Post Riley!

Sitting at my computer screen pondering and marvelling on the fact that the simple little blog I created to mark the stay of our canine friend Riley managed to draw 614 views and counting (even though it finished a couple of weeks ago!) Thanks to you for clicking into the links! Got me thinking. Well I've decided to start up a new blog... even without the dog! Well, that's not strictly true as we do have our own very special dog: Sally and Riley is still a regular visitor so they are sure to feature in it somewhere along the way.
So what is it all about? I hope I hear you ask. It will be about the things I notice along life's way. Check it out and see what you think... Let me know if you feel inclined.
Bye for now,

Claire/

Blimey oh Riley: The Video

Blimey oh Riley: The Video

Enjoy the very last Blimey oh Riley blog post!

Special thanks to Daniel for putting Riley in our care - its been so much fun!

Farewell from Claire :)

Day 11 - A Sad Farewell

           

Riley the landscape gardener decided we needed  a hole

Riley the shredder got rid of a few documents lying around the car

  Riley the walker decided to take Sally out but the lady wasn't for moving!

Alas poor Riley... I knew him so well... and now he is gone... back home with Daniel.

Its really great to have Daniel back with us but we're going to miss having Riley round here and I'm going to be lost without the blog. Its been fun putting it together and its given me a buzz to see people checking in from around the globe. Before I bow out I want to say thank you so much for viewing. I hope you have enjoyed the offerings and that they have brought a little fun into your day!

I will be putting one more Blimey oh Riley blog up with a slide show of the photos and videos from the fortnight. For now though I'll leave you with one of my favourite video clips from this week. It shows Riley impersonating a hippo (think Mud Mud Glorious Mud and you've got it. You could even sing it while you watch if you feel inclined!!)

Well that's all folks!

Splish Splash Splosh - Video of a Happy Riley

Riley found a track of water and made sure he made the most of it! There's a boy!

Day 10: Storyboard by the Pond Starring Riley & Sally

Pond - er this!

'Right Sally we are at the pond, what next?'

'Just look natural Riley and leave the rest to me!'

'Well we've been looking natural for a while but how are we supposed to spring into action tied to this bench sweetheart?'

'Quiet. This is it Riley - they are in our grasp - pull from your end and we've got em!'

'Got what? The flowers? The bushes? The trees?'

'Hey Sally did you think to bring along any bread to feed to the ducks?'

Day 9

Its been a good day to wander through our village and to appreciate the wonder of Spring.

I'm starting to feel a little sad that our time with Riley is drawing to an end and as we took our stroll  the weather seemed to fit with the slight melancholic mood of the moment. As I spied some trumpeting yellow daffodils I started to smile and remembered that with Spring here and Summer on its way there are lots of good times around the corner. Funny but black tulips would never have the same effect!!

Our village has a beautiful green with a 13th century church perched above. Check out these links if you want to know a little more about the village:
http://skeltonvillagetrust.org/#
http://www.skelton-york.gov.uk/conservation_area.htm

I decided it would be an ideal spot for a doggy photo shoot. You know they say never work with children or animals... well I am a qualified primary teacher so I ignored the first bit a while ago and now the dogs... it wasn't easy to get them to pose for camera I can assure you but take a look at these pictures and I think you'll agree with me that it was oh so worth it. 

We continued on to the fields and (Riley in particular) had a fantastic time but I think I'll save those photos for another day. Keep checking because they are worth it! Two more days of  'Blimey oh Riley'.

Riley Takes the Lead! - Video Clip

Here's the evidence of Riley taking the lead... literally. Fun while it lasted. Enjoy!

Day 8

The day Riley's halo Slipped!

Out and about this morning. Sally firmly attached to lead and halti... and my clenched fist. Riley roaming free through the small woodland in our village. All's well with the world. The daffies are peeping out, the birds are singing and, eh, what's that bombing through the woods? A white cat! Riley, no! Stop Riley, No! Oh boy! Said cat is so freaked by the 'lion' chasing it that's its now perched in the top branches of one of the tallest trees in the wood. Can you spot it in the photos? Hope it made it down after we left but it certainly showed no sign of budging while we were at the bottom of the tree. That's for sure. Take that grin off your face Sally!

Day 7

The day my brain wave waved goodbye along with Sally. The run away dog ran over the fields and she blew, she blew! Oh Riley, you were supposed to grab her lead, remember?!

Let me rewind a little and explain the train of events. First of all I decided to let the dogs play freely on the orchard with Sally trailing her lead. After watching Riley pick up the end of the lead yesterday and bring Sally back to me I was eager to try it again. This time I had my video camera at the ready. I'll post the evidence just as soon as YouTube does its thing!

After that bit of success I got a little cocky. We set off down some country fields when I had an urge to let them play freely again. Oh boy what a mistake. This time Sally saw and took her chances. She simply shimmied past Riley, swam across the stream, took to the fields and ran, ran, ran. Riley looked confused. I called, we waited, we walked slowly home. The afternoon took shape. It included a lot of phone calls: police- check, vets-check, local shop-check, York dog warden-check, Petlog-check, old vets-check. Long suffering husband-check.

At around 5.30pm my phone rang. It was a local chap with a stray and exhausted border Collie: Sally. Within 5 minutes I had her back in the car. The guy had noticed a farmer chasing Sally through his fields and back on to the lane where she had fled at lunch time. She had flopped on the path having given up and handed herself in. I'm so glad I remembered to attach her new ID tag to her collar.

