Grandma we love you...

This is Lucy, Rocky's mum and grandma to Bliss, WooZah and Spotty, having a quiet five minutes while the rest of the clan get muddy outside.

Job done

Lucy went back home yesterday to sunny west Wales. If she and Rocky got it right then there should be some new clan members in 9 weeks!

Pizza Express

Long day. Longer drive. Finally made it back to HQ through ice/snow/fog, cooker still iffy so treated to takeaway Pizza. Not your ordinary takeaway pizza, but a handmade all fresh ingredients pizza made by the local tea room chocolate emporium who specialise in good food and even better chocolate. A few quick bites of a tomato, anchovies, mozzarella, black olive and fresh basil. Leave room to get plates. A worrying noise from now vacated room. Several slices missing. Wonder who the culprit is? Butter wouldn't melt!

One dog too many

We are well used to having an ever increasing number of Berners here at Rock HQ, ten seems to be our maximum unless there is a litter of pups. Today we have the perfect 10, Spotty (above) Rocky, Reuben, Reba, Bliss, WooZah, Aunt Montana have Lucy staying (Rocky's current love interest) plus another Lucy, Rocky's Mum and Chester, Rocky's brother are all making use of the facilities.

Tonight I set out in the dark with 5 Berners but in the foggy gloom there were definitely six black shapes weaving in and out of sight. Roll call failed to establish what was going on, five Berners. We carried on. Six shapes moved with me. Was it the mythical black dog of Hergest? A werewolf? A small horse called Trevor? We all stood still. The sixth shape shuffled forward and grunted. Thor the Bernese Mountain Pig had joined us.

Night Terrors

Training for BBMC 2012 has almost started in earnest, given the time of year and demands on daytime caused by work low level training walks are taking place at night. Usually with a few brave Berners like Spotty close behind. They have better night vision than me, I need help to see this clearly in the dark. I had started out with a few more dogs than this but Bliss disappeared somewhere around the half way mark and was not seen again until I returned to HQ. The security light came on which meant something was moving in the yard. Bliss was hiding behind Vic, venturing out to turn the light on everytime it went out. Not sure what it was that caused the night terror but she was very glad to be "rescued". Probably a Troll in the cauldron, or a Werewolf. Brave dogs these Berners.

280 days

We had a visit from our favourite vet today, amongst other things he enquired about our wayward heifer Hetty who disgraced herself with a local lad. As he is much bigger than her there was much discussion over whether or not to let her go full term. Current expert advice is to keep her as active as possible, well as she is still able to jump fences and run up a 1 in 4 slope I think she is about as active as a cow can be, not to feed her concentrates, we dont, she has a concentrate free diet of hayledge, mountain grass and an occasional apple (we all need treats) and on day 275 watch her like a hawk. She might be early. She might go late. 280 days is the gestation time, that means the 28 March is going to be quite interesting.

Top Dog

The Rockmeister has done his duty, the earth moved for Lucy just after breakfast. No wonder he has a smile on his face!

Its a Berner thing

Oh dear, I found these stamps, not the best scan but the real things are great, thats two sets of Berner stamps now, does that mean I have a new hobby?

Cheesy grin!

The Rockmeister looking pleased with himself

On Guard!

Dont worry about me, I will guard the essential supplies until you can get them to safety!
I'm a big brave Bernese Mountain Dog, nothing's going to bother me.

Erm.... Help! These sheep are getting a bit close for comfort!

Not enough!

Rocky and his hair do out in the snow. Not enough snow for a Mountain Dog!

Guilty!

Who is this Berner guilty of crimes against humanity (keeping me awake from 3.30 am, because of moon light, mice, ceiling pixies, lack of warm milk, too much sofa to choose from, cat looking at me funny, cat purring, missing Bodge and Bonny, missing mum, all probably applied) The lovely Lucy. And what did she do when I finally gave in and sat in the same room as her 4.45 am? That's right she fell asleep. Well I suppose that made sense, theres no need for us all to be awake! Berners, you have to laugh! ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Aunty Montana

The oldest Berner of the Clan

Feed me!

Any though of not sharing your food at Rock HQ is met by a chorus of disapproving looks!