage every time he does Lure coursing from now on, as the skin is not protecting the way a claw does. He'd be better off without it.

Sunday the 29th of October
Had a completely exhausting day yesterday standing/running around in a big field, surrounded by other fields, in a gale force wind (well almost!) and with huge dark clouds dropping fine to heavy rain on us, off and on. We got wetter and wetter and colder and colder - but we all loved every minute of it!!!
Lure coursing in a new field near Køge! The weather started reasonable, so I got there ok on bus, train, bus again. All coordinated so I had just minutes from the one to the other and no wait, which was a miracle. Also an amazingly short walk from the bus stop. (300 meters instead of up to 2 kilometres or more!!!) Below: A picture of the weather!

Below, taken from inside the red "office" tent, which took 4 struggling people to erect, due to the "gale" force wind! I don't know how they did it! It was trying to take off and blow away the whole time we were there.

Below, I couldn't film Fauna's (perfect) run, due to big spots of rain. But I took some quick photos, the first is the split second she is released:

and the second SHOULD have been of her in full flight passing me, but she was SO fast, that she had already gone down the hill before the shutter clicked!!! See the red dot below.
Woman in red on the left is operating the "hare" with it's remote control. Man on right, our "Note writer."

Above, some of the field and a Fauna running in the far distance. Seated on a folding chair is our "Writer", who writes a short report on the performance of every dog, plus a friend or learner. Below, if I zoom in, I can actually see "my" two bus stops on the lonely country road! (Seen centre of picture above and below.)

Below, another Italian to start, who looks like Solo only bigger. A very beautiful dog.

Dasher and Solo ran like maniacs as they usually do, but downhill after the start, Solo did a somersault/hand-stand with back legs in the air, but he seems totally unharmed, thank goodness and ran on just as soon as his feet hit the ground.

Here they are to start and my friend's 11 year old son has a job holding Dasher, who usually is "easy"! He coped very well.
Below: They're off! Photos here enhanced from my video.

Below here you can see Solo's "hand-stand" and he landed flat on his back!

Below, crashing onto his back in the wet grass, the wrong way round.

They ended up running very evenly together. Solo always thoroughly kills the "hare" whilst Dasher runs off to find me!
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Afterwards...
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The woman in charge of all our LC had kindly agreed, as several times before, that they could rest afterwards in the "ground floor flat" in her van! (With 4 Afghan hounds staring at them, they never protest!!!) This is wonderful, as they can rest whilst I lend a hand with the many jobs there are with organising such a day - with over 50 runs. Right: One of her LC stars! I find Afghans to be by far the most intelligent and calculating breeds in this sport. They can size up a field, it's possibilities and where the hare is likely to run next, in no time! You cannot deceive them!!

Below two very rain-wet doggies sitting on their rug on the floor of the bus, and right the 2 seats in front of me. I was at the bus stop 5 minutes early, to be sure of not missing it, but the driver came 5 minutes late. It was very worrying. There's only one in the hour on weekends. Had I read right??? I was seriously worried. So the dogs and I had to walk up and down in this gusty gale wind and rain that POURED down with huge drops, so got throughly soaked - and desparate. Ten minutes seemed like half an hour.
I greeted the driver so warmly when we finally stepped up into the cosily heated bus, that he seemed amazed! Probably expected a complaint over the lateness! I forgot to ask him to check the dogs in on my travel card and he didn't notice, so they travelled free on this stage of the journey! (Maybe I should greet every driver very warmly - and travel free?!!)
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Above, after dinner, Solo was not too tired to have a chew on the new cow "hoof" bone before sleeping!

Most dogs run twice, (it takes them under a minute!) but for this much smaller breed, who do twice as many paces as the Whippets, yet are almost as fast, I think one run is perfect - no need to wreck them so they are tired all the next day or overdo the exercise and risk harming them.

Friday the 27th of October
The sun came out and I did some weeding on my knees on the narrow strip of earth at the foot of our hedge, OUTSIDE on the pavement/road. I suddenly realised a pair of eyes were watching me from INSIDE the garden:

Can YOU spot the cat? It's otherwise forbidden for cats to go inside our garden, as I have always had dogs with ambitions to kill a cat! But try explaining this to a cat!!!

Last night it was time to change the bandage on Solo’s claw and try again to see what was wrong. I got the bandage off, and to my horror I saw, that the whole claw was hanging in a fine “thread” of skin. He had "cut" it off in our garden, not cut underneath as I thought. So I gave it a sudden jerk and it came away in my fingers. No blood as it has died now. Så now he is again bandaged up and I hope it will heal with no infection. The tip of the bone appears damaged, so I guess he will never grow a new one, which is OK as they are always at risk of injury. Here is a photo of the inner side of the nail! (Hope no one feels sick!!!)

He can still run at top speed, as the bandage protects the sore end.

Wednesday the 25th of October
Poor Solo has run fast in the garden on Monday and somehow nearly cut or torn his right dew claw off - blood poured out. So I hope to save it by putting him in a light bandage for some weeks. He's in no pain and can still run, just so long as this light bandage holds the claw out of action.
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Tuesday the 24th of October
I laughed out loud at a mail I got from Fauna's owner on Monday and saw the photos - and got permission to bring it here:
"Fauna has been a little sad since we got home – I think she misses the "boys", especially Solo, to boss around! She will definitely be happy to see you and the boys on Saturday to Lure coursing!
Today she ran with me our usual round trip of approx. 8 km and we ended up in the dog wood, where she could race about, but it was full of mud. So when we got home, I saw that she was caked in dried mud underneath - and she clearly knew she could not escape having a bath!
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So she would NOT come in - looked at me from the garden table and then turned her back! No goodies in the world would help, as she had just got half a fried plaice left over from yesterday, mashed into her dinner, unfortunately.
It took nearly 40 mins. before she surrendered and came in for a bath -  and I brushed her teeth!"

