Home!!

Crikey it's good to be home. Here's a few things I like about being at home.

I can sleep in my very own bed next to Mum.

I can come and go as I please!

I can play come to tea with the Grandkids. Anyone for cake??

I have my choice of daytime resting places.This one catches the morning sun. Can you see our Harri's gardenia?

I watch tele at night with Mum and Dad here.

Our Harri's lounge where I sleep at night when it's too hot for my bed next to Mum.

The one inside is another early morning sun spot as is the outside one. I also soak up the sun on the blue chair.

My kitchen mat where I keep an eye on everyone.

I'm not allowed on this lounge!

Or this one!

And definitely NOT this one!!

And CRIKEY ..... if I get on this one I go to the bad dog's home!

OR go to gaol!!

I get to do window art!

And sneak a play with the Grankids toys!  I love this one .... it's got bells in it. Eat your heart out Puffie!!

Well that's a few things I like about being home. There's a whole heap more but I'll save them for another day, aye.

Wanna run .... Love, Charlie.

I'm home!!!

How good is this??????  I’m home!! 
 

My VERY own front door ...... Yaaaaay!!!

My Jetty.   When Harri was away for a road trip he would always pee on the jetty post when he got home. Me .... I just eat the duck poop!!

Looking back the other way! No flowers or autumn leaves here, aye??? Just palm trees and blue sky and it's WARM!!!!!!!!

I’m so happy. I had a great time on the big road trip but … crikey …. It’s good to be home. My own bed …. My own lounge … my own stuffie toys …. My own BEACH ….. AND …. Joy of joys …. It’s warm!  I can go to bed naked again. How good is that??? It took a while to thaw out but I’m all thawed now. The little girls are coming over tomorrow and I’m going to see the little boys on the weekend. Crikey, I’ve missed them. Remember all those pretty party dresses Mum and Dad bought for the little girls. Well ….. they’ll be getting all dressed up in them tomorrow. Bet you can’t wait to see those piccies, aye??  But right now I have to finish off my road trip adventures for you. So here goes.

The day after the worst day of my life was a bit better but not much. When I woke up it was raining. Big time rain and cold, cold rain. It was still blowing a gale too. Crikey …. Another shocking day. Dad decided it would be too much at the festival for me so he went by himself and Mum and I went for a drive around the little country roads hoping it would stop raining long enough to go for a walk or two. All this was ok by me. I sure didn’t want to be frozen solid again and I also didn’t want to be deafened again by BAGPIPES. It did stop raining for a bit and Mum and I did get to have a bit of a walk but not much because we got a phone call from Dad to come and pick him up. You should have seen him. What a sight! He’d taken one of my snuggly blankets to keep himself a bit warm and he had it wrapped around his head. He also had on about 4 T-shirts and a big coat thing and the ugliest beanie you’ve ever seen. He was sooooooooo cold. He reckoned he’d never recover. Shame Mum didn’t get a photo of him, aye? Most of the festival had been cancelled because of the bad weather. Can’t say I was disappointed! There was going to be a free concert INDOORS that night to make up for the cancellations and Mum and Dad decided to go to it. I WASN’T allowed. THEY LEFT ME IN THE CAR!!!  In the FREEZING COLD car.  Fair dinkum …. Talk about neglect! Well ….. I can’t really complain. I’ve got those two just where I want them. Listen to this. We went back to our cottage before heading off to the concert. Mum and Dad got 3 hot water bottles and filled them up. They put not one, but two, coats on me and they took 3 of my snuggly blankets to wrap around me. They also took a thermos of hot water to refill my hot water bottles at half time. See ….. told you I had them where I wanted them. BUT the best part …. Dad came out about every 20 minutes or so and fed me a chicken neck or two. I LOVE chicken necks. They are my very favourite things in the whole world. Am I spoilt or what??? I was as happy as a pig in mud. I was warm …. I didn’t have to listen to all that noise ….. it was quiet.  Well not real quiet!  I could still hear the bagpipes. Just not at a trillion decibels. Guess what?? I didn’t mind the sound of them. They are quite nice from a distance. Mum and Dad really enjoyed the concert. They were warm and so was I. The trip back to our cottage was a bit eventful. Lots of Roos!!  Mum was driving and Dad was Roo spotter. We didn’t hit any, thank goodness!! They can make an awful mess of the car. Not to mention what they can do to themselves.

The next morning we were all up early. We were heading for home and it was a very long drive. We could have stayed another day but I think we were all feeling the need for a bit of home comfort.  Would you believe it was a beautiful sunny day. Still cold but a beautiful day non the less. What a shame it hadn’t been like that for the festival. Two of Mum’s favourite festivals ruined by bad weather. Well ….. them’s the breaks, I guess.  Even though it was a long day of driving we had a good time.  We stopped a lot so didn’t get home till quite late. The weather was good and the countryside was VERY beautiful and we were warm. What more could we ask for!

