The Family Grows....

If you remember from a recent previous chapter, Max was instrumental in helping Lewisham Animal Welfare rescue a little dog who had been dumped and was hiding away in bushes. Well.......she is now OURS!

The first time Max met Millie with Aunty Kay

Millicent Hermione Oprah McEllis (Millie) arrived this evening and both Dads and little Max are very happy indeed......although it has to be said, if Max gets any more excited he's going to implode (and get a Dad sized boot up his backside!). Millie is a very calm dog, if a bit shy but I'm sure she'll find her way and settle in once she's got her bearings.

My name is Millie and this sofa is now mine!

Of course Millie has as many adventures to look forward to as Max and they will all be documented here, on the blog, as you would expect so keep on checking in for the regular updates.

"The Kids"

So why Millicent Hermione Oprah? Well, Millie was the choice of first name and logically extended to Millicent (although Prudence was a close 2nd!). Hermione because it's the closest we could think of to Horniman - she was found in the area of the museum in Forest Hill. 

Finally, Oprah.....because she's a gorgeous black girl, innit!

Welcome to the family Millie

Max's Favourite YouTube Video!

Search & Rescue (and a special Birthday!!!)

On Friday 6th August Dad No. 1 received a call from Aunty Kay asking if she could 'borrow' Max to lure a stray dog that had been abandoned and was wandering the streets of Forest Hill. We thought it only fair that Max give some 'pay back' for his own rescue, so with a confirmed yes Dad No. 1 took Max out on Saturday morning to find the little wanderer.

Daddy, she's not here......

The dog was extremely nervous and would only come out of hiding for Max, who she seemed to like and would wag her tiny tail (for it has been docked) and they would play together in the bushes, far enough away so that her rescuers could not get to her. The day ended with her still at large.

I can't see her Daddy!

The following day Max was called into duty again and set off again to see if the little dog could be found. After a couple of hours she turned up and Max greeted her and they played together and Max ate most of the smoked ham meant for her!!!! Again the rescue attempt ended with her still not rescued.

Even hero rescuers need some downtime

However, the next day a local lady managed, after a 3 hour marathon session, to tempt the little dog into her house using her own dog and some food, so thankfully the little lady has now been rescued and is in the expert care of Aunty Kay until a suitable home is found.......

Readers, you may want to watch this space....... *GRIN*

Do we REALLY want another rescue dog?!?!?!

This weekend also saw the arrival of Dad No. 2's Mum to celebrate her 60th birthday with us here in London and a wonderful time she had too (apparently!). We took Mum on a London Rib (www.londonribvoyages.com) which was excellent and Mum loved it, especially as everyone onboard sang Happy Birthday to her as we went under the Tower Bridge!!!

Mum, on a London Rib, on the Thames

In the evening we took Mum to the Brockley Jack for dinner and a few drinks and our wonderful friends Mark and Paul joined us to help Mum celebrate (Thank you Boys)......I shall never think of the Soho Sex Shops in quite the same way again (ask my Mother......!!!)

Maximillian and his (OAP) Grandma

I'll leave you with a video of the Old Girl in action on the Thames......

Happy 60th Birthday Mum from Us, Max and The Girls

A TRAINing Day....

The heat seems to have subsided but it's still muggy here in Sarf East London. 

Le Jardin

The allotment, pots and borders still seem to require a lot of water each and every day. However, everything is blooming wonderful, the credit for much of this (it has to be said) is for my handsome Husband, who toils away in both garden and allotment while I seem to be able to find 'other things to do'....strange how that happens!

It's all 'sunny' up the allotment, innit

Today (Sunday 1st August - is it REALLY August already?!?!?!?!), Max experienced a first. We took him on a train to see Muffin & Bella (Carole & John) and their dogs, Finley and Archie in Ashtead, Surrey...I wasn't sure how he would be on a train, considering that he's not even seen one, never mind been on one.

Max waits for his train to arrive

So, on the train we got at Honor Oak Park and settled into our 45 minute journey to Tattenham Corner where Carole would collect us and take us to Ashtead. When I say 'settled', me and the Husband tried to settle with him on one of our laps, but no, Max could not sit still for a second, his nose and face were everywhere and into everything, he even enjoyed a little window licking to pass the time!

Daddy, are we there yet???

It's always a joy (and hell on the liver afterwards!) to see Carole and John and we had a wonderful time...Max had a blast!! He was having so much fun with the Boys, he thoroughly enjoyed himself, especially with Archie!!!

"Archie"

Archie, out of the two is the naughty one, the one that WILL get into as much mischief as possible and WILL get himself into trouble!!! Archie's other name, which gives you a hint of the amount of mischief he gets into is "Il Bastardo"! It would appear that this afternoon, Archie was giving Maximillian some lessons......!!!

"Finley"

I think it's fair to say that Fin is a mummy's boy, he's also a bit of an old man in a young dog's body and sees much of life as 'below him', however it doesn't stop him having fun, chasing the cat (Harry) and blaming much of whatever trouble he gets into on Archie! He's "stately' for his age but he's a gorgeous dog, a big softie really and I do think that he looks out for Archie. He probably thinks that one of them has to have his eyes on the road so why not him!

