... and after our walk

Here she is asleep after a good walk that morning...

32 months old - Sunny walk, Abbey and market

She's now 32 months and in full health. Seen here during our Saturday afternoon walk through St Albans market and sitting in the grounds of the Abbey.

Walking St Albans

Sunday afternoon walk in St Albans, Herts. A day of sunshine and showers. We couldn't walk in Hatfield Park today as Elton John had taken over the estate for his concert.

Walk at Ferring

A lovely shot of Ella on a blustery windswept walk at Ferring.

In the shade...

Today saw a work visit to the Royal National Rose Society's Gardens of the Rose for a photo shoot of a recently 'named' rose. Photos taken, we got back to the car park where Ella snuck under the car for a bit of shade!

Summer evening walk....

Here we are during a lovely mid summer evening walk in Hatfield Park. Ella has just come back from 'flushing' where she tracks a scent across open fields and through woodland. Must have been a good mile away before she turned back. Bless, this is what PBGV's do, but does cause concern for the owner at the time!

In the Broadwater - Hatfield Park

Here she is in the Broadwater at Hatfield Park. The 16-acre lake was formed by a dam in the River Lee (or Lea) to power the now redundant water mill at the far end of the lake. The area was landscaped and replanted after the 1987 storm with a number of ornamental trees. We covered 5 miles today on tracks, fields and woodland.

wet Sunday afternoon...

Here we are on a 4 mile walk in the rain in Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire. It has rained all day and being a Sunday we got home and chilled out.

Hull, East Yorkshire

Visited aunt Barbara in Hull, East Yorkshire yesterday - day of sunshine and showers, this is us in Pearson Park with her rowan cocker spaniel Mandy. Finished day with roast beef carvery and yorkshire puddings!... E is 2 1/2 this weekend

Chillin at home

Chillin on settee...

Queen Elizabeth Country Park

During the weekend looking after nephew Edward at Southsea we visited Queen Elizabeth Country Park at Horndean, Hampshire where he had a birthday party and Ella and I walked the trail...

Ella & Ed' - Southsea weekend...

Ella and Ed' on the seawall at Southsea.... spent the weekend 'house sitting' and hanging out...

Eastbourne day out...

It's a year today that mother died and we came to Eastbourne for the day where Margaret lived for three years training as a teacher. Sunny, warm and a good walk from the college down to seafront and pier. Then just out town to Beachy Head and a short steep walk on the downs, good day.

Ferring Walk - West Sussex

Here we are with Kathy enjoying the coastal walk from Worthing to Ferring. A round trip of 4+ miles with the Bluebird Cafe at the turning pint which is good for mug tea and the all-day breakfast.

Worthing to Ferring walk...

Coast walk from Worthing to Ferring. Bluebird Cafe is a good destination....

Ella & Susie...

Ella and Susie meet up again over the Easter weekend!

Spring arrives...

During our three mile walk in Hatfield Park... the wild daffodils are just coming into flower and the sun had much welcomed warmth... the carving in the timber is part of a oak trunk for those taking a rest.

what's she up too....

had her meal, trashed her bedding and then sat for a few minutes in this state!...

Two years together...

It's been two years this weekend that Ella came to be my dog... This last month has not seen many posts because it's been a somehow dark time, but hopefully the days will get better...

Happy New Year

New years day here is damp & low cloud... so a day of shorts walks and chilling at home.

Christmas Day 2010...

Ok, so Ella doesn't look too pleased, but she and nephew Edward have had a good few days in Southsea, UK. We've just about to sit down to lunch, then presents from under the tree before a christmas day walk to the beach!

Winter wonderland 2010!

Lunchtime walk in Hatfield Park - about 150mm snow had fallen on Saturday and stayed on the ground for the week, love it...

Snow walk in park

Lunchtime walk yesterday - 150mm snow in Hatfield Park, Ella loves it..... and is seen watching a dog in the distance and wondering whether to stay or go!

Sunday afternoon winter walk

Taken during a 3 miler winter afternoon walk in Hatfield Park. She's paused for the photo, but was more skittish than usual, running through water course ditches and needed hosing down once home... our route circles Hatfield House which can be seem occasionally from a distance.

Holly

In memory of dear Holly when went to sleep yesterday age 18. She was a special dog & taught young Ella the hierarchical stuff which puppies need to learn, bless her. This photo was taken when Ella was 4 months.

Birthday girl - 2yrs

Here's Ella walking on the meadows along the River Thames at Henley yesterday - she's 2 years old today, bless...

Midweek lunchtime walk...

Taken during a lunchtime walk round Stanborough Park, Welwyn Garden City.... great de-stresser from a morning in the office...

Walk round Cambridge...

Ella's 23 months this week... we drove across to Cambridge today and had a lovely Autumn mooch around the city centre and along the college 'backs'... here she is on the footbridge by Trinity College Library watching punts pass with Clare College in the background. Clocks went back last night so darkness fell sooner than we expected.

