Scottie ABC

Drawn by Bella Kuijers.

The Great Scottie Beach Walk

 Today was the Great Scottie Walk. We arrived at Bloubergstrand in a flurry of barking and yapping and snarling and snapping, and the Food Lady tied these very beautiful bandanas round our necks - made by Hamish and Finlay's human mother Renate.

One for the Pest,

and one for MOI. Cool!

 Findlay had heard all about the Pest and pulled a tongue at him.

 Ho ho! We both laughed.

Laddie met his sister Maggie May and although they shouted at each other in typical crazy puppy madness, they soon became good friends. Who knows if they remembered each other? (This photo was from Maggie May's mom.)

Quite cute.

But am I not just too cute in my red bandana as well? Thank you Renate.

We all started walking along the beach - Table Mountain as a fitting backdrop.

Laddie was rearing to go

and join Snoekie, Snippie and Knaapie with their mom, Irene, in the water. 

I just wanted to have a good roll in the wet sand.

Hamish and Finlay with their mom, Renate. I think I am in love with Hamish. He reminds me of a tall, dark and handsome Dougal. He didn't return my love though. (In fact he said he hated me and Laddie and he wanted to sink his teeth into a few of the yappy snappy Scotties there. JUST like Dougal!)

Sighhh.

Other dogs were quite bemused,

 and some amused.

And some confused but mostly they just wanted to join in like this pit bull pup who loved every minute of it and said he wanted to be a scottie so he could come on the next scottie walk.

Oh but it was FUN.

And what a lovely day.

This is Maggie May with her mom, Junette. In the background you can see Maggie May's brother, Kirby, who is a really cool dude Scottie.

Helloo Maggie May. She is smaller and whiter than the Pest but just as naughty.

Mac having a back scratch.

 Me watching some kite surfers, and thinking of Dougal and Hamish.  

Soon it was time to turn round and go home.

William, a 13-year old Scot who belongs to Michele (on the left), got a lift from Estea, the lady who organized the whole walk. Thank you Estea for a really fantastic morning! We are so looking forward to the Christmas Scottie Walk now.

We bought some scottie biscuits from Mila's mom, Nisa but they are too good for us to eat apparently.

We missed the other walkers, some of who went to Muizenberg for a walk, but really think you must come to the next Scottie Walk. It was just such fun and I am sure Honey and Maddie would love to be honorary Scotties for the day.

A Cederberg Lad - and lassie

Last weekend we went to Riversong to collect the fridge for repairs. Are we nearly there? I am getting bored.

We stopped to buy some wine at Breede Kloof and have a comfort stop - and came across these rather silent sheep ...

 Heloooo.

 Some Land Rover bother on Michell's Pass, but the Alf sorted it out smartly.

Arriving at our little cottage in the Cederberg. Yay. Tortoises! Must investigate.

 Off we go! Beware tortoises! Here I come. Tails up.

 Cat's Nails - a weird parasitic plant - a species of Hyobanche.

 And BINGO - some tortoises.

 The Pest was quite excited too - so maybe one day he will grow into a proper Scottie and be my friend but for now he is still a silly whipper snapper who annoys me and cramps my style.

Strolling home with the Alf. I think this is one of my favourtie places in all the world.

A sticky little Moraea inconspicua.

Some quiet reflection on the verandah. (Actually keeping a look out for tortoise and lizard activity!) The Pest is sometimes ok, but I miss Dougal and his mad rodent hunting ...

even though the Pest is taking up where poor old Dougal left off so suddenly and shockingly for all of us.

What was that that dive-bombed me?

A Needled-nosed Tabinid Fly! Hovering just above the Pest and out of reach.

Time for supper.

The next morning - Sunday - we set out again down the road and on some exciting tortoise-filled new paths that have been made for us.

 Across the old fields to the pool - where the Pest fell in and had to be rescued. He didn't seem too bothered,

in fact he was as bouncy as ever.

 We then went to visit Jack (and his humans) only to discover that he has been banished to the West Coast as some Riversong owners found him annoying. We were very sad as we were rather fond of him. But Buddy was still there shouting things at us from the front, and the CATS were there too - taking no nonsense from anyone ...

A purple-tinged Grey-leaf Sugarbush (Protea laurifolia)

and some rocket daisies - Ursinia sericea the Food Lady thinks.

We walked all the way to the Tadpole Pools

passing lots of flowers, like this pretty Sundew (Drosera),

and lots of goggas too like this monkey beetle in a Gousblom (Arctotis acaulis) flower.

There was lots of water everywhere, and the Tadpole Pools were so full that there weren't any good wading-in places for us.

The River Heath (Erica caffra var. caffra) flowering profusely on the edge of the Tadpole Pools,

 and more tortoises!

 A hairy snary beetle in a Chinkerinchee (Ornithogalum).

The puddly road home.

An ant in a Paranomus flower.

Then home to our cottage, tails still up ...

for some more fun and games in the rocks chasing Bloukop Agamas.

Back to my post.

while the Pest hunted ants. Ho hum. Little things amuse little minds I suppose.

Using me as a car pillow. Not for long though. Bloody cheek.

 Home in time for a braai and a sip of our human brother's fancy champagne to say congratulations to him and Kerryn for finding such nice jobs in Cape Town and Paarl, and to Simon for landing a job teaching English in South Korea next year. (Simon just checking the soccer.)