Yogi’s Corner
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Hello! I is Yogi, I is a Border Terrier, globetrotter, yoghurtpot connoisseur, and passionate bouncer.
I come from the Poplar Kennels in Chatteris, where Janet handraised me. My proper name is Basatopa Winter Anthem, but Bisa and Ian thought that’s a mouthful to shout across the common in Cambridge where I grew up, so I was named Yogi after Yogi Bear but in my new home in Meerbusch in Germany, people call me “Jogi our Bundestrainer” (national football coach). That is fine with me as I love footboll.
I do usually not blog but I is on twitter (Yogi_BT) with my lovely pawpals and humin friends.
I is making exception now as I had some bissy times with Bisa and Ian and even #flatmarley!
So here are the adventures in my new home country:
I live with Bisa but my other humin, Ian, is still living in England, now in Ely, they have nice café by river that allows dogs!
He is coming for visits once a month until some time we will be reunited for good!
So when he came over last weekend we decided to take him for a boat trip in Düsseldorf to see the sights:
First we had a big breakfast though with #flatmarley.
And before we could go on the boat we had a cool drink by the river.
Some of the sights we saw:
a big fun fair in Oberkassel
the Düsseldorf Promenade, I has marked it in many places!
The Gehry buildings
This is my Rhine beach viewed from the boat
And here is me with Bisa
#flatmarley, Quibble, me and Ike
Baumelbank
Local inhabitants
#flatmarley having a cooling refreshment
#flatmarley and flatyogi
and in the garden I had some fruity refreshments from the red currant bush
So now there we are. Soon Bisa will start her new job. Life is good! So will have snooze now… just after getting Bisa to play with me with my doughnut.
*Nose licks* for all
Yours Yogi
admin @ July 13, 2011
Britain dog-friendly? Think again…
Posted in: Opinion | Comments (0)
I just visited Visit Carmarthenshire, a very nice website showcasing beautiful countryside and promoting the region to tourists. I was pleased that they have a whole section dedicated to “Dog-friendly Carmarthenshire”. We are thinking about a holiday in this region with our dog, so it is great to find info on accommodation, places to visit etc. where Yogi is allowed to come.
There is a bit highlighting the Plough Inn in Rhosmaen near Llandeilo offering dining with your dog. However, on the booking page of their website they state “Please note that no pets are allowed in our bar and dining room.”. I find that a bit confusing. If you can’t take them into the bar or dining room, where are you supposed to eat with them?
They do say they are dog friendly, but what does that really mean if you then ban them from essential parts of the establishment. Surely, if you encourage people to stay in your hotel you would want them to eat there too. And yes I appreciate that your dog would have to be well-behaved and clean and all of those things that are self-explanatory. Seriously, who travels with a crazy, aggressive, filthy dog? And yes, if anyone does actually do that, please ask them to leave, but why punish the majority of dog owners and dogs for that rather unlikely scenario?
That brings me to a more general idea. I ponder how dog-friendly Britain really is. Often these kind of hotels that call themselves dog-friendly but then don’t allow them anywhere in the hotel but the room, also don’t let you leave the dog alone in the room, which leaves you with no option but to eat elsewhere. What are you to do? Make the dog magically disappear or hang in thin air outside for the duration of your meal? And again where elsewhere are you allowed to take the dog to have a meal? The really dog-friendly places here are far and few between and difficult to find. There is a great website www.doggiepubs.co.uk, which is dedicated to help the adventurous dog owner, who likes to walk in the countryside for example AND eat and drink indoors somewhere along the way.
Plenty of European countries are certainly what I would call dog-friendly. You don’t have to look up the few places that allow dogs, they are just allowed everywhere, and you don’t have to ask if the dog is allowed, it’s just assumed they are. As an example, I like to use my visit to Germany.
We met up with my parents in the vineyards of the Pfalz region. Stayed in a beautiful hotel with vineyard, that my parents been to many times. I knew dogs are allowed there. My parents have two dogs, one a large Airedale and a small Border Terrier, like our Yogi. We did some beautiful walks during which at some point it would be lunchtime, so we would stop at the next pub and go in no questions asked – with 3 dogs no less. Initially my partner and I were hesitant, but my parents just walked in and said it was all fine, and so it was.