Sunday the 22nd of October
Treated the dogs to a very long walk over the fields. They are in mourning over the loss of their girlfriend and have slept most of the day!!! (I am keeping an eye on "Fauna's chimney" - looks ok to me!!!)

Saturday the 21st of October
Aaah, I'm broken hearted now - Fauna has been collected by her family, and she was SO pleased to see them, but I hardly took any pictures, I was chatting too much!!!...
COME BACK FAUNA, WE MISS YOU!!!

Before they came, this is the mixed weather we are having.

Then Fauna sits demonstratively out on the wet lawn when the sun comes out! (No Whippet of mine would ever dream of sitting on wet grass!) So of course I brought out her bed!

Her family come to collect her and mine are wild to get inside their car - they want to be driven to Lure coursing sap.

Below: Outside the front door - I have only a few days to enjoy this Maple, then all the leaves blow away...

Above the pretty sky at 5 o' clock - with Fauna's chimney!!! Every time I look up and see that now, I'll think of her!

Earlier:
Guess whose nose this is, barging into the bathroom - again!

Below: Now she has a taste for the bed beside me, so Solo has to go!
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Above right and below, on the walk this morning!

Just exactly like all my Whippets, she had to stop and eat a few of the VERY sour rowan berries!

Friday the 20th of October
I wrote below that they don't sit together, but tonight, Fauna took the boy's favourite bed beside me where I eat!

This gave Solo problems as HE always sits there when I eat. So he sat on the other side of me staring at me all the time for help, but I said to sit somewhere else!

Suddenly, Dasher gets in and settles down. First time together, but after 5 mins of Solo's non-stop whining, Dasher got out again!

First time asleep in one of the boy's beds! But they don't sit together - yet.

Today, I went on one knee and tried to take photos of the "dangerous" chimney that she saw on Wednesday,
from her point of view:
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I'm still laughing!
Chinese cabbage tonight, eaten in the mud room, so she got peace from the other two and she munched heartily!
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Leaving 3 small green bits, which the others cleaned up. Below mucking about again, she's barking too!

Thursday the 19th of October
I can't even go to the bathroom without Fauna! The door jams, so I usually push it so it wedges almost shut but she just puts her shoulder to it and pushes it open again!

Here she is waiting for me to finish!!! Then, in comes Dasher!
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No privacy at all.
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Above left, early morning and Fauna starts to chew on a old cow hoof that I have for dogs. Right, Solo steals it from her and even starts to chew it in HER bed.
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Left, she leans in and carefully grabs it from him. Right, he's got it again, stolen from between her paws.
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Left, she's got it back and he's looking at me for help. Right, he jumps over her.

Then he gets it again. Hasn't interested himself in it for around 4 years, but when SHE chews it, it must be good! (Yes, you can see in these photos, that I have cut the grass and we are tramping it all inside!!!)

They've been playing "wrestling" on the bed behind me in my office and now it's "who dares to make the first move?"

Tired after a lots of exercise and a big dinner, she INSISTS on lying on the floor beside me, and refuses to sit on the bed behind me as I suggested! Nobody decides over Fauna! But after 5 mins she gave in and laid on the bed! (She needs to learn that Janet knows best!!!)

Wednesday the 18th of October
Fauna is just so entertaining! This morning for some reason she looked up and saw our black chimney to the gas heating system. She has apparently never seen one before and thought she should sound the alarm over this weird "thing" on the roof!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeoADFWJElE
Later on, she barked at the wheely bin I have to put out Wednesdays, so the busy men don't have to come all the way in to fetch it:

Last night, Fauna repeatedly told me she wanted my very small minced beef, that was frying on the oven top:

She nagged on but no way could I share, far too small, I only eat a little meat. So then I suggested she might like some more dinner? So she agreed to the compromise. She is standing a little away in this picture, but otherwise did stand very near, but the photos were bad.
She is a very vocal whippet who “speaks” to one - with plenty of body language - but there's no need to shout at ME, I am quick to understand!!! ALL my whippets used their eyes and body language and stared at me in special ways and used telepathy until I got the message!! Usually I could understand them, (one gets to know them SO well), so no need for them to “speak”! But when Fauna wants something, it’s got to be RIGHT NOW, she's not waiting around while I guess!

Tuesday the 17th of October

We take two good friends out to lunch and the weather grudgingly lets us sit outside for coffee afterwards!

The dogs muck about!

Yes, this is the right way up! Too hot and tired to sit in the dog bed at my feet!

The sun this morning was a pretty pink colour - better than my feeble photo.

She was tired last night and self chose to sit in the cage! (I had a good night - no whining problems!)

Monday the 16th of October
Fauna News!
In the evening, she clearly told me she wanted a dried chicken chew, which the family had kindly brought for Dasher and Solo. There was no mistaking what she said, so she got a piece. She had eaten a good dinner, so when she said she wanted one more – I said NO!
She whined restlessly all night until I got up to put them all out at midnight. (I got up twice for her earlier and did my usual trick of deliberately misunderstanding her signals. She told me she wanted to sleep in with me each time. No way could I sleep with a dog and it would only make her even more dependant, so I pretended instead, that she had asked to go outside, and put her outside telling her what to do. (Dogs must be well used to us not always understanding them!!!) Second time she did actually “go”. It's my experience, that if a dog is not understood, it will stop telling you. But Fauna is used to steering the show and having her own way. So at midnight, I got the boys out of their cage and put her in there with her blanket instead. She is used to a cage, and will be warmer too – and I didn’t hear a thing after that! So this is the answer. She hasn't yet had time enough yet to settle in, never seen more than our driveway on visits, so she is not happy with the whole kitchen to herself. She is used to an active family of 5 so I am a poor substitute. But we do plenty of cuddling. I can tell she likes me - and follows me everywhere.
I did separate walks this morning. She went first, in a kind of circle and she did just like Fanny always did, sensing the way home tho’ she’s never been on this walk before, she pulled the last bit to get back! Then the boys on their flex-leads. She whined the whole time we were gone – only 20 mins. After thoroughly exercising her in the garden, I went out for 3 hours.

