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smokingbootThe Barghest, called also Black Shuck, the Gurt Dog, the Gytrash, the Moddey Dhoo and by many other names, can be found all over Britain in legend, from the hills of Somerset to the Yorkshire moors, and East Anglian coast. Usually it is a terrifying spectral hound, but sometimes it takes on less fearful aspect, padding along pathways where it protects lone women wandering in the dark; and there it was at our back door, a hovering shadow waving its tail expectantly.
'What is it with this house?' R exclaimed as we opened the door and in tottered this huge random black labrador. She moseyed around the kitchen amicably, noted the water, the cats, the food and the fire in the wood-burning stove, then sat down on the rug. After a few moments of not really knowing what to do with our unexpected guest, R went to check if someone was wandering around outside looking for her, which proved to be the case. He found the owner who came up the steps and shouted from outside:
'Lola! Lola come here! LOLA! LOLA!'
Lola lay down with the most genial determination not to go anywhere. 'Grab her and pull her out,' advised the owner. R was not going to grab a strangers dog, besides, Lola was enormous and the only thing likely to be pulled in the attempt was his back. The owner seemed reluctant to enter the house, but it was a case of that or Lola settling in for the night, and even when the pair of them were back outside, Lola was making her way around the side to get to the back door again.
The cats were freaked, but soon got over it courtesy of many bribes. I should say that the great old Padfoot ambled away determinedly leading her owner away from the snow and back home, but I am not convinced. It was warm here, it smelled of hot chicken and we are clearly, in dog terms, a pair of likeable mugs. She'd have stayed if she could, and left her owner to wander around like a fool in the dreadful weather...
...And we just might have let her.
'What is it with this house?' R exclaimed as we opened the door and in tottered this huge random black labrador. She moseyed around the kitchen amicably, noted the water, the cats, the food and the fire in the wood-burning stove, then sat down on the rug. After a few moments of not really knowing what to do with our unexpected guest, R went to check if someone was wandering around outside looking for her, which proved to be the case. He found the owner who came up the steps and shouted from outside:
'Lola! Lola come here! LOLA! LOLA!'
Lola lay down with the most genial determination not to go anywhere. 'Grab her and pull her out,' advised the owner. R was not going to grab a strangers dog, besides, Lola was enormous and the only thing likely to be pulled in the attempt was his back. The owner seemed reluctant to enter the house, but it was a case of that or Lola settling in for the night, and even when the pair of them were back outside, Lola was making her way around the side to get to the back door again.
The cats were freaked, but soon got over it courtesy of many bribes. I should say that the great old Padfoot ambled away determinedly leading her owner away from the snow and back home, but I am not convinced. It was warm here, it smelled of hot chicken and we are clearly, in dog terms, a pair of likeable mugs. She'd have stayed if she could, and left her owner to wander around like a fool in the dreadful weather...
...And we just might have let her.
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Date: 2018-03-03 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-03 02:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-04 09:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-04 09:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-04 01:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-05 08:37 am (UTC)We have 4 ageing dog-negative cats. If they weren't so easily stressed out, a couple of pugs would definitely be joining us!