A HAPPY GOTCHA DAY

I can't believe that one year ago today, Elsie came into our lives, at a very sad time. We'd just lost our beloved Ridgeback Lab cross, Feebie to cancer, her brother Roly, a rescue greyhound going the year before, one month earlier. This time of year is hard for us, which if you've never owned a pet, might seem strange.  Our grief was the reason we desperately needed another little soul to save, and this one saved us.

We picked Elsie up from the Travelodge car park in Peterborough, as her lovely foster Mum had agreed to travel an hour to drop her off.  We'd stayed overnight, as we thought a six hour round trip would be too much for Pearl, who's not fond of long journeys.   The transfer had to be quick, as her foster mum was in bits at having to let her go.  She just managed to take a picture of Elsie with me in the car, before quickly leaving. I don't think Elsie had any idea that she would leave her at this point.

Once the car door shut, she  jammed herself down by the side of my seat, panting in absolute terror at having left a loving foster home for the unknown, not even taking the treats I offered her.  Pearl's presence didn't offer any comfort either.

Once home, she shot onto the sofa and wouldn't leave it, unless I left her side, then she would follow me. She was and still is my little shadow, a beautiful, gentle girl, who makes us laugh so much with her funny ways, She has her issues though, being reactive with other dogs, due to fear, but we will conquer this I know.

We celebrated her ‘Gotcha’ day by heading down to the Forest and then the coast.  It was a glorious day but bitterly cold,  Definitely time to don the thermal undies.

Lovely open vistas.

We've picnic'd at this spot a few times.

I love the egg yolk colour of the gorse....

... and the gnarly texture of this birch bark.

There was not a soul about once we got into the forest.  I love the feeling of peace that walking in forest and woodland give me and find my mood lifts almost immediately.  In Japan, they call this Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to 'forest bathing'  and it's proven to have enormous health benefits which is hardly surprising. Studies have shown that essential oils, called phytoncides, are emitted by plants and vegetation as protection against insects and germs, and inhaling this is beneficial to the human immune system.  We certainly had a good dose of this before heading off to the beach.

It was quiet here too. It's not often you find the board walk to the beach empty.

..and this is why there's a boardwalk!

 I've never seen the sea this rough at Studland before, but the wind was whipping.

Bournemouth in the distance.

You can only just see Old Harry Rocks on left hand side of this pic.  It is a lovely walk out to the rocks, but not on a windy day like this.

We took the ferry over to Poole, which was too choppy for me, despite it being only a 5  minute crossing, but it saved a good hour, given all the roadworks in the area.

I do believe Elsie enhjoyed her Gotcha day, and even managed a good run, off lead at the beach, which was unexpected pleasure for her.  Poor Pearl had to stay on her lead, as she would belt off into the dunes in search of rabbits and would be very hard to get back.

We stopped to feed them at Lawson Clump. Wareham Forest and give them a final stroll, not that they needed it. We finished our picnic too, a couple of cheese rolls with  tiny tomatoes and a much needed mug of coffee.

It was a lovely end to a great day, and we all felt the best kind of tired.  I know I shall sleep well tonight.