She also runs 8 times around our house just as the other two do, 3 times a day! I walked around (there’s 2 gates to open) and showed her, then started the game with rewards of “Frolic”. Of course the boys immediately shot off like rockets and she could see what to do and followed.

This was a success, she FLEW around and got the idea immediately. But I was laughing hysterically when the timing went wrong and she couldn’t see the boys and she went crazy running around and around at top speed about 5-or 6 times not stopping for Frolic, as she could not understand why she couldn’t see them and catch up!
Finally she caught up with them and they ran together!

She is also learning to eat Chinese cabbage! A "must have" after evening meal for all my dogs all through the years. They will glare at me for hours if on a rare occasion, I have run out! Yesterday she was doubtful, but today, hearing the loud crunching from the other two, she actually ate two bites!



Above: She's learnt the trick from Solo. ((See previous photos.) Below, a mad game.

Below, Dasher and Fauna play, Dasher barks on the bed while Fauna shoots in and out of the kitchen at high speed!

Dasher is well-balanced again and no thoughts of sex with Fauna. Solo the same - now it is Fauna, who appears to have fallen in love with Solo and she is making a big fuss over him all the time.

Sunday the 15th of October
Looking after some friend's young Whippet girl, (seen in earlier photos when they look after my two terrorists),
and all are having fun.

Racing around the garden. Whilst Dasher only wants to mate on "The girl of his dreams", (this will go on for a day then he stops and gives up), she rather fancies Solo!!! Fickle as all females!!!

A calm moment!!!

Solo has taken HER bed in the kitchen!!

Below: He needs pressing out!

Now SHE wants "the boy's" bed!!! (To be beside me in my office.)
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A bit later, Solo has had enough, a shattered wreck after such an active afternoon, so he curls up under his favourite blanket on the bed behind me. It's so funny as Fauna is not sure what this "bundle" is that SMELLS of Solo but no dog in sight! She is not used to seeing dogs hidden under piles of blanket!

He gives a tiny growl and she shoots back in shock!!!!

More fun and games tomorrow!!!

Tuesday the 10th of October
The bean field has been sorted and all is gone and harvested despite rain every day, so a tad less ugly in a lighter shade of brown!

Below: Looking back..

Monday the 9th of October
Saturday I went to a family birthday party, taking the dogs on the bus and IC3 train. They are angel travellers and get admired by all! Not least a lady and her daughter of about 12, who told me they once had a Whippet and now had a Greyhound. Unusual, as hardly anyone knows these beeds here! The daughter was kissing and hugging Dasher, who sat on a rug on the floor whilst Solo was lying on my lap.
Of course the dogs know that my two small Grandchildren drop the most crumbs, so they stand waiting!
Below: Hoping my son will drop a piece of meat! (They got plenty of left-overs, which I took home for their dinner!!)
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A rare restful moment - because I sat beside them!

Below: Dasher stands waiting under the table, right my son teases him!
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I nearly killed myself last week sawing 7 Thuja trees that were nearly 4 meters high, down to 2 meters and then cutting up the bits into small pieces suitable for the local, (and secret!), compost heap around the corner and down a path into a bushy wilderness area, which neighbours started 10 years ago. Below how it looks now

below, see how tall they were before - photo taken a year or so ago:

Thursday the 5th of October
I was absolutely disgusted when I stepped outside early this morning. My friend had made specially for me, one of her very clever Halloween pumpkins, which I was proud to have outside in the front where all can see. But this morning I discovered that a big fat killer slug has been munching away at it all night and now was curled up fast asleep, too bloated to creep away and hide for the day!!! Ugh! (It didn’t live long after this picture was taken!!!)

Monday the 2nd of October
Son and daughter-in-law came yesterday. I told Solo and Dasher that they were coming, so here they are craning out of the window for a sign:

They

came with a dog they are looking after for friends. She is just about the world's most darling and obedient dog. She knows exactly how to tackle my two bandits and especially Solo, who tends to shriek: "Get the hell out of it!!!" to any non-sighthound. He was "tamed" from her first whimper when we were too slow to let her in. She remembered our house and is quite at home. Here they are in the driveway, mine on perfect behaviour, which is so rare!!!

She got them completely relaxed in no time!

In the back garden.

I just hate these nasty "Shaggy ink cap" fungii that are all over the place at this time of the year. But instead of removing this one, I am watching it's progress into decay! Left: Pretty - if you like that kind of thing. Right, decaying with "ink" pouring out.
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Above left, grown very lanky and on the way out! What a mess! Right: New shot of it totally collapsed.

Saturday the 30th of September
Bus stop all finished!

Very autumn-like now and chilly winds.

Last day with no coats!

Monday the 25nd of September
Solo says: "Can we go outside and play now?" while Dasher is being silly with a toy just behind him!

Friday the 22nd of September
From solid to flimsy in 48 hours.: (Note the pretty mist this morning!)
Before:
After:

Trouble is, the winds and rain race across the fields and pass right through the metal mesh sides.

Straight after, left picture, Dasher spots a cat - Solo hasn't yet seen it in these pics! Then he pulls with all his might, threatening it with growls! It doesn't move!
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Thursday the 21st of September
So sad, our bus shelter is completely gone now - may take two years to get a new one...?

