...so it felt more than a bit peculiar...

...off we went up to Hare N Hounds, 

....not to run, but to help Brenda with her CSJ/RAS Medium ABC final. Well it felt really odd, didn't have to get up at silly o'clock, meandered up the A1 at a very civilised 10am to get there before lunch, sun was shining, lovely blue skies all round.

Final was very exciting indeed, wow some fab runs, I was queue person, everyone had to run in drawn order, so just ticked them off my list and wished them good luck!! Won by Amanda Hampson with Rogue (again!!)

So it all went very smoothly, go fab choccies from Brenda for helping, said hi to a few people I'd not seen in a while, Flynn was very gentlemanlike with Ms Pickle lol! She really is very pretty....and clever too from the results she's getting!! Well dones also to everyone really, great sets of results everywhere!! Claire and Helen were having an awesome weekend plus all from training were doing well too.

Must say my dogs looked very confused indeed...Jette was pulling to get to the rings, but she got her pigs ear just for being lovely. It's Lune this weekend, but realistically think it's over now for us, do we do the last one run.....?

So that was it, off we went home....nice leisurely drive back in time for evening walkies...
love 'em, perfect end to a lovely day.

So now it's over to Flynn, we may be some time ha ha, but he did do a whole jumping session with no knocked poles, so we might be back, maybe not next year....

Keep having fun everyone while we're away, want to hear how you're all doing, 
wish you all good luck! :-)

made the decision this morning...

.....finally after months of deliberation,

I am going to retire Jette, I was hoping to maybe squeeze an extra year into her jumping but I've been wondering about her eyesight for a while now, she's not seeing full height jump poles, so think it's wise retire her now. Happy days girlie, enjoy your runs in veterans, gosh who's going to tell her!!!

I'll miss running her, she's my crazy labbie girlie.....

Aw poorly toothy girlie!!

Well it had to be done, Ms Jette needed her tooth sorting, she was really good and didn't eat the locum vet either :-)

Took a couple of days to come round though, showing her age bless (aren't we all!!) Still all mended now.

So just been training away, lovely really, went over to DigIt and judged the jumping on the Sunday, which went well I think, well no-one complained ha ha. Day before Jette got 4th in the Novice Steeplechase at UKA but she seems really off shows at the moment whereas at training she is on stonking form.... so decided to just keep her training, it doesn't matter, whatever she's happy with.

Flynn had his first big boy Steeplechase, poles everywhere but he handled lovely and got his startline wait so not all bad :-) Good boy Flynn!!

As always it's lovely to see people and catch up, was a sunny weekend too so lots of smilie faces!! House is on the market now so mega-stress all round....eeeeeeek!! All these viewings and even worse, all this flippin' cleaning, more than a girl can take!!

Next weekend we've got Hare N Hounds, wonder if we'll actually get there this time....

Been over to Langsett res walking, had the place to ourselves, just lovely....

big birthday bumps for the boy!!!

Ha ha, that time of year again, the boy makes 3 years old!!! Happy Birthday mate, you're a joy to have in the house, always make me laugh and still have the wriggliest bum going :-)

We tried to go to Weardale,

I knew we shouldn't have bothered even trying...just driving home from the shops on the Friday, some dosey plonker ran into the back of my car and jammed the lock on the tailgate....so off I went to try and get it fixed in time, sadly not to be but we did get there in time for Sunday and Helen and Belle had such a weekend, won into 4 in style!!!!! Wow so many places and rosies it's hard to imagine her van carrying them all back home lol!!!

Jette had some good runs, clear in the jumping, one off a place in the agility so all good :-) Training was proofed in the other jumping when I said 'go' and she did, straight over a cloth tunnel...sideways on ha ha!! Well she did exactly what I asked ha ha, she really enjoyed herself, super giddy :-) Sadly no classes for Flynn but seeing as it's his birthday week, he's been spoiled rotten anyway....

