I hate mum & dad!

I was browsing for some photos on the computer & what did I find? Evidence of the fun mum & dad had without me on Christmas Day whilst I was on my sick bed after eating the sock! "We're just popping out" they said. "We won't be long" they said. "We're not up to anything interesting". Fibbers! They went to Aunty Kim & Uncle Charlie's house with Aunty Lucy & Uncle Simon WITHOUT ME! My 3 friends Jamie, Daisy & Paddy the Poodles live there, and I would so loved to have played. Mum said they were just thinking of me being poorly & thought I needed some peace & quiet. Whatever mum, talk to the paw!

Look! Paddy is scoffing MY treats from MY stocking from MY Aunty Clare. Mum took them round as she thought they would give me upset tummy, whereas the Poodles can eat almost anything. Not fair!

And they all got presents. Here's Aunty Kim opening a cute pink poodle. I hope Daisy got her teeth on it.

And Daisy got her own present from MY mum & dad - a pink pig with a tennis ball for a tummy.

Looks like she likes it. Maybe I'll get to play with it sometime if I get to go round to play, sniff.

Jamie is an old man of nearly 15, & he isn't really into toys, so mum got him a HUGE bag of marrowbone chewies. They smelt sooo good when she brought them home for the shop, but try as I might I didn't get to sample one.

This is the present mum & dad got for Paddy. It's called a "Humungatongue". It's a ball with a big tongue attached. Dad was showing him what to do with it. Big mouth!

Looks like Paddy's got his eye on some Christmas dinner.

Mmm, I'm not surprised. That looks delicious. Apart from those scary looking green things, urgh!

Look, they all scoffed so much that they had to sleep it off - piggy wiggies. And they're allowed on the sofa! It's like a poodle bunk bed.

Daisy even got to have a snuggle with Uncle Simon. Bet he was embarrassed when he saw that photo!

And what was yours truly doing while they were all having fun, opening presents & eating delicious dinners - eating a bowl of boring boiled rice that's what. Yum yum.

Even my best Oliver Twist "please sir, can I have some more" look was in vain as there was no-one to appreciate it. Poor, poor me.

I did forgive them eventually, but only after making them feel very guilty.

Mum has finally managed to add the videos of me opening my Christmas presents. Video Egg wouldn't work from dad's laptop for some reason. I think I did pretty well for my first attempt at present unwrapping.

Licks,

Oscar x

Freedom!

Ding dong the lampshade is dead! It feels so good to be free again, and I have been really good so far & not licked my stitches or anything. In all honesty I don't really want to look down there to see the full horror anyway.

I thought that as the stoopid collar was off, I might be back to getting a decent walk, but mum says I still have to have 5 minute walks on the lead until the end of the week. Grrr. This is how exciting my walk is at the moment. Not. I'm not even supposed to run, but it's sooooo hard not too as I feel so cooped up being so restricted. I normally have getting on for 2 hours of walks a day so I'm going stir crazy! Excuse the "watering", but a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do.



When we got back from the "walk" (not sure it can be justifiably called a walk), mum wanted me to pose for some photos in the (rare) bit of sunshine. Yeah, right mum. If you took me on a decent trot I might have done, but instead she just got some aloof & haughty expressions.

La la la, I'm not listening

I did kind of strike a pose to show you the sign I got from Sunshade, but I wasn't going to smile, oh no siree.

And as if mum isn't torturing me enough with a week of lampshade wearing & stoopid short walks, she then decides I need a brush. Well, I was kind of scruffy & had large amounts of marrowbone stuck around my moustache & on my legs, but I like being messy. At least it wasn't a shower I suppose. Mum makes me stand on the table to brush me as it makes me behave better. It's not that far down, but it's still quite scary as you can see from my worried glance.

Giving mum the evil "I've had enough now" face. It worked, & I got a biscuit, woo hoo!

How can all that fur have come off little old me?! And that was just with the brush!! Maybe I did need it after all. Hmm, you win this time mum.

I get to go to puppy class tonight, yay! I can't wait to see my girl Molly & all my other friends as I haven't seen them since the Christmas Party. I think I'm probably going to be a bit crazy after my week of rest & recuperation! Let's hope we don't have to do too many new exercises!

Licks,

Oscar x

DIY with Dad

Another day another job to do. I don't know whether I mentioned it, but we moved to this house just after mum & dad got me in September 2006. As I was still a youngish pup then, they left some of the Do-It-Youself jobs to spend time playing with me & getting me settled, what great parents! However, they (read mum) REALLY hated the carpets that were downstairs in the house. Despite getting them cleaned when we moved in, they were still really stained (as you can see in the photo below) & had lots of cigarette burns on them. Nice! And no, the stains on the floor weren't to do with me!

Mum & dad worked hard to paint when we moved in as it was really grotty with yellowing glosswork & lots of marks on the tasteful peach walls. Well, OK I can't exactly see colour, but I certainly heard mum moaning about them enough. Dad knew how much mum hated the carpets, so they went to the sales after Christmas to buy the new floor. A big improvement I think you'll agree, and great fun for sliding around on!

