Holiday
We went on holiday, first with friends to Morpeth Castle http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/morpeth-castle-9482/ (actually the gatehouse of a long gone castle) and then on our own to Glenmalloch Lodge http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/glenmalloch-lodge-7882/ (which was never a lodge, though despite being tiny it was a school). We had a mostly wonderful time. The bit that wasn't wonderful involved Paul wanting an explanation of something I had exclamed and then interrupting me attempting the first sentence of that explanation three times before I had had any coffee. I lost my temper, and am not sorry, after nearly thirty years he really should know better. But the rest was good, very good and I'd recommend both of these Landmarks in winter as they were very warm, almost too warm!
At the castle you get the whole of the bailey as your garden which the dogs loved, especially the rabbits. We were not so keen on the rabbits especially as some of the paling fencing was rotten, both of them got through it in pursuit of rabbits, but both came back when recalled. Most of the wall was still intact though so you just had to be alert in the corner where it had been mined out. At Glenmalloch there is a fence that ours respected though they could have got out and it would be no use for small dogs, but beyond that is the whole glen and deer! We had quite a lot of passersby at Glenmalloch despite it's relative isolation, including a pheasant shoot complete with beaters and guns, fortunately the beaters didn't flush any pheasants when they were working towards us so there were no loud bangs to set Jake off. He did bark at some walkers, but was prepared to be distracted by stick throwing; Thorn, Thorn was not and barked at them very insistently so I was surprised when the woman declared them to be good guard dogs and she meant it!
At the castle you get the whole of the bailey as your garden which the dogs loved, especially the rabbits. We were not so keen on the rabbits especially as some of the paling fencing was rotten, both of them got through it in pursuit of rabbits, but both came back when recalled. Most of the wall was still intact though so you just had to be alert in the corner where it had been mined out. At Glenmalloch there is a fence that ours respected though they could have got out and it would be no use for small dogs, but beyond that is the whole glen and deer! We had quite a lot of passersby at Glenmalloch despite it's relative isolation, including a pheasant shoot complete with beaters and guns, fortunately the beaters didn't flush any pheasants when they were working towards us so there were no loud bangs to set Jake off. He did bark at some walkers, but was prepared to be distracted by stick throwing; Thorn, Thorn was not and barked at them very insistently so I was surprised when the woman declared them to be good guard dogs and she meant it!