jumpthedog2007

2007 Index

2007-12-31T23:59:00.000Z

In January it was very quiet. We tried a new agility class and Beanz caught a stray sheep but didn't hurt it. In fact, Beanz did a lot of chasing. Tamsin's teddy wrote to his makers and Chips ate a chilli. Ann and Rob got Benny.

In February Tamsin took up knitting, Chips ate lots of things and Uncle Peter turned 70.

In March, Flat Stanley came to stay and someone stole the dog food off our drive.

In April, Chips survived chocolate poisoning (with the help of diazepam) and Tamsin took some photos at dog training.

In May, Tamsin ordered a new wardrobe.

In June, the wardrobe arrived. Chips got her silver Kennel Club Citizenship and ate 5 fatballs. Our friend Barney turned 16.

The month of July saw the rediscovery of Pipkin, Tamsin got new bras and touched a toad. Carlsberg dropped a mouse on the bed and it ran on Tamsin's face. Beanz hurt her leg and Tamsin got a new hoover.

In August, we went on Lynn and Stewart's new decking and then we went camping. Abby's cat had kittens and Tamsin ate 1-year-old margarine. Tamsin also took up photography and accidentally ate some icecream.

In September we went to London and met ~~the queen~~ cousin Ajax.

In October Chips and Beanz ate and chased doggie things, we dirtied Lynn's cream coat and learnt how to put video on our blog (squirrel chasing and cat cartoon).

In November, Carlsberg was very very poorly We re-ran the mars bar video for old time's sake.

In December, Carlsberg got better, the humans went skating, Beanz got her Gold Citizen and went to the dog training Christmas party, and we had lots of Christmas celebrations.

Sneaky

2007-12-31T23:58:00.000Z

- by Chips

Just wanted to sneak a last bin raider photo in before the end of the year. A beauty, even though I say so myself, a fine example of an overnight project.

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Games

2007-12-30T19:41:00.000Z

- by Beanz

I have had a good play with my new Father Christmas...

... and Chips has given the snowman a run for his money...

... and now I'm exhausted.

See you all in the new year!

xxx

Father Christmas 33 years on

2007-12-25T12:18:00.000Z

- by TamsinThe Old Chap seems to have come a little way in terms of image since 1974. Although he still keeps young children (and me) awake at night with excitement, and he still eats his mince pie and drinks his sherry before wizzing round the world, he certainly wears more clothes these days and the startled look has mellowed with time. He has give the lobsters back their hands and gone for a more human look all round.

A merry Christmas to everyone. Hope this merry gentleman has done you proud. He has been very generous to us all this year although I'm sure the neighbours won't be happy about the guitar and the squeaky toys.

Christmas Presents

2007-12-23T18:58:00.000Z

- by Chips

Our Christmas present to Joseph the horse was 2kg of carrots.

Tamsin forgot to put them away overnight.

We took him his one carrot this evening. He looked a little disappointed with just the one, but he was very gallent and ate it appreciatively.

Saturday Before Christmas

2007-12-22T22:03:00.000Z

- by Carlsberg

This evening, I thought my luck was in. My very own Saturday Before Christmas dinner! Here I am considering whether to start with the wine, food or cracker...

... until I was ousted and the humans tucked into their Saturday Before Christmas dinner:

I had to make do with a brand supermarket Lamb in Gravy sachet. Not really comparable.

Cold and Frosty Morning Part II

2007-12-21T10:58:00.000Z

- by Beanz

I just love ice. Love it!

Training Christmas Party

2007-12-20T22:08:00.000Z

- by Beanz

Today we had my Christmas party. I did very well. First we had the Fancy Dress. Noah won.

... and I came second, dressed as a Heinz Baked Bean in tomato sauce.

Then we did our tricks. Archie won with his "collecting the shopping, putting it in the shopping basket and carrying the basket" routine...

and I came second with my rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas plus a little dance.

Then we had fastest recall and musical sit. And I WON THEM BOTH!! I enjoyed myself so much and Tamsin says I am now worth every penny of the £50 she forked out for me at the dogs home. I won her a packet of chocolate buttons and lots of things for me. Thank you Gail!

Then we had musical chairs. I was first. First out. I had to sit and watch from the side. Disgraced.

You can see Lucy making a bid for glory. I can only look on, forlorn.

Trixie came in her Christmas gear...

... and so did Tacu ...

... and Coral.

Henry's fancy dress made us laugh, but he didn't mind.

Other joiners in of Reindeer games were Holly...

