Hi I am BOB. You’ve not heard me here me before. For, unlike Bruce, the philosopher, I am a dog of action, and not of words. But today I’ve decided to break my silence to tell you about my favourite thing – BANANA!
The reason I like BANANA is very simple. I live beside West Highland Way. Every day, hungry humans walk along West Highland Way, eating their BANANAS. Sometimes the humans leave behind BANANA skins. Other times (O joy of joys!) they abandon entire BANANAS. As adherents to the ‘leave only footprints’ rule Tom and Kate take a dim view of abandoning anything, including BANANAS. But what’s their problem? For I, BANANABOB am here, ready and more than willing to clean the path, scooping and hoovering up any and all discarded BANANAS and their skins!
I, BANANABOB am unstoppable in my quest! Once a BANANA has been scented, I simply cannot be deterred! For though I have learned it is best to listen to humans, and to DROP the many other items that they do not wish me to chew up – such as stones, sticks, books and textiles of all kinds – and though I will, on command, happily DROP a domestic BANANA when one is occasionally presented to me (since I know very well that such BANANAS are being used for manipulative human training purposes) canny BANANABOB will never drop a wild West Highland Way BANANA!
During the lengthy period of BANANA hostilities, many attempts have been made to foil BANANABOB in his quest but relatively few have succeeded. That’s because BANANABOB’s campaign has several key advantages: first, Kate cannot move at speed, second, there’s the fundamental issue of human dignity (which is all too frequently breached when BANANABOB is your adversary!) and finally, the noses of humans are clearly defective, while the superior nose of BANANABOB is able to discern the delicious scent of a decaying BANANA at several hundred feet – indeed, BANANABOB has been known to excavate and consume BANANAS, which humans have foolishly buried, thinking they are able to hide their detritus from me underground. How wrong they are!
Of late, I’ve noticed something of a detente in the BANANA battle. There seem to be two reasons for this. The first is that no harm has ever come to me from consuming the occasional old BANANA, even those of the particularly delectable variety that have been flung into a bog and have lain fermenting there, beneath the filth and oomska, for many moons. Second, recently there have been far fewer human walkers on the West Highland Way. Now, I have no idea what this “global situation” is to which Kate and Tom have been referring, but for me its obvious consequence has been the sad depletion of my supply of old BANANAS.
(in suspended animation while awaiting a BANANA)
But yesterday, into my bleak BANANALESS desert came a happy surprise for BANANABOB! I was told it was my birthday and that Kate and Tom had saved an old BANANA just for me!
A BANANA? For me?!
Surely the best birthday ever.
love from
BANANABOB x
BANANABOB is wise, intrepid and fearless. Who can argue with a dog who thinks nothing of devouring a bog-fermented, OOMSKABANANA??? Monkl is in awe of your banana-seeking skillz and hopes the foolish banana-discarding public return to the WHW soon, so that you can resume your pursuit of their discarded fruit xxx
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HAPPY BELATED HIRTHDAY TO YOU BANANABOB…Happy days ahead
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I wish I was still teaching Kindergarten. The students would LOVE BANANABob!
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Happy Birthday BANANABOB! I hope you have many years of happiness and bananas ahead of you!
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You and your owners have given so many of us a wonderful gift in this trying time. Thank you so much.
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Happy birthday. BANANABOB! We are here at the beach near NYC, in sad and terrible times, I’m sad to say. You truly gave me the first smile of the day today and even a gentle laugh. I am not sure banana skins are good for dogs, tho! Do you suffer unfortunate consequences as your system tries to digest and eliminate them? And last, my pug Baby Mo wishes to give you the hint that cheddar cheese is also very yummy, as are things left around like open tins of paw wax. If there’s a banana shortage you must get creative, BANANABOB, says Mo.
love
lizzy and Mo
PS I really like how you have discerned that domestic bananas are a training bribe from humans and different from bananas found in the wild. You’re a smart boy, Bob!
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Delightful story. I too have a dog, named Evie, a miniature Schnauzer who adores bananas. Also apples.
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I want to know when Kate is going to write the ‘Bruce and Bob’ books.
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happiest of birthdays, dear bob. surely it’s the BANANA keeps your coat so shiny and your waist so trim. especially the stinky ones.
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Thank you for this little video — zooms me back — what is it — 60 some years? Yikes!
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This brought joy to my morning before heading off to work.
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BBob, your people don’t know a good thing when they don’t smell it. Our Pippin’s most favorite wild snack is CA pocket gopher, which seems to be delectable in every incarnation- freshly dug and caught, pilfered from a trap, or found mouldering near the creek. He also struggles with “DROP IT!” when the “it” in question fits so perfectly in his mouth on the way to his crate to be stored for future use. Pippin’s people are less kind than BBob’s, because they NEVER give him any kind of gopher on any occasion. and his mother acts like both he and his beautiful gophers are disgusting if he gets caught with one. Happy birthday to you!
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Happy Birthday Bob!!! who knew that bananas are all over the West Highland Way???.. You are certainly doing your part to keep the path clean and pristine! hugs to you
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In Archie the Maltese -ShiTsu (so not a real dog, I concede) and I’m SCARED of bananas. But happy birthday anyway.
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Absolutely wonderful images! as a dog owner I know how hard it is to get good pictures of my reluctant 4 legged model.
Happy Happy Birthday Bob- wishing you endless bananas from heaven.
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Razz is NUTZ for bananas!
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Thanks for sharing BANANA BOB’s story! Our dogs, several Clumber Spaniels and a Field Spaniel, have no particular affinity for bananas that I know of but DO hoover up any and all detritus in their paths. Most recently: a glove, swallowed whole by the 4-year-old, Branson. YIKES! At least bananas go through – gloves must come back the way they came to avoid the dreaded “foreign body removal” surgery!!
Hoover on, BANANA BOB– just stick to bananas, however old! :-)
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That top photo is superb!
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Lovely..! Delightful..! I much enjoyed everything, big thanks.
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Love it! I needed that happy post and those amazing pictures.
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That was a hoot! Made me laugh out loud which is always a good thing. My Ir Wolfhound is not a fan of bananas…to slippery she says. May you find many more in the years to come. Happy Birthday!!!
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Dogs are my favorite beings and thus I thoroughly enjoyed reading BananaBob. Thank you.
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Hello, Banana Bob.
I am BowTie, of mixed breed, and I also like BANANAS but BANANAS must have PEANUT BUTTER on them, otherwise I could care less (although I also like apples, POPCORN, and strawberries). Every morning I wait for my mistress to give me a little of her BANANA and PEANUT BUTTER. I am very, very depressed when she is out of BANANAS.
xxooBowTIE
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Hi Bob – Mr. Beasley the Yorkshire Terrier here. I too enjoy bananas. I usually get one on my drive into work with my Mom. I run a yarn shop and it’s only fair that I should enjoy the fruits of my labor. I also enjoy the occasional green bean. Luckily I don’t have to forage for my bananas they are hand fed to me as I am obviously very spoiled.
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I’m GreenBean Molly (Molly Malone Costello) and my Mom Sandi is writing for me because I wanted to assure you Bob that you are not the only one with perhaps-unusual-for-dogs food preferences. Our humans just can’t understand our superior noses (and I have it from both Lab and CoonHound ancestors) ! I’m old enough to be your grandmother, but not so old that I won’t leap for a green bean or snap pea. My humans have tried all kinds of schemes to be able to grow them, but I decimate the vines as soon as the teeny tiny veggies appear. Six foot high bean towers are no match for me. So I’m sending love to you, in solidarity.
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A distant cousin (I’m convinced that all Scottish black labs are related) here in North East Scotland has similar tastes and has been know to disappear into the dunes in search of abandoned (and not abandoned) picnics in hope of finding a ‘naana.
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Happy birthday Banana Bob, I had a labrador called Bob. We used to call him Bobby Banana, a distance relative maybe..This made me laugh, thank you Banana Bob.
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Hi banana bob from portrush n. Ireland, I love a walk on the beach, it’s great as I find lots of unwanted titbits, there is also a lovely patch of peat which is yummy, the best part is going swimming and I get to shake water all over the humans 😂 also the compost in my humans flower pots is good for a quick snack, buddy my older brother steals whatever he can find , he wrecked my humans knitting bag , chewed her knit pro needles and the yarn all to get a creme egg and a few pieces terrys chocolate orange , the human was very cross and told him he would be 🤢, he wasn’t luckily enough. Bob I hope it won’t be too much longer to you get to hunt for bananas again, best wags and sniffs maisie , buddy and the human
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O no, Buddy, not the knit pros!!
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Hello, Bob! I’m Rudy the long-haired dachshund, and as a dachshund I know that All Food is Good, but am glad that your humans know to celebrate your birthday with your Favorite Food. Mine is peanut butter – have you tried that? – but my humans don’t let me have nearly enough of it. Good luck on your Favorite Trail – may you find many more BANANAS!
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Love ya BOB,
Happy Birthday and wishes for many more BANANAS !!!
From Tj the Bengal ~
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Dear BananaBob,
You have many canine kindred spirits present and past. All of my dear departed dogs have been obsessed with bananas, just like you. Our Mr. Darby was even known to counter-surf (do you know what that is Bob? it’s very fun, but your human Mom and Dad might not think so!) to find a banana and gulp it down whole, skin and all, while his parents were in another room. (Weird though, there was never any sign of it on the way out the other end, so you dogs must have some great digestive powers.) Now you must try banana with peanut butter! It’s the best! Although, I’ve heard that you Scottish dogs don’t know what peanut butter is — you’re really missing something great there. So ok, maybe bananas wrapped in bacon then — yes, you’d love that. Happy Birthday you handsome boy!
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That was great! Banana Bob made my day.
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Happy Birthday BANANABOB <3
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Hi BananaBOB, I’m BOB the cat from Oregon. I like stinky fishy food. Your birthday story made my Mom very happy today. Hope you have a fun day filled with old Bananas.
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Happy Birthday, Bob, it is I, Darla, the English Cocker Spaniel, living in Connecticut, USA. My favorite food: bananas!!! Everyone here thinks I’m crazy, but maybe my adoration of the grand banana is related to my ancestry! If my Mom is in the kitchen and even lifts a banana 1 inch out of the bowl, I’m by her side in a flash, even if I was asleep upstairs. BEST FOOD EVER! I’m glad to be a member of your club! Eat on!
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Happy birthday BANANABOB! My birthday is coming up – maybe my two legged humans might let me try one.
PIPER
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I can relate to how Bob feels as I have been home for over a month now. I think I will have that same look when I get to hug my Grandchildren!!! Happy Birthday, Bob. Wishing you many, many more birthdays and bananas!! Say hi to Bruce for me. And Foxy says hi to both of you Scottish lads from chilly Chicago!!
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BANANABOB…you have my heart! XXXOOO from Maya the Doxie
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Ha ha, reading about BananaBob had a line from an old song pop into my mind….
A beautiful bunch of ripe Bananas…..tra la
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“Daylight come, and me wan’ go home”?
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Oh, BananaBOB – you made me smile! Thank you. My companion, Risp, a border collie, believes that walks are for one thing and one thing only – foraging. And I’m not going to tell you what he forages for as it may just give you ideas.
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Thanks for the smile!
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This story made me smile on a day that seems to be full of worries. Thank you so much! I highly recommend listening to the Banana song by the Aggrolites which at least for me always puts a smile on my face.
Veronika
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Happiest of Birthdays to you, BANANABOB! I am HOLLY, and I love BANANAS too but only eat a small piece for breakfast and never the skins—yech. But I am 1/3 your size, BANANABOB, at least according to my Mom, and probably couldn’t eat an entire BANANA. But I do love a DECAYING BIRD or SMALL RODENT (I am part terrier). Have you tried them?
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Hi BOB,
you had me in stitches today, thank you for this wonderful account of your love for BANANAS. I’m looking forward every day to the latest installment of this lovely and educational blog, today was a special treat.
As I write this I have three awaiting my next breakfast; have you ever tried BANANAS with oatmeal or yoghurt of a combination of all three?
Or another beloved food of humans, the BANANA bread? Or even baked BANANA with honey? Do you like honey? Or ice cream – BANANA is also nice with ice cream. It’s maybe a bit cold still, but maybe keep it in mind?
Also thank you for teaching me a new word. I had to look up the meaning of “oomska” – let me assure you, no dog had ever looking up a word before.
You have very loving humans to present you with your very own BANANA on your birthday, allow me to wish you the best for your new trip around the sun and many more BANANAS in you future.
If I ever meet you I make sure I have a BANANA just for you in my bagpack.
Squishy yellow love,
Kerstin
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Hah! Fantastic. We read it aloud and had a good laugh. Thanks for sharing. :)
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Thank you for bringing a smile to my face first, and first thing in the morning, no less. And happy birthday, Bob! You’ve grown into a handsome young man.
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BOB has made my morning! xo
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Happy birthday to you, BANANABOB!
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Happy birthday, Banana Bob! Love your post!
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So excellent to hear from you, BANANABOB!
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BANANAS!
Bob is a BANANALICIOUS boy. Many happy (banana) returns, Bob-o.
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Oh I so so love this tale of your’s Bob. Have you any more I would love to read. them. From Kate and Tom’s friend Pauline( sorry I can’t send you a banana)
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Love him xxxx
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Muswell Hill Bob now very interested in trying Banana, will they be as good as carrot and Broccoli? Happy Birthday.
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Happy Birthday BOB! Here’s to many more banana birthdays and, hopefully, posts!
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How I’d love to meet Bruce & BananaBob!!!
Love the daily emails, can’t wait to open them every morning. Thank you for the tonic xx
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Happy birthday BananaBob!, A pleasure to meet you.
I feel a strong affinity with you as I happen to be eating the last, rather black, banana in my Lockdown Fruit Bowl this morning. But my digestive system is not as robust as yours and I leave the peel – so if you’re ever in north Wales, feel free to pop in for a snack.
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Bob – you made me smile. Thank you. I won’t tell our dog that bananas are THAT good since, being a Dalmatian, he already steals any food that he can !
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Happy birthday Bob, you sound quite the character wishing you lots of adventures and bananas!! :)
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Awwww, happy banana day, Bananabob! You have the best humans :-)
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Happy birthday Bob, may bananas continue to come your way. I had a friend called Fosdick and he really liked carrot, but only the one, which he kept by him for a long time.
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That last bit of the sentence just made me snort coffee through my nose.
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🤣🤣🤣 sadly I tried to take his carrot and got bitten for my presumption.
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Happy Birthday Bob. I was feeling very down this morning, but Bob made me smile, and I hope there are many more bananas to come for him.
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Hey BB, Silly Willy from down south here! Mum does fink I’m a daft girly but I is really sly and I gets lots of nice fings to eat too. I is a waste disposal unit really and fruit is my favourite. If mum and dad does bring us up to Scottydogland again we will has to exchange bananas 😊
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Happy Birthday Bob. Such a cool super sniffing skills, bananas are the best! 🍌
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What a fabulous post!
Happy birthday BANABABOB!
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Brilliant Banana Bob!
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I love you Bananabob and I also love bananas but not too ripe
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Ha ha, loved your story Bob😆 Just be patient … things will return to normal and you once again will relish in the delights of discarded bananas on the West Highland Way🍌
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Such bliss for Bob 💖
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Banana Bob you make my day!
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What a wonderful story! Thank you for lightening up my dull world :-)
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Happy Birthday, Bob, although a day late. How very perspicacious of Kate and Tom to know the VERY BEST present to give you.
Make it last, you may not be finding bananas for many moons yet…
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Happy Birthday!
And may many more bananas come your way:)
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