One week old today

The proud mother

On my own

Cuddle me

Quite Please

Tali and her babies are sleeping. 4 girls and 2 boys came into the world on the 3/7/08. God Bless the other two little ones who came but where "too special" for this world.

Watch this space....

Blanik Babes

Tali (Blanik Frankie)

Kiri (Nordau Kiri Of Blanik)

Storm (Blanik Denni)

Blanik Boys

Louis (Blanik Excentrik)

Simba (Blanik Approval)

Finlay Of Blanik (honest!!!)

Kai (Kaiser Vom Conbhairean)

That was then.....

1998

- Nikki, Dexi, Blade, Seffe and Lia

2004

- Louis, Krizzie, Jay, Seffe and Nikki

.......And this is now

2008
- Kiri, Louis, Finlay and Tali in the front.

-Storm and Simba

Kai

Blade

Laecor Mikhail

1991-2001

Your eyes have closed a final time,

Your noble heart is still,

But your memories stay with us

And I know they always will;

So when we sit and speak of you

And laugh or shed a tear,

At times like these we know

You are still so very near;

And now old friend, it's time to say

Goodnight, God bless. Sleep tight.

Steve Stanley

Nikki

Written July 2005
(LLEDFEGIN CAMRI)
1RCC, Graded “V” Breed survey Class 1
9.6.93 – 4.7.05
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their cards, emails, text messages and kind words over the loss of our dear Nikki. For those of you who didn’t know her she was the foundation of the “Blanik” kennel and ALL our dogs are related to her. She was the mother of two CC winners, and through her daughter “Aria,” grandmother to the top winning German Shepherd of 2003+2004, and more than likely 2005!
At home Nikki was the matriarch, the dominant pack member, and as she considered all the others to be her offspring she had every right to be. That “look” was enough to put many a young member of the family in his place and if the misdemeanours carried on then one snarl and he would certainly collapse in a heap on the floor. Nikki never had to follow it through, so strong was her presence within the pack.
Where Nikki really excelled was as a mother, she even took over the care of Seffe’s 4-week-old pups when Seffe was too ill to care for them herself. (Though she wasn’t too pleased to have to “share” them as Seffe improved.) Lets not forget the many orphaned or poorly kitten that she also showed love and gave warmth too. How many times did I have to stop a couple of grey Tabby’s from suckling the empty milk bar? I’ll never forget the joy on her face as her new babies cuddled into her.
Anyone who walked with me will know that the other great love of her life was her “Kong,” it went everywhere with her. How long did we have to wait by a muddy puddle or lake for her to find it after she had dropped it in, not a hope in hell of her leaving without it; it will always be with her now.
One other thing will have to be mentioned, the stealing. Nikki was the biggest thief I have ever known, she’d never take anything whilst I was in the room but turn my back and it was gone. How many packets of lost Jaffa Cakes over the years? And the green stuff we use to buy for Seffe’s coat; “give 10mls daily,” Nikki had the bottle all 150mls of it in one go! If I was unlucky enough to leave a jacket or pair of jeans with a trace of food in the pocket in her reach then she would help her self getting to the food in any way possible. As she got deaf with age on nemours occasions I walked in and caught her holding the clothes down with her front paws and tearing violently at the fabric to get her reward. Memories that now I will always treasure.
This house so full of life, now has a big empty space without her, one that will never, could never be filled.
Steve and I wish to dedicate this poem to the memory of our dear Nikki, I apologise to the none- Welsh speakers, but it looses something in translation.

Aeth y Blynyddoedd heibio’n sydyn
Anodd oedd farwelio gyda hi
Hiraeth mawr sydd yn ei’n calon

Am un annwyl iawn I ni

New Kid On The Block

" Kaiser Vom Conbhairean "

(Bravos Vom Steffan Haus x Ginger Von Der Maleiche)

***Hip Score 3+4. Haemophilia "A" clear***

******************D.O.B 31/07/05*******************

Blanik Kids Welcome "Kai" to the family.

