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.