Hide and seek

A lazy Sunday morning. But a small milestone. Archie has not been allowed the run of the house yet. He comes in to the lounge to snooze on the sofa in the afternoons and evenings, and he’s had lots of conducted tours of the rooms. But the plan had a major setback a couple of weeks ago (a poo in the bedroom!).

Today he has had the run of the house, but was never in a room on his own. He’s been out the front and in an out and having a great time. It was a fun game to hide behind the sofa and call him when he was in the kitchen. He just couldn’t find me, though he came into the lounge several times. So funny. When I did eventually stick my head up over the back of the sofa, he tried to climb straight over it, instead of going round. He was crying with frustration when he found me. I was crying with laughter. Did it again behind the bedroom door. What fun!

After lunch we popped out for a walk across the Links. Crowded with people, dogs, toddlers, but we took a leap of faith and let him off the lead anyway. And he was fine. He’d rush up to people and we’d stand and hold our breath in case he licked the toes of a snoozing sunbather. But he didn’t, and he always came back.

He was made a fuss of by the staff in Montpeliers where we had their scone and clotted cream (NB scones in Project Coffee are much better) and we spotted two of these big Old English Sheepdogs outside. We had a chat to the owners. This is Max and he was a rescue dog. He wasn’t the slightest bit interested in Archie… Archie’s look says ‘Why?’

We had an ice cream in the Chocolate Tree on the way home (dogs allowed) and I had to get my water pistol out at the ready as toddlers came in screeching and Archie readied himself for growling.

We lay down on the grass on the way back, and he just amused himself rolling round in the grass near us, keeping an eye on the children with a ball not far enough away.

We’re off on an adventure tomorrow. We’re staying away overnight in a dog friendly hotel. Wish us all luck! I do hope we don’t forget any of Archie’s things…