The Watcher II

Ever get the feeling you're being watched?

The Trouble With Sticks...

One morning Finn awoke to a tennis ball swelling on the side of his neck just underneath his jaw line!! The day before he had been pottering about on the undergrowth and so there was potential for a wasp sting? After a couple of days the swelling had not lessened and in fact Finn managed to scratch and burst it open... so with a horrible mixture of blood and puss running down his neck...instant panic ensued... and a quick dash to the vet immediately.  

The vets take on it was the possibility of a splinter from a stick had gone through his soft jowels from the inside of his mouth and lodged somewhere in his neck. A course of antibiotics and all should be well. Initially it healed up well but then the swelling started to fill up again... so back to the vets we go. This time they decided that the best course of action was to give Finn an anaesthetic, open up the area, investigate and flush out. No particles were found , it seemed that the area and flesh underneath was still inflamed and irritated from the infection, so another couse of antibiotics and all should be well!! Pheeeewwww!!

Only down side is that poor Mr Finn has to wear the plastic lampshade... otherwise known as 'the cone of shame', and be butt of humiliation for other fit & healthy dogs!! He is not a happy pup!! :-(

Whoopsie Poopsie!!

Enough said!!......

The Watcher...

Wandering at Witching Hour

Bluebird Skies at Boden Boo

Meandering in the Mamores

We have a couple of days off again and the weather this summer has been fantastic, so we are champing at the bit to get out and enjoy it all together. As soon as we see all the outdoor kit coming out the cupboard and being laid out ready for packing, we get excited and are eager to get on our way to whatever adventure awaits!! Patience is not our best trait!

After an initially tricky start through tall dense bracken, taller than all of us, offering no views, we eventually find our way onto a great path taking us through beautiful wild deciduous woodlands and across lots of cool waterfalls and burns... of course as tradition dictates, we have to stop at every bit for a paddle and a play in the fresh flowing waters. Occasionally we see some Roe Deer darting silently through the undergrowth... too fast for us to chase but Drifty boy trails their scent with his nose to the ground but looses interest & returns when he realises that they're off & running and out of reach! 

We then start to ascend up & out of the trees onto a hill path with fantastic views of the Mamore mountains all around. Its not the sunniest of days but still really warm & high humidity in the air so refreshing to come out of the trees and feel the slight breeze blowing around the hill-tops.

So we're about 20 kilometres into our walk in the Mamores, a fair old distance trekked pretty quickly. We've hiked through dense bracken, warm woodland dappled with sunlight, breeze blown moorland and high soggy peat bogs. We stop for a brief breather and some food... Miss Mel is taking some close-ups of handsome Mr Drift, ears all perked up and alert, looking full of energy and rearing to get going again....

....meanwhile behind, little Finn McCool is less than full of beans, almost sleeping sitting up, totally drained of energy and stamina... looking all but broken instead of bright-eyed & bushy tailed. For the final 12km he sticks to the heels of Mel, trudging behind, head hung low, not enjoying the freedom of the open hill-side as Drift does, running all-over, exploring every nook & cranny along the way. Finn really needs to learn to pace himself and not run all-out at the start leaving no reserve for a long day in the hills.