Day Two Hundred and Eighty One

Miss Pancake

I was very busy this morning.

Because I had to be Zita’s best helper and I had to help my friend Niamh too.

Because Niamh went to the Mahoney’s cottage today. 

I could not go. 

Because I am still a puppy. 

And only big dogs can go to the cottage. 

Because there are bears at the cottage. My goodness me. 

Craig was very hungry today. 

He had cookies with both his too many coffees this morning. 

And they were two different kinds of cookies. That was a tasty surprise for me.

After Niamh left I had my good morning nap. 

On my comfy chair.

Craig says that I am getting too big for my chair. 

That is not true. Too bad for him. 

Festis and Furrgus 

Well it appears that the heat has returned. 

It is not quite too hot to go out, so we had breakfast with young Niamh before morning patrol.

After that we headed out to The Wild Oat. 

We had not had one of their delicious omelettes in a while. An oversight I must say.

As it was a bit crowded we took advantage of their small patio. 

We brought our thermoses. 

Which were filled with iced coffee as we left for the walk home. 

Early this morning we received a telegram from Lochlainn. 

It said that Morag has decided not to attempt to buy Dunbeath from under her parents.

Apparently she feels that since her departure it has been allowed to fall into a ruinous state. 

And overseeing its renewal would distract her from more important issues at hand. 

Such as the disastrous state of Scottish politics, or the dearth of bridges to the Western Isles, or the ridiculously low speed limits. 

And she said that if anyplace needed a full renewal it was Tiroam. 

It was then we understood why we were corresponding by telegram and not by telephone or that FaceTime. 

As you may well guess my brother and I do not always share Morag’s vision of the future of the castle. 

We are open to Scots Baronial, while Morag considers us floundering in a frivolous romantic past. 

Which maybe true, but it is our castle after all. 

I suspect we are looking at months and months of reviewing builders plans before any progress is made. 

On the other hand, between that and the training of her troop of deerhounds, she will be fully occupied.

Which, in our experience, is the preferable state for Cousin Morag. 

Our hearts go out to poor Lochlainn though, I must say. 

Miss Pancake 

Craig got a new book today. A mystery in long time ago Scotland. 

He said he would read me the interesting parts. 

Maybe my friends the Badgers will be in it.

Because they are very old Scotsmen too. 

Maybe there will be a very fierce dog in the story. Then it would be a good story.

Our friend Mister Tom brought us a new detective program. That was very nice.

It is nice to have nice friends. 

Craig talked to Zita’s father on the telephone today. When Zita was having another meeting. 

And he told Craig that he could see that I was getting very big. Ha. That is true.

Zita’s parents read my stories on their flat computers. My goodness me. 

Maybe I am famous. Maybe. 

It was too hot for an outside afternoon nap today. 

So I stayed inside and minded Craig while he read his new book. 

But when Mister Paul came for a visit we went outside and they had cold drinks.

And tasty croissants.

I minded them. 

Because Mister Paul always brings croissants when he visits.

I always get the crunchy croissant ends. 

Then it got too hot and Craig and I went in the house and Mister Paul rode his bicycle to his house. 

When he came to visit his bicycle scared me.

Because he lifted it high in the air and I saw it in my dining room window. 

And I thought it was flying. But it was not. It was only Mister Paul’s bicycle. 

Then I got in big trouble. 

When Zita was putting the garbage outside I went outside too.

By myself. And when I got outside I did not listen to Zita. 

And she had to run and get me. 

So then I was in big trouble, and she said she was disappointed in me.

Because I was not a good listener. Oh my goodness. 

Then I was a sad dog. 

But we went for a nice walk anyway and I tried to be a good listener.

But I was still sad. Too bad for me. 

Niamh is going to sleep at the cottage tonight so there was only Craig and Zita for me to mind.

If I am not still too sad I will watch the detective program tonight. 

Or maybe I will stay in my house in the kitchen. Maybe.