Christmas Week.

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This week has been great fun. My family and I have all been at home together and we have had some great walks. We have been out to the nearby 'Common' and I have been able to be let off the lead and run around and play with other dogs. The weather has been cold, but I don't mind that and run around to keep warm. This has been a lovely week.

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Christmas Day

The sun came up and I awoke rather excited. I could hardly wait to see what was in the brightly wrapped parcels...perhaps there would be one for me. My family came downstairs and I greeted them enthusiastically. We went into the main room and they started to unwrap the parcels. There were many new things in them and it was a happy time. Eventually they found a parcel with my name on it and it was given to me. At first I wasn't sure whether to unwrap it or wait for my family to do that as I never tear things up. I was told I could open it and I carefully tore open the parcel. Inside was a cuddly soft toy. It was a small white bear - what a lovely present. I picked it up carefully in my mouth and as I squeezed it let out a squeek. I dropped it in surprise! I picked it up again and carefully squeezed...it squeeked again! This was fun and I continued to squeek my new toy. I was very happy and wagged my tail with joy.

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Once all of the parcels were unwrapped my family tidied up and we had breakfast. Later, my Master took me out for a long walk and when we got back my family had a large meal - and so did I...I even had some gravy on my food as a special treat. We spent the rest of the day relaxing together. I like it when we are all here together.

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Christmas is coming

Sunday 21st December

Today was slightly confusing as a tree appeared in the main room in our home, which is odd as I usually have to go outside to find a tree. Then my family decorated it with shiny balls and lights and a star on the very top and I realised that this was a special tree and I still will need to go outside to find my own tree! I felt a little bit left out seeing all the tinsle go up until I found a piece for myself and was allowed to wear it on my collar

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Monday 22nd December

Tonight we all went out for a walk after dark, which is quite unusual. There were lots of people (some with dogs) in the village square eating soup and beef rolls, and drinking hot wine. Everyone was happy and some people in odd clothes jigged and used sticks to make music. I like sticks but was only allowed to watch. Then a jolly white-bearded fat man in a red suit appeared on the roof of a house saying "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and made an announcement, and everyone cheered!

Christmas Eve

This evening we settled down for a nice evening in front of the nice warm fire together. My family let me sit on their laps on the sofa and we watch the picture box in the corner of our main room. Later my family went out for a while to the village church, so I slept in my basket until they returned. When they came home it was time for bed proper, and tonight boxes wrapped in bright paper appeared under the tree, but I stayed in my basket and went to sleep to wait for morning and my family before we could open them.

Busterworld!

This morning I got up I went to the back door to go in the garden as usual. As the door opened the cold air rushed in and made me shiver, and when I looked outside I saw that the world had changed colour and looked like me - all white, with just a few spots of dark here and there. It was especially cold on my feet and the white flakes were still falling. It was difficult to find my ball which had been out all night, but I sniffed it out in the end. After breakfast we went out for a long walk and I played in the snow. We met up withone of my new pals from yesterday, Dudley the Jack Russell. He's OK but rather yappy and a bit bossy - but he's not quick enough to catch me - I think he's a bit overweight! I had to work harder than usual to sniff out the smells and the white-flakes get getting up my nose and made me sneeze. I enjoyed the walk, but was glad to get back home and get rubbed down with a nice warm clean towel and snuggle up in front of the fire for a well-earned rest.

The Doggy Dozen!

Today my master & I went out for a long walk and we saw lots of other dogs. We met 3 with thier family after about 10 minutes and I got very excited and we all ran round playing together. Further along and there were some people thatching the hut, and there was another four dogs! we stayed there for a while and ran around playing chase before setting off again. We were just about to make our way back through the gap to the wood and even more canine pals turned up with thier walkers - one was even called Buster...which was rather confusing. After a brief play we coninued home and I was all puffed out having met 11 other dogs - I've not seen that many in one day since I was in the rehoming centre, but this was much more fun. One of the few friends that we didn't see was Sky - she's my favourite! Here's a film of us when we met the other week!

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The New Metal Cart.

Recently my family got a new metal cart and I like it very much. The cart has an extra large tail end where I can be without having to go in my travel cage. It is a real luxury and I like travelling in it very much as there is lots of room to stretch out if I want to sleep. My family must love me very much to go to all this trouble for me.

