Monday 31 July 2006

Another early morning. I swear we get up before the birds!! A cooler day today and slightly damp but that's much better for me than all the heat we've been having.

My breakfast duly arrived and I was quite interested in it but didn't manage to eat it all. I wonder if it is all the exercise or all the excitement or both.

Great excitement at mid-day. I got to go in the truck. I was lucky enough to ride in the back seat with Grzegorz while Max, another doggie guest, had to go in the way back. Still he's much bigger than me being a German Shepherd so fair dos I say.

After a while we arrived at a white house. There were all sorts of interesting smells in there and loads and loads of food. It was really interesting 'cept they kept me on a short leash if I got within sniffing distance of the food. But then they took me into a small room where there was a man in a white coat. And the indignity of it all - they hoisted me onto a table. Still, the man had nice warm hands which he rubbed all over me which was kinda nice especially since boys of my own kind aren't very keen on me. He then took this rubber thingy which he stuck in his ears - funny guy - and patted me all over with the other end. I just lay down and let him get on with it.

But then he wanted to hold my leg and he had a scary thing with two pointed spikes. I wasn't having any of that. They had to get a nice nurse to cuddle me and Auntie Marjorie whispering all sorts of things in my ear before I let him near me. And do you know what he did? He cut my hair that's what. And they kept talking. This was scarier than "The Blair Witch Project" I tell ya.

Then they got the cookies out. Now I know I'm not supposed to have anything like that and I was a good girl. I wouldn't take a cookie. I mean, I know it was a bribe so that they could do something to me. I'm no pushover. I wasn't gonna lay down and take it quietly. Uncle Craig obviously decided that this was too scary for me so with a nurse and Auntie Marjorie cuddling me he covered my eyes. A girl can get used to all this attention. And I knew I shouldn't have succumbed. What was that sharp thing he was poking in my leg? Anyway, it was soon over. Apparently they needed some blood just to make sure everything is OK. They then offered me another cookie. Well, I figured "I've earned this" so I took it! Mind you it was on the small side darn it.

Then they dragged me off to those wretched scale things again. I know the drill now. No knowing my weight unless there's a cookie in it for me! They caved in and so did I. So, now the hard work starts and I really will do my best for Mom and them.

Then it was back to the holiday camp where I was looking forward to having a well earned snooze. Ho, none of that. The lead was back on and off I went on my mid-day walk.

I've had a good look round and can't find any cupboards or hidden stashes of food. So there was nothing for it but to have an afternoon nap.

Then, 4 o'clock and another walk. They're as regular as clockwork here.

A lot of coming and going as all the other doggie guests go on their walks and then wayhay, it's dinner time. I was ready for mine and licked my bowl clean. I was ready for more so was really hopeful when Auntie Marjorie appeared with more bowls but when I looked they were empty 'cept for a small one with...... oh, no, the dreaded chopped apple. I'm still thinking about it.

Well, it's bed time now. I'm being really good Mom. You'd be proud of me. I send you all my love and will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Mysterious Olympus Battery

Zbig found a small rectangular black battery in the stable yard this afternoon. He's sure it hasn't been there long. It was near where Lou's car was parked.

It says Olympus on it, Model LI-108.

Please let me know if you recognise it --- and, if so, where you'd like us to send it. Thanks!

Photos of Hattie's First Day at Lucies Farm

Cathy from "It's Me Or The Dog" filming Marjorie, Lou, and Hattie (the one on the floor) as Marjorie explains what Hattie will be eating during her stay at Lucies Farm.

Hattie in the outdoor lanai of her suite. That's Jasper in the next suite, and then Bali and India in the suite after that. They've all come outside to see the new arrival.

Hattie's first full day at Lucies Farm --- Sunday, July 30 --- was a warm and sunny day. After she had a nice long walk, we thought she'd enjoy a brief dip in the swimming pool with Zbigniew. Lou told me that Hattie had been swimming before. She didn't like the first couple of minutes in the pool, but gradually relaxed. We didn't want to over-do the experience.

Sunday 30 July 2006

I had Marjorie write up my first day because I was sooooo exhausted but now I have my own byline so I can do my own blog.

Boy, was it an early start this morning. 6 a.m. and we were all off and running. But I really enjoyed my walk. Lots of interesting smells and stuff. Then by 9 a.m. Sylvia was in the kitchen making scrambled egg for breakfast. Oh goody, I thought. But then they brought my breakfast; skim milk and Weetabix. Still I was hungry enough to scoff the lot.

