Mabel's Watery Adventure, by Fion Mc Cumhaill (Finny to my friends.)

[Jessica]

I thought the swimming group might like to hear about my little sister's swimming adventure: Mummy said it would give people a laugh.

This week my family and I all went to Whistler for a mini break. That's a holiday where you can take little doodles like me, and my little sister, Mabel. We stayed in a dog friendly hotel and spent our time hiking, picnicking and swimming in the lakes. As well, we spent Canada Day in Whistler Village, where lots of people stopped to pet us and take our picture, because we looked so cute, and they liked the little fluttery Canada flags we were wearing in our collars.

I can swim very well. Mummy and I play races to see who can reach my ball in the water first, but Mabel can't play that yet, because Mabel is learning to swim. She can paddle. She likes that. She especially likes it if there is a ducky about. But she doesn't like waves, and she doesn't like deep, deep water, and she doesn't like steep banks where you can't get out.

On our holiday Mabel had a nasty scare - and it wasn't my fault...

I ran along a nice silvery log near the lake. I thought it was sitting on the grassy bank, but it wasn't. It was floating on the water amongst the reeds and water lillies. Silly Mabel followed me, (she always does that.) The silvery log turned out to be very...roly-poly! It rolled over, and so did Mabel and I. Plop, plop we went into the water! Splish, splosh, splash!

For me, it was easy to get out. I just heave ho'd myself up, but Mabel couldn't. Her legs just went up and down, up and down, and the log went round and round, and round and round.

Lucky for us, Mummy is very brave, and she can swim better than Mabel, and she doesn't mind getting wet, even with all her clothes on. So she jumped in and saved Mabel. Mummy's boots were full of water. She had to scurry behind a leafy bush and take all her clothes off and wring them out. Ha, ha. And when she put her boots back on, they made rude noises. So she kept us entertained all the way back to the hotel.

I really enjoyed my holiday.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. Mabel insisted I include the one of the two of us in the lake together. She wants everyone to see her swimming.

(Her legs were on the ground - Shhh...)

Finny.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Finn, like many Irishmen you tell a good story. Love the picture too. Thanks

[Camilla and Darwin]

Beautiful photos, and what an adventure!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

You have a very brave Mom! Hope to are able to teach Mabel to feel more comfortable in the water so she can learn to swim better.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What an adventure! Thanks for sharing. This lake looks beautiful, and what a wonderful spot for the Doodles.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

It sounded like lots of excitement and fun! I'm glad every one is OK though!