Monkeys!!

I have something very exciting to write about.

Monkeys. Yes that's right, monkeys.

I spotted them on the city wall gates a few weeks ago, and stood watching them and sniffing them. They chattered away but I don't understand monkey.

Anyway, off we went for our morning walk. Mistress was distracting herself with ship photos again. Yawn.

Waiting for Misery to come back from shipwatch.



We set off back up the hill and I could smell them. Misery and Master were not walking fast enough.

Come along! We need to get to the monkeys.



Master and I spotted them straight away. It wasn't difficult as they were swinging on the branches in the trees. Eventually even Misery spotted them.

They were little baby monkeys. See this one walking along the branches?



Misery walked up to take closer pictures so they threw figs at her. Actually I don't think they were really throwing figs at her, because they were too busy eating them, but it is a nice thought. But when they move along the branches some of the figs drop and fall down onto the ground.



They wrap their feet around the branches so they can sit there and then pick all the figs within reach. Misery tells me figs are nice.





While Misery was taking a few different pictures, Master and I stood there intently watching the monkeys.

Me and headless master. Concentrating on monkeywatch.


Just me.



Look, can you see the face on this one? He was looking at me I'm sure.



Then I was tired after all that excitement.



Oh and I forgot to say I entered the April Showers May Flowers comp over at GSD Adventures. But I can't make the button come up.

Chillin'

As pups said I don't have to write anything, and just stick up some photos, that's exactly what I'm doing.

So here I am. Just chillin'.

On my sofa.



In my bedroom (which they are allowed to use too).





Checking out boots and shoes.





Chilling with Master while waiting for Misery. Here she comes. Quick! look away. Silly Master is not playing the game. Must give him some lessons.



Oh, I wanted to mention my paws after adorable Biloxi said I had 'learned paw placement from Lady Khyra. Now I am particularly honoured to be associated and compared with the beautiful oh-so-fluffy-tailed Khyra, but the truth is I have been putting my paws in quaint positions for many years and am rather proud of them.

In fact, ironically, Biloxi's previous foster home The Kapp Pack, even did a special post about my paws here back in November 2007.

So I think I can claim to have crossed my paws, tucked them, and put them in doga positions for many years now. But I have to confess to occasionally emulating Randi and flipping them outwards, which I used not to do.

Anyway I am getting older, and as you can see on the sleepy pix above it is easy to let them all lie out straight. That way I don't have to worry about tangling them up.

But then later on, I thought I would do a tiny tangle. Just to make sure I could still do it.



Oh, and I got pizza last night. Misery is poorly at the moment and not up to cooking. In fact she is not eating much and wanders around clutching herself muttering and moaning about how she hurts everywhere. I think she has morphed into my 80-year-old Spanish neighbour who wanders around saying 'me duele todo el cuerpo'. Anyway Master didn't want to cook either so he went for pizza and it was a two for one offer so they HAD to give some to me. Yay! for pizza.

Reappearance

Well, I need to thank Jake and Just Harry, The Barkalot Boyz for this post.

Misery has 'been meaning' to write something for ages - although only to say that we are having a blogging break.

I think most pups and their peeps have noticed that, Misery. Two months worth of break so far.

Anyway, after J and JH's kind thoughts asking after me, I thought it was essential to give you all a quick pupdate.

I am particularly disappointed that I missed Valentine's Day and didn't get the chance to send a romantic message to all my darling girlfriends. Actually I probably don't have any left. They will have forgotten all about me. And I am getting to be an older dog too.

We went to my finca for Valentine's weekend, so Misery and Master could have a romantic time together messing around doing nothing. There is no internet any more there, so I couldn't write anything up at the time, and then the blogging decline set in.

We had a fine weekend for V's Day though. Here I am looking for cats underneath the car of my Chilean and Swedish neighbours. They have lots of cats, and a few dogs too.



See the Pointer next to the blue volvo, and the cats playing scary eyes underneath? Huh. I wasn't frightened.



Just checking as we go past to make sure no little cat monsters are thinking of stalking us.



You can see it was dusk, so then we all went home and did nothing.

The next day we all went down the beach for a walk. They had talked about going cycling but settled for a walk with ME. Mistress started taking pictures of the local scenery and then her batteries ran out. So did the camera ones. Had she brought new ones with her? What do you think?

So there are no photos of me looking fetching down the beach. When we got home, they decided to go cycling after all. And when they came back we spent most of the day sitting on MY terrace. It was nice.

You can see her scenery pics here.

I don't know what has happened since then. Nothing really. Master has been decorating their room, which I use too of course, and we have been out for our usual walks.

While I hate to agree with Misery, we haven't really much to write about right now. So I will be back when I have something mildly interesting to say. Hope you are all well.

