Life with Rick & his humans

  Rick’s short seaside holiday has come to a close. We were up bright and early at 4:30, just before sunrise, and headed to the beach for one final stroll along the shore. Unsurprisingly, we had the place entirely to ourselves. Rick made the most of it, tearing about the sand and enjoying an uninterrupted sniff-fest. A peaceful way to say goodbye to the sea before heading back for breakfast. By 6 am, we were packed up and on the road. As expected, the M25 was already waking up, but our early start paid off — the traffic flowed and we made good time. A couple of leg-stretching stops later, we were back home just in time for a lovely lunch in the garden with a chilled glass of Prosecco. What more could you want? Well, maybe a bike ride… but not in this heat! That’ll have to wait for a cooler morning. First things first, I was keen to check on the greenhouse and veg patch. It’s amazing what a few days of sunshine (and a very kind neighbour with a watering can) can do. Everything had...

  The beautiful weather continues, and as usual, we were up and out by 7am. Rick had a good long walk this morning — a tactical move, since we were heading off later to visit relatives, which meant a long stint in the car. Thankfully, the air con works a treat, and the rear vent keeps Rick’s crate nice and cool. He travels like a prince. A few hours were spent chatting and after some nibbles we headed back. Back at the cottage the next morning, we decided on a chill-out day. A few cheeky lunchtime drinks may have been involved — well, the sun was shining, so it would’ve been rude not to! Fish and chips are on the menu tonight, followed by an early start tomorrow for the journey home. We’d originally planned to stay until the weekend, but the truth is… we got a bit bored. More than that, we just missed being at home. Our garden, the quiet, the routines — sometimes that’s all you need. So, we’ll brave the M25 and head back to the peace of Lincolnshire. I don’t think we’re the only...

We’ve been blessed with some lovely sunny weather—though it’s been a little on the breezy side lately. Rick, ever the early riser, likes to be out before 7am if possible. He was keen to get going this morning, although progress was a bit stop-and-go thanks to all the exciting new sniffs along the way! The beach was only 200 metres from the door, and once we arrived and gave the all-clear, Rick was off lead and racing down the sands. The beach here has a band of shingle at the top, giving way to beautiful stretches of sand when the tide is out. Rick discovered some rock pools perfect for paddling, but—true to form—he still won’t go into the sea. Even Sue having a paddle didn’t tempt him. Probably for the best, as Rick takes ages to dry out and we all know the distinctive scent of wet dog… We had the beach mostly to ourselves, just a few fellow dog walkers around. After a good explore, we looped back via the road and checked out the local store. Back home, one happy (and slightly tir...

Rick’s Road Trip: Cottage Getaway Begins Rick has been on high alert. A suitcase spotted in the bedroom can only mean one thing — we’re going somewhere! The final confirmation came when his food and bowls were packed into the car. That’s when excitement levels went off the chart. Rick loves a car ride... though he does insist on barking at every lorry, car, and especially motorbike we pass. To protect our ears, Rick travels in his own little “mobile den” — a secure travel kennel with just a front view. It works a treat and, once we’re on the move, he usually settles in nicely. As for me, I hate this journey. Why? One word: M25 . Google optimistically promised a 4-hour trip, factoring in a stop to see Kat on the way. Reality check? Over 5 hours, thanks to three collisions en route. (not us of course) We eventually made it to Kat’s and grabbed a bite to eat. We had a catch-up and admired her new bird feeder, which is fixed to the window and offers a brilliant view of the visiting ...