It's official, the wettest winter on record and I suspect the coldest April for a very long time!

This has been the worst winter I have every experienced and the facts prove this, its been the wettest winter, some of the coldest months on record....even now its nearly the end of April and we're not put of the woods despite the sunny day we've had today........no bluebells out, no cuckoo, butterflies hatching but nothing to feast on.......its been awful....and I dont see a good show season for Brodie, the lack of sunlight and the months and months of mud means his coat is just not up to championship show quality - just as he was beginning to look mature!

Employed again after exactly two years!

Today I started my new job at the University of Surrey, Guildford. I can hardly believe my luck, not only is it local enough for me to see my beloved dogs every lunchtime, the people are lovely, the place is nice BUT I now dont work on Friday - something I could have only dreamed of!

Post Crufts Fatigue!

It's hard being an international superstar!!!! He charmed the many and frustrated a lot with his loud mouth but I took the best dog home, he is the sweetest Gordon!

Crufts 2013 - Judge Steve Rhodes - class Mid Limit

My Beloved Brodie, mad as a box of frogs and not the easiest dog to show but very proud of him today at what is the largest dog show in the world! A very respectable fourth in his first Mid Limit class - I think he would have done better if the carpet hadn't been so slippy as he looked over stretched! 

A very hard day, a lot of stress, I'm very tired but so wonderful to see all my overseas friends as well as the usual suspects that I see most weekends in the show season and the general public who I think Brodie did a wonderful PR job with!

Crufts Entered!!

I know my nerves are not going to thank me for this but I've entered Brodie in the biggest dog show on earth ......Crufts!!! Fingers crossed it dries up before March!!

A promise of snow?

After a promise of snow for the last week I'm afraid it was business as usual and more mud and wet, filthy dogs. THis winter has really taken it out of me, all my joints ache as well as my shoulders and back. Trudging through mud for the whole of the winter with no frosty respite, washing my dogs every week and the lack of sunshine has made this winter one of the worst I can recall! The sun actually shone today but no snow, just quite chilly....

Going out on a Saturday Night - wahoo!

This is the first Saturday night out I've had in literally years! Had a wonderful even ing out in Fareham with Alan's mates. Good setting, nice people, good time!

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!