Autumn sunshine...

Attended a wedding in Sussex of a old work colleague this weekend... on Sunday took Ella for a warm sunny a coast walk, during which she had a good run in the surf with a young terrier... just love this shot of her!

... more chillin in the Autumn sun...

We're off!....

Great turn out..... everyone headed off at once at 10.30am completing either 1, 2 or 3 miles.... the dogs all loved it!

Hatfield Park Estate dog walk

The registration area at Stable Yard and gathering for the off...

Proud of her RVC rosette....

Here she is wearing her rosette with pride, ha!

Dog Walk - good turnout & thank you

Ella took part in the RVC Sponsored Dog Walk at Hatfield Park Estate this morning.... good turnout of dogs and owners and trudged across open fields, tracks and woodland. 3 miles and back to the finish for hot drinks and snacks... thanks to all who sponsored us and why not join us next time!

she's now 22 months...

Ella at 22 months, Hollingbury Woods... Autumn sun and getting to the end of a 3 mile walk...

RVC Sponsored Dog Walk

The Royal Veterinary College Animal Care Trust Sponsored Dog Walk - We're taking part in the RVC Sponsored Dog Walk on 10 October on the Hatfield Park estate... should be fun and to be honest the 3 mile 'long walk' is going to be sooo easy for Ella and me (we do daily 3 milers in less than an hour!), however they say it's the taking part that matters and any funds raised seem to be going to a good organisation.

If you fancy giving a couple of quid then just email us back your intention and any amount you wish to sponsor Ella... we'll then add your details to the form and take along on the day. Photos of the walk should be posted soon after the event.

Thorney Island - paddling in sea

Bank Holiday walk

21 months old this weekend and late summer bank holiday... Walk out to the peninsular at Thorney Island, Chichester Harbour, West Sussex...

Saltdean - seawall walk

I love this image of Ella trotting along the seafront between Saltdean and Rottingdean, Sussex... balance, linear, contrast, sky, sea and the timing of the break in the concrete wall and her stride, smart...

Nearing 20 months...

... and I come through and she's hiding under the bed throw!

Lunchtime walk...

This is our typical workday lunchtime walk... down to the Broadwater lake in Hatfield Park. Round trip of 2.5 miles across open fields, through woodland and along the bank of the River Lea flowing through the Broadwater... then back to the studio and work...

Chewing stick...

Ella's now 19 months and enjoying the summer walks. Ground is very dry and grass parched, but what joy at not having to wash her and dry her down when it's wet weather, bliss!

Early morning in Bristol park

Had a meeting at TV studios in Bristol yesterday. Ella came too and we had walk in nearby park in the summer sun before getting down to work...

Evening walk and buying a treat...

First time I've stopped at the corner shop for a treat during our evening walk...

Chilling on balcony....

Lazing in the afternoon sun on the balcony...

Hatfield Park - meadow walk

Late afternoon walk across the fields in Hatfield Park - long grass and wild flowers, Ella loves this walk...

Meadow flowers...

Lunchtime walk in Hatfield Park... across a meadow scattered with wild flowers. Beautiful warm sunny day, Ella just loves this walk.

Early evening walk across meadow

A lovely early evening walk in the sun in Hatfield Park across one of the grass meadows... it will be cut later this month for silage.

18 months and spayed...

Ella was 18 months old this weekend and is recovering from her spay operation last Thursday. She was drowsy for a few days and it's only now 5 days later that she's got her full appetite and energy back, although I'm keeping her from running loose until her scare heals. Vet very pleased.

Ella visiting Ella Road, N8

We walked from 9 Ella Road, N8 down to Crouch End Broadway today. Ella was named after the road where our family had a lovely house until the late '70's. Fresh bread from Dunn's bakery then past the Broadway clock tower to the YMCA Hornsey in Tottenham Lane, where mother and Eric first met all those years back. We finished the afternoon with a walk at Alexandra Palace park.

In loving memory

Here's dear Ella with mother at the National Trust's Wimpole Hall late May 2009 - memories of a truly lovely day, warm sunshine and picnic in the shade of a majestic oak. Dear mother looks so happy and enjoying the day and little puppy - Margaret Gardiner died 4 May 2010

Gunwarf Quay - Old Portsmouth

Ella & Edward during Bank Holiday at Gunwarf Quay, Portsmouth...

Bank Holiday weekend

Running with nephew Edward on South Downs... Ella loves having a stick, bless... happy times

April walks...

Chilling in Verulam and Hatfield Parks late April 2010... we've had lovely warm sunny days which have been bliss, enjoy

Saturday market walk

On way back through churchyard after a walk through St Albans Saturday market. Warmest day of the year so far, blue sky and so chilled...

Verulam Park, Springtime...

Resting during a lunchtime walk in Verulam Park, St Albans.