Andie did his job this morning.

absent Old Edinburgh is full of closes, there are Fleshmarket Close, Old Fishmarket Close, Mary King's Close, and so on ad infinitum. They started life as garden paths, then as access to the "new" build-to-rent properties built centuries ago by owners of the mansions on either side of the Royal Mile in the large gardens behind their houses. They were not cul-de-sacs, but short cuts open at the lower end to the Cowgate, down which the cows were driven to pasture each morning, and the Nor' Loch where washerwomen took their baskets of dirty linen to wash (now the railway and Princes street Gardens).

Hope that is not TMI. Don't mean to bore.

That's interesting Elegran. I thought a close was simply a cathedral precinct and that modern streets named Something Close were mostly misnamed with the intention of making them sound posh. I have just checked some of my dictionaries. They also give close to mean a "residential street without through access", or as I prefer, a cul-de-sac with attitude. In addition, they say "Scottish An entry from a street to a common stairway or to a court at the back of a building". Who lives may learn!

However, I suspect that HUNTERF does not have to access his large, four-bedroom, detached house via a common stairway.

Lots of courts on either side of the Royal mile, most of them called closes. As the walled city filled up with people coming in from the sticks to a better (?) life, the demand for housing meant that first of all high tenements were built fronting the main streets, then the gardens behind them filled up with more housing. The middle floors were occupied by the gentry, the ground floor by tradesmen, and the attics and cellars by the working class, or lower.

This continued until toward the end of the 18th Century, when the Old Town was stuffed full, of all levels of society. The gutters of the broad High Street (renowned for having two gutters, not the usual single one in the middle of the road) emptied down the route of least resistance - the closes on either side - which became open sewers taking refuse and rainwater down to the stinking lochs at either side.

This was no longer acceptable to the better-off, and the elegant New Town that was just being built became the place to move to, leaving the Old Town to the hoi polloi.

bichon

When I came to England it took a while for me to realise that a Close was not the same as what I would also call a wynd (Although I know a wynd is more like a small road whereas a close is just that - narrow!) )We had no end of closes where I was brought up, often named ater the person whose property it approached (Scott's Close, Halliday's Close) or named practically there was the Doctor's Close or the Bank Close.
The original name "Court" used to mean the sprawl of slum tenements that stretched back from the street in English cities. I wonder if modern "Executive Estate" developers realise the humble origins of the nomenclature?

Bichonmad - another job well done?

gillybob

We were going to name Andie Sandy.
He had already been named by the breeder and we stuck with it.
I think he still remembers Dad as he sometimes spends a long time in his bedroom sniffing around.

Frank

Frank

I live in a close. Definitely no cathedral here!

Andie is an excellent name for a Cairn. The one I used to know had more character and attitude than would fit into his little body. It sort of overflowed from him - he'd come into a room and stand and look around as if demanding everyone to stop and acknowledge his presence.

Yes. I'm sure dogs do remember people Frank. And wonder where they've gone.

Unfortunately older dogs tend to die if the owners pass away.
Fortunately Andie was nearly 6 at the time of my father's death but I think he regarded himself as belonging to myself, daughters and granddaughters as well as Dad so I think that is why he is reasonably happy.

Frank

My brother called round a few days after my husband's funeral with his dog. She had always greeted DH joyfully (maybe because he had treats for her!) either in the kitchen or in the livingroom, but the last time she had seen him was in another room, in a hospital bed, a week or so before he died. Just the once. On this next visit, she made a beeline for the room where his bed had been, looked very puzzled and then searched the whole house, starting with his empty chair in the living-room.

I imagine that he is good company, Frank An animal friend never judges. Our Rory [the cat that was feral] has brought a great deal of pleasure into our lives. He does little beyond yawning, sleeping, eating and whinging...but he matters and we're very fond of him.

Well, I say the dog WAS doing his job - he hears something unusual and reacted to it. It could have been people up to no good and about to cause trouble. Give him an extra Bonio, Frank!

Elegran

Thank you Soop

I've just logged on and the Andie Did his Job this Morning thread is followed by 'Calling All Sausage Shapes'

Elegran sorry - the grin was for Merlot's post.

I agree that it was grin-worthy, Nfkd

Most dogs are lovely, it's the owners I worry about.

York 46

Andie does not like Bonio

I gave him an extra Schmackos.

Frank

I thought this thread was about doggy toilet training and someone was flushed with a modicum of success! (You're allowed to groan!)

I know this is confusing and am very sorry but I live on a small development between an Avenue and a Close and we are called a Vale I wonder you thought that one up in the Highways Dept.? it is very nice though.

^^ should read who thought that one up .