An All Night Gale!

Hi Woofers!

McDaisy & Mac Holly here again!

Hey Archie, now the boss is away you can really get some fun going!

We thought that we were going to get blown away last night. It started in the evening with some more of this Horizontal Rain that seems to be the only type of rain they have up here! Then it started to blow, I mean really blow, like a Hurricane that Holly was talking about yesterday!

Well, it didn't stop until this morning about seven. All night long it was rocking and rolling the caravan about, The Missus was jumping about in the bed 'cos she couldn't get to sleep, Old Two Legs was moving about trying to get out of TM's way and poor us were kicked about all over the bed by TM, so none of us got any sleep!

You know, in the end Holly and I had to go back to our own bed for some sleep!

In the morning we found out that four tents were wrecked, just thrown in the dustbin and the campers have gone off to find a Bed & Breakfast to finish the holiday!

We were OK 'cos OTL never did get around to putting the awning up, so we suffered just a little loss of sleep!

Looking for Shipwrecks!

 Holly and I were out early looking for shipwrecks on our beach but as hard as we tried, we couldn't find even one!

So, I decided to go in for a paddle instead of a swim 'cos Holly had found a new sniff and I didn't want to miss out!

A Little Paddle Today!

We did a thorough search of the beach in case there were any stuff washed overboard from the ships last night but again, other than an old bean can, there was nothing, so we stood to attention in our best Nautical Fashion and declared it to be a 'Disaster Free Zone'!

Nautical Us!

Off we went with OTL and TM to Bowmore to do some shopping, well TM did and we went off to the beach with OTL to see what we could find!

Well, we found a couple of men sitting by the wall with a big bag of beer cans and they were enjoying themselves waiting for the distillery to open, well that's what OTL said!

Waiting for the doors to open!

 Our next stop was the beach just up the road from the camp site, we had loads of fun hunting rabbit in the gorse bushes!

Here Bunnies!

Then we went looking for crabs among the rocks and in the rock pools but all we could find were small velvet crabs that are unsociable 'cos they never say hello when we call out to them!

Among the Rocks!

 Later in the afternoon we went off with OTL to a place called Portnahaven which had a light house on the big island across from the harbour.

OTL pointed out the rain storm that was coming in behind it, well we could have told him that 'cos we sniffed it before we even saw it!

Us dogs have very sensitive noses you know!

There's a storm coming!

 Well, after all that running about today, Holly and me were both worn out, Holly fell asleep straight after dinner and didn't wake up again until OTL got his shortbread out!

Do I sniff Shortbread?

See you all tomorrow, we are off to do some running through the forest with TM & OTL, providing it doesn't rain!

Luv,

McDaisy & Mac Holly

Dead Sheep Pong!

Hi Woofers!

McDaisy & Mac Holly here!

Wow! It has been some terrific winds up here! Last night the wind direction changed, so, from a gentle rocking backwards and forwards, the caravan started to sway from side to side! Holly says it was making her sick! That was until she got up and had a look out the window, then her tummy settled, just in time for breakfast!

The caravans to our left look like they are packing up to leave today, so they are taking their awnings down, what a sight! The thing is flapping all over the place and the whole family is hanging onto the awning and trying not to let it blow away!

We had our walk on the beach and although it's windy, it's not cold, in fact it is rather warm.

Holly says that is a good sign that a hurricane is heading our way!

Cheerful little ball of fur she is this morning!

A Chew on seaweed to clean our teeth!

We had a game of 'Stick Running' again and Holly dug a couple of holes for us to roll in!

Rollin in the Hole!

Then we had a game of 'Possession' until the seaweed broke!

SsssMine! I saw it first!

On the way out we had words with the sheep!

OK, Who wants to be a Lamb Chop Today?

After Old Two Legs did all his chores, we were off for another day of exploring around the island.

We spotted a Goshawk that was surprised by us driving past where he was looking out for his dinner!

OTL took us back down to the big beach behind the airport and we had a super run all along the beach.

