A breath of fresh air from Scotland

Welcome to "Man with two dogs" - the family website for dog owners and dog walkers.

This is my countryside diary which appears each Saturday in the Courier & Advertiser newspaper.

Archive for April, 2009

Spring breaking out

Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Weekly

WHERE HAVE the green woodpeckers gone? They should be nesting by now and, based just on last year, I should have been hearing their mocking cries when the dogs and I have been out for the morning walk. The ‘yaffle’, it’s called and, especially from a distance, there’s a slightly uncanny note to it. (more…)

Written for Weekly |

First and last

Saturday, April 18th, 2009
Weekly

EASTER BUNNIES and chocolate eggs were all the order of the day last weekend. The Doyenne and I were down in the Borders visiting grandchildren Mathilda and Alfie for Easter, and introducing the new Inka to them. Everyone was delighted to meet him except the cats Jennifer and Fergus which gave both dogs pretty dusty receptions. (more…)

Written for Weekly |

Grandfather’s grandson

Saturday, April 11th, 2009
Weekly

WE’VE GOT the Bug. I don’t mean the Doyenne has taken to her bed feeling peely-wally – Bug is the newest member of the Whitson family. He is a black Labrador puppy just seven months old this week. Fond as we are of Macbeth, our West Highland terrier, I’ve missed the presence of a big dog in the house, and once more I can confidently hold up my head as the Man with two dogs. (more…)

Written for Weekly |

Hands across the ocean

Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Weekly

LOUD KNOCKING had me cantering to the front door to find two girls bearing books – “Man with two dogs” and “Sea Dog Bamse” (which I co-wrote with my friend Andrew Orr) – which they hoped I would sign for them. You can’t turn away these sorts of request when they’re accompanied by American smiles! Our callers were mother Babette and her daughter Marin who were on a flying visit to Scotland from London where Marin is spending a year studying at the London School of Economics. (more…)

Written for Weekly |