New York/Hudson River airbus crash

The stories of courage, bravery and shear luck are all coming out now, how cold the water was, how the captain walked back into the fusilage three times to make sure everyone was off the plane, how a father and son were seperated and both suspecting the worse - what an uplifting story, what a story of hope, what an amazing pilot and crew not to mention the tug pilots, police divers and captains of the many ferries who went to the rescue of the stricken plane.

Hudson River Miracle

Today was a day to stand back and wonder if miracles are just a flook or the intervetion from powers unknown to us. Today marked the incredible scene of an Airbus plane with 155 people on board ditch in the Hudson River (just off Battery Park) and all passengers and crew survive - yes an incredible feat of flying by the pilot Chesley 'Sully' Sullenburger but also one of those miracles you simply never forget!

Harvey's Puppies....are no longer puppies today!

Today marks the first birthday of Harvey's first litter all named after famous people's children.

As always with any litter of pups there has been happiness and heartache.

Chartan Brooklyn (Beejay) who is being successfully exhibited in the Netherlands is possibly the star of this litter and the one I spotted instantly as the best of the litter - I will always regret letting this one go.

Chartan Elijah Blue and Chartan Summer are being shown in they UK and both have qualified for Crufts 2009 which makes me feel very proud.

Harvey's Fourth Birthday

My beloved Harvey is four years old today. Where have all those years gone? I still think of him as a puppy - he is such a clown!


Happy birthday Harvey, lets hope there are many more....

The end of an era! RIP Woolies

Today marked the end of an era, an institution so deeply engrained in our culture that it's going to be weird without it - Woolworths closed all its shops today, one of the many victims of the credit crunch.

My first memories of 'Woolies' is of seeing my first black man coming out of the Kingston-upon-Thames branch (I'd previously lived in a tiny village in Sussex). Early memories include my mother having an embarassing accident in the very same store (she wouldnt thank me for publishing this incident on the internet), oh and so did my very young sister (again she wouldnt thank me.....) Pick'n'Mix every Christmas, cheap Ladybird clothes, always there for a bargain.

Other memories include the Woolies cafe in Guildford. A place where I started to grow up, become more independent - we used to have a coke, coffee or a cake in the cafe in Guildford before catching the bus to our respective homes.

Although American in it's origin (I've had a Starby's at the bottom of the wonderful Woolworth building in New York) it was truly a British institution, RIP Woolies!

Gordon Setters........

Yes, I am obsessed with them, yes I love them and I realised just the other day whilst in the field on my own with not a soul in sight - apart from my dogs that this is where I am truly happiest!

When I first took a liking to the breed over 20 years ago I was told on many occasions that I would never own more than one as their pack instinct can make them temperamental and prone to fighting. Well, yes they are very pack orientated and yes I've had more than my fair share of fights (mostly between bitches not dogs) but I honestly think that keeping the peace with a breed that is pack orientated is easier than those that dont really care about hierarchy (like the Irish Setter). As long as you do your study of how a pack works (Cesar Milan is a genius in this field) and stick to the 'rules' you will very rarely have any problems.

Just to prove my point, here is a lovely photo of just how well my current boys get on but lets not get too gooey and sentimental about this.....note that Bailey, the patriarch, has his head on his subordinate's body :)

Could this be love?

Today I became the proud owner of a much wanted iPhone - and I am in love. It's easy to use, it has everything you could want on it and it's iconic - call me a material girl if you like but this is the best thing I've bought myself in ages - well since the Tag Heuer watch I suppose LOL!!

I know have a short list of most important things I own (although 'own' isnt really a word you should use with dogs so maybe it should be share my life with). My iPhone, my MacBook, my Tag watch and of course most importantly my Gordons!!

F-!8 Bomber Crashes in Miramar, San Diego

This kind of disaster happens every day so why is this event entered on my blog? Well, the reason is that I know this area incredibly well. I know Miramar and I've been to San Diego many times and love the place. Since the accident I have found out that the fated jet came from the Aircraft Carrier the Abraham Lincoln which I've seen in the port of San Diego.

There are a lot of photos going around the news sites with snaps and videos of the jet engine and the devastation caused by the plane but for some reason these to me are the most poignant pictures. Firstly, the photo of the pilot who had to eject and parachute down to a nearby field. How ironic he was worried about whether or not he'd killed anyone when he is indeed trained to kill - albeit the enemy!!! The public reported him wandering around aimlessly looking dazed and confused. This probably isnt how he saw his military career panning out!

The second photo, for anyone who knows me will know it's an obsession- the men in wellies, the firefighters - the hero's whenever something like this happens.


Sadly, so far there have been three deaths reported which is very sad but considering that this is a built up area it was a miracle that no-one else perished in this terrible accident.

It's freezing outside - but toastie inside!

Today we had our long awaited log burning stove fitted in the 'dogs room'. We've long debated whether we should buy one so when we both received a bonus from work we decided to put the money towards this. It has not disappointed. Just a few logs later - the whole house is warm and cosey despite the fact that this is an old and draughty house!!!

We can now stick our fingers up at the greedy power companies and it's going to be fun searching for wood at weekends.

On a completely different note, Woolworths called in the receivers today - the end of an era - the end of pick'n'mix!

I am so proud of Harvey - he really IS a gundog!

I went to gundog training at Druids Lodge next to Stonehenge. I havent been there for a couple of years and after the summer of hell I've had with Harvey and his health I wasnt sure he'd remember it all as we havent trained for months. I need not have worried. Harvey truly is a setter, a true gundog. He has all the natural instincts of any working dog - I simply dont have the time of experience to make him into a trailing dog.

Firstly for a November day the weather was quite amazing. It was around 15 degrees and dry until the last part of the day when there was a shower. Even the wind was just right for setter training.

We set off into one of the fields in this vast estate and all had a few goes at running our dogs. There were so many hare and a few people lost their dogs over the hills by chasing the said hare - boy can those creatures cover the ground!!! Harvey on the other hand put up a hare but only pointed - he did not chase it (oh did I feel smug).

We then had a few more runs in different fields and this time a hare jumped right out in front of Harvey. He ran after it (I defy even the best gundog not to) but after me just calling him twice he came back I felt even more smug). What a good boy!!

Just to put the icing on the cake we had some caged partridges to see how our dogs pointed when they scented birds. Unfortunately by this time it was raining and the wind was non-existent so even for the best setter it was hard to hook onto the scent. Harvey's turn came and we were quite a way away from the cage when I said 'steady' to him (this is the word I've taught him if I see the bird before he scents it) and low and behold he set like a rock - hooked onto the scent and was as steady as a rock!

I'm back home now and looking at Harvey, exhuasted but happy (he LOVES training) and thinking that after today I am even more proud of him and love him even more.


This photo shows my Bailey, Bailey's grandson Harvey and Harvey's son Wooster.