The wind was blowing so hard, it was blowing the sand back into the sea again!

The Sand going for a Swim!

We went along to the rocks in the middle of the beach.

Then we had a search for the rabbits we knew were hiding underground, we sniffed, then we woofed, then we tried digging the hole bigger, but they stayed hidden inside and refused to come out!

We know you're in there, we can hear you breathing!

After a while we decided to leave them alone and went off for a sniff of that dead sheep. It was getting a good pong about it 'cos it had been there for a long time and Holly said it was just right for having a roll in, but OTL wouldn't allow it!

Go On, just One Roll?

We stopped at an old church that had lost it's roof many years ago and OTL took some pictures of the church, this one is outside, looking in and then out the front door to the outside again, if you get what I mean!

Outside, looking inside, looking out!

On the way back, OTL stopped at a distillery that was a farm and grew all it's own barley and made it's own whisky. OTL had never heard of this one before, so, OTL, being OTL, just had to get a bottle, or two, to try when we get home!

It was a good job The Missus was not here, she may have stopped him going in there in the first place!

Just as we got back to the caravan site it started to pour down, the rain was almost horizontal and was trying to blow the caravan back across the site!

We dived in and TM got our dinner ready, chicken and biscuits, which was great. Then she turned to OTL and said 'There's no water in the tank and the barrel is empty, you had better get some, now!'

Poor OTL, out in the rain and the wind filling up the water tank, still, we did give him a cuddle and helped him eat the last of his shortbread!

See you tomorrow, we're off shopping in Bowmore tomorrow and while TM is shopping, OTL is going to sneak into the distillery, if he's quick!

Luv,

McDaisy & Mac Holly

A day looking for Frolicking Otters!

Hi Woofers!

McDaisy & Mac Holly here in sunny Isle of Islay.

This morning we were down on our private beach when a load of sheep came wandering through and even had the cheek to stop an stare at us! Holly gave one of her 'Grumbly Growls' and they all ran off!

Nosey Sheep!

I went straight in for my dip in the 'Plunge Pool' which tones up my fur and makes my tail stand up!

Daisy's Plunge Pool!

 After that Holly said I should try the Bubble bath a bit further out, but I said I was not that stupid!

Mind you it did look inviting!

Bubble Bath?

After a quick roll in the sand to dry off we went 'rock pooling', just to see if any pirate treasure had been washed up over night but all we found was more Nelly Fish and a stick!

Rock Pooling!

The stick was great, it was big enough for OTL to get a good throw to it and long enough for Holly and I to get a good hold on it and best of all it was strong enough not to break when we had a fight over it!

Stick Running!

This afternoon we went out with OTL and The Missus and found this wonderful beach, I mean, it went on for miles and miles and better still, we were the only ones on the beach, except for a dead sheep!

Our Beach!

OTL told us off for sniffin the sheep so we had a super game of 'Chase the Ball' and 'Digging the Biggest Hole'

Then to finish it off, we both jumped into the hole and had a good roll around!

Holey Rollers!

Then we found another beach where we were chased by a youngster who wanted to stick her nose under my tail all the time, until I gave it a good wash in the water!

I'm just Cooling Off!

OTL wanted to visit an old church and while we were there we spotted this old cross, seems like it was 1,300 years old, wow, that's even older than OTL!

The Kildalton Cross.

Just to let you know what it is all about, here is the notice by it's side!

The Details!

On our way back to the caravan, guess what we found?

Another Beach!

We Was Here!

So after another quick swim to cool down, we built this, just to prove we were here!

You know what, we were looking all day for the Frolicking Otters OTL saw mentioned on a poster in the centre. Well, the only thing that was 'Frolicking' today was us!

A long and tiring day, so I see an early night coming!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

McDaisy & Mac Holly

Highland Not Not's

Hi Woofers!

McDaisy & Mac Holly here!

It has been a bit windy today, we were listening to the weather forecast on the TV and the lady said that it would be a 'Bit Breezy'

It was a Force 8 Gale!