Jette had Lucy training last night and was a proper giddy kipper....just spotted she's got a broken tooth though so have rung the vet....think the root might have to come out, not manky or urgent or anything so will see what he says next week....hope it can wait till I'm off work in a couple of weeks time, always like to be home when they have an op.

Hare N Hounds next...wonder if Jette's tooth will hold out....

Flynn!!...pleeeeeeese don't do that again.....!!

Jette:

Well we've done loads, where do we start!! Let's start with the big boy's watery adventures.... we often go walking up the Sands at Holmfirth, I get to play with my toy and raid the floor of fish n chips and Willow gets an 'ickle wander round the playing fields, the Big Boy always finishes his walk with a dip in the river, so all was normal until the other week.  

Mum was frantic!!! 

Flynn was going under the water it had rained so hard, poor lad was trying to swim up-current and the water was just going over his head and pushing him under.... luckily mum had his toy and ran downstream to a water pipe crossing the river, called him downstream and managed to get in the river and grab him as he was washed past...
don't think he quite realised what happened lol!!!! All very scary indeed!!!

Me and mum (very wet now!!) wandered back up the river with the camera, soooo much water coming down, we were supposed to be running at Otley but mum had said no because of the rain but didn't realise there was this much!!

Flynn got my Lucy training slot (boohoo!!) cos I had my back massaged by a lovely chiro lady called Christine, so have been resting up for a bit, feels lovely now!! Willow got hers done as well and she looks fab for an old 'un!! Amazing the difference it makes...... luvvvvverly :-)

So then we were supposed to be going on the Dawn Weaver weekend at DigIt but mum's friend passed away so she went to York to say goodbye....so sad :( when it came to the Sunday though we went to the show and had a lovely day in memory of Lindsay who always said 'time we had some fun!!!' so we did.... I got to do jumpies and won the steeplechase with unplaced 2nds in agility and jumping to Gill's 1st place....
oh OK then seeing as it's you then ha ha!!

Flynn did some very nice stuff, poles everywhere as usual but even I thought he ran them well and we all got a good day out and we all got pig's ears lol!! :-) 

Loved Jen Lewis's courses, just what we needed!!

Pleeeeese someone turn the rain tap off for the next show in a couple of weeks time even I'm glad we're not camping, crikey it's starting again....hope everyone at Lune manages to have a good time, mum's waiting to hear how you've all done :-)

At least the furries made it safely to the other side....

...which is more than the big boy Flynn did...

....wet April?...meet wetter May :-)

...pitter patter....pitter patter....deluge and sun :-)

Mud:10 Sun:2 Car noises:1

Flynn:
we went across the Pennines to Sandbach on Saturday so I could practice my big boy stuff in the ring at UKA, mum was worried there would be weaves...and there were, I've not sussed them yet and I was very giddy indeed in the ring ha ha!! Clipped 4 poles (first time running standard height) and a runby in weaves, but got round and got lovely big red rosie for 1st place (there was only me in it but don't tell anyone lol!) It was actually quite a sunny day for a change, but the venue had been moved cos the ground was waterlogged...at least it wasn't canceled though :-)


Mum was knackered helping on ring all day so we came home in the afternoon for something to eat and drink... we were going to go back next day for more but my tomboy mate Jette had done 2 lovely jumping runs for mum and Willow was getting stiff and wanted to come out to play, so we came back for walkies (which I really don't see the point of!!!) Jette might be in Steeplechase Novice now but who knows (or understands UKA rules and points)!!! I had lovely time watching over Willow and Jette (my chicks) while mum was away on the ring, don't worry mum they are fine with me!!
Gill had some lovely runs with Ruger, he's going to be fab.... and Rosie was lovely for Sue, as always :-)
....I'm listening mum honest.... tee hee!!

The weekend before we'd been over to Dovestones and I was a complete hero and helped rescued some lambs from a mad beagle who was chasing them up and down those hills, we helped the ranger get them back with their mums...but best was the lone sheep who came to collect them in the midst of all the racey-chasing, and took them back to their bleating mums...the beagle was long gone by this time as someone had body-dived him to the floor to stop him....norty Archie, bet you're in big-beagle-bother matey!!!

