The Bobster stays at The Egerton House Hotel, London

Well, what a splendid weekend  I had staying at The Egerton House Hotel, London. This was the weekend of the Royal Wedding of Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank and I had a right old royal time myself.
The Egerton House Hotel in the heart of Knightsbridge, so perfect for shopping and taking in the local area and cafes. We spent the weekend walking in Hyde Park and around Knightsbridge, browsing the shops in Walton Street and Beauchamp Place. The weather was warmer then the usual October day but there were a few gusts of wind, one of which actually blew napkins off our table while at the outdoor terrace of the Laduree café.

As we live in London, we took the underground to the hotel. This was a first for me. I've travelled a lot by bus but the underground took a little bit of getting used to, with the loud screeching of the brakes as it navigated the tunnels; the escalators at the stations were a first for me too. The human was very proud of me for coping with it all. Even with those humans who STILL pushed by on the escalator, even though I was straddling two steps! Humans!!!
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Our weekend stay here was a birthday gift for the human. It caters very well for humans with spa treatments etc, which you can even have in the room,  but this place is actually also a dog heaven. Where do I start? Perhaps with the dog menu? Yes, it's always good to start with food (woof!) Well, get a load of this. I had my choice of the following, and boy did I woof it down.

If I was going to get the most out of this weekend, mealtimes would need some careful consideration. So I considered...

and considered, and considered.

The Lounge is comfy, with lots of lovely artwork, and when I wasn't contemplating the menu, some of these caught my eye.

In particular I liked this illustration of a dog (woof!) by Ludwig Bemelmans, which had once featured on the cover of The New Yorker magazine. The Human absolutely LOVED this illustration. I think she thought it looked like someone but I'm way more handsome!

Others which caught the human's eye were by Raymond Allen Jackson, or Jak as he signed himself. Some of his work is for sale here

We all had dinner together here at night and then I went to me cosy bed. Along with the bed I was provided with a towel, blanket, bowls, a chew toy and homemade biscuits. The charge for my stay is £30. The hotel offers dog-sitting, dog walking and dogs be taken to the nearby groomer. Woof 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

The next morning, after the sleep of kings (I did say I had a royal old time) we took a walk before breakfast, which was huge. I opted for the chicken, carrot and rice dish, which is really their supper menu but they made it for me anyway. Thanks Egerton!

The Human had this for breakfast.

Later that afternoon we were joined by the little humans for Afternoon Tea. I did not partake of the dog afternoon tea myself but this little guy lapped it up.

The little humans had the Teddy Bear Tea, which was lovely.

I highly recommend a visit here with your fur family, whether for Afternoon Tea or a hotel stay. Your Dog will love it and so will you.🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Goodbye Egerton House Hotel. It has been pawsome!

The Bobster visits The Balloon Tree, Yorkshire

Down on the Farm

I love to eat,
so it's a treat,
to have a photo at Balloon Tree Farm.
And I'll say "cheese",
if you give me some please.
and, sure, a sausage wouldn't do any harm.
I could spend all day,
take a roll in the hay,
while the little humans laugh and play.
This day has been good,
I've had lots of fresh food.
Which we bought here at Balloon Tree farm.

The Balloon Tree  is in Gate Helmsley which is around 7 miles from York. The farm provides fresh produce and has a lovely farm shop, which is open to the public. You and your little ones can even spend the day picking your own fruit. What better way to teach them about food, how it grows, and where it's sourced.

Alongside the farm there is a childrens play area, and a large outdoor dining area where you can watch the little ones play while you enjoy a drink or two. Dogs are welcome here (woof!) 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾so the whole family can spend the day, or a lovely lunch here. There's also a small section where children can view the animals.

Meals are prepared from produce mostly from the farm, so is obviously fresh, in season, and environmentally friendly. The farm shop has much to offer, all freshly picked, so why not take a bagful or two home. 

And if you're looking to cheer up the garden, you can buy fresh flowers here too.
All in all, it is definitely worth a visit, especially if you have little humans to entertain. Check it out for yourself.

The Human has been writing - again

Dear Reader,
I'm not complaining; there's nothing more I like than to lay down by the human's feet as she taps away at the keyboard. Okay, maybe biscuits, and walks, and rolling in the grass. Oh! And playing with the ball, or pub lunches, bones, did I mention biscuits? But laying down is pretty up there among may favourite things.

Her preoccupation with the computer was all to do with writing and compiling another book for children.
This one is called In The Shade of The Mango Tree and it's about a little monkey who is lost and trying to find the way home and the animals she meets along the way.

