Anybody believe in signs ....

Www. The adventures of Gryff.  Anybody believe in signs from those that are at rainbow bridge! I mean really believe? Yesterday the GB magazine arrived and her indoors actually managed to tear it open and sit down with it....... Till the troll started up! After a couple of hours she put it back in its envelope unread and gave up. Now as I said, she's not been sleeping that well, so about 4am this morning she came downstairs to make a cuppa and a have a few biscuits with us. Ever since we can remember she always starts and ends her birthday with us. On the table were a couple of unopened Xmas cards and the white envelope. Having nothing better to do she opened the cards to find  that one has what looks like a berner pup on. It's like a cartoon of  eight animals looking over a gate to the snow, and it's from a couple who are older and have never seen a berner let alone met one. Anyway with the second cuppa she went back to bed taking the magazine with her.  Imagine how she felt when going through the photos, there sits Merlin, not once but twice . Two separate pictures with his nibs in, with that big berner smile all over his chops.  Now I know for a fact that she really wanted him here for Christmas! and with all that's gone on, her birthday was all but forgotten..... So why did he turn up on her day, basically three times. Once is a happenstance, twice a coincidence and three times.... ? All those letters arrived a week to the day and roughly the time he went, but by design or fate were left till today, her day.  Then add to that there was a card hidden in the big envelope with a berner on which she also found this morning (thanku.... You know who you are) and today is full of Bernese. So the question is..... DO YOU BELIEVE? If love is as strong as we like to think it is, can it still keep us connected to those we love and have lost?  And if we look and are open minded can they let us know that they are safe and happy. Cool runnings Gryff

I keep trying.......

Www. The adventures of Gryff. .... Well it's all I can do.... Since every other dog in this house was a puppy,  Merlin has always been there to look after us, to sort out who had what, and who has which bowl. Now with him leaving for rainbow bridge, everybody seems a bit woofy and short on tolerance. Her indoors is still really upset, but i am doing my best to be there for her. I've started lying by her in the sitting room, and when the door goes I bark and sit at her side like Merlin did when she opens the door. The only thing is, when he barked we all went quiet, when I bark everybody else carrys on barking. It worrys me that I might not be as good as he was, in everything  he did. Her indoors keeps saying that he had years to learn all he knew, and I am still a youngster, so I shouldn't worry. Even the troll, who is usually a bit bossy and DO IT NOW keeps telling me everything will be ok.  The Kray twins are really being little s@@ts! There were some Stollen finger things on the back of the table and they stole them..... Ate the lot without even thinking about us, so I had a few growls at them which of course brought her indoors down stairs. I thought she would go ballistic, but she didn't . So that just proves things aren't sorted yet.  Then there are other Bernese , young ones leaving for rainbow bridge and she gets cross and upset and says they are far too young to be leaving , where Merlin was older  by any standard and it  was still too soon for him to go..... His age , she says is what made him so wise and well behaved. I can't remember a day when he wasn't in charge or flirting with the ladies. He got invites from other families for holidays , or requests to babysit their new pups.... He went away on fellas weekends with his friend Rob , and that Miss Lola the St. Bernard . He carted, he  drove around in a motorbike and sidecar. He did fund raising with other dogs for half a dozen charities, and that smile never came off his face..... No matter what was going on , he could deal with it. Add to that he was majorly handsome and loved nothing more than a berner day out ..... Well how do you follow an act like that? Her indoors says we are all grieving but in different ways, (although some people say that us dogs can't grieve) and I think she right. From miss behaving to barking, to wanting loads of cuddles, us dogs do understand when someone leaves...... Sending love to all the homes that have lost a Bernese...... Cool runnings Gryff

Loved and lost forever

Have you ever had something or someone so priceless, that you can't actually put a value on them?  Something so wonderful that you can't function without it..... And you hadn't realised just how much of an influence it had on your life. How with it's being there all would come right, and you felt protected, balanced and whole? If you were out and about you found new friends because of it, and your old friends were there because of it. How any decisions based on their judgement were always sound, and if they didn't like someone then you walked away, because they were never wrong. How they had the capacity to read your mind and your mood, and had a natural empathy with strangers that needed  support or a friendly touch to let them know there was somebody on their side. How they teach without you even knowing that's what they are doing. How they set an example that seems almost impossible to emulate and sets the bar so high that people can't match them, and  your respect for them and their ideas is boundless. How just to be with you is all they ask for , in good times and bad, and without you realising, they just lift an eyebrow and peace is returned, or the turn of a head and what ever was going to happen just stops! How they can laugh with that silly lop sided smile, and make you laugh even when you felt like crying. How THINGS didn't matter to them , only the touch of a hand when wanted , or a cuddle.......  Heaven only knows what I would give to be able to feel that touch right now, to be able to feel that cuddle one more time. You are a breath and a heartbeat away, but all I can feel is your loss and so much pain I think my heart will break. Rest in peace and thank you for spending your life with me Merlin, now you need to teach me how to carry on without you........

