Stories by Arthur Witten

It has been many years since either my parents or I have celebrated our birthdays. Just a reminder that another year has slipped by. However Liquorice's youthful enjoyment of her monthly birthdays give us much pleasure. It's silly I know but a...

Liquorice, who has her eighth (monthly) birthday tomorrow, and I set out on our morning walk and were surprised to find a nice box of chocolates resting on the gatepost. With it was a note from one of the neighbors thanking me for a recent good...

In one of my silly moments I purchased a small plastic Hyena with a windup mechanism that allows it to walk along on its own legs while moving its head and tail sideways. It only stands about an inch and a half high, about four inches from head...

Catherine, my nephew's wife, came around for lunch today bringing "Rosie", their new nine and a half-week old Golden Retriever puppy. Rosie has only been with her a few days and Catherine is currently a single "Mom" as her husband is overseas...

I called Liquorice, my Newfoundland puppy, to come into the breezeway to be "locked up" behind a welded mesh partition while my father watered the garden. If you know anything about Newfoundlands then you would realize my little darling would...

This morning Liquorice followed me to the clothesline as I had washing to hang out to dry. She lay down next to the cloths-basket while I cleaned the line with a damp floorcloth. As I started to peg the washing on the line I became aware that...

As always Liquorice headed for the tap behind the front gate as we were leaving on our morning stroll. Each time since her first trip near the gate, many months ago now, I have offered her a drink holding the end of the hose in my right hand...

Liquorice has been on many safaris throughout our home looking for Ma in the two weeks or so since she has been in hospital. Liquorice must suddenly think of her as she will get up and go to Ma's lounge-chair, then on to her chair in the meals...

Dramatic changes have occurred with Liquorice in the two weeks since we visited Francis Wilson, the delightful lady who bred my little darling. Liquorice was a little over five months when we were told she was "well fed" and advised to restrict...

This morning Liquorice refused to come inside once she had had her early morning grooming, attended to more pressing urges on the back lawn, walked, or rather romped around the front paddock and then ate breakfast in the breezeway. After her...

Liquorice returned to her Vet today. She had developed a lump under the wound from her operation last week. It had not caused my little darling any concern or pain however it was growing larger. Her Vet's concern was such that he opened her up...

Joy of joys. Liquorice came home with me from her Vets today. Operation successful, no line-ups of eager suitors will congregate at her home. There was a mutually delighted display of hugs and licks and kisses as we greeted each other. When we...

Liquorice has firm beliefs in her human's unequaled talents for becoming lost ever since I used to train her to walk on her leash by circling tree trunks, doing endless figure eights and reverse figure eights in sight of our home. She was...

Liquorice and I, as is usual these days, went on our early morning walk along our rural roadways. The last couple of days she has been most concerned about a heap of rubbish our neighbor has placed on the roadside ready for the Camden Council's...

The times I have shared with Liquorice of an early morning, before the family rises, have meant a great deal to me. It is when I quietly sit in my father's chair in the breezeway and give my little girl a nurse (not suckle <vbg>) in the breezeway of...

Today I mowed the back lawn shorter than normal. Usually the mulching attachment on the ride-on mower cuts the clippings up very fine and blows them back into the lawn. This works well however there comes a time when the amount of new and old...

Yesterday we returned with Liquorice to the place of her birth at the "ancestral" home of Planhaven Kennels and the delightful Francis Wilson. I am sure she would not mind her magnificent Newfs receiving primary acknowledgement. It was a lovely...

Liquorice really enjoys the out of season mulberries our tree has been giving us before Winter sets in. It started as a few tasty berries however the last few days it has yielded modest feasts for my little darling while on our morning and...