Ten things I like

On August 14, 2017August 13, 2017 By bertie bossybootsIn Food1 Comment

Bertie here today. I didn’t know what to talk about. Mummy said, tell people what you like. Percy said make a list of ten things. You don’t want to bore people.

So here is my list

Apple. We don’t often have apple. It’s delicious. We had one yesterday. Mummy picked it up from the tree on the golf course. That means golf is good for something.
Carrot. We get carrot most days but I never get enough. Percy says he and Midge don’t get enough either. Biggles says Oscar gets lots, and sometimes another in the evening. That’s not fair. Percy says it’s because Oscar needs to put on weight. That’s still not fair.
My tent. My tent is blue. It’s in my loft area. I like to sleep on the fleece behind it, because it makes me feel safe. I like my tent.
Running around in the garden. I love running around in the garden. I like the feel of the grass on my feet. I like eating grass too. I like the way the birds and things fly around above us. It makes me feel good to be out in the garden.
Running around in the kitchen. It’s fun running around in the kitchen. It’s not as much fun as the garden. If Mummy leaves the door open, I like to go out in the garden, but she tells me off and makes me go back inside.
My uncles, Percy and Midge. They live next door to me and they are good fun, mostly. They get irritated by me sometimes too. But I still like them.
Can I stop at six, Percy?
What about Mummy?
Oh yes, I like Mummy too. I like Mummy a lot, especially when she gives me cucumber – oh!
Cucumber. I like cucumber a LOT. 🙂

There, I’ve done it. I made a list of ten things.

What do you like?

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Bertie & Biggles had a half-birthday

On August 8, 2017August 8, 2017 By PercyIn Birthdays3 Comments

Hello all, Percy here.

Sorry I’m late this week. Yesterday was Bertie and Biggles’ half-birthday. It’s a half a year since they were born, so they are now six months old. That’s seven in piggy years, which I was going to tell you more about but I’ll leave it for another time.

I think Mummy only celebrated their half-birthday because she knew they were getting too big for some of the toys in their runs. She took the small chube out of the runs a little while ago, because she didn’t want them to get stuck in them. They each weigh over 1100 gms now, which is more than Oscar weighs. They have been using secondhand grassy tunnels to make sure they didn’t get stuck, but there wasn’t much interesting grass left on them.

Biggles has been complaining he had to squeeze through his old fiddlesticks, too. Well, they are a bit small. Fred and George had them when they were little. They are heirloom fiddlesticks.

Well, they had a surprise when Mummy came home yesterday. She gave them new tunnels and fiddlesticks – well, Bertie had a new type of tunnel we’ve not seen before, called a seagrass tunnel, and Biggles had some new rainbow fiddlesticks. They are the same type that Oscar has, although his are very faded. Hugo had those first, so again, they are heirloom ones, too.

Anyway, here are Bertie and Biggles with their half-birthday presents.

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We got wet!

On July 31, 2017July 30, 2017 By bertie bossybootsIn Happenings3 Comments

We were out in the garden on Saturday. Oh, I should tell you it’s Bertie here. Anyway, we were out in the garden on Saturday. We went out early, about 2 o’clock, because Mummy was here. She’d finished the gardening she wanted to do. Then she had a drink and was reading while we did the rest of the grass for her. She says Oscar and I aren’t much good at mowing her grass, but I think we’re brilliant. We do our patches all by ourselves. Percy, Midge and Biggles share the workload on theirs. What, Percy? Yes I know yours is three times as big. You still have help.

Anyway, I was saying about getting wet. Mummy went upstairs to do something. I think she forgot to come down again. We were there for quite a while, and it got even cloudier. It had been cloudy before, but this was worse. Then it started to plop little plops of water around the place. It was like being in a mist, only bigger. It settled on the grass and on the tents and the tunnels and things. Midge told me to go in the tent and he went into his. Oscar said he was fine up against the covers of the kale bed. Biggles ran from the tent to the tunnel to the new big tunnel. I think he went under the tent for a while. Percy went in the blue tunnel. Everything got pretty wet, but Midge decided it was still good to eat. He came out and started eating again. His coat was sort of wet on top, but he said he was nice and warm. He said he couldn’t feel the rain. I tried it, and I couldnt feel it either, except on my nose and ears. Percy told us not to be silly, didn’t you, Percy? (-Yes, I did.)

Anyway, suddenly Mummy rushed out to see us, apologising for leaving us out in the rain, and thank goodness it wasn’t heavy. She said she hadn’t done that since Fred, George, Victor and Hugo were young. That’s a very very long time ago. Percy said it was so long ago it’s the dawn of history. He started talking about the difference between our time and Mummy’s time. I think he’s going to tell you about that next week. (-I will if I remember)

So that’s our big adventure this week.

By the way, my nose is better now… look.

PS We were all perfectly warm enough, and we’re fine today, thank you.

PPS It was Hugo’s day yesterday. Hugo tends to get left out of Days, for some reason. Mummy said to remember him when I did the post. Here’s a photo.