Then it was time for a mid-morning nap. I'm good at that. At mid-day all sorts of things happened. Some people came to look at the kennel with a small hairy dog which they carried most of the time. Wonder if it's another patient. Then I could hear all sorts of splashing in the pool. And then some more people came to collect their doggie. He was still wet from his swim. Then I went off for another walk.

I was just about to settle down for my mid-afternoon nap when, yep, you've guessed it, they came and got me and it was my time to get in the pool. I made it very clear that I wasn't took keen on that large expanse of blue water but to no avail. In I went. I wasn't really sure what to do so kept swimming the side and this guy kept guiding me back out to the middle of the pool. Phew, I was only in for about 5 minutes but I'm sure they will have me back out there. They're really keen on exercise this lot. Some of the doggie guests here really like it.

I was too bushed for my lunch.

Then mid-afternoon it was off for another half-hour walk. They sure keep us busy here. I was almost too tired to eat my dinner. I know, I know, Mom won't believe it. It was a huge bowl of food. I'm not sure if it is the biggest bowl of food I have ever seen but it was up there. And do you know what, it was too much; even for me! I don't know if it is all the exercise I've had today or that I had a big breakfast but yes, I left some!!

Have now had my evening walk and everyone is getting ready for bed so time. It's lights off so time for me to sign off. Will let you know how I get on tomorrow.

My First Day

Well, what an exciting day I had yesterday. Mum and Jackie put me in the car with my boyfriend Paddy (he's a Jack Russell) and I must confess that I use the term "boyfriend" loosely as I love him and he just tolerates me. Can it be something to do with the fact that we once had an argument which I started!!

Anyway, we then went on a two hour drive to sunny Worcestershire and they took me into this lovely 2 acre garden where I could run around and sniff to my heart's content. Not only that, but we met a lady with a camera who followed me around filming my every move. I'm such a star!

But then, guess what! They wanted to weigh me again!! What is the obsession with my weight. I'm a happy roly poly girl. Not only that, but they wanted to weigh me a second time. Filming is such hard work. Well, I made them work for it; I would only move when they produced a cookie. A girl's gotta get paid doesn't she!

But then things got even better. We went into this kitchen with all sorts of lovely smells. AND they put some in a bowl for me. Of course, being a star, I obliged by tucking right in and licking the bowl clean. I'll save on their washing up! It was funny, they even got Mom to try some of the food. She thought it was pretty good. I thought "hey, leave some for me".

Then Paddy got in the act. He's so pushy. Not only did he get a bowl of food but he got cookies and no matter how hang dog I looked or used my melting eye looked nothing was forthcoming.

No matter, it was off out back into the garden to look at my accommodation. Mom had brought my bed and a nice smelly T-shirt so that I won't feel homesick. Homesick! The room was air conditioned so I jumped right up into my cubby and settled right in. Mom, Jackie and that Paddy left but I'm on holiday so I didn't think too much about it. Too many good things here.

I think this is like a slimming club. I did hear the words "boot camp" mentioned but so far so good. I got another bowl of food and had a nice long walk.

However, while all of my companions enjoyed a cookie after dinner I was given chopped up apple. Honestly, that's for rabbits. I'm a dog and I want human food and cookies and things like that. I did the only thing I could. I ignored it. And they call me food focused. Ha! I'll show them.I had a good night's sleep. I was so tired I didn't bark at all. Well, today is another day. I'll let you know what happens later.

Hattie's Reservation is Confirmed

We received confirmation that Hattie the Beagle is coming to stay at Lucies Farm for a little over a month. Our goal is to help Hattie lose weight through a combination of a nutritionally-balanced diet and the right amount ofexercise.



We're looking forward to meeting Hattie, and to the challenge. We're told that she now weighs 27.4 kg -- she should weigh about 14 kg at most.

Hattie is a rescue dog and has been described as a "serious food thief." She'll eat anything that's left on any surface. She loves butter and bagels, will chew through the kids' lunchboxes to eat their leftover crusts and she'll eat chewing gum out of people's handbags. She's just not fond of fruit or vegetables as she's not a healthy eater.

We're told that Hattie spends most of her day lying on the couch, sleeping. She's been known to lie in the same position for 24 hours and her family have to force her off the sofa to go to the toilet. Because she's too fat to get into the bath she starts to smell after a while, and gets bad wind because she eats so much odd food.

We're told that Hattie attacks other dogs when she's out on a walk. If let off the lead she will run for miles and not return.