![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2015/01/10_608906335.jpg)
Alpha, mom and I went travelling again this festive season.
We started off at the farm in the Eastern Cape.
Takes ages to get there – like eight hours.
I was on the verge of becoming an ultra-fed-up doglet when we finally stopped.
Here we are Fudgie-wena, said mom.
Sjoe! About time too.
Bella, the Labrador is a tad older and wiser.
She’s no longer the pushover she was the last time we visited.
Once she even had the cheek to grab my tail whilst Zorro, the sneaky little pop-eyed Pekingese tried to hump my furry backside!
Had a great time being the spoilt city hound.
I’m allowed inside whilst the other farm mutts have to stay outside.
Last time we were there it was almost winter and mom felt so sorry for Bella that, against all advice, she donated my warm cozy baskie for her to sleep in when we left.
Bella ate my baskie the very first night.
Ungrateful brat.
Zorro has his own little dog-house.
Seems like life on the farm is a bit hazardous – the other two dogs that used to live there both met untimely ends.
Now that there are only two pooches, they do sneak inside when nobody is looking.
Bella and I spent lots of time eyeing each other out skeef from under different sides of the couch.
We enjoyed nice walks and lovely smelly fresh air.
That meanie mom banned Bella and I from chasing the chickens.
The best surprise was seeing my boy Luan.
He’s been working on the farm for the last few months and has gotten all big and manly.
Gazed at him lovingly and slooshed my tongue around his face.
Herman and Chris are also my human farm-boy relatives.
I quite fancy that Herm – although he’s gotten so big now that he no longer calls me “Frudges” like he used to.
There was, naturally, a fair amount of ball-playing.
A catastrophe was narrowly averted when my ball went missing, but Alpha’s dad kindly donated one and saved the day.
It had rained lots and the river was full.
Alpha’s mom said I might land up on another farm if I tried swimming in it so I kept my paws on dry land.
After five days at the farm we loaded up our stuff into the car and waved goodbye to everybody.
Where to next?
* As told to Ginny Stone.