ONCE UPON A TIME

Once upon a time, when I was a puppy ...

Do you think that's how my book SAM'S STORY should begin? Maybe it should, but that isn't how it will actually be beginning!

Of course I can't tell you the start, because that would spoil things. But I can tell you that this picture is of me, looking how I did when my story started. Mum says I was a cuddly little Beardie, who didn't often keep still long enough to be cuddled.

I describe, in my first chapter, what I did for her to decide she probably should have named me Houdini. I'm glad she changed her mind and let me stay as Sam. I wouldn't be writing SAM'S STORY otherwise, would I?

(By the way, it will be finished in July and published in August.)

SAM'S STORY UPDATE

You'll never believe what Mum's been doing while I've been writing SAM'S STORY (which is almost finished)!

She's been putting my baby pictures on Facebook. When I asked her why she was doing this, she said it was because she couldn't find them when we started our Shaggy Dog Blog. But as she has found them now, she wants to share them with everyone. She says the whole world will love the puppy I once was.

Does she mean they don't love me now that I've grown from a puppy to a big dog?

P.S. Here's my opinion of our Spring weather:

A NEW FRIEND - And Sam Learns A Lesson!

I made a new friend today. As you can see, he's woolly and has a very black face. He stood looking at me and seemed a bit scared. I suppose that's because I'm so much bigger than he is. And maybe it's also because of my history.

Can you guess what I mean by 'history'? In case you can't, I'll confess!

When I was younger, I was sometimes guilty of rounding up lambs and sheep. It's in my genes, you see. At least, that's what I told Mum when she got cross with me. It also happens to be the truth. My instinct is to gather the flock together - any flock that crosses my path. But following my instinct has landed me in hot water more than once, so now I try to think before doing anything that might make Mum cross.

She was pleased with my behavior today. She says it showed that I've learned from the past. She was especially pleased when I just watched this lamb and his sister feeding, without trying to join in. But why would I want to join in, when Mum always gives me better things than milk for my tea?

  

SOGGY SAM AT OXWICH

Yes, this is me - and Mum says I'm a soggy Sam, whatever that means! I chased some seagulls down to Oxwich and when they flew off I landed in the sea.

This kind of thing is still happening more often than it should, considering all the effort and energy I'm putting in to working out how to fly. Mum tells me that I'd have been given wings if flight was meant to be an option for me, but I believe that I'll fly without wings if I try hard enough.

The tide is out so far today that Mum and I can walk for miles. Maybe she has it in mind to take me to the Oxwich Bay Hotel for tea. One of the reasons I like going there is because the chef often finds a sausage or other titbit for me - and Mum likes a scone or toasted tea-cake to go with her pot of tea; she also says she's glad of the rest before we start our long trek home.

Personally, I don't see the sense of resting when instead I can be having an adventure!

SAM'S STORY - CHAPTER 23

Here you can see Mum beautifying me just after we'd completed Chapter 23 of SAM'S STORY. We're also talking about Chapter 24 and the fact that there might not be more than 25 chapters in all.

My story is taking us both by surprise as there have been a few unexpected developments in our lives. So we've been needing to talk these through and agree on how to tell them to you. Mum tends to beat about the bush, whereas I'm all for coming straight out with the truth.

So whose path will we choose? I'll give you a clue:

It lies in the title ....... SAM'S STORY!!!!

GONE FISHING - SAM IN THE SWIM

I like to cool off in rock pools. Their water doesn't lift me off my paws the way the sea likes to do. And I like to keep my eye on what the fish are up to.

Once I caught one, but it wriggled so much I had to let it go. Joanna's boy - Leo - prefers not to get wet, but then he's a Tibetan terrier. He can climb rocks until he's up so high that I can't follow him. I don't tell him I can't. Better to pretend that I just don't want to. But heights are not my thing.

So while Leo climbs, I swim - or do a bit of fishing!