Autumn Adventures!

I've been very busy and had no time to write my journal, so it's time to bring it up to date. The other week I had to go to the vet . I had overheard the words 'Buster shot' so I was a bit worried. However, I love my family and they always take good care of me so, although nervous, I went along. The lady vet was very reassuring and then stabbed me with a needle! Rather unkind, I thought - but then I realised that the words I heard must have been 'booster shot'. I've had that before when I was in the dog's home and it helps me to stay well, so I put up with it now. It wasn't too bad really, and I got some treats for being well behaved!

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A good thing that happened recently was when my Lady had a birthday and the family had a special meal. The cake smelled delicious, and 'though I'm not really allowed cake it was a special occasion so I was treated to a little bit - Yummy!

We've also had a few trips out in the Metal Cart to the Bird Field and other places, which I always enjoy - 'though sometimes I pine a little when one of my family go for a ride on a Big White Bird. The other week we went to another new Bird Field, and I was very interested in the new smells. This was a much smaller grass field with just a few of the Noisy Birds and no Silent Birds anywhere. There were also some toy birds controlled by men with special boxes with sticks on them. My master went off with another man and his noisy Bird for a ride. It was a nice place.

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We have been out for many walks and the trees are now turning colour and dropping their leaves. We have been blackberry picking recently and I really like that because sometimes the berries get dropped so I tidy up by lapping any stray ones up! I like this time of year because I can run and play and go sniffing new smells in the dead leaves - I even found a small spiky creature curled up in a ball once - but he didn't want to play!

I am now sometimes allowed off the lead when we are on the field behind our Kennel or in the grass walk-way away from the road, which is great as I can run free and really get a good workout so long as I don't go too far away and come back when I'm called. Sometimes we meet one of my friends and we play together for a while. A few days ago I was off the lead when I heard a terrible screeching and a large bird swooped over me and rather gave me a start. I ran back to my master quickly to warn him of the danger. It was a large Harris Hawk that had swooped down and then perched on a gate. My master reassured me and put my lead back on me so the Hawk could not carry me off! A man appeared calling a name and we realised the hawk belonged to him!

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The Long Ride Home.

Not much to say except that we made sure that our Big White Bird was safe in its towable kennel and than we set of Eastwards in the Metal Cart. We stopped part way and I had a short walk. By the time we were home it was dark. I had a quick run round the garden and a sniff about just to check everything was OK. I had a nice time away with my family but I was happy to go to bed in my own home.

A Sunny Day At Last

Lots of nice warm sun for our last full day in Wales and again lots of people here to ride the Big Birds...and more importantly, to pet me and give me a stroke. One nice chap even let me have a small piece of his donut - but don't tell my family as I'm not really supposed to eat them! I had a lovely day in the sun and was petted by lots of people - I especially liked Anne & Tony and spent time lazing around near Anne as she kept some sort of log, and did my best to look cute! Tonight my family had fish & chips which smelled great, but I decided not to indulge as I like to keep trim and I'd already had some donut earlier.

Soaked!

Today the wind was calm with grey skies and an odd bit of sunshine now and again. It was a good day for lazing around and watching the activity. There were a lot more people at the Bird-Field today all wanting to get a ride. My master had a long ride on our Big White Bird but luckily they landed just before the heavy rain shower hit. We had to help our Big White Bird to her resting place as she was so exhausted from her long flight - she is graceful in the air but cumbersome on the ground. The other Big Birds were hurriedly herded into the Big Shed so they could dry off and have a rest, but we all got soaked in the process, so we ran to the Club-House to get warm and dry.

The Big Insect!

A bright day but the cloud was hiding the top of the hills this morning. I decided to cheer my family up and take them for a walk and explore the lane to the East of the Bird-Field. We saw a very noisy giant insect land on the hill near some Army fellows and then take off again and skirt round the hill below the cloud. We also saw lots of sheep and a couple of rather grumpy farm dogs who clearly didn't want to be friends. We arrived back at the Bird-Field as the clouds rose off the top of the hills and the Big Birds set off giving rides again whilst I watched from my quiet spot.