Butt bump and barge.....

Now guys this is just for you because if the the girls find out about it, all you will be able to find of me is bits in various ditches scattered around the countryside..... It attracted my attention yesterday when I saw three lady berner butts trying to get through the door together that either we needed wider door frames or SOMEBODY was getting a little wide in the beam. Now Freya has always been slightly that way inclined, some say from having two lots of puppy's .... But I say it's due entirely to her nose. If ever a nose was finely geared to search and eat , it's hers. The  smallest crumb never gets past her. The merest  suggestion of an aroma from the kitchen seven doors down and the old radar sniffer is on full alert. As far as her daughters are concerned , Lace and Asti, (the Kray twins) well it could be either hereditary or in my opinion it's due most probably to all this power carting they've been doing over the last few weeks. I mean Merlin has three vehicles and the one they have been driving around ( for that read borrowed or stolen without owners permission)  is only the heaviest , the longest, and is on pneumatic tyres which we all know are much harder to pull than wooden/metal rimmed wheels) . I mean body building or what? Add that to their long walks with this geezer called Monty, and then their walks out with me, and all I can see is muscle and BUTT. I suppose in fairness it's not a picture I would ordinarily see, because I am always out the door first, but it's definitely one I don't want to see every walk. I mean it's enough to knock all the puff out of a bloke if you get caught in the stampede!!! Add to that the fact that SANTA PAWS is on his way quite soon, and I can see some serious dieting going on in the new year. Her indoors has actually put a tree up in the hall this year. On top of the big wooden chest. Something about it NOT being a pee post for any dogs coming through the house. Very very unusual for her.... She doesn't really do Christmas, something to do with not needing anything from Santa Paws, or what she wants isn't possible. Well bark for herself I say... I can think of loads of bits I need, want or could do with....... Bet the girls can too, especially FOOD lol. Cool runnings Gryff

OOOPS a daisy!!!

Well I mean how embarrassing can a two legs be? I am just so glad that I wasn't there and it was the Kray twins that had to put up with glowing red cheeks when her in doors embarrassed all and sundry on Saturday morning. As you know her indoors had a BEING MEAN weekend planned. First I had to be wash dried and ironed on Friday in time for a show I was supposed to be in on Sunday. Then she was planning to drag the Kray twins out carting with the big red Sleigh at an old folks centre on Saturday! and then Sunday was her day for making me dance around a show ring like something off STRICTLY!  Well guess what..... She went base over apex, with legs wriggling about in the air, and all the air puffed out of her, to say nothing of the sleigh landing on her front padding bits, all because she doesn't actually have EYES IN THE  BACK OF HER HEAD!!! You got it, lifting that big old sleigh that she makes us pull, into the van with help from Uncle Rob, she went and fell backwards over a stone that holds the gates open...... Like she hasn't seen it a million times (and I've pee'd on it as well) . Just because it got moved a few inches from where it would normally be! Well she should have eyes in the back of her head. Do you realise that if the cart hadn't landed on her padded bits it could have been damaged? And then to add insult to embarrassment she still made the Krays cart and me get out of my basket early Sunday morning to go to the show. Well anyway , when we got there i was the perfect gent, didn't pull or make a fuss, but when it came to her getting out of the chair..... Well I just rolled around laughing. Talk about stiff, creaking and had it! There wasn't an icecream in a warm place's chance of her even walking me round that ring let alone making me MOVE. JUSTICE at last , I could go home, creep back into my lovely warm basket and dream about Sunday dinner..... Then some un named and closely related nanny suggested that somebody else run me around the ring. I thought my nanny loved me (especially when I got the sausage  and the treats that kept accidentally falling from her fingers in my direction)  but I am not so sure now . Anyway to cut a long story short, I did ok with a second and a third, her indoors got us home and was high as a kite a couple of hours later on some fancy pain killers but only after we got a Sunday lunch (including hers which she didn't eat) fit for an apology to us dogs for the embarrassment she caused us.  Cool runnings Gryff

Santa's little helpers?

