Winston's blog

Happy Holidays

2011-09-27T22:02:00.002+01:00

At last, sorry to all my fans for my long absence, but at last I'm back!

I've just been on an undercover mission to London. I couldn't let you all know before, because everybody would have known that my beloved Mill was empty, and therefore unguarded by yours truly. Everybody is entitled to a holiday, except of course Mum and Dad. They were off working at the NEC, more about that later.

I went to London to stay with Uncle Richard and Auntie Juuli. Luckily, they acted as my interpreters, because they speak very differently south of Watford, innit, and all that sh*t. I met so many new friends - Ruby and Coco - sniffed so many new sniffs, and watered countless new trees. Shockingly, I met a fox; she was walking up the footpath behind me. I played it cool and totally ignored her, but she knew I'd seen her. Uncle Rich was very proud of me.

Rich said that I'd have to get Mum and Dad to explain the time difference between Cheshire and London. I know that there isn't a difference, thanks to that clever Mr Brunel, but I just needed to persuade them to feed me early. Didn't work, though!

I've seen and done so much that I'm getting tired remembering it all, thank you Rich and Juuli. I have my diary of events to remind me of everything. I don't remember writing how I got on your bed - I hope that they don't read that bit. Fun though! So was skateboarding. I won't tell Mum about that; a bit too scary!

Anyway, back to business. The Mill is open, but it just can't operate without me. The new product that Mum and Dad launched at the NEC Garden and Leisure show is embroidery kits of flowers. Each contains the relevant packet of seeds - poppy, lavender etc. Mum thinks that I don't understand, but I spent a lot of time in London in the garden with Auntie Juuli - or, as they called it, my en suite. I hope that the flowers and vegetables grow well in their garden. I really tried hard to help!

A new range of knitted teddy bear kits is arriving on Thursday, which should be packed and up for sale by the weekend. I can't wait to see them. That means that the old purple bear will be surplus to requirements. I'll have to drop a few hints - I haven't had a new teddy for ages. Purple quite suits me, and I've never had a teddy bear with sunglasses and a pirate bandana!

New toys will be arriving soon, so I'll be getting a new cardboard box bed behind the shop counter. A box makes me feel safe, and it's somewhere to keep all my soft toys.

Audlem Christmas cards appeared just before I went on holidays. Now the temperature is 24 degrees or more, it seems very odd to see cards with snow on! They are worth coming to see, and there are three different Audlem scenes this year.

The final piece of excitement is that I got back in time to see Auntie Di. I haven't seen her since the summer, and she always has to come for her "Winston fix". Of course I'm happy to oblige when it comes to hugs and cuddles.

I must go now, as I need to spend some time with the cats. I hate to say it, but I really did miss them when I was on holidays. They obviously missed me, as they won't leave me alone. Oh well, I'd better go and get the hugs and snuggles over and done with.

I'll blog again soon.

Finally, a big thank you to Uncle Rich and Auntie Juuli.

TOAST, JAM and JERUSALEM

2010-08-23T20:41:00.000+01:00

I’ve had a wonderful day today. Lots of people to see, AND a postcard delivery from my favourite postman. A lovely card from Auntie Di to say she’ll be back this way in September for lots of hugs! I’m sure that I get more post than Mum and dad.

Auntie Di wants to know if I have qualified for my boating bandana yet. Sad to say – not yet (I always try to be optimistic). Somehow I just cannot bring myself to jump on and off the boat, thereby qualifying for an achievement bandana. However, Mum has a plan in place. There is going to be an alternative badge of honour, far more formal than a bandana. I don’t think that Dad will be too impressed. Sorry Aunty Di, but mum said everybody will have to wait to see what it is. I promise to post a picture of it on this blog when it is available. Any day now, hopefully – it’s still in the design stage at the moment.