Looking thoughtful .. and elegant, I think.



I see Misery is up to her usual tricks and is sneaking in a flowering succulent.



Here I am lying on my new dust sheet, next to master's bed-on-the-floor. We had banished Misery to the finca last weekend.





And here I am last night wandering around the marina.



Misery took more pictures of boats than she did of me.

Cats

I will refrain from mentioning mistress's lack of success at sorting anything computer related.

About the only thing I have noticed her do recently is mop the floors - and write stuff on her blogs.

We received a Holiday card the other day. I was pleased about that, I have not lost hope that one day - preferably before next Holidays - she will actually print some cards for me.

Anyway, just so pups don't forget who I am, I thought I would mention some fine cat stories. Well, cat stories anyway.

Mistress went down the town the other day and came back smelling of C.A.T.

Apparently there is a rather sleek and gorgeous black one who hangs around the court buildings in Main Street. Master seems to think he is feral but he certainly looks well-fed to Misery Mistress.

She stood there for ages talking to him - get this - and making silly cat noises so that he came and purred to her, and rubbed himself against her. Just as well she was ill-prepared and didn't have the camera. Next she would be wanting to put it on my blog.

Really mistress, you need to get a life. Without cats. The only one to communicate with cats around here is ME.

So last week, we all skipped out for our evening walk. On our way we met our neighbour across the road, who feeds lots of feral cats and adopts them too.

Other people stopped to say hello to me, as I like to be sociable and make new friends. One woman went off in one direction and then came back again to say a double hello. Hehe, what a charmer I am.

Then mistress decided to go to a boring lecture with one of the people we met. Yawn. Master and I went back to our flat for a snoozelet.

Our best trip though happened when Misery actually took the camera for once. I avoided the camera. (As usual).

Avoiding.



Thinking.



Misery took a picture of a ship. (As usual). Apparently it is a destroyer. I wonder if it destroys cats?

The cat destroyer (I think).



Then we went home and there was a C.A.T. under the car just outside our block. I tried to get it, but master was not having a bar of it.

Anyway, we went out later again when it was dark, and took a different route.

And there, just outside Trafalgar Cemetery was another of the little terrors. I tried to dig my claws into the pavement and pull master towards it, but no, another unsuccessful cathunt. Still at least Misery was too slow to take a photo.

Always important to check for cats everywhere.



There are cats somewhere, I know. I just need to be let off the lead to get them all.

Snooze update

Whoops. That should say News update. I think I have snoozing on the brain.

I wanted to let pups know that I have stepped down from my role as DWB Snooze - I mean - News Editor.

As Misery Mistress needs to sort out the computer, or rather the compatibility between the computer and the printer, I reluctantly decided that we can't really commit to updating the news when we don't have the time for it right now.

It's not just the News. As well as looking for news stories, we also have to patrol the blogs to make sure that dogblogs are still in existence, that they meet the values and ethics of DWB, and to check for any major changes - such as members who need to be moved to Daisy Chain status.

And I would like to apologise to any pups out there who may have sent news via the email on the News website. Misery trashed all her emails and account info the last time she uninstalled her operating system so we have not been able to check on any potential news stories that might be waiting there. Sorry about that pups.

What else? Some of you have been asking about the movie project. Well, like everything else, it is on the back burner until the hardware/software probs are sorted. Sadly.

When Misery finished her 50,000 word novel - which was NOT about me - some of you suggested she should write a story which involved me. So I am thinking about maybe having another blog to map out the movie stuff, and write a nice long PippaStory.

But not yet. Misery has far too many blogs anyway. And if I let her start another one right now, she will never sort out the computer issues. She will be tap tap tapping away merrily all day instead of getting on with fixing.

So if we aren't around for a while - we are fixing. And if we are around, that means I haven't put my paw down firmly enough, and she is still putting off the fixing. I'll keep you updated on her lack of progress.

Gotcha - or rather GotThem - Day

Well, everypup, today is the Big Day. My GotThem Day. Because after all I found them.

I think lots of you already know how I found Master and Misery Mistress wandering around the hillside and the streets in the Spanish village I was dumped in. They looked so forlorn and only had two oldish dogs, so I knew they needed another pup.

If you haven't read the links, they are on the sidebar under My Story 1 & 2.

Now Misery usually forgets my GotThem Day, but as we posted about it last week, even she has managed to remember. However I have noticed very little different about it. A few measly helpings of toast, certainly not a Special Day Helping. Nor did she leave the rolls and butter out when she had finished which I thought was extra mean of her.

But as luck would have it, a few days ago, notification came that we had a parcel to collect. As it didn't have my name on the card, Misery thought it was for her. How silly. Naturally it was for ME. As the parcel place doesn't open on the weekend and Monday was a Bank Holiday, Misery had to wait until Tuesday to go and collect it.

