The Beastly Beasts

We spent yesterday evening at White Lodge, not in the high security Cell Block H (it's more of an I really), but in THE White Lodge. It had been a horrible week at White Lodge, with two beasts put to sleep, and as anyone that knows, Claire does not do put to sleep. And one of the beasts was Claire's Donna who went away on Friday. If you didn't know Donna's story, here's a quick resumé:

Donna been kept by an old lady and never went out. When the lady died Donna was left in the house and visited every three days or so to have food put on the floor. When the time came to sell the house it looked grim from her, but eventually found her way to WL via Houndsavers, where she was to spend the next 18 months.

After the vet had done what needed to be done, Donna only had two teeth left, but that didn't stop nicking biscuits and stuff. She was battier than a cricket stick, and barked at things 'coz she could. And all she wanted was a love (don't we all?) - which of course she got. Everyone who met her fell in love with her 'coz she was that kind of lady - wonderfully eccentric.

Donna

Donna

So sleep tight Donna.

The other beast was Swirly Merly, who we'd met on a walk not long ago. Despite so many people trying, Merlin had so many issues. He was so young; it makes you wonder what had happened to him in his short life, and realise how lucky we all are. Anyway, Merlin, no more worries mate.

Sooooo, as you can imagine, it was not a good week at White Lodge, so the Beastly Beasts descended to try and cheer things up.

This was our first time in THE White Lodge, so we were introduced to Claire's beasts one by one after we had had our tea. Guiness came first, then Shadow (now offical mad dog) and Jack, then Sky and Mackenzie. The humans thought that Maple and Guiness would have a set to, both being right madams, but not a word was spoken. After the intros it was into the garden where we all had a good charge around. Aunty Claire stopped Shadow running round too much 'coz he's 13, but he was well up for it. And you wouldn't know Jack has a leg missing from the way he was charging about either. And our Jack managed to loose the bandage off his foot, so Aunty Claire had do a new one for him.

Kai and Sky had a bit of a stand off to see who played the hardest; Sky won. So we've been teasing Kai about giving into a girl. Actually, I think he might fancy her, dominant woman and all that.

When we went indoors to have a lie down it was a bit hound carpet, there were ten of us after all. I think if you look at this pick there's six of us in it; not sure where the others are.

Hound Carpet

As I said earlier, Donna was madder than a hatter, and Shadow is eccentric in his own way to. One of his things is that no one is allowed to kip on his rug. Donna was, perhaps mad knows mad, and so was I; what does that say for my future sanity?

Me and My Shadow

You probably know this already, but out of all The Beastly Beasts, Troy is Aunty Claire's favourite, and in typical Troy stylee, he glued himself to her from time time during the evening. But when it comes to a proper cuddle, there is only one place in the world that does for Troy, and that is Dad's lap.