Return to BDP!

After a five months absence, primarily due to the snowy winter, we returned to the BDP on Sunday. If you didn't already know, BDP is code for the 'Big Dog Park' in Portland. As opposed to SDP, which is the smaller of Portland's dog parks, we love the Big Dog Park, which has a good wooded area, which the boys love. We speak in code (BDP), since if we mention the actual park, the boys go mental, or very excited until we get there. So the use of code is very important - though about a mile from there, Sammy starts whinging!! When we pull up, all hell breaks loose, and the boys behave as a) they have never been there before and b) they have never been outside fullstop.

Letting them off is a joy, as they run, sniff, run, sniff, run, sniff - you get the picture, and no worries about roads. We met a nice old man with two white dogs, not westies but lovely dogs. Al chatted to him, since he knew Devon well and has visited England many times. While this was happening the boys were running back and forth with about five bigger dogs. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kiltie doing his tough boy dance he does after weeing (and the other), then I noticed he was doing this by someone's coat which was on the ground. Then I saw the person and his partner, realise what had just happened and went to retrieve the damp coat. Kiltie had beat it by this time - and we motioned from a distance that we were sorry. As we left, we apologised again and the people were very nice about it (luckily), and said they wouldn't leave their coat on the ground again. Kiltie had no idea, and ran off to the wooded area, Sammy in tow.

It was an hour well spent, if you ever get the chance to see dogs running free, then head to the BDP, but don't leave your coat near Kiltie!

Pool Stories

Whenever my father - inlaw, is in town we tend to talk about football (soccer), politics and playing pool. Indeed the opportunity to play pool is never passed up since neither of us play that much the rest of the year, though we'd like to. Though I suspect he practices furiously in the dim bars of Benidorm, Spain in the few weeks before he comes here - he never admits it though. Every year, we talk up our chances - and head off to some of the shadiest bars we can find in Southern Maine. If I said dead animal heads hang on the walls, and fittings that have been on the end of someones anger - you may get the picture.

So we have played twice so far, and well it hasn't been good for me - even if my father inlaw is 83 and tired from travelling - when he has a pool cue in his hands, then suddenly he isn't tired and the years drop off him. Last night was my chance, first game he was visibly yawning and I won the first game. This was it - I'd rack up an impressive lead then let him win a few games as the night wore on. I promptly loss the next six games - and only won one game when he potted the black early. I had to embarrasingly take that game as a win, since that set him off on another run which didn't stop until I had my best game and potted the black before he had his chance. I think our two pool sessions were 10-2 and 8-3, and I think his long experience may play a part! I look forward to next year still though, and I'm sworn to avenge these reverses!