This weekend coming is the 1st Audlem Beer Festival, so we should be really busy – all those hugs, and probably declarations of undying love (until the hangovers settle in!). Dad won’t be here, as he’s at some waterway show down south, so Richard and Juuli are coming to help Mum for the weekend, and it’s going to be like Christmas because Hannah, Grace and Dan are coming too. Grace and Dan have promised to take me on the boat for a couple of days. Maybe my cruising badge of honour will be ready for its first outing!

Almost forgot …. I’m not sure how I nearly forgot as it involves food (must be my old age). Mum said that I could mention the new range of Audlem Mill jams and marmalades. They’re not just the ordinary run of the mill (hee! hee!) types. I’m pondering between Strawberry and Champagne jam, Ginger marmalade, or plain Blueberry jam. They’d go down nicely with a slice of toast (only when Mum’s not looking, obviously). I was wondering why they keep referring to somebody being a toastmonster. I’ve just realised …. It’s me!!

WINSTON'S THEORY OF BISCUITIVITY

2010-06-14T20:36:00.001+01:00

Hi all

Thanks to everybody who sent me a birthday card recently on my 12th birthday. Our postman Ant put my cards on top of the post, because he said they were the most important! Good to know that my human training is spreading further afield. Talking of which, I’ve just managed to introduce some new rules into the shop. Previously, I was allowed a treat when I came down to the shop in the morning. My new rules, which everyone has acceded to, now stipulate – one in the morning, one whenever I go out and come back in (which oddly seems to be more often than it used to be!), and one each time that the kettle is switched on. It isn’t exactly a quantum leap, but it took me a while to convince Mum that kettle = biscuit². Einstein didn’t cover this theory. I call it Winston’s Theory of Biscuitivity. Any Nobel Prize should be mailed directly to Audlem Mill.

Back to the Mill. Great excitement at the delivery the other day of Silk Tops, Wool Tops, inspiration packs and experimentation packs. To the uninitiated, this involves lots of threads and wool and silk, in every colour, for felting, gimps and ribbons – all sorts of stitching stuff. Dad and I had to rush over to Stoke-on-Trent today to get some new shop fittings, just so Mum can display it properly. Good fun cruising with Dad in the car, but I was anxious in case I missed anybody in the shop. I don’t like to think that Mum can manage without my help.

Audlem has its Festival of Transport this coming weekend. There will be about 300 vehicles on the playing field, just above the Mill. Obviously, this means lots more people in the shop to see me, so I can’t wait. Also, Mum and Dad are hosting the annual barbeque for historical boat owners (or should that be owners of historical boats? – perhaps or perhaps not). Sadly there won’t be many boats this year, because the date had to be changed so it wouldn’t clash with the World Cup, so many of the boats will be at events elsewhere. What a shame – more burgers and sausages for me then. It would be a shame to let the food go to waste.

As for the World Cup, did you see our poor goalkeeper? Football is the only programme I watch on television. Mum always laughs at me because I sit in front of the TV with my football. I could teach them a thing or two, given half a chance. My dribbling skills are legendary, but I haven’t mastered getting any noise out of the vuvusela yet. We have got didgeridoos in the shop – they’re similar.

Anyway, got to go now … places to sniff and people to do … !

Nearly birthday time .....

2010-05-08T20:41:00.001+01:00

Hi Guys!

Just to catch up a little, my fame is spreading, and people are coming into the shop just to see me! I won’t let the fame go to my head (even though we have very wide front doors).

We’ve just had deliveries of ladies’ shopping bags, some have even got West Highland Terriers on them, but as yet no Cocker Spaniels. You’d think that the manufacturer would get priorities right. Also, another batch of Audlem Safety Rats have arrived for the summer. They should soon be resplendent in their canal neckerchiefs, and poem attached to their collar, ready to do their jobs working as boat early warning systems (you need to come to the Mill to find out what I’m on about). These rats need to be seen to be believed.

And how do they get a canal neckerchief, when I don’t qualify yet? Apparently, it’s because I won’t jump on to the back of our boat – these trad. counters leave too much of a gap!

