A letter home from Shackleton

Dear my-humans

I promised that I would write from Winter Camp after a few days, once I had settled in, and I have found some time between shenanigans to put paw to paper. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind since you dropped me off, so I haven’t suffered from homesickness yet…there are just too many bins to investigate, logs to chew and bark-choir practices to attend, not to mention pulling all of the wrapping paper and cards out from under the bed where they are clearly gathering dust – Christmas is just around the corner and they won’t write themselves.

My proxy-humans are very nice, especially Badgerbeard who takes me for long adventures in the fields, where I have discovered the culinary delights of poop in its many guises – rabbit, sheep, cow and probably, from the slightly bitter aftertaste, pheasant. Our morning routine is to go out in the rain and check the perimeters of 7-acres, 4-acres and 8-acres to ensure no incursions, and if all is well and all sneaky crows are repelled, we are allowed to run riot. Neddy and I do lots of charging about, while Scout is a bit standoffish (although we are bonding slowly since Badgerbeard had the foresight to take just us two out for our very own romp). But Harry is my favourite as we fight and hurl each other about, unfortunately sometimes without due care and attention. I must look up “arse over tit” when I can, although I did understand some of the other expletives.

It was even more exciting yesterday because there was a huge monster in the field, which we all barked at and made a huge fuss to try and scare it off.  On closer inspection it was a silage feeder, and after we had a sniff and Harry gave it a bite and ran off with a mouthful of grass, we decided that hackles could be lowered and the world was safe again.

When we get back to the house, we are all told to sit while the big gate is closed, and then can run down the drive to stare at the cattle over the fence.  Barking is not encouraged, but on the rare occasion excitement bubbles out they just ignore us.

The other morning, I learnt something new about myself.  It was an early start in the dark, and Badgerbeard had on a head-torch (Gingerbeard is usually busy doing stuff in the big sheds – I have no idea what, but it sounds noisy down there, and a bit scary). The eyes of the other three in the torchlight shone white, but Neddy tells me that one of mine shines orange and the other not at all!  I was a little worried that I had turned into a zombie, but given that I have no overwhelming desire to eat brains (no more than usual anyway), I think I’m ok.

Inside there are plenty of things to investigate too.  I am particularly fascinated by the two big white cupboards – one is cold and holds interesting food, like chilli, but I was not fast enough to get in before the door closed.  The other is clearly a plate storage facility where dogs help lick things to clean them.  I don’t really know why they then wash them again as they are perfectly spotless, but humans are strange (and try to keep us out, but we are a wily bunch).

We also have a wonderful place called the Utilitarium, which is human-speak for dog paradise.  We can be as dirty as we like, and I hear tales of how at one time there was a whole floor of lino that was put in place just so Ned could pull it up and tear it to pieces. I do hope that they put some more down – what fun that would be! There are comfy beds, and tonight I will move in there with my new friends.  I was sleeping outside the bedroom door to make sure that the proxy-humans were not surprised by the zombie apocalypse, but I think I have graduated to full pack status now and can be trusted to pull up lino with the best of them.

There are lots of things to look forwards to, not least of which is seeing you again in January.  But in between, I hear we may visit the big beach and there will definitely be presents to unwrap at Christmas.

Love to you both and maluhia hele

Shack

xxx

PS – I have already won an award and I’ve only been here a few days!  Badgerbeard said I am the fartiest dog this side of the Atlantic – how cool is that?