The Xmas Bus.

Many of we Toy dog exhibitors from east Scotland (and some from much farther north) travel to the Championship shows down south by private coach (or bus, as we call it) and, of all the trips, the one to the Ladies Kennel Association Championship Show (LKA) held in the NEC at Birmingham counts as one of the favourites as we always have a Christmas party on board, with heaps of food and drink (mainly soft, and wine) a lucky dip and a raffle and the inside of the coach seasonally decorated to get us in the mood.
This year we had just left the Forth Road Bridge car park, our starting point, when it was evident something was amiss with the vehicle. We were being thrown up out of our seats and it felt as though the wheels were square. There was no way my stomach would have survived many miles, never mind the distance to Birmingham, to say nothing of the discomfort to the dogs aboard. The driver was forced to stop at the first available services and summon a replacement coach. Luckily, we were reasonably close to the depot and after a wait of about 3/4 of an hour we were ready to transfer all belongings to the new coach and resume the journey.
It was raining steadily on arrival at the showground so it was a long trudge through streams and puddles till we reached the warmth of the buildings. Thank goodness we hadn't already changed into our showing gear!
I was showing my own Swallow and her litter sister, Emma, (Meerwings A Butterfly Story), still owned by her breeder and my friend, Carole Paul, and, although both bitches have been very successful in the showring so far, it is never a sure thing they will be placed. Luck was smiling on us as both won their classes and Swallow went on to win her 1st. CC. Emma already has a Reserve ticket from a previous show.
Incidentally, I had left my own drinking water on the bus and went to buy a bottle at the show. "That will be £1.60", said the salesgirl and I said, "Well, you can keep it". That is what I call daylight robbery for something I can buy at home for under 40 pence, and made do with the remains of the water from Carole's dog bottle!
The party started after we were reloaded into the bus, and we were ready for a sleep after consuming vast amounts of sausage rolls, chicken bits, cocktail sausages, crisps, savoury eggs. clootie dumpling, Christmas cake, Stollen, chocolate things and many others along with an appropriate amount of beverage.
We reached the car park at the Bridge just after 12.30am Sunday morning and it was eventually almost 2am by the time I fell into bed.
It had been a great day!