The River Wild

The River Elwy at St Asaph

Yesterday I caught up with " field " jobs.
I bought corn and layers pellets, picked up shavings for the hen houses and arranged to pick up a vaccination certificate for William from the vets.
The vet surgery doesn't open until 6 pm and I arrived in the pretty town of St Asaph at 5.30 pm so I parked near the river and took the dogs for a walk.
So far so good.
When I take the dogs out , Winnie and George are left off the leads. If another dog comes into view I automatically lead George again as he has a tendency to bark , but Winnie, being so placid , is left to roam. William, with his habit of running off is always kept with me.
Have you got that?
Anyhow we had a lovely walk around the flood plain and ended up underneath the ancient arches of the town's bridge. The bridge over the River Elwy.
There is a concrete wall by the river bank with a drop of a few feet down to the water, and being a nosey kind of terrier George walked over and stood looking out at the view.
Before I could stop her, Winnie decided to join him and in her usual bull-at-a-gate fashion barged him out of the way. He fell into the river with a loud plop followed bizarrely by Winnie who hit the water with a massive splash.
I panicked.
Now being summer, the river is neither too deep or too fast flowing, but it was deep enough for both dogs to be swimming, so I raced to the side of the wall and looked down. Poor George , he was yelping and trying to scramble up the concrete wall like a mad thing, so I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him up out of the water.
It was only seconds, but when I turned to see where Winnie was, I saw her half swimming half walking twenty feet away in the centre of the river.
She started to disappear down the Elwy puffing like a steam train.....she looked like a galleon in full sail.
I ran down my side of the river calling for her, but I think she was too preoccupied to understand commands and started to zig zag towards the opposite bank perhaps thirty or forty feet away so I yelled to a man walking a Labrador on the opposite bank to see if he could help.
Bless him, the guy jumped into the drama like a good un and started to yell " Winnie WINNIE!" at the top of his lungs. After giving his dog to another passerby.  he climbed down the bank waving
at her like a real trouper.

It was all getting a bit surreal.
Winnie by this time had found a shallow part of the river and was standing stock still with her worried face poking up out of the water. She looked like a knackered hippo.
Gallantly the man stepped into the water ( IN SHOES!) and called again to her and this time she responded, waded over to him and allowed him to pull her to the opposite bank where she threw herself onto the grass like a diva.

These animals will be the death of me.


Still in bed, exhausted this morning
Albert by her side

So I will now publically thank Mr Derek Hughes , the man who ruined his shoes and gave himself a hernia saving an old bulldog from her own stupidity.....
I owe you a pint.

72 comments:

  1. That Winnie really fell on her feet when she came to you John.

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  2. Anonymous9:18 am

    Poor Winnie, non too bright at times is she?
    Thank goodness Derek didn't care about his shoes!

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  3. WInnie - she'll be the death of you - good job you love her so much.

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  4. I was waiting for the last sentence to say "these animals will be the death of me"!

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  5. "She started to disappear down the Elwy puffing like a steam train.....she looked like a galleon in full sail." ....who needs pictures :-)

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  6. I can imagine just how pissed off George was with Winnie. Poor George.

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  7. You must wonder sometimes if you're on Candid Camera. Thank you John, sitting here giggling again.....it's your descriptions that do it (knackered hippo pmsl). So glad both Winnie and George are fine though after their impromptu swim. Good on that bloke for wading in (literally) and helping out.

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  8. Thank goodness both dogs are OK and what a hero Mr Hughes is. This is the exact reason I don't let Annie off lead next to the cut near where we live, steep bank, deep water and a not so bright dog.

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  9. Knackered hippo? Knackered hippo!!

    I'm spluttering, I'm laughing so hard here!

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    1. LOL My favorite description too!! Brilliant.

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  10. What a story! So pleased it had a happy ending! Mr Hughes, you are a true hero!!

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  11. Well John there is never a dull moment with your dogs. What a good man is Derek. Hope you had a restorative g& t that night . So glad Winnie is ok and George is as well.

