A very Muddy Adventure 🙈

Today was officially an adventure day but I still feel rotten so didn’t want to travel too far for todays adventure.

Instead we opted for something closer to home! So we went the fisherman’s car park in Kingsmead by the Weaver.

We did the loop from there to Vale Royal Abbey which was in total 7.5 miles – which I am pleased with when I spent most of the walk coughing like a goodun.

The route was exceptionally muddy!! We did it maybe a month or so ago and it was muddy but not too bad – this time is was a pure mud bath!

Which made for an interesting slightly slower (no complaints from me and my wheezy chest) walk than usual but still lots of fun.

We also stopped for a few games of fetch in the woods so Toby could have a good old run around as he sticks fairly close when walking off lead.

One section of the walk has been filled with sheep which was a pain as there has been a temporary electric fence erected around them – which you have to climb over to follow the public footpath – they have put a piece of hose over the section of the electric fence you are supposed to climb over but it didn’t fill me with confidence!

It also wasn’t a field as such – more a minefield of mud, sheep and radishes (don’t quote me on that they were weird and purpley/reddy)

By the time we’d managed that section Toby and I were both filthy! 😂

After our very very muddy walk we had a little date afternoon with the better half so we all went over to Chester for some lunch in the lovely and very dog friendly Marmalade cafe.

Toby had a little brush down and collar change before we went out as his red Christmas collar now has speckles of mud brown …. so needs a clean 😂

Toby thoroughly enjoys a good people watching / being generally nosey session whilst in the city 😂

The food is gorgeous and they are so friendly and welcoming for dogs!

We also found on this trip that they do real ice cream milkshakes which were just magic 😍

In other news we’ve got a list of things to do to get ready for our first challenge for #10mountains10months next week …. we’ve had to add washing Toby’s back pack to the top of that list 😂🙈

Hope you’ve all had a lovely Saturday!! 💚

Christmas and Beyond!

We hope you’ve all had a great Christmas doing whatever it is that makes you happy!!

We’ve had a lovely few days over Christmas! 🎁

Christmas Day was just me, the better half and Toby 😍 we had a lazy morning opening presents and then headed out for a Christmas walk!

Toby as usual had the biggest hoard – I’d been collecting presents for him for a while and had been stashing treats away for him for Christmas!

We headed to Teggs Nose for our Christmas walk – the weather wasn’t the best but we had fun nonetheless.

We walked around the top of the park for a change and went to the library in the landscape (forgot to write in the book though! 😂)

After our walk we headed home for Christmas dinner veggie Christmas dinner for me, but turkey and all the trimmings for Billy and Toby 🍗🥓🎅🏼

After eating far too much food we slobbed on the sofa watching Christmas films in true Christmas style!

Boxing Day we headed to Yorkshire as Billy’s niece was turning 1 🎉🎁

The drive was truly traumatic – Woodhead Pass was closed due to impassable snow and the alternative route directed us over Saddleworth Moor which was also horrendously snowy – Billy was a pro and I was a super wussy passenger 😂

Toby and his pal Hugo coped really well with the super busy house (after having a little stroll at the park to blow all the cobwebs away!!)

Then begins the Crimbo Limbo!

Today was my last day of freedom before a very short (thank goodness) 2 day week at work.

So we headed to Pennington Flash!

It was a nice enough walk – I won’t necessarily be rushing to go back but that was primarily as there were too many people for my liking.

There unfortunately were a lot of impolite dog owners who had no control of their dogs – which is a giant bug Bear of mine!

Toby is either on a lead or under close control (either a sit or wait beside me as something goes past) if I’m not sure how he’ll react I put him on lead. If there is another dog on lead I am polite and put Toby on a lead …. it isn’t too much to ask in my opinion!

It was gorgeous weather today and I would have liked to have been out for longer and do more than the 6 miles we did but sadly Billy has infected me with a chesty cough and I currently am breathing like Darth Vader and because my silly asthma means as soon as I get a chesty cough I may as well be a 127 year old man I didn’t think it was the best idea to stay out for too long!

However we had fun and that’s all that matters!! 😊

After a few hours to nap (for Toby) and for me to use one of my MANY Christmas bath bombs we had our first therapy visit after Christmas!

Toby was very excited to be back (slightly upset he didn’t see his favourite resident who always gives him a biscuit) but happy as Larry otherwise!

He met a few residents he hasn’t seen before and had a thorough sniff of all three floors to ensure that nothing Christmassy had been left behind ….