We later during our trip went to Koblenz, a city situated at the Rhine, where we were allowed (I’ve called in advance to make sure I am not dreaming) to take Yogi into a shopping centre, one of those roofed mall type things. Another day we went to see my brother in Düsseldorf, large city. Yogi was allowed in all the shops (except Bakeries and grocery shops, fair enough), cafés, even Starbucks, pubs and restaurants. No questions asked. It’s just normal there. I was in dog owner heaven. And Yogi was in dog heaven I guess, lots of new experiences.
And I might like to add that it is very clean there, there aren’t lots of puddles in shops nor poos, nor is it otherwise any grimier than it is in shops here. In my view it is down to the owners to be responsible, and that is just expected over there. Of course you would be liable if your dog did do damage, but so are parents when their child does something.
I also don’t think that dog owners here are any less responsible.
A totally different side is, that dog owners are also consumers and people that work, pay taxes and spend money in shops and restaurants. Odd that in such a financial crisis as this country is in, patrons don’t try to tap into a huge market of opening up to dog owners and their best friend – their dogs. Restaurants and Pubs are closing right left and centre, even in a town like Cambridge, but they would rather turn you away and not serve you than let a small well-behaved dog lie under the table. (Mind you, they are happy to allow noisy annoying children in.)
Sadly, I think Britain still has a long way to go to become truly dog-friendly.
admin @ February 10, 2011
Terrier toys
Posted in: Shopping and Reviews, Yogi | Comments (0)
There are many dog toys out there in this world. The thing is even if they look cute and all, they might not be very durable. They might last for some types of dogs, but forget about them if you have a terrier.
Now I have even tried toys that claimed to be extremely durable and had Rottweilers on the picture, yet little 5 month old Border Terrier Yogi (the tester in this) managed to “kill it” in a few hours. Chewed a corner of the bone shaped toy that was covered in a densly woven nylon material, looked sturdy enough, but no match for little strong terrier jaws.
I have long given up to buy just any odd toy. The only ones worth buying as Yogi not only loves them but they are also pretty durable are:
1) The classic Kong
The most ultimate dog toy, there is no way it can be killed. Yogi is only really interested if it’s stuffed with lovely treats and the special Kong Peanut Butter stuffing paste, but when it is he goes bananas until it’s all empty, he has developed a clever technique whereby he picks it up and throws it on the floor a couple of times until something falls out, if it doesn’t work on the carpet he will move into the kitchen or onto the terrace where there are hard surfaces. I also think that they look really cool.
2) The Kong Wubba (with squeek)
Yes another Kong toy, you might see I am an advocate for them, as they seem to be the only company that manages to produce durable toys that even a terrier can enjoy. This is like a Kong but looks a bit like a squid. Yogi bites into the tassles at the end and thows it about and then runs about squeeking it bouncing up and down. He carries it around and drops it on our feet when he wants a game.
3) flexible rubber ball
4) Plush Doughnut with squeek
This is a cheap and cheerful toy. The image is of one similar to one of Yogi’s first ever toys. The squeek died at some point and he is on his third, but not because he managed to shred it ever.
4) Rope knot ball
He loves to get his teeth into this but unlike the ropes with the knots on the ends, he can’t pull the strings out and eat them.
5) Rubber knot ball with bell and rope
He loves this, thows it about like a little crazy guy.
I bought some other things with good intentions, such as another Kong toy, the Wobbler
He initially needed some assistance in getting the concept of kicking the Wobbler so that a treat inside could fall out though the little hole. Well, he got it very quickly. I got it so he would have something to keep him entertained while alone at home, but Yogi, you see is a very impatient dog and he gets so wound up and frustrated that he can’t just get all the treats at once he starts squeeling and howling in the most bizarre fashion, so I have to watch him while playing with it and take it away when he gets aggitated, as I don’t want him to end up mad. Well he is mad, but you know what I mean…
Anyway, all dogs are different, so it will suit other dogs better.
