Harvey's Children are Growing up!

Latest photo's of Harvey's babes. They are now four months old. Beejay, although larger, is looking so much like his dad!















......and this beautiful young lady is Summer who is the great hope for greatness both in the ring and the field here in the UK.

owned by Tracy Byford

Climate Change is just Cuckoo!

It was a beautiful day with temperatures reaching the mid 20's all day - although not especially sunny. The mud season is at last (hopefully) over.

This evening while pottering around my garden I heard the familiar summer sound of the Cuckoo. It was really near. Probably in the field out the back of the garden. This has got to positively be the latest I have ever heard this creature whilst living in this village. Does this have anything to do with climate change?

Bank Holiday Monday - what a wonderful day!

Today is one of those days I simply dont want to end. It was a bank holiday , it was sunny, I spent the whole day outside - in the sunshine. It was pouring down last night so the field still isnt dry but by the time we got up (very late due to a power cut) it was bright and sunny.

I did some more of the gravel path and it was very hard work and very hot - every bone in my body is now aching but it's worth it.

I stayed outside drinking a glass of wine and reading a book until it wasnt light enough to see.......a wonderful day, a wonderful weekend. What a shame I have to go back to the office tomorrow!

I am completely fed up with this weather!

I have now been trudging through mud with two dogs and a cat for six whole bloody months! That's half a bloody year! The dogs coats have been completely ruined due to the continual onslaught of water and mud thus breaking the folicles and breaking the hair off they they are coated dogs with hardly any feathering! My legs and back are killing me from trying to trudge through deep mud in wellies - which lets be honest were never made to support your arches! I AM FED UP WITH IT - WHERE THE F**K is SPRING!!!

Global Warning huh?

So two days ago it was the hottest day of the year. This morning we woke up to this! No more words are needed!









Is this the Beast of Wood Street? Nope, it's Daisy the Maine Coon!

...and so the pups go to their new homes

I love the internet! I have received today two emails from the Netherlands from two different families with pictures of one my my pups who moved out there last week. The puppy that I fell in love with (Brooklyn - now re-named Beejay) is living with his new owner Meta and Jan and the good news is that he will be shown on the continent and they love him! I believe a lovely looking bitch has also gone to the Netherlands. How exciting!

Tracy has taken home her Summer, another dog has gone to it's new home not that far away from Tilly and I think this just leaves Elijah Blue and Apple Dumpling to find a home but with her charm and his looks and personality neither of them will have to wait long before they find their new homes.

Harvey's Puppies

Today was an amazing roller coaster of a day as far as emotions are concerned. Today I went to see Harvey's litter of seven puppies. I was stunned! I wasnt ready to be impressed or least of all fall in love with one of them (I am very judgemental when it comes to my breed whether they are mine or not). Obviously all puppies are cute and cuddly but are they ready to carry on the history of this wonderful breed? Well, today I have to say that Harvey's are very worthy, I just hope that a few of them are shown. One bitch is going to a friend of Tillys (the owner of the bitch) to be shown and worked and at least one is going to the Netherlands to be shown which is great news. The downside and the sad thing is that I cant have one. I simply cant cope with three setters any more and Alan also wont budge. I fell in love with one of the pups called Brooklyn (they are all named after famous people's children) and feel very sad to leave him but on the other hand very proud that Harvey has produced such a lovely pup and indeed litter!

....the downside of today. My father is in hospital after suffering a heart attack - an emotional roller coaster of a day - I am now exhausted!

Terry Thorn - the end of an era....

It's with great sadness and a sense of shock , I blog that Terry Thorn has announced via the Kennel Club that he has retired from dog show judging due to continuous ill health - although I believe he is currently in remission. Terry is currently an enigma in the UK dog showing scene by being the only judge passed to judge all breeds in the UK where CC's are on offer (I think it's currently 96 breeds) . Incredibly Terry started judging in 1963 so I only imgine that this must have been an incredibly difficult decision. He has also retired as Crufts Chairman handing the mantel over to Eric Smethhurst.

A very familiar face around the championship dog scene, I dont think there can be one show in the perrenial dog scene that he doesnt attend judging at least one breed (usually many more) and usually acompanied by his wife Zena (Thorn-Andrews) who also judges as well as breeds the very successful Drakesleat Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds.

His retirement will certainly be a great loss to the dog showing scene and although I've never had that much success under him and not always agreed with his judging of Gordon Setters, he will certainly be missed around the ring - although I'm sure illness will not stop him visiting his favourite shows to meet up with friends. Fingers crossed for you Terry.

The Anniversary of.....

The death of King George VI (1952), The Manchester United Air Disaster (1958) and the fourth anniversary of the death of my first Gordon Setter, Annie. Born exactly ten years to the day of my very first setter, Annie was my first Gordon. Not an easy dog in any way, also not the healthiest dog in the world (she broke her back leg at 14 weeks!) but certainly one of the most loving. Even three Gordons later I still think of Annie a lot, she taught me so much about the breed and about showing - her best was a 2nd at Crufts in one of the largest classes I've ever been in - but most of all made me fall in love with my favourite breed and nearly twenty years later still have no inkling to change breeds.

Annie was Hernwood Elegant Ophelia of Billingham (22/10/89 - 06/02/04)

I never win anything, me!

I have won something, yes me who never wins anything! I have won a copy of the Kennel Clubs Illustrated breeds (basically a bible for dog judging and showing) worth #35! It was a prize for sending an entry about my self to the Kennel Clubs Affiliate site - talking about me and my dogs - easy!

Looking through it today I realise how things have changed, for instance there are now more groups as the pastoral and working have been split, there is also now a Russian Black Terrier, a Cesky Terrier, an Eskimo Dog, a Greenland Dog!!