Kai is owned in partnership with Sharon Britnell.

Dear George,

I was sad and angry when I read that offensive article in the Daily Mail last week. The article is just a nasty, vicious attack on you, Anselmo, Kenny and anything that's precious to you. They have lied and twisted every fact of your life.Do they really know anything about you? I can only think that this is just pure spite and jealousy.
Your the sweetest kindest man....Yeah I know, I don't know you personally. But darling George you have helped me out of many a dark place in my life, especially through the most painful year ever for me. Without you to turn to in 2007 I don't know what I would have done. I don't need to turn to the bottle, I've got you to help me through.
I think what gets to"them" is that whatever they throw at you, it just makes you stronger. You have a large loyal fan-base who adore you, a lovely family around you, a gorgeous partner (Scratch his eyes out..lol) and a wonderful career. Long term, why should it get to you?
Freedom of the press...my backside! The fact that they haven't publishing comments which support you is getting to me almost as much as the bloody article! They just refuse to acknowledge the strength of support that you really do have. Dozens of people from GMF alone have added comments...but to no avail. Not one of them has been published!
I'd just love to think that you haven't read the article. Or if you have that your strong enough to just have shrugged it off with a few choice swear words. (and your usually good at them)But my God I'm afraid that if it was written about me or any one close to me I'd be devastated. (As I am for you.) Not just for me personaly, but for the other people that I care for that it's tried to ridicule. The gutter press at it's best....Shame on them!
Dear George you have our support...and you are, as always "The Bigger Man"
Not living my life with other people on my mind
No, not going to hide from anyone
Yes, I'm walking on new air
Just living my life
Better believe I'm gonna get what's mine
Cause I don't have the time
For the haters.
Don't let them tell you who you are is not enough
Don't let them tell you that it's wrong
Or that you won't find love
Don't let them use my life to put your future down
Don't let them tell you that happiness can't be found....

