California here I come!

We had a very comfortable flight into LAX. Staying at the Red Lion in Anaheim as its now called - a hotel I've been frequenting since 1996!!!

The decor's changed, the beds are far more comfortable and the outside looks completely different - the downside is Pickfords Bar is no more.......there is a bar by the pool but absolutely no atmosphere and very small....we may have to find another 'local'!

A very hot day at Southern Counties!

I had a wonderful day at Newbury. Not only did Brodie behave himself (ish), he sat patiently on the bench without howling but most importantly he showed like a pro - he was a complete and utter pleasure to show! We came 2nd in junior and 3rd in yearling - not bad when you consider the others were days off 18 months and he is only 12 months old.

Bath Champ Show - Aptly named for a show that is always WET!!

Brodie's third Championship show and the weather was awful! So I decided to just go along, do my bit and come home. Brodie came a very respectable 2nd after the very famous Lourdace Navigator (who is not only 6 months older than Brodie but won his JW today) but far more for me than that was that he was actually a pleasure to show and stood very well but even better he moved with all four legs on the ground for most of the time!! This was the true victory for me - I am now beginning to think I have a winner here....but definitely a late developer!!!

The end of the Hell Raiser/Easy Rider!

Today saw the death of the original Hell Raiser and all round nasty bastard Dennis Hopper - even in his last few months he was trying to sue for divorce and make people's lives miserable. He was definitely NOT a nice person but boy did he make some superb films, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Rumble Fish, Blue Velvet, Red Rock West and True Romance to name but a few....RIP Dennis, lets hope there is a place for hell raisers like you!

Believe the Hype - this book is GOOD!

I am very stubborn when it comes to reading hyped up books. I like to believe I dont follow the masses. You'd think I would have learnt by now! I didnt read the Lovely Bones until about two years after the hype - second best book I've read. Didnt read the Time Travellers Wife for years....ditto and most of all didn't believe the hype of my all time fave book the Secret History by Donna Tartt. So should it have been any surprise to me when the much hyped first Millenium book - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was an absolutely fantastic book??? It was just so good, I've read many books in this genre and for the most part enjoyed them but this is in a league of it's own. I honestly thought that the hype was due to the authors early demise but no, believe the hype this book is going on my fave list - bring on the next two. What a shame there will be no more - unless someone else wants to take up where Stiegs left off?

Brodie's First Championship Critique

Really pleased with Brodie's first championship show - the GSA show at Stoneleigh. The judge was a straight talking, no nonsense Cynthia Griffiths so this means even more as it's so complimentary - I even got a 'well presented' when he wasn't exactly the best behaved puppy there :)

1 Glaysher's Kilnrae Kemerton Crusader Of Billingham; very pleasing youngster, well grown, balanced head, good expression, good depth of brisket, well presented, moved soundly. 2 Smith's Bryerdale Mighty Murphy Of Boswedden, I really liked this one, good outline, well bodied & well balanced. Nice brisket and couplings. He would not settle on the move which was his downfall. 3 Atwell's Kilnrae Kemerton First Lord.

It was a wonderful day, a day that I started out wondering why I was bothering and came home with a dog I honestly believed in......I can now carry on with confidence!

Hotter than July!

It literally was....It must have been 19degrees - it was gorgeous and that was all weekend. Saturday we had a wonderful lunch down the Olde Ship Inn opposite my office and had a superb pizza and pint - outside in the sun. Then came Sunday......oh god what a superb day, my face is glowing with the heat from the sun. I've planted a hedge, mowed the lawns for the first time this year, pricked out and planted just about every plant imaginable and all that with looking after three Gordon Setters!

Talking of which, Brodie is now eleven months - I cant believe that in a matter of days he will no longer be a puppy - its not like he acts like an adult but there again I cant think of a gordon who does.

....and the day didnt end there...

I hoofed down the M40 and M25 (please God let there be no speeding tickets) as I had to be in Southampton by 8pm to see our friends Pete and Jules play a gig in their band. I got up at 6am, was in Coventry at 08:30, back to Guildford at 5pm and onto S'ton by 8pm - what a life I lead - I was in a coma by the time I got home at 1am the next morning!!!

The best weekend I've had in ages!!

Brodie's first championship show and I go in at the deep end - the Association Champ show. I was worried about his litter brother who was pick of litter and Jean's AI litter who I knew would look more mature than my boy - I need not have worried, we won yes won, puppy dog, thats even a better start than Harvey had to his show career - I'm absolutely made up, proud and wondering if my luck has changed?

I have now qualified Brodie for Crufts on his first outing and his name will now adorn this wonderful trophy!

Work......three weeks on

I have now been working at the college for two weeks, tomorrow will be the start of the third week and to say I'm dreading it is an understatement. Am I ever going to enjoy working there? Will I ever not have this feeling of dread every evening, why do I want to pack it all in every day - who knows!

I try to analyse what is it but I cant put a finger on it. The people are perfectly nice, the office is a little old fashioned and paper orientated but nothing too drastic. superb location etc so what's the problem? I dont know maybe I am still so resentful about the way I was treated at my previous place and secretly wish I still worked there however dire it is now.....who knows, all I do know is that I wish this black cloud would disappear and the sun shine again :)