Benson is 5 years old today and enjoying the ambience, weather and cultural differences on an extended holiday at our home in a remote part of Burgundy, central France. https://flic.kr/p/xKACqo He has made a great friend with our neighbour’s one year old, delightful Heinz 57 variety, mutt who is a fraction his size but runs him ragged every time they meet! He has also made friends with Titus the 10 year old donkey and the three of them go for 10 kms walks twice a week following the ancient paths known as “Chemins” around the local countryside. Titus pulls a small cart which contains our drinks, picnic and water for the dogs; occasionally, when the weather is hot the dogs have been known the hitch a lift in the cart! https://flic.kr/p/wVzf9b This year we have had the roof replaced on our 300 year old farmhouse and were expecting to find interesting artefacts from the revolution but instead found the mummified skeleton of a “Fouine”(stone marten) a weasel-like creature that habits most old French roof spaces. We had been aware for a number of years that something was living in our roof as we could hear the tiny patter of feet when in bed at night time and assumed we had mice? We have since been comforted to learn that that these animals eat mice and rats so they are a good to have as lodgers! https://flic.kr/p/xLjb1Z A visiting friend recently bought us the book titled How Smart is your Dog? We had great fun putting Benson through his paces one evening but will not give you his score in case I appear like one of those ghastly people who send cards at Christmas, telling me that their child has just scored 3xA* A levels and has a place at Cambridge! Highly recommend the book and Benson enjoyed the challenge. Another 4 weeks to go of our 3 month idyll then back to reality with a bump! Roger
Happy birthday, Benson! Sounds like you're all having the most fantastic time. It sounds perfect. We have mice so a Fouine would come in handy round here...
