Flying Time

It's so long since I last posted, I can't really remember what we've been up to.

We didn't go away in April because Murphy wasn't very well.  He has been very wobbly on his back legs for some time now but has started having weekly hydrotherapy sessions which seem to be helping him - after we taught him to swim that is.  Who would have thought a 14 year old Spaniel wouldn't know how to swim?  It was only after the first session when Mum started thinking that she probably hasn't ever seen him swim, but just assumed he could.  He has always been a bit 'shy' of cold water.

The pool at Dip Your Paws is nice and warm, or so I have been told. Next week I will get a chance to see for myself as Mum is arranging for me to have some swimming time too, but purely for fun and she says to hep keep my weight down.

Mum has been busy riding Mena 3 or 4 times a week.  This week she went on her first summer amble ride with a local group and some of the girls from the yard.  She really enjoyed it, but not as much as Mena who apparently got quite excited about the whole thing and thoroughly enjoyed herself!

Plans are afoot to enter her into a couple of local showing classes (Mena that is, not Mum) to see how she gets on.  We have been told she will need to be 'bathed to within an inch of her life' before they go anywhere.  Poor Mum, every time she tries to get her clean she goes out into the field and rolls in anything she can find.  She needs one of those onesie things that show dogs wear before Crufts, but good luck getting it on her!

We are heading away this weekend on the trip that was cancelled in April.  It is our first weekend away of the year and I am looking forward to it.  Hopefully the sun will shine for us and we can have a couple of lazy days after a very busy few weeks.

Preparations

So after a very lazy three days of the Easter weekend, today the hoomans decided to get busy.

We are heading off for our first trip away next weekend, so firstly the caravan came home and then out came the new awning!!

Dad decided he wanted to 'have a go' at putting it up at home rather than on site for the first time.  It's one of those inflatable ones - so perhaps the real test would be could they get it back into its carry bag.

Firstly unpack.  Mum did suggest taking a photo of it before unrolling but was a few minutes too late with that

The they used a hand pump to inflate it (there is an electric one but they didn't have a connector handy ...I guess they will next weekend!)

Only partly inflated, but it works.

So with the big question still hanging out there, Dad hit the deflate button and ...Yeah it went back into the bag!!

Birthdays everywhere

This is the time of year when we have 2 hooman and 3 dog birthdays all within a couple of weeks at the end of March/beginning of April.  This year, the dog tally roser to 4 with the arrival of Amber who turned one on 18th March.

Our regular birthday beach day was duly arranged and we headed off yesterday to our regular haunt for a very bracing walk and paddle.  Before we set off, and whilst we were clean and tidy, Dad took the required photos and I have to say, I think we all did very well to sit quietly for him.

Me

Fergus

Murphy

Amber and Inca

Inca, Dery, Fergus, Lola

Lola

Me and Murphy

Dad's Big Birthday!

Last weekend was a major birthday for Dad.  We had a big family get together which included some members of the family from Ireland I had never met before.  I was a bit nervous at first, but was fine after i got used to them and even allowed myself to be taken for a walk.

The hoomans all went out for a slap up lunch and then came back to our house for cake.

We tried it of course and can happily it was good!

We got a special present for Dad - a portrait of Murphy which was done by a lovely lady called Clare who was recommended to Mum.  The photo below is what the portrait was based on.  We are all so pleased with the result, it is our Murphy exactly.

Fergus goes to Crufts

Wow!  Not many chaps can say they make their showing debut at Crufts and at the age of 10!  He was able to go because last year he won a Kennel Club Working Test and so had a certificate to collect.  The next thing he knew ..he was entered for two classes!

Nothing seems to bother Fergus, so off he went on Friday with Aunty Debbie, and my Mum as helper, to firstly stay overnight at a very luxurious hotel - okay so it was the Travelodge at the motorway services at Tamworth - and then on to the NEC very early on Saturday morning.

They were settled in on their bench well before 8am.

Aunty Debbie was saved from having to go into the ring with him as Tina offered to do it - actually it may have been a condition  of turning up, I'm not sure.  The first class was the Special Working Gundog in the Welshie breed ring. Off went entrant number 15907 to struct his stuff

He came third and received a very nice yellow certificate and rosette

The other class he was entered in was a Gamekeeper's Class for Working Gundogs and especially anything that isn't an ESS.  

The clever chap was shortlisted and received a Very Highly Commended award - a purple rosette and certificate this time.

Well done Fergus!!!