Let's start at the beginning – The Blanik Bus. I'm sure I mentioned the smell a couple of weeks ago. Well just a reminder, since about Mid-April after some journeys, and not just long ones, I noticed a smell from the van. I've no idea what I smell, but hot or fumes, maybe? Also, the back of the van is covered in black spots. No one else could smell a thing, but I did persuade Steve to take it to the garage ... Nope, apparently there is nothing wrong with it, and I have to admit, it drives well, and according to the temperature gauge, it's not overheating. Well I've been in it to Tremadog every other day, to Builth, to Malvern, to Stafford and I could still smell it! Yesterday, as ever it went well, but after a 3.30 hr none stop drive we got stopped in traffic light before going onto the M4 and a puff of what I will call, smoke or steam seemed to come over from the bonnet on the passanger side. As the lights changed, I set off and the van seemed fine, because at the time we were driving through thick mist I doubted what I saw. When we arrived at the show everything was fine, and I dismissed my earlier concerns.
On the drive home we stopped at Buith for a burger, it was baking hot, but the van was fine. Again a normal run for home, but I could still smell it, whatever it is! As I pulled up and stopped in Bryncir to let Jackie out of the van, again there was a puff of steam from exactly the same place as I'd last seen it near the M4. I asked Jackie to come out of the van quickly and smell it. Thank god for that ... she could smell it too! Just to have someone say, yes you are right gave me great satisfaction, but equally concern. I rang Steve and told him to be outside when I got home .. he was, he couldn't smell a thing!!! This time I refused to let him walk away and he opened the bonnet, finally agreeing there was a hot smell and refering to the areas on the bonnet where it looked like the paint had melted (I thought it was dirty). This van has been with me a long time, I love it, and honestly can't afford to replace it, but I do need to have the faith in it to be safe, and as I know it so well, I need to be believed in my concerns and observations.
The Journey
Well for me it couldn't have started any better and I had the pleasure of seeing, for the first time ever, a badger just above Camel. He was just amazing, and I really wish I could have stopped for a while. In my excitement I was telling Jackie about him, saying we never see badgers or foxes up here, and there was Mr Fox, he crossed the road and just stood there and looked at us. WOW. We drove through areas of bright sunshine and thick mist, the bluebells on that Builth road were just as breathtaking as the purple mountains that were plastered in rhododendron. Of course there were also kites, numerous kites. I love that drive, and even the roundabout from hell doesn't get the better of me these days! We laughed and talked all the way, I was amused but not surprised by Jackie starting on the crisps before 6am. The journey home was just as good as we put the world to rights, laughed and ate junk food. Though we spent as much of the judging time apart as we did together, it's funny how we both noticed the same things on the day, and though we were mostly happy with his judging, some question will remain unanswered.
Along with Malvern and Builth, this venue is one of my favourites. I don't know what it is that makes me like it so much, but I do. I like the drive, I like the venue. I like the Leeds and Boston venues, but I don't like the drive! Though this year at Bath, we were at the furthest corner possible – quite a hike with the trolleys! The first panic was realising I must have got it wrong, Sarah wasn't there and wasn't entered, though Arron was handling Beti, there was no handler for Orin. After a bit of juggling about Ann was happy to take him in, she last handled Orin at this show in 2021, WOW! I must admit she did a fantastic job with him, she said, "he knows his job, I just went with him." I honestly haven't seen him look so good in a long time, but I was totally shocked to see him beat Ch Jimmy. (The breed's top winning dog 2 years ago) Getting past his reputation alone is hard. There will have been a lot of negative comments made for the judges decision on the day, but he had the courage in his convictions, and I really appreciate his decision. The negativity is not important, as I've said before; you need to have broad shoulders in this game, and yeah, it is a game we play! I know what I've got, I know his faults and I know his attributes, and I can only thank the people who saw fit to congratulate me on the day. Team Orin... Woohoo! Ann wouldn't take payment, she refused point blank, and said "all I need is for you to be happy that I got your dog to do/go so well." As it should be, but it rarely is. Yeah I was emotional. Beti did well two, second out of three, she looked well and went well, but every dog has it's day, and this day for me belonged to Orin!
The judging on the whole was very good, though I do wish he'd had a better entry. Two people have told me today that they didn't go because "They didn't know his type!" Well I did, he gave Loki a group at an open show and I've also seen him judge the breed once before, On top of that, he's Mal's mate so I was hoping his eye for correct type and correct movement may have influenced him, lol. Nothing to do with my dogs, but there will be one decision on the day that will leave me wondering, just why didn't he see what I saw?
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