The lovely Amanda

The Lovely Amanda


Barnaby writes:

"I was just 10 weeks old when I first met the lovely Amanda, the landlady of The Harcourt Arms, Stanton Harcourt.  Helen, my mistress, had just travelled to Old Sodbury in the Cotswolds with Uncle John to collect me from a farm and take me home with her to be a companion dog. I had always assumed that I would become a working sheep dog like my brothers and sisters when I grew up - instead I am being trained up as a companion and pub reviewer who writes about dog-friendly pubs in Oxfordshire. for the Abingdon Herald and the Oxford Mail. 

Anyway, because of the floods our trip that day was 40 miles longer than it should have been because of diversions we had to take, so there came a moment not far from home when I was in desperate need of a comfort break - hence The Harcourt Arms.

The Harcourt Arms, Stanton Harcourt

The Lovely Amanda gives me a big hug

Helen carried me into the bar and immediately everyone rushed over to say "Hello". Having come straight from the farm I had never met so many people before.  It was all very confusing, but among all those faces was the Lovely Amanda, smiling at me and Oh what a smile.

After devouring a couple of bacon butties and downing a glass of the red stuff, Helen and Uncle John took me  back to the car and my new home in Eynsham.

This week Helen decided to call in at The Harcourt Arms again, and guess what - there she was - the lovely Amanda.  She remembered me!  Kept saying this couldn't possibly be a grown up version of that little puppy who called in to see her in December, but of course it was, so we had big, big hugs and I promised I would come back lots to see her when ever we were passing. Gosh that was a lovely encounter.

The operation

The Operation

Barnaby says:  "  I am not sure what happened yesterday. One moment I was walking into the doggie doctor's office the next I was surrounded by people in white coats - then I fell to sleep.

Helen was there for me when I woke up, I remember that, she was all kind of clingy and comforting, though I wasn't sure why she was comforting me, though admit feeling all sort of cold "down below".

Then there was the panic the next morning

The lampshade!

. Helen discovered that during the night I had licked places I should not have licked, and as a consequence removed things that should not have been removed. The vet had to tie things up again!

Then came the helmet, well not a helmet exactly, more of a lampshade, tied round my neck with pink ribbon - YES PINK..! Not only do I now look a really wally, I have great trouble finding a comfortable way of putting my head into my food and water bowl.  Getting through doors is almost impossible, and as for going upstairs, well I have to get Helen to help me with that.

No idea what is going on, though apparently it will go on for a further nine days!  Help..................!