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  12. Anonymous10:17 am

    In advance it sounded so serious and dramatic and may well have been, but I did really laugh.

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  13. Poor you, poor Winnie, poor George ~ I'm sorry but I just couldn't help laughing! Good job Derek was there!

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  14. Hurrah for Sir Derek Hughes B.B.C. (British Bulldog Catcher). Oh and as I know you are a stickler for accuracy in all human matters except personal grooming, may I point out that St Asaph is not a town it is in fact a city just like New York or Shanghai and has been such since June 1st 2012.

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  15. thank god for derek hughes! what drama!

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  16. I read this with a mixture of horror and amusement. You have such a great way of describing stuff - what a relief it all ended well.

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  17. Poor old Winnie and George, what a top geezer Derek is x

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  18. Well done Derek Hughes for saving the day! I am glad that everyone is OK after such an experience.

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  19. Anonymous10:57 am

    Well, the dogs had some excitement, Mr Hughes has a story to tell for a few days and you...well, you will likely be putting Winnie on lead now lol.

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  20. Good lord. Cheers to Mr. Hughes!

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  21. lawdamercy! mr. hughes is a dear!

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  22. William meanwhile looked on and sighed thinking to himself for God's sake will you two stop messing about in the bloody river and barked at them accordingly.

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  23. Oh golly! My heart was in my mouth as I read that, so I can only imagine how you felt as it was happening. Immensely relieved that it didn't end in tragedy as it so easily could have done - thanks greatly to saintly Mr Hughes of the ruined shoes.
    So now Winnie and William have both probably forgotten about the whole nasty episode, while you've been mentally scarred for life, as I and many others would have been. Just one of those unfortunate events to add to your 'collection', I suppose.

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  24. Thank goodness for galiant dog owners who care not a shot for their shoes. You do seem to attract drama, aided and abetted by Winnie usually ;-)

    We were walking our dogs along Llandudno's West Shore, one of their favourite walks it has everything a dog could want sand, sand dunes, grass, water in the pond and lots of gulls and swans. Rosy mistook the green pond scum at the edge for grass and walked into the pond disappearing up to her head, she came out VERY green and VERY smelly with a most indignant look on her face. Our car was not a pleasant place to be on the way home!! It also meant she had her third bath in three days when she got home.

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  25. So funny, but not at the time I am sure! Glad it turned out OK…as someone said, who needs pictures, you describe it so well ! X

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  26. Oh God, I was palpitating reading this post, so glad there was a good ending.
    Briony
    x

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  27. John, do you remember the days and weeks which passed when you were deciding whether to re-home Winnie (all that dithering about when we all KNEW you would give in!). Imagine how dull life would be now without her in your/our life!! Glad to hear it ended well - apart from Mr Hughes' shoes!!! x

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  28. oh dear me, those animals will be the death of you!!! However you would never part with any of them.......

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  29. Thank you Mr. Hughes! For saving "our" girl.....and yes she is a diva. She will be dreaming of her Mr. Hughes for some time to come.

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  30. Poor John. I've said that a million times too. Glad you are younger than me, as it might have been 'the big one' if that had been my weenies. And, please be careful cleaning out the chicken house re my last post.

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  31. Anonymous12:44 pm

    I feel that a book is in order, John!
    Thanks to Derek, a possibly tragic outcome was avoided, and your description was priceless! I see illustrations of Winnie in my mind's eye.

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  32. All's well that ends well, and hopefully not in the death of you.

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  33. Well done Derek Hughes ! All's well that ends well.

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  34. What a kind bystander, that Derek Hughes. On the other hand, you must have a full head of gray hair thanks to these animals, especially that voluptuous bulldog. God Bless.

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  35. Laughed my socks off. Mr Hughes from St Asaph is a hero. Poor Winnie- how undignified.
    You will need your holiday methinks.

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  36. Oh My! Glad everyone made it home safe.

