We left the boat after a very interesting and skilful docking procedure and had a pretty drive from Portsmouth across country through rural Hampshire and Kent to arrive in Canterbury late last night. This morning the sun is shining again.
We came to stay overnight with Victoria, my long haired keeper’s daughter and she is Mollie’s mummy. We are returning Mollie after her visit to us in Spain.
What a surprise this was for me to meet their six month old puppy Diesel – see photo. He is an Alaskan Malamute, very posh, that is the name of his tribe. I told him my tribe is called Andalucian Mixtamutt. Diesel is not yet fully grown but he is enormous, like a lion, ptwice as big as me and a bit boisterous but we had a good play together once I had explained the rules to him.
My bearded one used to live and work in Canterbury a few life times ago and so I was dragged around the city to see areas, including a few pubs that no longer exist, he seemed to enjoy the visit – nostalgic I think he said.
We are on a tight schedule. I understand that we are taking a whistle stop tour of family visits on our way to join Albert – my long kennel – that we reach in a couple of days time.
We said goodbye to Mollie and Victoria and the next stop was Elmstead Market in Essex to visit my long haired one’s brother Stan and his wife Angela. This was a two hour drive and we arrived in time for a late lunch. We were made very welcome. In the afternoon I took my long haired one for a lovely walk. After a delicious supper for them and some salmon skin for me We all had a very pleasant evening and overnight stay and they played a game of Rummikup and I slept.
Sent from my iPad
Hello Douglas, Andrew and Jan
So pleased to hear from you and to learn that after your journey you are now safely in the uk. We have just left our “long kennel” after five weeks or so travelling to and from the Thames. We had some “hairy” (not the canine type) moments, lots of water and the Thames in flood etc etc. Next week we will be going to East London to watch folk running and jumping as fast and as high as you Douglas. By co-incidence we too will be visiting Elmstead Market on the 20th August to view the lovely Beth Chatto Gardens after visiting Tony’s sister who lives in Nacton near Ipswich.
Enjoy “Albert” your long kennel when you get there, we look forward to hearing all about your further adventures.
All the Best
Tony and Pauline
Dear Doug – good to hear from you now you are back on my shores. Wish I was with you cos something very strange is going on in my local park. Cant go in there and there are a hell of lot of very long legged creatures with people on their backs and then hundreds of people watching them – all very boring. Have to take they who must be obeyed to the local woods instead – good smells there though and some new friends. We must go when you next come to visit. I am missing our long kennel very much indeed and do hope to join you on yours next month though mistress has done something to her knee and is walking on four legs at present – think she said something through gritted teeth about a torn cartiledge – she is very bad tempered about it and is not walking very much despite having the extra two legs – strange that – anyweay keep well and tail wagging from your old friend Josh
Dear Douglas,
Please tell your friend above (Josh) that creatures with long legs and people on their backs is not at all ‘boring’ you pay no attention to him!!!
: )