Green Shoots of Recovery.....

After one of the coldest, harshest winters on record, Spring has most definitely sprung, with South East London enjoying the warmest days of the year so far this last week......it......has......been......glorious! The garden has finally begun to grow and the annual "spot the new growing tips" has commenced....everything has finally 'kicked in' and the rate of growth on a daily basis is always a surprise to me.

Tulips from Amsterdam...(www.crocus.co.uk actually!)

We took Max to the annual Crocus Open Day and he was loved and adored by quite a few people, mostly 'ladies what lunch' types - one woman called him "Maxi-poos"....I was horrified and Max just ignored her! There were a few hundred people there and Max just strutted about like he owned the place (as he does!!!), even trying to put the resident Jack Russell, Spike in his place...methinks our little dog has visions of grandeur that will never be realised but at least he's no shrinking violet! (notice the gardening theme there?!)

Max "lording it" at Crocus

Max was going to be bathed today as he is a little mucky (he is now being referred to as Mr. McStinky) but he has had a reprieve as the weather's not as warm and sunny as we were led to believe today, with a constant threat of more rain (good for the garden, not great for the dog who will just go and get muddy....and drag it through the home!!!)

Max was not feeling himself...

This week Max was also poorly.....we *think* he ate something in the garden that he shouldn't have done or he OD'd on chicken poo (why it's a tasty snack is beyond me!), but whatever it was it made him sick.....Now I know sick isn't the most desirable of things to clear up, the beige porridge-like substance he produced I could deal with but when he vomited bright yellow, watery bile on the white bedding even I was a little shocked!!! His poorly tummy and lethargic behaviour only lasted 24 hours and I am pleased to report that Mr. Puppington McEllis is back to his normal, naughty, wagging self!

Is that chicken poo I see???

On Friday Max is coming with us to Cheshire for the Bank Holiday weekend to visit Nana Joyce.....let's see what trouble he can get himself into with her Jack Russell, Penelope!!!!!!

Miss Penelope Ellis

I'm off to look after my Husband who is experiencing a very bad 'attack' and needs TLC....send him love and get well vibes please

Was there Life before Max???

Two months ago (how time flies when you're picking up poo!!!) a sad little rescue puppy from Sydenham came into our lives. He was a responsibility and obligation I was not  ready to accept and I gave my darling Husband a list of reasons why we couldn't and shouldn't have him - at work all day, the hens, holidays, etc.....the usual stuff.

Max is a proper sun worshipper

There are times, such as 2am this morning (the little bugger!!!!), when he is nothing short of really annoying and I am a stone's throw away from phoning Lewisham Animal Welfare and asking them to take him back, but then I see his furiously wagging tail and those cute puppy eyes staring at me and I melt and I wonder how I even thought I couldn't/wouldn't want him.

Max has a hard life!!!

Don't get me wrong, Max does have times when he is nothing short of naughty and both of us do give him a good ticking off (not that he takes any notice!!!) and I have to remind myself that he is receiving training rather than a telling off....it's all a learning curve for him, after all he's only 6 months old.

Max 'testing' the Girls

With age comes experience and Max is finally (I cannot tell you how relieved I am) toilet trained and is using his dog flap on his own with no guidance/assistance from us, it's all on his own terms now and we couldn't be more happy and proud of him...I would however, prefer it if he didn't use the dog flap around 5:30am and then tap on the bedroom doors from the garden because he thinks we should be up to let him in rather than going back in through the kitchen!!!!

Concentration....

He is also absolutely trustworthy with The Girls now. I 'forgot' the other evening that he was out in the garden and when I remembered I rushed out and found him IN the chicken run with The Girls but not once did he try to harm them. He does get very excited when he wants to but they either ignore him or in Harriet's case, give him a whack on the head with her beak, Max soon learns his lesson. And that's another thing, he's very quick to pick things up and learn, he's a very intelligent little fella!

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz........

So, after maintaining that I didn't want him, that we couldn't and shouldn't have him, I must admit that I wouldn't, couldn't and won't be without him. I am very much in love with Maximillian (except in the early hours of the morning!!). He brings such energy, joy, happiness, unconditional love and the "waggiest" tail ever into our lives and for that I can only be grateful to my Husband for persevering  and knowing deep down that Max was, of course, the right decision.

Husband - Thank You from Both of Us! 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Max Goes On Holiday

The BIGGEST Adventure yet.....

Max arrives in Cornwall

For Easter we arranged to visit the God Children and their parents in Marazion, Cornwall and so on the evening of Thursday 1st April we drove down. Max was fine most of the way although he had a couple of sick moments, probably due to my driving than anything else! We arrived at approximately 10pm and were greeted with much excitement from Heather (God Kids Mum) and Daisy, their dog (Max's new Best Friend!)

Playing on the beach in front of St. Michael's Mount

Good Friday was spent on the beach for the most part, with Max having tons and tons of fun. We weren't sure how he would be with sea and sand as he'd never seen it before but he was brilliant, running here, there and everywhere and falling in the odd rock pool!

Chasing Miss Daisy

He was more than happy on the beach and interacted with other dogs very well indeed, however he only had eyes for Daisy and would chase her and follow her everywhere.....they really did get on well....

Max achieves flight!!!

Most of Max's beach experiences were on Marazion beach which is the location of St. Michael's Mount for those of you that don't know....and also the location of our God Children's Dad's Kite Surfing business. Check it out here http://www.oceanhigh.co.uk/Home.html and why not book a lesson or two.....you know you want to!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road......la la la la

As well as the beach, Max also discovered the woods and a river for the first time too and he again LOVED it....running in the leaves and grass and generally getting very dirty and having tons of fun at the same time!

Looking very cute coming through a hollow tree

He was off the lead for the majority of the holiday and was completely trustworthy, we didn't worry (ok, I did!) that he was going to run off, he was very good. He did decide that everyone he met was going to get a little woof and growl just to show them who's Boss of course.....he thinks he's a German Shepherd!!!

The new Duchy of Cornwall (or so he thinks!!!)

On Easter Saturday we visited Logan's Rock which is on a bay opposite the Minack Theatre on the Atlantic Coast and he was running around the top of the cliffs like he'd always been doing it - a very confident, happy little fella (not that Dad No. 2 was worried or anything!!!).

Us at Logan's Rock

Max will definitely be returning to Cornwall in the future, the God Kids loved him (as did their Mum & Dad) and he got on very well with Daisy.....all in all a fun, adventure-filled, successful holiday and one that will definitely be repeated!!!

The Boys in Cornwall