Memories

I still remember the day when wondering this mountain that I came round the corner and saw this. It must have been 10 ft deep and half filled with water. Pepsi was blind and probably with me and that would have been scary. In my head I can still see the GSD's walking along the edge and Seffe would have had to stand looking in, as she did! This was just meters away from the lake that in the old days had supplied the village with water. Chatting with Lin and Steve we can't really remember when the lake was emptied, but we all remember lovely times there with the dogs. This was filled in at the same time .. or maybe earlier. I do remember Krizzie swam in the top lake, she was born in 2000, but did Tali who was born in 2005? I'm not too sure. I remember in later years she'd run to it when it was empty ... but had she just got into the habit of running there after her mum, I wish I remembered. 

The photo was posted on a Facebook page about the village of Fron and the area. It is absolutely fascinating and though I'm not from the village originally I just love the place and I really want to know everything there is to know, providing I can remember it! I do hope someone posts photos of the empty lake as it was 20 years ago, I'm really sad to not have any really and would love to see it as it was. 

Remember this pack? Some of you will. This was the original Blanik pack that explored the mountain with me, this photo was taken in Feb 97. Seffe, Blade and Pepsi sitting, Dexi, Nikki and Sultan in the down. I moved here in June 1995, Seffe and Dexi were born in Jan 1996 and sadly I lost dear Sultan not long after this was taken. Blade and Nikki were and still are Bla-Nik and darling Pepsi, blind or not lived his life to the full. 

I hope to go digging for photos of the empty lake - watch this space. 

Archie's Out

Thank God for an afternoon of sunshine 

Beautiful Mr blue eyes

The Last Walk

 Before Lockdown

Though Orin had been to Bwlch Derwin before this was his first time for him on my favourite path. 

I love it there in the woods - such a wonderful place and so quiet, well

apart from me laugh my sock off at Gail's antics. She was collecting weeds for her rabbits, Ross was being unhelpful as I'm sure you can imagine, anyway in her tiss to keep it from him, she dropped  it and Orin ran off with it - I guess you had to be there! 

This has to be one of my favourite photos today. Apart from the beauty of the place and seeing the dogs having a ball, the expression on Loki's face as he hears Kaiah tearing up behind him is priceless. For Fecks sakes RUN LOKI RUN! 

Cinnamon Swirl

 Someone said Archie looked like one

  I guess if a dark tortie can look like a bara brith than Archie can look like a Cinnamon Swirl!

Kaiah's Season

Kaiah season is imminent and as Wales goes into lockdown the timing could not be more awkward. Kaiah has spotted a little over the last 2 days but not really enough for me to say "She's in season," I'd sooner say "she's coming in season." I felt it only fair to tell Helen that I would not be making the trip to Suffolk to use Zalu this time and told her that I was staying more local and using Sisco. If Kaiah comes in season within the next couple of days then we will still be in lockdown when she is due for mating,  I guess I will have to risk making the journey alone. I don't mind, it's less than 100 miles away so very doable. I can't leave her another 6 months, her age is going against her to do that. Ideally bitches need to have their first litter by or about 3 years old, Kaiah was 4 last week. Seffe was just 4 when she had her first and only litter too, any older for the first litter really isn't wise. I'm not sure if I'll be updating the blog further now, I may just write a "Kaiah Diary" for my own future reference. 

To be honest I've been feeling a little despondent with the blog in general. These days sometimes it takes me a long time to write something that years ago would have taken me 10 mins. I also wonder who reads it? There is little feedback, am I just wasting my time writing to myself? Obviously a lot is invaluable to me as reference, but I could still store that information on my laptop. Yeah, sometimes I do feel I shouldn't bother ... Maybe a break will do me good! 

Luther

My beautiful Luther is 18 months old today. Because he was born at the rescue centre I know his date of birth. He's a lovely cat, affectionate and loving though his clock isn't accurately set! (haha) By that I mean his time keeping for meal times is poor, he is more likely to turn up an hour or two late shouting the odds than he is to be here on time with the others. I must admit it stresses me, but I am getting use to him. Hopefully now over winter he'll make more of an effort to be home. 

Is It Bedtime Yet?

Bless him. 

All Out

Orin - 7 Months

Dead chuffed, he looks wonderful. 

Great size, great strength, great colour and coat .. just ..... shhhhh

Orin is 62.5cms at the wither and weighs just under 32kg

Really happy with that, just 2 more cms then please Orin!  - LOL

The Boys At 7 Months

Mikey, Loki and Ross all looking very raw at 7 months old.

It's hard to believe that they developed into such magnificent males. They always say pick your show pup at 6 - 8 weeks then don't overlook at them, just wait for them to flourish. The 6 - 8 week old pup should be the pint size version of the adult. Looking at Mikey and Loki here I would never "pick" them, but I did at 6 weeks and my god did they flourish.  

Anyway at 7 months Mr Poldark was 63cms at the wither, and 32.8kg. Equal in height to Mikey and half a cm smaller than Loki was which is hardly worth thinking about. I was surprised to look back and discover that Ross weighed more than Loki did, only a KG though - Loki was 31.8kg. There is no weight registered for Mikey, but Louis was 29.20kg and 59cms - good things come in smaller perfect packages!