...not only that, the idiots who built this unusual "platform" by the stop I use when going home, have not made it long enough! My bus driver carefully placed the exit door beside the "platform" for me to step off onto it, fine, but anyone getting ON the bus at the same time, would have to walk a good bit down on the muddy grass to the front of the bus! It looks long here, but it is several yards too short. Only ONE passenger can use it at a time, the one getting off or the one getting on!!! See below:

Før:

Wednesday the 20th of September
Two wonderful photos of Solo in action on Sunday, taken by Kaj Frøling, who often takes fabulous photos on our LC days! Unfort. not any of Dasher.




Wednesday the 20th of September

More bus stop talk! The next bus stop has our favourite shelter and really solidly built, but it has been vandalised. Looks like the wood was rotten. (Photo from 3 years ago.) Now, months later, being demolished - no doubt to be replaced with one of the metal mesh ones, that let the rain and wind go through...ugh! So watch this space – I will visit it tomorrow.
Photos from this morning:

Even the weather is in mourning! Goodbye Denmark's best bus shelter!

(We stopped using this stop when they built the now 2 years old one, which is a little bit nearer - except in bad weather.)

Below on the morning walk: The depressing brown field full of round-up and rotting in the continuous rain...

Tuesday the 19th of September
A new development with our nearest bus stop! They have made a raised platform! Not very smart. All other stops are paved without being raised up. People will trip up and stagger up and down with shopping trollies etc. They STILL have the grass strip to navigate. This will be the end of me being put off at the side road, shame!

Monday the 18th of September

We had a fabulous day lure coursing with the sighthound club yesterday! Over the bridge to the island of Fyn, right out in the rolling countryside. Here's a link to the bridge, which we can see in the distance 10 km away from our house, as we are very high up: wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Belt_Fixed_Link
My friend, who always looked after my dogs during holidays when I had 3 whippet boys and I looked after her 3 whippet girls, came and picked me up. First, we loaded the car. Their new Whippet and Solo shared the cage in the boot.
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Dasher travelled on a rug the floor by my feet - I have a map on my left knee. You can see the bridge ahead.

Below a selfie looking back at the 3 boys on the back seat!
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These shoes above are not mine! When we arrived, I realised that in the rush to pack and get going, I had forgotten to change from indoor shoes to ankle boots ready for a wet and muddy field. Luckily, a Whippet friend parked beside us, heard the problem, and she had an assortment of shoes with her, so I borrowed this pair. A bit big but just fine for the job and saved the day

The next thing was, that our ATV, which drags out the hare before each run, broke down, literally! See the broken pipe at bottom of the picture! We have a spare but miles away on another island. So we owners started dragging out the hare on it's cord, 7-800 meters, pulling like mad as it resists unwinding, and taking AGES walking up and down hill, so the day's runs would take from now until Christmas to complete! We were groaning to each other. I was lucky, as when it was my turn to pull out, a young man jumped in to do it instead! So very kind! Must be my grey hair!!!

Below, Dasher and Solo size up the situation. They adore Lure coursing!

The boys were of course, fascinated by the useless ATV and took turns to sit on it. The oldest will be 12 next spring, and then will be qualified to learn the art of dragging out the hare around the metal rollers pressed into the grass. He's looking forward!

The weather stayed fine and mostly sunny, whilst the rest of Denmark got bad hail storms, wind and rain!

BUT, before long, someone turned up with the big motor mower, took the grass cutter part off and we could borrow this to drag out the hare! A wonderful relief that saved the day! It does look funny, but it did the job!!!

Below: The start of Dasher and Solo's run:

Below: My friend and her Whippet bitch wait for the second run of the day where she can start to get her Coursing licence! This is gained by one run alone with racing muzzle on and must be passed as a faultless performance by our judge. Then two runs with carefully matched experienced Whippets, and if she runs well, then she can get her license to kill (!!!) and join in the National and International competions next year.

Below, the fantastic "Cake and coffee/tea table", which for once wasn't our own home made food, but specially baked or brewed by the owners of the field and their neighbours. A stunning amount of good cakes and other goodies all home-made especially for us. Very, very kind of them.
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Above right a dear new little Italian, who ran SO well, and only a new beginner.

Friday the 8th of September

Looks like the commune, as they call boroughs here, has finally realised, (after more than 2 years), that we need some flagstones at the bus stop, so we don't step down onto grass and mud! See my bus stories, where many a driver, kindly puts me off at the side road, so I don't have to walk back up the grass! In this photo I have just stepped off the bus and you can see it driving off in the distance. Link to my funny stories, well worth a read: www.sighthound.net/bus-stories.htm

Above: My strawberries think it is June again and are producing some fruit, but they haven't a chance of ripening...

Part of the wonderful walk through the fields and into the local country village with it's beautiful old trees! We actually had some sun this morning - otherwise it is rain, rain and rain...

These "killer slugs" are everywhere, this one's just outside the back door - didn't live long though... !

Friday the 8th of September
It was bad enough the ghastly sight all winter, of this field sprayed so everything died and everything was brown. Then broad beans were planted and it was pretty again! See picture in August below. Now this is the ghastly sight that met me this morning in the pouring rain - it's like Tjernobyl!! He's sprayed yet again!
I'm eating organic even more now...!

Sunday the 3rd of September
I go into the kitchen garden every evening and pluck my own dessert! Yummy!

Dasher and Solo love pulling a toy - on this case a stuffed sock!!!

Wednesday the 30th of August
Delicious juicy plums not quite ripe yet, but I can hardly wait! (I have to be fast to get them before the dogs eat them!)



Friend on a visit gets her ear washed by Dasher!
Below left: Solo keeps an eye on me as it's soon lunch time... and Dasher enjoys the warmth outside yesterday.

