Goodbye and Good Riddance 2012!

Well what a year. I've had to really think about anything good that happened in 2012. Apart from the weekend in Oslo and the wonderful discovery of Palm Springs the rest of they year paled into what was possibly my worst! The depression, the loneliness, the despair of not having a job.....not having any colleagues to moan about life to, only speaking to dogs all day, relying on FB for any contact with the outside world. The total despair, the fear that you are losing your sanity! Losing your job is not just about losing the monthly income. It's about losing your confidence, losing your sense of identity, your sense of worth and pride....and not to mention (again) your sanity! Being in this 'black dog' means you dont identify hope, happiness or excitement...I have even considered giving up my beloved dog showing as its more of an ordeal instead of a pleasure as leaving the house is an ordeal....my confidence, my 'I can do anything' has disappeared completely. This year I also lost Bailey which was in a way a relief as he was very ill and his blindness meant he wasnt totally happy but he was the best dog, a wonderful character and I'll always miss him.....sadly Brodie and Harvey dont get on which culminated in yet more worry and Harvey being castrated. oh and the weather, oh the weather!! The wettest year for England on record, a total wash out, no flowers, no vegetables, no sunshine. Crops failed and I feel like I need joint replacements after trudging through mud every day with the dogs. For the country it actually wasn't a bad year with the olympics and the jubilee (again more bloody rain) a total success which I hope have highlighted Britain as a possible country of investment.

But on a personal level, awful year, lets just hope that 2013 is better....much better!!!

the final part of the holiday

....and so onto an old favourite, San Diego. On an fellow guests advice we took the scenic route from Palm Springs, across the mountains and what good advice it was too. A very quiet, mountain road trip with no other cars or people....until we hit San Diego! We stayed further up the hill this time in the Radisson Hotel. A very comfortable, friendly hotel with a fab pool on the roof and a wonderful roof top bar that did wonderful bar food. It also had a great shop in the foyer in which I bought a dress, two tops and some Navajo jewellery!

Palm Springs - day three

Yet another day spent by the pool, drinking bucks fizz, reading and chilling out. This place is so peaceful (no screaming kids and not at all crowded) that relaxing comes easily - even to me! Not sure it's as warm as yesterday but still in the high 30's.

The first full day in Palm Springs

We were told to expect old people, a city of people waiting at heavens door at the foot of a mountain in the middle of a desert - WRONG! This hotel is classy, full of young, beautiful people, including a high percentage of good looking gay boys! The atmosphere is very relaxed, the staff are friendly and very attentive, the attention to detail in the rooms and the beautiful garden/pool area makes you feel as if you have time travelled back to the times of the British Colonies and I feel as if I'm part of White Mischief as I did in Kenya. If you need to chill as I certainly did, this is the place to go - I totally love it!

.....and so onto Palm Springs

Never been here before and only came on a whim when all other places were booked. We are in this amazing little boutique hotel called the Colony Springs Hotel that was built by the notorious Purple Gang of the old mobster era of the USA. It really reminds me of a colonial hotel, a true oasis in the middle of the arrid desert - a wonderful find!

Laguna Beach

I love this seaside town, small, classy, full of wonderful little shops and eateries. We had planned to go back to JB's Pizza place but were lured by a wonderful little restaurant called i think 21 Market Street. The food and service was wonderful and I had my very first roast beef dip! It was to die for!!! Again the weather was incredibly hot for this time of year even by the coast but walking along the beach at least helped with the cooling down!

Chill Out day....

Chilled out by the pool, making the most of the heat then a bit of retail therapy!

Disneyland Day

Disneyland.....no queues, it was wonderful, straight onto the rides and in the case of the Star Wars and Matterhorn more than just the one ride!! Sadly two of our favourites were closed (the Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones) but the park was so quiet it was easy to have other rides - the only downside was the heat - it was very, very hot for this time of year! In the evening we went to Tony Romas for a civilised meal. Three mignon steaks with blue cheese and onion topping - Alan had the ribs! Totally yummy!

First day in Anaheim

It seems SoCal is having some kind of heatwave, it's far hotter than I recall at this time of year - in fact it feels hotter than when we came in June a couple of years ago! First day so need to acclimatise and find our time zone so went shopping as usual and had lunch in the Alcatraz Brewing company - an old favourite of ours! Then only some real retail therapy with the purchase of my iPad - yippee!!!! Then a couple of glasses of red wine in the Marriot before turning in......tomorrow is going to be a long day.....in Disneyland!

California here we come....again!

I dont know whether it was the fact we were travelling on 9/11 or just not a particularly popular time to travel but there were no queues whatsoever in Heathrow, we upgraded to more leg room, had a very peaceful and uneventful flight, picked the car up and checked into the Red Lion, Anaheim just in time to go to bed!

