Any suggestions?

Any suggestions?

Barnaby enjoying the bluebells at Pinsley Wood.

Just a brief note because there is something I need help with.
Barnaby has developed a new trick and it is worrying me.
Strangely it is something he only does in the morning, and only when he and I are alone. 

 Every morning we enjoy a two mile circular walk that takes us through several fields and a green lane.  There is a certain point on the walk, after Barnaby has entered the green lane, that he walks behind me for a while, then suddenly accelerates his speed, rushes towards me at 70 miles an hour and jumps up with great force, placing paws on my shoulders with such strength I am almost pushed over.
He thinks this is great fun, and does it several times.

Remembering what the instructors at Up N Over told me about not letting him get the better of me, I use growly words spoken in a loud angry voice to reprimand him as they suggested, but he doesn't seem to take any notice. He simply takes a deep breath and then does it all over again and I swear he laughs as he does this.

Is it a game? Is he cross with me?  Why the same place every day? What should I do? Should I change the walk to avoid the area that seems to generate this action?
Any advice would be much appreciated.

Enstone walkies and lunch

Enstone walkies and lunch with auntie Kate, Carole and little Alfie.

Barnaby plays with litte Alfie the puppy and dear old Polly dogs in Kate's garden.

Barnaby says: "Gosh what a day.  I used up so much energy running round and round the fields with little Alfie that I was almost too exhausted to eat my dinner when we got home. Polly dogs joined in for a while, but because she is getting old now she does tend to curl up and sleep while we play.

Enstone is a magic place, it is known for its beautiful unspoiled rolling countryside, and its close proximity to an ancient Hoar Stone Burial Chamber that stands just outside the village near the village of Fulwell.  A blue plaque fixed to one of the cottages in Fulwell commemorates the life of the farm labourer and shepherd Mont Abbot whose life was written up by Sheila Stewart in her lyrical book Lifting the Latch, a social history that spans almost all of the 20th century.

Kate serves lunch in her lovely garden.

Old Mont always kept two sheep dogs, the training of the young one overlapping from the old, though he would never let the young one follow the experienced dog for too long in case they lost their initiative. His favourite dogs were old Ted and young Glen, who turned out to be a really topping dog.
I doubt there is a field in the Enstone area that Mont and his dog dogs did not work at some time or other."


The purpose of our visit to Enstone was for Barnabyy to meet up with Alfie and Polly dogs and to share lunch together at Kate's charming cottage.  As the weather decided to be kind to us we were all able to eat in the garden, and enjoy a lovely meal served with new Jersey Royal potatoes smothered in butter - delicious. Kate is a great cook.

We toasted the day with chilled Rose wine  - magic, though of course Barnaby is not allowed to drink wine. The dogs all enjoyed a big bowl of cold water instead.

One of the many beautiful meadows we walked before lunch.

Christmas Common walkies

Barnaby puts his paws under the table

Christmas Common Walkies - 3 miles 

Barnaby says: "When the weather forecasts suggests rain,winds and storms on the day we have decided on an adventure, Helen always chooses a walk through a woods as this provides protection from the elements to some degree.  Besides  she likes walking through woods.  

Christmas Common is a small hamlet near Watlington, Oxfordshire.  It is said to have got its name from the Christmas Day truce of 1643 between participants of the English Civil War.
She and Uncle John chose a walk that began at the pub The Fox and Hounds a Brakespear pub that allows dogs in the small bar area where they had lit the most glorious log fire, just the job given the weather that we had travelled through. 

There was just one slight problem, and something that the maps and guide books don't always warn you about. Cows! There they were in a field, half way along the path by the woods gazing at us in that kind of inquisitive way that cows do.  Because she has a "thing about cows" Helen freaked out, leaving Uncle John and me to hold them back while she galloped ahead.

Barnaby and Uncle John assessing the situation

  Gosh she is a wimp!
Because of the crackling wood-fire and the friendly welcome that we received on arrival, the pub turned out to be a really snug and comfortable place at the end of the walk.

The pub which has tables outside

Cows following!

Both Helen and Uncle John chose beef and horseradish baguettes for their lunch, while I ate my packed lunch that Helen had cooked for me (cottage pie and kibbles) which was served with a nice cup of tea. A perfect combination.   They drank Barakespear's Best Bitter and declared it very satisfying. What a lovely day we had despite the weather."

Barnaby has been promoted from Puppy Class!

Barnaby has been promoted from Puppy Class to Bronze!

Barnaby's friends in the Up N Over Puppy Class.

I guess I had better be honest and admit that it was probably Barnaby's physical size that finally prompted his tutors to allow him to leave the Puppy Class, despite not having mastered some of the basic behavioural patterns expected of him. Over the past few weeks he has watched his puppy friends moving on to the next class one by one to take their  Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards - Bronze, Silver and Gold.  He is now growing at such a rate that he has become far too large to play with some of the little ones, much as he would like to. So despite his exuberance it seems he is now on his way to obtaining some Kennel Club certificates.

