My Greyhound!

Well what an exciting day for our girl.

She was up early, breakfasted and brushed ready to leave at 10.00.

We arrived at Nottingham Racecourse and parked the car (for Free!!!) before meeting up with some friends and their black and white boy Ollie. No pictures here I’m afraid – some of them just didn’t work out – I think someone moved… anyway Ollie has been on this site just a couple of posts back!

There were many interesting stalls where you could buy anything houndlike include beautiful greyhound pyjamas – my daughter was very tempted there, but ended up buying her a new collar instead. Some stalls sold treats and other goodies – just look at these greyhound upper class diners having their gourmet dinner..

"Have you said grace Bert?"

"Yes – then let’s begin!"

Hippie loved wandering around the event, so many new friends to make – she does love meeting other hounds … but there was a special one there too… a really special boy, oh and his proud Mum Jay….

This is the very beautiful Sid and he really is beautiful! Those eyes! Of course Hippie just wandered off in the middle of this and is just showing us her stumpy tail in the bottom right corner.

Oh wait there she is ….

You know what she’s after don’t you – just like any other big kid…

Well it was a very warm day….

and she didn’t eat it all!!!

Just enough to make her drowsy and ready for the ride home!

It was a lovely day!

Well, it just had to happen, and isn’t he gorgeous?….

Introducing Olly!

They look so alike and they are as mad as each other too…

After a big run around the park they settled to investigating the area.

Hippie, of course found who had the treats and investigated her….

It does seem strange to see a Hippie look alike with a tail but he is such a lovely boy – straight from the track, so a little skittish still but very handsome.

I think our girl is smitten – and I can see why… can’t you?

Sometimes Hippie just gets so filthy as she joyously races round the muddy fields, and then of course rushing headlong into the muddy water of the lake… it all takes its toll. But eventually there is the indignity of…. the bath….

She doesn’t like it at all yet she never whinges or tries to get out – just gives sorrowful looks to anyone who might be interested…

You know she just wants to shake – but she can’t yet!

The bubbles have to be rinsed off first

And then the rough dry before the shaking so hard she falls over……

She says she won’t get dirty again…

Do you believe her?

It wasn’t me honest!!!!

But I’m afraid it was….. Hippie stayed overnight at my partner’s house last night.

He is far too trusting – this greyhound has eaten most items of my daughter’s footwear over the last year not to mention many a stuffed toy – but who would have thought she would decide to chew C.D’s, and the case as well ….. and her choice last night was…..

Yep Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours – not only was the case completely broken but she had bitten threw the CD.

And still she says ‘It wasn’t me’.

The jury is out – who do you believe?????

Look at the sparkle of her halo!

Nah it was definitely our girl – you gotta love her!!!

Bless her our girl’s not very well at the moment but she did want you to see her new festive hat!!!!

Excuse the glazed expression – I think its all the drugs!

Hippie Christmas everyone!!!

Hippie was just chilling out on the bed

enjoying a great big fuss and trying not to think about the tripe sticks that were on the kitchen worktop.

She loves attention and was getting her fair share it has to be said…..

Some of the poses were a little indiscreet but did she care?

Not a jot – especially when someone was blowing raspberries on her tum!

BUT, meanwhile in the kitchen – Max had found the tripe sticks….

‘Mmmmm,’ he thought, ’so this is what the big nutty dog eats – I’ll just try one..’

‘Slippery little devils but quite tasty – think I need some help Mum..’

‘Ah, that’s better I can chew it now, I’ll just have a little bit more…

then we’ll pop it back it the packet, chewed end first – Hippie will never notice’

‘And besides, I have perfected the look of complete innocence ..’

She’ll never guess it was me!!’

This weekend we took Hippie to a little place near Newark. It was her first caravan holiday and for a moment there, at the beginning I thought it was going to be her last.

When we first got there she careered up and down the van like a nutcase and eventually I put her bed on the bunk where we normally have the table and insisted she stayed there, then when we had set up we took her for a long run by the River Trent – she loved it, off the lead and running free.

But then, as the site was next to a pub we decided to go for a pint and she decided to play up. She at next to us and howled, when that didn’t work she whinged. People fussed her but she was not going to stop – it was sooo embarrassing. We went back to the van but by then she was sulking, I made her dinner but she sulked some more and left the lot – just lay on her bed and didn’t want to know us.

We covered her up and let her get on with it….

Saturday morning she got up and had her weetabix then joined my partner in bed for a big fuss. She appeared to have gotten over her mood..

In fact she was quite enjoying it ..

While breakfast was cooking we took her along by the river again,she ran and ran

And just occasionally did a bit of investigating!

Then after a huge breakfast for us my partner dosed for an hour on the sofa on one side of the van and Hippie was stretched out on the other.

There was no room for me so I sat on her bunk and did my Spanish homework..

Later we risked the pub again and this time after a bit of whining she actually settled…

Flaked out on the floor being fussed by two very pretty young ladies – here they are:

- she was quite happy and we actually were able to chat- it was bliss!

Then we took her for another run but she didn’t want to go far this time. I thought she would really be hungry after missing her dinner the night before but she only ate a little bit then just had to lie down

This was serious couch potato stuff

Destined to go on for a long time

The howling wind and pouring rain outside didn’t disturb her..

She was tired out!

Snoring….

She only moved off long enough for us to make the bed up and then got back on and slept all night with us.

This morning we got ready to come back and she was still chilled out…

She’s been back home for five hours now and is still sleeping – I am sure that very soon now she will be full of beans and chasing around the house carrying one of her teddies – its time to hand her back to my daughter!!!!!

Why do people make these things? And why don’t people buy them?

And why when people don’t buy them and they are on sale for £1-99 does my daughter find them?

Whatever the answers are I am more than surprised that Hippie goes along with all the dressing up – if you thought the Speedo’s were bad try suede bootees……

Bless her – this is one mad greyhound she plodded around the house wearing these and didn’t even try to take them off…. she even posed….

Very dainty Hippie – although looking at the weather I think you should have had wellies!!!

I am sometimes amazed by the things our girl falls in love with. She has a dog stuffie that never gets molested but all other teddies get their eyes removed in seconds!

Enter one big garish Hippo – what would she do with this?

Chase it? Rip its head off?

No – she just wanted to love it – in fact its her new best friend!!!

Well what can I say?

Hippie had a wonderful day yesterday, racing around my partner’s home – she even taught herself to climb stairs!!! A mean feat for any greyhound.  And, more to the point – descend gracefully, without accident!

So it is no surprise to me that today she is knocked out – and the words of the song came to mind…..

“Lazy Sunday afternoon, I got no mind to worry….”

“Close my eyes and drift away”

“Close my mind and drift away”

Thanks to the ‘Small Faces’ or bringing those words back to me when I discovered Hips enjoying her Sunday!!!!

SSSSHHHHHHH – no noise please!!!!!