This month, as promised, it’s Busby’s turn to research and dictate the blog page. We did not predict the recent events in Ukraine this week, but Busby said he was ok to carry on as planned – with a few changes to reflect the situation.
Stand by for an extrapawdinary experience. Over to you, Busby!
I am feeling very sad about Ukraine.
I know a lot of readers, young and old, might be feeling this too. My advice is that it is ok to feel sad, and, if it helps, you can do something little to show your support. Even little acts can have a big effect if everyone does them.
You can find ten ideas how to keep calm and support Ukraine, here:
Adults can find more information, here:
You will notice a lot of blue and yellow in my blog this month. These are the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Luckily, these are also colours that, as a dog, I can actually see. It is also a bonus for any Swedish readers out there.
I have been thinking about how I see things.
People often think dogs can only see black, white and shades of grey, and that, for example, to me, a man running into snowy woods would look like the photo below.
There are two mistakes in the above information, can you spot them?
Firstly, like all dogs, I can see some colour. Secondly, look at the photo again. It is not a man but a dog!
I can see clearly now…
but only if it’s something blue or, maybe yellow! The top row of colours is what humans see, the bottom row is what dogs see. So more blue toys, please.
You can read more about dogs’ vision, here: https://theconversation.com/do-dogs-really-see-in-just-black-and-white-131438
Younger readers can see what other animals see, here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zxfrwmn/articles/z66ykmn
We dogs have great night vision too.
So I loved this photo of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Friday. You, and other canine readers, can see more heartening photos from around the world, here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10552979/Landmarks-world-light-blue-yellow-solidarity-Ukraine.html
I’m trying not to get ideas from this story.
This dog was lured from danger by a tasty treat. You can read about it here:https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/20/stranded-dog-saved-from-drowning-after-rescuers-attach-sausage-to-drone
I have been watching these clever dogs…
and their human trainers at Battersea Dogs’ Home. I’m so impressed that I’m wondering about learning a bit of sign language myself. https://youtu.be/Ld-YVQ59wM0
1901 advert Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Time for a musical interlude and a trip to Hamburg.
You can listen to a five minute podcast about George Gershwin, here: https://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/shows.php?id=70
I have been ‘enjoying the fun of failure’…
but not very much, to be honest. As promised last month, I did try out the online colouring apps, I was hoping to be the new Van Gogh, but I just could not get my head or my paws around them. It was just too tricky! In the end, I was advised to ‘leave it’ a command I really understand and, thankfully, was able to act on.
Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Sunflowers, Second Edition
You can colour in some sunflowers of your own, here:
Simple: http://www.getcoloringpages.com/sunflower-coloring-page
More tricky: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/children/van-gogh-colouring-pages/sunflowers-colouring-page
Drovers’ Dogs
Did you know that, once they had walked to London from Wales, cattle drovers would send their dogs home on their own! The plucky corgi dogs would retrace the route of several hundred miles, staying overnight at the same inns they had visited on the way to London.
I simply could not believe this and have had a few bad nightmares where I arrive at the inn but can’t open the door.
Pearson Scott Foresman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
You can find out more on the Ukrainian corgi breeder’s website below. N.B. the information is fascinating and beautifully presented, however, as this is not an educational website. I advise parents to check it first. http://www.corgi-dnepr.com/en/library/myths/welsh_drovers_and_welsh_corgis/ We hope the corgis and their owners are safe and will remain so.
You can also listen to the Ramblings podcast where I first overheard this information, here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013zlz
Another musical interlude.
I was excited to hear this piece of music about my absolute favourite toy recently. Who knew that Hector Berlioz and I have so much in common!
Un Ball from the Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz
You can find out what it is really about, here: https://kids.kiddle.co/Symphonie_Fantastique_(Berlioz)
You can have a go at composing your own music, here: https://www.classicsforkids.com/music-games/
As I am a dog,
my attention span is all used up, and I am off to sleep for a very long time now. I will be back next month in my usual role as most excellent and long-suffering prop and sidekick. That’s all from me for now – thank you for reading my first blog page.
Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Before we go, I’d just like to take over from Busby with a piece of music that speaks for itself. Older readers might like this newer version. Younger listeners might like to discover it. It is what is known as a ‘circular’ song, where the end brings us back to the start. It symbolises the way that people seem to learn nothing from the past, not even from wars, so they keep on happening.
Did you know that the original version of this song was written over 60 years ago?
It seems that in that time, very sadly, some leaders have learnt nothing at all.
I am watching with sorrow and awe the courage of those fighting to keep their country free.
Thank you…
everyone who has signed up to follow this blog – every time I see a new name, I feel great and Busby feels (p)awesome.
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We will be back next month.
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Buzzy Paws 
