Nigel and Sue arranged with their friends, David and Eli, to stay at their house in Surrey. What they didn’t tell me was David and Eli have a dog called Ruby. I admit I’m nervous because dogs have been known to think I’m some kind of chew toy! I mean … how can they possibly think I’m something that should be in their mouth???
As we head toward rural Surrey, the roads narrow into hedge-covered country lanes barely wider than a car’s width – I’ve been sitting on the dash but I can’t take the stress! I subtly roll off the dash into Sue’s hands. I feel safer in her lap. Nigel has been driving in America for thirty years and he’s obviously used to much, much wider American highways. From the way he’s driving, it’s hard to believe he learned to drive on narrow country roads like these!
Forest Green, Surrey
As we near our destination, Forest Green in Surrey, we turn our attention to locating the house. I’m back on the dash now. Our destination doesn’t even have a road name, how am I supposed to know where we’re going? OK, I’m not driving, but still! Nigel turns down a dirt track and I’m convinced he’s lost! I’m looking for the house name or a house which looks like the one I’ve seen in a photo.
Ruby
Eli and David are outside waiting for us along with Ruby!
There follows some quick introductions to me and time for me to say hello to Ruby.
The house is located on the edge of the village green at the foot of the Leith Hill in Surrey (the highest point in the south east). I’ll discover later that on a clear day we can see the towers of the London skyline from the top of the hill.
Just across the green is The Parrot, serving excellent ale and pies! Yum!
After a short evening walk with Ruby, Eli serves up a lovely roast chicken dinner! I enjoyed the presentation – being a sheep, I don’t actually eat chicken.
Ruby sleeps in a crate in the bedroom and she was always an angel when it came to going to bed. My minders like to take Ruby for walks. Maybe it’s because we tired her out with walking, but she seemed eager to get to bed and sleep.
David and Eli went away for a few days while we were there and Ruby was a little down on our first day alone together. She found one of David’s slippers and brought it downstairs to cuddle with. She also found me in the bedroom and carried me downstairs to cuddle up with. Fortunately she didn’t see me as a chew toy.
Ruby soon got used to us all being alone together. After that she was very happy to be going everywhere with us. She was great just sitting in the back seat of the car inside her car crate.
We had some lovely days with Ruby, walking her around many places nearby. By the end of our stay we were thoroughly attached to each other and sad to say bye.
On to our stop with friends in East Sussex!