WHY CAN'T I FLY LIKE THEY DO?

I was just doing my usual thing, trying to fly like the seagulls, when all of a sudden this great big wave came in! I wouldn't mind except that the gulls flew upwards while I had to swim.

Why is it that I still can't seem to get the hang of flying? I try (and keep trying) with all my might, but without wings I sometimes have a tough time of it. If you can spot me here on Rhossili beach you'll see what I mean. And now my fur's a bit soggy, which makes flying even more of a problem.

I've asked Mum, more than once, about the chances of a boy like me growing wings and her answers aren't very satisfactory. She says if I was meant to have them, I'd have wings already.

What am I supposed to make of that? I'll tell you what I make of it: one of these days, I'll fly - with or without wings!

WIN A KINDLE FIRE WITH SAM'S STORY!

Bet you'd like to know how to win a Kindle Fire with SAM'S STORY! That's my story, by the way - in case you're still in any doubt about it.

Well, I must admit, I don't understand any of this, but Mum says winning a Kindle Fire is a very exciting thing. So here's how you do it: just click this LINK before 25 October 2014 and then read the rules for winning. I'd win one myself, except I'd sooner win a big juicy marrow-bone.

Is that what Mum means when she says "Each to their own"?

Good luck from us both!

GOOD NEWS DAY!

I knew it was good news day as soon as I opened my eyes this morning. So I went straight into Mum's room and licked her face till she was awake. She likes me doing that. At least, I think she does. She giggles and says my tongue tickles her skin. That's the same as saying she likes my way of waking her, isn't it? 

In case you're wondering what the good news is, I'll tell you straight away: 

SAM'S STORY IS FREE ON AMAZON KINDLE TODAY AND TOMORROW!

That's my story, if you haven't already guessed - and, believe me, I have quite a story to tell. I told it myself, except for the little bits Mum insisted on adding. We've popped my paw-prints in to prove who does most of the talking. You'll see what I mean when you read my story.

As I know you're going to want to read it (and won't want to miss it being FREE), I'm giving you its special link to CLICK. 

Happy reading - and be sure to tell me what you think of my story!

SAM'S MUD BATH

Look at me! Do I look muddy to you? No, I know I don't - because I'm not. Not muddy, I mean! But I was - before the bath Mum just insisted on.

Sometimes I don't understand Mum. That is, I don't understand her attitude to mud. I try to tell her that there's nothing better than rolling in the stuff, but she doesn't seem to hear me.

Take today. We're staying with our friends Barbara and David out in the country and I've been on my best behavior. Before she went off to the shops in Ludlow with Barbara this morning, Mum took me for a long walk, keeping me on my lead for some reason. I don't like being kept on my lead.

Then off Mum and Barbara went, leaving me asleep in front of the fire while David sat in his big chair reading his newspaper. Once they'd gone and David had finished reading, he said: "How about a walk, Sam?"

Well, I was instantly on my paws, hoping he wouldn't remember I'd already had my walk. As he opened the door I saw that he didn't have my lead in his hand. Things were getting better and better. Then we set off along the same lane I'd walked along with Mum. But I didn't have the same feeling as before. I felt wonderfully free to explore.

So I explored all the sniffs I couldn't quite reach earlier ... all the trees and fallen leaves ... all the puddles Mum had steered me from.

There was one really stupendous puddle and I threw myself right into the middle of it. Then I rolled over and over, kicking my legs in the air and loving every minute. I think David might have called me once or twice but I couldn't really hear him. I was having such fun in the lovely sticky mud.

He didn't look happy, though, when he took me home. "I think we're both going to be in the dog-house when the women get back," he muttered worriedly. "I never expected you to do that, Sam!"

Do what? Sometimes humans are really odd.

I expect you can guess the rest. When Mum saw me - and when she and Barbara saw the cream carpet that had a new pattern on - they both had lots to say to David about the fact that the Shropshire brand of mud was not just sticky, but also red.

Mum also mentioned - more than once - that I'd been newly bathed and groomed for our little holiday here and now she'd have to start on me all over again. Oh heck!



 

SAM'S STORY IS FREE ON AMAZON TODAY!

If you’re wondering who it is in the picture – it’s me, when I was just a puppy! That’s around the time my story began. Mum’s holding me. You can almost see her hands.

I’m having a good day today. The sun is shining and Mum’s smiling because our book is doing well on Amazon. We call it our book, but it’s mine really. You can tell that by its title: SAM’S STORY. Mum said to tell you that it’s FREE on Amazon today and tomorrow.

Does the fact it’s free mean there will be no money to buy me my weekly marrow bone?

 

GUILTY!

Does Leo look guilty, do you think? Maybe you remember me telling you about Leo, when he was a year old. Well, he's two years old now and just back from a Big Adventure with his Mum, Joanna - who is sort of my sister, as her Mum is also my Mum. Make sense of that, if you can!

Well, there he was on a Spanish beach, after driving all the way through France (Leo didn't drive, although to listen to him you'd almost think he did) and his Mum was having a well-earned rest. But then Leo decided he needed some cool, damp sand to lie on. So he started digging ... and carried on till he'd made himself a nice cozy hole.

In the process, though, he covered his Mum and the towel she was lying on with sand - and guess what? She wasn't happy!

JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL

Some days there are just no seagulls to be seen. It’s all a bit of a mystery. Where are the gulls when I can’t see them?

Mum says they play hide ‘n seek with me. Why would they do that, do you think? I’ll have to ask Jonathan, next time I see him. That’s the name Mum gave to one of the seagulls, naming him after Jonathan Livingston Seagull who was in a wonderful book she read once.

I wonder whether he wrote his own book. I don’t suppose he did. Seagulls can fly but I bet they can’t write. So that’s one up to me, as I sort of wrote mine!

There might be no gulls to play with today, but there’s plenty of beach and any minute a new playmate might arrive.

I’m ready for him, whoever he is … ready and waiting.