On the digestion of socks

Glyn eats socks. Not just the absent-minded chewing, but we actually caught him swallowing a decent sized section before taking it off him - they're allowed socks with knots in as toys, but after this incident I think we're going to reconsider that idea! He looked a little diappointed, and Willow especially so; we've already had to hide her favourite toys because Glyn likes to gut and thoroughly kill any soft dog toy!

Hen night plans

I've booked my hen weekend (I hate the term hen weekend/night, it conjures up images of too much drink and phalic hats). We're (Mum, my sister and two friends) heading to London to do the Jack the Ripper tour and then see some museums or something the next day. I know it's not exactly traditional, and borders on the downright geeky, but if it had to be the stereotypical hen experience, I'd refuse to go!

I've also worked out I only have 27 days till my last exam, so the postings here may become even more sporadic than usual! After that, and the wedding, I should hopefully be able to post a bit more regularly!

Ball games

We took Glyn to the vets for his annual booster on Wednesday. And to castrate him. When we handed the lead over to the nurse the ungrateful sod didn't even look back! Perhaps he'll think twice about happily going off with strangers in the future.

We picked him up about 7 hrs later and he was the most subdued we've ever seen him. The drugs were obviously still having an effect! We got him home and let him collapse into sleep - after taking the obligatory photos to prove he does occasionally stay still.
He looked so sorry for himself! I think he was putting off going for a pee in the garden as he didn't drink any water for ages once he got home - I left some water in the pasta I had to boil for him to make sure he was getting fluids. Funny, as all the bitches I've known/owned in the past didn't seem so fussed, and spaying is a much more intrusive operation than castration. Typical bloke I guess!

I should probably add that unfortunately our friend who owned Glyn can't take him with him when he emmigrates, so he will be staying with us. We're happy to have him as he is a great dog, but I feel bad for our friend as it's a horrible decision to have to make.

Glyn looking stoned from the drugs. He was

not particulary impressed with us.

More on Glyn and Willow!

The photo below further highlights the differences between Willow and Glyn. Glyn is very affectionate and huggy, whereas Willow, as you can just see in the background, usually slinks off to her own company!

Yin and Yang

Willow and Glyn are pretty opposite in personality. Willow is dominant, tempermental and highly strung whilst Glyn is submissive, happy and easy going.

The Yin Yang that is Willow and Glyn!

But they do have moments when they get along! I'd like to say the photo below wasn't posed, but that wouldn't be completely true.

Glyn revealing his physical warping powers:

He's actually smaller than Willow, but sometimes

he looks a lot taller!

The home stretch

I'm back at uni after the Easter break and there's only four weeks of lectures to go! Then I have about 10 revision days before the exams start (my last exam is on the 27th May). It's probably not good that I still have no motivation, especially as my third year marks don't count toward my degree, so it all rests on this year.

I've also decided to get my fitness back. I'm not exactly unfit anyway, but I've certainly lost fitness since coming to uni - the lack of time and tiredness don't help with making healthy eating choices and regular excercise! I will up the ante more after the exams, but I'm attempting to do at least 4 sessions a week (running, Tae Bo, Kung Fu and the gym) instead of the 1-2 a week I currently do!

MOT at the vets

I took Willow to the vet's this morning for her annual booster, which is pretty routine. So I was a bit surprised to find out she has a slight heart murmour.
The vet it's nothing to really worry about, but just be aware of any symptoms arising (i.e. tolerance to excercise reducing, coughing at night, weight lose etc.). She's turned out to be a pretty defective example of her species with arthritis occurring when she was only 5, and now a heart murmour aged 8.
On the plus side, the vet did say that because she is pretty fit that her heart is compensating (my words) for the irregular beat - it's sort of righting itself (I don't claim to understand cardiac physiology!), so at least she is healthy aside from the murmour, arthritis, aggressive tendencies toward other dogs, and other neurosis she's acquired over the years!

Edinburgh Zoo

For Gareth and mine's 7th anniversary since we got together, we went to Edinburgh Zoo yesterday. I think Gareth planned that more with me in mind as I don't think it's necessarily something he'd choose himself! We wanted to make this one a bit special as it's the last 'since we got together' anniversary we'll be celebrating as from the wedding, we'll switch the anniversary to that date (it gets expensive else!)


I was very excited as the zoo have maned wolves and African hunting dogs, but as it was raining and snowing (it is Scotland after all) they were hiding or sleeping! Oh well. We had an ace time, and even got to hold a hissing cockroach - perhaps not quite as exciting as holding the python they had, but that wasn't an option!

Gareth with a jaguar - it was pretty much the only animal

except for the penguins who wasn't hiding from the weather!

Emperor penguins striking dodgy deals with each other

Edinburgh Zoo: Home of the only eight-legged zebra

Axolotl : Neotenous salamanders - they retain juvenile

characteristics into adulthood, such as external gills.

In the evening we went out into Edinburgh city centre to a Chinese and Japanese restaurant where we had sushi and sashimi, and I also got to try saki. It was a really nice meal, and we didn't disgrace ourselves with the chopsticks - although I am out of practise! Saki is ok, but I found it a little on the sharp side once it had cooled (I didn't realise you could drink saki hot, but there you go; live and learn)

We finished the evening off with a couple of drinks in the hotel bar where we went beyond sobre, but not paralyectic before retiring to our room.


We left the hotel fairly early this morning to mosey around Edinburgh before getting the train back. Gareth found a good whiskey shop, so he was happy!


It was a fantastic anniversary, and we're abolutely shattered now. It's nice getting away, but also nice getting back to your own bed.

King of the Kongs

Due to the weather and my disinclination to lose any toes or fingers, the dogs didn't get out today. Instead, we stuffed a Kong with peanut butter, grated cheese and a free sample of James Wellbeloved sachet of wet food (they normally get dried food) for one of the dogs, and gave the other a rawhide chew. I thought Glyn's approach was quite funny as he was almost sat on his head to get the Kong instead of holding it with his paws.

He soon got bored of trying to get all the food out and patiently waited for his turn on the rawhide. Willow, however, ate the entire chew then promptly stole the Kong away to her cage. She not the best with regard to sharing!