Dog walking

One of the reasons that I wanted a dog is because it forces you to go out and walk. I hadn't realised what a social experience it was going to be. Nearly every walk you go on you end up talking to someone.

Today we went to One Tree Hill for the first time. I have been there before we got Bella but it was her first time there. It is very hilly and I am slow both up and down hills so Bella had to keep coming back to find me. The bluebells are out and the sun was shining and it was so beautiful.

Of course with Bella there had to be some sort of incident. As I was struggling up a particularly steep path, and Bella was ahead we came across an elderly couple sitting on a bench having their picnic lunch. They didn't hear her approach and quicker than a flash she stole one of their sandwiches. They were very nice about it but I was feeling guilty about it as we walked on.

I decided to take a different path home - big mistake. On and on we went, down a footpath, down a bridleway, crossing a road I didn't recognise until we finally reached a pub that I know. The only trouble was I didn't have any money and it was miles from where we needed to be! No other option than to retrace our footsteps. I normally only walk her for an absolute maximum of one hour, but it was almost two hours later when we made it back to the car.

Just before we got back to the car we came across an elderly couple - guess who!? They felt so sorry for the dog having walked so far they gave her the rest of their sandwiches! And for me? There was nothing left!