There’s a reason why Beanie & Biggles are sitting so expectantly in the above shot, and it has everything to do Biggles’ seventh birthday. The subject of their interest isn’t a toy, because they’ve already got tons of those, a fair number of which are still serviceable.

Toys? We got ’em coming out of our big floppy ears!

Though Beanie’s crinkly, squeaky orange fox does some have some weakened stitching after a recent play session

As you may have guessed, the real reason for Beanie’s John Wayne style wide sit and Biggles’ outrageous tongue deployment is food; specifically the Biggly Boy’s birthday cake. Though tasty enough, the cake for his previous birthday had been somewhat lacking in visual appeal. In fact it looked more like a couple of poos sandwiched together than a cake, largely because I’d made it. Fortunately Susan was in charge of cake construction this time around and things went a lot better!

The ingredients were roughly the same as last time..

But the real secret to Beagle cake-making is in the preparation

It looks like this is going to be a good baking session

Beanie sends a prayer out to the Beagle God of Bowl Licking

And is suitably rewarded..

But not as much as Biggles!

Oh yeah, this has all the signs of being a great cake

But even though the cake has come out of the oven, Mum’s still not finished with it! What’s that she’s got there? Some kind of pate?

And could that really be cream cheese?

And doggy chocolate buttons, two of which have by sheer luck fallen near the edge of the worktop! Don’t worry Mum, I’ve got this!

There’s no need to put those spoons in the dishwasher either..

..Not when the apprentice bakers are on hand to do the washing up

The finished article..

On the day of his Biggleship’s birthday, and after a morning run on the beach with me, the cake was finally served. Normal protocol for receiving food went out of the window briefly but was then restored, although Biggles never quite managed to get his bum properly on the floor during the “sit” and “leave” part. Having said that, it can’t be easy to keep your rear end firmly on the floor when your tail is going like a propeller on a speedboat.

So, how does a seven year old Beagle boy tackle a huge slice of birthday cake? Does he firstly lick off the cream cheese and pate before nibbling delicately at the sardine-flavoured sponge? Or does he just try and get the whole thing in his gob in one go, half-choke on it, cough/spit the excess out onto the rug and desperately try to vacuum up the debris before his sister intervenes? Well, just remember that he’s a mature Beagle now, a cultured man-of-the-world, not some silly little inexperienced puppy with no self control.

So yep, pretty much try to down it one go, nearly choking in the process.

And not to be left out, Beanie did the same.

Time for a nap while all that cake gets processed. Happy Birthday Mr Biggles!