Paws for a Puppy: Another Nice Cup of Tea

Sunday, 5 May 2013

Another Nice Cup of Tea

Another Nice Cup of Tea

Barnaby says:

Helen was invited to get into the spirit of summer by attending the grand opening of the Aspall Cyder Garden at The Fishes pub, North Hinksey, Oxford, yesterday. She said yes, as long as she could bring Barnaby". Sarah, the lovely woman who had invited on behalf of Peach Pubs laughed and said that anyone inviting Helen to an event these days automatically assumed that Barnaby comes too. So I went as well. Apparently Peach pubs, who run the Fishes have invited Helen to lots of their special events, and always permit her to bring a canine friend. I have already visited the Fleece at Witney, which is one of their pubs.

In the Water Meadows

First we walked the lovely water meadows that stand besides The Fishes. They are full of bright yellow dandelions at the moment and look particularly lush and beautiful. Having walked the meadows we then entered the Aspall Cyder Garden through the back gate, having walked a full circle through the meadows.
Helen drank a lovely long chilled glass of Aspall's Premier Cru, Suffolk Cyder once we were inside, which she described as the perfect drink after a dog walk. Me? Oh, Helen requested a nice cup of tea for me and remembering how much I had enjoyed my bowl of tea at the Fleece Pub, Witney, the lovely Sarah brought me one. On noticing steam coming out of the bowl as she placed it before me she threw a few ice cubes in to cool it down - am I not the lucky one?

Drinking my nice cup of tea

Helen ate something from the Barbecue, (I just watched because I had already had my lunch) and together we chatted to friends and listened to the music performed by three acoustic bands.

Thanks to the impressive hospitality supplied by The Fishes staff, the sunshine that suddenly poured into the garden also my nice cup of tea, Helen's glass of cyder and the music, we really did have a wonderful time. Am I not a lucky dog?

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Barnaby Peacocke

Meet Barnaby Peacocke the purebred Border collie with merle eyes who was born in the Cotswolds September 29 2012.

He lives with Helen and two pesky cats Harvey the ginger mog and Buster the Burmese who is convinced he comes from royal stock and is therefore rather up himself. Helen? Oh she is just Helen. Nothing special about her except that she is particularly fond of Border collies, and is considered a pretty good cook.

Barnaby was selected to live with them when Helen’s beloved Border collie Pythius-Peacocke died November 12 2012. His death broke her heart. He left some pretty big pawmarks to fill which is where Barnaby comes in. He has been called on to fill her life with puppy antics and become her constant companion. His main job is to ensure she’s as happy with him as she was with Pythius. Will he manage to do that? No one knows – only time will tell.

Pythius Peacocke

Pythius the Border collie wants to say a few words

I lived with Helen for more than 12 years, during which time we walked the Cotswolds and most of Oxfordshire in order to obtain information for the four Paws books we wrote together: Paws Under the Table, Paws for History, Paws Along the Way and Paws in the Cotswolds (Wychwood Press - £9.99). They were good times. Together we clambered up many a high hill, scrambled through the undergrowth of dense woodland danced through streams and ran free across meadows and fields.

Before I finally took my bow as the arthritis in my legs become too painful to bear, I first looked round for a little chap who could take my place. It was the least I could do before leaving Helen.

I discovered Barnaby in a farm house at Old Sodbury. Given our many walks in the Cotswolds it seemed logical to organise a puppy for her who was born in the countryside we loved so much.

He is a dear little chap, though I fear he is going to lead Helen and her friends a merry dance, such is his energy, especially when he wants to turn right when they have decided to turn left. BUT, yes there is a BUT, this little chap is very, very fond of his food (something that never really bothered me) and Helen is a food writer and a smashing cook – so I reckon they will get on. Within a few days of Barnaby moving into Rose Cottage, Helen was cooking up rabbit stews and shepherd’s pies for his food bowl and he was woofing them down as if he had never been fed before.

I watch from on high, but with interest.