M.T. Sanders's Blog, page 4

Tricked by hooman dad.....how did he do that?

I feel a little embaryarsed today to be honest. I'm going to say this very quietly and only once cos today I got outwitted....by Dad.....Yes you heard right but it won't happen again...I promise.Well at walkies time there was no sign of dad...Poobag and the wrecker were there wiv pipsqueak in her toddlercar fingy but no dad. This could only mean one fing, he was going somewhere without me....somewhere really exciting, there may be food even. That was it I couldn't possibly go for a walk when there was so much fun to be had so I decided I'd stay and see where we were going.We got out of the house and I went straight into Montydonkey mode...bum planted and that was it...game over poobag. Well she tried....for about five minutes but I wasn't missing out on a trip wiv dad so Pandacowbehind stayed glued to the paveyment. Then all of a sudden dad appeared ready for the walk and said 'come on them Monts!'....Oh well I must have been wrong so off we went for a walk.Well this is where I got tricked cos when we got to the top of the road dad had disappeared. Now I got it, he'd just walked across the road and nipped back to fool me and go on the fantastic trip....which actually turned out to be him Jetwashing the back garden....Oh well I didn't miss much after all but getting outwitted by someone so witless is summat I will find hard to put behind me....I need yo up me game me finks.

Action not Words....Supporting our Veterans

As we approach November 11th everybody's thoughts turn, quite rightly, to those who have served in our armed forces. We have proudly supported our veterans over recent years and spent four years collecting for the Poppy appeal which helped raised an amazing £40,000 for the Royal British Legion. We had amazing help from our friends, family and followers during that period and it's something we look back on with an immense feeling of satisfaction.In 2017 we were absolutely delighted when Monty became the mascot for veterans charity Shoulder to Soldier. The organisation was set up by Linda Fisher to address the growing issues faced by many ex service personnel including homelessness, mental health problems and accessing benefits.Anybody who has met Linda would have been unable to ignore her determination to help, and her passion for this cause. Shoulder to Soldier though is by no means a one person operation. The success of the organisation has been down to the fact that the veterans themselves have become enthused, enabled and empowered and this has led to fabulous progress in the welfare of ex forces and their families.My biggest frustration with many large charities is when they become so bureaucratic and top heavy that they ultimately become unable to really deliver on the aspirations of donators and supporters. Local politics and personalities should never get in the way of such an important objective as supporting those who have served the country with such dignity.Shoulder to Soldier have the slogan 'Action not Words' at it's beating heart and this is a slogan that they deliver on day after day. I have rarely had the honour to meet so many dedicated individuals who make this a community that is making a REAL difference to peoples lives daily.I will, like million of others stand in silence and total respect on the 11th day of the 11th month this Sunday. I will remember those lost in conflicts past and I'm sure again like many others shed a tear for those gone too soon. I will also be thinking of those still involved in personal conflicts and who need support way past Remembrance Sunday. Please wear you poppy with pride but when the TV coverage is over, don't forget. Support those that are helping 24/7 365 days of the year....Action Not Words. For more information about the fantastic work of Shoulder to Soldier visit https://www.shouldertosoldier.org.uk/or on social media - Facebook@Shoulder2SoldierUKTwitter @S_2_S

Fly Ghost home

I was contacted yesterday by Jyothika who asked if we could possibly help her by spreading the word about Ghost and her story. To be honest I could fill the page with this story but everything is summed up perfectly in the link below. I said I'd be happy to help and the Monty friends are the kindest hoomans anywhere so I'm sure they would love to play their part in making this story have a happy ending.https://www.gofundme.com/fly-ghost-home

Top 10 again

We are so delighted and proud to be awarded a top 10 place in the UK Pet blog listings by Vuelio again. Last year we were 10th and this year we have moved up to 7th. This is down to our amazing followers who have been with us on here, our Facebook pages, Instagram and Twitter. We are also shortlisted in the blog awards in London at the end of November, as one of six finalists to be become the No1 UK Pet blog so it's all very exciting at the moment. As always thank you for your support, the bigger we get the more good we can do and that is the long term plan....World domination (Monty said that)

The Ghost Train.....or is it?

