Birthday celebrations

I celebrate my birthdays like a Royal - I have two! woof! woof! My actual birthday falls on July 9th but the humans like to also celebrate it on September 26th, which was the day they first brought me home.

My human companion often tells the story. She was looking on the internet one day and saw this beautiful little cocker spaniel puppy...

I was one of a litter of six, and I was born in Wales, and because of that, and my colouring, the breeder had named me Taffy (like toffee). However, Taffy is sometimes used as a term for someone from Wales in the same way that Paddy is used for the Irish. The river Taff flows through Cardiff, so Taffy comes from that, I suppose, and even though the Welsh name Taffy means beloved, which is delightful, my new human family had heard the following nursery rhyme so changed my name to Bobby.

Taffy was a Welshman

Taffy was a thief;

Taffy came to my house

And stole a piece of beef

I went to Taffy's house,

Taffy was not home;

Taffy came to my house

And stole a marrow bone.

I went to Taffy's house,

Taffy was not in;

Taffy came to my house

And stole a silver pin.
I went to Taffy's house,
Taffy was in bed;
I took up a poker
And threw it at his head

Anyway, they decided to drive all the way to Wales, North Wales, in the shadow of a great mountain, and there I was with my mummy and my little brother Ben. To this day they cannot understand why I was not the first of the litter to be picked, I was so handsome, unless it is because I have a distinctive white patch on my neck. Perhaps others wanted a pup to be a show dog, and thought that patch detrimental, but my humans love that it makes me easily recognisable. I think, perhaps I was simply meant to be with them.

And besides, I could have been a champion showdog, because my grandfather was a champion at Crufts - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, people!

So the humans met my mother and the breeder in her home, and decided on me🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

While chatting, the breeder mentioned that this was my mother's first litter and, when each of her puppies were collected she had cried. This made my human sad, so sad, that when the day came to collect me, she arranged for the breeder to meet at the nearest garage.

 My mother was very young when she had me so sometimes my humans wonder whether we should go back one day to Wales to see her. They wonder would I recognise her as my mother, would she recognise me as the boy she lost? They wonder what happened to my other 5 brothers and sisters -where did life take them? What type of owners do they have? Where do they live now? They would like to do a Dogs' Lost Families episode with me at its centre (pitching it here, any TV execs out there reading this). Maybe a website Furiends Reunited!! Woof!

Basically, birthdays are about reflection, celebration, and new starts. Oh and don't forget cake.  And biscuits. I love biscuits. Lots of biscuits.

My human got me these fabulous pupcakes and biscuits from The Doggie Patisserie 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

The Bobster's favourite pubs - The Village inn

I wanted to label this blog entry, I'm one of the Village People but the human thought it would lead to too many questions, like, am I the Policeman, Cowboy, or Biker? Do I spend all day humming catchy disco tunes? You get my drift.

The Village Inn in Ealing is my local, or, as the urban dictionary describes it, my neighbourhood pub.

Just what is required of a good local pub, I hear you ask (we dogs have extraordinary hearing!). Well, here's my list.

1. You must be able to walk to it (bringing the car is an impediment). The fact that my local is halfway to the park means I get to walk to it twice, so double the chance the human will bring me in.

2. It will have regulars who seem to be propping the bar no matter what time of day it is, or which day.

3. You and the regulars might never speak, but the occasional nod may lead to conversation - about the weather. No one will have a spray tan!

4. There will be NO fruit machine, jukebox, or TV blaring in the corner even though no one's watching.

5. You may be over 40 but you will still feel like one of the youngsters.

6. You will know who the landlord is, even though you have not been formally introduced as such, it will be that evident by his/her welcoming skills.  

7. You will always find a table, or place at the bar while they clear a table.

8. The food will be proper pub food, not gourmet, and plenty of it, served by friendly staff. No nasturtiums will have died to add a flourish.

9. They will offer a pub quiz - you will never go.

10. The décor should be cosy, comfy, with no glaring lights, where you can relax while you sit out the rain, or that heat (with your dog!).

The only Cockerspaniel in the Village Inn

The Village Inn fulfils all the above requirements and more. There is ample outdoor seating and a special seating area which is for non-smokers 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 , dog biscuits are offered (woof!) and, as the landlord has a dog himself, he very much welcomes dogs on the premises. I am allowed to eat in the bar area and in most of the dining area 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

I recommend a visit here with or without your fur friend so Ill leave you with a quote from W.C. Fields "Everyone's got to believe in something, I believe I'll have another beer."

I had a little Tea Party...

The Tea Party

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three.
'Twas very small-
Three guest in all-
Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,
While I drank up the tea;
'Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me..."
Actually, those words are from  Jessica Nelson North  but may as well have been said by me. Today, as the little humans were in town, I had a little tea party to celebrate my upcoming birthday.

We went to the Egerton House hotel, on Egerton Terrace, Knightsbridge. Parking was nearby, which was great, and the staff were very welcoming and helped with the little humans on arrival. I was greeted by name and offered water straight away. They knew of my upcoming birthday and treated me (and the humans) like royalty (woof!). The humans have had afternoon tea in many of London's more famous hotels but they wanted me to accompany them, and the Egerton allowed that.
I was offered the Doggy Afternoon Tea, which consists of meatloaf, biscuits, all followed by dog ice-cream. I did not have to have it. To be honest, I simply had biscuits, homemade. The humans and little humans who accompanied me really enjoyed their time here and their afternoon tea. It feels grand, but not too grand, and pampering without being pompous. I think this is down to the staff and their welcoming, friendly manner. For me, the important thing was, I was able to take part in this traditional London ritual, which is a great thing for anyone who is a dog tourist in this fine city who has travelled with their tea loving humans, as well as locals. To quote Cole Porter, I had a swellegant, elegant time and look forward to doing this again (woof!) 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