Proper swimming

You may remember that Isla was less than enthusiastic when she first met water, but she's grown up a lot during the last two months.  Harriet and I took her for a walk at Wimpole Hall this afternoon, and a couple of other dogs were having great fun swimming in one of the lakes.  Needless to say Isla didn't want to be left out, so we decided to see how she would cope on this occasion.  We needn't have worried, though - even when the water became significantly deeper than she expected and proper swimming was the order of the day.

 

I'm a big girl now...

 

The swans, thankfully, were protected by a raft of water lilies.

We'd like to go swimming again, please...

A proud day

Wednesday was a very proud day for us, as Issy graduated from the University of Southampton.  Harriet and I were joined by James, Issy's fiancé, and Frances (pictures of whose graduation can be found here), making it a wonderful family occasion. 

What are sisters for if not to ruin one's graduation pictures?

My "womenfolk", all together, with Frances carrying the next generation (due at the end of November).

Issy decided to use a professional photographer for this particular shot...

Harriet and Frances putting the world to rights.

Issy, in full regalia, ready for the ceremony.

Now officially a graduate rather than a graduand.

Issy received a prize, which was presented after the ceremony in a sweltering hot marquee.

All over bar the shouting, so time for a silly picture or two.

Finally, that (apparently) essential piece of modern life, a graduation bear.

Two balls are better than one

I've been out of the country for a while, so haven't been able to keep up to date with pictures of Isla.  I was able to take a few this morning (just as the sun was starting to get hot), three days after her six month birthday.  Isla has always been obsessed with balls, but until very recently she's only been able to carry one at a time.  Now that she has an almost complete set of adult gnashers, with a little bit of juggling it's possible for her to carry two balls at the same time - for short periods, anyway.  Double the number of balls means double the pleasure, of course.  What a happy bunny.