Dad wouldn't stop to take photos except for this once!!

Mum likes rocks so he had to stop, aye??

We had been gone from home for 57 days all up and travelled 10,000klms. Crikey …. That’s a lot of hours in the car, aye?? It was fun and Mum and Dad said I travelled really well. Almost as good as our Harri!  Struth …..that’s a lot of praise for me. I didn’t think I’d ever hear that I was even ALMOST as good as our Harri. He was perfect!!!!

Wanna run .... Love, Charlie. 

Enid my sweet ..... where are you??

Now listen here all you blokes and Sheila's in Blogville .... This is PRIVATE.  You are not to read any further than when I tell you. This is for MY Enid's eyes ONLY .... ok?????  Right ..... STOP reading NOW!!!

Crikey Enid ...... I'm sooooooooo worried. Where are you? Are you Ok?? It's been positively ages since I heard from you.  Please tell me you are alright!  Frankie Furter and Ernie are having a bit of a do for Sarge's date day and I was so wanting you to be MY date. Please tell me you are alright and you will come to Sarge's date day with me. Mind you ..... I've got no idea what a date day is all about but if Frankie and Ernie have anything to do with it I'm sure it will be a whole heap of fun.

It looks like it's all about Love, Enid. See the heart. Just like on OUR beach, aye??

Pleeeeeeeeeeease Enid ...... talk to me.  I love you so much. Please tell me I'm still your bloke and please come to Sarge's date day with me.

Always your Charlie ... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please Enid ..... I miss you!!!!!

Wanna run .... Love, Your Charlie.

The worst day of my life!

I've just had the worst day of my life. What a nightmare! I got up this morning and went outside to do you know what. Crikey ...... I didn't stay out there for long. Fair dinkum it WAS horrendous!!It was blowing a gale and it was only 6am and it was FREEZING! I couldn't believe it could get THAT cold. I got back inside quick smart. That didn't last long .... before I knew what hit me Mum packed me into the car and we headed of to the Celtic festival in Glen Innes. We had to drive for about 40 minutes to get there. It rained!!!! The rain was so cold it was all slushy and icy! OMD! Do they want me to go outside in that. Apparently they do!!

This was the only exciting thing that happened all day! This cattle is grazing on the roadside verge. They are down from drought stricken Qld

Mum liked this bloke. Thought he had attitude!

We got to the festival and Mum tried to walk me around to have a look at things but I wasn't having any of that. It had stopped raining but it hadn't stopped blowing.  I drove her crazy. I was jumping all over the place and trying to rub myself into her legs. Well ......  you would too! How else was I supposed to get warm? I had my big warm whippet coat on and my raincoat over the top of that and I was still cold. You cant LIVE in those kind of temperatures. I could have DIED!! There were sheep dog trials on and Mum wanted to watch those. Crikey .... madness!! I didn't even want to stop and smell the sheep's butts. Mum finally gave up and headed into the main tent with Dad to watch the entertainment. It was a bit warmer in there and Dad did put my mat down for me and I did have my blankie. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!  Heaven!!!! I snuggled up into a little ball and all was right with my world. Some people were up on the stage spruking some sort of garbage. Poetry, Mum said. If this was the Celtic festival then, just maybe, it would be ok.   Hmmmmmmph!! That didn't last long. The Poets' left and all these blokes, dressed in kilts, made their way up onto the stage and OMD ..... the noise that came out of them was DEAFENING!! Not only did they have guitars, squeeze boxes and fiddles but they had bagpipes. BAGPIPES!! Fair dinkum ..... you couldn't hear yourself think.  I curled up into an even smaller ball and got my head as far under my blankie as I could, trying to get away from all that noise, but it was still a million decibels louder than it should have been. I would have bolted but I knew if I did I'd freeze to death so I just had to put up with it, aye?? This went on ALL day!!  Those bagpipes ...... what to say??  Those Scots have a bit of a problem, I reckon, if they think that's music. Fair dinkum ...... very unattractive instrument! Mum and Dad loved it. Crikey ..... and I thought they had good taste. After all they did chose ME!! We were there all day. Like from 9am to 3.30pm. Oh My Head!!!!!!! Mum took me outside twice for a walk but I was having none of that. Pulled and pulled until she took me back into that tent so I could curl up under my blankie again. The noise was intolerable but at least I'd only go deaf. If I stayed outside I'd freeze to death.

Get al oad of all those bagpipes. OMD!!

Cute little Scot, aye??

I only stuck my head out for a pat!

Well I had to breath didn't I. Otherwise my schnos would have been covered up too.

