Boxing Day Rest

It has been a busy time over Christmas. There have been so very many things for Harry to do. For one thing, he has to make sure all the poor doggies out on the doggy walks around Abingdon were given a doggy treat for Christmas.

But now Boxing Day is here, Harry can hang up his red hat until next year.

We saw no boats came sailing in

We saw no boats came sailing in on Christmas Day on Christmas Day because the boats were frozen in on Christmas Day in the morning. Merry Christmas all the same from a land locked Harry at Abingdon Marina.

Snow Dog Harry

Harry had a nice walk in the snow and scampered around in the strange white stuff. It was falling so fast that if he had stayed in the same place too long he might well have turned into a snow dog. So we kept moving and every now and then Harry gave himself a good shake. Harry could even lick the snow off the tip of his nose.

Dog in a Manger

A 'dog in a manger' is a phrase referring to a dog who does not want to eat the hay but wants to prevent other animals from so doing. It is a term for a spiteful, mean spirited creature.

Harry is not being a 'dog in a manger' in that sense. He is a a dog who would rather not be in the manger. But I am holding a treat to get him to sit there for his photo - which is why he is begging with paw up. Something our children taught him when he was a puppy.

Schrodinger's dog

Schrodinger's cat is a way of picturing the principle of superposition in quantum physics as described by Erwin Schrodinger.

Schrodinger's dog is Harry's first go at quantum physics.

Harry says "I want to be home"

It looked very nice to us. There were some newly landscaped parts with lakes and a huge sundial with seats, some grassland, a cemetery, some lovely old houses,  and a cut through woods. But Harry was not enjoying the walk. Every step was made with a heavy paw as if to say "I want to go home, and be curled up on the sofa"

Sticks are ten a penny

Sticks are ten a penny this time a year but that does not stop Harry thinking that the stick he has is the most wonderful object in the world.

Your Dog Harry

On Thursday Harry was interviewed for an article about dog blogs to go in the January edition of Your Dog magazine .  Harry has been on Radio Oxford and in the Oxford Mail before, but this is the first time he has been approached by a national dog publication - and so is understandably excited.

Harry on an obstacle walk

Another new walk today through some fields to a farm then back again on higher ground.

For Harry every style presented a new challenge. He climbed over one, squirmed under another, but he got stuck on the one in the picture and needed lifting over.


A bit further on, as we approached the farm, a big dog started barking.

Come on Harry' I said ' Its OK.' and it was OK. No sign of a watchdog.

The return route was much easier. Even the sun came out to shine.

Harry takes a break from the computer

Now Harry has started to do more computer work himself (namely the silly twitter thing) he is to be found often resting by the computer trying to compose another tweet. The strain is beginning to tell as you can see from this picture. He does not seem to realise that is what people like about him is his innocence. Hopefully he will realise before it is too late.

Harry in a Field

I have finally found Harry's tweet. It is called Harry Dog Tweet. Last weekend Harry had a walk in a completely new field he had never been to before. There was an extra spring in his step and an extra alertness to his nose because it was so new. The field can be found by driving to the Village of Appleford and taking the footpath to Long Wittenham.

Harry's starting to tweet

Harry has opened up a twitter account somewhere but I have not yet been able to find it to tell you where it is yet. He has already done his first tweet about a squeaky ball he found. But as with much that goes on in Harry's life I am the last one to know. For all I know he may have a facebook account as well. If any one does find his twitter can you please let me know so I can link to it. 

Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs for the Blind were in town today collecting for their good cause. I went along to ask whether Harry could become a Guide Dog. But at age 10 they thought he was possibly too old to train.  

Harry Found some apples and a sausage roll

Harry found a lot of apples on the ground today. Some looked a bit mushy and he was not tempted by them. But a bit later he found a sausage roll and wolfed that down before I could stop him.

Come and play with me!

Harry has just been let out into the garden. He looks back and says "Come and play with me!" He wants to play ball, but Grandma who let him out does not want to play ball. She thinks Harry should play by himself. Photo by Grandma.

Harry and Frou Frou wait outside the Coop

The owners have gone inside and so the doggies have to wait outside tied up to a post.

Frou Frou has a matching pink harness and lead. Harry has a mismatching green collar and black lead. Harry is hoping he does not have to wait long. So probably is Frou Frou.

Harry happy to be back

Harry was left with his Grandma for a week while we went away. First thing that struck us on the return was how white he was looking. Perhaps old age is creeping up on us all - Harry not excepted. After a week apart we start remembering younger days and as a puppy Harry had quite a dark face.

On his first walk Harry was often absorbed - checking scent marks.

He slept happily after the walk and a meal remembering familar smells in a dream.

Harry's going on a Summer Holiday

Harry is off on his summer holiday and will be taking a well earned break from doing this blog next weekend. He hopes to come back refreshed and with lots of fresh ideas about how to take this blog to the next doggy level.

Harry and The Deputy PM

Harry nearly met Nick Clegg, the Deputy Primeminister today. Nearly but not quite. The chemistry was not quite right. Harry was more interested in sniffing something on the pavement. Nick Clegg was being quickly ushered between the Guildhall and a waiting car.

Lots and lots of sticks

It has been quite windy and there were lots and lots of sticks falling from the trees. This one has trapped Harry's front paws.

Cooling Down

Harry often goes in for a paddle and a drink of water at this shady spot near the weir pools. It was another hot day.

July Haircut

After some dry sunny weather the grass is no longer looking quite so green. Harry has had his annual strip and is no looking quite such a shaggy dog either.

