This year really began on 7th September when I left Battersea and went to my new home. Although I felt a bit frightened, I got in the car and settled down on the back seat. I surprised myself by lying still. We drove for a while, then stopped. I had no idea what was going to happen to me. I got out of the car into a big underground room with lots of cars. The floor was hard and there were no windows. We walked to a very small room that felt as if it was going up.

We went through a few more doors and suddenly I was in a big room with high windows. It all looked new and clean. I was warm and walked on soft carpet. I saw a food bowl, and a blanket, folded up like a bed. I went from room to room, sniffing every part. I was the first dog to have been there.

I got a lot of petting and cuddling and, wherever I was, it felt right. They seemed to know how to touch me, and sounded as if they really cared.

At Battersea Dogs Home, we all peed and pood in our living spaces so, when I first came here, I made a few mistakes. Fortunately, they seemed to know when I looked a bit toilet-ish and put me on the terrace. So it didn't take long to find a corner. I've learned to wait now.

Right from the beginning, they set a pattern. I had a late night walk, a little snack and a drink, and then the lights went off and I lay on my fluffy blanket. I seem to sleep right through until about 7:30.

We've got wooden floors, so I skid about a bit, but it all adds to the fun of playing and chasing things. I'm not a cushion biter or a furniture chewer but they do keep me off the sofa. Except when I sneak up and look really pitiful.

The first month went quite quickly, although one thing worried me. I was taken to the vet, and it reminded me of being unwanted. Perhaps they were going to give me back. However, I just had a few checks and my blood test so, in a few months, I'll be able to travel abroad with my pet passport.

There are lots of walks nearby, but we go away most weekends to the country. I realised fairly soon that I wasn't very good at jumping, going over a footbridge, crossing a stile, crawling under a gate, or finding a way through long grass and bushes. I soon learned, and I'm fairly confident now, although I like to check that at least one of them is in sight.

I think I must have been tied up when I was a puppy because I got worried when I saw wire, or even the vacuum cleaner cable. They helped me get over this by coiling up the wire, touching it so that I could see it was safe, and putting treats near it. I've also noticed that, if my lead gets caught round my legs, I'll stand still and wait to be untangled. Perhaps, when I was tied up, the string or wire cut me a bit because the vet said I had a few scratches and cuts.

I travel well, on the back seat on my fluffy blanket. Sometimes I look out of the window, but usually go into a half sleep. I'm fine about being left in the car because they're always careful about making sure I've had a snack, and peed and pood. And they don't park in the direct sun or near anything noisy. Usually, when they come back, I'm asleep.

I went to two firework displays. The first one, in Charlton, was great. I got lots of petting and treats and didn't notice the fizzes and bangs because I was busy eating bits of donut. And a lot of the kids wanted to stroke me. The second, in Wandsworth got off to a bad start: it was very very crowded and there was an unexpected bang very near me at the beginning. I might have been alright, but they decided to walk me back to the car, where I fell asleep in minutes. The day after, I was on Wimbledon Common and, although there were fireworks a few hundred metres away, I was too busy checking for smells and chasing leaves. So, quite pleased with myself.

I've run along the beaches at West Wittering and Lyme Regis. I've been to the Chilterns, and the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. The river at Lechlade and Richmond. We've stayed in the Priory Tea Rooms in Burford, and the Bush Hotel at Farnham. And we've stayed in other people's houses.

Everywhere I go, people seem to like me. I get lots of petting but sometimes get so excited that I want to jump up and play. Some people seem to get frightened. I'm getting better, especially as I've now heard the down-word a thousand times.

A special thankyou to Pete's Plaice fish and chip shop in Poole, who let me sit inside and gave me water and a sausage bun. If you read this, I'll send you a postcard.

They've both got new cars now, a Toyota Previa and a Toyota RAV4. I lie on a fluffy blanket on a folded duvet on the floor behind the back seats. It's very cosy, so no surprise that I fall asleep for several hours at a time. I'm in Dorset at the moment, in front of a log fire, warming up after a good run on the beach at Lyme Regis. Recently, they've wanted me to be very careful when I play with them indoors. She sometimes rests her hand on her tummy?

I'm a lot more confident now about jumping and getting through gaps. And when we go out walking I'm more aware of where they are so, usually, I come when I'm called. However, I still scavenge a bit even though I looked very silly on the seafront at Sidmouth with a banana yoghurt pot stuck on my nose.