We've not got anything for absolutely weeks now...mum says we can practice those sticky-uppy-things....

Here's Mr Flynn going jumpies courtesy photos2remember

Dilly-dogs....

Next it was Dilly Dogs, I'd foolishly(willingly?) agreed to judge the jumping...I quite like judging there really, just means it's less time to spend with my own dogs... designed some courses to really get the dogs moving and extending, and it worked!! Seems like people really enjoyed the courses as it was a cold day, and it kept everyone moving, plus great help on the ring made things go really smoothly so thanks everyone for that!!


In the morning we had a tricky agility course...weaves out of tunnel, Jette got them and came 2nd, one of only 3 clears, but I wasn't happy with her run, she seemed very slow and un-Jetlike somehow, couldn't put a finger on it, she seemed OK really but just not her usual self, so pulled her from the jumping as she's been asleep for a while and not warmed up properly. Flynn managed a clear again, although I nearly came unstuck coming round to the tunnel 2nd time round....anyway well done matey boy, you got a clear!


Don't get me wrong, I was over the moon Jette came away with 2nd, we hardly ever pick up a place there, but Brenda also noticed Jette just wasn't happy. I'm thinking she is picking noise up from the pylons as she doesn't like Scunny either....maybe she can hear white noise we can't?...Something I'm looking into for a possibility anyway.


Was lovely again to meet up with people, Kylie had come with Finn her youngster who is so much like Flynn in attitude, they could have been separated at birth, excepting of course she's an ACD ha ha!! met Helen with her hounds too, not seen her at all since she left training, miss her chats... lovely day out despite the cold and wind, we've nothing much for a few weeks now so going to keep the dogs fit and do some walking (if it ever stops raining!) :-)

Helen with Belle came 2nd in the jumping, way to go!!!


Flynn and Jette's rosies, Jette is busy with bones and doesn't want her pic taken...

..doesn't time just fly?

Mum:
time seems to be just flying this year, no idea where it goes....we went to Hare N Hounds at Duncombe Park, lovely venue but sooooo cold and a bit drizzly/rainy in the night too, first time out in new tent. Sadly Jette was very norty indeed, ate all the NatureDiet (18 meals for her) and so couldn't run her at all, by the time we got to the venue, her tummy was soooooo fat she looked like a Thelwell dog, Ms Madam!! Her crowning glory was pooing it out in the tent during the night... euwwwwww!!

Anyway, nice to see friends as always and everyone seemed to be doing really well, Flynn managed his first ever clear round in anysize jumping, good man!! He practiced his bestest-bow-tie-wait in great style...good job someone makes me laugh lol!! And we got a lovely walk with Helen and spotted deer deep into the woods, worth going for that lovely walk!! Willow had a fab time, kept her nice and snug in her coat and she really enjoyed having new things to sniff and roll in :-) Borrowed a couple of great dog coats from Kirsty for PJs in the night and the dogs were kept nice and warm.

Getting home at last and a lovely hot bath, we were Lucy O training at Lees new venue, Jette's tummy had subsided back to her normal waistline by this time (of course it had!!) and she had a lovely time on her best behaviour for Auntie Lucy, lots of basic foundation work, which we need, so all good.

Flynn had his class at White Rose and he very nearly got a wiggle on in the weaves, how exciting!!! Brenda set a lovely exercise so we could do the channel weaves in context and boy the man did good!! Very pleased with him.

As we were on holiday I'd also booked a Dave Munnings session for both dogs and another Laura Chudleigh for Jette. At DM's it pelted hailstones down...and the heavens opened with a huge downpour...Flynn was undeterred and just carried on, his drive was lovely and he worked really very well, but Jette wasn't having any of it...all those rear crossed were just too much for her to bare, she looked so dejected just standing there, I gave her a kiss and a cuddle, ran her over a couple of jumps and called it a day....clearly she was voting this wasn't for us....