... Angus ...

... and Milly.

Asbo was also there but my photo of her didn't come out well. Sorry! Blame the photographer.

Dear Santa

2007-12-19T22:25:00.000Z

Dear Santa

Please would you bring me a new paper bag to play in? My one is getting a bit torn.

I have been good all year.

Love from

Carlsberg

xxx

Wonderphone

2007-12-18T22:41:00.000Z

- by Tamsin

You will never believe what has turned up. Remember the disaster week with the phone and the cat and and and... ?

Well, I got a phone call yesterday and through the post today came MY MOBILE PHONE. What a story it has to tell, I'm sure. Maybe it should become a contributer to this blog.

I'm off to order a bunch of flowers for the finder. Restores your faith in the human race.

Ice Skating

2007-12-16T20:02:00.000Z

- by Chips

Today the humans went ice skating. It has been about 15 years since they last went. Just like riding a bike, only colder and wetter and more laughing. They weren't great but there were no terrible falls and no broken bones.

The sign at the side of the rink said, "No dogs on the ice, except assistance dogs".

I wonder which part of their training includes ice skating. Those assistance dogs are cleverer than I thought.

My Dog Ate my Homework

2007-12-15T22:24:00.000Z

- by Tamsin I have a nasty Christmas card related injury. So if you don't get a Chrismas card from me, this is why. I am being very brave about it but A&E are on standby.

Cold and Frosty Morning

2007-12-14T22:53:00.000Z

- by Beanz

This morning it was cold and frosty so I had to do everything at 100 miles an hour and 6 inches off the ground.

Lovely Fire

2007-12-14T22:13:00.000Z

- by Carlsberg Mmmm we have got a lovely fire and it is just perfect for my bald spot.

Beanz came home from class yesterday with a medal on. It was from her teacher. Tamsin had tried to take a picture to put here but she is rubbish at taking photos and it was all blurry. She did look smart though.

Thoroughly Modern

2007-12-13T22:02:00.000Z

- by Tamsin

Carlsberg is doing much better but her ex-stitches are itching. Here is her bald patch and you can see teeth marks in her thigh from "the bite".

This evening, Dorothy took me for my hair cut to Ian, her hairdresser. Luckily I am not that shy. I asked for his advice, and he told me I needed to go modern because my hair was so old-fashioned. So he whipped out his razor and chopped the whole lot off. Call me Britney (only not as well paid, obviously). He then announced to the shop what a lovely cut it was and made everybody look. It is different, but there's no denying, he's a wizz with the razor.

My ears are cold and I need to buy some hats.

Quick.

Can I go out?

2007-12-10T22:49:00.000Z

- by Carlsberg

My stitches are out and I didn't have any antibiotics today. I'd like to go outside now please.

(Carlsberg, it is freezing and you are half bald. I think it is best if you stay in for a while - Tamsin.

PS you are grounded. And thank goodness for insurance. Apparently this bill went into 4 figures fairly early on in the game. Wonder if it will cover the cost of fencing you into the back garden...)

Golden Girl

2007-12-01T22:50:00.000Z

- by Beanz

If I look like I'm not concentrating in this photo, it's because I'm EXHAUSTED from my 2 hour test. It was worth it though, because I am now a Kennel Club Gold Citizen! Who would have thought it? Luckily, there was not a squirrel chasing section, or I might not have passed. Hooray for me.

Honey I'm HOME!

2007-11-30T22:22:00.000Z

- by Carlsberg Tamsin came to Petmedics today to collect me. I jumped into my box pretty quickly, I can tell you. I am not too keen on my lampshade collar, but I am glad to be home. I have adopted the dog bed, and nurse Beanz and Dr Chips are taking it in turns to watch over me. From the floor.

I have got two sets of stitches in my belly and I'm a bit sore. Tamsin had a look on the computer screen when the nurse went out of the room. It says my prognosis is better but I have a lot of infection. Thank you to everyone who has asked after me.

And now, back to lounging around on the settee in front of the telly.

Under the Radar

2007-11-27T19:47:00.001Z

- by Chips

What with all this hoo har with the cat (who is bright and walking around and expected home by the end of the week), I think my little "going through the compost bag to pick out any apple or carrot related goodies" has slipped under the radar. Yipee.