If England Need a New Manager

England were outplayed by Germany. After that huge huge disappointment then should England decide that they need a new manager to replace Fabio Capello - the man with the trademark spectacles - Harry will be ready. He would like to see some young greyhounds on the wings and a bulldog as captain, and is open to suggestions for other positions...

Harry and the Morris Men

Harry is a bit worried about the tail like object the Morris Man is holding. After a quick pose, Harry decided it was not too wise to hang around too long. He did not want to turn into a tickling stick. You never do know with these ancient traditions what they get up to.

Harry on England's second game

Concerning the nil-nil draw against Algeria, Harry would have like to see more passion from the England players. All the flags draping the land. People spend all their savings to go to South Africa to watch and then the players look like they can't be bothered.

World Cup Harry

Having watched the first England game against the USA, Harry has a couple of tips for the England goalkeeper.

Firstly... Always keep your eyes on the ball.
Secondly... always get everything behind the ball to stop it. There is nothing in the rules that say a goalkeeper cannot kill the ball with his teeth.

Harry and The Pig Play Ball

Harry got on very well with the little pig after an uneasy start. Harry was a bit unsure at first because he thought he might have to share the ball with the pig. But the pig turned out to be real fun to play with because he let Harry have the ball all the time.

Big world out there

I just wonder whether he needs a bigger world than we can give him. We have done what we can for him, but he may well have bigger ideas. There is a whole world out there. Maybe one day he will decide to leave us to see what is out there and just catch a lift to somewhere different.

A is for Alzheimer's

Harry put some money in the tin for the Alzheimer's collection, and got a little sticker so the next person with a collecting tin would know he had already paid. He is having a rest under the garden bench next to the gnome still weraing the A for Alzheimer's and seems lost in his own thoughts about this that and quite possibly the other.

Harry on The Railway

This is where the footpath crosses the railway between Culham and Radley. There were no trains coming when we crossed so it was quite safe.

Harry and The Armaleggan Morris

Lots of people dancing in town today. This group with blackened faces and tatterred clothes are called the Armaleggan Morris. They dance in the Border Morris style. Harry is a doggy in the Border terrier style so they got on.

Mut Shots of Harry

Harry chased another cat out of the garden this morning. It was Pushkin's friend.

The Cat Protection League may well have a file on Harry by now with some Mut Shots to warn cats what to look out for. This would be the profile...
the front view...
and the view from above so that he is recognisable to any cat considering jumping down into our garden from the wall or fence.

Something Wrong

Harry ate so much grass on his walk this morning, and then did not want his real food. He was not even interested in a treat. So something is wrong. He is happy enough in himself though and will play games.

Tennis Fence

The tennis fence has been put there to keep the balls in the tennis court and keep the likes of Harry out.

Harry at the Zoo

We have just been to the Zoo, and there are pictures on my Not Abingdon blog. But having transferred the images from the camera to the computer I got a bit if a shock. I was not really shocked to see this Hamadryas Baboon from Africa...
nor was I shocked to see this Indonesian Babirusa, a very rare and unique animal which has the looks of a pig but the insides of a hippo.
What shocked me was to see that Harry, an English Border Terrier, had got among the zoo animals.

Drinking The River Thames

Harry seems to prefer it to tap water.

Grandma was not In

Harry and me got four bags of compost and took them over to Cumnor for my mum. Harry likes visiting my mum but this visit was very confusing as she was not in, so after unloading the compost we went away again without seeing her. This walk in the mud and the rain in the fields nearby must have seemed a bit of an anti-climax to Harry.

Bigging Up Tintin

The start of the Abingdon Arts Festival and as in previous years different artists each paint a part of a famous painting which is then assembled together. The event is called Bigging Up Titian - as they are doing Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian.

"I thought somebody said Biggin' up Tintin."

Harry on Otmoor

We took Harry for a walk on Otmoor today. Otmoor is marshy fenland the other side of Oxford . Most people there have either large cameras or binoculars because there are lots of birds to watch.

This picture shows Harry back in the car having enjoyed a new place to walk, and looking into the camera. Otmoor is not just for birds. Dogs like it too but they need to stay en piste.

Let us Pray

Dear Lord... We pray for all the poor dogs who haven't got a proper home, and for all the poor dogs in the Battersea dogs home who are still looking for a home, and for all the poor dogs who have to go to the vet in the next week. Amen.

This far and no further

We went for a walk alongside the riverside this morning (pictures are on the Abingdon Blog) and I got some way before realising Harry was no longer with me. He wasn't even in the same field.

So I went back and found him standing at this point. It was his way of saying "This far and no further". He has not been that well during the last week, and was certainly not up for a trek all the way to Culham. He is now at my feet, sleeping off what was a very short walk.

Harry Visits The Helen and Douglas House Stall

There was a charity stall, under the County Hall, raising money for Helen and Douglas House - the local hospice for young people. Harry is just showing that he supports this good cause, especially after the ladies running the stall made such a fuss of him. He got very waggy tailed and excited going first to one then the other. If you hurry, you may still catch them, and they might even make a fuss of you too - that last bit is addressed to dogs.

Harry and Pushkin - a complex relationship

Pushkin must be about 14 years old but still has no problem leaping the six foot wall at the bottom of the garden.

In the house, Harry knows that Pushkin is the boss, but outside in the garden it is a different story, and Harry will chase any cat away - including Pushkin.

Doesn't Know his own strength

Harry just does not know his own strength at times. He will take on anything, and forgets that he is such a small dog.