Before the whole Maddie episode on the first night, I had been vey proud of myself. We accidentally locked ourselves out (Yale locks - so not used to them!) but I'd left the French windows open which had a railing in front of them. They were on the other side of the building (technically the front, I guess)and a floor up when you stood at ground level, but luckily I was in jeans and trainers and there were ornamental barrows littering the place. So up I hopped and after doing some Tom Cruise Mission Impossible-style edging up the window below (sunk in so I was able to use the stone window frame to get up, bracing my legs against it on either side) I was able to get up and over the railing and in - success!
Shame Richard didn't take any photos. although maybe an action shot of my backside isn't really what you want.
30 September 2015
Previously, in Cornwall...
It has taken me a while to think about writing about this. It was extremely traumatic at the time and is a real black mark on both Maddie and us.
We went to a dog-friendly place in Cornwall which, it turned out, was in the middle of a small farm, with sheep LITERALLY over the fence. We discovered this the first night, when (Richard as usual urging me to let them off the lead, although to be fair we had scouted the place out and asked about and been assured there were no sheep in the vicinity) we realised that Maddie had disappeared and I heard the sound of paws scraping over corrugated iron.
To cut a long story short, after ripping my jeans (and me inner thigh) on barbed wire and wading through yet another patch of nettles (my ankle was numb for about 4 days), I found her trying to attach a sheep. She had attached another one already.
So that holiday consisted of me NOT letting her off the lead ever (except for twice when yes, she ran off after sheep that were so miles away even she gave up before she got there, thank god) (and no, we had no idea they were anywhere near). On the plus side there were several occasions when I refused to let her off and this was proved the right decision when we turned a corner or whatever, and found sheep there.
The sheep/old lamb (Larrina - I thought it was a boy originally and named it Larry the lamb) survived and the farmer was gracious about it once everyone had calmed down and R had given him money for the vet costs.
So now it is essential we manage this and don't let her ANYWHERE near sheep. Next time she'll be shot.
We went to a dog-friendly place in Cornwall which, it turned out, was in the middle of a small farm, with sheep LITERALLY over the fence. We discovered this the first night, when (Richard as usual urging me to let them off the lead, although to be fair we had scouted the place out and asked about and been assured there were no sheep in the vicinity) we realised that Maddie had disappeared and I heard the sound of paws scraping over corrugated iron.
To cut a long story short, after ripping my jeans (and me inner thigh) on barbed wire and wading through yet another patch of nettles (my ankle was numb for about 4 days), I found her trying to attach a sheep. She had attached another one already.
So that holiday consisted of me NOT letting her off the lead ever (except for twice when yes, she ran off after sheep that were so miles away even she gave up before she got there, thank god) (and no, we had no idea they were anywhere near). On the plus side there were several occasions when I refused to let her off and this was proved the right decision when we turned a corner or whatever, and found sheep there.
The sheep/old lamb (Larrina - I thought it was a boy originally and named it Larry the lamb) survived and the farmer was gracious about it once everyone had calmed down and R had given him money for the vet costs.
So now it is essential we manage this and don't let her ANYWHERE near sheep. Next time she'll be shot.
We went on holiday. Maddie noticed...
Murphy's too old to go into kennels any more, so this year while we were away Murphy went to stay with Emily and Alex and Maddie went to stay with Nick and Elle. Gizzy stayed at home and a nice lady came in every day to feed her and talk to her.
I'm not sure who had the best deal - well I am, it was Emily and Alex. Murphy went on holiday with them to Skye, with Glen as well. Murphy schmoozed his way round the available tourists and was universally told how handsome he was and what a lovely boy, etc. He did apparently bark if he got left behind anywhere so he wasn't entirely perfect!
Maddie, on the other hand, ran away four times, spent one morning curled up on the feet of the headmistress of the local secondary school and was most upset when Nick took her to work one day and left her in the dog-pen with (gasp!) another dog!
The dog warden grew to recognise her and we had a letter waiting for us when we got back to say that as she had no previous, they returned her without charge but we wouldn't be so lucky next time - £61.50 for a return plus £10 per night for any sleepovers!!
They must've thought we were very irresponsible owners - the first time she was caught and returned Alex and Andy were both IN THE HOUSE! I have pieced together various stories and ... the dog walker came and took Murphy and Glen out but didn't realise Maddie was in the kitchen. She decided she wasn't staying alone and went out the back garden (and over the wall) to look for them. When she was returned the dog walker came to the door and asked if they were missing a dog. The boys were most confused and replied along variations of "I don't think so", "Isn't she on her walk?" and "Which one?"!!!
The second time she was somehow captured at the school and the headmistress was charmed at her "beautifully-behaved" demeanour. this was spoken to Elle who had (after reporting her missing to the dog warden and then being appraised of her whereabouts after the school called it in) come over at lunch time to pick her up. Elle (who only left that school about 6 or 7 years ago!) then had to take her round all the offices to show everyone that "dog and owner were reunited" - her protestations (probably through a fixed grin) that she wasn't her dog were apparently overlooked.
Added to that is (1) the fact that she made a break for freedom from their house twice, once over to visit the neighbours and once running down the road in the dark in the rain while Elle was trying to oversee another puppy's toileting, and (2) her inability to stay in bed after about 5am, coming and pawing at the door to try to get in to see if it was time to get up. I think you'll agree that darling Maddie has outstayed her welcome in the Junior Karasek household. Next time, kennels!
I'm not sure who had the best deal - well I am, it was Emily and Alex. Murphy went on holiday with them to Skye, with Glen as well. Murphy schmoozed his way round the available tourists and was universally told how handsome he was and what a lovely boy, etc. He did apparently bark if he got left behind anywhere so he wasn't entirely perfect!
Maddie, on the other hand, ran away four times, spent one morning curled up on the feet of the headmistress of the local secondary school and was most upset when Nick took her to work one day and left her in the dog-pen with (gasp!) another dog!
The dog warden grew to recognise her and we had a letter waiting for us when we got back to say that as she had no previous, they returned her without charge but we wouldn't be so lucky next time - £61.50 for a return plus £10 per night for any sleepovers!!
They must've thought we were very irresponsible owners - the first time she was caught and returned Alex and Andy were both IN THE HOUSE! I have pieced together various stories and ... the dog walker came and took Murphy and Glen out but didn't realise Maddie was in the kitchen. She decided she wasn't staying alone and went out the back garden (and over the wall) to look for them. When she was returned the dog walker came to the door and asked if they were missing a dog. The boys were most confused and replied along variations of "I don't think so", "Isn't she on her walk?" and "Which one?"!!!
The second time she was somehow captured at the school and the headmistress was charmed at her "beautifully-behaved" demeanour. this was spoken to Elle who had (after reporting her missing to the dog warden and then being appraised of her whereabouts after the school called it in) come over at lunch time to pick her up. Elle (who only left that school about 6 or 7 years ago!) then had to take her round all the offices to show everyone that "dog and owner were reunited" - her protestations (probably through a fixed grin) that she wasn't her dog were apparently overlooked.
Added to that is (1) the fact that she made a break for freedom from their house twice, once over to visit the neighbours and once running down the road in the dark in the rain while Elle was trying to oversee another puppy's toileting, and (2) her inability to stay in bed after about 5am, coming and pawing at the door to try to get in to see if it was time to get up. I think you'll agree that darling Maddie has outstayed her welcome in the Junior Karasek household. Next time, kennels!
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