A New Friend

On a recent visit to Byland Abbey, North Yorkshire. this Border Collie appeared from nowhere and promptly dropped her stick in front of us.  The missus, who is not made of as stern a stuff as me, couldn’t resist picking up the stick and chucking it….. instant ‘friend for life’.  For our entire visit, the young dog kept us entertained – yes, I was throwing the stick too! – so much so that we hardly looked at the ruins at all.  As we left, her owner drove up in his Land Rover and then disappeared down the side road opposite… and our new found friend disappeared at full pelt down the road behind him!   I have absolutely no doubt the sheepdog got its daily exercise from the various visitors to the Abbey …. and running down the road after her owner.   In the dim distant past of my youth, we had a Border Collie as a family pet and I can vouch for the fact that they will run and run and run and run and run.

—Stephen—

Dog Island

The dog had nothing better to do than swim out to the small island in the middle of the river and proceed to chew its stick to pieces – safe in the knowledge, perhaps that it’s owner couldn’t do very much about it!

—Stephen—-