We finally left and did the big drive back to our cottage. We went via the local dog park so I could have a bit of fun on the worst day of my life but there were NO dogs there.  I could have told Mum and Dad that. No one else would be mad enough to take a bloke out in that sort of weather.  I did run around a bit and then Mum walked me back to the cottage while Dad drove home. What's with Mum and her walking? I wanted to go with Dad but no...... I had to suffer some more on this perfectly horrid day! What a nightmare. I'm back in the cottage now. In front of the fire and here I'm going to stay. It's quiet!!!!!    

Another pretty cottage. Inverell!!

With a pretty garden!!

For all my Scottie mates!!

Inside our cottage!

Hurry up Dad!!  Light the fire ....  See the chair covered with a tarp. That's mine!! I like the one with the sheepskin on it and I sneak on it when no-ones looking!!

My bed!!!

The weather people reckon it's going to snow tomorrow. Crikey ..... I hope they are wrong!!

WOE  IS  ME!!!!!!

Wanna run ...  Love, Charlie.

You're not going to believe this!!

You're not going to believe this! This IS exciting. It mightn't happen but if it does, OMD, I'll be beside myself.  But I'll tell you about IT later. We've left the blue mountains but not before one more day of exploring and walking. It was a good day too. Dad always tries to find little back roads to explore. Mum reckons you get to see more on back roads. Well ... we had a few bush walks and then a bit of a drive around and WE SAW an emu. Mum and Dad have never seen emu's around this part of the world before but that's not to say they aren't here. Mum got out to have a closer look and she didn't take me with her. I barked at HER and I barked at old man emu too. I soooooooo wanted to get out of the car! Spoil sport, my Mum. Didn't see much else except roos but it was a good day, nonetheless!

Gum trees with a view

followin' Dad

What's out there!

More gum trees

Crikey ,...cliff face both sides of this track ...  Hope I don't go flying right out there.

I was a good boy ..... I stayed close to Mum and Dad

Pretty, aye??

What the heck was that????

It was a car ...... right down in the valley. I could see it!!

Old man emu!!

Then we headed off to Sydney for one night only. Had another visit with Nan. Her arm is healing nicely and she was a lot more comfortable and looked a wee bit better. She always brightens up when she sees me. Well .... doesn't everyone!!
The next day we headed off for Glen Innes and the Australian Celtic Festival. Crikey ..... would you believe the weather had deteriorated again. It wasn't raining but it was looking very much like it was going to. Remember the Man from Snowy River festival? Seems like if WE are going to a festival it is going to get washed out. Surely we couldn't be that unlucky. This festival is good fun. I'm allowed EVERYWHERE and along with lots of Celtic music and dancing there are sheep dog trials. How good is that going to be? It doesn't start until tomorrow and we couldn't get accommodation in Glen Innes so we are staying at a nearby town called Inverell. We have a really nice little cottage with a nice garden so I'm happy. Today we went into Glen to check things out and we also went and had a look at a cottage on a sheep farm. It was booked out this year but we have booked it for next year. WOW!! You should see it.  Did I say it's on a sheep farm???? Well it is. It's on a bit over two and a half thousand acres and OMD it's beautiful! The cottage is lovely and FULLY fenced so I will be able to explore our little area AND I will be able to see all the happenings outside the fence. I'm also allowed to go anywhere I like on the property as long as I'm under control around the animals.  Me ..... under control around the animals?   Hahahahahahahah!!  There's sheep and alpacas and cows and horses and roos and roos and roos AND ..... OMD ..... rabbits, rabbits, rabbits, rabbits!!!!!!!! I got to have a look at the cottage and I got to have a look at my little yard and outside my yard I got to meet, up close and personal, a SHEEP!!! I got to sniff it's head and it's butt. Crikey ...... the smell ..... it was delicious!!!! But the best part was the poop. I've never seen so much poop in one place. We went for a bit of a walk around the farm. Me on lead, of course, but I didn't care ...... it was still fun. There was so much poop. Cow, sheep, roo, horse, alpaca and rabbit. A virtual smorgasbord!!!!  I didn't know what to try first. I can't wait for next year. We are going to stay a whole week. How good will that be?????
Now here's  the bit you are not going to believe. I don't believe it either and it mightn't happen but a big cold front is supposed to be coming to Glen Innes and it's supposed to be VERY cold over the next few days and the weather bureau has even said it could, and probably would, SNOW on Sunday.  OMD!!!!!     SNOW!!!!!!  I've heard all about it from all you blokes over there and now I might get to see it.  Crikey ...... I hope it happens. Dad says it will probably melt almost as soon as it hits the ground but I don't care. At least I'll be able to say I've seen snow!!!!  How good will that be?????

Wanna run ...... Love, Charlie.