Www.the adventures of Gryff.  Well the little horrors managed it... Took the red sleigh out for a spin and brought it back in one piece. Got to say I was bone smacked they went , especially as I have been doing my best to wind the two legs up all week. ( and although I say it myself , have been doing a cracking job too).  I really thought her indoors would not be in the mood and would cancel... But no, no her! Add to that it was cold and raining and I would have put all my biscuits on it! Just proves what the troll says.... About females that is.  And then just to really wind ME up , she went and booked me in for a wash dry and iron. Just what does she think I am? Got to admit I have been a bit of a B@@@@r this week. Counter surfing, bit of a scrap with some mutt that barked at me, and a bit of bowl swopping on the old Q T. Personally I think taking the sleigh out in November is a bit early, but I suppose they have to have a bit of practice.....  Thought as it's the first time they would cock it up, but we are talking the Kray twins , so I should have known better. Anybody would think they were going to be santas little helpers at some bash! I know... I can get them some of those reindeer antlers to wear, that should wind them up. Just make sure I remove all their tools of the trade before I do is so they don't retaliate. Anyway, better go and have a think about what I can get up to tomorrow, and I need a really good one for the day after my enforced bath...... FOX POO sounds good for that one! Cool runnings Gryff

Lock up your bones boys and girls...

Www.the adventures of Gryff . Well I warned you all... If it's valuable lock it up everybody. Bolt or screw your basket to the floor. Pile up your rugs, bones biscuits and toys and chain them all down.... The Kray twins have formed the perfect carting team. Last week Lace took to it like a dog to a bone and this week Asti did exactly the same. Wouldn't be so bad but the two legs took them to the motorbike scrambling first to take the edge off them, and I swear I saw them timing the laps ......  I just know that they would love to cart the track , mud muck and all.  There isn't a pet shop that's safe from them now, and I know I heard Lola ordering a pink leather collar with diamonds after they got back, so saddlerys and jewellers are probably also fair game.  Add to that the fact that her indoors and uncle rob were rolling around in the mud under the trailer together , and I couldn't be more embarrassed!!!!!.  They had the nerve to blame my puppy Hatty , by saying she takes  her toys under there , so the big dogs can't get them and she'd pulled the wiring loose to the back lights!  Like anybody is going to believe that of my little Hatty . The times I get told off for getting muddied up and they expect me to accept such a stupid excuse. If it had been my puppy , she would have had the floor out as well!  And then there's Dexter...... All smug because he's got a bit of totty doubled  up with him on one side, and the other walking the other side...... Just to stay close to him. I told them you can't trust these  older males, but they just won't listen to me!   AND THEN her indoors goes and gets the two little Bugrats  matching new collars. Matching collars,matching leads, it will be matching new harness soon, probably in gold, or black patent with gold bones on something equally stupid.  I can just imagine Lola (the St Bernard) suggesting pink, but I know the girls won't have that. Far to girlie for them. Oh well folks, consider yourselves warned...... Cool runnings. Gryff

Dred locks or extensions?

Www. The adventures of Gryff .  I told you I would get even with them for putting me in a cart.... Well I am BIG TIME! Guess who's in the show ring in a few days ...... And guess who's blowing his coat. Yep you got it!!!!  And I mean big big time blowing my coat. Her indoors has brushed me, hoovered me,stood me out in gale force winds and she says that technically I should be totally bald. Yeh like that's ever going to happen. I even showed her a few pictures of Komodors and Pulis but she thought I was taking the mick!  I see absolutely nothing wrong with her platting in the brush outs or glueing them back on, it just means that I change class ...... Can't see a problem, and she gets to keep all her money for entrance fees. What more can she ask for.? Nanny on the other hand will be a different matter. Î know she's looking forward to seeing me and it wasn't her that stuck me in a cart,  plus last time I did quite well.... OK, which classes guys, Rough Collie, Puli, or Komodors ? Cool runnings Gryff

11th hour of the 11thday of the 11th month...

