Blanco

Blanco
our hero

Tuesday 16 March 2010

All in the name...

Blanco's previous owner came for a visit last weekend, along with his 4 kids who wanted to make sure that Blanco was OK, but perhaps they could bring him home with them anyway?


We got to chatting about the origin of Blanco's name - to my knowledge neither Robert or his wife spoke spanish, so how was it that this version of 'white' was chosen. "Oh, it isn't spanish - it's from Porridge, the Ronnie Barker TV programme".
David Jason played an old man called Blanco - if only they had chosen something different. No wonder he is always trying to make a break for it - he's been named for a prisoner and an innocent one at that!
This Saturday, Chuck decided that he would attempt some recall training - we now have a 50ft lead. The idea being that he could get some distance away in the park, but still be 'under control', unfortunately as he had chewed through the special no-pull harness, this lead was attached to his normal collar. Imagine if you will the velocity that can be attained over 50ft by a very exctited little dog that wants to join the dogs on the other side of the park . The other dog owners were very impressed by how fast he could run, but not so impressed by the ease with which the collar came undone as he reached the end of the lead. Chuck let him play with the dogs for a while and then called him back, he came within 2 ft, and then promptly ran off again. The solution has begun today - he got his first set of jabs, and will go back in 2 weeks time for the last batch and to be microchipped. Then comes puppy training - I know he isn't a real puppy, but as he is a Parsons, he will always look like one, and he is a puppy to us!!

Thursday 4 March 2010

I've been a wild rover...



Well, not so much a wild rover, but a small white dog that was let out into the back garden unnoticed when Chuck threw some crusts out for the birds...I thought something was up when he didn't come running as I got the car keys out to head down to Sailortown and I wondered if I had shut him into the study.
A search of the house gave no joy, then Chuck realised what might have happened and dashed out the back door calling for him. I opened the front door and Blanco tore in like a little hurricane - belted around the downstairs rooms like he was possessed and then settled on the settee at DA's feet. Following Cesar's advice, he was rewarded for coming home - with Petit Filous!!
There is nothing that dog loves more than getting his tongue into the bottom of a joghurt pot. It's true what they say about dogs and owners picking up each other's habits - but I thought it would take longer than 2 months. I can see Chuck and Blanco fighting over them in the future.

My reading list

  • One Shot by Lee Childs
  • The Girl who kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson
  • The Children's Book by AS Byatt
  • The Girl who played with Fire by Steig Larsson
  • Nation by Terry Pratchett
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
  • No!I Don't want to join a Book Club by Victoria Ironside
  • The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
  • Brooklyn by Colm Toibin