Now he’s completely zonked out having another well deserved snooze 😂

We hope you’ve all had a nice Christmas and have something fun planned for
Crimbo limbo!

💜💚

Getting ready for Christmas 🎄🎅🏼

Today we had a beach day to kick off the start of our Christmas.

We headed to Formby beach – which is one of our favourites!

It was fairly quiet for a Saturday morning but I suppose most people were finishing off Christmas shopping, travelling to see family or getting themselves ready for Christmas 🎅🏼

Formby is free parking at this time of year if you use the Lifeboat road car park (always a bonus!)

Toby loves the beach, he always has done – he just goes bonkers! 😍

So he had a good old run and stomp around had a paddle and played ball and frisbee 👍🏼

There was a very cheeky crow who kept following us also so Toby had to chase him away a few times 😂

After a few hours at the beach we headed back to the car (did some festive skating) and then headed home to get ready for Momma and Poppa M coming round for Christmas Eve Eve tea 🎄

I successfully cooked a turkey second year on the trot which I am rather proud of as a none meat eater who never actually cooks meat.

We had a fun packed night with my parentals – Eating, drinking and generally being merry 💚

Tomorrow I’m off to the dogs home – after two weeks not being there I can’t wait to see the dogs and give them all a big Christmas squeeze!

Hope you are all successfully getting ready for Christmas no matter how you are spending it!

Merry Christmas from us 🎅🏼❤️

A little lunch time update! 🍩

We had our last therapy visit before Christmas last night. We are not visiting again until a few days after Christmas now so we can spend some time with the family over Christmas and Boxing Day.

Toby of course donned an appropriate outfit … elf Toby, and had a little pose on the piano (musical elf 😂)

It has to be really cold for him to wear a jumper there as the home is so so nice and warm!

It was much more peaceful last night, our previous visit was for the Christmas fair so it was a very busy visit!

He usual favourite residents were around and very happy to see him! He got his compulsory digestive biscuit from one of the residents – she always asks if he’s been good and if he is allowed his treat 😂

After his visit we headed home and Toby had a little Manicure – I have to schedule his nail clips for after visits as for a couple of days after a nail trim his nails are sharp and I worry about him scratching or marking the residents!
So Monday is the usual Manicure day 💅🏻

We’ve also been using some paw balm for his little toots to make sure his feet stay in top top condition for all his adventures.

Currently we’ve been using Wild Dog Co. Paw Balm which is great!
It’s lick safe and smells amazing, it helps sore or cracked paws and nourishes his pads.

Toby as you can see loves a relaxing little foot rub! 😂

In other news we in the Martin/Howe household are very excited for Christmas and have got a busy old week preparing for the upcoming festivities!!

We hope you’re all looking forward to the festive period too! ❤️🎅🏼

Busy Bee Weekend 🐝

This weekend we’ve had another busy one!

Saturday we headed to Yorkshire to visit the other half’s family, it was a strange trip as it went from normal weather to winter wonderland and right back to normal!

Toby had himself a little play date with his pal Hugo – I took the boys out to Rabbit Ings country park – which was lovely – free parking too!!

Lots of little paths and trails and very easy walking without getting lost, plus a nice little climb to the top to the viewpoint.

The boys had a good old run around and posed for some pictures along the way! And boy did they pose ….. 🙈🙈

Toby also got a chance to see one of his little human friends who delights in the fact his collar jingles! (Easy entertainment for children 😂) sadly she wasn’t feeling very well so Toby didn’t get much of a chance to play!

Sunday – we had another busy one, of got the day booked off the dogs home so went for an early morning planning meeting with Sophie to do some final things in preparation for our 2018 challenge.

Toby watched the world go by and witnessed some very loud dogs having doggy cupcakes in Bents 🤣

We then had to go home and wait for our parcel delivery slot!
Which brought a very exciting gift for Toby! A brand new backpack! In a very fetching (my favourite colour) GREEN 💚

After his harness arrived we decided we’d take it for a spin to Dunham, there was a Winter Wonderland event going on but thankfully we arrived before it was due to start so had a fairly peaceful walk around the grounds before hoards of people arrived.

I’ve never been to Dunham in the dusk at winter but it is BEAUTIFUL 😍 all the lights are just gorgeous!

There is also a light up musical fountain …. but Toby wasn’t a fan of that and was confused by the noise 😂 so we moved away from it fairly quickly!

After a little mooch around we decided to head home before it got too dark and too busy due to the event.

Weekends just go too quickly for my liking!!

Thanks for reading! 💚