What a Life!

Beanie, Biggles and I got up nice and early this moring to get in some running on the beach in preparation for our first Cani-X race in April.

It was a beautiful morning and the beach was completely deserted. Just miles of sand, crystal clear waves lapping against the beach and sun splitting from a brilliant blue sky. Arran was completely covered in snow.

We used to make trips to the beach when we lived in Glasgow and I often wondered what it would be like to live near the sea and to be able to run on the beach every morning. Well, on a day like today it’s a thousand times better than I could ever imagine!

Our First CaniX Competition!

We’ve been doing informal CaniX with Beanie and Biggles for some time now. (That’s really just a posh way of saying we shove a harness on them, attach it to a belt using a bungy  and run! ). The idea is that the dog helps you to go faster by pulling you around the course.  The dogs love it and you really pick up quite a bit of speed.

IMG_5736

Beanie, Biggles and I running on the beach last year

We’ve just learned that Scotland will be having it’s first official CaniX race in April so we’ve all decided to enter. I’ll be running with Beanie and Paul with Biggly Boy. It’s a cross-country route along forest tracks.

Right now I’m probably capable of running to the end of the drive way and no futher. Six weeks to build that up to 5k! And as Beanie and Biggles have been doing all their running attached to Paul we’ll need to get them used to running separately.

Anyone fancy joining us?

Invasion of the Tree Snatchers

It started just like a normal Monday. Beanie & Biggles had a little snuggle in bed then went out into the garden to perform their morning duties. The cows were out but our two generously decided to spare them the pain of a severe woofing, and instead just sat on their bums and watched quietly.

IMG_2992

Back inside – just as Dad was preparing to take them on their morning walk – Biggles sounded the alarm. Something big had pulled into the drive, and now intruders were entering the garden through the top gate. He woofed loudly to alert the household, but nobody seemed to take any notice.  Nobody except Beanie that is; she joined in the woof-fest, but still Mum and Dad just carried on as normal. The Bigglet had almost worn out his woofer by the time he and his sister were loaded into the car for a long walk on the beach.

On their return, the intruders were still on site and there was lots of noise coming from just outside the house. Try as they might Beanie & Biggles couldn’t get a proper vantage point to see was going on, and no-one would let them into the garden. It was all very frustrating!

IMG_3066

Our little boy so wanted to defend his home, but his paws were tied; the humies kept him confined to the house. Eventually he just gave up and left it all to fate. What’s the point in trying to save the world if the world doesn’t want to be saved?

IMG_3087

Beanie eased her stress with a vigorous humping of her Mum’s leg. If the apocalypse was coming, why not “check out” with an extended rumpy-pumpy session?

IMG_3096

The hours dragged by and eventually the intruders packed up and went home. Finally Beanie and Biggles were allowed out to inspect the devastation! All the trees had gone, there was a deep trench running down one side of the garden, and a huge yellow thing was sitting close to the house.

IMG_3023

IMG_3012

IMG_3016

Still, it wasn’t all bad. The kibble fairy had paid a visit to their kennel (which strangely had moved on to the deck) and the remnants of the trees made for some quality chewing:

IMG_3061

There was nothing the dynamic duo could do to restore their garden to its former state, but Biggles was determined to exact his revenge. He went right up to the big yellow thing, cocked his leg high and gave it the pee of the century. The following morning when the intruders returned, their yellow monster wouldn’t start. They kept mumbling something about the cold having broken it, unaware of the true cause: death by Biggle piddle.