Hi everyone,

Sorry I never got round to updating the blog last week (it has been noticed and commented on by certain people!!!!!) but I was really busy and I don't know where the time goes to. No sooner have we come back from the van on a Sunday night than it is time to go again on Friday. The weeks just fly by and we just live for the weekends to go to the lakes.

When we weighed Sally last week she had lost a little weight and was down to 34.3 kgs but we have just weighed her now and she is back up to 35.1 kgs (5 1/2 stones). Maybe her weight gain is starting to slow down a bit now she is 7 months old. Neil is starting to struggle getting her on the scales so I will have to start taking her to the vets to weigh her until she reaches her adult weight and it stabilises. Also she is 23 inches high and getting bigger by the week.

I don't want to speak too soon but I think that Sally is at last toilet trained, although I don't for one minute think that there will not be any accidents to come but she has not had any in the house now for 3 weeks and even at work there have been no accidents for a week ..... so fingers crossed.

The main highlight of last week for Sally was meeting Bertie. We met up with Judith, Steve and Bertie in the Lakeside carpark at Keswick as it was halfway between Windermere and Penrith where they were staying. Bertie is just gorgeous, like a massive teddy bear.

Sally meeting Bertie, Judith & Steve.

Bertie what a big boy you are!!!!!

They both got on quite well together and walked happily down the path by the lake as far as it went (not too far) and then we strolled back again. Steve held onto Bertie and Neil held Sally while Judith and I walked between them chatting away - mainly comparing notes on the 2 dogs. Its good to talk to someone in the same situation sometimes.

Happy family - Neil, Me and Sally down by the lake.

After the walk we all went for a drink at a lakeside cafe and Sally and Bertie were very good Sally sitting and Bertie lying quietly while we drank tea and coffee and chatted. After we had finished our drinks Bertie and Sally had an ice cream each, we already knew that Sally liked ice cream but it was Berties first one and he seemed to love it.

Bertie enjoying his ice cream.

Sally enjoying her ice cream. Look at that face!!!!

Later that day Sarah, Dave, Holly and Matthew came up with a card and pressie for my birthday. After lunch - (fish & chips) we all had a walk down to the lake and they all had an ice cream - we resisted as we had already had one not too long ago.

Matthew with Sally down by the lake.

Sally watching the kids playing and wondering what mischief she could get up to next.

Sally is generally good with the kids although she does get a bit excited at times and that day she jumped up and scratched Hollys' face which did not go down well. We are trying to educate the kids how to behave when they are around Sally and they are very excitable - only to be expected - but this makes Sally excitable and that's when she jumps up and also we are trying to teach Sally how to behave around the kids too, which is not as easy.

We have just come back from the caravan again after another lovely weekend. We would have stayed there Sunday night but we ran out of bread for Sallys' tea and breakfast.

Oh well Monday tomorrow and back to the grindstone - will continue this next week.

Bye

Johanna, Neil & Sally.

Hello everyone,

Sally has just been weighed and is 34.7 kgs - she has only put on put on 2 1/2 lbs this week which is a lot less than the 4 lbs of previous weeks, but she was ill last week and it has been hot this week so she has not eaten as much as normal. Next week she goes to just 2 meals a day - that will be a shock to the system for her!!!!!!!!

Well the weather people got it right at weekend - and we had a fab time.

We got to the caravan on Friday and had a lazy evening. On Saturday, after Sally got up we went for a nice walk through the woods and down to the lake then back up by the road before it got too hot.

Later John and Thelma came up - John is buying our boat and wanted to take the wheels off the trailer to get new tyres on so he can tow it home. We are going to buy a new boat that Sally will be more comfortable in - and we will be able to get her in and out easier. They stayed for a brew and a play with Sally and helped put the awning up on the caravan, its the first time in 3 years that we have had the awning out!!!!

John and Neil sat under the awning.

Later Barry and Ruth came up and we had a lovely barbeque - thanks to Neil.

Ruth saying hello to Sally.

Watching a caterpiller on Ruths' finger. After the bbq we all went for a walk to the lake and back but I forgot to take the camera with me.

Early on Sunday morning we went for a walk - well early for Sally but we had to go out before it got too hot for her.

Watching the world going by from the pier while daddy talks to Colin.

Sally paddling in the lake.

Sally didn't quite know what to make of this swan but it was doing a lot of hissing at her - the swan went off before Sally did!!!!

Sally loved paddling in the lake - tho she didn't go in too far - Karen and I threw sticks for her but she didn't catch any!!!

Then after a morning down by the lake we chilled out on the decking and Sally found the most comfortable place - on my sun lounger. Need to buy a new one now!!!!!!!!

Awwwwwwwwww and on that note I'll just say that I'm still taking Sally for a walk every morning, we do a few minutes lead training until we get to the lane and then she just wanders where she wants to, and we meet lots of doggy friends (and some snarlers) - this morning we met a guy with 5 Golden Retrievers - a grandma, mother and 2 duaghters and an uncle - they were gorgeous and Sally loved playing with them while we went down the lane. She loves walking through long grass but I have to watch her as she also likes to lick cow pats - yeaugh - definately a dog thing!!!!!!!!! And she loves school kids - especially on bikes - she just wants to be friends with everyone and does not realise that not everyone wants to be friends with her - although how anyone wouldn't is beyond me !!!!!

Well on that note I'll finish for now - we are soooo looking forward to next weekend - we are going to meet Judith, Steve and Bertie ( a Newfoundland pupply 18 weeks older than Sally) and hopefully stay over Sunday night into Monday. They live in Durham and are going to Penrith for a week so we will meet up with them in Keswick.

Bye for now.

Sally, Johanna and Neil.