Breezy!

Still, it didn't stop us from having fun. Holly and I were down on our private beach having a mooch around when all of a sudden we got the feeling someone was looking at us!

So, slowly, not to let anyone know we were looking at them looking at us, we very slowly raised our eyes to see.............................Not Not's!

Highland Not Not's

Well, that was it, we weren’t going to have Highland Not Not's looking at us on our private beach, so we woofed and woofed and they ran off!

It was then that Holly decided to go back to her favourite beach thing.............rolling in something smelly!

Rolling in it Again!

It was there that Holly spotted something on the beach and asked OTL if she could roll in it!

OTL said it would get smelly later but it had stinging things that could hurt little puppies like us!

He said it was called a Nelly Fish, but Holly said it didn't look like any fish she had ever seen before! 

Beached Nelly Fish!

Later on we went off to Bowmore to do some shopping, Holly and I had a run along the beach while The Missus was on the Co-op. Old Two Legs wanted to go in the Bowmore Distillery but TM wouldn't let him!

Never mind, we gave his ear a lick as we headed back to the caravan and promised him a return trip soon!

The afternoon was spent snoozing while OTL & TM played on their computers in the big building where they have Hi-Fi or Wi-Fi or whatever it is to make the Internet work!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

McDaisy & Mac Holly

And we have our own private beach!

Hi Woofers!

McDaisy & Mac Holly here!

Our first day here on Isle of Islay. We are at a place called Port Charlotte, well, just down the road really. It is the local Community Hall and camp site. We think that they really cater for Motor homes and Tents rather than caravans 'cos the caravan plot is rather small and our van is rather big!

But as we said yesterday, the view is to die for and we have our own sandy beach, just for us and the sheep!

A view to die for!

Holly and I went with Old Two Legs to investigate this morning, we had a ball! 

Sharing a Hole with Sis!

Running around chasing each other, digging holes, having paddles, woofing at OTL and rolling in new sniffs!

A Private Sniff to roll in on our Private beach!

A big Black Backed Gull landed on the rocks and introduced himself as the Life Guard, he said he normally works with fish but he would do his best if we got into problems!

Our Life Guard

I was in and out of the water for my swim but I only really had a 'Deep Paddle' 'cos I was not too sure about the Life Guard!

Who needs a Life Guard, I got OTL!

Today it looks like being a bit cloudy and wet, so we are going out in the car for an investigate while The Missus makes a card or two 'cos she says she is 'Inspired', not sure what by, Wind, rocks, sea or the sun coming up in the morning across the bay!

We went to the local RSPB site and had a look around but other than 'Little Brown Jobs' there was nothing too exciting to see. So, off we went on a tour of the South West of Islay. OTL passed three distilleries but only saw two, both shut!

So, he stopped at a local shop and purchased a bottle of a new whisky he has not tried before, so we know what he will be doing tonight!

Of course, there will be shortbread, so we are OK as well!

Just before we got back to the caravan, OTL stopped the car, jumped out and was looking through his binoculars and getting all excited 'cos he was watching a Golden Eagle gliding around on the wind looking for it's dinner!

That's another good reason for getting the shortbread out!

Good or wot!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

McDaisy & Mac Holly

We've Arrived!

Hi Woofers!

McDaisy & Mac Holly here!

After we left the camp site, Holly was looking out of the window and said she saw a monster splashing around in the loch and shouted out Look Nessie!

We all looked over but all we saw was a big Labrador chasing sticks!

Holly was telling porkies!

Driving down towards the ferry I was looking out of the window at the forests and trying to Spot Squirrels 'cos I'm sure there must be hundreds of them swinging through the trees gathering nuts!

Holly said that we should be seeing The Haggis in the fields during the day 'cos they come down from the mountains to graze during the day. We have been doing some reading on the Internet on how to hunt Haggis and Holly has been looking on how to stuff and cook Wild Haggis!

