Man's best friend and 100 years on from the end of World War 1

This year marks the centenary of the end of WW1 and this weekend will be Remembrance Sunday, when at the 11 hour, on the 11th day in November (the 11th month) the nation will hold a two minute's silence and pay their respect to all those who fell on the battlefields. As is fitting there have been some amazing art installations to commemorate this special year.

Here are some of the human's favourites (apologies that we could not find the credits for these great photographers).

In honour of the centenary the human was encouraged to do her own tribute. It gets the message across even if it is a bit of a rough illustration. Here it is.

For the past few weeks, I have been wearing my Poppy bandana with pride. The human got me the bandana, plus a dickie-bow and a felt poppy for my collar, as all proceeds go to the British Legion which supports those who served in the Armed Forces and their families.

However, it wasn't only humans who went to war, dogs played an important role too. Many dogs, usually bigger breeds, served in the trenches, and on the battlefields. Indeed, many dog owners, as many as 7000, offered up their precious pets to the war effort: some were used to sniff out and detect mines, or pass messages along the front line, or find those lying wounded.
Here is a great article where you can read more about the dog war heroes.

Of course, I am not equating in the slightest the contribution of a small number of dogs to the huge sacrifice made by humans who gave their lives so bravely. Those humans left their loved ones behind to fight for justice and freedom, for the war to end all wars.
Its hard to imagine the courage needed to go into battle, to fight ones way inch by inch under enemy fire and over the bodies of comrades who have gone before.
Unfortunately, as Plato the Greek Philosopher said, "Only the dead will have seen the end of war." which is probably why the human cannot listen to The Green Fields of France, written by the talented Eric Bogle without shedding a tear for the loss of life, young life, boys many of them really, and all those who perished. Its only right that we remember and honour them,  they who gave their all, so that we could be free.
Here are the lyrics and I'd encourage you to listen to it sung here by the wonderful Finbar Furey.


Well how do you do young Willie McBride?
do you mind if I sit down here by your graveside
and rest for a while 'neath the warm summer sun
I've been walkin' all day and I'm nearly done
I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen
when you joined the great fallen of 1916
Well I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean
Willie McBride was it slow and obscene

CHORUS
Did they beat the drum slowly did they play the fife lowly,
did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
did the band play the last post and chorus,
did the pipes play the "Flowers of the Forest"

And the beautiful wife or the sweetheart for life
in some faithful heart are you forever enshrined
and although you died back in 1916
in that faithful heart are you forever nineteen?
or are you a stranger without even a name
enshrined forever behind a glass pane
in an ould photograph torn tattered and stained,
fading to yellow in a brown leather frame? CHORUS
Now the sun shines down on the green fields of France
a warm summer wind makes the red poppies dance
The trenches have vanished under the ploughs,
there's no gas no barbed wire, there's no guns firing now
but here in this graveyard it's still No Man's land,
the countless white crosses stand mute in the sand
for man's blind indifference to his fellow man,
to a whole generation that was butchered and damned CHORUS
Now Willie McBride I can't help wonder why
Do those who lie here do they know why they died
Did they really believe when they answered the call
did they really believe that this war would end wars
Forever this song of suffering and shame
the killing the dying was all done in vain
for young Willie McBride it's all happened again,
and again, and again, and again and again.


The human has another favourite song, Sleep Now, by Caroline Lavelle which she finds really quite moving, especially at this time. The cello makes it even more emotive. Here are the lyrics/poem by Brian Patten,  which was written when he was just 15, and can be found in his book of Selected Poetry.  You can listen to Caroline Lavelle sing it here on YouTube.

SLEEP NOW

Words: Brian Patten, Music: Caroline Lavelle

sleep now, your blood moving in the quiet wind
no longer afraid for the others
hurrying through the tall grass
or the faces laughing on the beach, sleep now
you do not hear the dry wind pray
or the children play a game called soldiers
sleep now, alone in the sleeves of grief
listening to clothes falling
and your flesh touching god
to the chatter and backslapping of Christ meeting the heroes of war
sleep now, you do not hear the dry wind pray
or the children play a game called soldiers
sleep now, your words have passed the lights shining from the east
and the sound of flak raping graves and emptying the seasons
sleep now, sleep now
you do not hear the dry wind pray
or the children play a game called soldiers.

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!!!
.

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