Well where do I start? I guess with a valuable lesson learned, if you go with too many expectations, then be prepared for the emotional roller coaster that comes with the disappointment.
Jackie was late, OMG .. now that's one for the record, Jackie is NEVER late. I guess it was nearer 2pm on Friday when we left than the planned 1- 1.30pm. The journey was OK other than what was to be expected on a Friday on the M6, we followed the route we've done before, A55, M56, M6, M42, M40, A404. The heat pad on my bum really helped, and I drove to Warwick services on the M40 without a break. Having stopped there before, I knew it was 70 something miles then to Anne Marie's beautiful home.
On arrival we were given the usual lovely welcome and Jackie got her stuff into the caravan and I got my stuff into my little cottage. It was already dark when Sarah and family arrived, the hilarity of 5 women, 2 pissed men and a 9-year-old supervisor setting up of a large 6-man tent in the dark was something to be experienced, but bloody hell we did it, before all retreating to our corners of the huge garden.
Not wanting Orin to go exploring again in the dark, I asked Jackie to hold his lead whilst I got Beti out. Big mistake, unable to hang on to him and her crocs slipping in the grass the next thing I knew Orin was up my back and I heard a ripping sound. So yeah a huge hole in a reasonably new jacket. Why does he do it? Why did Dexi, Louis, Mikey do it? Why do my males have to grab me like this? (Though Louis was easily the worst!)
Beti and Orin don't run together at home and they were a little silly together, so for the first night I
crated Orin, I put the crate in front of the door which I'd pulled closed. (In July we slept with it open) Orin settled and she bounced around on my head before eventually settling. I must admit, I wasn't asleep, but at around 1am I heard Orin's crate move, I thought he must have been having a scratch or something .. but then I heard a bang. Lights on, the door was open and Beti was gone. Feck! I grabbed my phone and put the torch on on it, I could see her mooching in the distance, I went back in for shoes and in my pink PJ's out I went to find her without waking up the world. I called her, she came flying over, delighted with herself! I praised her and went back in. OK maybe I hadn't closed the door properly, but the little cow had managed to move a 40kg Orin in his huge crate .. HOW?
Maybe not the best nights sleep and I was out with the guys around 6 am just as the sun was rising in the pink Windsor sky, it was reasonably warm and the grass was wet from the dew. The property is on the flight path to Heathrow and a large plane goes over every 30 seconds or so, I guess you'd get used to it .. but I was far more fascinated by the Kites flying over the property and landing in the trees close by.
Thankfully, I got to follow Sarah to the venue. Not trying to be big-headed but I consider myself a good driver, but faced with 7 lanes to/on a roundabout, and slip roads in all directions, yeah I felt out of my depth! The venue was lovely, though the benches were slight tight.
Orin was 3rd in his class, hell I was happy with that. I would never expect him to be placed above our current two top winning males in the UK, I'm not that blinkered. Though a very nice complement from another Champ show judge on the outside of the ring meant a lot to me. She said Orin's head was the more pleasing in the class, even with his eyes, which she did not find distracting. She said she's sooner have light eyes than huge jowls in a dog any day. She then went on to say that is overline was also more pleasing, as both the others have either a peak or a raised backline. As they say more judges on the outside of the ring than the inside.
Beti was in a class of three, but only two were present. The other bitch belonged to a friend, a lovely friend, so whilst I was disappointed for myself I was pleased for her. I must admit, I've come away very disillusioned, if Beti can't win, looking the way she does and having given the performance that she gave then what is the fecking point? This is no disrespect to the other female, even when a judge says she was splitting hairs we end up second. So yeah, despondent, disillusioned, disappointed and seriously considering what to do next. At the moment I feel like taking a LONG break, forget LKA, Manchester, Crufts etc... and reevaluate things in future. I do have one more show entered, I honestly have no expectations there, so maybe whether there is a litter or not, I'll call it quits for a while, well that's how I feel today anyway.
After the show we drove back to Windsor, I had a tearful chat with Steve, I was that emotional and disappointed. I honestly felt dreams had been shattered, so I needed to vent with my better half, he may not "get it" but he "gets me!" We then had a lovely evening, a meal out in the sunshine, then drinks (yes soft for me) sitting out chatting and laughing. Everyone's dogs were all amazing and coped fantastically well with everything thrown at them. A photo of Orin having an ear rub from Peter.
A much better nights sleep on Saturday, Orin had his crate open but opted to sleep on the cold floor. Beti started off at the bottom of the bed, but around 7am I woke up to this beautiful goofy face on the pillow by my side. She was fast asleep with her paws wrapped around my arm. Her teeth were showing, and I lay still smiling and savouring the moment for some time. I love her so much. I wondered if I could reach my phone and take a photo ... well the eyes are open and the teeth are covered but it's close.
Following a short walk we had breakfast out in the sunshine, the bird life still fascinating me, wow those Kites. There wren't as many of the parakeets, but there were a lot of garden birds too. How the hell did this bunch of people end up having breakfast together around a table in Windsor? Well, for the love of dogs .. it's all down to the dogs, our German Shepherd Dogs. Jackie and I go back to 1992/3 ... we met through my ex-husband. Sarah and Ivylene are from Norfolk and used Dexi at stud, Sarah stayed here over a few days and we hit it off, she came back later to use Jay, when she's stayed with us, it's always felt so comfortable, so normal. Ann-Marie, whose property we were staying at came to use Orin at stud ... and a lovely friendship was formed. We owe these dogs so much.
After breakfast we did a group walk around their fields, it was so warm, so the photo shows a break under the shade of a tree. Then we packed up and left for home. It was all going well until the sat nav wanted to take us onto the M5. I told Jackie that this time I was going to listen, previously when I've argued with technology I've found myself stuck in traffic further on. Of course then it wanted to take us onto the M54, but as we were meeting Sandy at Keele Services I had to get back onto the M6, it's been years since I've sat in the traffic waiting to get off the M5 and onto the M6, and I hope not to do it again for a long time!!!
Generally we had a lovely weekend, the weather was good, the dogs were fantastic and the people were great .. now it's back to stress, worry and concern, but at least the batteries had a little bit of a re-charge. Thanks to everyone who made it possible. Anne-Marie and family of course, Frank and Linda who came back to be here should Steve need any support and my brother who stayed one night with my Mum.