It's a grey day today, it's raining and that seems appropriate , as we stop and remember those who served and didn't return in years past. Somehow all the parades and poppy tributes seem to help, but do they remind us of our forces who are still serving far from home? Did you know that there are upwards of 100 service dogs currently on duty in Places like Afghanistan?  I tried so hard to get one of those Poppy's to hang of my collar but I couldn't get one. Not too impressed with wearing a flower in my collar but I am determined to show support. Us dogs have been used in wars for thousands of years.... Doing our duty, along with the likes of horses and pidgeons, and it's them I would like to remind you of. Along with the security and explosive sniffer dogs, our sort fight other battles...... Against disease, loneliness and physical disability. Think of the ones you see .... Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs. Then add the depression support dogs, Autism support dogs, a gap where in Canada,  Bernese and Bernese retriever crosses are leading the field. Then there are the dogs that give warning for those with chronic Diabetes , narcolepsy , and epileptic fits. Then the lower profile pooches,  search and rescue! the Newfies that practise water rescue off Cornwall. The sheepdogs that cover miles to bring home the livestock when the weather is closing down working in a team or on his own. Then, you have that group of specialists that we hardly ever talk about.  The dogs trained and being trained to scent cancers, the cadaver dogs, and those who can scent remains lost in water. As a species there is nothing to touch us, and I for one am extremely proud of our heritage.  So just remember all those who also served and are still serving that have four paws.... When it's the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Wear your collar with pride.....Cool runnings Gryff

Female drivers!!!!

I told him, I said don't do it Dexter , but he had to go and be a gentledog! What Bernese in his right paws agrees to lend his best wheels and his two legs to teach some upstart female bone digger to cart?  I made it quite clear last time that carting wasn't for me.... I even went to the extreme of breaking the traces (in two places- might as well do it properly) , and as for teaching some female, well I ask you. Anyway our Dexter went out with me! two up! but being an experienced OLDER dog, he just wouldn't put the paw to the metal, and despite all my playing up we had a sedate and controlled walk. Now that Lacey Locket the pocket rocket, well she's an entirely different kettle of fish. In fairness she's been about carts since she was a small pup, and if I didn't know better I would say she's been practising on the quiet. She had a go last time with harness only,then harness and what was left of the traces and this time it was all or nothing. Add to that there were two black labs and another berner creeping up behind her , and I have to say she coped really well.  I personally think that she and her sister are planning a bank job or something, perhaps a pet shop, or a jewellers? Something that's going to need a quick getaway with a set of wheels to carry the  spoils. I bet they've got passports hidden in their baskets somewhere! That could be why her indoors has spent a large part of this week emptying , washing and drying our goody cupboards. She was looking for their falsified papers and bones. All our winter rugs, towels and kit have all been washed.even the senior dogs coats, and the trolls collection of silly hats and four fingered gloves got thrown in to the washing machine too. Personally I can't see the point cause we are only going to get them dirty, but she said they smelt fusty.  And then as if that wasn't enough the soft old dog let her take the cart out on her own. For all we knew she could have just disappeared with it and hidden it up while they planned the job.  Or, or there is this new berner she's just met. Name of Monty..... Perhaps she's planning to impress him? She was a bit choppsy when they first met on Saturday when we all went for a walk, but she seemed quite struck by the time he went home. Oh well we will just have to wait and see......... What's your choice? boyfriend or bank job ? Cool runnings Gryff

COI 27.... You can't be serious...

Well it's true.... I checked it three times off the KC Breed records Supplement AQ2 April to Jun 2013. The KC have therefore accepted that which they say they don't!!!! A mother/son A Daughter/father or a brother /sister mating gives a score of 25 according to the Kennel club and is no longer acceptable..... So how on earth does somebody manage to generate a score of 27 and still register their pups with the Kennel club?