I discovered a Salamander in the kitchen garden! Never seen one outside a zoo before!

Below: "You mean these shoes are YOURS, not mine???"

Monday the 21st of August
Solo isn't satisfied with windfalls - he plucks his own plums!!!

Take aim....

- and we go for it!!!

Sunday the 20th of August
A simply wonderful day out. Kind son drove me to the pretty island of Møn, so Dasher and Solo could join in the Lure coursing they love so much. Some heavy rain showers, but only lasting for a few minutes, so we mostly just carried on.
First picture: They couldn't wait to jump in his car!
Every time the car slowed down, they jumped up thinking we had arrived! Only to relax again when they saw we kept on driving. (On the journey home though, they slept the whole way!!!)
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Some of the rolling counrtyside. We could see the sea! (Not in any pics.)

Above: They are off! Dasher in red leads the whole course. They run like maniacs and Solo still shrieks the whole way round!

The field was huge!

Towards the end, and you can seea bit of the hare maskine below.

Below: Dasher always runs straight to me, whilst Solo has to thoroughly "kill" the hare first, then he stands wondering what to do next!

Saturday the 19th of August
I think he's trying to tell me something?

Wednesday the 16th of August
A pretty cricket in a blaze of pink from my Hydrangea!


Monday the 14th of August
The sky on a dog walk.


Sunday the 13th of August
They ate the whole poo before I had time to find it...aaargh...

Below: One can feel that the summer is nearly over.

Saturday the 12th of August
One of my many Hollyhocks has gone bonkers and produced a ball of flowers! It was some friends who noticed the other day! Most unusual. Must be a gene mutation.

Friday the 11th of August
One new toy and two dogs to play with it!

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Torsday the 10th of August
An extra beautiful butterfly caught my eye. It was having a rest on my garden chair after filling itself with nectar from a buddleia!


Friday the 4th of August
The killer slugs finally made it across our road and into our garden last year and now we are inundated!

Even trying to get into the house!!!

I read an article about nematodes, a natural enemy, which I might choose some time, but for now I have bought these little plastic “tents” you fill with fifty percent beer and fifty percent water and they drown beautifully.

I could hardly wait to see this morning. 3-5 whoppers in each! Plus a few snails and small ordinary slugs.
Of course, I can’t win – they keep on coming forever now we have them in the whole area.

Sunday the 30th of July
In between thunderstorms we get a few hours of wonderful summer weather!


Sunday the 23rd of July
A wonderful day's lure coursing in Præstø

Heavy downpours were promised all day, but we only had a short rain storm and the rest of the day was damp but fine.
Below, on the bus to the station, where we got a lift from a kind friend. Dogs not in carrier bags on laps, (who thereby travel free), must sit on the floor by the door, according to the rules. (They cost a dog's or a child's ticket each.)
I take a blanket with me for their comfort. Right is part of the back of the bus, taken from the side door.
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My two travel in my friend's cage in her car whilst her two whippets sit beside, as one here and between my legs in the front:
.Dasher loves Salukis and Whippets! Hardly any photos due to fine rain and being busy helping.

Saturday the 22nd of July
Out all day with the dogs to youngest grandchild's 2 year birthday and a great time was had by all! Here are the dogs travelling in a coach because, due to repairs to the sleepers, no trains could pass between a bunch of stations, so the company put coaches in instead.
I could check in the dogs on the bus to the station on my electronic ticket, but had to check in up on the platform to get the ticket to carry us all three on the coach, which meant a lot of walking. I gave them a seat which is not allowed, but it was not even half full and I sat alone at the back. Four young men in front of me were American, and asked if they could take photos of the dogs! They were going to the main station in Copenhagen.
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At one point, Dasher felt squashed so he sat on another seat!
Below, at my son's house, the dogs spent a lot of time in the kitchen hoping for food to be dropped!

Son Gregor always loves to torture Dasher, showing him all the delicious food that he can't have!!! (He's used to this!)

Solo springs up and rotates from guest to guest around the table!!!
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But he's right there watching like an eagle, when the birthday cake is cut!!!
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Below, some temporary check in - and out - stands near the coaches. It's only for 5 days.

Thursday the 20th of July
I’m seriously worried that Pappa Blackbird has died. Found this dishevelled body on the pavement this morning. He was never tame like Momma. All parents get in such a mess when caring for their young, then moult and get smart again in the autumn ready for winter. I will know who it is from the song that will be missing.
At first glance (hearing!) all Blackbirds sound the same. Everyone recognises the general song just everywhere
in the spring and summer.
But as I work in the garden, they are my music and I quickly get to hear, that each and every one is actually unique AND each has his own special favourite “tag” phrase, which will appear several times in one “song”. After a while, my brain sets words to these tags and I can “re-hear” these at any time in my head, or even say them!
I actually have on a video of my garden from about 4-5 years ago, of the one who says "Dee-doo Dee-doo Dee-doo” in his song. He’s been singing really near me all day. He was based in our garden 4-5 years ago, moved a few gardens south for a year or two then disappeared but I heard him  sometimes when on a dog walk. So he’s back. On the other hand, the one who usually sings in the garden and says “Da da duh”, as part of his song, I’ve not heard all day. Perhaps it's “Da da duh" in the picture? Another says: Diddy boo diddy boo"!
There’s a new one this year, who says: “You’re hurtiing you’re hurtiing” - the last syllable is highest and his is sung, not with pain but with no emotion, my brain just fitted these words to his “tag”!
There's another who makes sounds EXACTLY like a duck in the middle of his song! For months I wondered if it was a duck in someone's garden - but then I saw him one day, just as he "sung" it!

