Bess is here for a holiday!

Our good friend and neighbours spending Christmas and New Year with her family in South Africa, so Bess is staying with us!

This will be the third Christmas she has spent with us.
She is very well behaved and is company for Max.

The nephews will love it as they will each have a German Shepherd to look after on Christmas Day!

Joyce's family will be watching my blog so I will give a daily report on how Bess is doing.
When i talk to Bess I use a south-african accent and she is as good as gold!





This was Bess a few minutes ago, on my study floor, content to lay quietley!

Her favourite spot is on the kitchen table!
She taught Wilma this trick 3 years ago when Wilma was at her most impressionable age!
She still does it!





I found a fantastic poem...
JUST MY DOG

He is my other eyes that can see above
the clouds; my other ears that hear above
the winds. He is the part of me that can
reach out into the sea.

He has told me a thousand times over that
I am his reason for being: by the way he
rests against my leg; by the way he thumps
his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he
shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.
(I think it makes him sick with worry when he
is not along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.
When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.
When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.
When I am a fool, he ignores it.
When I succeed, he brags.
Without him, I am only another man. With him,
I am all-powerful.
He is loyalty itself.
He has taught me the meaning of devotion.
With him, I know a secret comfort and a
private peace. He has brought me understanding
where before I was ignorant.
His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
His presence by my side is protection against
my fears of dark and unknown things.
He has promised to wait for me...
henever...wherever--in case I need him.
And I expect I will--as I always have.
He is just my dog.

--- Gene Hill