Creative writing submission from the Rest Less community – submit your entry here.
I always get excited when Mum and Dad take my lovely, comfy bed out to the car – where are we going?
I give Amber the cat a goodbye lick and jump into the back. To be honest, I don’t like travelling in the car very much as it makes me feel a bit stressy. But Dad has hung a calming thing in the back that makes me feel a lot better – a bit sleepy and definitely not as anxious.
After a couple of wee stops and drinks from my own special bowl, Mum told me, “We’re here! At The Stables in Whitby.” Stables, I thought, I don’t want to share with those big hoofy horses! But, luckily, I didn’t have to. It turns out that The Stables is something called a hotel and I’ve never been in one of those before.
In the bedroom, there was a giant window and I spotted lots of grass just ready for walking on and loads of dogs running about. I barked at Mum to tell her that I wanted to go down and join them and, because Mum always knows what I mean, off we went. There was a big pond with ducks, a silly moorhen, and loads of grass. I went over to sniff a friendly white Labradoodle whose name was Monty and we had a lovely run around.
Back in the room, Mum spread my cuddly rug over the bed – which was enormous! There’s plenty of room for all of us to have a three-way cuddle before sleepy time.
I’m ashamed to admit that I needed a toilet trip at four am. Mum kindly said it was “probably because you’re eating so many different things rather than your usual food,” as she made Dad get dressed to take me downstairs. I felt better though because Monty was also out in the garden needing a late night pee too.
Down in the big room for breakfast the next morning, there were loads of doggies under tables and Mum and Dad had delicious smelling food. And then we left for Whitby Abbey.
It’s a sort of decrepit, falling down, old place with lots of grass and loads of new doggy friends wandering around. Mum went to the loo and Dad took me into the gents with him (it was smelly!), but I’m not allowed to stay outside on my own in case a ‘bad person’ wants to take me.
Overall, we had a lovely time and Dad bought some craft beers from a nearby shop that he said were “for Christmas” – really?
Back at the hotel, Mum showed me the range of dog foods and treats for sale at the bar. Upstairs, somebody had left me a pot of ‘Sleepy Bones’, which had chamomile and valerian root in them. I’m supposed to have some before I go to sleep. Did they work? I don’t know, because I’m a pretty good sleeper anyway, but they tasted nice. My favourite treat was called ‘Bark Bangers’, which are mini chicken sausages. I snaffled quite a few of them from a nice waitress whilst Mum wasn’t looking.
The following day we went to Robin Hood’s Bay. Well, all I can say is that it’s a good thing I have four legs because it’s such a steep hill down to the beach. How Mum managed to walk down all those steps with a broken ankle I don’t know.
We stopped off at a second hand book shop halfway down, but I wasn’t allowed in. The lady taking money said that the other day, a family came in with two dogs and the dogs had a poo in the shop! Their naughty Mum didn’t tell anybody and a little boy trod in it – and now dogs aren’t allowed inside. So, Dad and I sat outside and had an ice cream whilst Mum bought even more books.
Robin Hood’s Bay is lovely – there are lots of rock pools and it’s great for running around. I made even more friends and had an ice cream.
It was such a steep climb back up to the car park that even my four legs were tired and I needed a big drink. Mum found it very difficult and Dad suggested tying a rope around her waist and heaving her up – she was laughing so much that we had to stop for a long rest. He did pull her up a bit though with his hands.
After another lovely night on the big bed and a brilliant breakfast (where the lovely waitress sneaked me a going away present of Bark Bangers), it was back in the car to go home. I was so pleased to settle down in my basket along with my new blue squeakie.
At home, Amber the cat was on the window ledge waiting to say hello. After we’d had a nuzzle, I went out to explore my garden. Everything was OK – Dad brought my bed in and I was home.
If you’re interested in reading Mum’s account of the trip, you can find it here.
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