The customs officer was very impressed with the parcel. She loved the dog pictures on the label, and the Paw it Forward sticker.

See the nice stickers (and my tasties, one slightly the worse for wear)


I checked it out of course, had a good sniff and tried to tear it apart.

Looking underneath


Trying to get hold of the corner


And then I had a little play with the toys. First I played with the tuggy and the ball. I like tennis balls, and have some yellow ones on my terrace but none of them were new. I like to watch them roll down the steps and make Misery go and and fetch them for me. And I have never had a purple one before. Then I got my paws on the tasties and tried to demolish them before Misery took them away from me.

My lovely purple ball


More goodies?


My tasty just before I demolished it


The green tasty


Trying to demolish the green tasty too


Hey! Where have they gone?


Toyless :(


Today I have been allowed to play with my ball and my tuggy thing. I am not very good with toys because street dogs don't have toys (apart from bits of wood that they find). But I like the purple ball very much, and Misery is helping me learn how to play tugs with the other one. Oooh, and I have just discovered it squeaks. Hehe.

Me and my toy on my sofa


Getting hold of it with my teethies


Toys are hard work - time for a rest


A big bark-out to Addie for such wonderful gifts, especially as they arrived in time for my GotThem Day.

ETA Misery and I have changed my music for my GotThem Day to my favourite song - but clever Princess Eva noticed it before I got chance to say so. How nice to have such a darling clever girlfriend.

Keeping order

I have noticed the appearance of some little trouble-makers around my normal dog-walking route.

As you know, I am nice friendly Pippadog, even though Jacks, Narra, Tuchuck and Rousseau seem to think I was looking at this little pup like lunch.

But the other day we were just setting off and a ferocious Jack Russelly sort of thing came charging round the corner at me and decided to attack. Attack me! Nice friendly Pippa. Well that is, until something decides to attack me. I decided to give it some of its own medicine, but master wasn't impressed and held me off. He also made sure that my neck was a long way from the little monster so that it couldn't get hold of my neck.

Then the woman came round the corner, and master suggested it might be a Very Good Idea if she used a lead in future. Instead of letting the dog run riot attacking gentle giants. Quite right master, although I was trying to put him right when you interfered.

And yesterday, master and I were sitting chatting to some of our friends and another woman came up with a dog. It was on a lead. And it looked like some of my friends so I wasn't worried. Then it jumped up, as though it was going to bite my nose. I reacted very quickly. I lifted up a big Pippapaw and gave it a smart cuff around the head. Ha! Everyone laughed, and the woman told her dog, that was what it deserved for being naughty. Perhaps I am a boxer in disguise.

Now, speaking of boxers or rather boxes, I am embarrassed to say this but on Boxing Day mistress finally tried to do a photoshoot with the aim of getting e-cards to everyone for new year. As you can all see, nothing has come of it so far. This may of course be because master and I were not co-operating. I have passed on the Ao4 lessons to master and he is getting quite good. I am better of course. So here I am, not looking at the camera.

My purposeful walk. No time for silly photos.


Avoiding mistress. What a fine big cannon. And an even bigger boat behind.


Looking down the quay. Master looking down at me. What is mistress's shadow doing there?


Checking out the peeps walking past. Mistress is still determined to get on the picture with her silly shadow.


A leg shot. Very good mistress. Pure class.

Butter wouldn't melt.....and the annual review

Well every pup, inspired by all your helpful and pawsitive comments regarding my food foraging, especially Jackson's - I just hope you got some credit for saving on the washing up by going for the self service buffet option - I thought I would have another go on Boxing Day.

Misery had gone to the shops, which is one of her duties, although she always tries to put it off on some spurious excuse that she has to supervise me. But master remained behind and agreed to prepare lunch. When he had put all the veg trimmings in the bin he decided to take it outside, so down he went.

Naturally I wandered over to have a little lookie to see if there was anything left for me. And what did I find? Yes, the nice butter dish. Sadly there were no bread rolls to go with the butter as I had eaten all those on Christmas Eve. I carefully put my front paws up and reached out for the butter dish, and then gently placed it on the floor.

I knew I had to be quick because master wouldn't be long putting the rubbish outside, so I licked the dish out as fast as possible. When master came in, it was nice and clean. I was waiting for him to be pleased at my contributions to the washing up, but he picked up the dish and said "Bad dog, go to your sofa."

Well, I was going to my sofa anyway after my nice find, but I thought it was a bit churlish to call me bad dog. If master doesn't want me to eat butter he shouldn't leave it out. In fact, I have to report, he has since been putting it in the fridge all the time now. And the new bread rolls seem to live in a cupboard. I foresee a starving new year.

