George has a bath

George enjoyed his bath. George did not enjoy drying off. All wet and forlorn...

Things we have learned:

-George can climb up the stairs, but can't get down again unless sliding on his belly

-George is not ready for the living-room (chewing of the post, box of matches, banana peel on the table from lunch, laptop cable, TV remote, sock - still on foot; plus pooping and frantically barking at an innocent cushion have proven Dominic right)

-George does not understand his football

-George does not recognise Dominic without his shirt on

-George is 'over' fetch 

-If there is a bird in the garden, George will not notice. He's terribly self-involved is George

-George enjoys having his teeth brushed with his 'meat' flavored toothpaste. Mmmmm

For Valentine's day, George very kindly brought me a clump of moss. I believe it was John Lewis.

Sunny Rummaging - a splendid start to the day

It's Monday morning and the sun is out. As is George, searching for the perfect leaf. I like this photo, it shows George in fantastic Beagley form.

Return of the George

We had friends over this weekend and as we were spending most of Saturday in London, The Georges (my aunt, uncle and two cousins) offered to puppy-sit.

As he's in the chewing stage, I was a teeny bit worried about which George would manifest over the 3 days they had the pleasure (or nightmare) of having him over. I needn't have worried, he was a doddle.

He was returned to us with a new toy (rawhind = genius), a new noise (puppy chattering) and a new disposition...sleepy. I have never before met truly sleepy George. I have never before seen George asleep! Should I still be pottering around at 10:30pm, George will feel the vibration of slippered foot on carpet from the next room and meet me at the kitchen gate ready to play, or maul.

Below are some photos I have pinched from the Georges to demonstate. I am glad to have pictorial evidence as this George we may never again meet...

Sleeping on Rachel's lap (she may or may not have been listening to the TV with headphones - so as not to disturb dosing pup).

The famous Buddha belly. Aunty Lynn ignoring my advice on not wearing a dressing-gown in the same room as George unless goading a tug-o-war...lesson learned the hard way I hear

Uncle Richard finding it terribly amusing that Jemma wouldn't (couldn't) put George down. George is contended. 'Up' is George's favorite place.

George sitting. Tail wagging. Staring intently. The smell of a treat in the air.

Upon his return...

Dominic missed George. George missed Dominic. As much as we enjoyed having our friends to stay, we'd like to request that no-one come to visit again. Ever. Thank you.

Love of all things slimy, anyone for escargot?

George likes snails. He feels a two pronged fork and tongs and garlic butter would be an effort in pomposity. George likes them dirt-flavoured, shell an' all.

Monday 7 February

Today was a day of discoveries

- George does not like the hair-dryer (but likes having a bath)
- George likes the the vegetable patch next door
- George will always lick a cup of coffee, no matter how many times before he has tried it and decided against a second slurp
- George is in 'the chewing phase'. Favourites so far include Iphones, UGG boots and his own tail
- George can find the grain-sized pink tablet (for his upset 'peanut-butter' tummy) in a bowl of rice and dispose of it underneath the wine rack
- If someone drops a cupcake wrapper on the floor, George will find it, eat it, and feel no remorse

I stood on George's tail today. I have taken to climbing over the baby-gate as opening it only means having to chase him through the hallway into the living-room. The one thing to be aware of with George is that he's always at your feet. My running through the garden would put you in mind of the last mile, feet bound together in the vain hope that today will be a day that George remains untrampled. Anyway, the first booted foot over the gate came down onto a back paw and the yelp that followed crushed my soppy, George-filled heart. I cuddled him and appologised profusely and I think he appreciated that because after a minute or so of the world's most soul-destroying whimper-barking, he licked all the make-up off my face. Which I in turn appreciated. We appreciate each other, me and George.

In other news, I found out today that National Rail allow puppies on the train. Am now planning George's first wak through Christ Church Meadows. Only 14 days to go.

On the 21st George is going to his first 'Puppy Party'. I wonder how the other dogs will take to him? Dom's cousins have a Golden Retriever called Harley who is so beautiful he has no friends. George is beautiful but in a more 'English rogue' kind of way. I think if he was a real person he'd be Bob Hoskins. Who is really more lovable than beautiful. Actually he's really more anything than beautiful. 

Anyway, here's George's impression of a seal pup...

Dom is sniffing the top of his head. No surface on earth smells as good as the top of George's head.

Meet George

George is our Beagle puppy. He enjoys tuna-fish, daffodils and having his ears pulled together to make 'squishy face'. He has a Buddha belly and freckles on his nose and his tail is a magic wand.