Beyond Adolescence - part 2

[SpanielsGalore]

No point banning coffee, as it didn't work last time. 🙄
Haven't had any cake updates from a while. @VanGoSunflowers Have you stopped baking already? You still had 8 cakes to go to make it economical.

@Bupster what did you do to Bill's Olaf?! We all know it was you because precious, innocent, sweet, Bill would never commit such a dastardly act.

That is horrifying 🤣

@brushingbootsha!! He was so desperate to be acknowledged by her. She’s probably up in doggy heaven right now ignoring everyone else.

(Had to create new profile as can’t log in on my phone and I can’t be arsed to fetch laptop) I meant to add, it’s my birthday on Monday as well - how funny that so many of us are celebrating for ourselves or others in this tiny insane patch of time! When I was younger and able to drink without a three day hangover I used to sober up in January at some point. These days his nobness would have Opinions about that 😄

Happy Birthday to you too @IBupster !

Three birthdays in my family within the last week too, two of them big ones (a 21st and a 60th). It's a busy month.

Good morning and hope all the December babies have nice birthdays 🎂

Im a summer child, about as far away from Christmas as you can get.

Happy birthday to all December people.

Good Morning, folks.
A dry start here for once, but this morning is Sainsbury's shopping so walk will be later. Brie is happily snoozing on the sofa with Freija.

I arrived safely in Norfolk about 90 minutes ago (after a very early start and dog walk on the way), to no one there! Buggers had gone out on a dog walk. So I am sat like larry no maters, unpacked, with a coffee, waiting for them to turn up.

They've only been here 24 hours and already there is nice white blanket of Golden Retriever fur on the blue rugs...

Lovely weather here though and out for a meal tonight😍 Hope everyone else is having a good, dry, start to their day @CoubousAndTourmaIet fingers crossed you get back from Sainsburys in time to take Brie out before the rain emerges...

Glad you are safely there @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , even if you did arrive to find it like the Marie Celeste. Hope you have a lovely dinner this evening.

We had a nice long walk once the shopping was put away. We took the footpaths that lead up towards the moor today, rather than heading for village, wood and meadow, so it was blissfully quiet and it did stay dry.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet well they are still not back, but apparently will be soon. Not that I mind to be fair as it's giving me a chance to cuddle the babies in peace before the chaos begins. I just have a bad feeling that DDs will be maxed up on sugary drinks and cookies when they return...in which case, I may develop a terrible headache that leaves me bed-bound and only departs just before we're due to leave for dinner 😃

So glad you had a lovely peaceful walk ❤Has Brie ragged on the lead recently or do you think the worst of that is behind her (except when she's feeling playful)?

Glad you're having a quiet time before all the busy days to come. @TheHungryHungryLandsharks

She's still lead ragging, but only on the big meadow, nowhere else. I made the mistake of making eye contact with her on there yesterday and she immediately kicked off 🙄 That was my error, I do know the triggers. I go with it up to a point now, it's just who she is. I suppose I've learned how to handle it better. It sometimes does elicit worried looks from other dog walkers when she's pulling backwards and growling at me, but food distraction just doesn't work, so I mostly just let her have the lead and wait for her to be distracted by something.

Walked to the pub through the countryside along muddy footpaths with eldest son who got here yesterday. Lovely views with low level cloud.

It looks like a view of the sea in the photo, but it’s actually cloud.

We're settling in here in the Highlands after setting off yesterday.

Two good girls in the hotel last night, then park run for the older one and a walk for the younger one in Perth before driving even further north.

Beaches and woodland walks on the cards for us this week.

@tizwozliz That’s a beautiful view.

@tizwozliz Lovely photo. Looks like you are at the South of France.

Any one sitting down to watch Strictly with a glass of wine?

@CoubousAndTourmaIet - I know what you mean about 'eye contact.' I've found that if people make eye contact with Twatdog he immediately thinks they want to be his friend, so I can well imagine that other dogs are similarly led astray by eye contact. At least now you know there's nothing 'more' to it other than just excitement, so as you say it's just 'easier' to let her get on with it so to speak!

@Silverbirchleaf no Strictly in this house! But we did always watch Great British Bake Off and Masterchef.

I do sometimes long for the days of X-factor and Britains Got Talent (the early seasons).