Even more important than shop business, it’s only eight major sleeps until my 12th birthday. Obviously, I’m not counting those little naps I have in between customers, as a chap of my age is entitled to them. I mean those major sleeps when Mum and dad go to sleep, and I’m left to settle down for the night. I’ve found recently that upside down on the sofa is the best place, as long as I’m back in my bed for the morning when they wake up. I only do it so the cats have a warm patch to sleep in when they are allowed back in, in the morning (I don’t snigger, honestly). I can’t see the point in being out all night trying to hunt, when a hearty breakfast is always provided by the chief lead bearers (sorry, Mum and Dad!).

Anyway, down to a bit more business. The Canal art Exhibition has now finished in the Needlework shop, and Mum is busy rearranging the needlework. Apparently, we now have all sorts of NEW threads, beads, kits, rag rugs, and books – far too many to mention. Apparently there’s something about them on our website somewhere.

Got to go, yet another nap calling, not long now until the birthday, dreaming of a new (cat hair free) brush, endless treats and who knows maybe doggie cake. A chap may dream!

Paws crossed

Love

Winston

Back again

2010-03-17T20:06:00.001Z

Hi chaps (and chapesses)

Finally back after the winter break. It’s good to be back in the shop after two months – so much news to tell you. Firstly, I’ve been BOATING! Actually, Mum and dad have been boating, and I nonchalantly tagged along. Tried so hard to trot across a lock gate, but it was a bit difficult to look cool when the collar gets pulled by the lead until my ears are completely across my eyes. That was my excuse anyway, really I was scared stiff – lock gates are definitely not my thing. Then, the indignity of having to be carried on to the boat. I was only weighing up the options of whether I could jump that far, or just pretend to sniff something more important, or actually run like hell! Mum says that I cannot qualify for a boat dog bandana until I can get on and off the boat unaided. Well, thank heavens for that; getting carried isn’t so bad after all! Long may it continue.

Anyway, back to more important things, the shop and my PUBLIC. We’re now open every day again, lots of people and lots of fuss! Biscuits directly from Ant, our lovely postman, instead of through the letter box when we were closed, and then sniffed at by cats.

Extra comings and goings at the moment. We’ve only been open less than three weeks, and have had FIVE courses! Water colour painting, rag rugging, bobbin lace, crochet, and boat fender making (looks like crochet, but with rope).

Now, starting this coming weekend, we have our third annual canal art exhibition. Lots of people bringing in parcels to put into the needlework shop, and lots more deliveries. I think the Mill might explode sideways if they put any more in it.

Finally, my best news ever. I’m famous! I’ve been given the title “dog with a blog”. Although we stock almost every canal book in existence (well, we do if you listen to Dad), today a brand new book arrived, entitled “Pub Days Out”. It’s by those nice CoolCanals girls, and I’m in it, as (I want to see this again) “dog with a blog”. My name even gets a mention – “Winston, the unassuming cocker spaniel” (shows what they know). The shop also gets a mention, but obviously you’ll have to read it to get that bit. This all helps to put Audlem more on the map. Let’s keep up the good work.

I’ll have to go now, as more pats on the head have just walked through the door. They just think that they’ve come to shop. I need to put them right.

Bye!

Muffet, Meerkats and Bling

2009-11-03T18:41:00.000Z

Sorry I haven’t been able to update my blog for so long, but I’ve been a bit of a busy chap. As everybody realises, the canal closed here on 13 August (Mum says that she never wants to hear that date ever again!!). So, virtually no customers in the shop for over two months, no pats on the head, no treats, except from my postman Ant (sorry, Mum and Dads’ postman). The emergency evacuation of boats from the canal after the breach meant that my best friend Sandy (gorgeous) Capon had to leave rather quickly, and I’ve had to rely on dogs-just-going-for-a-walk chats, instead of boatie chats. Whole different ball game, if you excuse the pun!

A new LADY SPANIEL, Muffet, has moved to Audlem, and pops in occasionally to say “hello”. I think that she’s playing it a bit cool, but if I stand on the back of the sofa, I can look out of the window and see her playing in her garden across the canal! I’m certainly in no hurry for Spring, when the leaves grow back on the trees.

