Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Yes it snowed in the South of England and yes the South of England came to a grinding halt but who cares - I loved it, Alan loved it and Harvey was in doggy heaven! We had at least 2.5 inches - wahoooo!! This is the most snow we've had in years.



On the moggy front, the dogs are getting far better with Denby, he has slapped Harvey round the face a couple of times but he is such a sweetie he just backs off. Bailey on the other hand is being his usual macho self but so far so good and hasnt taken a pop at Denby and in fact is being quite a gent. We're nearly there, nearly a happy family again but it's quite tiring and a bit stressful but we'll get there with a little hard work and patience.

Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken, lay a little egg for me!

After nearly a week of Marigold laying wonderful eggs we have now had almost a week of shell-less or soft shelled eggs. Their mash is for layers and I'm adding oyster shells to their feed so not sure what's going wrong unless it's just that she is young and the weather has suddenly turned cold - have to see what happens in the next few days and maybe contact the Eglu forum for help.

Denby and the dogs are getting better and better by the day. I'm sure by the end of the week we'll all be good friends. Daisy, however is still doing her prima donna bit and pretending that he doesnt exist!

A Lot Can Happen in 24 Hours - Welcome to Billingham Denby!

A lot can happen in 24 hours!! I woke up this morning at 8am to the sound of the phone ringing - my head was sore from drinking a few too many glasses of red wine....anyway, the phone call was the vet!! The people who said they'd come and look at the stray cat didnt even bother coming to see if it was theirs so the veterinary nurse, Zoe decided that enough was enough and I could have him. Hopefully she can spot a good, honest animal lover when she spots one!

Alan went to a gaming exhibition in London with his mates so this left me to pick up the stray cat. I've named him Denby after the vets practice that took him in plus there is a very famous vineyard round the corner called Denbies - so it seemed only right.

He resembles a British Shorthaired. Very cobby, very large round face. He is like a British blue in colour with ginger tabby points - and because he's only just been neutered he has a very jowelly face and is incredibl y handsome. But the real attraction is his temperament - he is so affectionate and cuddly.

It's going to be a bit of a journey until we are one happy family again - I was convinced her ladyship (Daisy) would pack her bags and leave home but no, she did her usual act if something upsets her - ignore it for long enough and it will go away!!

Harvey and Bailey are a little more difficult because of their pack instincts, heirarchy and their size so they are kept in check whenever he's out of his crate. It wont take long, just a bit time consuming and stressful but fingers crossed we will all love each other in a week or so's time.

Disappointment is my Second Name!

What a weird 24 hours its been! Last night my friend and neighbour and fellow animal lover Michele (Muff) contacted me saying that she had been to the vets and that a cat had been handed in as a stray and she had fallen for him big time. Her hubby says no more pets so asked me if I knew of anyone who would like to give this gorgeous cat a home. I said that I had actually been thinking of having another cat - a moggy even to join my snooty prima donna Daisy.

So, I called the surgery first thing. They said the cat was still available so I had a half day, steamed over to this surgery with all my crudentials only to be told that a few minutes before I arrived a call had come through to say could they come down and see this cat as it may be theirs. So I had to wait, but I had no call so it's absolutely brilliant news for this lovely cat if he's found his real owner but I feel gutted - it was love at first sight :(

My first egg!!!

Well, today was a special day. Marigold presented me with my first ever egg! I cant believe how exciting this can be! Alan had it for breakfast as a boiled egg and he said it was the best egg he'd had in years!

(more) Stormy Weather!

Well, I'm signed off sick this week and could I have been signed off and confined to barracks on a worse week? If the virus doesnt get me, cabin fever will! The weather has been truly appalling and today it peaked. The gales have so far taken nine live in the UK and I'm sure this wont be the total number. There were gusts up to 99mph, trees down - the willow at the end of our road came down - a wall fell over on a little boy and killed him, the MD of Brum Int Airport was killed on his way to work as a branch from a fallen tree was rammed through his windscreen, Godalming had their power out nearly all day, Southsea was virtually under water, people in London had to cling onto buildings as they tried to stay upright, lorries fell over en masse on the M25 and Scotland had their first real snow fall of the year - quite a day!

My day consisted of trying to walk the dogs on the ranges and not being able to even walk against the wind. There was surface water everywhere (which Harvey loves!) and after about 15 mins I gave up and turned round - it was too scarey, I could hear the trees creaking and bending around me.