To conclude, freely after Forrest Gump: Dog toys are like a box of chocolate, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Happy playing!
Bisa
admin @ October 16, 2010
Great finds
Posted in: Shopping and Reviews | Comments (0)
One of my favourite things is shopping, I find it very relaxing. If I get stressed I go shopping, I can spend hours browsing, just looking at things.
I generally prefer to be in an actual shop but online will do if that’s not available or I don’t feel like leaving the house.
Anyway, there are some items I’ve found over time which are brilliant and I thought I share them here.
1) Crocs – I love them, I have too many to count, lots of different styles are available now, I especially recommend the Jaunt Wellies (http://tinyurl.com/39lql9o), they were my last purchase and are already a staple in my “shoerobe” as I am always on walks with little Yogi. I have my eye one another different style but that would just be naughty: http://www.crocs.co.uk/crocs-surrey/11070,en_GB,pd.html?cid=060&cgid=women-footwear.
2) Philips Imageo candle lights: http://tinyurl.com/36vmdsa, they are great, they give lovely ambient light, flicker gently like candles, no cables not nasty plastic, no batteries, induction charged on a station, last 24 hours, brilliant. Their guide light (http://tinyurl.com/38hvfbs) is on the way, which should sort our issue with not having a light switch to the corridor by the bedroom door. Got my parents the table lights of the same range, and they love them too.
3) My nude patent Shilo heels from LK Bennett (http://www.lkbennett.com/shoes/courts/29766TAUPE). Yes they were expensive, but boy are they comfortable and gorgeous and go with anything and I just love them. They have the same shoe now in snake skin, but I couldn’t afford that, but I found a similar snake skin pair in the LKB sale recently for half price (http://www.lkbennett.com/shoes/courts/30431TAN). Result. I am too old to wear uncomfortable heels.
That’s the top three I can think off.
I probably post the best dog toys next, so watch this space, esp. if you have a terrier, as they destroy most toys within minutes, days or max. a week.
Bisa
admin @ October 9, 2010
Photo Exhibition
Posted in: Life, Photography | Comments (0)
This is a collection of some of my favourite shots. I enjoy taking photographs, predominantly of plants, landscapes, interesting items and of course Yogi.
I am not claiming to be a photographer, I am very much an amateur, I don’t know much about exposure and lighting and all those technical terms. I just love it when I spot a pattern and can capture it, when I see a beautiful scene and manage to reflect it, and if I get Yogi to sit still for long enough to get a clear pic of him. I usually post photos on flickr.com, but thought I share a collection here.
admin @ October 4, 2010
A Wimpole day!
Posted in: Life, Yogi | Comments (0)
On our Cornwall holiday we’ve joined the National Trust on the last day at Lizard Point.
We have plenty of National Trust sites around where we live in Cambridge, so it seemed worthwhile.
Today was another grand day out at Wimpole Hall. We did a 2 hour walk across the beautiful meadows and through the woodland.
After yesterday’s dog training class, Yogi deserved a nice long walk with lots to sniff. And I could do with some fresh air to blow those cobwebs out of my head.
I love taking pictures of tree eyes, they are really magical, well I think so. Judge yourself, here are some I’ve taken today.
It was a glorious day, finished off with lunch at the tea rooms. Cottage Pie. We then bought some Wimpole Home Farm meat and headed back home.
Yogi and I immediately collapsed into little heaps in bed for a snooze which was to last some hours. He is now once again snoozing on the sofa while we are zapping through the channels and have some drinks.
Nice Saturday! Just what the doctor ordered
Bisa
admin @ October 2, 2010
Never argue about religion…
Posted in: Opinion | Comments (2)
I am a peaceful kind of girl. I live by the rule: Live and let live.
But I do have strong opinions especially if other people try to tell me what to think and do.