Anyway, to the busy bit. I’ve helped Mum, or so I thought, but apparently I might have got in the way a bit?

Mum has designed some new kits using something called Angelina fibres, quilting and tube lining. I think I look quite dashing with the odd bit of sparkly Angelina in my ears. Oh well, I suppose it makes people laugh.

I had a wonderful sleepover for a few days with Julie and Pete while Mum and Dad went to London to launch the kits, but I think that they went by car, not boat, because it only took a few days. Everybody seems very happy about it, so it must have gone well.

We now have a new Goldwork section in the needlework shop. I don’t understand~ Jap, Purl, Pearl Purl, Beeswax, Kid, etc., etc. but I tried to look suitably impressed!!!!

Also this week we have had a Meerkat invasion! As if having them on the television isn’t enough, they are now in the Canal Shop AND this bunch seem to be knitting !!! This I do understand, but I just wish I could get hold of one of them - they look quite chewy, if you could just take those knitting needles away.

Must go now to see if I can find some lurking Angelina. I’m determined to make Muffet notice me; a bit of bling should do it.

P.S. I’ve managed to teach Puppy Grace to get up the stairs; Aunty Kath wasn’t too amused, but we can now disrupt the Craft courses upstairs. What fun!!
I promise to keep my blog up to date, sorry.

It's here !!!

2009-03-14T23:11:00.002Z

Oh my word!! What can I say? All my questions have been answered. For weeks, all I've heard is "How is Winston going to cope?" and "What will Winston make of it?" and "Will Winston mind?" Answers, in the correct order, are "very well", "absolutely fanastic" and "no chance"!! At last, I fully understand what all the fuss was about. Because today, a beautiful, georgeous puppy cocker spaniel named Grace came to work at the shop with Aunty Kath.

Of course, I played it cool to begin with, then I realised that she was shy. I've never seen such long eyelashes! Sorry Sandy (my Sussex Spaniel friend), but I think I'm in love. We spent all day NOT looking at each other - except for when she was asleep, and then I kept looking!!

There was a Rag Rugging course on today, and all the ladies made a big fuss of us both. I'm sure that I can share the limelight with such a lovely little girl. I've already learnt, though, that she can pinch balls of wool and pieces of fabric, and everybody just laughs. I always thought people would get cross if I did that. Maybe I'll have a go next time and see what happens!

Grace was just beginning to notice me when the Rag Rug course ended, and she had to go home. Imagine my surprise to be told that Grace will be coming to work with Aunty Kath every time she comes to work!! Roll on tomorrow! I've got so much to teach Grace - postmen! deliveries! boxes to sit in! walks on the towpath at lunchtime! never ending fuss from customers! biscuits at afternoon coffee time! Life just gets better and better.

Anytime that you may be passing Audlem Mill, just come in and meet Grace - and pat me too!

It’s here! It’s today! At last!

2009-03-03T17:44:00.000Z

The shop will be open 7 days a week again for the “summer” season. People, friends, boats –and treats! Spaniel heaven.

So many boxes have been delivered, it’s just like Christmas, but without my stocking and spare turkey. I do love climbing into the empty boxes.

Lots of laughter going n in the shop; there normally is, but this time it’s almost hysterical, and in the NEEDLEWORK shop (that’s usually more serious). Apparently it’s something to do with the new book delivery. One is about knitting, called “Domiknitrix”. Mum said it’s for knitters with attitude, and there’s a second book “What to do with 2 balls or less”, for those with less aptitude.

Another large box contained hundreds of coloured packets – every colour imaginable, and some unimaginable for a cocker spaniel. But the giggles were reserved for the accompanying book entitled “Between the Sheets with Angelina”. I know that I’m a little inexperienced in the world of textiles, but I’m shocked. I didn’t know we were that kind of shop!! I’m sure that all will become plain (or patterned – ha ha!)