PS The 28th of July, and it WAS “Da da duh” I found dead like he’d fallen out of the hedge. I’ve not heard him since – and “You’re hurtiing you’re hurtiing” is moving closer!!!


Spot the dog! Italians (and all my Whippets) always have to lie UNDER rugs and blankets and are experts at covering themselves.

If you go all the way down to Monday the 27th of February and see all my fine photos of the rat who visited for a while, there is a new event. I bought an electric trap, which should kill them insantly without pain. Well the rat vanished never to be seen or heard of again, but yesterday the trap signalled that it had killed something. There was this sweet little mouse, but OK, the fewer we have of them round the house, the better.

Monday the 17th of July
Some workmen are putting down electricity cable, ready for new a housing development and I walked past these enormous wheels and was amused at the contrast between diminutive and delicate dogs and these simply gigantic wheels!

Tuesday the 11th of July
My night blooming Cereus cactus is at it again, usually more August than July. Just now (8.30 pm), I managed to catch two blooms - SOO beautiful. They open very late evening so I often miss - it's had two others already and by morning they are completely collapsed and floppy. They give off a lovely perfume.
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The bottom one is not so developed - yet. They are the size of my hand! Below: The day after!

Monday the 10th of July
The latest photo of the "field walk" to the local village, well away from civilisation and with the possibility of seeing deer, pheasants and hares!

A closeup of the beans:

They talked about having a bench or two - much needed as it's quite a long way
- and at last there are three, each with a wonderful view!

Saturday the 1st of July
Undoubtedly the worst and coldest June I can ever remember. Just a handful of sunny days that vaguely resembled "summer", then as soon as you get your cardigan off, it blows cold again!

Here they are, both sunbathing. Usually Dasher has to give up, as being black, he quickly feels too hot.

Playing in the garden with an old sock.

Above, I had to laugh as it is SO clear where the farmer's weed killer did NOT reach, him obviously taking care not to spray into the gardens of the houses right by - and so the poppies have had a field day, literally!

Sunday the 25th of June
When do we get summer? Only had a handful of great days and the rest are either dull, rainy and mostly a nasty cold wind blowing and wrecking all the blossom...

BUT, the strawberries are going mad as usual!


Friday the 16th of June
They never miss a chance to sunbathe!


Tuesday the 13th of June
Despite cold winds and un-summerly weather, the first strawberries were ready for eating today!

Monday the 5th of June
Whilst I was in hospital for a few days last week having a major operation, Dasher and Solo were looked after by some good friends and their new Whippet girl "Fauna" of 11 months. (We have looked after each other's dogs for about 15 years). It went well apart from the fact that for over a day, Dasher tried non-stop to mate on Fauna, who was too young and inexperienced to say “NO!” properly and he thought, (loving all Whippets as he does), that THIS was the big moment he’s been waiting for all his life! Poor Fauna could only get away from him by jumping on the garden table. Dasher doesn’t jump on tables! Of course they also gave him “time out” in his cage. See her here, clearly depressed!!!



On the second day, Dasher was forced to accept, that this plan was NOT working out and so he started to ignore her! So then Solo, neutered as he is, surprised us all by taking over!!! (And he DOES jump up on tables!!!)

After a day, he too gave up and instead, he and Fauna became really good friends and played a lot together in the very large garden, taking it in turns to run around and be “hare”.

Solo on the table.
Out come some chocolate cream cakes plus goodies for the dogs:
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So everything is fine by the time we come to collect the two bandits a week later, but now Fauna is extra practised at jumping on the table, and combine that with her being a VERY loving dog, wanting to "kiss" everyone, we had some difficulty drinking our tea and coffee!!
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But she's so cute and loving, one cannot help but fall for her charm - and it's all part of the entertainment.
Then Solo gets up to check out the table. Right: On the way home in the car.
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As we leave I get a lovely surprise present from Fauna!!! Full of extra delicious glutenfree products and treats for the dogs!
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With a VERY pretty card, showing the three dogs in the sunshine, very well drawn Marius! I shall treasure it forever.

Friday the 2nd of June
An amazing rhododendron on our patio!


Monday the 29th of May
Pretty pom-poms of Alium light up before the lavender gets going!



Saturday the 27th of May
Taken on a doggy walk, they want to check out the next field! (Giant windmills in the distance.)

Below: It's lilac time, the whole of Denmark is smothered in blooms and the wonderful scent in the air...(The sea is in the distance at the end of this very high path!)

A VERY pretty petunia. It will grow enormous during the summer, hanging down from a basket of plastic.


Friday the 26th of May
On a doggy walk, a bit of a hazy morning. The weather goes from freezing to sweating in hours... very mixed up!

The beans are struggling up in this cold weather.

A close-up:

On another day!

After the walk!

I cut the lawn!

Wednesday the 17th of May
Last Sunday, I had a really wonderful day out Lure coursing with friends at a fantastic place near the north coast, owned by two new Whippet friends! A kind Whippet friend drove me all the way - we had a whale of a time!

Below: Dasher travels on the floor between my legs.

Below, my friend's lovely whippet Terry trying to figure out where we were going! Picture to right: His "wife" and "child" in the back with Solo, who can just be seen on the left!
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The cake table - and one of our atv drivers taking a break, so funny!
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My friend with her Whippets and right: Two of her puppies with another, related, puppy who's a few weeks older. She had bought a new type of tent, that "pops up" and is ready in minutes! Amazingly large. All folds down to the "cushion" seen in the car above with two dogs sleeping on it!
I'll be making a video from the day as soon as I have the time.

Tuesday the 9th May
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They'll sit anywhere in order to catch some sun rays. Then Solo daintily crossed his paws!
Our oldest son came yesterday and the dogs repeatedy jumped in the car - desperate to go somewhere like Lure coursing!!!