Krizzie 8:7:00 - 11:12:07

Blanik Deeanna
Krizzie Died Today.........Today is Tuesday.
Krizzie had shown no sign of illness until we came home from shopping on Sunday afternoon. In the morning she had eaten normally and had been wrestling with her daughter Tali. I took her temperature, and was upset to find it was 104, she was also very depressed. As I tried to examine her I found several small mammary tumours, which I was sure, had not been there long. Considering our recent experiences I panicked and phoned the Vet, he said I could take her in immediately.
His initial examination showed that she had respiratory problems, hopefully an infection, and she showed pain around her pancreas area. He took bloods and gave her antibiotics and anti-inflammatory tablets. I was to phone with a progress report on Monday morning and take her back on Tuesday.
On Monday morning her temperature was almost normal but she was very depressed and didn't eat all of her food, this in itself being a rare occurrence for Krizzie. On Monday night the alarm bells really started ringing when she didn’t eat at all.
This morning her temp had gone back up, she was pretty much the same in spirits but looked slightly bloated. But as we went to the car for the trip to the vets Kriz bounced out enthusiastically. She sat up all the way there and barked at a jogger who ran past the car as we waited at a junction. This gave me hope that Krizzie wasn’t feeling too ill after all!
The Vet examined her, decided to do a chest X-ray and drain some fluid from her abdomen. The fluid was blood. He immediately decided to do an exploratory operation and found that she had a tumour on her liver, which had burst and was haemorrhaging into the abdomen. He said there was very little left of the liver and there was nothing they could do to save her. He couldn’t understand how she had stayed so well and showed so few symptoms. It was decided that it was best not bring her round from the operation and to let her go peacefully to sleep.
I can't begin to tell you how I feel today. I've never experienced such pain in my life as I have these last few months. Krizzie was only 7 years old. I expected to share her wonderful/exuberant company for many years to come.
As you may know I’m sure I've now lost 4 of my beautiful Shepherds in 6 months and my lovely little Grani left us in April too. Along with ill health in my family this year, it must be the most painful year on record for me. I know there was nothing I could do to change things but that doesn't make it any easier accept. Krizzie died today.....
.....................................................................................................
In May 2000 Seffe was mated to Apollo von Dakota, and in July following a Caesarean I held the little bundles in my hands and dried off their wet bodies. One of the bitches in the litter of 5 had been too large to be born naturally and seeing as Krizzie was the largest pup and living with her over these years I now almost certainly believe it was her.
I christened the bitches Snap, Crackle and Pop, the boys Bill and Ben. I pitied the future owner of Snap, as even at an early age she was exuberant to say the least! By the time they where 6-7 weeks old, with not much between Snap and Crackle, I believed that Snap had the best conformation and therefore the decision was made to keep her. Snap became Krizzie, or Krizzie Pup as she was known till this day!
At around 14 weeks old Krizzie broke her front leg, we don’t know how, she never told us! She spent weeks in plaster, but it didn’t stop her from mischief making. One afternoon Steve was fixing the flat roof when he heard a noise behind him. Kriz was half way up the ladder, plastered leg coming first. I wasn’t home to help him and I still don’t really know how they both got down without breaking at least another leg between them!
Her show career started well, at her first show at 6 months old she was Res. Best Puppy in Show. She was a delight to show, though possibly somewhat too exuberant for the canine society show ring. In her last show at the end of August, proving to the young ones she could still move, she was 2nd in Open under Sarah Smith. (Saracol)
In July 2003 Krizzie gave birth to the Blanik “E” litter of 7 boys and one long coated bitch. (Our much loved and missed Jay being the sire) My initial disappointment at not having a bitch to show was soon forgotten as my “Amazing” Louis has grown to be my closest of friends, and without doubt the Star of the show in my eyes. But still I wanted a bitch to continue my line and in November 2004 Krizzie was mated to Rangemore Arko. The pups were born in January 2005, and guess what? Krizzie this time decided she’d have 8 boys and one bitch. Thankfully Tali (B. Frankie) was short coated and a very promising female.
Krizzie loved her kids; she would jump in to defend Tali or Louis in any situation. Usually under the watchful eye of her own mother Seffe the three of them spent endless hours playing together in the field. I feel they too will mourn her loss. Krizzie also loved people. Visitors where presented with a football and expected to play If they tried to ignore her she would parade with it in her mouth, chattering away until someone finally took notice of her. She particularly loved a couple of our male friends; Frank and Harry were her favourite visitors!
In May of this year Krizzie had a lump removed off her hind leg, she was also spayed at the same time. Though she spent a few hours feeling sorry for herself the following day she was up and off as usual. It was actually hard to keep her quiet.
Without doubt Kriz was physically the strongest Shepherd I have ever owned. There was only her, of all the dogs here, that with an unexpected pull on the lead could take us both off our feet. She was confident, non aggressive and funny. If you believe a dog can’t have a sense of humour, then you've never met Krizzie.
Today I wonder if it's all worth it? This pain is too great for me to see a way out. Four dogs gone in 6 months, my beautiful family ripped in half in less than a year. Surely it must be pain free to have none? Tomorrow I hope I will see things slightly different.
Krizzie died today, she was only 7 years old. She was fit, seemingly healthy and full of life and fun. Why didn’t we know she was ill? Why couldn’t she show us? If she’d have given us some sign that things were wrong, maybe, just maybe we could have helped, done something to keep her with us a little longer. Again, similarily to the way I felt after the death of her mother, I feel cheated and angry, but I don’t know who with. Today I can only feel that I must have been a very evil person in a pervious life, as God knows I’ve "tried" to be a good honest one in this one! I know that tomorrow, or maybe the next day I'll be stronger and think of the years of love and pleasure that Krizzie, like the others that I have loved and, have given me. Tomorrow I will know it's worth it!
Krizzie died today.........Krizzie Pup, my dear friend, be sure…You Have Been Loved