Summer in the garden

On July 24, 2017July 23, 2017 By PercyIn Happenings2 Comments

I suppose some guinea pigs might not go out in the garden much. Some may have to go out whether it’s raining or not. I don’t know. I only know that when Mummy’s home and it’s warm enough, and dry enough, we go out in the garden to eat the grass. She calls it lawn-mowing.

This summer, Bertie has been in his own run, Oscar has been in his, and Midge, Biggles and I have been in the other – usually a much bigger one. Mummy says it’s because we have three times as much grass to get through than the others. I know it’s also because she likes it when we all run around together and are sociable. I like being sociable too.

We socialise in the morning, on the floor in the kitchen, and we do that all year round. I like doing that, because it’s always the same temperature, and there’s hay in a box to jump in and munch. We (Midge and I) have been running around with Biggles, once he started being friendly and not aggressive to us. He’s a bit bossy, but nowhere near as bad as Bertie. Bertie and Biggles just attack each other, so Mummy makes sure they aren’t in the same place at the same time.

Just recently, Bertie has been more sociable with me, after Mummy has taken Midge upstairs. Mummy noticed, so she’s giving us more time to get along. Bertie’s getting much better all round – he comes over to ask Mummy for a head scratch sometimes, which she likes doing. His nose is better now; those two black spots have disappeared.

I think Mummy might put Bertie and me in a run on the grass together, to see how we get along. Midge can socialise with Biggles okay, although he’s not very patient with him. It’s funny, because they look very alike.

Oscar and Midge and I went to see Dr Sally this week – Oscar and me for a check-up, and Midge because he’d set a new world record for heavyweight pigs. She checked him over and he’s fine. She checked us and we’re pretty much the same as we were although my lump’s got bigger. They decided that they’d give us a summer in the garden to see what Dr Sun and Dr Greengrass can do. It’s not as easy to ignore my lump as it was, but Mummy gives me something every day to make sure it doesn’t hurt, and I’m getting used to it.

Dr Sally wants to see us again next month. That’s a date, then, Dr Sally!

Mummy’s going out again

On July 17, 2017July 17, 2017 By bertie bossybootsIn Happenings, Health2 Comments

I suppose I’ve got used to Mummy going out now.

When she comes in again we usually go out in the garden. Not when the sky’s been making funny noises and dropping water everywhere. That happened yesterday when she was out. She still seemed happy when she came back.

This morning she went out without giving us cuddles and cleaning again. She did that Saturday, too. She had to go to early golf, but she said she’d clean us out when she came back. And we’d go out in the garden. She was wearing her golf clothes both days. I don’t know why she has to play so early she misses out on our cuddles.

Apparently Midge now weighs 1.68 kg. That’s a new record for any pig in our house. The previous record was held by Percy at 1.64. Mummy’s going to take him to the vet tomorrow to make sure it’s only appetite, not something heavy growing in him. She’s going to take Percy for his lump to be measured, and Oscar because he doesn’t weigh enough and his results should be through. I don’t understand what that means, but apparently you do. And she has to pick up lots of extra feeds for pigs with special dietary needs. I guess you understand that, too.

I weigh over 1 kg now. Biggles weighs more than me. We’re both quite big now, nearly as big as Oscar.

My bed’s back!

On July 10, 2017July 9, 2017 By PercyIn Happenings2 Comments

When Mummy brought me up here to the run, I left my lovely blue bed behind. I missed it. She said Bertie & Biggles needed it to feel safe and secure without me.

Then Bertie came up here and we divided the run, and Biggles kept my bed. A week later it was Bertie’s. I was a bit put out, since it was right next to our run, and there was Bertie, not even sleeping in it.

But this week Mummy gave it back to me and laughed when I got straight in it and went to sleep. She’s like that. I think it was kind laughter, not making fun of me. I think she was pleased I was happy again. Bertie got the big blue snugglesack, which Midge and I weren’t really attached to. I’ve got my bed and Midge has his blue tunnel and we share them anyway, so we’re fine.

Apart from that, nothing much has happened except a thunder and lightning storm on Thursday when Mummy was out. Bertie hid in the corner near us and we told him it wasn’t as bad as fireworks, which it isn’t. We’re getting fireworks every Saturday night now, and some Fridays, and Mummy says it isn’t nice, but we just have to put up with it, because it’s people celebrating getting married at the hotel. I think they should celebrate quietly, personally.

Oh, and we’ve been outside most evenings which is nice. Mummy puts us in the garden when she comes in after her busy days out. If she doesn’t fall asleep first, watching people hit a ball back and forward over a net thing on the tv. Funny Mummy ❤

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My Nose and Midge’s Birthday

On July 3, 2017July 2, 2017 By bertie bossybootsIn Happenings7 Comments

Hello, Bertie here today.

Last week was funny. We went out in the garden on Monday and Tuesday. The next day it started raining so we didn’t go again until Saturday. We still got our floor time in the morning. One of those days I got into a bit of an argument with Oscar when Mummy wasn’t looking. He bit me on the nose! It was only a scratch. By Friday it was looking a mess, because Mummy had washed the neat dried blood off and put sticky stuff called medicinal honey on it. So it looks much worse than it is. Here’s a picture of me on Saturday to prove it!