My lovely white rhododendron:

I stepped outside the door and surprised Momma Blackbird, who allowed me to fumble for my camera, get it out and take a couple of photos when she was only at arm's length! I moved away, so she could get on with her apple. She is amazing. You can even see her whiskers.

Thursday the 4th of May
Hooray for Dasher, it is his 8th birthday today and a nicer, more loving Italian doesn't exist!


Sunday the 30th of April
The dogs waiting at the vet's for their yearly vaccinaton on Thursday - only I do it every other year, as required by the insurance company. All dogs must be insured in Denmark - and I have an extra health/accident insurance.

Our Japanese ornamental cherry tree is so fabulous at the moment, despite the cold.

Momma Blackbird wanted her portion of sunflower seeds! She has to do all sorts of gymnastics to get down into the flower pot! I took this through my office window! I now have to buy apples specially for her, as we have run out of our own!
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A sparrow checks out the food situation.

The field with the mystery seeds sown, that are now only about 5 mm up from the earth, due to the cold:

Here is the one seed that I stole and it has sprouted up in our warm house:

Looks like a pea, but so far, no tendrils.

Wednesday the 26th of April
A new bus driver story!
See the others here: www.sighthound.net/bus-stories.htm

A driver who’s a cleanliness fanatic?
The other day, I stepped up on my bus home while it stood for a quarter of an hour at the bus terminal, Slagelse.
It was a woman driver who laughed together with me over the two ticket inspectors who also got on with me, full of importance - but there was only me and one another passenger to check. A little tame.
She told us that the inspectors had learned to hide their car, because otherwise everyone could see their yellow car and knew in advance that they would be checked! We could easily speak as I sat in my usual seat up front.
We also discussed bus types, since today it was a very different design, namely a "Scania" from Sweden, she said,
While the busses I'm used to are made by Volvo. So I’m driving around in a Volvo normally !!!!
Sounds good, huh?
I learn something every day.
She got up to go outside for a smoke, and I saw that she had two washcloths, one hanging over the door and the other on top of the coin machine. Now that we were "good friends", I could cheekily ask her if she suffered from spring cleaning madness - or what ??? She laughed loudly and explained that while she was driving, she always held on to to the coin machine with her right hand, but because it rattled and was unpleasantly cold metal and not very nice to hold, she always put a facecloth on top! Much more comfortable!
Now I have seen other drivers who rested their right hand on their door, but she is a woman so not such long arms.
There is obviously not much need for the right hand! And quite rightly, she held her wash cloth for most of the journey.
I managed to take a photo without her discovering it. Quite a laugh!!!

Tuesday the 25th of April
Spot the Italian! He has crept under this himself - I haven't touched the blanket
- except I often re-fold them nicely when all bunched up.


Sunday the 23rd of April
A tiny clip from a lovely day's Lure coursing on the 26th of March. Shows Solo with "girlfriend" Athena, who does all sorts of crazy short (and long!) cuts, (even crosses a tiny pond!!!), to beat Solo and get to the "hare"!!! She doesn't run "blindly" after it, but tries to be smart and figure out where it will go and place herself in the best position.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqeV0SzCsWU

Solo and Dasher use the sun whilst waiting for me to finish gardening and go do their dinner!!!

Saturday the 15th of April
My little yellow Canary/Grey Singing Finch cross is 21 years old this month! No other Canary has lived longer than 17 years. Also he can see ok, normally the old ones get cataracts. But his wings are weak now,
so he lives on the lower branches in the voliere and hasn't the strength to fly higher..


The dogs always have a piece of Chinese cabbage after dinner! They love it. (The white crispy stem.) Here is Solo wih his.

Below: Solo waiting for me to finish breakfast so we can go for a walk!

Friday the 7th of April
The entire local school turned out for running, skating and on scooters. I was told it was Team Rynkeby Løb for sick children and the children were earning money by the run. Wonderful to see such energy!


Thursday the 6th of April
The sun shines right through Solo's stomach skin!!!

I spot a pretty Goldfinch in the Honeysuckle bush. First time in 9 years here. It's a new area, but wild life is gradually moving in!

Tuesday the 4th of April
At last the farmer has ploughed up and sown seeds in his barren and weed-killer filled field!
Huge flocks of seagulls are enjoyed all the worms now exposed!
As we walk, we drive them onwards.

The farmer had a bit of an accident with the seeds - see here, I am wondering what they are? Bean-like yet not...I've taken one home and will see what it is. Will grow faster with me! A friend thought peas, but nothing like the peas I have ever seen - the mystery will reveal itself as the summer progresses.

Sunday the 2nd of April
Spring is in the air - or rather, on the ground, ha ha!
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Saturday the 1st of April
Sunbathing!

Yesterday, they enjoyed eating the new, juicy grass that's coming up now - so big delays on every walk from now on! Obviously a kind of dietry extra. All my dogs over the course of some 40 years have done this.
(Nu om dage får de selvf. hjerte og lunge orm fra denne vane!)
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Below: A VERY rare shot of Dasher lying ON TOP of a blanket! They usually spend their whole lives underneath!

Sønday the 26th of March
The year's first lure coursing! I had a wonderful day.

On the bus to the station. Then I got a lift all the way there, (Slangerup, my favourite venue,) with a kind Whippet friend.

Both Dasher and Solo love Whippets - and Dasher loves Salukis too.
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I didn't video film much, so I am not sure if I will make a film from the day or not!

Friday the 24th of March
Sunbathing!
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I spotted a hare sunning itself this morning!

Thursday the 23rd of March
Solo, who hates having a jacket or harness on, is debating whether to come to me or not before a walk! Gives in after 5 minutes of cajoling and a treat!