New Friends

A Sunny start and an early walk. We ventured up a long lane starting near our kennel past our usual places and onwards to the top of the hill. As we reached the brow I spotted some large shapes and sniffed the air. The shapes started to move towards us and I moved towards the fence to meet the horses as they appeared from their sheltering place beneath a tree. They were curious and very friendly, if a little skittish as horses tend to be. We sniffed each other and said hello. All too soon it was time to head back and off to the kennel and up to the Bird-Field to laze about and watch the Big Birds and their riders. Tonight my family and I went for a pub meal with our friends, but I was tired so decided to stay in the Metal Cart and have a snooze. Later we all went for a short walk in the moonlight before bed.

A Rainy Day

Last night it rained heavily and made lots of noise in our kennel and kept waking us up. Eventually the rain eased but there was no hurry to get up and we wandered slowly to the Bird-Field where it was a soggy day. I was let into the Club-House where it was warm and dry, but it was a frustrating day as it was rubbish for walks. Still, I decided to make the best of it and to cheer people up by allowing them to stroke me so they felt better.

The Noisy Bird was poorly and a man came and spent a while making it well. Eventually, around teatime, the day brightened and the Big Birds took some of the people for rides. Apparently someone went very high and everyone was a lot happier.

Watching the Birds

Up early and and off for a walk before breakfast. Then in the Metal Cart for the short trip to the Bird-Field. Our Big White Bird was still asleep and remained so all day - it didn't even bother taking its pajamas off - lazy thing! I sat in my usual spot out of the way and watched whilst some of the Big Birds came out from the Big Shed and took people (including my family) for rides. They always follow the Noisy Bird to start with and he shows them where to go before coming back to help the next one. Later we went for another walk. I like this place.

A Cloudy Day

We left the relatives behind and wandered back to the mountains in the metal cart. My family checked on the Big White Bird and she came out of her trailer and stretched her wings. More big birds came out of a huge shed and sat in a huddle at one end of the field. A bell was rung and a lot of people gathered in the Clubhouse for news about the day. The cloud was still low on the hills so the the man in charge said it wasn't safe to let the birds fly unless the cloud went up. Everyone seemed sad about this and my family put some pajamas on our Big White Bird to keep her warm and she went back to sleep. I decided to cheer my family up and took them for a long walk around the field, and I saw a flock of sheep nearby. Later we went to our nearby kennel where we live when we are here. It is much smaller than our home but I like it because I get to sleep near my family, unlike at home where I prefer to stay downstairs away from the possibility of ending up in the bathroom.

Go West Young Dog!

This morning we were all up early and soon off in the metal cart to the Big Field to collect the Big White Bird which was asleep in its trailer. Then a very long drive West with only a quick stop for lunch, but enough for me to stretch my legs and have a sniff around. I had a sleep on the way but when I awoke was intrigued to find myself in the Black Mountains again where we had visited earlier in the year. We left the Big White Bird in another field, asleep in its trailer and drove off to see relatives. At the house I was again accosted by the 2 young terriers Hippy & Hogan, or Rough & Tumble as I call them! They were very excited to see me again and we bounced on each other for a good long while. They are a very excitable pair. Hippy is a softy really. Hogan on the other hand always wants to be Top Dog, but he eventually saw sense. We were left for a while whilst our families went out to a party, which gave me a chance for a quick snooze in the hallway with the terriers in the kitchen. After a couple of hours my family returned, and then it was time for bed proper.

Great Expectations.

Lots of activity tonight packing stuff up. Apparently we're all off on another holiday in the morning for a week and I can hardly sleep with the excitement. Must try though so Good-night.

Magic Moments.

Photos of me having adventures.

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Boat trip in Scotland

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At the beach.

The time I found a fish!

My name is Buster and I am about three and a half. After a difficult start in life I was rehomed from Wood Green Animal Shelter on New Year's Day this year and now have a great new life in a country village. I've made many new friends. My new family take me on long walks all over the UK and we have lots of adventures.

Yesterday I had a bath because we are going on holiday next week to see relatives - bathtime is not my favourite event but I put up with it because I don't like being itchy!.

Recently I broke my collar whilst out walking, so today I was bought a great new leather collar.