Our Regional Misadventure

We were up at 5.45am and on the road by 6.15am. Our destination was Ellistown to watch a GSD Regional Event. (Basically a show run by and for GSD enthusiasts, without the enforcements of K.C Rules) Orin and Beti joined Ian's Kiaan for the 3 and a half hour journey. On route, we discussed everything from the green-eyed monster to XL Bullies and husbands past and present. Google maps took over from the sat nav to get us onto the M1 and Ian observed his van didn't "quite feel right." Having had a new gear box and clutch just 4 weeks ago I remember thinking, I'm sure it's Ok!! We came off the M1 and up onto the roundabout and were making our way towards our exit when the traffic stopped at the lights on the roundabout, that's where it started to go badly wrong and the clutch seized. Hazard lights on and quickly one man came to help, many others passed and many hooting abusively. What did they think we were doing having a chat and a picnic? The van was pushed off the slip road and managed to limp into the closest services, well at least we'd have something to eat, drink and a toilet on hand eh! Wrong! The first photo is of the deserted Makefield services, where we were set to spend our day!

Thankfully, there was plenty of room to stretch our legs and walk the dogs, it was reasonably safe with some passing traffic, I guess the biggest problem was the glass. Having called out the RAC we sat and waited. It wasn't too long before the first RAC van arrived, he gave the van a good look over, yes it was knackered. There were many discussions about the best way to get us home, with one thing being our priority, our dogs! I would have walked to the nearest Travelodge and stayed over rather than put them at any risk. 

The stress of the morning turned into hilarity as we all dealt with the situation, you laugh or cry and we laughed and ate cake and chocolate ... well it was all we had! Sometime during our stranded hours whilst standing out talking I felt a sharp pain as something hit me in the back, I screamed out loud. I think the shock was as bad as the pain. OMG, I'd been shot by a pellet from the paintball across the road, I screamed such profanities at them that my mother would be ashamed of me, but bloody hell eh! Surely that shouldn't happen? It didn't burst, but I have kept the bullet with my name on it! (you can see the distance from the van to the Paintball park)

At 2.45pm the relay vehicle arrived, he was a nice guy, but I got terribly confused when he told us that we were heading to a services south of Birmingham, I tried to envisage the map in my head, yeah that was the wrong way, so I questioned it. Anyway it was what it was and in a services south of Birmingham we at least got to walk the dogs and get something to eat before a second vehicle took us home via the M42, M5, M6, M54, A5 and A55. 

Hell it could have been a lot worse, no one was hurt and we at least found a safe place to move about. The three dogs were marvellous, with the puppies taking it all in their stride. I'd have hated every moment had I been alone, but company always helps. We saw the best in people and also the worst, kindness and selfishness. It was 9.30pm when I got home, a day to remember, but maybe not for the right reasons!

Where Is She?

A couple of photos taken at Plas Y Braich today.

She's messing with her food again today - ahhh!

Posters

I'm not sure if I posted this here when I made it back in July. Anyway, since I now have the best photo of Siska yet, last night I thought I'd have a go at making one for her on a similar line. 

This Feeding Lark

Beti has gone from being small and round to long and skinny. I've increased the food, but she is  struggling to finish it, it's just so much. I had intended putting her onto three meals a day now, but there is no way I could get the right quantity into her so we'll stick to four. Steve has a memory of me complaining about the quantities and getting in touch with them before, hmm, I'll look back...

I can find a post when I cut Orin's meals down to three, so that was 4 months - but so far nothing about quantities. 

Pinchmill Annika

This is Polly, she's looking great too - it still looks like both puppies are neck and neck, I'd have been happy with either I think. 

I just thought I'd do a little poster of the sisters together. 

You can see that Beti is a little more stretched on her hindquarters, and pushing a little more forward, giving her generally a little bit more of an alert posture. To be honest, I can't see anything other than the posture on the day to compare with. 

Training Last Night

Beti likes her new buddy Caia 

Having fun 

That's it Beti, close enough!

Beti - 3 Months

Baby Beti's 3 month poster, posh yeah. 

She's 41cms and 12kg - yes bigger than Siska, but to be expected really. 

Siska was 39cms and 10.4kg.

I don't have many records of my other girls weights at the same age but I do know that 3 of Sammi's K litter daughters weighed from 11.5kg to 11.9kg, and that Kaiah was 12.9kg. All pretty close then. 

Walking In The Rain

Socialising And Training

Beti with Kai

Nica (From Orin's first litter), Beti, Kiaan and Lucca

Two lovely photos of Beti in stance, the first just pipping the post for me due to a more normal head and neck carriage. 

It's Only A Tree!

You can hear it on the lips of the ignorant, can't you! "Aww shame, but it's only a cat you can get another one." "Sorry you've lost Blade, but you have plenty of others," - we've all heard it over and over. In these days when we should be planting more and more trees to secure the future of the planet the idiots are still cutting them down. In these days when we should be showing compassion and kindness, we still abuse animals and turn away from people who need help. Sometimes the human race is beyond me, not one of us can change the world, but together we sure could make a difference. 

We had a very unsettled night on the hill. I was already awake when someone started winging. I knew it wasn't Beti but was sure it was female. I got up and for safety’s sake I let Loki and Beti out first, though I'm well aware that Orin is Loki's alarm. The only other one sat up was Sammi, so I let her out, she bounced stupidly, "Are we going to a show? Are we? Are we?" I shut the door behind her but could see she hadn't moved! Within minutes of going back to bed Sammi was at it again, I lay there thinking and all the "What ifs?" came to mind. Torsion, was the first thought, no I'd have noticed, wouldn't I? Then I started thinking about the night Sammi went on and on, and I got up with her 3 times, she did nothing but get on my nerves, that was the night that Tali had vestibular syndrome.Sammi knew then, what did she know now .. I got up again! I gave everyone a biscuit they all ate it bar Siska, Hmm, I let Siska out, she ran straight past me went to the gate and had a huge poo! Bloody hell, why didn't she tell me she needed to go? Sammi must have heard her quiet winging ... and again sounded the alarm. Tali.vestibular/syndrome.

Whilst I was up I clocked Jamie on top of the worktop in the doggy kitchen, he was eating the biscuits that I put down before I go to bed. Two things, one, during the day he gives the impression that he can't get up there without being picked up - which we do! Two, he really doesn't need to eat any extra! I put that food down for the likes of Luther and Choo who are often missing at supper time. With Jamie being overweight and close to his 14 birthday, for his health, I'll have to rethink!