Life with Rick & his humans

  Wow—it’s been very hot here in the UK over the last few days! So, Rick’s daily walking routine has been tweaked a bit. He now heads out very early in the morning and again late in the evening. I’m not sure he entirely approves—he does love his routines—but needs must in this heat. Gardening chores now have to be done before coffee because it’s simply too hot after that. I try to grow as much of our own veg and salad crops as possible in summer. Last year’s courgettes were a bit of a disappointment, so I planted a few extras this time around. Well... they’ve gone into overdrive! We’re now playing a daily game of courgette Jenga . I either need some excellent courgette recipes—or a lot of friends willing to adopt some! Meanwhile, today was the big day for our kitchen radiator upgrade. We’d decided to swap out the old one for a stylish anthracite cast iron model. The young plumber arrived bang on time, and I showed him exactly where we wanted it. I’d even carefully marked the flo...

  Back home and back to the familiar routines. Of course, in true British fashion, we’re being thoroughly dramatic about the weather. Yes, we’re having a heatwave—but honestly, the news coverage makes it sound like we have never seen the sun in Lincolnshire. I mean, thank goodness for the helpful experts reminding us to sit in the shade and drink water . Who knew? Still, we made the most of the sunshine with a quick spin on the bikes. It had to be a short one—we had a busy day ahead—but we stuck to our usual loop out to Waddington, with a little extension for good measure. This took us down a narrow lane flanked by unusually wide verges. So wide, in fact, that the farmer had mown them for hay. Clearly, this was irresistible to a mother sheep and her two lambs, who had taken the opportunity to stage a breakout from the flock and were happily munching away at the roadside buffet. We spotted them up ahead and slowed down. Surely we could just pass quietly and carry on? Of course ...

  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 ...

It’s been a busy few days here, with lovely weather and a long list of jobs to tackle before we head off on holiday. Rick, of course, has been right in the thick of it—or at least supervising in his own special way! Rick has been chilling out in the garden, supposedly helping me sort out the lawn and veggie patch. His idea of “help” mostly involves chasing the mower and trying to bite the wheels. When that gets too boring, he drops his ball right in the mower’s path, forcing a quick game of fetch. I'm convinced the lawn now takes twice as long to mow. The spring-planted first early potatoes—Maris Peer—were ready to crop, so that was next on the list. Rick took up his preferred supervisory spot under the apple tree. It’s a strategic location where he can keep an eye on me and stay alert for his arch-nemesis, the postman. We ended up with a pretty good haul! Pro tip: cook way too many and enjoy the leftovers fried with chorizo the next day. You won’t regret it. While I was under ...