11th August

I must tell you about our holiday before it becomes an even more distant memory.

We take Spryte and Lexus with us. This started four years ago when Lexus was still a rescue. He had come in in early January and remained in kennels until we eventually had a space for him in the June. I had been very worried about how he would settle, but was pleased with his progress. Soon it was time for our break and I could not bear to put him back in kennels, so he came with us. This was our first year at Seagull Cottage, before then we had stayed at the caravan site. It was because that week went so well that we decided to keep him.

We put Khan into Burntwood kennels. He finds any change of scenery upsetting and taking him with us would be stressful for everyone. Plus my husband would prefer not to have any dogs on holiday, something I strongly disagree with as I enjoy having time to enjoy them, also I find it quiet enough as it is! Without dogs I really would go mad!

So that first year Lexus came, his paws still sore from the concrete of the kennel. He has come again each year since but this year was surely his best!
Seagull cottage is a converted railway carriage on the beach at Pagham harbour. It backs onto a lagoon with a stretch of pebble covered land lying between the garden and the lagoon ( v.popular with dog walkers)
Out of the front, turn right up the road then left and you are on the beach, with rock pools at low tide.

There is a pleasant garden where Lex spends most of his time playing ball (and trying to persuade one of us to join him )
The only drawback are the stones which hurt his feet. The first night we walked to the beach and on the way home he suddenly speeded up along the road. We realised he remembered the road was kinder on his paws and he was making a break for it!

The gate at the bottom of the garden does not fasten securely. On Sunday we waved goodbye to Dave as he left for church. Lex seemed unconcerned that his master had left without him. Ten minutes later we looked up from breakfast preparations and he was standing on the wrong side of the gate looking in! I shot down the garden, just in time to see a huge red and white male Staff taking his constitution beside the lagoon.
Another evening we were watching tv when there was a huge crash! Lexus had knocked down the box containing his food!

He bravely ventured into the sea, barking furiously and attracting lots of attention! When the tide was out and the water lay in a calm pool he would bark madly and venture in just far enough to retrieve some seaweed which he would pull ashore, rip up before starting the process all over again!
One day Dave swam when there were big waves. Lexus tried to follow barking all the time but would not go out of his depth. Now and then a huge wave would crash over him. I was worried he would be swept out to sea but he held his ground with true Staffy determination, just shaking the sea water away with a disgruntled look on his face.

All this exercise and sea air resulted in the need to crash out.

How that fish slice got broken.......had better wait till tomorrow.....