A poignant start

Before setting off on the road tous seules, we stopped at a lodge called Hochlands Nest for the first 2 nights of our trip to acclimatise to the heat and rejuvenate from our journey.
Hochlands Nest is a stunning lodge and our thatched wooden lodge is set up high among the quartz and granite boulders and faces the Namibian sunrise.

We awoke on 4th September to a beautiful sunrise and yet we soon learnt; they all are.
It was a personally poignant day, 1 year since my Dad passed away. I was very mindful but not maudling, he never did maudling and so I wouldn't either. However, this is the one continent he never got to see and right from the start I felt him with me on this trip.

At breakfast that morning we were accompanied by Bill and Ben, 2 resident Meerkats who had somehow become separated from their group and had made Hochlands Nest their home. Such cuteness should be illegal. I soon discovered that Meerkats have no interest whatsoever, in branflakes but bacon is a different matter. I dont recall eating much of it myself.

Keep your eyes peeled. I think they are coming!

Now listen up, this is the plan, your super cute face ok?
She will be putty in our foraging fingers and the bacon is ours!

They were hilariously entertaining and the bacon was theirs!
After a long morning's walking safari, we chilled out that afternoon, the exertion from the travel still with us and a pool with such a lovely vista, had to be appreciated.

At around 5pm that day we headed out in Lilly Landrover to catch the sunset over the lake and dam from a viewing point upon the ridge. I took a candle with me and at an appropriate spot, (checking it was snake and scorpion free!), I made a small stone pyre and gathered a few yellow spring flowers.

I lit the candle (careful not to start a bushfire!!!), in memory of my Dad. As the sun ebbed and glowed a beautiful golden flickering dance of gold, orange and red, I dedicated the day, that "Now" to him.

Gareth hovered as I fumbled with the match. The grass is so dry one tiny spark and the
whole lot can catch and be out of control in seconds.

Christopher Leslie Cottam
30.12.1938 - 4.9.2010

Gareth stepped away, I didnt cry I just wanted him to know I hadn't forgotten.
"He would have been proud of you" Gareth whispered "especially as you didnt set light to the whole savannah"

Very funny!

THE HARDEST PART IN ANY DECISION IN LIFE IS MAKING IT, JUST DO IT, IF IT STAYS JUST A DREAM YOU CANT SAY YOU HAVE LIVED IT CAN YOU?

No Dad. I will live as many as this life affords me I promise.

"Must Love Dogs" - Wherever you are!

I had never left Radders for such a long time before. So I had mixed feelings about leaving him for our 19 day trip to Namibia. As wonderful and amazing as I believed and indeed it was, you will not be surprised to learn that my babe was never far from my mind the whole time.

In my head I imagined him, pining like this, when is she coming back?

I knew I was being  irrational of course as 2 and a bit weeks at Aunty Ruth's with all his doggy mates would be nothing but pure bliss for the young teenager!

So in reality it was this, home from home.

So we left for Namibia, back on the road again with Safari Drive, on our gargantuan 5000km trip, exploring one of the most vast and arid countries Mother Africa has to offer.

Now when I say vast; 

I mean ..............V....................A....................S.............T!!

No amount of visualisation or playful imagination can prepare you for it.

To put this into perspective we engaged in conversation with a cattle farmer at one of the outback desert fuel stations and he had travelled 100km, yes that's right, ALL that way to fill up his truck.

The Desert Monitor Lizard is more common sight than another car
or a Fuel Station in Namibia

This distance for our Farmer, is like me driving from where I live here in Rutland to London to do the same thing! It takes him a whole day too as the corrugated gravel roads/tracks are cruel and unforgiving. That we know.

The only fuel for 100km and more! (Gouchas, Namibia)

Whilst there, our farmer also seizes the opportunity to connect to the "Kalahari Gossip Telegraph", "who is prospering, who is not, who has died, who is marrying and who is facing imprisonment", that kind of thing! OfI course, a couple in a British Landy are the best diversion ever, who are you, where are you from, where have you travelled from, where are you going to, what else have you to tell me. These exchanges are common and we realise we are probably like the equivalent of a travelling tabloid newspaper!

However, as a tourist if you get behind such a character, you can prepare to wait to fill up for a long, long, long  time, patience really is a virtue, as it is all over Africa. Embrace it or burst a blood vessel.

On sentry duty at every petrol station is a dog (s), always friendly if not as well presented as our own pampered pooches back home.

