The case of the missing mini eggs

Ok, who has them..... We are taking serious flack over this.... I may not be Sherlock Bones (sorry had to be done) but she who must be obeyed is throwing a pink fit because all she has left is an empty packet. Because we get up early every day, it's become a habit that after I have had my supper, she and I retire to read a book , or if I nag long enough she will tell me stories of my family ancestors. Last night, on the bedside table was a bag of mini eggs that she has a couple out of every night. ( A couple being any where between two and twenty by my observations). But I must agree with her that there were definitely quite a few left in there when we went to sleep last night. Any way this morning, she puts one foot out of bed and it contacts with an empty packet.... You got it!!!! Some smart Alec has snook in during the night and pilfered the lot. Normally my money would be on Misscat cause she regularly steals food, or will on occasion deliberately knock things off the table, but she doesn't do chocolate. Merlin, well it's just not his style, raise a pair of big brown eyes and he gets anything he wants. That leaves Fatcat Slice n dice and me. What about Ghost I hear you say...NO CHANCE, no bottle bless him, besides his thing is plastic. And then we have the two girls ,Freya and Theia. Now I know CATAGORICALLY it was not me, because I was in my flat with a bowl of biscuits as witness, and Fatcat is so far left of centre that he wouldn't know what to do! Therefore by using my powerful powers of deduction, I say it was THE GIRLS! All three of them infact. I think that Freya and Theia paid Slice and dice to sneak upstairs, knock them off the table and then they could sneak in and pinch them off the floor one at a time under the cover of darkness so to speak..... Well it's either that or dare I say it The Grizzly Troll. Having said that I am certain he is not quiet enough to sneak by me.....I hope, yeh I would have heard him. And of course there are his feet....work it out yourselves !! My nose is pretty delicate you know. There you go, another case solved by the Great Bernese detective Sherlock Bones. All that's left now is to appease she who must be obeyed and to inform the girls that they owe me for my silence, and I will collect later. Yep nice job. You would love my flat, it's really big, bedroom rug one end, snack bar in the middle and bathroom paper the other end. I actually share the room as you have gathered because when the Troll and Merlin start snoring, you can feel the vibration through the walls and you need three maybe four sets of ear plugs to get any peace. She says it's the posh way and I say long live peace and quiet. A bloke needs his shuteye. Besides which, if she had left me on my own those first few nights I would have screamed the house down. The house rule appears to be that once you are house trained you get pretty much the run of the place, and the flat reverts to the next young member to join us. Ghostie must have really put the pressure on for him to still have his own. Thing is, the doors never shut anyway. Leaves all his bits and pieces lying around in there and any Tom Dick or Fatcat could pinch them. Still if he feels safe that way, go for it mate. Any way it's time to be thinking about other things. Would like to send love to Archie and Miss Trinity, thinking of you both guys, and your families. Till next time... Cool runnings Gryff