The classes take place every Sunday morning on a disused airfield at the lovely little Oxfordshire village of Upper Heyford.  The Up N Over Club was founded in 2000 and has been going from strength to strength ever since.
As well as running basic classes there's also a fun agility course at the end of the day that all the dogs are allowed to take part in once they are old enough. (Barnaby will have to wait until September 29 the date of his first birthday).  When he does begin agility just watch this space because not only is he going to love it, he is going to be a real champion - of that I am sure!

Up N Over is a non profit making club, with any surplus funds going to Dog Rescue.  It's the club where my beloved Pythius-Peacocke trained.  He loved it, just as Barnaby loves it now.

Walkies by the River

Walkies by the River

Barnaby says:  "When Helen told me I was to lead a walk today, my first official engagement, I admit I did a double flip.  Well she might think I am old enough to take charge of a walkies, but I had my reservations. Even if I am growing up really quickly I am still a puppy, I don't have the experience she thinks I have.

Preparing to begin the walk

But off we went, arriving at Kennington at 9.30am as promised to meet the lovely group of enthusiasts who share a walk on a weekly basis.  I had been elected to lead the walk even though this was my first visit t Kennington.

All went quite well until I Helen let me off the lead. On seeing a group of ducks swimming on the river I simply leapt in (as one does) and attempted to catch one or two of the ducks. I didn't catch them of course it was fun! But people watching got very cross!  So did Helen.

Dear Sylvia Vetta a very talented writer who organises these events did accept that I am still a puppy and not totally responsible for what I do, but Helen remained cross, particularly when on puting me  on my lead and I pulled and pulled and pulled. She says her shoulders still hurt from all my pulling. She's convinced that her right arm is now at least 4 inches longer than the left one. What a fuss she makes when I up the pace and speed things up a little. 

The walk as such (Just a rather long mile and a bit) was indeed lovely as the sun came out quickly filling the scene with golden rays that filled the whole world before us with lush and beautiful scenery. The buttercups made their own statement the moment that the sun fell onto them adding a golden glow to the scene before us.  All very lovely. 

 

We all heard the cuckoo!

We All Heard the Cuckoo!

We are a strange mottley lot, the early morning enthusiasts who walk their dogs down the Chillbridge Road, on the western outskirts of Eynsham, the Oxfordshire village in which Barnaby and  I live.

At last Spring has arrived!

Because the weather has been so wretched for so long we have become accustomed to conducting our conversations with heads down to avoid the full force of the wind and hats firmly fixed on our heads to avoid being frozen to the marrow.

The dogs don't care of course they rush to meet each other and romp round the main field at 70 miles an hour.  Perhaps this is why we all use this plot. Space allows the dogs enough room to run and run and as a consequence exhaust themselves while we walk slowly on, hands stuffed in  pockets scarves tighly wound round our necks.

Well, that was yesterday> Today something quite remarkaable happened - the sun came out. And not out just for a moment only to  hide behind the clouds again - it came out in full - bright glowing and golden. ..and then suddenly while we were gazing at the sunbeams that were lighing up the field, the cuckoo began to sing.  First the sound came from a large clump of trees on the right, then gradually it moved a little to the left and then on little bit further towards the open fields in the Witney direction.

One by one we stopped walking, stood firm where we were and listened.  Having never heard a cuckoo before Barnaby stood by my side with his face towards the sound of the cuckoo's song. He appeared to be listening too!

 Finally the song stopped and one by one we walked on in the direction we had been travelling. Time for breakfast, time to get on with the rest of the day in the knowledge that how ever briefly, we all experienced a magical moment today.

Barnaby discovers the delights of asparagus

Barnaby Discovers the Delights of Home Grown Asparagus

The lovely Jill who works in the farm hut during the summer months and farmer Charlie Gee.

Barnaby says:  " Helen loves asparagus, she got really excited when Farmer Charlie Gee from Medley Manor Farm, Binsey Lane, Oxford, phoned her last week to say that finally the asparagus was  ready to harvest. Apparently this year has proved really difficult. There wasn't a much available earlier but it's growing quite well now.

 Many crops, particularly asparagus, are really late this year.  The asparagus season which is always sorter than most, will be even shorter this year. So, it's a matter of eating it while it's available.
Helen is convinced that the asparagus grown on this farm is the best  Oxfordshire can offer, she is also convinced that the asparagus grown in Oxfordshire rates as the best in the country.

So anyway, one way and another this is her favourite place during the summer, and I believe it is somewhere that she will be taking me often. Medley Manor Farm has a peaceful tranquil air, is full of birdsong and bursting with soft fruits and vegetables during the summer months.

This suits me well as the farm is down Binsey Lane, close to the Perch Inn and the River Thames, which means that every time we visit the farm a good day out is assured, including a bowl of tea at the Perch before we go home.

This is a picture of me Barnaby the Puppy, inspecting the  bundles of asparagus that Charlie and his helpers have picked.  I admit to tasting a spear that he had thrown out because it was misshaped - to my surprise I found it particularly tasty.  Charlie was delighted when he noticed I was enjoying it and so gave me permission to trot along the line and eat any misshapen spears that had been cut and then discarded.

 I wonder if I will enjoy the strawberries too?

The farm is open three days a week until the strawberries are ready, then it is open all day, everyday. It closes in the autumn once the sweetcorn has been harvested. For further information you can phone Charlie on 01865 241251".