There will be more and more boxes arriving over the next couple of weeks, lots to investigate from an olfactory point of view (or smell, really!). However, I’m sensing that something very exciting is about to happen. There are lots of whispers, and “I can’t wait”s, and “I don’t know what Winston is going to do”.

Anticipation is a wonderful thing, but I’d rather just know ! So frustrating for a little dog. I’ll let you know as soon as it happens.

Must go – another delivery has arrived; most of my delivery men are well trained, and it might mean another biscuit! Or at least a pat on the head.

Bah Humbug !

2008-12-20T11:53:00.003Z

I'm very remiss at writing - it's some time since I did. I have to wait until Mum and Dad go out and leave the computer on, as I don't want them to see me using it. My keyboard skills are limited, and I'm a bit slow. The Shift key is particularly difficult!

Apparently it's nearly Christmas. That means even less to do than normal, but hopefully more to eat. That turkey that they bought yesterday looked enormous - there's bound to be some leftovers, unless the cats get there first. But I don't know why they bother to cook the turkey - it's tastier as it comes.

Winston's Greetings to Uncle Richard and his class 6J at Brinsdown School in North London. Apparently they read my blog. Hope you all have a lovely break over this festive season, and best wishes for the new year.

I'd like to thank all my fans who have sent cards, and to postie Ant who delivers our post (and usually a biscuit for me). I would send cards back, but I can't reach the slot in the postbox just up the road.

Best wishes

Winston

Fed up

2008-11-17T19:47:00.002Z

Mum and Dad have gone out to the pub nearby for a meal, and because the shop is currently closed during the week as the canal is closed and there's no boats, I haven't been in the shop meeting my public. Today's been boring. I've been in the flat above the shop all day, apart from my walks, and I haven't seen anyone.

Apparently, the canal is closed until the weekend before Christmas for repairs - new lock gates, it seems. I can't see much wrong with the existing ones. They're there, and they are painted grey, white and black. But Dad tells me, as if I care, that lock gates only have a limited, if fairly long life, and have to be replaced.

Earlier this year, British Waterways put in three metal bollards above and below every lock on the Audlem flight of 15 locks. No-one in the shop knows why, and everyone says that there is no need for bollards when they work the locks. But they are good for weeing on, so there is a benefit for us dogs. Probably another reason that humans don't touch the bollards!

We've recently had visits from Grace, youngest daughter, who lives in something called York (is that a type of house?), and Mum's mum, Winnie, who's even older than Dad. She stayed for a few days. It's nice to have visitors, as that's even more attention and fuss.

The shop's looking good, what with Christmas cards and gifts, and lots of people are coming in buying things to give to others. I don't quite understand that. They give people things that they think that they'd like. But they don't seem to ask in advance what to give - it has to be a surprise. I don't like surprises - unless it's food. Perhaps I've misunderstood the concept of Christmas gifts. I usually get some biscuits and treats. No surprise there. The surprise is what type.

Tomorrow's going to be boring too - shop closed, no visitors, and Mum and Dad both out some of the day.

Oh well!

I get a postcard!

2008-10-21T21:37:00.002+01:00

Ant, our postperson, brought me a postcard the other day. It was addressed to me, and came from Sandy, my friend. She's a golden cocker spaniel, and she lives with Di and John. They have been travelling round the canals during the summer, but have gone to something they call Devon now. I like Sandy, but I don't think that I'll see her again till next canal season, as they only cruise for a few months each year.

Our cat Missy has taken to joining me and Peter on my morning walks. She walks with us all the way along the canal to lock 11, but I don't know why. Dogs and cats tend to do different things, so why does she come out with me? She's supposed to run up trees or climb fences, not come for a walk along the towpath. I've never really understood cats. They pretend for a minute that they're friendly, then they jump at me, or wander off. All very strange.

Is it too late to do a degree in cat psychology?

Regards

Perplexed Winston, of Audlem

Leaves falling

2008-10-15T14:16:00.002+01:00

Since I last wrote, lots of leaves have fallen off the trees alongside the canal, where I go every day for my walks. Must be autumn (fall, for my American fans!). When did that happen, then. We haven't really had summer. Well, we did - it was three days last week. Lots of sun, and really warm. And it brought the boats out. The problem with the leaves is that they tend to disguise all the essential smells.