Its also available in paper form at Blurb

The Bobster visits The Devonshire Fell Hotel, Burnsall, Yorkshire

 Set in the Yorkshire Dales is the lovely village of Burnsall which was one of the villages that featured throughout the feature film Calendar Girls, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. Overlooking this scenic village and the surrounding Dales is the Devonshire Fell Hotel.

The hotel is owned by the Bolton Abbey Estate and we  have stayed a couple of times at the sister hotel, The Devonshire Arms, so thought we would give this a go. I'm not sure if I took the right road from York but it involved a lot of narrow winding roads that this city slicker isn't used to - nor was the human who was driving. She breathed a sigh of relief when we arrived at what was apparently "wine o'clock". That was lucky, as the hotel served a fantastic Nelson Sauvignon blanc.

              

The interiors are comfortable and bright, the bedrooms have a country feel as one would expect, but the views are the best. The charge for my stay is £10 per night and I had a great and relaxing time. Dinner was really delicious, according to the humans. I was not allowed to share this experience in the dining area but I was able to sit in the conservatory while the humans enjoyed a late lunch.

To be honest, there is not a lot to do around the hotel, which is perfect if you're like me and simply want to do nothing (woof!) but enjoy the hotel and the environs. However, there were little humans with us and they wanted to stretch their legs so next day we headed to the neighbouring Bolton Abbey, which is 10 minutes away. Here are some photos taken at Bolton Abbey. Overall, we enjoyed the Devonshire Fell and would like to return for another stay, without the little humans, as, while there's plenty for the rambler, biker, or hiker,  there really isn't much to amuse them. 🐾🐾🐾🐾

Happy birthday to The Bobster - 10 today

Its my birthday on July 15th so, as it's a big one (I'm 10),  the human thought I should celebrate all week. Woof 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
To kick things off, she ordered me some delicious pupcakes which arrived this afternoon from Fetch Their link will take you to the cakes specially made for dogs. I can verify, they are d-e-lic-ious and at £3.50 will not break the bank. The cakes are from Barking Bakery  and the Fetch delivery can be added to Ocado so you only pay one delivery fee (better still, opt for a smart pass if you get regular deliveries)

In honour of my birthday, the human has written me a poem - Happy Birthday Bobby, so all I have to do now is have my cake and eat it. How wonderful!

Happy birthday, Bobby dear.

Today we celebrate your 10th year. 
May all your days enjoy much cheer,
With pup-cakes, treats, and doggy beer.

You’ve never asked for special things

For birthdays: riches, diamond rings,

A jet to spread its metal wings,

To Vegas, L.A., or Palm Springs.

You’re a clever boy.

You’ve not got fleas.

Your goal in life’s to simply please

We humans, though we try to tease, 

And hide the ball within the trees. 

You’re just so happy every day.

To walk, to sniff, to run and play.

Explore new places, or simply stay,

Next to the door when I’m away.

You ask for nothing, Bobby dear.

But to us all you bring such cheer.

So here’s to another fabulous year.

To our happy chappy.

Now pass the beer!

Just one more thing - Make a wish...

And there you have it - wishes DO come true. Woof!

Hot in the City

It's summer, the temperatures are over 30 degrees and you are enjoying all this sun, sports, and sangria but, if you are a dog owner, summer has a fair share of health risks for fur family and friends you should be aware of.
I've blogged before of the danger of grass seed - Nasty stuff.
However, the high temperatures have their own hazard, namely heatstroke. Imagine if you humans had to walk around wearing a fur coat, yet were unable to sweat to cool down. It wouldn’t take long before you overheated. And it can happen within minutes.
Dogs should be walked in the early morning or late in the evening when it is cooler.
Bring water for drinks and to douse the dog. Try to walk in a shady area.
Avoid any over exertion, like chasing a ball. Don't let the dog do that either (woof!)
DO NOT LEAVE your fur family members in the car. For further advice on prevention, signs, and treatment of heatstroke Follow this link
You can put a bottle of frozen water on the dog’s bed to cool it at night but if your dog is anything like me, the floor is cooler these nights. This clever chap has the right idea. (photo found on the Lad Bible Oz, Facebook)

The danger from the Oak Processionary Moth has almost passed for this year, as the caterpillars are changing to moths around this time and it is a hazard to both animals and humans that I only just became aware of, even though I live in Ealing, one of the core areas. They can cause nasty rashes and irritation, even from the hairs that are shed and lie on the ground, so I am surprised it is not spoken of more. Check it out, if you want to learn more.
But, it is summer, it is hot, so let's enjoy it. In the words of Billy Idol, though it may be Hot In the City:
Don't be no fun, don't forget you're young
On a hot summer night