So I put the novel aside a few weeks ago to work on that sudden, urgent project. Kept it aside last weekend because G, Gully (the dog) and I drove up to mum and dad’s place to participate in the Great Nundle Dog race!

The Great Nundle Dog race started out as a bet between farmers, to see which of their working dogs was the fastest. It has now become a hilarious annual event, where dogs from all over the state race each other. So this year, we thought Gully should have a go!

Here he is, roaming in the long grass at mum and dad’s place:

He had The. Best. Time. Ever! Even before he got to run around with hundreds of other puppies he found cows to bark at, sniffs to sniff, and he was even allowed to sleep inside (a treat, because he never gets to do that at home). Here we are, enjoying the countryside together:

Gully also proved that he is not a racing dog. He doesn’t have the competitive spirit 🙂 The race involved G holding onto Gully at one end of the Nundle sports ground, and me standing at the other, calling him. We had practiced this during our evening walks, and he was good at it then. BUT, surround him with other dogs and their owners, all calling and waving and barking and he got very, very confused. This is what happened:

Yep, he went backwards. He totally lost sight of me, got very upset, turned around and threw himself right into G’s waiting arms. Ah well. Here he is, after his big race:

So, not the most successful race ever, at least not by your more traditional definitions. But it was great fun! G and I have been tossing around some ideas (and he has been scribbling preliminary sketches) for a illustrated story about the great race. It’ll be fun to see what happens with that.

So, after all these adventures, it really is time to pick up the novel again. Except a short story snuck it’s way in while the novel was aside and demanded I write it. I haven’t had any short story ideas for ages, so I let it push in line. Involves some fun research too. And that’s always good.