I've noticed something. When I was young, blue roan cocker spaniels were quite rare. They're everywhere now. Has something odd been going on in the gene pool? What's Robert Winston up to? Seriously, though, these impostors are causing a problem, because they are getting all the stroking and fuss that should rightfully be mine.

We got an email (I prefer wee-mails) yesterday from Uncle Richard, who lives in something called Enfield. He tells me it's just off the M25. Don't know what that means. Is it food? Anyway, he said that he hadn't yet been mentioned in my blog. He has now. The thing is that he hasn't been visiting for some months, since before I started this blog. Richard and his wife Juuli did a tremendous amount to help my owners get the Mill ready to open at Easter last year. I like them, and hope that they come and visit soon.

A Sussex Spaniel

2008-09-19T08:00:00.002+01:00

A few days ago, a lady came into the shop to show off her quilted patchwork, which apparently we're going to sell, and she brought in her brown lady spaniel, apparently a Sussex spaniel. She's a bit different from cocker spaniels, mainly in that she has a lovely wrinkly nose! Also, it seems that she doesn't ever need a haircut. I have to go regularly to avoid me looking like a yeti, though to be fair, I do enjoy going to the groomers. It's a great day out, and all the attention is on me. But then, I suppose it usually always is.

Kath, who works with us in the shop, came back on Tuesday from her week's holiday, and popped in yesterday for a coffee, but stayed all day. It was great to see her, and she brought me a special treat. She does spoil me!

We had several deliveries yesterday, so more pats on the head from delivery drivers, and there's always the daily biscuit from Ant, our postman.

I met Sandy again!

2008-09-11T08:20:00.002+01:00

Di and John came through on their boat, and stayed a couple of days. Whilst the adults were talking about whatever people talk about (seems pointless to me, as I have other ways of communicating), I met Sandy, their golden cocker spaniel. She had a major operation recently, but was back to her normal self. We had a good run round outside the Mill together, jumping up and down, and playing like spaniels do. I was really sorry when she had to go, and it seems she won't be back until the next canal season.

I also saw Oakley again yesterday. He's local and has a very white coat - don't know how he stays white, what with all the rain and mud. I get sand and grit from the towpath stuck in my paws.

One of our cats, the black one, has taken to spending quite a lot of time in the shop. She wanders about, and occasionally jumps out from behind things, frightening customers. It's fun watching the expressions on their faces. She also sits in the windows, staring at and taunting customers' dogs tied up to the dog mooring post! But worst of all, she curls up on my blanket behind the counter, so I have to sleep on the cold concrete floor. Life's hard for a spaniel.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

2008-09-01T08:15:00.000+01:00

Life's been a bit hectic since my last post. I spent days rushing around helping them get everything ready for their stand at the National Waterways Festival down at the far end of our canal, in Wolverhampton, over the bank holiday. There were boxes and exhbition stands everywhere, and it quite disrupted my routine. They never think of that. I'm a dog, and what do dogs like best? - a routine. Same thing at the same time every day. We don't like disruptions. Glad it's all over.

Peter went off to the Festival for four days, but the first day was just to set up all the stuff. Kath, who works with us in the shop, went on two days, because she was running craft workshops on rag rug making, and peg loom weaving. I don't really understand the reason for any of themse products, except that they're warm and soft to sleep on. But apparently lots of ladies and gents like them, and they often tell us how they used to help their parents or grandparents make rag rugs because there weren't any fitted carpets. Nearly everyone says that, so I think that I could now write the script for these discussions!

Then lots more stock has come in - more wool and patterns, and lots and lots of beading stuff. Not much good to a dog, but customers seem to like it all.

