Home again

We are just back from a very relaxing couple of days back at New Lodge Farm which is where Murphy, Mum and I stayed with Aunty Debbie a couple of weeks ago.  Dad hadn't been before so we planned to show him all the lovely places we found last time starting with the amazing dog walk at the site.  (It was so quiet on the site we had it all to ourselves all week.)

On Sunday afternoon we went to Lyveden New Bield which none of us had been to before.  It is a lovely unfinished hunting lodge set in the middle of nowhere with a moat (I wasn't allowed to have a swim) and gardens all laid out but not completed.  Three cheers to the National Trust for allowing us to roam all over the place, on leads of course.  There are spiral paths and a big labyrinth marked into the lawn which can make a boy a bit dizzy.
(Dad is busy sorting out his photos, so when he's finished I will post some here.)

On Monday we took Dad to Oundle and then on to Barnwell Country Park (once again not allowed to swim unlike my last visit) and after a walk and lunch went on to Rutland Water.

We spotted these guys on our walk along the lakeshore

There is a special place at Rutland where you can go to watch all the birds - not really a good place for me as you have to be really quiet, so Dad said he will go back on his own one day with his camera.

Tuesday was really foggy in the morning - we could hardly see our noses in the dog walk.  After a while the sun arrived and we went to investigate Fineshades Wood which is about 2 miles from the site.  There are loads of different walks depending on how energetic you want to be.  We did the 3 mile circular walk as it was getting quite warm and Mum didn't want to make Murphy go too far in the heat. 

After our walk, we sat in the sunshine for a while and then headed back to the van for a well earned snooze before dinner.

We headed home today and are already making plans for when we can go back to New Lodge, hopefully we will get another trip before we have to put the van to bed for the winter. 

Manchester Dogs

Merlin and Murphy say...

It was so sad to hear of the awful fire at the Manchester Dogs Home this morning, especially as we were both tucked up in our very cosy beds listening to the radio and thinking about what was for breakfast.

Mum has just opened up her 'puter and made a donation (or should that be dognation?) for us to help all those poor boys and girls have a nice new home. 

Merlin has even taken a selfie (with a bit of help from Dad) to post on his Facebook page as a show of support.
Here's the link https://www.facebook.com/merlin.welshspringer/posts/1542324699313912:0

Does my bum look big in this?

 

Great shot Dad!

 

 

Burghley Horse Trials

We went back to Burghley on Saturday and had a very early start as Mum wanted to be there for breakfast and we made it too!

We had a good walk around the shops whilst it was still quiet and then later went around the course to see all the fantastic fences.

After lunch we had a short snooze in the car while the hoomans had another walk around and met an absolutely gorgeous (Mum's words) Welshie puppy on his first day out at 3 months old.  How lucky was he to have his first big day at Burghley?  Mum was doubly excited because he is a Pamicks puppy so that means he is related to our Murph .. probably one reason why he was so lovely.

Back to us and a last walk around the rest of the course in time to see a one of Mum's favourites Oliver Townend and Armada.  (He loves near my Nana you know.)

 She also has a soft spot for grey horses

and this chap especially ... Avebury.  He was the overall winner on Sunday so she was very pleased.

We had a lovely day.  It was very busy but not too hot so I managed very well Mum said.  I was a bit crackered by the end of the day though and struggling to keep my eyes open.

Chillin'

Just catching up on some sleep after our mid-week holiday with Aunty Debbie, Fergus and Inca.

We've had a great time in Northamptonshire staying on a lovely site near Bulwick.  It was really quiet with the most fantastic dog walk ever. 

The Fab Four

Keeping watch

Waiting for Breakfast

On Thursday Fergus and Inca put their crate in the back of Mum's car

 

 

and we all went to Barnwell Country Park

 

where it has to be said, some of us swam more than we walked and then got told off for not responding when called by Mum .....I did when Aunty Debbie called me though and then went home to the van for a big sleep.

Murphy and I had a lovely time and would like to thank Fergus, Inca and of course Aunty Debbie for being such great company.

 

It was nice to come home yesterday to see Dad - poor chap had been left on his own all week and said he had missed us.  Our next mission is to take him back to where we stayed because I want to show him the dog walk and Mum said there are some nice pubs with great food there too.  Typical!