Flash in the pan

Well it looks like I made a few friends and I lost a few friends, much as I expected with my last comments. Good job I am made of solid stuff.....  But the good thing is everybody is reading talking and arguing over things. Perhaps with a bit of luck they are even wandering around the internet trying to learn for themselves. Part of the issues that are about now are due to people not having up to date knowledge..... Things have been in place, such as the annual vaccinations , for so long that we have grown so used to getting the reminder card from the vet and off we go. We ASSUME that the vet is always right because they are THE VET!  Well folks, those days need to be gone..... When was the last time your vet told you that some vaccines are live and can actually give your puppy the disease that it's supposed to stop. When was the last time your vet told you that the eight week old love of your life could go into shock and you should keep your eyes open for any symptoms? That there is in fact now a register for dogs that have died or had a reaction to a vaccination . .......  The average professional doesn't even mention that there are TITRE tests available which will tell you if the light in your life is still immune from a previous injection, and that further vaccinations are putting your dog at risk and a total waste of your money ! If I can teach my two legs to search for things on the internet, then I am sure that you can teach yours..... Two years it's taken me, but it's been worth it. Now nothing gets taken at face value, everything is looked at and best of all I get to do my blogg, ( even if she tells me I am playing with fireworks!)  .  It's like one of the pups when it went for its first vaccination.... Her indoors will not vaccinate under 8 weeks, and the pups were born the Sunday night early Monday morning, of course everybody wanted to take them home on the Saturday so she gave  the new parents the choice, they could wait till the Monday and job done or have them Saturday am and sort the vaccinations out for the following week. What did happen on the Wednesday before they left was that they were microchipped and vet checked , weighed and wormed with a product that lasted four Calender weeks. When they left they had all the relevant paper work to show their new vets and instructions to show these to the vet so new records could be started. On the following Wednesday a new owner rang up in a panic... The new vet had done the injection, given them a joint worming flea treatment product FOR IMMEDIATE use and told them that the pup should be neutered at six months. Her indoors went loopy! She got even more cross when  she was told the vet had charged  nearly £80 for the treatment and information given. When she calmed down, she suggested that a new vet was in order, and had they definitely shown him all the paperwork ???? And was he an older gent or fresh from college? One thing that she did ask was did he drive a fancy car? That bit I didn't understand but I guess it's a two leg thing! Anyway, little one now goes to a different vet, who is homeopathic ally  ( bones! That's a big word) qualified as well as BVA qualified so her indoors is a lot happier. Needless to say the wormer / flea treatments weren't used and when eventually returned the new owner was told that they were complimentary so no money was refunded. That means that the initial vaccination cost nearly £80.  So like all things there are the good and the bad in every job. All I am saying folks, is check things out for yourseles. Look up over vaccination on the internet, if they say your dog needs this and that doing, look it up before you say yes. If your dog is always scratching then look at what it's eating and don't assume he needs his monthly flea treatment... In fact have you ever seen a flea on him?

How to loose friends and upset people

In the last two weeks, her indoors has had three calls from families who have all lost their beloved Bernese mountain dogs. One was two and a half, one was six, and the last was seven. All the dogs came from the same breeder, all three had inbreeding COI 's of between 15-20, and all three died from cancer. Why when the facilities are there to plan healthy litters with lower COI 's is this happening. The first Bernese that lived in this house , born 14 years ago had a COI of 20, and died of cancer, and now a decade later nothing seems to have changed. Families are still having their hearts broken and dogs that are odds on to die of a cancer are still being bred because SOMEBODY ONLY CARES FOR THE CASH OR THE SHOW RESULT.  Everybody is entitled to their own opinion but to simply ignore what's going on in a breed is like burying your head in the sand. Ok working on just the COI isn't guaranteed to do the job, but it's a start. Some breeders say that using foreign stud dogs artificially decreases a litters COI , and it's cheating, but what it's actually doing is doubling the gene pool within the resultant litter.   Health checks are in place on the continent, where the gene pool is much bigger than in the uk. Dogs that are with responsible breeders, with all their accompanying paper work have been health checked and anybody who loves the breed is only going to import lines that they know will bring benefits. Now in addition to cancer, we are looking at Canine Degenerative myelopathy  which if you read the articles is definately hereditary ..... But can be both checked for and controlled with responsible breeding .  Yes miracles  don't happen overnight, but atleast take the time and trouble to research things for yourself, irrespective of being a breeder of twenty five years standing, a new breeder, or a CASH breeder. How many breeders do actually check the COI of dogs they sold ten years ago or know if they are still alive?  You only have to look at a veteran BMD class to see that the average age is no longer eight, and the number of dogs over 10 is negligible . If you lost one of the most precious things in your life at two and a half years of age would you go back to that same person again? I have said it before, and I will say it again..... I want to live till I am 12, be loved , healthy and pass away curled up in my own basket, but most of all I want those years to mean as much to the people that breed Bernese , as they do to me and my two legs.  I know that I am throwing the proverbial match in the fireworks, but it's about time somebody did!!!!  And now seems like as good a time as any other.  RUNNING RED  HOT Gryff

I just love the smell of Sundays....

