Saturday 19 September 2015

Wiltshire Way - August 2015

We have yet to meet home/pet owners whom we haven't got on with.  We figure this is because people who go away and would rather have strangers take care of their animals than leave them in a kennels or cattery are probably a lot like us.  Iveta and Chris and their gorgeous three girls were no exception.  We had skyped a few times with Iveta as she and Chris were a bit worried about leaving their baby - Bessie the big Black Russian Terrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Russian_Terrier
 - for the first time with strangers.  We hadn't heard of the breed before - thank you google, you're the bomb! - but after a bit of research could tell we would love her.  Who could not, apart from the postman, courier drivers and anyone else who might randomly knock at the door ........ butter wouldn't melt!


Along with Bessie, we were under the care of Astrid and Swinda, the kitties who left field mice on the floor every morning we were there ... in varying stages of eateness (?!) and then slept all day as any self respecting cat does.  There were also six or so chickens which were great egg providers.

Swinda stalking prey in the garden ...
with a little help from her friend
Spot Astrid doing what cats do best ... daytime nap

The house is in a wee village called Rushall in Wiltshire.  A stones throw away are Stonehenge and the White Horses of Wilthshire http://wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/.  We visited Avebury Stone Circle as it is a bit less touristy than Stonehenge and a little more dog


Most days we ran Bessie on the Salisbury plains where the army do their weekly manoeuvres.  We also found a great walk along a canal with a rather convenient pub at the end of it.  Bessie was such a joy to walk and drew a lot of attention from passers-by.  She was well behaved and responsive to command that, even though she is supposed to be some kind of scary guard dog breed, she was delightful with everyone.  Such is the pleasure of a well trained (big) dog.

Canal walk


Salisbury Plains

Avebury Stone Circle

Grooming Bessie - such a good girl
(she ended up with a Top Knot that day)

Chilling with the kids