Artic supplies

Now unless I have been listening to the wrong tv or radio, the weather men suggested that the next few days would be rather cold and possibly even a little white in places, which being a snow dog I find extremely exciting. You have to remember that being twelve weeks and four days old, my experience of the White stuff is extremely limited, indeed you could say non existent. I have to go on are what the other guys tell me and all the pictures I find lying around the house. On that basis I suggested to the grizzly troll and co that an inventory of our supplies might be in order....just in case! Have to say their answers were very specific..... He disappeared off shooting and she started turning out the dog cupboard. In fairness there are two or three dog cupboards but first she did the one in our private room and then the one off the kitchen. Our room is great. Big windows that all open, doors either end, under floor heating , Ghostie has his pot in there, and we all have rugs bones chews to our hearts content. And it's ours so mess is not a problem. Ghostie I should say, only feels safe in his pot but he will share if asked politely, usually with Freya. Now if I was older would I see an alternative reason for that? He might be a bag of jitters but nobody said he was thick!!!! Anyway,in this room are some of our supplies including three bags of dog biscuits... The very large size, and she who must be obeyed decided that they really needed to be off the floor on like a mini pallet. Anyway when she lifted the bottom one there were bits of plastic on the floor. Now the windows had just been reseated and checked and the door locks redone, because certain of our number are very proud of the fact that they can open them when nobody is looking. Or we really do have a" Ghostie". So no more was said.... Then she started on the pantry and o poop did it fly.... We appear to have extra domestic staff that we didn't know about. The four legged, move like poop of a shovel variety that nibble at anything till they can steal food. I personally blame Merlin. If he hadn't made the adults turn out the garage so he could park up his trucks for the winter then they would probably still be resident in there. ( don't tell him it was my idea, bit forgetful being older but I was trying to help. I just love that Ferrari of his). Anyway, I asked her, WHY DO WE HAVE THREE FUZZBALL CATS IF THEY DON'T CATCH MICE? No answer was the reply. In fairness to Fatcat, he has been chewing the plastic covering on the multiple pack of Pepsi, but one has to remember that he is rather left of centre, hence being with us, and logic plays a very small part in his life. In fact I can't really tell you what is in his life... Yes I can COMFORT. He has to be on a pile of cushions that thick he struggles to climb up it. Such a pile rests on the top of my office in the kitchen. It's at least three dog cushions deep at any given time, and is next to the radiator. I have two offices and my flat upstairs so I can't really moan about him having a penthouse can I? Anyway when the grizzly troll gets home he will have to leap into the breech, show what a man he is and DEAL WITH THEM! She means go down to the pet shop when it's open and get something to do the job. We, after a discussion think we should give him a shovel,a bottle of beer and a stool and then turn out the lights and see what happens........!!! YOU ARE SUCH SPOIL SPORTS LOL? The good bit is that any packets that even looked chewed, and we found at least two packets each (funny that) had to be disposed of in a fitting manner, the end result being we are all full to the brim, and with the exception of me, giving it zzzzzz's. No staying power these older dogs if you ask me. Anyway in an effort not to spoil their peace and quiet I think I might join them. Don't know how I cope really, sleep food work sleep food work sleep food work. Life is so hard. Anyway, love to hear some comments from you, there's a section right at the bottom. Beginning to think that I am talking to myself and that's not good. O and before I forget, Merlin is trying to arrange a sponsored walk and cart pull in the spring for a charity that works for service personel blinded .... Be nice to see you so give us an e mail. Be my first one so looking forward to it. Sending you love Miss Trinity, Cool runnings Gryff

The grizzly troll fights back

Yes you got it, the grizzly troll is fighting back. Do you have any idea what he has christened me? B RUSSEL SPROUT. He's a fine one to talk, especially after all that food and booze at Christmas. Wouldnt mind but I only did it once. And it was a really quiet one at that,even if it was a trifle RIPE so to speak. And ,and he is trying to stop me going clay pidgeon shooting tomorrow. He reckons it will be too cold and I will freeze. In his dreams... I am a snow dog and a bit of cold is what I was made for. Besides which Merlin and Theia are both going so why can't I? If he seriously thinks he can leave me in a lovely warm basket curled up after a nice cooked breakfast baby sitting those fluff balls he calls cats, well he can think again! The problem is that it actually sounds rather nice but NO NO NO I am going. He is probably a bit tee'd off because Theia is having another sleep over with her two legged boyfriend Steve. This the second time in two weeks and I know he was a bit iffy last time. Well he has got to deal with it. Steve is younger fitter and his hair is black not grey. Every girl is entitled to be spoilt now and then. And she especially deserves it. When she was a puppy, she ran into a patio chair chasing one of the cats, and managed to knock her eye out of it's socket. Mum says it was just like a horror movie but real. Mum rushed out in her dressing gown and slippers cause she could hear her screaming ,shouted dad to ring the vets grabbed the dog and shot off down the vets at a million miles an hour. When they got there, a vet nurse was waiting at the door, and apparently her face went a funny colour looking at Theia. With that dad pulls up in his car and goes rushing in after them all. Now if there is one thing I have learnt about She who must be obeyed it is that she never panics till it's all settled down, but there is one thing she just cant do and that is eyes. So the Grizzly Troll had to go in with her. Anyway to cut a long story short, the vet replaced her eye and stitched it shut to hold every thing in place. Then knowing it would be mum who would have to bathe it and do all Theias medication she went outside to find her. Imagine her surprise when she indoors is standing there in just a dressing gown and slippers in a well lit street with traffic passing, smoking a cigarette when she doesn't smoke!!!!! at eleven o'clock at night in the freezing cold. If you ask me she was lucky she didn't get arrested. Take your pick.... Speeding, indecent exposure, loitering with intent and the list just goes on. Anyway poor Theia had damaged the optic nerve, and despite another operation and going to see a really good eye specialist, her eye has never worked since. If you met her now you would probably not notice, because she copes so well, but her special friends who know how brave she was, still take the time to spoil her. Apparently she has the choice of steak or chicken for tea, pate and toast for breakfast, and a mac muffin for brunch on their way to shooting. Got to say she is something special, and she spends hours playing with me. Anyway I reckon I can slide into the van with mum while he is doing up his laces or something, but I am going! B RUSSEL SPROUT indeed. Now I am definitely hungry so got to go. My life seems to revolve around food at the moment, or treats, or sausages...... Now I really do have to go. Take care , talk later, and cool runnings. Gryff