Carlsberg Update 2

2007-11-26T14:47:00.000Z

- by Tamsin

Long term fans (hahahhaa) of jumpthedog.com will remember the incident when we thought Carlsberg had been shot, but in fact, she had a terrible abscess (and then went missing and Beanz found her under a car etc etc). The uninitiated (with strong stomachs - graphic pics alert) can read about it here. (Username is DropDeadFred and the password is my favourite food - email me for the password).

I have just got off the phone from the vet. It seems that our Carlsberg was not hit by a car at all, but has (you guessed it) a massive abscess. Another bite to the back and gravity took its toll. She has drains in and they will phone me tomorrow to give me an update. If they can beat the infection, things are looking a lot more hopeful. I might start writing my Christmas cards afterall.

I am thinking about caging in our back garden. I'm not sure I can go through this again. At least not until next door's ginger tom has moved on.

Carlsberg Update

2007-11-26T10:54:00.000Z

Carlsberg is on her way to theatre now. Make or break.

I was a little concerned when I was told "he" was on his way to theatre. I would have thought sexing a cat was fairly early on in vet school training.

Then I realised it was the receptionist I spoke to. As long as she is not doing the op, I don't feel so worried. Although how anyone could think Carlsberg is a boy's name, I don't know.

An Unhumerous Update

2007-11-25T22:49:00.000Z

- by Tamsin

Last week, I had an exciting day in London. I took pics on my fab new phone (cheers Abz) and wanted time to blog properly and share my experience of being IN THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT and my trip round London, and the pigeons and and and...

But 1Voice caught up with me and it has been planning and photocopying and emailing, and I wanted to wait til I had time. We had our fab weekend this weekend and I wanted to write abou that too.

But now my phone (and photos) have gone into the vortex. Disappeared. It was in my pocket. Then it wasn't in my pocket. Nowhere to be found. And it was set to silent so I can't even ring it. So if I owe you a text, sorry. And I probably don't have your number backed up anywhere cos Father Christmas was going to bring me a sim card backup thing but now it's too late.

But worse than that, I have just taken little Carlsberg to the cat hospital. She went missing a week ago. We put word out and searched for her, but no sign. And when we got home this evening she was home but very very wobble and uncomfortable. Long story short, she has been hit by a car and is having "critical care" (according to my bill. Thank goodness for insurance). I don't know how she got home because now she can't even stand. let alone walk. Hopefully her diaphragm isn't ruptured, but her abdominal wall is, and her bladder is where it is not meant to be. The only upside is that her skin is intact so at least she is "sterile". I think this is a good thing.

True to character, dispite the fact she doesn't even feel like lifting her head, Carls has not been too co-operative with the x-rays and the first set are too blurry. They are going to do some more, and some other vetinary stuff which will hopefully include surgery if they think they can do anything, and then phone us back.

I know I have started every sentence with "and" and "but" and other conjunctions. I have done it on purpose for effect. And anyway, I don't care what the grammar facists say. I've got more important things to worry about.

Carlsberg, we hope you are not on life 10. We hate it when you bring home mice and birds and rabbits. We are not keen on the 6am wake up calls or stalking up and down the bed headboard at 3am. But we love you very much so bloomin well get better. Plus you are this year's Christmas Card. So you HAVE to pull through. I have already posted one out.

Chesnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

2007-11-12T20:42:00.000Z

-by Tamsin

All day long I was humming to myself, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." as I imagined the scene: Me, in front of a roaring fire, loyal dogs sleeping by my slippered feet, chestnuts roasting in the chestnut roaster. Mmmmm. That's the life.

When I got home, I found that in fact, while the fire was still on, the chestnuts were most definitely off, but dog poo on the floor overnight was probably on.

Not Recommended

2007-11-09T13:27:00.000Z

- by Tamsin

It is not recommended to drop ripe avocado and salad dressing on the floor and think to yourself, "The dog will come and clear that up," then leave it, then go back to the kitchen, forget you dropped it, step in it and continue on your merry way.

Stair Gate = Closed

2007-11-08T19:59:00.000Z

-by Chips

While Tamsin was working on the computer, I just boldly went up the stairs. Yup, just like that! I know I'm not supposed to but the cat food was calling me, and I just had to answer.

It reminded us of the Mars episode, which was 2 years ago and you can watch again here:

Perhaps it is autumn that makes me so hungry.

Anyway, the stair gate is now CLOSED.

ALL THE TIME

FOREVER

(PS Tamsin is aware of the danger of dogs eating chocolate and you should not try eating Mars Bars if you are a dog. I got away with it this time but DOGS SHOULD NOT EAT CHOCOLATE. If you need the proof, remember this)