Namibians love their dogs too, now there is a great reason to visit a country, and as you will see plenty of them are subject to my affectionate outpourings!

Bucks, the "I have the cutest begging face in the world" Jack Russell

How the heck Dolly the Greyhound survives in the heat here, but she does and is a true Doll. Loved her.

Joyous Jess and her lovely kisses

Echo, an affectionate girl, who couldnt cuddle me enough

Remy the Golden lab, proud and loyal

Thank you my Namibian doggy friends, you gave a stupid dog lover, therapy for her inevitable pangs  and turned them into to twinges instead.

That is until we are close to home and I am nearly peeing my pants with excitement to be reunited with my little one.

Of course, he had the most wonderful time and he found it hard to decide whether the huge knuckle bone he was chewing on my arrival was worth trading in for a welcome monumentous cuddle from the Momma!

BUT it was xxx

MUST LOVE DOGS, WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD.

Heaven is a place on Earth!

Woof woof!

Hello everyone, its the Radders here after my camping extravaganza!

Well what can I say, it was a triumph, it is the only way to live in my humble opinion.

I dont understand why the Momma and the Poppa bother living in a big brick kennel filled with knick knackS and accoutrements.

There wasnt a candle holder or a glass vase in sight and yet they seemed perfectly at ease without them, the momma was well chilled out.

Fresh air, beautiful countryside filled with a million delightful scents at every paw-step, long walks, stick throwing, sausages (!!!!) and the "piece de la resistance"................

Sleeping with the Momma and the Poppa on the most comfortable bed in the world in the cosiest canvas kennel.

"Belinda was "right "Heaven is a place on Earth!!!"

STOP PRESS : Speak for yourself Radders! Comfy is not a word Momma and Poppa would attribute to the sleeping arrangements but cuddling up to you was just wonderful" love Momma

Anyway, whatever, whilst I chilled out with my chew , I was very happy to sit back and watch people busily erecting their kennels with bits of rope, metal pegs and sheets of canvas.

Everyone that is except the Momma! With my Sherlock like observations I came to one emphatic conclusion : Momma is the chuck wagon indoors and Poppa is the chuck wagon outdoors!

Lets look at the evidence:

Poppa : The construction worker

Poppa: Chief Cook.............and

Bottle washer! (this shocked me truly!)

I must say Poppa seemed to be in his element tho and we all relished his culinary fayre.

In direct correlation to Poppa's industriousness, was the Mommas lack of any activity whatsoever, nada, nichts, rien! She also appeared to be in her element.

I was also in my element, snuggling with my pack, life just doesnt get better than this.

P.S Now I know you are wondering about the promised FOOTBALL arent you? Well, the truth of the matter is that Momma didnt buy me a football, she bought me a WUSS-BALL!!! So, feigning puppy like exuberance, I had to dispose of it before it even reached the campsite.

If ever a dog can look embarassed then this is it! Still nothing is ever perfect but this camping lark came very close to it.

AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN!

Verklempt!

I have learnt a new word.

Verklempt - it is of Yiddish origin and means extreme emotion or being on the verge of tears.

However, I have learnt today that it is colloquially used in the US a lot. It is used to describe drama queen displays or over dramatic/ theatrical behaviour which is out of proportion with the reality of the situation.

As in,

......and my dress is falling off ...and my Tammy-Fae look is ruined.....and I can't find my shoes.....and ..... and....and....

According to the Hubster I verklemp quite well on occasions, if only I looked like the above whilst doing it, I could easily justify it.

Today I am in semi-verklempting mode. It is Friday and I have done it again!

I AM WORKING TODAY AND HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL MYSELF

I DONT WORK FRIDAYS SO WHY DO I BOOK CLIENTS ON A FRIDAY...........AND...........AND.....................AND.............................................

We are going camping, no not glamping, the proper rough and ready variety with a dodgy camp stove, blue plastic mugs, a huddled position over the pan of sausages and a cricked neck in the morning.

Lovely, it will rain, which will of course lay myself bare for a verklempt moment or two.

Post camping report imminent. If ever I make it back to civilisation and all that I once knew and held so dear .....and ......and.............and!!

Paws for thought with Radders

Woof Woof!

Big doggy wags one and all, its me "The Radish". Thought it was high time I got my paws on here and raised the standard again.