I am not a religious kind of girl either. I believe in something, I am Catholic by baptism and I grew up that way, never heavily encouraged nor that interested once I became a teenager. That’s when I started being opinionated and developed quite a dislike to the Church in fact as it has lots of money, and even when I was a small child they try to make you collect your little pocket money for poor people. Well I am sure my 10 Pfennig every week really helped, but why doesn’t the Vatican use some of their riches instead of taking it from a little girl?
This however has nothing to do with belief and God, certainly not in my eyes. Just because I have a mind of my own, and criticise some Church practice (not agreeing with their “no contraception” policy esp. in poor developing countries, for example), doesn’t mean I don’t believe in God, or call it a Spirit, higher force, whatever. I am fairly well educated with a degree and all, so yes I do believe in science and evolution, but again that has nothing to do with my believe that there is some power that was before anything else that is in everything from a beautiful flower, a baby to my rather cute puppy.
Some people try to explain love and kindness with science I am sure, I don’t know how, I know I wouldn’t believe it.
Some people believe in following religious rules, by whichever faith they count themselves part of, to the letter. Ok, let them, as long as they don’t try to impose their believes onto me, call me names or a non-believer in the process.
Some people don’t believe at all. Atheists. Fair enough I say, that’s up to each individual what they want to believe or not. They don’t believe in God, they believe in something else, science usually, or idols, from comedians to radical atheists.
What bothers me greatly, and it doesn’t matter which of these different groups someone belongs to, is when they try to tell me I am wrong in what I believe. Funny enough, I’ve never had any strong believer of a faith do this to me, it’s so far always been the atheists.
If you end up in a conversation where you happen to mention that you believe in something, they look at you like you need a straightjacket or something. Surely you are joking? Well read this book and you will change your mind! Or they try to argue … for hours, tell you how you are wrong and ridiculous.
I find it quite peculiar that people who don’t believe are so keen to convert you to become a non-believer.
What would I have to gain from that though? I am happy believing, be it right or wrong to do so.
Surely, if I can find it in my heart to accept anyone believing or not believing what they want, they should be able to show me the same courtesy.
Kind regards
Bisa
admin @ September 18, 2010
So true!
Posted in: Life, Opinion, Yogi | Comments (0)
JUST A DOG
From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,”
or “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.”
They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent,
or the costs involved for “just a dog.”
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.”
Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,”
but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought aobut by
“just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch
of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you probably understand
phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.”
“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship,
trust, and pure unbridled joy.
“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience
that make me a better person.
Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look
longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog”
but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts
away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that its’ not “just a dog”
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
“just a man” or “just a woman.”
So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog,”
just smile,
because they “just don’t understand.”
~Unknown Author~
admin @ September 11, 2010
TV rubbish
Posted in: Opinion | Comments (0)
Is it just me or do they only show rubbish repeats over and over again?
I am paying good money to get BT Vision, why I ask myself, as all I get it repeats and repeats of repeats. There are whole channels devoted to repeats and not enough repeating a tv series or movie once they show it every other day.
I can easily recall lots of great tv over the years, but they never show any of those programs again, no they only show the same old rubbish, as if there are only a handful of movies that channels own and can show. And worst I get charged to watch tv.
Oh and let’s not forget “reality” tv. Seriously, who actually watches this and believes it is real or anything to do with reality? In reality, people die in floods and earthquakes, work hard to make a living and get annoyed about stupid idiots on tv, who become famous and rich without any talent and skill.
Ok, enough moping. I am hungry, so you are off the hook!
admin @ August 30, 2010
2010 summer holiday
Posted in: Life, Photography, Yogi | Comments (0)
We’ve just come back from our summer holiday in Cornwall. We rented a self-catering cottage on a farm near Coverack, on the Lizard.
Coverack
http://www.heath-farm-holidays.co.uk/granary.html
We’ve had a truly wonderful time there with our little Yogi, who loved the spacious cottage and enclosed back garden from where he could watch the mad guinea fowl and chickens safely. We can recommend this place whole-heartedly. Great for starting out on lovely walks along the coastal path. He was the model dog, always came back and walked and walked even though he was so tired in the end that I had to carry him for a little while (which did my lower back in and causes me still to be in pain, but it was worth it.)