"Hear No, Speak No, See No"

Maximillian was spoilt rotten while he was at Carole & John's, receiving a fair few tit bits of barbecued lamb. He didn't stop while we were there, he was on the move all the time with either Finley or Archie, depending on who was more in the mood to tear around the garden with him.

A pooped puppy!

Maximillian Sydney Bruiser McEllis had a wonderful day with Carole, John, Finley and Archie, as did his Dads and all of us can't wait to do it again as soon as possible. Next time we will take Max and his mates to Ashtead Common or the Racecourse for a scamper.

The WONDERFUL Bella & Muffin

This coming weekend sees the arrival of Grandma Celia who is coming to stay and celebrate her 60th birthday with us......there will be pictures....

iMax

Summer has arrived at last and Max, the Girls and Us are thoroughly enjoying it, long may it last (well, until September at least please!!!). The heat has assisted the bananas, gingers and other tenders to shoot up and the garden is now looking really full and lovely and there are plenty of places for Max and the Girls to shade themselves from the heat of the sun.

Hot Dog

The heat also gives us the opportunity to bathe Max and then chuck him straight outside and he can do his 'Mad Max' impression and dry off at the same time. He hates having a bath, but he loves the conclusion when he can shake and dart around the garden while he dries off....the video below shows you exactly what I mean!!!!

"Mad Max"

As mentioned, the garden is filling out nicely and we will soon have a bumper crop of lilies and Agapanthus to enjoy the latter part of the Summer with. Alas, I lost my Dahlia collection over the winter and now only have one plant, although the Hubby has purchased a couple more, but to lose the entire collection except one plant was just a little annoying and just a little depressing! A trip to the National Dahlia Collection in Cornwall (next door to our fab God Children!) is called for methinks...roll on August *GRIN*

Not my collection, but as good as!!!

As ever, Max continues to "assist" us at the allotment and finds himself in the strangest of places and situations, not to mention trampling all over Annie's Leek seedlings on the plot next to ours, the little bugger!!!

Max......helping at the allotment!!

Finally, Dad No. 2 has treated the home to a lovely, gorgeous iMac computer *sigh* and has taken huge delight in preparing this current chapter on said machine, oh the JOY!! Hence, tacky as it is, I couldn't resist the name of iMax in honour, not only of our new toy, but also the main man in our house, the one, the only.....Maximillian Sydney Bruiser McEllis!

iMac/iMax

To All The Gay Boys & Girls

Have a FABULOUS Pride Everyone!

Growing Up...(and now with added video!)

It's hard to believe that Maximillian Sydney Bruiser McEllis is already 8 months old! Yes, Ladies and Gentlebents, Max is growing up fast and what a handsome little man he is....just like Dad No. 1!

Max, the day he arrived - all floppy eared and full of cheek (still is!!!)

When he first arrived he could fit in the nook of your elbow and weighed less than 2 kilograms and back then he could fit inside his bed perfectly - he's now a little big for it and has his own personal sofa! Of course, being Max he is still rather small (a Guinea Pig could take him out!) but Max's personality more than makes up for his lack of stature, he's full of fun and cheekiness.

If you come to my house Uncle Mark, I will sit on you!

Max is always happiest when he's being given attention (aren't we all?!) and just loves it when we have company and he can be adored. Unlike his Dads (this may come as a shock to some of you!), Max is a Ladies Man, especially Aunty Kay who he is completely and utterly in puppy love with....and rightly so, it was of course Kay who rescued Max and brought him to us so she should of course have pride of place in Max's heart.

Yes, he rolled in poo again!!!!!!

Max's circle of friends at the Park continues to grow and we now have to deal with him speeding off to his new best friends and completely and utterly ignoring us. He has no fear whatsoever and it does worry me that one day we will find his little body inside the jaws of a much bigger, unfriendly beast of a dog, especially as there are so many 'bull breeds' in Sarf London (innit!). However, we can't expect him to not have a run around the Park so it's a case of keeping our beady eyes open.

Er, Dad....can I have a word about this blog please?!

When he's at the Park he plays with just about any dog, but he has an 'eye' for big dogs, he's completely obsessed with them. Little dogs he will play with, big dogs he just can't leave alone...he rally does think he's a German Shepherd! He also loves it up the allotment, it's probably one of his favourite places as he can just run off and do his own thing while we potter around, following fox scents and having a dig....he's in dog heaven up there!

The allotment....and Max

As you may have noticed, it's been blooming hot recently and Max has on occasion found it just a little too warm and takes particular pleasure from going in the garden of an evening and letting Dad No. 1 'get him' with the hose. It's very funny, Max 'pretends' that he's trying to escape the water but in fact comes running back for more!

Style to the Max!

And so, I will leave you with the view from my pillow very early this morning....the little bugger!!!!!!

Max, at 6.45am on a Saturday morning!!!!!!