FOR THE LOVE OF A DOG. Today has been one of those days when you laugh your head off at bits of it, then dissolve into tears because someone you hold dear is struggling to cope with life and what it is throwing at them. We all know that once a dog has made it into your heart, and I mean really into your heart, their welfare is the only thing that matters to you. It seems at the moment that more and more animals are being "thrown away" due to circumstances beyond their control. It is estimated that a dog an hour is euthanised because nobody wants it. It's fit , it's healthy, but nobody wants it... And that doesn't take into account the ones that are ill ,neglected, beaten and starved. That is why it seems so hard when a dog has been rehomed at the age of seven to the most wonderful owners you could wish for, to be told that she has cancer and time together will be short. For seven years this dog has dealt with everything people have thrown at it, and then against the odds it is given a fresh start with people who have love with no limits to give, only to have it taken away again. As a dog, I know how lucky I am with the life I have. As a dog I live in today,not yesterday, and not tomorrow. ALL I WANT IS NOW THIS MINUTE. To be warm, fed, in company and to feel the love of my people. If they go out, to be with them, to be in the same room while they watch tv. To know that what ever the weather, they will drag on their coats and shoes and wander down the road with me, just because I need to go out. They are what is important to me, not time it's self, but NOW THIS MINUTE. It must be so hard for you people to understand how we live in the moment, when all us dogs hear is, tomorrow we will.... Yesterday was.... What about now this minute??? Our love for you is unconditional so believe in us. Yesterday can always be improved on, and tomorrow may not come for one of us, so trust us when we say NOW THIS MINUTE is what is important. To you it's what might happen tomorrow, what decisions you might face and you let it infringe on NOW THIS MINUTE. In effect you let it change now and how happy it could be. We know that because you love us, you will be their for us and when the time comes and we tell you we need peace, although it takes all your strength, you will abide by our decision... You will know when the time is right. To every person reading this, go give your dog a cuddle and let it tell you that you mean the world to it. Just look in it's eyes and you will see what I mean. And should you have to make that decision today, tomorrow or the next day, just remember that it is because you loved us that you made it. Young as I am, I would hope that if I was unable to remain with my people, they would be special enough to look for another dog to give a loving home to in remembrance of me..... As they have done in memory of all their previous dogs,both rescue and Bernese. Cool runnings lovely lady........ Gryff

I found this today, just wandering through things, and I have to say it just proves my point, that she who must be obeyed is a Bernese Witch... WOMEN ARE ANGELS, BUT IF SOMEONE BREAKS THEIR WINGS THEY SIMPLY CONTINUE TO FLY.... USUALLY ON A BROOMSTICK! BECAUSE THEY ARE FLEXIBLE LIKE THAT!!!! The times I have been sitting there all innocent and well behaved,just minding my own business, and she has suddenly turned around looked at me and said......DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.... I ask you what did I do ( scheming innocent puppy little me) how did she know? Originally I thought she was watching my reflection but I swear I never moved a muscle, and then there are times when there is no mirror or window. She is the same with the others but to a lesser extent. What happens if I want to go out with the guys later on, is she going to know what we have planned before we do it? Or if I want to be a stud dog.... O my God Merlin just went up in my estimation. No wonder he sits there all smug and smirking . He has been here nearly eight years and knows it all....I really have got to listen to what that bloke says, he is amazing. And what about my plan to pinch his Ferarri red truck and go joy riding, does she know about that already??? And worse still would she tell him, because then he won't teach me anything will he...... Or let me near his wheels. O @@@@!!!! Then there's all the potions and bits she gives us. Honey, ivy leaves and all that kind of stuff. Freya says we only go to the vets if we have to. That's fine with me of course, especially after last week, but how do I know she isn't playing around with me.... It just gets worse and worse the more I think about it. Only one thing for it, be a good boy till she has forgotten, unless you can think of anything else... O poop! How boring. Changing the subject slightly , you know yesterday I coined the phrase grizzly troll, yes you got it, he read the blogg. Never rains but it pours. So this morning when it came to sharing out the toast, I suspect that I got short ration. Every bodies piece looked bigger than mine, and it's not just my imagination. Even Ghost agreed with me, and he usually won't say boo to a goose.(another dog being an entirely different matter. Makes you wonder if he knows he is one!) and when Slice n dice was telling me about what she did last night, well he was not amused. Apparently she waited till he was asleep and then commando style she slid down the covers all the way to the bottom of the bed till she got to his feet ( brave or stupid..your choice) Then being the fearless creature that she is she took a deep breath and bit his toes. The rest I will leave to your imagination but I thought it was quite funny. Sufficient to say most of the dogs in the street will have heard him. Good old Slice n dice. work has been a bit quiet this month. Typical January in the trade, so I think having had my first proper walk and a good old feed I might treat myself to a long comfortable snooze. See what I can get up to in my dreams. And if I hear that voice..... Well here goes , wish me luck. Cool running Gryff

