Where are you Aunty Sandy?

Feeling very sad at the moment because I wasn't allowed to go with the humans to see Aunty Sandy today! I'm sure that Sandy would have wanted to see me - remember she said I was cute and hugged me when she visited us back in January?

I tried to convince my humans to take me with them but would they listen? NO! They kept yabbering on about how dogs aren't allowed into restaurants - that's discrimination if you ask me.

It's definitely autumn

Woof woofety woof and hello!

Was out walking this morning ... we were going very slowly because my human was dragging the chain - something about not feeling well ... Honestly, just because she's got a cold shouldn't be an excuse for walking slowly! Anyway, because I was going soooo slowly I had time to check out every tree, and I noticed that it really is autumn here in Hidden Valley. All the leaves are changing colour and falling off the tress - amazing.

Jude was saying stuff like:
"Blah blah blah look at the beautiful trees blah blah blah." I must admit she is right.

I love the cold weather - it makes me feel very energetic, and sprightly. And I luuurve getting my whiskers and legs and tummy all wet and messy too  - it makes me feel like a real dog. I pretend that I hate it when I get home and the humans rub me with a towel to dry me off, but secretly I love that too.

Some famous human (Albert Camus) wrote:
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." 
I think there is something in that for all of us ... so I'll leave you with  that thought.
Woofs,
Toby

I'm just trying to help

Woofs and hi!

Just a quick post today - I'm very busy! Jude is home sick today - don't worry, it's only a cold. She's lying in bed with her laptop (perhaps unsurprisingly) on her lap doing work.

I am trying to help with the emails and updating important documents, by standing on my back legs by the side of the bed and pressing the laptop keys. I look very intelligent don't you think?

Jude is not too happy - she says that although I am a great helper, my spelling isn't good. I thought there were at least 5 x 'a's in most words - isn't that why the A key is so conveniently located on the keyboard?

Now I must rush - I have to watch for the postie.
Woofs,
Toby

Happy Birthday CAITLIN

Hope you had a wonderful, amazing and very happy birthday!

Woofs,

Toby

Reporting in from Hidden Valley

Woofs and happy Saturday!

Jude and I went for a walk again this morning. We set off late because Jude was sleeping in (ridiculous) - she said it was so she could recover from getting a cortisone injection in her shoulder yesterday. It must have been true because Craig shut me out of the bedroom after we went for the papers ...

Anyway, she eventually got going. While we were walking along Valley Boulevard we encountered a huge flock of Corellas and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos feasting in the grass. We don't usually see this large a flock - maybe they are getting ready to migrate north for winter or something? There were so many of them that I decide not to try and chase them away - Jude has told me about that Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds", so I was respectful.

In other news, it's been a tough week for me this week. I crossed the acceptable behaviour line last week (not sure if that was the uncontrollable barking and crazed behaviour when the handy man rang the doorbell or my latest self-taught trick of jumping up with both front feet and trying to push them over when people walk down the passage?) Anyway Craig has been taking me back through the basics. It turns out that I'm not the boss of the family (really?) and I'm responsible for listening to commands and obeying. I must be doing OK - Jude said that she thought my manners were a little better when we went for our walk.

Now I must go - I need an afternoon nap since no-one is willing to take me for another walk just now.
Woof-oh
Toby

At last! We have chosen our next car

Good news readers ... at last Jude has chosen her next car. Yay!

The current Peugeot's lease will expire at the end of June, so a replacement car is required. Jude loves the Peugeot 3008 she has now but a new version is coming out at the end of the year, so apparently that makes it less than an ideal time to buy a new one. She liked the Peugeot 508 and thought she might get one of those, but had some difficulties getting the version she wanted at the right time. So it was back to the slightly more expensive than ideal Audi A3 Sedan - and this week she placed her order! Very exciting to a human apparently. What ever! 

I'm so glad that she has made the decision. I was sick of hearing about cars, and sick of being left home alone on weekends when the humans go test driving new cars. 

Best thing about the new car is that the back door step is quite low (especially compared to the 3008) so no more clambering up a virtual Mt Everest to join in for family drives. I just hope those leather seats aren't too slippery for me.

Woofs,

Tobes

PS: This is what the Audi A3 Sedan looks like - we're getting 'Monsoon Grey' colour.

I've got a girlfriend

Her name is Sally, and she's a Ridgeback. I met her last weekend when her humans came to visit mine. She is beautiful - and she loves playing and running around like a maniac just like me. Sally's family is good friends with mine - in fact they gave me my favourite toy, 'Mr Banana Man'.

Sally is 4 or 5 months old, and came from New South Wales to live with the Harbours ... she's lucky to have found such a nice family.

Anyway, Sally and I get along really well. I think she is really impressed with my soft and shiny coat - I hope she still likes me when she works out that I'm usually a curly coated scruff.

The humans seemed to have a good time too. Milly specially liked the whipped cream! After a few serves Jude just gave her the bowl to finish.

Mike seemed to enjoy himself too, sharing some of Craig's Christmas and birthday bottles. 

By the end of the day, we were all really good friends. Me and Sally .... 

and Isabella and Sally too ... (no nay sayers, I'm sure that Sally wasn't trying to get away from me by sitting on Isabella's lap).

It was a very fun day - I can't wait to see the Harbours again, especially Sally.

Woof-oh,

Tobes