Looking after the dog!!

Well, I thought I'd give you a little update of what I've been doing over the last few days. Dogsitting. I agreed to dogsit my cousin's Alsation while they paid a visit to the UK. Not having a dog myself I wasn't sure what I was doing, but thought "oh, it'll be fine". I have to say the thought of a couple of days where I could concentrate on sewing, do some blogging and WATCH ENGLISH TV was a bonus. We only have french TV at home, so this was a real plus point. I have definitely decided we must sort this out before Christmas, I do enjoy TV at Christmas, all the Christmassy programmes to put you in the festive spirit. 'White Christmas' , the best Christmas film, I think one of my favourites.

It is probably a first, me walking a dog around the field at 7.30am in my pyjamas and the pouring rain. For the first two days it poured and I mean poured, I was surprised there was any more left up there. Of course she has a routine, Walk her around the house first thing, before breakfast for early morning pee. Then breakfast, have to be careful not to leave here outside alone in case she wanders off, particularly on hunting days (ususally weekends). Apparently she likes to go off and join in. After lunch is exercise time. This consists of me running up and down the field and throwing sticks and balls. They have quite a large piece of land with a lake so I don't need to take her on the road. We usually return and I flake out on the sofa in front of the english TV with chocolate and a cup of tea and she sits and looks at me as if to say 'can we go again now?' Then we go out a couple of more times in the garden, although I've taken to attaching her to her long lead by the back door, especially today it's NOT raining. We have one last play before it gets dark, can't let her stay out on her own after dark in case she gets sniff of a deer, there are lots around here and she likes to go and play. Then we settle down for the evening, hubby usually comes for his tea with Holly our little girl. Then they go home, we only live 3km away. Amelie (the dog) and I settle down for an evening's knitting in front of the fire and of course the TV - I'm knitting a pressie for someone for Christmas.

Final excursion of the day at 11pm on the lead and just up the road a little way for the last pee. She is very good with this and we don't have to go too far. As I sit here typing this I can hear the hunters shouting and blowing horns in the woods back behind the house, I think it's a good job she is inside, I don't want to be chasing off after her now.

The hunters are local men with guns and dogs. I'm not sure what they are hunting at the moment, I believe there are quite strict rules about what they are allowed to hunt and when. I have to say we do have loads of wildlife around here, deer, wild boar, rabbits, hares, not to mention the usual foxes etc. We had a whole herd of wild boar run across the road in front of the car late one night, very scary, but that's another story.

I haven't added any photos with this post, but intend to do so, I don't have my camera with me and am using my cousin's computer, so when I get home tomorrow evening I'll try and sort something out.