Here comes the sun...

...doodle doodle...

Today, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was just too glorious a day to spend cooped up in the house working/writing- so the boys and I went on a little adventure.



Out in the sticks and loving it.



Ahhh- the open road!



I think Harvey is enjoying this adventure!



So tempted to explore...



Naturally, Harvey wanted to go this way.



Tired out puppy.

After all our exertions, I think we deserve a snuggle on the sofa now.

See you tomorrow xxx

Read The Hungry-Man for half-price!

On Wednesday, my Harvey- my bestest boy and eternal puppy- will be turning twelve!

I don't know where the years have gone... it feels like only a few months since I was teaching him to sit and shake his paw for treats, and having to lift him on the bed because his little legs were too short to jump up and snuggle with Mummy.

Back then, he was scruffy-looking bundle of fur, sometimes compared to Spit the Dog, who tried to make friends with cats and attack fireworks. Now he's a slightly larger bundle of differently-coloured fur who chases cats and runs away from fireworks!


Harvey aged 6 months

Naturally, I shall be spoiling him rotten on his birthday and feeding him sausages, but Harvey thought it might be a nice idea to share the joy by offering The Hungry-Man at half-price as part of his celebrations.

"What a good idea!" I told him. "You really are a very Clever Boy!"

(Yes, I do actually talk to Harvey. All the time. He's a wonderful listener).

So, that's what we're doing. From now until the weekend, The Hungry-Man will be on offer for only 99p as an ebook.

Harvey thinks you'll really like it but then, as the hero of this cracking tale of a plucky pup who battles unimaginable evil to save his beloved Mummy, he is slightly biased ; )

Friday Five: Cute Dog Costumes for Halloween

Happy Halloween!

I've got my candy, my costume, my scary-night-in TV schedule all planned... now, what else? Oh yes! Dressing up my dogs!

I'm not one of those people who dress their dogs all the time (my boys are tough terriers who leg it at the sight of namby-pamby dog-clothes) but even they enjoy the fuss and attention (and extra treats) they receive when they do allow me to wrap something ridiculous around them. Harvey has a SuperDog outfit, a Playboy Bunny outfit, and is quite fond of his Christmas jumper, whereas Alfie is big on scarves and doesn't mind antlers. My most ambitious dressing up attempt was when they wore matching homemade dragon costumes for Wadfest one year- which went down a storm!

Hats off to these brave dogs, though- their clever costumes made me laugh and must have taken their humans ages. Here are my five favourite cute dog costumes for Halloween:

The Headless Horse Dogman

Cute Cerberus

I'd totally give treaties to these sweeties!

Aww! I wouldn't mind if he invaded my dreams.

Not one for arachnophobes!

 

Does your pet join in the Halloween fun? What cool costumes have you seen this year?

 

Also, don't forget that Strange Ideas: Death, Destiny and Decisions is half-price this Halloween!

 

 

 

Popping Puppy

So, while tidying up last night, I found some popping candy...

Alfie was fascinated by the sound it made in my mouth, so I thought I'd let him try some...



Nomnomnom

Puppy Love: *CUTE ALERT*

Happy Sunny Sunday, everyone!

I hope you've had a chance to enjoy this glorious weather. I took full advantage of my Mum's garden to lounge in the sun and play with her two puppies while I got some blogging done- keep an eye out for new posts this week.

I've run out of words now, what with that and a marathon editing-weekend, so today I thought I'd just share some photos of my afternoon puppy-sitting. Enjoy!






Bilbo and Bertie enjoying lunch

Five freaky photos and the truly terrifying fears they represent

1. Face in the mirror

Have you ever had to muster the courage to look at your reflection? Ever seen something move behind your shoulder? Even worse, have you caught a glimpse of a face other than yours? Even if you haven't, do you ever worry you will?

I do, frequently.

2. Being followed up the stairs

Time for bed. You check the front door, switch off the lights downstairs and switch on the lights upstairs. In front of you as you climb, bright lights and bed. Behind you... shadows and- something else?

I've been known to climb stairs sideways, keeping my back to the wall, in order to keep watch for- something.

 

 

Friday Five: Five cute photos of my dogs

 

Happy Friday!

Just a quickie today, as I'm busy getting ready to hit that "publish" button tonight- a process which involves champagne and strawberry Bon-Bons, and a little Blood, Sweat and Tears (the band- it's for my victory dance).

 

Here are five very cute photos of my boys, Harvey and Alfie, for you to go "awww" over, while you wait to read Strange Ideas: Death, Destiny and Decisions. It's out tomorrow, and I'm squeely excited!

Birthday Weekend

Happy Pre-Birthday to Me!

 

 

Lucky me- not only is it my birthday tomorrow, but today I got to go to All About Dogs at Newark Showground for FREE! (I love a freebie!) I won a family ticket in a competition and, having no kids to drag along, I took my two fur-babies and their Nanny for a stroll in the sunshine.

IT MAKES ME MAD!!!

GRRRRRRRR!!!

That's the noise I'm making today (and note the three exclamation marks). I'm really very cross- which is really not me at all. The voices in my head are alternating between screaming tantrums and soothing "Easy, Mungo" shushes. Why, you ask? Read on to find out why my blood is boiling...

Velvet Snow

Feeling cold and nostalgic this morning- brrr! Too chilly (and snotty) to go out and play today, and I've got work to do... so I watched this to cheer myself up while I drank my Lemsip.

 

Here's a golden-oldie of Harvey playing in the snow a couple of winters ago. We spent the morning playing, then I spent the afternoon drinking hot chocolate and making this. Happy days! Much more fun than hot lemon and planning 'sigh'. Hope you enjoy it x

 

Friday Five- Reasons why we love our dogs

A bit of a sad one today...

Two days ago, the much-loved and esteemed leader of the Border terrier posse on Twitter, @marleyterrier, died. He was a dog, albeit one with a dedicated Human typist, who shared his friendship and words of wisdom on a daily basis, and connected hundreds of Twitter-loving pets (and their owners, obviously- dogs have trouble with keyboards). To those of you who don't have a pet, the outpourings of grief that followed the news of his passing may seem silly, trivial even, when there is so much else to feel sad about in the world. But many will understand that the passing on of a beloved pet over the Rainbow Bridge brings as much sorrow as their lives brought joy.