I feel so sorry for my chicken, they just dont like the wet and although they have shelter and a nice warm hut it still doesnt stop their feet getting wet which they hate. They seem pretty happy though especially if I take them a load of greens, corn and nuts down there!

I am at last begining to feel human again but this is coming up to week three, its taken such a long time, I honestly cant remember feeling this ill for a long, long time.

Bend it Like Beckham!

Well, what an announcement - David Beckham is to join the Los Angeles Galaxy Soccer team (actually better known for the Galaxy Womens team hmmmm). So Beckham has made his transistion to Hollywood without being an actor - well done him I say. I think he'll love the life in California.

The Galaxy play at the Home Depot Center, just outside Carson so the next time we're in LA we may try to buy tickets to see how America does footie - providing they do the same deals as they do in baseball ie buy tickets from season holders directly (unlike the ridiculous Football season ticket debacle over here!) - I have never been to a football match ever but I can honestly say that if the US put the same fun, family atmosphere (as well as beer!) around soccer as they do in baseball it will certiainly be a fun day out and you never know The Galaxy could become my team the same as the Mighty Ducks and the Angels of Anaheim!

Stormy Weather!

Not only do I have just about the worst case of flu possible but the weather is incredibly bad! I dont think it's stopped raining apart from the odd day for over a month now and last night was just about as bad as it can get. There were storms all over the country, gale force winds, trees coming down on cars, walls blown over, bridges closed - is this global warming? I dont know. I sometimes think we are a little arrogant as a species that we as humans can actually change the earths climate - could it not just be a phase like the ice age. Is this not just a natural phenomenon? I dont know but what I do know is that if I turn the TV off stand by or walk to the paper shop once a week instead of taking my car this is going to have absolutely no affect when the Chinese are opening ten coal fired power stations every week - just aint gonna make a difference! Why have a go at the Americans who just by the size of their country HAVE to travel miles each day when it's the evolving new rich world that is really killing this planet - but there again who's going to say a word when all we want these days are cheap products huh? Quite a moral dilemma!

I opened the door and influenza!

After not feeling too bad for the last couple of days the virus has hit like a lump hammer! As the evening went on I felt worse and worse. Aching limbs, headache worse that a richter scale hang over - fever! You name it....I suppose I shouldnt have gone back to work so soon but as I work for an unsympathetic despot of a boss (did I mention he didnt even wish me a Happy Christmas let alone Happy New Year) I felt obliged to crawl into work on Monday and now I pay the cosequences!

Just to make me feel even lower I found out today that Zephyr (on the right Sh Ch Kilnrae Zephyr JW) Harvey's mum and Bailey's daughter, is expecting a litter of seven on the 15th February and the sire is probably one of the most prolific males we've had in the breed since Lourdace Mineer of Liric. I would do anything to be able to have one so that I can show a dog this year but I know Alan will walk if I have a third dog - so now I have a summer of no dog shows and after nearly 30 years that is still very difficuly to deal with. I will however go to Crufts - I have qualified as it's more of a show case for our breed than a competition. There's no way I'll come anywhere but hey! I've qualified and this may be the last time for a while.

Just had the first schedule of the season through the post (WELKS) but it's a judge who has said that she doesnt rate Harvey - he is too small, it's time to pull him out of competition. What a shame, such a promising puppy. I am gutted.

Happy Birthday Harvey!

Well, it's hard to believe that Harvey is two years old today. I can still remember vividly the night that Karen (the breeder) sent me text msgs throughout the evening as the pups arrived - a litter of seven - all males apart from one which was good as it meant I had a good choice from five (I had second choice). I went to see the litter at three weeks old and then at five to choose the one I wanted. It took hours, they were all so nice and all so uniform but this one kept coming back to me, handsome, outgoing, a superb physique and the charm of Leslie Phillips (which he still has when he wants his own way!!) I like to think that Harvey chose me.

I can honestly say that in nearly 30 years of owning Setters, Harvey is the most biddable, trainable, loveable and laid back of any of them. He is a darling - that's not taking anything away from Bailey, he is also a wonderful dog but as he only came to live with me as a four year old (although I'd known him since the day he was born) so I didnt have to go through all the trials and tribulations of a puppy which although at times can leave you pulling your hair out, it also bonds you with that particular dog.

So here's to you Harvey (Kilnrae French Toast of Billingham) happy second birthday and hopefully there will be many, many more - my little soulmate!

...oh, and also happy second birthday to siblings Brie, Wallace, Alfie, Flynn, Louis and Skip who lives in the Netherlands. A wonderful litter!