What a difference a friend makes...

.... Especially one bearing an apple core.

Yes finally we are allowed to meet up for walk and picnics with our friends again. Hooray! Here I am on Friday just past, enjoying warm sunshine in Durris Forest with our lovely neighbours Neil and Yvonne.

Since Gail was far too busy nattering with her dear pals, she neglected to take any more photos of this most agreeable six mile walk around the edges of an irregular patchwork of ancient woodland and conifer plantations. Well anyway, the phone camera would have failed to capture the calm green tranquility of the views across the Lower Deeside hills, the slight buzz of excitement felt at the sight of remnant patches of snow on the distant Cairngorm plateau, the heady coconut smell of gorse mingled with the sweet pine scents nearby, the fresh colours of wildflower abundant meadows, and the lively birdsong soundtrack still relatively undisturbed by road and air traffic...

Life feels better!

Bertie perfoms his good neighbour act

Neighbours exposed! A tree! A birthday!

A big storm came through Aberdeen the other night, and our neighbour's recycling box blew over.

It seems they had put the wine bottles at the base and covered them with water bottles before putting the box out in the street for collection.

I wonder why they would do that?

Do you know what your neighbours are drinking this festive season?

On to a different topic. I didn't really want to show you this next picture, 'cos I don't much like being outshone. But Gail thinks some of you might to see the Christmas tree we chose so carefully last weekend. She also bought a new set of lights and boy are they bright!

Oh and finally. In my role as Bertie Boffin, Scientific Advisor to Blogville, I am pleased to announce that next Monday (14th December) I shall be celebrating on this blog a very special scientific birthday. I wonder if any of you can guess what my post will be about?

This is your morning call!

Do you ever worry that other residents of your road are missing out on a lovely fresh new Spring day by lying asleep too long?

I do.

Why else would I bark so enthusiastically as I trot down the street first thing every morning with Gail, on my way to the park?

And of course, encouraged by me, my partners in crime pals, Daisy Yorkie at No.4, Harry Schnauzer at No.39 and Heidi Border Terrier at No.41 (she has the most impressive vocal chords) all join in. Sometimes next door's Molly Springer Spaniel too. Only Jake Flat-Coated Retriever at No.8 always stays silent.

I think my neighbours are very lucky to have such a public spirited dog like me to wake them up!


PS My wire-haired fox terrier friend Butchy (Katie's older brother) has terrible news this morning. He is very, very ill, suffering from brain-tumour induced seizures, as did dear old Hamish. So I am a bit subdued just now, thinking about him and his family. Gail's face looked so sad when she read the news.