Mums special flowers

O am I in the poo... I am in the poo past my pupils and I am still sinking!!!! I thought I had a game plan to spoil my mum a bit but it's all gone pear shaped. Mum said at Christmas that nobody ever gives her flowers, so this morning when I went in the garden I saw these flowers and I thought NICE ONE KID. I had better explain I suppose. When I go to work and come home it's always dark so this morning one of the indoor lights was on and I saw these lovely blue flowers just sitting there asking to be picked. Thought that would really make her smile, anyway I had a little pull and they didn't move, so I gave it a bit more welly and all of a sudden the whole lot came out, bulbs roots and all... Great I thought they will last even longer and off I trotted into the dog room And into the kitchen, the flowers sticking out of my mouth and trailing the other bits behind. I heard old soft pot say something and the next thing I know she is grabbing my flowers, no please or thanku , and putting her fingures down my throat for goodness knows what reason. I mean she could at least have said thanku . I was really @@@@@ off! Anyway after a few minutes she was kissing and cuddling me fit to bust, it was lovely. Got pate toast for every one so all the other dogs owe me big time ( and I will collect u wait and see) and mums all smiles and cuddles...... Turns out the flowers I picked were called hyacinths and are extremely toxic to dogs. Because it was dark all the time she didn't know they were even up never mind flowering SO IF YOUR DOG PULLS A WOBBLY LIKE THIS AND U NEED TO KNOW IF SOMETHING IS POISONOUS there are two websites you can get immediate access to for information. One is the PDSA Peoples Dispensary For Sick Animals and WWW. DFORDOG, as both have a list of commonly found plants that do us canines no good.. Lucky for me plants are mums field, but all I care about is that she is smiling again. O and just to stop u all worrying I didn't eat any of it. Made up with pate and toast all around from the grizzly troll that grassed me up. You know I really like that phrase, just have to hope he doesn't read this blogg. L O L Any way I am at work now so I had better get on I suppose, saw a fox and Olly the White owl coming in, and more Importantly no sign of Brutus the buzzard, boy does he give me the creeps ..... Take care for now guys, talk later, Cool Runnings, Gryff

Nanny Broels, you have found me... Love the picture and hope you are having a laugh at my comings and goings. Making loads of friends and going places and have loads of new honorary aunts and uncles. Please will you say hello to my mum and grandad. Big hugs Gryff xx

It's aunty Sarahs fault

How embarrassing can it get, I mean HOW BAD CAN IT GET! Would you buy a chocaholic chocolates for a present, would you give peanuts to someone that's allergic???? So what does aunty Sarah do but give her indoors not one , not two but THREE gin and tonics. I ask you, it's like me overdosing on sausages for goodness sake. I mean I knew there was a problem on boxing day, but to do it again???? On boxing day Merlin took all the boys clay pidgeon shooting and she who must be obeyed said I was too young and had to stop at home with the girls and we would do a proper country dinner for when they all got back. So we did a casserole with red wine in it, dumplings roasties parsnips brussells stuffing yorkies the lot, and then Christmas pudding with brandy and cream, cheese and crackers and xmas cake with brandy in it. I should have known when she gently slid off her chair and disappeared under the table After eating her pudding she had zero tolerance for alcohol. I mean it was so embarrassing when Merlin and I had to grab a leg each and pull her out and into the kitchen so she could do the washing up..... Not that she did..... Nothing to lean on except the sink so the dish washer did it in the end. So my point is aunty Sarah you knew what would happen when she opened the fridge door and there they all were lined up in front of her!!!! Hope you have some headache pills with you this morning, that's all I am going to say. Saw that dirty great big buzzard again this morning. I am sure it thinks I am an early black lamb and it sees mint sauce when it looks at me. Can't wait till I weigh three stone instead of two. Then it won't be able to even think about me as a snack. It's got this huge beak and claws that put Theias nails to shame. ( since she started working in the shop nextndoor with Steve she is all about how she looks. Fur brushed, nails painted and all that stuff) and AND they have another sleep over planned for next weekend. They think I don't know but I do. That means she gets Pate and Steak again and shooting on Sunday.... I hope it rains!! Well unless I get to go again in which case the sun will shine. Anyway time to go for a bit. Got to get her indoors working...black coffee aspirins and a good snap at the ankles I think will do the job. If that fails I will make her stand outside in the rain till she wakes up like we have to When the door bangs shut. So I will say cool runnings all, and it's DEFINATELY YOUR FAULT AUNTY SARAH!!!!!!!! Gryff