Ok, ok, all you four legs out there know exactly what I mean...... The oven goes on, the joint goes in, the potatoes get roasted, Yorkshire pudding, is there anything better I ask myself. (And NO girls don't count fellas). Her indoors has officially declared it winter YIPPEEEEE ! That means Halloween casserole, hot veggie rice, roasted potatoes and all the goodies that we seem to loose a bit during the summer.  Now that they are forecasting seriously bad and blowy weather, her indoors has got out the winter cookbook for two legs and four legs and has already started. Today we have pork crackling on the menu ( no the TROLL  is not having it all, or our visitors!)  with roasties, carrots, parsnips, cauli and cabbage,  and and if we are really really good YORKSIRE puds.  But then again, I shall really miss all the BBQ sausage and stuff she does during the summer.  Then there will be Halloween casserole with pumpkin , sausage and all the bits for another day, although technically we should save that for after we have trick or treating. Do you remember last year Merlin went as a MUMMY (the Egyptian kind) . Now how does a mummy end up with lipstick kisses on its nose when it's supposed to scare everybody to death?  And now she's found a book on how to cook all different types of biscuits for us. Well actually we have to say thank you to Uncle  Mick and Aunty Jackie for it but who cares..... All I can say is I feel really really sorry for dogs that have to eat canned dog food. I suppose I had better go and find the three Moggies if the weather is going to be that bad..... But do I have to invite them to dinner? What do you think?  If they don't eat it all I could offer to finish it off, so they don't upset her indoors but they definately don't get yorkshires..... Yes they do, cause I know that they won't be able to eat all of it so I will get them. See all that fresh veg and stuff keeps the old grey cells working at their best. We will accidentally forget to mention that the two legs didn't alter the clocks last night so we went out an hour early and got to stay out longer. Perhaps a good thing if tonight's walk is doubtful. I tried on one of those airmanship leather flying hats last night, think I might need to borrow it, my old mate Dexter.... I hate it when the wind pins my ears back so I can't hear properly...(well that's my excuse LOL) .  Stay Safe everybody. Cool runnings Gryff

Sometimes I worry......

Www.the adventures of Gryff. ... You know as long as I live I don't think I will ever understand females. Take her indoors for instance. It's absolutely throwing it down and she wants us all out on a walk as normal. WHY? If it was snowing then yes but everybody knows us Berners don't like excess water. It just cramps our style when wanting to go in the sitting room or hop on a bed for a snooze. ( your bed that is)  And to make things worse, I got teamed up with Lace. If ever a female had to sniff every single blade of grass on our entire walk it's her. Then she has to say good morning (it's lashing it down and blowing a force 8by now) to the horses, all four of them on either side of the river. Silly mare (no pun intended) even had to lick the nose of her favourite. As if it wasn't wet enough in the first place.  The rains all in my fur making it go all curly and I REALLY really hate that! my ears are pinned to the sides of my face by the wind and I definately P@@@@@@d off. Just find me a bush, a post, a horses leg for all I care and I am ready to go home. But NO not her. She wants to know whose already been out, who lives with who, or is out walking together. Whether that pair of scratty westies that always swear at us are about...... As if anybody in their right paws would be out in this ! What is it with females.... It does make me worry.  Then when I eventually get home nearly an hour later I find Merlin went out wearing a coat! and is now getting the V I B ( very important Bernese) treatment complete with warm towel and the hair dryer. I bet they let him go through into the hall to his baggy basket thing! I knew it, I said they would. Talk about favouritism, he's only an old man for goodness sake. I tell you how bad it was, her indoors has got wet shoulders on her shirt where the rain went through her coat, and her jeans are wet to her knees. Well how does she think I feel...... My important  little bits hang about the same height as her knees, but did she think of me! No she darn well didn't!  That's it, I'm going on strike for better pay and dryer working conditions, and  I absolutely  refuse to go out with a female if it's raining again. I shall speak to the troll , I know he won't be out for more than five minutes, just long enough to find a bush, a tree or a gate post . Cool runnings Gryff