I helped dad lots when he was laying the floor - picking up bits of offcuts of wood from the floor, running around with the dustpan & brush, burrowing around in his toolbox. Us Airedales are just so helpful. It took us 3 days to do the whole floor. Here I am posing after it was all done.

Well this weekend it was all go again. Mum hated the kitchen lino nearly as much as the carpets, & once the wood floor was done she said the kitchen looked even worse. Dad agreed it made sense to get this floor done at the same time so it could all be finished. Either that or he was scared of mum nagging lots!

This is what the old lino was like. It was pretty dirty & old fashioned looking. Did somebody say "Doofus face"?

Dad ripped up all the old lino. It was really brittle from being laid for so long. I am helping by sitting on the pile of lino to squash it all together. Note my lop-sided sitting position which I do most of the time. I noticed Lillie was doing it on her latest photo, so maybe it is an Airedale thing. Is that right Sunshade, Maggie, Bogart & Faya?

After lots of fiddling around with the new lino, making sure it was all lined up & fit neatly under all the counters, we were done. How much better does that look? It's like a whole new kitchen! Mum & dad even got special non-slip stuff so my bowls would stay put. You guys!

Showing off my hard work.

Later that evening...all that DIY is hard work for a little guy. Plus mum & dad let me have the lampshade off for a couple of hours & it was so good to relax. I am still a bit swollen from my op, but healing very nicely.

Dad also laid new lino in the bathroom as there was stinky dark blue carpet in there. He's such a clever dad.

There was just one aspect of the DIY jobs that I didn't like - Dad's scawy drill. I hate that thing. I think I need to spend less time with Flakes, as if you listen to my bark, it sounds suspiciously like a "meow" at the end, eek!

So that was my busy weekend, phew!

Licks,

Oscar x

My Christmas Presents

Hello,

Well between eating socks, washing up sponges & having operations, I still hadn't had the chance to show you all my Christmas presents. I actually got quite a lot despite mum & dad's earlier threats to tell Santa Paws not to bring me so many after the bundle I got from my Puppy Class Christmas Party. Good old Santa Paws, I knew he'd realise what a good boy I'd been & bring me some.

This stocking was from Aunty Clare, mum's little sister. The rawhide shoe lasted a few seconds! Mum took the other treats to Kim & Charlie's dogs as most treats give me a bad tummy. Not fair!

Ooh, some shiny packages, all for meeeeeeeeeeeeee!

And some more. What a lucky boy! Mum has got some videos of me opening some presents, but she can't get onto Video Egg from dad's laptop so we'll have to show you those another day. Even though I had never opened any presents before I got the hang of it really quickly!

I got this cool squeaky Santa Paws ball from Aunty Kim & Uncle Charlie. They have 3 poodles. Mum & dad went to their house for Christmas lunch but I stayed at home as I was poorly from sock eating, plus their poodle puppy really doesn't like me for some reason. How could he not love me?

These cool bouncy balls were from Aunty Lucy & Uncle Simon. Mum & dad have hidden two of them for when I've destructed the first one. These balls are great for playing the bouncy game from my video the other day!

This toy was also from Aunty Kim & Uncle Charlie. Hopefully if I chew this mum won't try to brush my teeth as I hate it!

This is a cool frisbee toy from mum & dad. True to form, it now has no eyes, ears or horns! The squeaky in it does still work though!

Here's the reindeer which mum & dad bought to replace humpy horse. As you can see, his eyes were gone within seconds! I didn't even have chance to say goodbye to horsey. He mysteriously disappeared while I was making reindeer's acquaintance. Mum said he's gone to the glue factory. Poor horsey!

This squeaky bone was in the stocking from Aunty Clare. It's REALLY, REALLY squeaky, & therefore great for running around the house with when mum & dad are trying to watch their favourite TV programme

My card from Miss Sunshade arrived just in time for Christmas. Like Faya, even though I wasn't in the Christmas Card Exchange, they wanted to send me a card anyway. What sweet girls!

What an amazing card. It must have taken Sunshade & her mum ages to make all those cards. I had to have a nibble on the fur on the hat as I could smell her lovely Airedale scent. Mmmmmm.

She also sent me this great sign. That should warn people off my pawperty.

Trying to look cool & composed with my card & gift

Last but not least, I went to the vet today for my check up. He took my plaster off & said it was all healing well & that I don't have to go back again - yay! He said I should still wear the lampshade for another few days, but mum & dad have let me take it off for a few hours this evening to see how well I behave. So far so good, but they said I have to put it back on at bedtime - boo!

Licks,

Oscar x

On the Mend

Hello,

Yep, as Boo predicted, 2 days post op & I'm feeling much better. I still need lots of love & sympathy from mum & dad though (obviously), especially as it's their fault I had to have the stoopid operation in the first place. At least they have stopped calling me "Sponge Bob" today since I've pooped the washing up sponge which I ate the night before my op!