Well, it will make a change from Doggy Scoff!

Driving through the mountains here is super, I know we have some hills at home but nothing like these mountains. Holly says she wants to climb up to the top of one on her holiday but OTL said there are some serious hills but no mountains on Islay, so we will pick a hill for a day out with OTL.

Holly says we can pretend to be 'Mountain Dogs' and carry barrels of whisky around our necks in case we meet any climbers who need rescuing or just fancy a slurp, but we won't have any shortbread!

We had to wait for a while before the ferry came in and it took ages to load up.

Waiting for The Boat to come in!

We arrived first but we were the last to get on!

Head of the Queue but Last On!

Mine you, it was no where near as boring as the trip over to Islay, I mean, boring just does not do it justice.

We couldn't run around the decks chasing the sailors, we couldn't woof at the children and we couldn't wee on the carpet!

You can tell we were bored!

Bored, Bored BORED!

Better still, there were some other dogs on the ferry as well and they were just as bored as us. There was one who managed to take boring to a new level!

Seriously Bored!

There was a funny looking load of glass tubes with bubbles in them, in the middle of the room we were in, not really sure what it was for but OTL seemed taken with it, so he took a picture!

Strange or Wot!

We kept a look out for Sea Monsters and Dolphins and Otters. Holly said she saw a Sea Horse but we know she was telling Porkies again!

When we got to the caravan site it was windy, so OTL put off erecting the awning. But what a view! Like it was worth not having the awning up just for the view!

Better still, every so often a gang of sheep wander by on the other side of the fence, so we have fun standing at the window woofin!

Out the front of the caravan!

This evening OTL is making a list of all the places he wants to visit, strangely, they are all Whisky Distilleries!

Sunday we think they are all closed, so it's a run on the beach for us and digging holes!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

McDaisy & Mac Holly

PS.
Sorry the blog is a bit late but the WiFi is only accessible when the centre is open and it shuts at night! Also, OTL's Dongle keeps loosing the signal, so that means no blog.  We will blog each day but it may be a little late!

McDaisy & MacHolly

Hi Woofers!

McDaisy & MacHolly here in sunny Scotland!

We are camped out by the side of Loch Fyne, which MacHolly says is 'Fyne' by her!

Loch Fyne.

She can be a right wag sometimes!

This morning we went looking for our new coats. The place Old Two Legs had found on the internet had loads in stock but they were all the Velcro type of fitting and that stuff doesn't last more than a day or two with us!

So, off we went to another place and found just the design that pleased OTL, no velcro and reasonably priced!

They didn't have our size but we tried on one a bit larger and it looked super smart!

So, OTL paid for a couple of coats and they will send them on to home when we get back.

As Old Two Legs says, we looked 'The Dogs Doo Dah's'

Yeah, seriously good looking!

Last night it was early to bed 'cos we will be in Scotland a few miles up the road and OTL says we will need passports to get over the border but we know he is joking!

We cleared Gretna Green about eleven and stopped for a break alongside Loch Lomond, OTL pointed out Ben Lomond and said that he had been to the top. It looked a long way up and no bus to come down!

We got to our caravan site about three and had a run along the side of the Loch with The Missus, I managed to find this super mud bath and jumped in, then we found the river so I jumped in and washed it all off, well almost!

Me, in trouble again!

By the way,MacHolly has won the prize for getting the first Tick. OTL saw it creeping up her leg!

OTL says you always know if it is a Tick 'cos when you try to squash it, it bounces back up!

Now until the end of the holiday it will be a 'Brush & Search' twice or three times a day as well as 'Kit Inspection'!

We are off for some Fish & Chips tonight, well OTL & TM are and we may just get a nibble if we are lucky!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy & Holly

Heading North with OTL & TM & Holly & My Pills!

Hi Ho Woofers, We're OFF!

Daisy & Holly here, heading up the M1 to Scotland, via Penrith!

Last night we could hardly get to sleep, we were so excited!

Holly kept asking if I was asleep yet!

