Yesterday, Easter Sunday, She Who Must Be Obeyed and I went to visit friends at their farm on the outskirts of Canberra, our Nations Capital.

There is nothing more pleasant than sitting with good friends, under a beaut tree, on a wonderful autumn day, surveying the rolling hills and green paddocks, dotted with browsing cattle.

After a relaxing morning it was time for lunch and in usual country style, enough food to feed an army was soon on the table.

Ace, the Staffordshire Terrier was keeping us amused with his usual doggie antics as he smooched for snacks and occasionally succeeded.

I was fully relaxed and munching away when I was totally surprised by the arrival, unannounced, of our hostesse’s best mate, Baxter.

I never heard him approaching and the others around the table gave me no warning. The wide grins on their faces should have alerted me that something was up.

Anyway, I had just enough time to snatch my plate from the table as Baxter, closely watched by Ace, poked his massive head over my shoulder and snatched a few crumbs from the table cloth.

Leaving me, Baxter headed over towards our mate Bill. The two of them know each other very well.

Passing Bill,  Baxter made his way around the table, snatching tit bits as he went.

It was amusing to watch Baxter doing his thing but when he tried to snatch a hot cross bun from the hand of the mother of our hostess, Baxter had done his dash.

Leaping to her feet she did her best to move him out of the way. At 17 hands he is no miniature and if he decides to stay put, that’s it.

Finally, his  owner slipped a halter over his head, led him away and hitched him to the tree under which we were dining. Our mate Bill had strategically placed himself close to the tree’s trunk and was well in range of hitched up Baxter.

Baxter took an immdiate likeing to the cap our mate Bill was wearing and did his best to dislodge the cap and when Bill took it off, Baxter started to lick Bill’s hair.

We are going back to the farm in a month’s time for a Hot Pie day. SWMBO has decided to bake some apple pies and out hostess and her mum are going to bake meat, chicken and curry pies for the occasion.

I can’t wait to see the look on Baxter’s face when he tries a curry pie.

My Nikon gear was still in our 4WD but fortunately my iPhone was turned on and handy. What a great job it did recording a few images of Baxter having fun. I should have had the presence of mind to video the lot. I should always remember PPPPPP. If you have studied management you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Hoo roo for now