So whats happening Chez T-J then? Well there is much chatter from the Momma and the Poppa about taking me "camping" this weekend. I have no idea what this is but I am remaining most upbeat by the prospects of a good time. I reached this conclusion purely on the basis that Poppa mentioned he'd be getting sausages for the trip and Momma said she would be getting me a football!

Alleluiah, she has finally got the message, YES I WOULD LOVE A FOOTBALL!!!. Momma took me up to the Rutland Water dog walk on Saturday and I seized the opportunity to make my feelings known. I turned up the bounding enthusiasm to the max everytime I saw kiddies enjoying a kick about. Ok yeah, I probably over did it but Carpe Diem and all that!

Ball games and sausages? Well on that basis I'd say this "camping" has potential.

I love my walks up at Rutland Water, I go most days with my muckers, Dyl Bob and Dusty-D and we meet loads of mates, plenty of chummy bum sniffs, tail wags and chasing around.

But ..... oh she does make me smile though bless her.... that Momma she says

"Radders, Rutland Water, its just like being at the seaside isnt it?"

What is she on about "like the seaside"?

I mean I am only 1yr old but even I can see that it IS the seaside, just look at it, boats, beach, water! Obviously the seaside!

The Momma even said that on Wednesday we would be stopping for ice-cream too so I tell you what more proof do we need to establish that we are at Rutland Water Seaside?

I have learnt that she clearly isnt the sharpest knife in the box but my Momma is a top chuck wagon and gives me the bestest kisses and cuddles.

...............and she is getting me a football and I am pretty happy about that!

Love The Radders (aka "Long Tong!" - no idea why?)

xxx

He came home then........Bloggers Block!

I started this post a while ago and got stuck..............emotionally stuck.

8 weeks now since that day and NO I am just not over it, not by a long stretch...... the post started like this.....

"Sparky is home with us again albeit in a large plastic tub with just his name on it. However, his soul is everywhere, on the wisp of every breeze, on the tip of many a spoken word and forever in memory"

Then I stopped in tears and Bloggers Block set in. The days since have been quite full and so every excuse to say, no time to blog bla bla bla!

I tried to do other posts but they just didnt gel, I didnt delete this one though. Deep down I knew I would finish it, when I was ready.

I just havent been able to open the tub and re-unite Sparks with Lucy under the Lavatera in the garden. I hope Lucy doesnt mind but just not ready to let go. Human emotions, so complex arent they?

Lucy's Lavatera

Then I began to think about all the fur-babies we have belonged to.

First of all there was:

Whiskey "THE SAINT"

Our very first rescue dog as a newly engaged couple, 1995.

Rescued from the RSPCA at Radcliffe Upon Trent, this Lurcher (Collie/Whippet cross) NEVER put a paw wrong in all his time with us.

Forlorn, matted and hardly any fur on his body, he sat still in the pen and pleaded with his beautiful brown eyes to give him a chance. His beautiful soul captivated our hearts and Whiskey was ours. We were rewarded a thousand times, the most affectionate, fun loving boy who developed the most beautiful coat and fabulous foxy ears!

He is buried under a cherry tree on the Brecon Beacons where he loved to romp and forage.

Then came:

Sammie " THE BIG FELLA CHAMP"

Our first rescue Greyhound.

"Greyhounds make great pets, give a retired greyhound a home" I was swayed by the huge PR campaign by the Greyhound Trust in 1997 to re-home Sammie.

Sammie was a Champion Ex-Racer, when he arrived at the house, we were both open-jawed, he was huge and strutted into the house with all the attitude of a hard-knock teenager. He went straight up to our cheese plant in the front room and cocked his leg and left his mark.

However, he didnt fool us for long. The hard exterior gave way to the softest centre, doesnt it always?

I have so many tales to tell about Sammie Big Fella, note to self to dedicate a blog to the boy. He was an incredible dog, he had presence, charisma, an air of authority, a gentle strength and I always felt totally protected, he definitley owned me.

Suffice to say, Sammie brought me through some of the darkest days of my life, he slept with his head on my pillow and wherever I went he came with me, without complaint, just acceptance that this was how we had to live. Even when that living involved a damp, cold caravan in the middle of a field. For a time, HE was the reason I got out from underneath the duvet and as such, he is eternally loved.

He only let me go when he knew I was happy again. Reunited with Gareth, he said "Mum my job is done, I'm tired now"

"Night night basket Sammie" (The shortened version of Goodnight Sammie, into your basket now)
4th June 2004.

