Bryngwyn Slate Trail

Todays walks were colourful and enjoyable. A short drive down and we parked at where Hafod Lwyfog kennels ued to be, above Maes Tryfan. Two beautiful walks down to Rhostryfan, great to see the fencing has been fixed on most of the walk, only one area still left open where there could be a risk of cattle I suppose. 

Poster

Mattie And Mum

 I thought I'd be bouncing with excitment when I announced the news that Mattie was pregnant, but I'm not. Oh I'm really pleased that she is, it gives something to focus on - but at the moment I'm totally consumed with my mother and her health issues. It seems Mattie is only carrying a small litter, 4 clearly seen, but of course there could be couple more which would be nice. 

Mum had been in so much pain that she feels life is not worth living. She can't get out of bed in the mornings and is really struggling to even move about the house. We do feel like we are back to square one and I feel like everything is currently on my shoulders. My brother lives near Manchester, and Mum's brother and family are currently away. 

I can't deny the fact that I'm stressed and after losing the weight of last years comfort eating I'm already starting to crave the wrong calories!

Scenic Walks

Beautiful Walks

Just what we need to clear our heads - and I saw the first Swallow of the season. 

WPBW

 The GSD entry yesterday at Working and Pastoral Breeds Of Wales was dismal. A beautiful venue and a breed judge, but todays hugely publisised breed show and SV judge no doubt greatly affected yesterday. There was no point in me entering Beti in a limit class in her current stage of undress. In a class already above her pay grade she would have had to look her best, so I decided early on that she was not going and therefore neither was I!

Yesterday was mostly great fun. I had only entered Sammi and Meerah, and Sammi again proved to be our star on the day. A very mixed day for us, so proud of Sammi who as you know, was 12 at Christmas. Like a pop star, out of retirement for one more day in the limelight. So many GSD's don't make it to that age, let alone be fit enough to make it into the ring. Sammi was first in the Veteran class, best Veteran in breed and amazingly Reserve Best Bitch in breed. She went so well, I was delighted. The judge said how lovely she was and wished she'd had the chance to judge the younger version. Lol.

Meerah, on the other hand, was such a handful, initially going into the ring on two legs, she was totally OTT and I can only thank Owen for working so hard and not giving up on her. The judge told me afterwards that she basically threw the class because she was so unsettled. I have to admit, having watched the videos, she wasn't as bad as I thought and was settling, but the stewards put pressure on the judge to get on with the judging. 

Lyra, Orin's daughter, won PG and looked the best I've ever seen her look. This has to be one of the best photos of her in the ring, ever. Very proud. 

A day out for the hairy Blanik. Can I say, honestly, Zeus was such a good boy, faultless behaviour in an environment that wasn't familiar to him.

Dinas Dinlle

Two lovely walks in opposite directions in Dinas Dinlle. Though it's probably best known for its beach, I much prefer these country walks along the river. It looks like the walk we did with Orin and Siska circles back to the beach ... and the walk we did with Beti and Meerah comes out at Sain Records. Rather than walking along the road, we turned back and walked the pretty path back the way we came.  

A meet up and a belated birthday lunch with Gail in the airport cafe before coming home. Yeah a lovely day. 

After The Morning Rain

So pleased to have our mate Linda back with us for a few days – we've got a lot of new walks to show her, starting with the one on our doorstep!

14/4/91 - 35 Years Ago

Thirty-five years ago, I had just returned from a BIPDT course on the Friday—which also happened to be my birthday. As excited as I was, I could hardly wait for Sunday the 14th: the day I was finally picking up baby Blade.

My original dream was a long-coated male GSD, but Marilyn convinced me to go with a short-coat so that I could show him. And show him I did! Blade came from the Laecor kennel and was an Alshvar Schults grandson. I fell in love immediately, and that dog became the start of the path I have walked ever since.

He opened up a world for me that I still love today. While some friends have come and gone over the years, most of us are still walking this path together.

Blade was truly special. He won countless BOBs and numerous BIS's at open shows, qualified for Crufts, (a big deal for me a the time) and won in both Pre-Beginner and Beginner Obedience. He even won his class at the North v South GSD two-day show. We tampered with agility, tried a bit of "man-work," (as we called it  then), and he even appeared in several Welsh TV programmes.

Blade was amazing. He wasn’t faultless or perfect, but at that time he was perfect for me. Many have followed in his footsteps, but as my first GSD—and through my affix—he continues to walk this bumpy path exactly where he always was: right by my side.

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