The winter of 1921 had been a brutal one for the rural families of North Wales. Winter storms had been unrelenting and the past 72 hours had seen rain and storm force winds that even these weather-hardened communities found intimidating. Life usually worked around the extreme conditions frequently experienced in this part of the world, but this year things were different.Every day train 757 took the children from the villages that dappled the Snowdonia mountain range into Porthmadog to school. Each evening the children would return back up the mountain, but the recent storms had meant the train couldn’t make the journey. Fallen trees had blocked the line and the unprecedented decision was made to keep the children overnight at the school. One night became two and two became three as the rain and winds made any form of travel impossible.For the families at home the waiting was unbearable. Not only did they have to cope with tending their farms in conditions unknown in a generation but they had very little word about their young ones. Some news had got through, but it was patchy and did little to calm the anxious mothers and fathers who waited for the storms to abate.It was late afternoon on Friday October 31st in Porthmadog and for the first time in days the rain had slowed to a heavy drizzle. Though the winds were still strong they were nothing like they had been. The local farmers and labourers had manged to clear the blocked line and sent the message into town.Though the teachers at Prentarag school were unconvinced, engine driver Dai Evans was confident this was the window he needed to get the children home. It was the weekend and the children were missing their families, this was the least he could do. At 4.45 the children eagerly, boarded train 757 as it stood in the station spewing steam into the air in anticipation of the journey to come. On the dot of 5pm the train slowly huffed and puffed out of the station as it built up speed for the climb ahead.Up ahead unbeknown to anybody, the weather had returned with a vengeance. The wind tore through trees and bent branches to breaking point while the rain fell in bullet like drops that exploded into the soft ground. Train 757 climbed higher and higher, the children chattering in nervous anticipation as the storm increased. Suddenly a huge section of hillside, unable to cope with the deluge broke away and headed at breakneck speed toward the unsuspecting train and its precious cargo.The official report was straightforward. A storm had dislodged part of the hillside which created a landslide that swept train 757 off the track and into the ravine below. No bodies were ever found as the storm washed everything out to sea.The story is an old one and has been told many times throughout the years and everybody, it seems adds their own twist to add some extra interest. The thing that nobody disputes though is that on many stormy evenings there can be heard the distant screams of children and the haunting whistle of train 757 as it battles through the night to attempt to get the children home. Whoa whoa whoa…..you can’t end a story like that dad. You know this is for the mini hoomans right? I know when your hooman children were small you used to tell them the story of Dr Vun Salley when you went on holiday to Sun Valley in Cornwall. Dr Vun Salley lived in the house on the hill in the holiday park and did hideous experiments on anyone who was still out after dark….yeah great parenting dad…Ok peoples don’t worry cos we have the alternative ending right here….Just do that funny rewinding noise in your head now….Up ahead unbeknown to anybody, the weather had returned with a vengeance. The wind tore through trees and bent branches to breaking point while the rain fell in bullet like drops that exploded into the soft ground. Train 757 climbed higher and higher, the children chattering in nervous anticipation as the storm increased. Suddenly a huge section of hillside, unable to cope with the deluge broke away and headed at breakneck speed toward the unsuspecting train and its precious cargo.Montgomery was taking his usual walk around the farm that evening when he heard the sound of sliding and crashing as the hillside gave way to the unrelenting rain that had lasted for what seemed like an eternity.Mongomery lived with owner Kram Srednas in their Welsh mountain home close to the railway line. They had moved there 3 years ago from Wigwamia after the Yorkshirpuddingland uprising. He was a handsome Black and White Newfoundland dog who was well known in the area for his amazing swimming skills, strength, handsomeness and general all-round greatness.Montgomery knew straight away that something was very wrong and he needed only a glance over his shoulder and a nod from his hooman to know what he had to do. With a single bound he leapt the fence and headed down the hillside to where the noise had come from. What he saw in front of him was a catastrophe in the making as the train slid uncontrollably toward the storm-ravaged river.Montgomery was there in an instant, and no sooner had the train hit the raging torrent, that he went to work. One by one children were pulled from the sinking carriages and deposited safely on the river bank. Again and again he returned to the ink black rapids, each time bringing back a precious survivor and depositing it gently away from further danger. It was only when all of the children were safe that he returned for driver Dai Evans who was clinging to the roof of the engine which was hurtling toward the sea.At his point though exhausted, he decided he’d pull the train out as well, because he could – he was so strong you see…..and handsome, did I mention he was very handsome?So, this story ends, quite rightly, with Mongomery, the newfydoof, the hero….No spooky noises in the dark, no ghost train and no mini hoomans waking parents up in the night…..You’re welcome.Mongomery got a medal and his fame spread even further across the land….Even as far as Wigwamia. He lived to a good old age and loved telling his story to the many pups he sired. Today lots of his descendants live to re-tell the story and there is one you may know….very well. He has definetly carried on the handsomeness…..did I mention that gt gt gt gt gt gt gt gt Grandad Mongomery was very handsome?Sleep well mini hoomans…..sleep well….