@tizwozliz are you also heading away for Christmas?

I ate so much food last night that my stomach has still not retracted that way it usually would do after a large meal and I have a little pot-belly well over 12hrs later. But I suppose that is what happens when you go to somewhere where 3-4 plates serves two, and you have 3-4 plates by yourself (plus 'nibbles' and a desert) and refuse to share😳

I'm still so bloated I can't even bring myself to move from the sofa, so the dogs and I are having a day off from walks. Thankfully, I am not the only one who over-indulged last night and everyone else is feeling similarly sorry for themselves. Although that did not stop DMum and MIL making up meringues, whipped cream and strawberries for breakfast for DDs...

No Strictly here either, we don't have a tv licence any more. Used to watch it avidly in the early days but we never seem to know who anyone is now.

Another dry day here, so a lovely long walk pre lunch. Brie has fallen in love with a donkey, so we've promised her if we win a million on Premium Bonds we'll buy a house with a field and get a rescue donkey as a friend for her.
She was so bloody stubborn on the walk back, putting the brakes on and giving me wicked side eye. It was a nice unhurried walk (understatement), just feels so good to be out without getting drenched.

Hope you enjoy your lazy day @TheHungryHungryLandsharks

A winter break walking on Highland beaches sounds wonderful @tizwozliz

Thinking of you @VanGoSunflowers and hoping you haven't succumbed to a full blown flu. Hope P is looking after you!

Thanks for asking @CoubousAndTourmaIet ❤️ I still feel much better the same, just drained but so far (touch wood) I’ve not suffered as bad as I know a lot of people are!

I hope everyone is enjoying their well deserved holidays 🙂 I just chipped in on the loose lead walking question on the adolescent thread but every time I do that, I get major imposter syndrome thinking what do I know? 😂🤦‍♀️

Glad you're doing okayish, but don't overdo it.

I felt like an imposter talking about loose lead or any sort of training too. It always sounds like a boast from me, because of her size. But in truth, nobody is more surprised than I am that I've cracked it by myself and she's no longer pulling me off my feet.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I think we’ve all tried different things for our dogs and what works for one may or may not work for another so it’s always worth mentioning. I’d rather be at risk of sounding like a moron than not say something that may possibly help.
I know what you mean though, I worry I am boasting when I talk about the wins I have had with Pablo but like you, I’m so bloody surprised that ANY of what I have done has worked 😂

That's very true. I was warned off harnesses again and again by dog trainer and breeders, but @IBupster on here gave me more help than anyone else had and I'm grateful to her for that because for me it has made all the difference.

Well, clearly your input was appreciated on the other thread a lot more than mine was. I didn't even mention what size my dog is either 😂 Maybe I should have 😏

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Yes you probably should have 😂 it’s certainly no small thing what you’ve achieved with Brie. I don’t think Pablo would be able to physically pull me over, and the worst I could suffer is a sore arm so the stakes are much higher for you! I just added another waffly reply to that thread anyway. Probably either talking out of my arse or it’ll be a ‘well duh of course that’s what you do’ moment 😂 that’s why I always caveat everything I say so heavily 🤦‍♀️

Gosh I have missed so much on here. 🙈 I read posts yesterday, but spent most of the day painting so didn't reply. Pleased to say, coat one is now complete. Had a day off today, so coat two will be applied tomorrow. Then the day after will be touching up the ceiling where I've managed to get blue paint on it. Those bloody parrots fly high!

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Glad you arrived safely in Norfolk. Think I'd be a bit pissed off that everyone had gone out for the day and didn't wait for me.
I wish I only had a pot belly after a big meal. 😭
Hope you all have a lovely Christmas time.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Brie looks very smart in her new coat. 💖 I'm glad it fits and you are pleased with the quality of it.
I was going to tag you on the adolescent thread, as I consider you our resident expert on loose lead walking.

@tizwozliz That view is stunning. I hope you have a lovely holiday too. It's quite mild up here at the minute.

@VanGoSunflowers It's never a boast to share training tips when asked for them.
And it's not a boast to share successes you have with P either. It the small wins in life that keep us going through the shit times.
Not gonna lie though. I just laughed at you saying P isn't strong enough to pull you over. 😂 😂

Happy Solstice all. Here's to longer days on the way 🍷 😁