Sunday (yesterday) was nice. Mummy moved our runs. There’s less shade so we have to have the green shades up. There’s much more space, running between the vegetable beds again.

The most important part of Sunday was Midge’s birthday! Mummy did one of her special cakes, at least that’s what Percy says it was. I’d never seen one before. Oscar had his own portion, which he ate right up, and so did I. Mine didn’t have candles on it, because it wasn’t my birthday. My birthday is in February. I share it with Biggles, who shared Midge’s cake with Midge and Percy. I hope we get cake in February. It’s yummy. I finished it all up. Well, so did everyone.

Midge and Percy with the cake

Oscar’s cake

Oscar likes it

Bertie and cake

Oscar and cake

Bertie licks the plate

Biggles, Percy and Midge

Trouble and Strife

On June 26, 2017June 25, 2017 By PercyIn Happenings2 Comments

Percy here today. It’s been a difficult week. Mummy spent a lot of the time out – even stayed out two nights (Wednesday and Saturday). She left us lots of food so we were fine, but we got a bit tetchy and nervous.

Bertie was a pain, particularly on Friday. Mummy was in then, and told him to behave. He kept chattering at Midge; then Midge got upset and started jumping on me. He’s not as heavy as he was, but he’s still too heavy for me and, besides, I don’t need the attention! So I got cross with Midge. Mummy took him out of the run and put him in a carry box to cool off. He was a lot better for a while, then after Mummy said goodnight, he started again. Mummy came in to us and put him back in the box till morning! He grumbled about that, but he was fine in the morning.

Bertie was still being a pain on Saturday, but we put up with him a bit better. Mummy says he’s going through “a stage” and he’ll grow out of it. He’d better do that soon. Mummy threatened to swap him over with Biggles, who we get on with much better.

Another thing he did on Saturday: he went out of the back door! Only Hugo has ever done that before. Mummy heard a noise out on the patio while she was cuddling Oscar. She went to look, and saw Bertie coming back in!

Well, at least he was back inside. She’ll be keeping a good eye on him in future.

Dylan used to roam the garden, checking up on everyone, but he never went outside on his own. He knew it is Not Allowed. I just hope Bertie has learnt that now. He’ll get into real trouble if he’s not careful.

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We come out of mourning for Kevin tomorrow. It’s been seven weeks already. It seems a long time in some ways. Mummy says she still misses him loads. But we might have birthday cake on Wednesday – that’s Mummy’s birthday.

Where does Mummy go?

On June 19, 2017June 18, 2017 By bertie bossybootsIn Happenings1 Comment

Hello. Bertie here.

I was told when I came upstairs that I’d see Mummy more often.

It isn’t true. She’s here sometimes in the morning. Then she goes somewhere and a long time later she comes back. She often asks if we missed her. I never reply, because I don’t know how. I mean, no I didn’t miss her. But she wasn’t here. It would be nice if she was here more. They told me I’d see more of her if I came upstairs. But I don’t.

It’s been very warm the last few days. We go out on the grass in the evening for an hour or two. It mostly starts out even warmer out there, but gets nice and comfortable. Then we come back in. Sometimes it feels warmer inside. Sometimes it feels cooler. Last night it was hot and sticky. We had to remind Mummy it was cucumber time. Then she went and got it and that cooled us down.

Even though it’s hot Percy still snoozes inside his snugglesac. I sleep on the hay in the loft. Midge sleeps on the hay or on top of the snuggletunnel. It’s okay when it’s hot, but Mummy complains.

Anyway, if you know where Mummy goes, please tell me.

love,

Bertie.

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Update on my lump – I’m fine

On June 12, 2017June 11, 2017 By PercyIn Health6 Comments

You remember I went to the vet doctor and had a snooze so that Dr Sally could check out my lump? I told you about that here…

Well, I went back to be checked up on Wednesday last week. Dr Sally told Mummy what the lab had said, which was it probably wasn’t an abscess, although it might be, and it didn’t seem to be anything else from what she’d sent them. So after a long discussion (they took a-g-e-s) they agreed to do nothing.

I’m really glad. I don’t need any medicine, and I’m fine with it. It doesn’t hurt or get in the way and although Mummy feels it from the outside with her fingers, I reckon it’s just the same. It appeared. It might disappear. Who knows?

While I was there Mummy put me on the floor so I could show Dr Sally I wasn’t moving properly. It was fun down there, although there was a shiny box which seemed to have a black guinea pig on the other side of it. I couldn’t smell or hear him, so I went away, and he did too. I think they decided I was walking okay, because Dr Sally bent down to pick me up, so I ran away, and Mummy put my snugglesac down and I went into it. Dr Sally laughed but I don’t know why.

Oscar went to be checked up as well. He has a heart that skips a beat every now and then. They had a long talk about whether this was what was making him lose weight. Finally they decided to check out his poos to see if they had something odd in them. They don’t have to send him to sleep to get those, Mummy just filled the little bottle with them the next morning.

So we’re both fine, and Mummy is just being Mummy. She’s fine too.