Crazy Morning

I slept badly at the start of the night- not sure why. Despite it having been a long day, I just could not settle. Strange bed, possibly, but then I realised I was on the wrong side of the bed. So I swapped myself around and things improved.

I showered around 07.00 and slipped downstairs to bring H out. It was a beautiful morning, though chilly, and the estate was looking good.

We eventually got ourselves out to visit Bradley Manor, near Newton Abbot, an NT property offering parkland and wilder walks.

Things went utterly pear shaped and the day took a downward dive. Firstly, Newton Abnot was choc à bloc with traffic and we missed the very discreet turn to Bradley Manor. Having retraced our steps up a steep hillside and winding roads, we turned down the NT signposted track to the Manor, only to be confronted by a second signpost stating ‘no entry’ private property etc. The track was narrow and turning round was tricky. The traffic jam was still there.

We drove on, seeking an alternative route but failing to find one, despite driving down scarily narrow roads, whilst the Satnav was clearly having a field day laughing at us. Oh for a map! Remember the days of maps?

We gave up and formulated another plan to visit Widecombe in the Moor on Dartmoor. The drive was stunning but I became aware that H was becoming increasingly stressed on the back seat of Pen’s car. Panting. And shaking. This was my well travelled dog, and I had never seen her behave like this before, except for when she was troubled by grass seeds out on Crete.

So we stopped at a moor parking place to let her have some fresh air and get her mojo back. And then she did something quite extraordinary. She was off the lead a couple of yards away from us, but turned tail and trotted in the opposite direction far into the distance. She ignored my plaintive cries and just trotted away almost out of sight.

I could see sheep in the far distance – another concern. The ground underfoot was very tussocky and uneven but Pen strode on, while I flailed around, and got close enough to retrieve her. But she was still stressed and refused all treats ( bits of cheese and doggy strips).

We made it to Widecombe and into the pub, where she returned to being a normal and unstressed Heidi. She ate treats voraciously. And drank water.

We lunched and set off towards Hay Tor. I should mention we were in two cars, Frankie having joined our merry go round of a tour of Dartmoor.
Frankie and Pen and H strode off up what was not actually Hay Tor and returned with a shaking, stressed dog. ( again) Or maybe just a daft one.

Home we went where normality returned. What was going on? No idea but this behaviour was strikingly uncharacteristic.

Frankie cooked an amazing roast dinner followed by more cakes. She has been welded to the oven and produced wonderful eats. She had cooked yesterday’s evening meal too.

Yesterday