Travels with Martha

Wednesday 20 December 2017.

As Rosie, our humans and I are on a mini-adventure I thought I would write a quick blog for you!
Setting out this morning we had an easy drive from Tardebigge, in Worcestershire, to our holiday cottage near Whitbourne. Now, Whitbourne is actually in Worcestershire – near the border of Herefordshire, yet our cottage is apparently in Herefordshire, albeit the postcode is WR!

The setting is just beautiful. Set in about 3 acres, we have plenty of room to just b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Running around is allowed too; oh, how I have missed space to wander and run over the last few years whilst living in the caravan and then the NB.

Leigh and I have come to realise (over the last 4.5 years) that we don’t just enjoy outdoor space… our very souls crave it. Some people and canines love beaches, some love cities; my love is that of open countryside and lots of green space. Fields, woods, commons and open views are my idea of heaven and I have these right here, right now.

Leigh booked this cottage a few months back. She said, ‘Martha, it’s been several years since I have been able to entertain properly – and I do love entertaining over Christmas’. I don’t understand really. I am very happy to let others prepare my meals and look after me. Yelp!

Enjoying 4 bedrooms and a games room she knew the cottage would make an ideal base, so set about working out which of our family and friends could visit and when. The spare bedrooms mean guests can enjoy a drink or three (if you remember, Leigh made blackberry Gin and Vodka late summer) and stay overnight. No worries about drink-driving that way.

The rota went awry – not just because Cleo and Steve (my human sibling and her OH) decided to spend December in Australia – but because others had work commitments and so on. Anyway, as always, everything worked out in the end and we now have around 30 family and friends coming over the next ten days. Leigh is in her element!
Rosie, being an old girl of 13, will enjoy the cuddles and I’ll do my best to annoy most of the guests by growling (it’s only talking really) and only socialising when I want to be stroked. Humans do try to take advantage by stroking us canines whenever they feel like it. I let them know I’m the pack leader by grumping and growling. Yelp!

We’ve had a leisurely day; a walk over the common followed by a huge shop at the Co-op in Bromyard – I dare not share what the humans spent on food – before Leigh cooked a delicious meal of lamb steaks in red wine sauce. After pudding (a ‘Leigh-concoction’) Leigh took a long bubble bath. Tom took her a glass of Amaretto up to enjoy whilst bathing – which reminded her of the days when we lived permanently in a house…

Listening to music – from Elvis, to Simon and Garfunkle, to Patsy Cline and Mike Nesmith, and savouring the warmth of the log burner, makes me realise what a lucky pack we are. Leigh and Tom seem to be completely at home here – bless them. Rosie and I have settled in well too; our beds are near the log-burner and the Christmas tree so it all seems very festive.

All that is left to bark is, ‘Have a wonderful Christmas – remember to immerse yourself in the moment. Enjoy the little things – like a smile off a fellow human being, or the odd Christmas card you receive from a far-away friend. Contrary to the Jessie J song – it’s not about the money, money, money!’
Most of all, stay warm and have fun,
Woofs,
Martha x