Guinea pigs on the loose…

 I have just finished looking after the Cocker Spaniel that I have known since he was a puppy. It’s reminded me of my time with the dog the owners had before him. He was also a Cocker and I loved him to bits. In a way this sit has sort of cemented my thoughts on what dog I might get if I ever decide to have one. I love Labradors but the naughtiness of the Cocker sort of appeals to me, Labradors can be naughty too and I know the cocker I might get, may not be like the that two have lived in this house. When I looked after the one that has now crossed the rainbow bridge, we used to go for walks when the sun was still rising and there is a photo of him with the sun in front of us both, I only looked after him once but it was a special week. 

This time with the new dog on the block, well he is two now, so not really a puppy now. But he loves to talk, he is really vocal, I can only guess what he is saying. As soon as he sees me coming down the stairs, it’s breakfast and then a walk immediately after, no chance to grab a coffee first. We have done some lovely walks, around the pub in Waltham St Lawrence, a walk I did with Neville, the one who has now passed. Of course we went to the pub too. It was raining but it did not seem to matter. We went around Dinton Pastures, with my friend on her mobility scooter, saying hello and chatting to various people.  He pinches things like Neville did, but likes a wider range of food, he loves blackberries..

We went to another local pub, where Lebanese food is now served, the day England had their game with Holland.

Another day we did a walk from Shiplake college to Sonning, along the river. Where the river bank was shallow, in the Cocker went. At Sonning there is a tea shop called the Village hamper. We went into the garden and horror of horrors they have guine pigs in the garden in a very open pen and the Cocker spied what he must have thought was a very tasty lunch. We escaped into the inside for lunch, but he was constantly relying to get back into the garden, you try eating a ham baguette while controlling a cocker on the rampage. We walked back along the river, seeing the beautiful church by the college.

Only a few days to go and we did a walk with the chocolate Labrador the Cocker knows, starting and Remenham, walking into a now quieter Henley after the hub bub of the regatta last week. We did a walk along the river to the town, before which we had our lunch at the Flowerpot Hotel pub, because of parking restrictions at Remenham. Then we went back across the fields. After the regatta Henley has a festival which was in full swing with these huge balls on the grass, reminds me of the Prisoner..

The last full day, we went out to the Chilterns a three village walk, I have done so many times before. The centre of the walk is the windmill used them the Chitty bang bang film. There are several hills to climb but stunning views.

When we went it wasn’t clear what was happening to the Frog pub that we always used to go to. The previous owners had retired.  When we got to the pub it was closed and unfortunately nothing seems to be going on. A recent planning application might mean things could be moving after a prolonged closure. Fingers crossed it keeps some of its charm. Here is a final photo of the sock thief.