In the Summertime...

On Saturday we caught up with new friends Matt and Mel, friends made at the wedding of our neighbour's daughter, Leia, a couple of months ago. Fellow dog owners, we met in Centeniel Park for a light breakfast. Sadly, their pug had a cold and was not present, so we had just our two boys.

Because I was showing Rowlf off I groomed him on Friday so he looked his best (he did) and took him for an early-Saturday walk and swim so he would be knackered and well behaved (he wasn't either.) Rowlf preamble...on Friday, Sal and I took the dogs to the local park where they had a chance to run and goof about with other hounds. On both Friday evening and Saturday morning Rowlf displayed perfectly how odd the Irish Water Spaniel is. Friday evening. One of the other dog owners brings out food treats and has every dog apart from one at her feet, awaiting a free snack. Rowlf was mooching around somewhere, perfectly happy with his own company, not giving a toss about the food treats. Saturday morning. A Husky-cross-Kelpie turns up at Clive Park where Rowlf is having a swim. Lovely dog, not agressive but a little dominant. Whiel I chat with the owner the new dog starts to hump Rowlf as he stands transfixed by the tennis ball at his feet. Hey mate, you might like to at least acknowledge what is happening at the back end, I can keep an eye on the ball for you...strange hound. For the record he is 32kg and pretty much on the top-end of the breed-standard size. He is a good size lump, just like his uncle.

Saturday was a lovely day. Warm and clear and very summerlike. Typical, I suppose, one week out from the marathon the temperature shoots up from the teens we have been having to the high twenties in the shade I'do rather wait until aftyer the 21st for. Ah well, mustn't grumble...Anyway, the boys looked great, Matt and Mel loved them, walking them off-lead across the park was a joy as off lead they were, as always, very well behaved. Mel asked to walk Rowlf, while still on-leash, and I let her on the understanding I would not be held responsible for any injury suffered as a result of her, a small woman, attempting to exercise "effective control" over my large dog as she walked him past a duck pond. I did explain that the Irish Water Spaniel is bred to retrieve birds from water, and that Rowlf is alternately very playful and utterly bonkers. It was avery funny sight, but I took the leash back before she went for a swim.

The afternoon was far less exciting and far sweatier as I had the first semi-serious battle of the new growing season with the gardens. I finished the task on Sunday morning - no, I did not work through thje night - with an application of wood-chip to the front garden beds. I stepped back to view my handywork and felt a feeling akin to achievement and satisfaction. A very odd feeling for me to experience in a garden. Very odd.