I open the back door and Momma Blackbird flies up from her apple and sits on the edge of the bicycle basket watching me. So I tell her to wait a minute, which she does while I get my camera out and take several shots! Then I step outside and walk away and she jumps down and continues eating!

Posing for the camera!

Friday the 10th of February
A bit of excitement: I see a large rat sitting comfortably in the container of sunflower seeds. The bicycle basket has sunflower seeds for the smaller birds and apples for the Blackbirds, plus a manufactured "bird food" in fat balls for all. The rat is about to leave the container (left). Taken through my window. See the nervous sparrows and a shocked Great tit to the right!

Here it is! I went outside and it let me go right up to it!

So from now on only apples in the cycle basket, ( I can't let my Backbirds down), and I have hung up a container with food for all the other birds. This is NOT the weather for letting them starve.

Monday the 6th of February
Is someone coming here?

Saturday the 4th of February
I tried my hand at photographing the Blue tits - through a dirty window, (must get it cleaned). They are so fast, I got more photos with no bird than photos with a bird. The only part of them that didn't move and is in focus, is their feet!
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Of course, professional photographers would throw up at these - but I'll try again with a cleaner window and some sun!

Friday the 3rd of February
More dietary deviations for Solo! He loves Svend’s coffee, (plenty of milk in it, you see!) and was well under way before I, sitting in another room, realised!

-and the mess afterwards....

I have the most adorable family of Blue tits coming to eat the peanuts I put out for them. Never seen so many! Apparently peanuts are the VERY BEST they know - I have to top up 3 times a day! I have always given sunflower seeds, but it seems they are trash compared with a peanut! So I have invested in 8 kilos, just to keep them happy, they are SO cute! I will take a photo of the smart glass feeder as soon as we get some sunny weather.

Here is a photo of one, in case you don't know the bird. It is very small.

Thursday the 2nd of February
Still misty, but due to a little wind, it is not so bad as before. I spotted the couple of deer in the "poisoned field" this morning. Hope they don't make themselves sick.

They are OK if I keep walking, but wild animals always get nervous if one stops. They reckon they've been spotted, which of course is quite correct!
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Manday, our youngest son was on a visit and Solo loves sitting on laps - and shows his love by licking anything metal! My watch is kept VERY clean!

Saturday the 28th of January
At last some sun! Compare yesterday with today:

Above is the start of the walk through the fields, the bushy tree below can just be seen above...

Tuesday the 24th of January
SUCH a wet and foggy day yesterday, for the 3rd day in a row!

Saturday the 21st of January
Solo was SUCH a happy dog yesterday!
Firstly, in the gloom of early morning, he found and ate a large cat-poo in the garden before I realised. (Yes, we have a cat - or two, who think its' worth risking their lives for the joy of being able to dig in the soft soil in our flowerbeds!) Then after a longer doggy walk, he came home, raced at the speed of light into the kitchen where Svend was enjoying a coffee and a cream cake, grabbed the cream cake and swallowed it before we could even shout his name!!!
He was so pleased with himself, his two most favourite things!!!

When I took this photo below, I didn't dream that he was going to get one the next day!!!

Tuesday the 17th of January
Dasher loves to be dressed up in all the gear ready for a dog walk, but Solo HATES all clothes and this morning, when he saw that it was the tracksuit with legs, that he hates worst of all, he went like this:

But once we get going, he enjoys himself!
Some shots from the walk. The sea is the strip of blue on the roof tops - 10 km away:



The sun is struggling to get through the clouds - not a breath of wind....

Below, the usual view. We are all alone in the bleak fields.

Monday the 16th of January
I was doing some work with my computer in my office and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of a large bird zoom past outside, whilst at the same time, all the wild birds flew away. (I have a cycle basket just outside full of food plus an apple for the Blackbirds.) I managed to get a photo through my filthy dirty window, as it sat on the gate:

A Sparrowhawk no less! The same one no doubt, who killed and flew off with a male Blackbird just yards away from me last summer. A shocking thing to witness.

Solo eating his dinner - he always looks like a bandy cowboy who has been on a horse all his life! He walks like this too!

His hair is worn away by his warm coats chafing him...it seems the "blue" coloured dogs all have a feeble fur coat? I have seen this before. The fur coat he does have, shines healthily.

My son was in London in December, visiting a bookshop and idly looking at the well-filled shelves, when he spotted this paperback sticking out. Firstly the NAME caught his eye, "DASH" being like my Dasher, then the fact that the dog was a Greyhound AND BLACK, gave him the idea, that he would give me this as an extra Christmas present! I can warmly recommend it to all who can read English!
The writer writes brilliantly well, I truly enjoy his style, the story moves forward at a good pace and the story of the race track Greyhound he adopts, (knowing nothing of the breed), is woven into his own private life with the engagement and marriage to his girlfriend of some 3 years. It sounds like nothing much, but it IS a VERY good book and great fun to read!
DASH
Bitch of the Year
by Andrew Dilger
ISBN 978-1-84953-118-4
Summersdale Publishers Ltd.
summersdale.com/sd-book/dash/

Saturday the 14th of January
It's gone all pretty again with a thin layer of snow this morning!

Yesterday:
A sunny day and some crazy geese were flying back up north after having migrated south for the winter! It's a mad world.

Below: Mucking about in the kitchen, beside my chair!

Monday the 9th of January
The first mosquito of the year? Hibernating in the house and probably thought spring had come when I turned the heat up a bit due to a cold and frosty couple of days! It died instantly I saw it!!!

Solo closely examines a cute little mouse we found dead on the walk this morning. Plump and "healthy" looking - no doubt poisoned, so I picked it up and took it home to our rubbish bin in a dog-poo bag.

Freday the 6th of January
A very sunny, frosty morning.

I can "read" the temperature by how much my rhododendron leaves fold up in protest!