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  37. Oh My Goodness !
    I am exhausted just reading this. I knew all was OK from yesterday's post but my heart way thumping away.
    Glad your all home safe and sound
    Want a wonderful bystander, Mr. Hughes well done.

    cheers, parsnip

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  38. Your description of Winnie is hilarious.

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  39. Cannot imagine the panic! Thank goodness for Mr. Hughes!

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  40. Well done Derek Hughes! What an ordeal! So glad everyone came out okay. What a kind stranger.

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  41. One would almost think you make these things up! Love your descriptions...I can see it all in my mind...
    Off to give the horse a paste tranquilizer under her tongue...have been warned NOT to get it on my skin, as it will knock me out, too..wish me luck...

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    1. Caught me lynda... I actually live in London and I am a spinster with a goldfish

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    2. I don't think ANYONE in London with a goldfish could even imagine things like this! As we say in the US, you are a hoot!

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  42. So this entire blog is just a trick? An illusion? I must say madam that you have had me fooled for years. I congratulate you on your intricate and cunning inventiveness. By the way, what's your goldfish called?

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    1. hahahahahahaha good name for a fish.
      Is it a cat fish ?

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  43. Bless Mr. Hughes

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  44. What an escapade! what a hero!! x

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  45. Anonymous6:03 pm

    Waterlogged.

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  46. So glad that everyone is safe. Poor Winnie. If they would make your life into a sitcom I would certainly watch it. Much more interesting than 99.9 % of what is on TV here in the states.

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  47. Wow, that had me sweating! I hope that you let him know about your blog so that he can see firsthand how exciting your life is and how famous he is now!

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  48. Oh My Goodness!! That could have ended so differently! Deeper water... Faster flow... No Dog-Loving-Derek to the rescue!! What an exciting life you live!

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  49. Poor Winnie, how traumatic! And what would Albert do without her? He'd never forgive you if you came home without her!

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  50. On the other side of the world this knackered hippo is laughing. And wincing. Yay for Derek Hughes.

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  51. Well we must say, Winnie looks extremely comfortable this morning, and none the worse for her escapades yesterday. It sounds as though you, and Mr Hughes' shoes, suffered most. Don't know about the animals being the death of you John, but could be a lot of us reading this are doubled up laughing !

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  52. Just LOOK at that face !!!

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  53. God how frightened I would have been for poor little Winnie.
    I am so glad all is well and what a great guy that was !! Poor little knackered hippo ..

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  54. Thank you, Mr Hughes, from all pet lovers everywhere.

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  55. A massive virtual round of applause to Mr Derek Hughes; what luck such a great man was there to help out..... and 'a swift clip round the ear' (as my Mum would say) for the Diva Doggie. Alfred looks as though he's keeping her under strict supervision for the forseeable future. Phew, time for a therapeutic Scotch egg for you John. Good job you're on holiday soon.

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  56. As ever your descriptions bring a vivid picture to the minds eye. Glad all ok in the end x

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  57. Anonymous9:19 pm

    What a story! So glad William and Winnie are OK thanks to our hero Mr Derek Hughes.

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    1. Anonymous9:21 pm

      Sorry meant George and Winnie.

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  58. I fooking love Winnie :'-)

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  59. OMG!what drama!so glad for the happy ending!and well done to Mr Hughs!

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  60. Thank goodness for helpful strangers ... glad things ended okay. That's an adorable picture of Winnie :)

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  61. How about a quick whip around to buy Derek some new shoes?

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  62. Applause for Mr Hughes in his shoes
    elsewise this tale could have delivered most unhappy news.

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  63. The mention of knackered hippos made me wonder if anyone knows how Tom is in Angola ? Say hello Tom if you read this !

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    1. I contacted him Francis , his leg is playing up..hes not good

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  64. Another cracking post. Poor Goerge and poor Winnie and poor you and probably poor Mr Derek but it's made for a damn good laugh. Thank's to all.

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  65. Good on ya, Mr Hughes! A man who will jump into a river to save a dog is my kind of man! Huzzah!!!!

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