The Beastly Beasts

Beasts On Tour

posted by Chris at 23:39

Well, it seemed like that. On Saturday we all (Gill, Kai, Monty and me) went down to Kent to see my Dad. What a journey!!. The M1 came to grinding halt at J10, so took off via St. Albans, and due to the high winds the Dartford Crossing Bridge had been closed, causing long queues on the M25, so we decided to use the Blackwall Tunnel. We had planned to be at Dad's around noon. Finally got there well after 2pm - a four hour journey instead of two and a bit; not a happy bunny.

Dad's into dogs, and thought Monty was gorgeous (he is!!), despite him pooing in the bedroom. His dog, Scooby, a 1 year old rescue Jack Russel, decided Kai was his mate for the afternoon, and kept pestering him to play. Unfortunately for him, Kai wasn't interested.

A couple of pleasant hours at my Dads and we took our leave and went to see Petal (my baby sis) and Bron (her partner) (they only live a few miles from my Dad). Plan, as we were going on the White Lodge walk on Sunday at Rutland Water, was to spend a couple of hours there and head back to Northampton. However, best laid plans and a few beers and it turned into a take-away and an over night stay. Petal and Bron also have dogs; Harry (as in Harry Kim - Star Trek), a flat coat, and Wellington, a Golden Retriever. Kai only dislikes one dog in all the world - Harry, so the evening was spent with the dogs in shifts with us or upstairs.

Petal and Bron also fell in love with Monty; he seems to just have that effect on people (and of course they like Kai - despite the issue with Harry - it is six and one half dozen between them).

Sunday morning, and dog breakfast in shifts, and we were on the way back to Northampton. Once again the Dartford Crossing was closed, this time due to a fire at a tyre factory on the Essex side of the river. So again it was via the Blackwall tunnel, and an extra half hour on the journey. This meant that we got back to Northampton just in time to leave to get to Rutland Water.

We managed to get to the dog walk on time, just, and spent a really nice afternoon putting faces to names that we had heard about from Claire at White Lodge, or spoken with on the DogPages Forums. This time it was Kai's turn for admiration, Monty being just another Greyhound in a large group of Greyhounds. It seemed that everyone comment on him being a handsome hound (he is!!).

A good hours walk, coupled with about four hours in the car meant the Beasts were completely knackered, along with their owners.

Nocturnal Activities

posted by Chris at 08:31

At 4:30 this morning I was woken by what sounded like a heard of elephants on the landing. It proved to be Monty going absolutely nuts with my (somewhat smelly) trainers I use when doing DIY.

Now, I like my sleep, and being woken in the middle of the night usually results in Billy Goat Gruff. But I had to laugh; Monty was throwing the trainers around and jumping on them like a puppy. I guess he's never been able to things like that before. This time when he saw me he decided to come a give me a nudge a lick, so it does seem he's decided we're mates now.

My only hope is that he doesn't choose to do this every night; I need my beauty sleep.

FREEEDOMMM !!!!!

posted by Chris at 19:43

No, not Mel Gibson in Braveheart, but Monty up at Hunsbury Hill on our walk this evening.

Kai flushed out a rabbit and gave chase. Monty saw what was happening and managed to slip his collar and was off!!!!

Hunsbury Hill is a big park (actually an old Bronze Age fort) and has very little lighting, so trying to establish the whereabouts of a black greyhound in the dark was impossible. There went all the rules about keep your dog in sight when you first let it off.

However, fleeting glimpses of a high speed dark shape told me that Monty hadn't disappeared off to the other end of Hunsbury (quite a long way), and after a few minutes he did come back. I must admit to feeling a bit mean putting him back on the lead for the rest of the walk.

So all's well that ends well, and it has given me the confidence that Monty does come back.