So when it came to Sunday, I was thinking should I take her to Laura C's? I was debating all sorts of excuses with myself not to go... puncture, family crisis, what!!! Then I thought, I'll be late as the traffic was bad, so I could just drive past, turn around and go home? Coward!! As we got there on time I thought, I don't have to book another...just go it'll be fine, but Jette loved it and so did I...what a change from the Friday with a session of very positive training? I'd really practised the startline wait...and it showed!! 100% improvement, just fab, well done Jette and well done me!!!
Well done Laura C for winning the Champ class at Scunny the day before too!!

Think I need beer now.... So then it was on to Lincoln, was just going on the Sunday for this one, with Helen and Belle but also met up with Sara and Tilly. What started out looking like a wash out (driving onto the venue looked like a war zone, would have taken pics but scared of getting stuck!) ended up with the sun shining and laughs all round plus a tour of Claire's lovely camper van, very jealous indeedy!!! Just me in a tent now lol!!? So Jette's jumping was manic, didn't want to weave mum, just jump, jump, tunnel, whether that was the course or not lol! Didn't run the agility thought it too slippy so just ran the other jumping which was lovely. Nowhere near fast enough to do anything but lovely run all the same. Well done Jette jumpie girlie :-) Flynn-bobs just clipped a pole again (for same reason will you not learn mum!!!) on his jumping run, fast and confident which is just what I'm wanting. We spent a lot of the day cheering Sara and Tilly on, nearly out of Grade 1 by 1sec......come on Sara it's your turn now!! Never mind next time, and Sara got a lovely trophy (wonder who designed that then!!) along with Mel who had a fab day with Spike. Had a really lovely day, thanks everyone :-) Flynn would say something but he's a bit kippered.....

..where does the time go!

Gosh just looked at the blog and where has the last month gone...I don't think we've done much but it's gone in a blur and it's April already!!

We made it to Hare N Hounds, lovely show as always (sunny this time!) but no bacon buttie this time for helping brrrrrr!! Could've done with that to warm the hands up lol! Jette was on form, clear in the Agility and the ABC, lovely lovely run, she couldn't have done it better, clever, clever girlie, makes her Starlight Trickledown AW(S) I'm just so proud of my jumpie-smilie-girlie :-)

Flynn had his first ever KC run only his 2nd ever show and he very nearly went clear in the anysize jumping if his numptie mum didn't squeak excitedly at the last jump and put him off...what a clever boy he is too.

Had a nice catch-up with Kirsty too with Top-of-the-Class Ms Clo!! then headed home to watch the agility at Crufts, wow what fab runs and Lou!! Saw you walking that course, well done girl, was cheering at the telly for you!! :-)

So Flynn is going into big class at White Rose, I think his conformation is a big hindrance now in his jumping, with his front legs so short in proportion, but, just to prove his mum wrong, he actually did the v-weaves at Dilly Dogs in the practice ring...just to show us he could, Helen watched, just so we knew we weren't dreaming ha ha. We didn't get to run in the jumping, was called home early, but Jette got 2 very fast spectacular 'e's in the agility, with contacts I might add, of course she got contacts!!!

I just laughed, what do you do?

Snow at Easter did someone say??????


Here's a clip of us having fun at hydro....

...someone's got a birthday!!!

Willow:
Happy Birthday to me!!! I got 12 birthday bumps and lovely lamb bones to chomp on, what could be better than that!! Hip, Hip Hooray!! 12 years old today :-)

It's been a bit on the cold side for me, mum's wrapped me up and we've managed a couple of hydro visits, they make me feel a lot better and help the wonky leg. It was Hare N Hounds in Feb but I stayed at home, warm and cosy. Mum came home early and I got my own special walk and Jette did well and got 10th in the jumping, mum got her 'e'd in the ABC cos she forgot the course ha ha! Numptie mum :-)

Flynn the 'special' boy is still training mum says, she keeps at it but says they just aren't gelling yet as a team, so will just stick with it, he enjoy the training but not a weave in sight!!