Cadgwith is the most pretty secluded fishing village, just wonderful.
For the first time ever I had a freshly baked real Cornish Pasty, it was amazing!!!!
We also went to the National Seal Sanctuary in Gweek: http://www.sealsanctuary.co.uk/ Besides of seals they also have the most adorable Otters and Penguins and a very nice lady explained Cornish rock pools to Ian, Yogi and I.
Afterwards we stopped in Helford, a very pretty village by the Helford River. After a drink in the pub I ran into my former colleague Pete, which was funny, a case of this world being quite a bit smaller than we like to think. We also managed to meet our German neighbours from the cottage in Coverack there.
Pretty Helford
We did a tour to Marazion, from where you can see St Michael’s Mount, but this was the most dog unfriendly place, with signs and fines, awful, there is nobody at the beach, there is lots of stinking seaweed and rubbish from all those people without dogs that are allowed to walk there. And they don’t even allow dogs on the paved promenade we had to use a narrow pedestrian path next to the busy road to get back to the car park. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Given how many people with dogs go to Cornwall on holiday, they are shooting themselves in the foot, in my view. Penzance, where we went afterwards was quite chavvy and I was glad to get back to the Lizard. Much nicer friendlier place.
St Michael's Mount
On the way back we stopped in Cadgwith and bought some lovely fresh monkfish and I found some nice souvenirs. I would definitely love to stay in this village, it’s magical.
On the last day, we were lucky again with the weather and went to Lizard Point. It’s very stunning there. The views are fantastic, we spotted lots of seals in the sea below the cliffs sunning their noses, it was brilliant.
They have some cute little shops and a restaurant with sea views. There are some men left that make souvenirs from serpentine. I’ve got a lovely paperweight. We also joined the National Trust who run the site and had a little hut there. Unfortunatley, when we arrived and I went into the souvenir shop where the lady had a cocker spaniel, Yogi got tangled up, I bend down and my lower back went. Trapped nerve again or somegthing equally evil. I was stuck kneeling on the floor and the lady had to run out trying to find Ian to help. Slightly embarrassing, so I felt I should share it here with everyone…
We then had a lovely lunch (I had a medley of 4 different fresh fish) in the restaurant looking out at the sea.
Lizard Point
On the way back towards home we stopped at the Healey Cider Farm, as my brother has told me about Rattler Cider before I went down to Cornwall and it’s rather tasty. We didn’t go straight back to Cambridge though, we stopped over in Kingham, Cotswolds, for two nights in the Tollgate Inn: http://www.thetollgate.com/
Very recommendable, the people are very friendly and very dog loving. Guinness their Labrador wasn’t keen on Yogi, but that didn’t stop Yogi from pestering him. We had a wonderful room, very clean and comfortable. We had dinner there in the evening, Yogi is allowed in the bar area, where there are tables for diners as well. It was to die for. Wonderfully cooked Scallops followed by Guinea Fowl (in honour of the noisy gang at Heath Farm), and a lovely desert, delicious. All dealt with thanks to Ramazotti, I was amazed as I’ve never seen it anywhere here in the UK before.
The village is very pretty and we did a walk to Bledington on Sunday, it was very hot though and combined with my bad back and not being prepared with maps, we didn’t do too much. Drove to very beautiful Stow-on-the-Wold (http://www.cotswolds.info/places/stow-on-the-wold.shtml), where Yogi even was allowed in some shops. Sorry, he is so important to us, that things like that make a huge impact.
I seriously think that in a country where 8 million people have dogs, there should be more of a campaign for places to become more dog friendly. I wish Cambridge was more like those great places we’ve now visited and enjoyed. So few pubs here allow dogs, with no real reason, just the totally rubbish excuse that they “are not allowed dogs as they serve food” which is clearly not right.
Anyway, we’ve managed to get home safely today at lunchtime. Yogi went bonkers and seems most happy to be home and I think so are we. All in all a fantastic break.
admin @ July 26, 2010
