2013
Bob's year 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
His newfound appetite has had him mugging dog walkers for treats and finally got him into serious trouble in May this year. |
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Operation and illness: One day in May we gave Bob a bone. Nothing new there - he has had them since he was a puppy and he normally chews the remaining meat and then goes and buries the bone (for Anne to find and throw away months later). However, this time he crunched up and ate the bone too. As it transpires that shouldn’t have been too bad in itself, as he had chewed it into passable sized pieces. Unfortunately, when he had his evening meal a few hours later he ate it so quickly that it packed the remaining pieces of bone to the back of his stomach and compacted them together into one solid lump. Our vet took an X-ray that evening and a further one the next morning which showed that nothing had moved. As a result Bob had to have a major operation to open him up and remove the blockage. He was quite sorry for himself for quite a while but it has not changed his new eating habits and he gobbles anything and everything. While his stomach was recovering we had to feed him small amounts throughout the day. We will have to continue with that feeding regime for the future as we know that he will just bolt down any amount he is given. Following the operation but possibly unrelated, on day two of our new life in France we had to rush him to the vet. It was worrying when the vet called him 'very, very, very poorly' and gave us her personal phone number in case we needed to contact her the next day (which was a Sunday), however she gave him a set of magic potions and he quickly got better - so that he could continue to convalesce from his major operation just three weeks before. |
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Snow. As always, Bob loved the snow in January. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mud, mishap and misadventure: In the first picture Bob was unfortunate that his poorly leg had given way at the wrong time – planting him face first in the mud. In the other he had been walking around Etang la Goulotte when he decided to take a short cut. Unfortunately for him the little bridge was there for a good reason. I could hear the moment of discovery as he splotted waist deep into the bog. Normally we wouldn’t encourage him to go into the lake, but this time we needed to wash his undercarriage before it was time to get back into the car. Fortunately it was a scorching hot day so it didn’t take him long to dry off again. |
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The supervisor: We'd like to say helper but Bob tends to supervise most activities - especially the cooking. Here he is helping in the house and the garden. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Toys: Bob has several boxes full of toys. Because he rarely destroys any of them they just keep accumulating. At home, if no one is paying him any attention then Bob likes to take his toys out sunbathing with him. He prefers the soft toys as he can use them as a cushion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Flowers: Bob likes to bound through the long grass at the best of times. And there’s nothing better than a meadow or two of wild flowers… | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sticks: No change this year – a walk is not a walk without finding a good stick to play with. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Snoozing in the sun: The summer has been spent alternating between baking in the sun and cooling off again in the shade. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Canyoning and climbing: Since he was small Bob has always excelled at rock climbing. So when our visitors went canyoning (clambering over the large rocks along the track of a stream) then he couldn’t help but join in. He also had a few other opportunities to go rock climbing this year. Which was fine apart from the times he wanted to lean over the edge and look down. |
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Archaeology: Bob likes to show us around the archaeological digs on Mont Beuvray. When we went on a guided tour he was quite willing to help the official guide to lead the way too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Art exhibition: Here is a priceless exhibit in a new art gallery that has set up opposite the cathedral in Autun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Picnics and new walks: Picnics are a regular event around here. In the summer we went out on the hottest days to find places in the hills and forest which were a bit cooler to take Bob for his lunchtime walk. Some spots are more impressive than others. Bob’s favourite walk is always anywhere he has not been before – so he’s had a good share of favourite walks this year. |
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The beach: We took the opportunity to stop by the sea on a recent trip to England. Bob loves to run on the beach - but he doesn't get much of a chance now that we live 400 miles from the sea. And while he loves the beach the same cannot be said of the sea (after all it is wet!). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chestnuts: Bob’s love of chestnuts has not diminished since last year. While walking the lanes he asks to have the outer shells removed and then he will eat them raw. (Not that he’s averse to chewing the odd one open himself). But the absolute best is when they are cooked – then they are truly doggy delicacies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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And finally a few miscellaneous pictures from throughout the year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bob's first blog - Sunday 26th May 2013
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