The Land of the Vikings

...and this trip was totally unexpected. Alan won a weekend to Oslo, Norway. This is my firs trip to Scandinavia and I was very much looking forward to it a swell as not knowing what was in store (I dont like the cold). I need not have worried, although it was a bit wet one day it was certainly not cold. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, the scenery is amazing......the only drawback is the price of saying there but as we won the flight and accomodation we didnt let the price of a few drinks or meals ruin our stay. I have the best prawn open sandwich I've ever tasted, I found out about brown cheese (more like caramel ice cream) had one of the best burgers I've every had along with dining in the Hard Rock Cafe one lunchtime!!! What a trip, I've totally fallen in love with this place.....

Three years ago today I picked Brodie up from his breeder in Kemerton. He was a very gangly puppy and not the most attractive boy i've ever seen but in three years he has certainly done me proud, winning many prizes and being placed at pretty much every show he's attended.....and now he's a very handsome prince! It's not been the easiest three years what with losing my job, working for a year at a complete and utter hell hole then being unemployed again - not to mention losing Bailey and Harvey and Brodie not always seeing eye to eye (probably because they are such different in character). Brodie, however is a sweet, well behaved dog with a very sound temperament - just as mad as a box of frogs!!!

GSA Championship Show

This is my favourite show. I love the location, the committee and its so good to see all my friends in a more relaxed atmosphere than Crufts!

We did pretty well and after Harvey having a good day out and coming home with a couple of rossettes I have decided to take him to a few more shows - funds willing!

A half century and still going!!

Not the best birthday in the world, firstly I'm age-o-phobe then I spend each day on my own - that includes my birthday but the plusses were the sun shone at nearly 19 degrees and the dogs behaved themselves!!

Reserve Best of Breed!

Went to a small Open show at Ardingly and was very proud to be awarded Reserve Best of Breed. The first for my boy and I hope this is the way forward. After a truly disastrous Crufts, I think I have now realised that showing Brodie is going to be a total rethink and I need to completely change the way I show him compared with all my other dogs. This realisation and todays award have made me feel a little more positive about Brodie's future.

He's not a bad dog, has a wonderful character, good temperament and good looking BUT he's very strong willed and physically strong - so back to the drawing board and today is day one of the new regime!

One year on - and no hint of change!

I have been unemployed now for a year. Not since I left school have I been unemployed for this long. It's very depressing, soul destroying and confidence shaking....

Crufts 2012

Personally for me, the worst Crufts I have ever been to as I felt ill, nearly passed out in the ring and subsequently Brodie took the right royal piss out of me in my weakened state!!

It was also a Crufts that will always be remembered as the KC bowing to the AR groups and putting un-informed vets in place to check for fitness which they totally misconstrued and as such eight breeds were not allowed to go through to the group ring!!

...and just to add insult to an otherwise crap day, the Steward had her handbag stolen from under the judges table.....

I'm not even sure I want to qualify for next years show....

BIS was a very sweet Lhasa bred, handled and owned by Margaret Anderson - well done!

ding ding - round three!

boys will be boys as they say and tonight I got caught in the crossfire of two entire male dogs taking a pop at each other! I ended up in A&E with a bite all the way through my hand. The physical scars will heal but I'm not sure about the mental scars.......ARGH!!!! 2012 really isnt going to be my year....along with 2010 and 2009!

I must remember this day - the day that justice was done!

Today I find out that the nemesistic, woman hating, control freak of a boss who has made my life hell for the last four years and made me redundant to prove he was great has now been fired!!

What goes around comes around......and you can fool some of the people some of the time come to mind but most of all he is at last feeling some of the pain that I have had to put up with for the last few years!

I think I need a drink!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

One of the best books I've read in years about one of my favourite subjects - segregation in the US in the 60's!

Time to say goodbye - to Bailey!

A very sad day at Billingham. Today I said goodbye to Bailey, father and grandfather of champions as well as a true gentleman in every way. I dont want to remember him in his final days as he wasnt well, I want to remember him as the proud, handsome, calm Gordon Setter.....RIP Bailey, I will never forget you....

Good Riddance to 2011 - bring on the New Year 2012!

So that's the end of 2011 and I cant say it's been the best in fact trying to think of anything positive or good is.....well, a challenge!!

THE BAD
It was the year that I finished a contract at the College of Losers whilst nearly having a nervous breakdown.
I have been unemployed since March, doing something that made me feel as low as a snakes belly - signing on!
I turned over my ankle in April and could hardly walk until October
Four interviews - four rejections!
the country's economy just worsened

THE GOOD......hmmmm, I'll have to think about that!