Odd that they bought a tree into the house. It seemed to make them very happy, especially when lots of little lights came on. I got a special cuddle, and was allowed to curl up with them on the sofa. We all fell asleep.

I've discovered that it's Christmas. I've been looking under the tree and there are things with my name on. And some from me, although I have no idea how they got there. It all seems to happen by magic.
I made a big mistake by eating some of the biscuits, and the ribbons, hanging on the tree when no one was looking. The crumbs gave me away so I heard the no-word a lot.

A lot of people call, so I've had extra attention. But, this morning, everything felt special and there were candles, and people singing, and coloured paper, and ribbons to play with, and plates of food, and everything seemed good and happy. I got as much fun from the paper as I did from the squeaking chick they gave me. Except that I'm on heat and dropping dots of blood on the wooden floor. Oh well, it's a dog's life.

After Christmas, everyone, including me, felt sleepy. On New Year's Day, we went to Frensham Little Pond for a long walk, and they ended up in the old lounge at the Bush Hotel in Farnham eating buttered crumpets in front of the fire. Afterwards, at home, we all lay on the sofa watching La Traviata and I drifted off, missing the end.

I'm still on heat, just. I got a bit frightened when several large dogs cornered me but, as I'm a good runner, I escaped and ran and ran. Noticed in the reflection in the pond that my white bib has gone a bit grey.

I can recognise a pattern to our walks: we go to the country; they throw things for me so I get exhausted; I fall asleep in the car; and they go to tea rooms or a hotel. Today they sat in the old lounge at Sir Christopher Wren's House, in Windsor. More crumpets, I expect.

I'm beginning to feel more confident about jumping over ditches and getting under gates. I can catch a bouncing ball. I can walk along a wall. And I can get very muddy very quickly.

Now my life has settled, I seem to eat anything: dips and crisps, brussels sprouts, bread and milk, bolognese sauce, even bran flakes. I expect I'll die young.

Last night, they went to Pappadums, at Ferry Quays in Brentford, and bought me back something really tasty. Whatever it was, they must have liked it because they went again the next night.

A lot of people visit, look around the apartment, and then go. Things are being put into boxes. They look at other homes on the computer and in magazines. They keep talking about Dorset. Where's that?

I spent most of this afternoon in the wood at Chipperfield, meeting other dogs, paddling in the pond, lying in the mud, and annoying a few squirrels. I've been there before, and I think it's something to do with Sunday lunch at The Two Brewers. Anyway. I run to exhaustion and fall asleep in the car, and they go to have afternoon tea at the Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted.

I haven't done much this week as they seem to be very busy. We did go to Peaslake for lunch in The Hurtwood Inn Hotel. I fell asleep in front of the fire, so missed all the food scraps. Unfortunately, I wagged my tail in the fire so now know what burning fur smells like. Afterwards, we walked up the path just opposite the hotel which, eventually, reaches a great viewpoint looking south towards the South Downs. I met a few dogs on the way down, but none wanted to play so I had to chase sticks.

We were walking by the river and heard some music. We found a gate and were let in to an old warehouse by a few teenagers. They were having a trans-electronic psychodelic evening, although most were lying around on cushions. There were really kind to me, and showed me how they lived. Sadly, there was nothing to eat. For them nor for me.

On Thursday, I got in the car in London and woke up at Blockley. We're staying in a cottage, but have travelled to Broadway and Stow, both beautiful Cotswold Towns. We went on to Chipping Camden and Winchcombe, where I had a long run up and down Cleve Hill. On Saturday evening we sat in the pub in Blockley. I could feel myself getting more and more tired and, when we got home, I fell asleep in front of the fire.

OK, I've realised now: they're having a baby and are moving to Dorset in a few weeks. Last week, they went away to Sweden to see her family and two new people came to stay here to look after me. I felt a bit confused, but they were so kind and took me for long walks. I seem to adapt quite easily, so soon felt very comfortable with them, even when I was off the lead. I expect I jumped up a bit and got over excited as usual. I see myself as affectionate, adaptable, and spirited rather than territorial, trained, and obedient.

We're in Dorset now, staying in Yetminster, but we've spent a lot of time around Corfe Castle and I'm guessing that we're moving there. I went on the Swanage Steam Train and they let a young boy walk me up and down the carriages. It was all a bit noisy and looked liked a hissing Dragon, but I got a ham sandwich. On the way back we went to East Lulworth Castle, and I was allowed inside. Interesting, but nothing more to eat.