.............

Onto Pippa's Review of 2008. Last year I did a review, which I really enjoyed putting together as it is so easy to forget what has happened during the year.

So in January, mistress forgot my Gotcha Day - which is 14 Jan mistress, please remember next year - and we went back to my finca, so I had a fine time playing on my terrace. I said goodbye to my new friend Durango, who sadly was only with the Brat Pack for a very short time.



February was mostly a nice sunny month and I lay outside smelling the jasmine on my terrace and sat at the table waiting for my omelette. I got treats from my darlings Tasha and Eva, got lots of awards and had a few girlfriend problems, so I decided not to look for any more. It was also leap year so I thought I better let all my girlfriends know that I didn't expect any proposals. Phew! Didn't get any - apart from a half-hearted one from Sophs. Oh, and we went for a fine excursion into the hills, and got stuck down a river bed too. A busy month.



In March we decided to go back to my Gibflat to check out what the Gibcats had been up to in my absence. Master seemed to think he might go look for some more work too. We did a black and white photoshoot as the prelimary for my new career on the silver screen. LacyLulu gained her angel wings.

In April we travelled up and down to my finca again but only at the weekend as master had found himself some work. More importantly I wrote the first draft of my film project.

May was a sociable month chatting to people at the marina and the guardia civil when we crossed the border. It was also a very sad month because darling Tasha, one of my earliest and sweet-hearted girlfriends, went to the Rainbow Bridge.

I became a restaurant critic in June, which I can recommend to all pups I must say. At the beginning of the month, I posted about Harry, my very good friend, who had overcome huge pawlinesses 18 months previously, but finally went to the bridge at the end of May. And at the end of the month, young Baby Love's health problems finally became too much for her to fight any more, and she joined so many of our friends.

July was pretty much like June - lots more food out for my new role as restaurant critic, and Crum-Pets at home. But more sadness as three more lovely friends left us - Kelsey Ann from the Kapp Pack, another very special girlfriend, and Blogs from the Dogs in the UK had such a triste month, first with Megann going to the bridge, and then KuBrin.



In August I got a Beetle-Pet, but she didn't last long - not my fault, I must add. I shed lots of fur in the hot summer. Mistress was busy celebrating their wedding anniversary - for most of the month I think. September was pretty quiet too, although mistress managed to take some silly photos of me. We reminded everyone how I got my name.

The best thing about October was that one day I escaped on my morning walk with master to go on a cat hunt. But I found my way into a courtyard and was trapped, so my fun didn't last long. And I posted a rather good doga photo.



November was a mixed month. The good news was that I discovered yeast extract on toast is delicious, I played Nose Expose on Bolo's blog, and finally revived the movie project. Mistress spent too much time writing a silly novel. The sad news was that beautiful Freda went to the bridge. Lovely Freda, another of our early, and great, blogging friends.

Which brings me up-to-date in December. Mistress decided to inflict computer problems on me. We went back to my finca for a nice holiday, but then master had to come back to work, so we didn't stay very long. I helped myself to bread rolls and butter for Christmas, but you all know that.

So there we are. Another year in the life of Pippadog. Some fun, some cats, some nice food, and some sadness too. Master, Misery and I would like to say that we are thinking of the families of those pups who have gone to the bridge, mentioned above, they have all been loyal and supportive friends who have always visited my blog. We are thinking too of all the other families who have seen some pup go to the Rainbow Bridge as it has been a sad year for the DWB community.

And I would like to thank every pup of you for continuing to visit my blog in spite of Misery's erratic posting. Wishing you all the very best for the New Year.

Pippa

Merry Christmas

Well, everypup, I hope you are having/had/will have a good Christmas.

I had a fine Christmas Eve. Master came home from the supermarket with some provisions and mistress helpfully left them on the bread board.

Naturally when she went out for a few other things I jumped up and found some nice wholemeal rolls.

I took them down carefully and put them on the floor, and then took them out of the plastic bag and started to eat them.

But I realised something was missing, so I jumped back up again and found the butter dish. I carefully took that onto the floor too, without breaking it, and licked it out.

What a treat.

Mistress came back in after about half an hour and thoughtfully took away the plastic bag. So then I decided to lie down and enjoy my last bread roll in comfort. Yum. Yum. After all, it wasn't much use to them full of Pippa slobber, was it?

Santa helps those who help themselves, say I.

Oh and we went out for a walk this evening, but I didn't feel like posing.

And no, Mistress has still not sorted her computer or done any holiday cards.

New Year Resolution - Find A New Mistress.

Christmas Day morning. Snooooooooooze.


Best foot forward for my Christmas Day photoshoot.


Where is master?


Oh. Here he is. Have we finished now?