Big Fella, 13 years old and still had the stance of a Champion

Then as a friend for Sammie came:

Casey "THE DIVA"

We thought Sammie might enjoy some greyhound company, the trainer who brought Sammie to us arrived one day with Casey.

An elegant, diminutive blue brindle girl. Stunningly beautiful and oh did she know it!

"Just treat me like the Precious Princess that I am"

The total opposite to Sammie. She didnt strut, she sashayed. She looked down on Sammie like some ruffian low life and treated his attempts at play with total indifference and distain.

Notice how her right paw is elegantly crossed over her left!

It wasnt a match made in heaven and in the end, distraught yet defeated she was rehomed.

BUT we made sure our Princess had the best of homes, a home she wanted.

Well it turned out our Diva girl should have won an oscar for her acting ability, aloof, high maintenace was out and playful puppy was in!

She was  rehomed with a family with 3 young girls, the little minx was now one of the girls and played and played like a puppy with those children. Something we could never give her, but like all of them and like indelible ink, she left her mark on our hearts and lived out her days enriching the childhoods of 3 very lucky girls and Mummy visited her to the end.

Sparky "THE STREET BOY"
Lucy  "THE GENTLE ONE"
HUSBAND AND WIFE

We only wanted one. We came home with two. Kennelled together at Northants Greyhound Rescue, we just couldnt split them up.

Opposites do attract sometimes.

Lucy was a champion hurdler called Moonlighting professionally. An elegant fawn brindle and so gentle and all for the quiet life. Oh but she loved her bit of rough, her Sparky boy and kept him in line, like any good wife he got a good barking at on a regular basis.

Sparky really wasnt very bright. He was a failed racer and ended up living with a homeless person on the streets. But what he lacked in brains he more than made up for in BOUNCE and bundles of enthusiasm for life. There was never a dull moment with a Sparky in your life and he made us laugh till our belly's ached.

Husband and Wife, joined at the hip

Lucy was only with us for 3 years but she was so loved and she cherished our love, that I know, I defy anyone not to have loved Lucy, wasnt there a TV show called I love Lucy? Well it was impossible not to, she was just simply smashing.

Gentle in spirit but fragile in health she left us on 12th January 2010.

Sparky missed the "Wife" so much. He moped and it soon became clear to us that he enjoyed the company of other dogs and being a loner wasnt for him. We tried our best to take her place but no-one could.

Lets get a PUPPY!!! Having always rescued our dogs we had never had that experience.

We set our heart on Blue.

Blue "THE BRAVE"

Blue was a beautiful blue lurcher inside and out. After our holiday we were very excited about picking our boy up and bringing him home to Sparky.

It wasnt to be. We came home from that holiday in sad times. My Father had died and Blue was bravely battling but losing his fight to meningitis.

He did his very best but at just 14 weeks old, his little immune system just wasnt strong enough.

He died on the day of my Father's funeral, 20th September 2010.

My Father, a life long dog lover, needed Blue more than we did, its the only way we could make any sense of it. But just like the rest, the longevity of his life was immaterial, our little boy Blue will never be forgotten, he was still ours.

Little Blue, never forgotten, how could you forget that adorable face xxx

Still in search of a friend for our Sparks, we finally came home with:

Radish "THE PUPPY" (named after a salad vegetable)

Radish's introduction to our home was a fraught and frightening time! We couldnt bear to lose another puppy but here we were AGAIN with a desperately ill fur-baby on our hands. A deadly parasite. The vet said, we will give him the meds but its really down to him to fight.

And fight he did, 2 whole months he pushed on through, I dont want to go anywhere he was saying, I want to be with you.

Sparky came into his own, not so dim afterall. He nurtured that puppy like any good big brother would do, he loved that puppy and he protected him.

Dont you worry Radders, Big Bro has got your back

No money could buy a better mentor, role model or trainer for a puppy than our Sparks and under his watch, our Radish grew stronger and stronger.

Then came the day when Sparky's own health began to fail, we knew we were on borrowed time and once again we knew we were heading down that painful path once more. He would have the best of his halycon days, we would make sure of that.

Soon came the day when it was puppy's turn to return some canine comfort and provided a soft cushion for some old bones.

You just lean on me big bro

21st June 2011, the longest day, we lost our Sparky boy.

This post started with him and so it is fitting that it should end with him.

Our Sparky, an all round WINNER.