For the last two weeks, everything has gradually been packed into boxes. It was a bit unsettling because my map of the world was just disappearing. One morning, we got in the car and, two and a half hours later, arrived here, in Dorset. I jumped out of the car and saw a long lawn leading to fields with cows and horses. All the boxes arrived and familiar things appeared again. We had a big house, with rooms everywhere, a terrace, and a long drive with a gate.

We had visitors almost straight away, with a cute little dog called Archie. Unfortunately, I wasn't really settled, so I bugged him a bit, making sure he didn't know something that I didn't or had found some food. I felt a bit bad afterwards because he was only little, and happy even when I chased him. We went to Corfe Castle, Studland Beach, Kimmeridge Bay, Swanage, Wareham, and Wimborne. I discovered new fields, streams, hedges, and pathways, and soon felt that this was to be my home.

After the visitors left, a lady from Japan came to stay for five days to teach them how to make silver jewellery. I really liked her and, whilst they all worked, I'd often just lie on the floor. She was very kind and I think she liked me. But, suddenly, she was gone. I hope I see her again, although I have no idea where Japan is.

It's June 6, and it's a really beautiful day, and I'm lying in the grass, under the shade of a cherry tree. If this is my home now, I'm going to like it. A lot.

Now here's a lesson about dog shows: I've been to one but never been in one. We went to the Margaret Green Dog Show at Winterborne Kingston. I was entered for Best Condition and Prettiest Bitch. Now, I'm about two years old, teeth are white, ears clean, paws neat, coat smooth, and I'm a good runner. And I'm quite a pretty girl. Anyway, I stood patiently for half an hour in the ring, in really hot sun. When the judge came to me, she started chatting to a friend about getting a cold drink, and didn't even look at me. Not even a glance. I wanted to nip her ankle. Even some little snappy ragged puff-ball won a rosette. A lot of people complained afterwards, and generally felt that it was a personal decision not an open-minded assessment. I should have snapped up the rosette and run off, and none of them would have caught me. So, don't do this sort of thing unless you can deal with prejudices, bias, favourites, and a cavalier approach to being fair.

We've got someone staying with us at the moment, from Sweden. He's really nice to me, likes cuddling me, and takes me out a lot. I remember him from a long time ago: he made me little socks when I kept slipping on the wooden floor.

We went to look at a house yesterday. I met a dog called Gunner and we had a great time, running. Somehow, I fell in the pond, and had to return looking very wet and very silly. However, it actually gave me a bit of confidence and I've now been in the sea twice, at Studland and Kimmeridge. Not actually swimming yet, but up to my neck. We ended up at West Bay where I scoffed a big portion of cod and chips. However, all that evening, I heard them complaining about the referee in the England v Portugal game. Even I think it's wrong to let a Swiss referee control a game just after England beat Switzerland. So, all early to bed.

For the last three weeks, everyone has been in and out. Friends and relatives stayed, and we went to lots of new places. I've got better at swimming, I've learned not to annoy cows and horses, I've had extra walks, and I've had new people to play with. Then, one day, we drove off with some things and I had to wait in the car park at Dorset County Hospital. Next thing I knew, they had a baby. He's so cute, and I want to look and play, but he's tiny and I think I'm supposed to wait a while. Anyway, everyone looks extremeley happy.

The last six weeks has gone very quickly. Baby Boy looks so cute. His skin smells nice but, for some reason, I haven't licked him: I seem to know I should be careful. We've had lots of people to stay, and they all want to cuddle Baby Boy. We still go out a lot, mostly to beaches, and I'm a lot more confident about jumping and swimming and dealing with other animals. I've learned to get in the car without playing and not jump out until they say.

I seem to have trained myself somehow. I'm much better at coming when I'm called, fetching things, being a bit less excitable with visitors, and staying quiet in restaurants. We have a lot of visitors, it's been sunny, and we go out a lot: I've been running on the beach at Swanage and Studland, whilst they push Baby Boy up and down. The only incident was falling in the river, twice, at Wareham.

There was a story that a lurcher at Battersea Dogs Home escaped at night, let a few friends out, ate and played, and returned by morning. However, the other dog in the photo was there when I was there. It seems a long time ago: I'm so lucky someone wanted me.