Carting crash causes chaos

Www.the adventures of Gryff..... Well after mixing it once again with the I pad imp... I am back again, again!. The little shit just won't give up. One day I can't get into safari, then it's the blogg and tomorrow I have no doubt it will be something else. Good job her indoors has got loads of friends who know how to deal with computers cluster f@@@@ ups!  Add to that the fact that I am in deep deep dodo over Merlins classic cart and you could say it's been one of those days! We got an invite to go out carting today, her indoors , me and Lace ( who in fairness has never been before). Me, well I've been out on a couple of double trouble runs with uncle Rob and Dexter, and I thought I had it sorted. Anyway off we went down this quiet lane and I decided that carting just wasn't my thing. I am handsome , good looking, cool and a babe magnet, so what do I need to cart for? It wasn't until she said that the girls always go for a guy with his own wheels that I decided to play properly! Anyway I did ok for a while and then I went for it big time. The end result was that I split the shafts where they join the cart turntable, bolts, pins and steel tube (where the hole is reinforced for the bolt) the lot. I knew her indoors was pretty ticked off with me when she said Merlin had used that cart for nearly nine years and apart from rolling it in the snow one year, he had never had an accident with it! Oooops!. Do you know what they made me do...... I had to ask him as I walked through the door if he was fully comp and had he got protected no claims? LIKE I can afford to pay for it! It was an accident (well nearly). Then to add insult to injury they put the harness on Lace together with the traces, carried by my old mate uncle Rob and she never even batted an eyelid.  She walked up and down with them like she'd done it all her life and I got left in the van to watch how a female drives. Talk about having the old bone shoot rubbed in it! Anyway Uncle Rob has kindly offered to try and mend the darn thing, JUST cause it's Merlins , to get brownie points with him , and I have been banned from Trick n treating..... Like I want to be wrapped up in bandages anyway!  Much rather be a dragon or a vampire bat than a Mummy anyway. Oh well I suppose I shall just have to suck it up... It's my birthday soon, perhaps if I ask for biscuits from everyone, I will be able to pay it off like that. Cool runnings Gryff

I hate I cloud......

Www.the adventures of Gryff..... Bet you were all wondering where I had got to! Well so had I!!! It's taken me one year and nine months to train my secretary on this gadget and then the @@@@@@ have to go and change it all without asking. I knew her indoors would panic when she saw everything was going to change with this I cloud thing and I thought she made a very sensible decision to not touch it till uncle Lawrence was about to pick up the pieces and glue her back together.  What I didn't bargain for was the troll interfering when my tail was turned. He just has to play, wouldn't mind but he has three computers of his own so why play with mine? Anyway yesterday I escorted her indoors up to the computer shop with the I pad, her I phone ( the two had had a row and weren't s peaking to each other anymore, or even for that matter agreeing on e mails coming in)  and sat there till it was all fixed. Then being a careful soul, we took them over to uncle Lawrence to get his considered opinion. Got to say the bloke in that shop is ok. She never looked like having a panic attack or getting upset and she even managed to say pardon and he repeated everything again without getting cross. What a difference to the troll trying to teach us. I keep telling him that her indoors is more dog than computer minded and that's why she knows what we are saying and he doesn't!  Anyway after an exchange of info on doggy diet, help for old age in a spotty dog, and how to calm down a labradoodle (sorry about the bad language)  we walked out the shop, as usual, free of charge. Who says the barter system is dead, complete with instructions to just "wander in anytime if there's a problem, and not to let the troll touch it!!!!! So folks I am back on the air so to speak. Having said that, life is really quiet at the mo. The kids are all having a monster of a time in their new homes. Merlin got an invite for another holiday last Sunday , tizzys gone off with her boyfriend, so that leaves me in charge of five dogs , three cats and a bad tempered troll.  Oh and a major hint here NANNY..... TED , Saxon and I will be having a party on the 2nd of November....... Cool runnings Gryff

Peace perfect peace.. And my paws hurt!

