Farewell to Becka

Today was cleanup day at the house.  Becka’s ‘mom’ comes home tomorrow, so we re-packed our suitcases and organized our things for leaving.  We haven't been very messy, but did need to do the usual cleaning.  I’d forgotten how much hair a dog sheds!  I’m going to miss this little labrador.  She has such a sweet temperament.  She had a stroke at about 4 1/2 years, and was completely paralyzed - but she was lucky enough to have owners who were willing to do the work with a physiotherapist to get her legs working again.  They don’t work 100%, so she walks in a funny, dancing kind of way and doesn’t have energy for long walks.  She loves to play ball and tug-o-war with us though, and is always ready for a pat or 63.  

Saying farewell to our friend Becka!

Becka and the green stuffy. She welcomed me each morning with this.

The ball and the stuffy.  Such a sweet dog.

We did another walk on the canal today, but in the opposite direction from the other day.  My phone needed charging, so I left it at the house.  Wouldn’t you know it - we saw a swan family - dad took all the teenagers out for a swim while mom stayed behind rebuilding or repairing the nest.  I would love to have that on video - it was a magical few moments watching her grab bits of dead reeds and turn around to place them on the nest.  She was quite elegant with her long neck and long beak.  Dad got a little huffy with us and puffed out his wings and his back feathers, so we carried on.  We passed by a hillside with a number of rabbit holes, and further along the path the remains of two bunnies that had been attacked by something. Maybe daddy swan got them.  Mama nature isn’t always so pleasant, but so it goes.  Yesterday and today were quite nice and sunny - it’s been kind of chilly spring-like weather since we left the canals behind, so it was nice to feel warm again. 

We were sitting out in the yard today enjoying the sunshine, and Glen decided to walk the half block to the local pub to pick up some off-sale beer.  He came home with a two-pint take-out container filled with draught beer.  We've never seen anything quite like that in Canada!

Take-out pints!

Canada - you have a long way to go!

Tomorrow we leave for the east coast, and leave the dog and the house behind.  It’s been fun to live in a  ‘typical’ English village for the past 9 days.  We are really starting to get a feel for how life works here . . . even the driving part.  Although today we went for lunch, and as we approached the car, we both went to the ‘wrong’ side to get in!  Keeps us laughing.