Taking the subway to Hoboken

After doing a little retail therapy in the shape of Macy's and of course my personal favourites K-Mart and Duane Reade we made out way back to the hotel to get ready for the evening.

The rain turned into a full-on storm - it was by about 6pm pouring with rain.

After riding the tube (ooop I mean the PATH) to Hoboken to meet two of our colleagues from the company in the US (Dave and Dave) we went to a bar (Texas Arizona) which was amazingly similar to any UK bar on a Friday night - had a few drinks and went onto Arthurs Steakhouse - much to everyones amazement I didnt have a steak and when they came out I was pleased I opted for a sandwich - they were HUGE!!!! But looked gorgeous!

Hoboken looked really nice and so much more small town than Manhattan - wouldnt mind exploring it a little more. From what we saw there are loads of bars, restaurants and niche shops - a little like Tiburon in that its away from the big city feel but near enough to be accessible.

After having a truly awesome evening by which time I looked as if I had a full afro - it was incredibly humid - we travelled back on the path, returned to the Hotel and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.

I'll take Manhattan

Sadly, the weather hasnt lasted so it was just as well we went to Central Park when we did as it was lovely yesterday.

We walked for what seemed like forever down to the Hudson to see the USS Intrepid which is now a museum. It's quite amazing to think this monstrosity of engineering was launched in 1943 when lets face it aircraft combat was in in infancy. It's also well preserved (unlike most UK memorials) and everything is still in tact right down to the phone's, toilets (sorry heads) and the catpatins cabin furniture and accessories. I believe this ship has seen quite a few wars including WWII and he Korean war - there's even an amazing photo of it being hit by a Kamakaze. If this was British it would have been scrapped for scrap metal years ago such is our disregard for our history and heritage. This is made even clearer with one the Britsh Airways Concorde displayed just next to the Intrepid - a great invention, a great inovation, still the only one of its kind and forgotten about in a instant in the UK - how ironic that we have to go to America (Where at first they wouldnt let the plane fly there such were their sour grapes at not having invented it) to see this wonderful feat of British engineering!

I want to wake up in a city that doesnt sleep!

...and I certainly did. I woke up in Avenue of the Americas (5th Ave) New York City just four blocks from Central Park.

After breakfast in Strabucks, we made our way to the Ed Sullivan Theatre, the home of one of my favourite American programmes, The David Letterman Show. We picked up a sandwich from the Hello Deli (also made famouse by Dave Letterman) and started walking.

We walked round the outside of the Central Park (longer tour on bikes tomorrow) had our lunch there and then went onto shop, shop, shop!!!











It's also worth pointing out as I'm a dog fanatic the diverse breeds I spotted in the park. Two Irish Wolfhounds (now of course a rarity in their native), Wheaten Terrier, Poodles, Jack Russells, a blue Shar Pei (not sure they're allowed over here), French Bulldog, Bulldog, Boxers, Yankee Spaniels as well as English Cockers - not as many pugs or chihuahua's as expected. It was quite amazing how many dogs live in such a sprawling city - the only other city I've seen with as many is Paris.

WELKS 2009 - I may not have been there in body...

What a truly amazing day, yes I was at home, enjoying the sun in the garden but while I was doing that Harvey's son was winning junior (and this qualifying for Crufts on his first visit to the UK) and Bailey's son, Pelle (also from the Netherlands) taking the Reserve CC. Plus Karen won the Gundog breeders trophy. What an amazing day for this line of Gordon Setters.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.....

......as the saying goes. After a wonderful day at the show yesterday and a very satifying return to the ring I am told today that I will probably be losing my job and being made redundant in the next few weeks.

At the moment I am extremely angry at the way I've been treated and feel a terrible loss of self worth but I understand this is normal.

You're Fired

I am still in shock - I only entered to see some old friends and have a day away from the office!

I went to Windsor Gundog just to see old friends and keep my hand in. I didnt think the judge would even look at Harvey as hers are quite big Gordons. I was wrong. Out of a class of eleven (very big for a week day open show) we came 2nd - after Harvey's half brother Barra. I was completely gobsmacked - I really had only entered the show for a day out, to come home with a prize was an added bonus plus Harvey behaved and performed like a true veteran - such a little gentleman.