Had a postcard on Saturday (it was really addressed to me!) from my friend Sandy, a lovely golden lady cocker spaniel. She's owned by people on a boat who often come to Audlem, but apparently they are on the Llangollen Canal at present. And I still regularly see Sophie, a blue roan lady spaniel, who lives in Audlem. In fact, there's quite a few spaniels about - Jasper and Bramble, and a few others.

Well, it's nearly nine o'clock, so I'm off to the shop for a hard day's dozing and meeting customers.

Still rainy!

2008-08-18T08:10:00.000+01:00

There's been rain for days now, and I really don't like going out in the rain, even to do what I have to. But then, I don't like the wind or the dark that much either. Sun and snow I do like, but we haven't had much sun lately, and snow in August is unlikely. But someone in the shop the other day said there had been a sprinkling of snow in Warrington. Why doesn't that surprise me?

We've been getting lots of deliveries of cardboard boxes with things in over the last week or two. I'm told that it's all new stock for the shop, though I'm more interested in the boxes. I do like to jump into empty boxes and sit in them (I'm not sure I know why, but I've always done it), but I did hurt myself a week or so ago when I did that, and Kath who works for us took me to the vet. I was ok soon afterwards.

Several of these boxes contained balls of wool. Peter, Chris and Kath have been moving furniture around in the needlework shop, and they have now got a pretty large wool section, and Kath has been putting what she calls patterns into folders so that customers can look through them. There have also been some other new things arriving for the needlework shop, and it all looks very full to me.

Lots more dogs are coming through Audlem on the canal. Seems that there's some national waterways festival at the other end of our canal near Wolverhampton next weekend, and that's attracting many boats - and all boats have dogs. Often two or three. And they tend to stop here. So lots of smells to catch up on, and weemails too.

Getting ready for another energetic week......!

Strange August weather

2008-08-13T22:11:00.000+01:00

I don't know what's happened to the weather. My dad took me out for a walk two or three times yesterday, and it poured with rain in the morning, and drizzled in the evening. This is August, and everyone says that it's summer, and that's supposed to be hot, dry and sunny. Problem is, I get my paws awfully wet, and a bit muddy, and I don't really like that. Or rather, Peter and Chris don't really like it, as it seems to rub off on to them.

The postman, Ant, comes every day, and he doesn't just leave the post, he leaves a dog biscuit for me. I like the postman! He's a doggy sort of person, and understands my needs. Today, one of our parcel delivery men also left a biscuit!

We've had lots of deliveries in the last couple of days. Apparently, Peter went to a needlework trade show on Sunday, and ordered all sorts of needlework kits, and these have been arriving. They are now on display in our needlework shop. We seem to have hundreds of kits of all types and colours - though none smell much for me to be interested. But lots of ladies and some gentlemen do seem interested in them, as they come to Audlem Mill specially. People are funny, aren't they?

One of our cats, the black one called Missie, spent most of the morning in the shop, wandering about, climbing into the window, and, worst of all, sleeping on my blanket behind the shop counter - so I had to lie on the concrete instead. She can be a pain! But the trouble is, that I always give in to her, and let her do what she wants. Apparently that's normal - it's not like Tom & Jerry, where the dog is usually chasing the cat, and beating her up.

My first blog!

2008-08-11T22:49:00.000+01:00

This is my first blog post. I'm a 10 year old English Cocker Spaniel, and I live at Audlem Mill in Cheshire, England. Mum and Dad are Chris and Peter Silvester, and they run a canalside gift and needlework shop. We live alongside the Shropshire Union Canal. I have to admit that I'm not really into all that, though I do enjoy wandering along the canal towpath. There's always plenty of things to sniff! Almost everyone on a canal boat has a dog, and of course they wander along the towpaths. Plenty of smells!

But today was a fairly boring day for a dog. There was rain on and off much of the day, and that makes going outside for the regular sniffs and wees fairly unappealing, but I managed to get out several times, if only for a few minutes.

The wander up the towpath this evening presented quite a few new smells. Thats the thing at this time of the year, in the middle of the tourist season - there's so many dogs. This means that Peter is always hanging around waiting for me.

Let's see what tomorrow brings ....