Www. The adventures of Gryff.  Well it's QUIET PEACEFUL and TOTALLY BORING.  It was THE  week this week. The week when the rug rats all left to go to their new homes . I kept telling her indoors they would all be fine.....they have the elite SBS (special Bernese Service) training to fall back on, covert ops, how to build bunkers, and for the girls, the Matahari flutter the eyelashes and look all sweet training. There isn't an owner out there of a Bernese pup that hasn't fallen for all the old tricks! The I AM STARVING! YOU HAVEN'T FED ME IN TWO HOURS AND THAT ROAST BEEF AND YORKSHIRE PUD SMELLS WONDERFULL look. The sitting in the kitchen with a front paw raised telling everyone that somebody has stepped on that darling little paw. The innocent look.... It couldn't possibly be me when somebody in the house has has an Andrex party, and you were the only puppy in the world that didn't get an invitation.  The HOLE! WHAT HOLE look ( but just remember to knock the mud off your paws before you go in side). Get my drift? As I said their training was of the highest degree. I know because I was taught by the best (thanks Merlin)  and I have handed the gift on.  Anyway her indoors  is now finding herself with a lot less to do, so she is currently running the paws off me and the two girls. All separate , down the river, along the hedge up to the road and across the railway lines, not once but Twice. When poor old Lace got dragged out, her indoors ended up carrying STRING all the way round too. We all knew she meant business because she dragged her old winter boots out of the shoe box. I personally have a theory about them.... Her indoors is a real shorty, but I reckon those boots give her a lift of about two inches and that way she can see over my head when we are walking. It's really weird, we go a few yards and she's taking off this big thick wooly thing cause she's hot, but she still wears those great big boots. She says its to stop her paws getting wet!, like that's a problem???? Oh well, between the three of us we should be able to slow her down, and if not we will just have to call in the reinforcements.... Freya and Merlin. Freya will bumble around in circles and get her dizzy and old Merlin will take so long sniffing and stuff she should loose track of time, and whittle he doesn't get worn out and bring him back.  Cool runnings Gryff

Eggs Bernerdict

Www, the adventures of Gryff.  Well the first pup is leaving today. They have been celebrating on and off all week, mainly I suspect because the cuisine has most definitely been improving. Gone is boring old pâté and toast, bring on Eggs Bernerdict straight from The Sav(al)oy!  (Really sorry but couldn't resist that one!) freshly scrambled free range eggs, covered with a layer of toast and pâté and seasoned with a gravy bone. And, AND. This  is their second breakfast of the day at 9am!  Do you know what the little terrors did?  Off went  my favourite bit the gravy bone, they wolfed the pâté then chased the eggs all around the place and finished with the biscuit. Just no manners some pups, didn't think to leave us any! And then last night they had meat , biscuits,  pasta, peas cauli and gravy...... I mean what can you complain about . (In fairness so did we, but that's so not the point!)   Anyway this afternoon Monty is leaving for his new home down south. ..... And the troll has been busy doing all the forms and the recipe book that will go with him. His bag is packed, rugs, toys extra food (for about a month! Anybody would think he's going to Siberia) never mind all the goodies toys baskets and kit he's moving in to!  Anyway I will put money on the troll blubbering when the little TIKE  turns and waves goodbye . Tizzy says she personally will be quite happy to say goodbye to all those little teeth, me, well ,  I will reserve judgement! AND I haven't quite finished their education. How will they know which shoes to chew, where to find the spare toilet rolls for a party?  And what about our record of making her indoors do the same washing three times in one day.... How will I know just how good teacher I am?  Just have to rely on updates and pictures...... Just wont be as good as teaching them myself. Oh well, perhaps there will be a next time. Cool runnings Gryff

St Trinians goes CO ED

Www. The adventures of Gryff.. Up till now the advanced schooling of all pups has been a strictly female thing... Until of course I arrived! (See rapidly inflating head) .  Up till this litter the girls have wiped the floor with us guys, but on this occaission  it's even Stevens so that's forced her indoors to change the rules and admit all the boys.   Needless to say that the most well known students from past years are the Kray twins who still carry on the proud traditions that school instilled within them. Anyway after designating the  utility room the new DOGS COMMON ROOM, (as in no girls)  us guys started planning various little windups and schemes that will all have to be played out before next weekend when school dissolves until the next litter. (Her indoors keeps telling us that she's had enough and she's retiring no more schools and she's taking up bank robbing or applying for a 007 job, both being easier than bringing us up) . Well as the new head boy (as opposed to the Senior Tutor/student liaison officer Merlin)  it's down to me to instigate, direct and control all pranks BUT at the moment I and the Krays are  banned to external sports only..... Can't tell you what we did until it goes up before the board of governors  but having a number of little items on the troll, we are sure that there will never be a united verdict so we will get away with it!  I could get used to this! Anyway  I just saw one of the little rug rats with a packet of biscuits heading for our new common room so I need to go and pull rank, after all I only have six days left till schools out. Oh while I remember, hope everyone is having a cool time at the garden party.... I booked us all a ride to go but the Krays said they needed the bus, something about the Bank Suisse and a load of paper being delivered????  Cool runnings Gryff