...all over for another year!

...and the final groups. Working and Pastoral.

The winner as picked by the vetran judge Terry Nethercott was a very well deserved champion boxer.

CH WINUWUK LUST AT FIRST SIGH

A wonderful win for a kennel that has been around for over 50 years.

Reserve was a rottweiler owned by famous Rotty and Shiba Inu breeder Liz Dunhill CH/AM CH BRIAROAKS CHILI FANTASA


then onto that all important Best in Show....


Which went to the wonderful American Sealyham - a beautiful little dog, fit for purpose, happy, healthy and a rare breed to boot!!

Chosen by native welsh man Peter Green who now lives in the USA it seemed poignant.

What a shame that one of our native breeds isnt as popular in it's native. I used to live near a family who bred them and I just dont understand why for instance the West Highland White is so much more popular - they deserve to be more popular!

Then onto Reserve Best in Show. Mike Gadsby does it again - always the bridesmaid, never the bride - he must think that Reserve BIS is all he's ever going to do at Crufts.

Well done Mike, well turned out put down and as always with this kennel an almost perfect example of the breed!

Crufts - Gundog Group

Then came the gundog group. The only group I am truly interested in. The best group in my mind and the least exagerated with most of the breeds being biddable, happy, fit for function and fit for work - as my Harvey is!

The winner of this group was an incredibly successful hungarian vizsla SH CH/AUST CH HUNGARGUNN BEAR IT'N MIND or Yogi to his friends. Spotted by Moray Armstrong when he was judging in New Zealand and brought over shortly afterwards on lease from his owner Mrs Cragg. He is top gundog 2009 and I think 2008 - a wonderful example of the breed.

Reserve was a british bred and owned weimeraner that I dont know a lot about but none the less from a very famous kennel. Didnt really do it for me but it's not a breed I'm that up on or interested in anyway.

SH CH ANSONA GAMEKEEPER AT AARRANZ JW ShCM

best of breed for my breed was a bit of a surprise - Camlad Celtic Web owned in part by Sue Mitchell who handled her in the ring. My own personal view - not a Gordon for the big ring but a nice bitch none the less.

On a personal level, my beloved Bailey's son Pelle won the Reserve ticket and his granchildren Ebony and Barra won the best dog and bitch under three years old. I am very proud.

Toy and Utility Crufts

The second day of this wonderful show and the turn of the Toy and Utility groups.

The time a dog from Belgium (do you see a pattern here?)

QUEEN BLESS JP ROYAL CONNECTION (I just love it when foreginers give their dogs English sounding names and it doesnt make any sense!)

A wonderful little papillon - well deserved and a very unexagerated, happy little candidate from this often criticised group.







Reserve was the very famous Ch Benatone Gold Ring owned by Sarah Jackson.

Hound and Terrier Group - Crufts

The first day of Crufts which was kicked of with controversy and the usual media gutter press reporting inaccurate and misleading so called 'news'.

But this must NOT take anything away from the fit, healthy, happy dogs - you simply dont take a dog to a show if he doesnt like because he simply wont show! However good looking he or she maybe if he doesnt like the attention of the show ring he wont show - he has the last call!

Today was the turn of the terrier and hound group.

Group Winner was the superb Sealyham Terrier

AM/CAN/SU CH EFBE'S HIDALGO AT GOODSPICE - a native breed that is considered vulnerable in the UK due to its deminishing numbers, what a shame this fantastic example had to come all the way from America!

Runner up was a beautiful Scottish Terrier

AM CH ROUND TOWN MERCEDES OF MARYSCOT

Yet another of our native breeds winning from America!

Then came the hound group. The most amazing pharoah hound from Sweden INT CH NORTHGATE'S AS YOU LIKE IT

I have never seen one of these very aloof hounds look so positively animated and happy to be at the largest dog show in the world (see previous notes!!) My only complaint was that in my opinion he was a little over handled with the handlers almost hackney run and running him on a long lead like a GSD - it was sometimes difficult to take your eyes off the handler but a very worthy winner all the same.



Next came the very well known and big winning Petit Bassett Griffon Vedeen CH SOLETRADER MY APHRODISIAC - and the first british dog in the frame so far!