Harry's Christmas

Harry spent Christmas with Barry and Eileen in the small village of Gleastone in Cumbria. The village is in a narrow valley. An old Mill is the most well known attraction. But there is also a tumble down castle with a cow sheds built against the walls. Houses here are flooded by the Beck from time to time. Harry loved it there.

Harry Christmas

Harry Christmas from Harry

On thin Ice

Thus far and no further

"...We shall fight them on the beaches... - Sir Winston Churchhill - June 4th 1940

No Harm

Somebody did say that if time did become a problem then the Harry Blog could probably be the first thing to go.

But I said it is only a very occasional thing, and only takes five minutes at most, and is really not doing anybody any harm.

Keyskill 2 - Shaking

Once the terrier has burrowed in and retrieved the pink animal, he gives it a jolly good shaking, making lots of growly noises. This is another keyskill for a ratter.

Keyskill 1 - Burrowing

Key skills for dogs like Harry don't involve any writing reading and arithmetic. If we had not taken Harry away from the farm where he was born, he might have turned into a ratter like his dad. Harry shows here one of the key skills of a ratter - the desire to pursue his quarry down a hole.

Pushkin and Harry

Harry does not normally eat quite so close to Pushkin. This was just me creating a photo opportunity for Harry's blog.

Harry got through his food twice as fast, and moved in to start on Pushkin's, til I said "Harry?"

Shopping Trolley in the Ock

Harry took fright at something near the Ock this afternoon. He ran over barking, and then just sat there watching.

Hazard Tape Lead

Walking along the river I sometimes drape Harry's lead round my neck. Well today I did that, but after a bit I realised the lead was gone, and I couldn't find it. The only thing I could find to use instead was this hazard tape, left over from the flood.

Harry Big Head

This picture of Harry was taken by Steve, who used to run Crystals, with his mobile phone.

Our Old Patch

Whenever we cross Drayton Road and go into Ladygrove Meadow, Harry goes mad, and starts dashing round like a March hare. (It is his old patch you see, and he starts picking up the scents of friends from puppyhood).

Today he even met one of his oldest and dearest friends 'Shadow.' In the picture Harry is running up the bank after being in the Ock, and Shadow is saying to him 'Still crazy after all these years!'.

Shadow's owner, told me all the news about the local dogs, and about who has been flooded out by the 'little' River Ock. Many people have temporary caravans in their front gardens - using the caravans as a downstairs until things get sorted.

Time for a walk

"Harry, time for a walk!"

Sometimes he will dash townstairs and skid on the floor at those words. Other times there is a reluctance, and I almost have to drag him down the street.

Turnip Field

Harry in a field of turnips in Cumnor.

Goodbye Duke

Harry's cousin Duke has just passed away so sad news. Duke was a Doberman Labrador cross, and belonged to my sister.

Duke taught Harry to swim. Well, Harry used to be so besotted with Duke that he followed him everywhere, and one day Duke ran into a local Abingdon lake to try to get away from the pesky new puppy.. It only came up to Duke's tummy. But a very surprised Harry suddenly found himself swimming.

You can see in this picture taken a few years ago that Duke would rather be left in peace.

In his youth, Duke was quite a handful.

Like many big dogs, his legs started to give way. He'd also gone almost blind. So the sad deed was done. He was taken down to the vet wrapped in his favourite blanket....

New Collar

The new collar needs a trim.

Dog or Otter?

Dog books say that the face of the Border Terrier resembles that of an Otter.

Harry went for a drink on a steep bank and ended up falling in.

At that point an excited Rottweiler appeared from the undergrowth and started barking at Harry. So Harry decided not to get out immediatly. In fact he got out on the far bank and waited until the coast was clear.

Harry, Give me the Ball !

Not Likely!

Harry, Give me the stick!

Not Likely!

Harry's Doggy Bins

This is one of Harry's doggy bins. There are several he uses when the need arises, but this one is to be found on Caldecott Rec.

Not up for it

Harry didn't really feel up for the walk this morning. He made very slow going.

After Small Animals

Harry hasn't done that for ages. He disappeared into the corn. All that could be seen was a small wave as he ran up and down in the corn - chasing small animals I expect.

Two dimensional

Harry is not a cartoon dog normally

No Dogs Please

Does that mean me?

Harry Saving Radley lakes

Harry joined the campaigners to help save Radley Lake.

Guide Dogs

and an imposter.

On the Internet

nobody knows you are a dog

Early Days

A very early picture of Harry where as a puppy he had a much darker coat. Before we got him he had been roaming a farm with his wild sister, the one the owners said would be too headstrong for people not used to training dogs. They were running together chasing a film cannister, a version of the game Harry still loves to this day.