I am making the most of being "ill" though by sitting on the sofa when I think no-one's looking. Oops, caught in the act.

I have been trying quite hard to get the stoopid "lampshade" off. You might be able to see the biting on the picture below. I had chewed quite a big section at the front but mum cut it off. Spoilsport! Bussie, I don't know if you can see, but my collar is called "Buster"!

More biting of the stoopid thing.

Aha, mum's distraction techniques include tempting me with a marrowbone chewy. OK, I'll behave (until you're not looking mum).

Stupid face as I have the whole marrowbone chew in my mouth. I normally hold it in my paws and chew away, but I can't manage to do that with the lampshade. What do you think of the new floor mum & dad laid over the Christmas holidays? I think it looks smart, if a bit slippy!

Last but not least a few videos of the anti-chew distraction techniques!

I'm back to see Emma the vet tomorrow morning so hopefully all is OK. Hopefully she might say I can have slightly longer walks as the 2-3 minutes I've been getting the past couple of days is REALLY not fun.

Licks,

Oscar x

Bye-Bye Boy Bits

Hey everyone,

Thank you for your thoughts & good wishes. I've now had my operation & I'm feeling OK. A little bit sore, but mum & dad say I'll soon be feeling fine.

Yesterday started off OK. We got up & went out for our usual walk & I met a few of my friends & we had our usual bottom sniffs. When we got home however, there was no breakfast as usual. I kept sitting by the food cupboard but mum said I couldn't have any food because of the operation. I was less than impressed with this & had a bit of a sulk on the sofa. Well, as I'm not actually allowed on the sofa, I just kind of threw myself on it & tried to look hungry & pathetic. It didn't work though, grr.



Mum & dad put me in my crate while they got ready as mum said she didn't want me getting into any mischief before we set off. Me? Mischief? How rude! Just because I ate another washing up sponge last night in the vague hope of getting out of my operation. It didn't work though. Mum called the vet last night & they said it should pass through me fine & they'd check me over when I came in. Damn it!

Soon it was time for the "Journey of Doom". Can you see the fear in my eyes? The only bonus was that dad said I didn't have to wear my car harness as the vet is literally at the end of the road.

When we arrived I got weighed. I'm now 18 kilos, still a bit on the skinny side, but the vet said she'd rather that than be too fat. The vet (Emma) & mum & dad talked lots about me eating the sponge (& other stuff I have eaten) & the vet said it's probably just attention seeking behaviour & that I'll grow out of it. Hmph! See mum & dad, pay me more attention!!! She had a poke at my tummy & said it seemed OK & she was still happy to do my operation, and would see if she could see any signs of the sponge at my bottom end while I was asleep, nice! Mum signed some forms & then I trotted off with Emma as I could see her Red Setter down the corridor & I really like playing with him. I think mum & dad were a bit upset that I wasn't more worried about leaving them, but I was just trying to be a big brave boy so they wouldn't be worried about me.

Emma put me in a cage & gave me a sweetie that made me feel really calm & sleepy. A little later on they came & got me & took me to another room. They poked me in the leg with something sharp, then everything went really woozy. I woke up later back in the cage feeling a bit groggy & sore. There was a big white thing covering where my bits were. The nurse was saying I was a good boy & that mum & dad would be here soon.

A bit later I heard mum & dad's voices but I couldn't see them so I was crying & whimpering. Shortly after, Emma came to get me & there were mum & dad in her office. I was so excited but Emma said "no jumping up!" so I just gave them lots of licks & wagged my tail like mad. Emma told them everything was fine but that I can only have 2 - 3 minute walks for 10 days & have to be on the lead, and that I was to have a bland diet that evening (more rice, goody!). She said I should be OK to go to puppy class next week (have to miss it tonight, boo hoo) as long as I stay on my lead & don't race about. That's going to be tough as I haven't seen my friends since the party before Christmas! Before we left Emma said we have to go back on Saturday for a check up & put this stoopid collar thing on me to stop me fiddling with my stiches. How silly do I look? Boo didn't have to wear one of those did he? Not fair!

I keep walking into the door frames, the table, mum & dad...well everything basically. Not impressed.

When we got home I had my rice & a big drink. Then mum showed me a lovely new red Kong she had bought me for being a brave boy. I can get stuff out of my puppy Kong in a few seconds now as my jaw is getting strong. It's a lot tougher with this new one & I was whinging a bit in frustration as I couldn't get the bits of biscuit out easily at all. Still, it did take my mind off my sore bits & the stoopid collar. Mummy is going to give my puppy Kong to someone at work who has just got an 8 week old Scots Terrier puppy. She's called Molly same as my girlfriend at puppy class. Mum said she saw some pictures & she's really cute so at least my Kong is going to a good home.

I had an early night & a good sleep. I think I'll just be taking it easy over the next few days. As long as I can eat lots that's fine by me!

Licks,

Oscar x