Old Two Legs was snoring away, as normal and The Missus was giving some as well, but not as loud as OTL!

Well, the morning finally arrived and I jumped up onto the bed and gave OTL a good ear licking, for two reasons, one to tell him to get up and the other to tell him I stopped hurting. So, those pills he hid in the Doggy BBQ Sausage Worked!

I've got a few more days of pills but that's OK 'cos that means more Sausage!

We were off for our walk across The Field, we both made it quick 'cos we wanted to get going!

It was all misty and damp and of course OTL just had to take some pictures!

Misty!

 And, of course if it's misty then there has got to be.........................Dew Drops!

Dew Drops

This one I liked 'cos it had a sniff like Rabbit droppings on a warm day!

Path side Flower

Back home and it wasn't long before we were all hitched up and ready to roll!

As we went joined the M25 we were all singing our 'Driving Songs' and Holly was asking 'Are we there yet' but she was having a joke 'cos she knew it would take a bit longer!

We had a snooze and then a woof at the other people on the road and before long we arrived in a place called Penrith. The caravan site was not up to much but as OTL said, it's only for one night and anyway it was just for us.

Not bad for an overnight!

Being a farm, it has got loads of animals and where you get farm animals, you get some serious sniffs!

The Joy of a Good Sniff!

We unhitched to caravan and then we were off again into town to a posh looking restraunt that was run by some Chinese people who served meals, Well The Missus came out with a big bag of food and we helped OTL & TM eat it when we got back to the caravan.

Tomorrow morning we are going to a shop that does all the 'Hunting and Fishing' stuff as well as coats for dogs!

OTL has promised us our first 'Real Posh' coats for when it rains or gets cold!

So, that's our first day and the sun is shining and it's warm and Holly has found some super stuff to roll in!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy & Holly (Holly loves Plawn Clackers)

Not a Happy Daisy!

Hello Woofers!

Daisy & Holly here.

We were up early this morning, I know that 'cos when I jumped up onto Old Two Legs bed and gave his ear a good licking, all he said was '......What Time is IT?'

He has no idea how hard it is for me to get up at four in the morning just to give his ear a wash!

Well, because the little car has been taken off for mending, we went for a walk over The Field. OTL said that we couldn't go down to The Sea Wall 'cos we would have grubby paws and mess up his nice clean car!

OTL had to deliver a panic order to one of his customers, so we went with him, of course!

After the delivery we went to the Riverside Park and had a wonderful time. We played 'Chase the Ball' then it was 'Hunt the Rabbit' and after that it was 'Hunt the Rat'!

We were hunting everything!

OTL found a strange looking caterpillar and OTL took a picture!

Strange Caterpillar!

The plant was Ragwort and the caterpillar will grow into a Cinnabar moth which looks like this.

Cinnabar moth

 OTL didn't take the picture of the moth, he copied it from the Internet!
 
 He also found a Teasel plant that the Goldfinches love 'cos it has seeds that they love!

Teasel Plant.

While OTL was playing with his camera Holly and I were tearing around all over the place!

Good Sniff this is!

Back home we both had a snooze but when I woke up I could tell all was not well. My back legs hurt and my front legs were hurting as well! I could not move at all!

OTL picked me up and we had a cuddle all afternoon, which was very unusual 'cos normally I don't do cuddles like that unless there is some shortbread in it!

Around six OTL made a phone call to the vet.

I do not like vets, I always get hurt, OTL doesn't like vets 'cos the hurt his wallet!

When we went into the 'Consultation Room' I got upset and wouldn't let the vet touch me!

OTL had to make another appointment for when we get back off holiday 'cos they want to do some tests on me!

We left the vet with some 'anti-inflammatory' pills which are supposed to take the pain away.

Trouble was, it didn't help OTL when he got the bill, it still hurt him!

So, this evening it is a cuddle with OTL and an early night and let's hope tomorrow I'll be better!

Bye for now.

Luv,

Daisy & Holly