This is how cold it was at HNH, soooo glad I stayed home!!

Hope it warms up for Easter, we're going camping!!!

Flippin' heck it's freeeeezing...!

Not posted in a few weeks, been quite busy, had our last Grade 2 show at Hare N Hounds, Jette celebrated pinging in real style, was very giddy indeed. Jumping was a 'challenging' course, walked it loads of times and was pleased to get round even with the last pole down boo hoo ha ha!! Still got 3rd, only 1 clear round.
Finally got Honey cuddles, what a gorgeous girlie she is, just love her and might have to kidnap her....awwwwwwh! Claire and Bella got 3rd place in Grade 5 Agility, what superstars breaking that Collie/ABC mould :)
Totally deserving to be there!! Go Grade 6 at this rate!!
Also Mr Tim Ginger-lugs got a clear in the anysize, what a superstar!!!!

The next weekend was looking bit agility-less so managed to get a reserve place on the Laura Chudleigh training day at Sicklinghall which came up due to bad weather. It was Grades 1-3,very technical I thought, really also very good even if I did find it difficult in places, got a couple of very positive things to build on. Jette was good and very patient with me as her numptie mum ha ha!

Then we had Lucy training, also for Jette, and my goodness did that girl fly!! She just responds so well to Lucy, she's confident, drivey, happy, what a fabulous session and what a shame these have come to an end. It's taught me so much and I'm really grateful to both Lucy for coming over and braving the horrid M62, and Brenda for organising it.

Flynn is back in regular training and I might be on the way to cracking my handling with him. I need to be very calm and quiet and smooth...not an easy task after Jette lol who is very racey-chasey! All the ground work is still paying off and hoping to start weave training soon with him when the ground frees up from the hard frosts. He's a clever big boy who loves to train, might keep him as my secret weapon...the dog that trains but never runs, 00-Flynn!!

Hare N Hounds this weekend...wonder if we'll get there? Snow's on the way, might be sledging instead, no matter, will still be fun :-)

Here's a pic of Willow an ex-student of mine drew for me...

Happy New 2012!!!

Mum:
well woke up new Year's Day and felt great...not felt like this for ages, really full of life and very positive about everything despite all the rubbish stuff going on and the awful weather, up to our eyes in mud and darkness...but there felt to be a hint of Spring in the air even though it chucked it down all day lol!!

Flynn:
I've not had much to say lately, been playing with mum and toys a lot but Wednesday night lo and behold we were back at training!!! Mum said I was a very good boy, even though she's put me back in the young dog class so I'm not overfaced with all those obstacles. We were seeing if I could remember what I'd been all those months ago and guess what I did!!!!

Jette:
I've been on a rest for a few weeks, can't say I like it but at last we've been back to hydro a couple of times and things seem more like they should. Mum thinks I"m getting old now and I need extra TLC, which I like but, come Saturday morning, the show bag was packed, the treats were chopped up and we were off, it was my day out!!! whoop!! Pulled mum into the arena at Wilmslow, she said she felt sick, I didn't, it was jump weave start and I was off!!! Not time to feel sick, whoop!! Tight turns, lovely flick flack and I got all my contacts, clear round, good me!!! There were hardly any clears, I got my pig's ear but then I could hear the shriek from the cafe a mile off as Kirsty, Brenda and mum were whooping!!! We'd won it!!!! We'd flippin' won it!!! and we would have been 4th in Grade 3 so what a run that was, mum was in tears, we'd made Grade 3 at last after 13 2nd places, and we won by 4 secs....wow!!!!
I also got a nice clear in the jumping and won the runoff but it was really nice my mate Maisie Mouse got a place, Brenda had a lovely run with Bryn and we all got lovely walkies together, what a great day out and we got to catch up with mates too.
What a start to the New Year!!! Happy 2012 indeed :D

Aren't I clever :D

...and time for play!!