Well as you can see I have been absent for a few hours. Body decided it really didn't like my trip to the vets and I have been rather off colour. So much so that work has gone to pot without my controlling paw and she who must be obeyed has skipped off and decided to take the afternoon off. More to the point the blogg seems to have gone all haywire. Never mind just need some technical back up from somewhere. I am only eleven weeks old you know. Been reading about my distant relations the Dolyhirs..... Excellent reading. Just throw in Dolyhir Bernese and they pop up. This treasure hunt sounds good and a hog roast. Got to ask Theia to take me with her. Theia is a Dolyhir on her dads side... The Rockmeister himself, so she got an invite, and her mum is a Luddenden from UP NORTH. Very nice families both of them. Well today you will have to excuse me, house needs tidying up because we are expecting Guests who want to meet us, so I have got to go and sort the domestics out.... Cool runnings and have a good weekend Gryff

Ok... Whose bright idea was that.....

Ok....Whose bright idea was that.... Did you think I wouldn't notice? Nice car ride, lots of young ladies fussing over me. Isn't he sweet, o he is so cuddly, can I have a cuddle please... And some @@@@@ in a white coat creeps up behind me and sticks a three foot needle in the back of my neck, and then expects me to eat a treat when he tries to be nice to me.... GO WHISTLE I AM NOT THAT THICK. I will tell you now, it won't happen again, although She who must be obeyed has also said that. Mind you I did get major fuss afterwards. Will just have to remember to look out for girls in uniforms and if I see them, to run like blazes. On a more interesting note, I have found out that Merlin has three trucks of his own. A modern cart about six years old, a vintage cart about a hundred years old that has been renovated and restored and his Ferrari red, gold trimmed, sleek lined, gold sledded Christmas cart which is to die for. It is a total babe magnet and I have just got to have a drive in it one day. He keeps telling me that I will have to wait till I am at least fifteen months old. That's centuries from now and what happens if he crashes it or worse ,it's totally wrecked? The old codger said to save up and get Uncle Julian to make me one of my own just like Merlin did. If you have the Bernese carting calendar, Merlin is the December 2012 page in all the snow. But it is such a totty truck!!!! Apparently he lent it out on a photo shoot just after Xmas.....to of all things fifty odd working collies. They wanted to do their Xmas cards for this year. Give him his due, he did ask for a donation for the Berner rescue so it's not all bad. Seems he does a lot for charity with his wheels , will have to get him to tell me one night when he is nicely settled down in front of the fire. Well it's been a funny day so think I will have a quick bite to eat and settle down for a kip myself. Beginning to feel a bit off. Probably the cat food I BORROWED off Slice n dice. ( believe that and you will believe anything). Her own fault, she should have eaten it or not left it where I could reach it. Wonder why they call her Slice n dice? Anyway, will talk later. Take care and cool runnings Gryff

Introducing Gryff the Bernese Mountain Dog

Introducing Gryff the Bernese mountain Dog.....Hi everybody, I am Gryff the Bernese mountain dog and I am eleven weeks old. As you can see because I have my own blogg, I am rather cool and on the ball..to say nothing of being really cuddly and all together drop dead gorgeous. Well let's face it, if I don't blow my own trumpet, who else will. Anyway I was born Wednesday 2 November just outside Thetford and christened Broels MR MAGIC, but my friends call me Gryff. I left there just before Christmas to join my forever family and unfortunately to get a job. Did youqrealise that there are two five o'clocks in a day? Well I didn't. First morning in I get dragged out of a lovely warm comfy basket to go to work..... Think I was conned personally. Quick breakfast (sausages) and away we went. Must admit though the day went really well, lots of visitors treats and cuddles and by the end of the day all the staff were doing exactly as I wanted them to. Not bad for a novice I thought! They even sorted me out an office that nobody else can use. Cool! My new family consist of the Grizzly Troll (dad) She who must be obeyed, also known as Her Indoors, and Merlin Freya and Theia the Bernese mountain dogs, and my mate Ghost the White shepherd. Then in addition there is Fatcat, Misscat, and Slice and Dice the felines. (some fun to be had there at a later date I reckon LOL). Any way unless I am much mistaken there is a cracking smell of cooking coming from the kitchen, so if you will excuse me dinner calls, then a nice long snooze to sleep it off. Talk soon, Cool runnings Gryff