We've had words but I don't think she's taken any of it in!

Riley is looking particularly pleased with himself this evening. I swear I saw his halo gleaming in the sun.

Day 6

Entry 1

Ever seen something you are bursting to share but find yourself alone with no one to share with? Oh the joy of a blog! Now listen to this...

... Been out in the village this sunny Spring morning with the dogs. As usual hardly a soul in sight and no other dogs on the orchard so I took my chances and let Riley off lead to have a romp. He had so much fun. I pondered on the sad fact that Sally would love to join in the fun but anybody who has read even one of my other blog posts under the name: 'A Rather Special Border Collie Called Sally' will know that it usually spells trouble, stress and a deal of searching if I weaken! That's when I had a brain wave. If I leave her lead attached to her collar but let it go I don't think she will run off. That way she gets to frolic with Riley & a chance expand some energy and frustration but I'll be able to get her back... today!

My plan worked a treat. They had a blast. Even a passer by commented on the fun they were having and they both stayed close to me on the sun dappled orchard. Fantastic! I knew they were happy to play for a good while but it was lunch time now and I was getting hungry. I decided to walk towards a bench at the top of the orchard in the hope that Riley would follow and encourage Sally to follow too. It's what I saw next that had me in loud belly laughs all the way home. Riley, ever faithful dear old Riley had indeed seen me walking away and was determined to follow... with Sally. He simply picked up her lead and led her to the bench and up to me from the far end of the orchard. Good, clever boy Riley. What a pity I didn't have my camera. I have now and as you can see the experience has quite worn him out.

Entry 2

Fun & games in the garden this afternoon. Riley is responding well to a little training. I think Daniel must have been working hard. Riley happily presented his huge front paw when asked to. He is also beginning to sit on command. I had a breakthrough with 'down' which made my day. He copied Sally's action as she laid out flat and he has repeated it lots of times since. What treat for such hard work you may well ask. Well how about an hour in a pretty princess pink (don't ask) kitchen with the aroma of home made cakes wafting up flailing nostrils and the occasional titbit for good measure? Well that's what he got. Take a look for yourself.
Off for a moonlit walk together now. No need for a torch tonight. The stars are out in force. See you tomorrow. Come on dogs, walkies!

Day 5

What can I say? It's been a lovely lazy Sunday. Riley has been dutifully walked, pampered, played with... even brushed & rubbed down. He's had the afternoon lollaping by the heat of our crackling fire and has felt disinclined to do much more. I don't blame him. It's the day of rest after all!

Day 4

Day 4:

In which Riley was challenged to think about joining an order of Benedictine monks!

We awoke this morning to drizzle - a grey blanket of sky and lots and lots of drizzle! That put paid to the idea of a trip to the coast. (Come on you need a hint of sunshine for that)!

As it happened we had a plan B. I picked up a leaflet for a place on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors yesterday. Its an Abbey called Ampleforth Abbey and has lots to offer including free admission (Always a winner). Its got a swimming pool, tearoom, bookshop, its own pub, orchard and cider distillery - you must be impressed by now. To top it off its surrounded by woodland in an area of outstanding natural beauty! One ingredient needed to be included and it was. I read down the leaflet with care and bingo. It reads: Dogs are welcome on the grounds on leads. Wahey!!!

If you'd like to check it out then you could click into this link: http://www.ampleforth.org.uk/

The unexpected and much appreciated bonuses made us cock a hoop. We drove out of the flatness of the vale of York into... hills (Yippee!!! - miss hills soooo much) and as soon as we got out of the car the sun came out making it the perfect day to take lots of photos. I've had to be very picky about the ones to include in this blog.

                       

He's behind you! Not sure who this geezer is but as its a Benedictine Abbey maybe its supposed to be...

Up a Gum Tree!

This truly is the life of Riley!

The walk took over 3 hours and the views were stunning. As we neared the end this beautiful rainbow arched the footpath back up to the abbey. They always fill me with a sense of awe and wonder. Riley took it all in his stride... of course!

Back to the vale of York (after a stop off at a fab old pub with crackling fire and a jar of Theakston's Old Peculiar) with lots of wonderful memories.

Day 3

Day 3

This morning our stroll took us down the orchard, past the primary school and onto a wooded lane by a stream. The weather was misty and the mood was good. Here's a little memento of our time out together.

'Now how did you get on with getting Riley into your car Claire?' I hear you ask. Well they say a picture paints a thousand words so here's a few pictures that tell at least one story:-

It was a huge achievement for both man and beast but we did it... together! And look where it got us...

Beautiful Beningborough Hall that's where. I highly recommend it. We bought artisan bread from the farm shop and sliced it up for tea - yum! Just the thing after an afternoon ramble- next to a plate of rump steak of course!

Its the weekend... it could be a trip to the seaside for us but you'll have to wait and see.

Day 2

Day Two

What a glorious spring day. Just the day for a long leisurely walk - a step forward for me: Riley off lead!! We found the perfect place - lots of fields away from other dogs. Riley was as good as gold whilst Sally, way too unreliable off lead pulled me all the way even wearing her halti!! Riley is gifted at finding water and enjoying it to  the full. He refused to pass even the smallest puddle - well it would have seemed rude and he is such a gentleman.

Where will we go tomorrow? It depends if I can get Riley to jump into my car. We will see...