Stories by Arthur Witten

Here in Australia it is summer and the temperatures at Cobbitty, where I live southwest of Sydney, are regularly in the triple digits! Last Saturday was a real "scorcher" with 120 degrees; it was in the 90s at 8-30am and 105 at 10-30am! So how...

It was about two weeks ago that the young master had the singularly rare pleasure of observing some apparently senseless behavior concerning the dignified Liquorice; rather than displaying his usual talent of being the one observed at such...

The day had been long and tiring for me, away from home and the pleasant company of Liquorice and Keaton. My arrival home was celebrated with one of the most enthusiastic "welcome homes" it has ever been my delight to receive! Simply wonderful!...

The tranquility of Liquorice and Keaton's morning walk was rudely disturbed when our neighbor across the road and down a bit started his old "Ferguson" tractor. As the sound moved I heard the unmistakable metallic clatter of his chain-harrows...

Much of Australia is currently in the grip of one of our periodical droughts, and a severe one at that! And the domain of Liquorice and Keaton has not been spared those effects as their once lush green world has turned parched and brown. Their...

The hour was late and feeling somewhat peckish I sliced a few slivers of cheese and placed them on a side table to nibble on while listening to a relaxing CD. Liquorice was sleeping soundly next to my chair undisturbed by my actions. Normally...

Keaton's muscular young body transported me a great distance this afternoon. The journey was far though not one measured by miles. This journey was measured by decades for as I was wrestling with the young master, I became a small boy again, at...

This morning Liquorice was raced around the front paddock for the sheer fun of it when we were returning from a short walk. Keaton was racing around as well but mainly with the aim of engaging Liquorice in a game. Often he would "crash" into...

Keaton, my now not-so-little Landseer boy, simply lay there after I had given him his morning brush. The sun by then had bathed him with its first warming rays at one end of the breezeway. The timing was perfect for even in the midst of our...

Liquorice always becomes overly excited whenever I take our wheelie bins (for garbage and recycling) from her home to the road, some 200 yards away. Or return with them! They make a loud "drumming" sound as they are dragged along our rough...

We have a "Hill's Hoist". I do not know whether similar devices are in use in your part of the world, however a Hill's Hoist is a rotary clothesline. It consists of a central pole with four fixed "arms" radiating out at right angles. Wires are...

This afternoon we were watching Liquorice and Keaton at play on the back lawn. They were battling for possession of an old shoe that now belongs to them. Over recent months that once comfortable footwear has deteriorated to the point where it...

One of the joys for Liquorice in having young Keaton around is that she has a permanent live-in playmate, ever ready, willing and able to join her in whatever game she desires! And that goes both ways as Keaton finds Liquorice most obliging...

Sharing one's life with a Newfoundland has many delightful rewards. Such as when we experience one of those "special" moments with our pride and joy. We have all had them. And, on rare occasions, something memorable happens, something that goes...

With the extra heavy dews we are now experiencing of a morning here in Sydney, Australia, I have been brushing young Keaton prior to brushing Liquorice, as Liquorice takes much longer to do than does our little boy. There are days when Keaton...

Liquorice and Keaton sought entertainment elsewhere than in my presence the other morning as I was otherwise engaged with odd jobs inside the shed. I had assumed their amusements had taken them to our small orchard where they spend some of...

Since the morning was cool with no dew on the grass I chose to brush my two little darlings on the back lawn. They are brushed there, lying on their sides, of an afternoon, as it is much easier on my knees that are feeling rather ancient these...