A new superhero is born....introducing Pooglove

On Friday mum and dad were away and so we went out for a walk with poobag and her hooman sister Rebecca the wrecker. Now as you know the whole walking thing is overrated in my opinion, but from time to time I like to let them fink that they've won and allow meself to get dragged around for an hour or so.Now I know you hoomans enjoy me number two stories so I fort I'd share this with you. I did me deed as you do and I must say I like to drop licckle pressies in intervals cos it makes it more interesting for the hoomans. Poobag followed the trail and collected them all in her plastic bag and dropped them in the bin. Now at some point her supply of black poopwrappers must have fallen out of her pocket but I swear I didn't know....That had no bearing on the fact I fort I'd add to me collection a licckle further on our drag. Drop drop droppety drop and me hooman cleanerupper confidently reached inside her pocket for her bag but....no bag...Other pocket? No, no bag. Oopsey now we seemed to have a problem cos you can't leave newfypoo on the path so there was only one thing for it. A lovely new glove was produced and our superhero collected the offending articles. All poopey doops were picked up and taken to the bin. The gloves weren't even wasted cos she turned them inside out and took them home to wash. So peoples we have our new superhero....Pooglove....Marvel comics are bound to be in touch soon....Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na, POOGLOVE

Like a celebrity? Seriously?

Yesterday morning I went out for a drive with dad. We had gone to deliver some books to a learning zoo somewhere. Now I know the story would be complete if I told you where I was but to be honest I just sleep, we arrive and I do my thang. Anyways we was in a place that I know wasn't wigwam cos the hooman men were wearing long trousers and shoes. We went to the learning zoo and then dad found this really nice park to go for a walk. The sun was out I met lots of licckle doglets who wanted, for some reason to lick me face and also a hooman who gave me a biccie.....I now have his smell in me montybase and will find him next time we're there. Anyways back to the story. We was walking by the woods and all of a sudden we saw a group of mini hoomans all dressed in bright yellow tops so they could be spotted easier....I don't know why they do this after all how could you NOT know a mini hooman is there. When they saw me they all started calling my name....Monty Monty.....and before I knew it I was surrounded and getting fussed by a sqwillion shorty ones. Evidentiary we had been to their learning zoo last year so they all knew me.....the hooman teachery lady said..'haha' It's like your a celebrity'......What do you mean LIKE a celebrity? What's the definition? Walking through the park in a town where you don't live and you're suddenly mobbed.....I think you'll find Monty Dogge fits the description thank you very much. Well there wasn't much bark rubbing done yesterday that's for sure......Like a celebrity....huh......

Resident Author and assistant

I'm really pleased and proud to announce that Monty and I will be working with Landgate School in Wigan as resident author and assistant, though I'm not sure which is which. Landgate school is a fabulous establishment very local to us who do fantastic work with children from 4 right up to young adults of 19 who are assessed as being on the Autistic Spectrum. We will be doing a variety of sessions including storytimes, writing workshops and the use of social media in writing and blogging.I'm sure there will also be a massive amount of Monty cuddles as well and I'm sure the big guy will snore through most of it as is his way. We will be going into the school four or five times a year starting in November and I think it will be a fantastic experience for us and more importantly bring something positive to the children as well.

Competition Time - win a Pet Remedy Party season survival kit

You can win the survival kit from Pet Remedy just by simply commenting below and sharing this blog post on your Facebook profile. This kit is worth £25 and is ideal as we enter the firework season. You can find more information about Pet Remedy products and order directly at http://petremedy.co.uk/Good Luck and leave your comment below and don't forget to share.You can also enter on Instagram @monty_dogge #montypetremedy or #petremedycomp or in our Facebook group Life according to Monty Dogge

Monty and friends save Christmas -spoiler alert

If you don't want to know the story in the new book, you may want to click away now. When I first said I was going to introduce the subject of Rainbow Bridge into my Christmas children's book a few of my family and friends gave me some raised eyebrows and a few warnings. I admit it's not the first thing you'd think of around the holidays but I had a very clear story in my mind and knew it was perfect for our illustrator Zoe - I was just sure she'd love it.I wanted to release the Christmas book last year but knew I hadn't really introduced Cookie to the series so really had to do that first, hence Monty and the Slobbernosserus.At that point I didn't know what I wanted to do with the Christmas story but what I was sure of was that I wanted it to be based on a poem I'd written back in 2014. I also wanted to make the whole book a poem as it's the writing I enjoy most, and so that was the idea I started with back in July when I wrote the story.Christmas to me is a magical time and it's a holiday we've always enjoyed so much as a family as the children were growing. I've also, as a parent, had to deal with the loss of family pets and know just how difficult that can be where children are involved. Rainbow Bridge to me is also a magical place because it's where all of my memories of those special loved one's are. It's where those family members we've lost, play forever just how I remember them.I do realise that people will be moved by the book and I'm sure some tears will be shed, but I also know that there will be smiles. I always like to write stories that can take the reader places that they can relate to in some way and hopefully that's what this has done. I'm so pleased with the book as a whole, the illustrations are once again beautiful and depict the story just as I imagined. The book is available here on our website where you can buy author signed copies, just see our books page. You can also but it via Amazon and all good online retailers. If you've been affected by the bereavement of a pet and feel you would like some support you can contacthttps://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss