as we were leaving the states charlie had apparently rung ahead and arranged for one of the new team , who were already in country , acclimatizing ( sunbathing ) , to go and collect them from the kennels , and they had phenomenal memories ; it was all the new minders could do to keep them off me , and once they had quietened down slightly charlie took them off for a long walk , to tire them out , whilst i was given the full cooks tour .