Happy Birthday Bugler

Congratulations to Bugler on his 4th Birthday.

As these photos show, he's finally lost his puppy-face and actually looks quite mature and sensible!

He's a lot like his father to look at, particularly since his markings are identical, and has inherited many of his traits. He's totally honest and always anxious to please, easy to teach and a joy to handle: - apart from just one thing - he develops a rather explosive pop of speed whenever he sees a hare, rabbit or pheasant in front of him.

This is something which our trainer assures me we can re-programme before the start of the next Shooting Season! I am looking forward to this because it was the one thorn in our working partnership through the winter months. It's not exactly that he chases them, it's more that when he sees them he just cannot contain himself and literally explodes after them. A mix of exuberance and excitement. As soon as that initial explosion is over he comes straight back to me as if nothing had happened!

He's a sensitive little soul who loves a cuddle and responds joyfully to praise. He doesn't like loud bangs and whistles sounding off close to him and took an aversion to working tests last summer despite having behaved calmly and well the previous year - even winning some minor prizes. So, we're not doing them any more!

Shoot day noises and people, however, bother him not one little bit. A complex chap in a way.

He's an excellent bush beating dog. Never having been 'Picking Up' on a shoot,
he has not made the connection between guns shooting birds and those birds needing to be fetched as quickly as possible - which is a far more annoying habit than exploding after hares! And one which is impossible to re-programme!!! It is very nice to have a dog who sticks to his own job without trying to do everyone elses as well!

I'm looking forward to the next four seasons with him - as well as all the months in between!!! I'm sure Gunner would be proud of him too .....

Spring has sprung

Damson blossom

Following a dry and relatively mild winter, spring has arrived this year with a vengeance.
The primroses on the bank along the drive have been flowering merrily since early February, vyeing with the snowdrops for sheer showiness: for the first time we have had daffodils, crocuses, primroses, snowdrops and aconites all blooming together. No sooner had the snowdrops fallen away than the hyacinths leapt into bloom.
Now it is the turn of the blossoms. First to flower was the Victoria plum tree closely followed by the yellow and greengages and, latterly, the damsons. Judging from the tiny buds appearing already, apple and pear blossom will not be far behind.

Hyacinths surround the mulberry bush

The orchard is a magical place; often in the early mornings we will see muntjak deer picking their way daintily across the grass, nibbling here and there - occasionally rose bushes, but that's a small price to pay for sight of them.... Or a hare will spring onto the lawn, sit bolt upright on its haunches and sniff the air before bounding merrily away again.... Pheasants strut archly across, the cockbirds ruffling their plumage and letting off their shrill cry. When the dogs hear that sound, their heads snap round to try and catch sight of the teasing birds....  In the ash and beech and chestnut trees the woodpigeons go about their canoodling and preening whilst the jackdaws dive noisily down to the ground to pick up yet more makings for the nest they are hopelessly building in our chimney yet again. We lie in bed drinking tea and listen to the sound of their labours trickling down the chimney to the fireplace below.... when I go down I find not just twigs but dung, loft insulation, horsehair, pig wool, straw, leaves, bits of ribbon and string and sometimes balloon! One day I expect to find an egg or two as well!!!


Victoria plum blossom

Now that the clocks have gone forward we awake to the increasingly loud and varied dawn chorus... and as I go about the yard during the day I wonder "When will the swallows arrive this year?" because then it is not long before spring gives way to summer......

There is a different air about the place this year - more peaceful in the absence of lots of little trotters helter skeltering about the place. The pace of life is a little more restful too now that we don't have to pack up and go off to markets and food fares..... Spring may have sprung with a vengeance but we are definitely a little more retiring ......