Well, I hope you all enjoyed the Christmas break. I know it was a bit different from other years but that didn’t make it any worse.
Before the real lockdown happened, I got the chance to pay a flying visit to two of my favourite places – Brooklodge in Wicklow and The Twelve in Barna. We hardly stirred from either hotel, with lazy days spent snoozing in the room or in the lounge. A change is as good as a rest and snoozing in different surroundings is very refreshing I always find.
I had some sad news in BrookLodge though. My friend Oscar went to Doggie Heaven a few weeks before our arrival. I’ll miss him as he was always good for a laugh and a gossip. He had a lovely, long, happy life though and that’s all a dog ever wants.
On the way to Galway from BrookLodge, we stopped in Dublin to meet my Aunty Aileen and we had a lovely walk by the seafront. It was a bit long for me though so I slept in the car all the way to The Twelve. Even with the restrictions, dogs are still allowed in the bar and luckily there were plenty of doggie guests around to talk to.
Closer to home, we met up with my Aunty Aisling at The Buttery, in Limerick, another doggie friendly place. I haven’t seen my Kerry cousin Bella in a long while but maybe this year I’ll get to see her again along with new arrival to the household, Max. It will be good to catch up again. Zoom calls just aren’t the same!
I got some lovely presents too, including a Secret Santa box from The Pawtrait Pack, a facebook group my hoomans belong to. My real present though was a beautiful new Christmas outfit that I wore for my Christmas photo shoot. It came from AG Dog Fashions, two women from Belfast who make Irish dancing dresses and now doggie outfits on the side. I was very impressed with the quality of the workmanship. My first piece of couture and I love it.
Even with the cold weather we’re now having, I still managed to get out for a few lovely walks, including a stroll along the beach at Lahinch over the Christmas period. The last time I was there, the wind was blowing sand in my face but it was much nicer this time around and we walked all the way to the bridge and back. I left sand all over the carpet in the car but my hoomans look after those matters so I just slept all the way home as usual.
Unfortunately, I also had to see the dreaded V.E.T. over Christmas. My ears are at me again and this time around I felt very woozy after a little jab. I kind of remember my ears being cleaned but I was really out of it and even when I came around, I wasn’t myself for the rest of the day. Hopefully it’ll all clear up.
Before I go and wish you all a Happy New Year, I want to send big doggie hugs to my friend Bev, who’s in hospital at the moment. Get well soon Bev – all this typing is doing nothing for the condition of my claws. Incidentally, as I write this, it’s Little Christmas, a day for ladies to take it easy and let their menfolk do the work. It’s about time we had Little Christmas for dogs too. I must get on to someone about that.
Motoring editor - The Clare Champion
Former Chairman and voting member of Irish Motoring Writers' Association