The first dog was heaved up on to the table.

The next part of the line waited

...as did the last part

..in various poses.

This young handler earnestly answers the judge's questions.

Is the lead attached to the proper end?

"C'mon"

Mission accomplished ....and yes, it was attached to the head end!

Extinct Volcano Starts to Rumble?

An Edinburgh resident, last week, routinely switched on her TV one morning while preparing for work and heard that Edinburgh Airport had been closed due to volcanic dust. "Oh My God.........not Arthur's Seat!!!"..she thought.
It hasn't erupted in a very, very, very long time.................but then this unpronouncable volcano in Iceland has lain dormant for 200 years!

Recent Successes

Four of my dogs have reached the final stages of recent shows.

Little Maisie was Best Toy Puppy at Ross & Cromarty, where, also, Swallow was Best Toy,(judge Mrs Jan Rual) and old Spencer was Best Vintage in Show, (judge Mr Gordon Rual).

At Perth Open Show yesterday Maisie was again Best Toy Puppy and Mo this time was Best Toy. Judge was Mr M House for Breed classes and Mr R Sansom for the Group. As it was the 125th anniversary show there were beautiful crystal glasses presented to all the Group winners along with their rosette.

Maisie at Ross & Cromarty show, aged 6 months.

Photo by Sue Gray (Gennasus)

Swallow, recently, in the back yard.

Spencer, aged 12 years 5 months, in the back yard.

Mo, 3 years, with his prize and rosette from Perth show.

A closer look at the heavy lead crystal glass.

Brasso-ed Off

I was quite happy when I set off on my shopping mission but ended up feeling like something out of the ark..(maybe I am but I don't like to think it!)
All I was looking for was a tin of Brasso...you know, the stuff you use to clean your brass ornaments. I have quite a few, most having come to me after the death of my mother who used to clean the brass once a month. This fell into abeyance once they came to live with me as I am not an avid polisher or cleaner. This morning, on a rare dusting spree, I noticed all the brass was looking just a tiny bit sad and feeling unusually energetic I set about collecting dusters and .........darn it, the Brasso was finished. As the village shop was shut I drove to the neighbouring village/small town. The little supermarket had none on the shelf. I asked the lady behind the till if they stocked it. "Oh, no, nothing like that," she said,raising her eyebrows and sucking in a sharp breath. What had I asked for...heroin??? I then tried two small general stores then the chemist, all to no avail, but, the chemist' s assistant told me to try the "Wee Bakery"!!
And that is where I found it............Well, blow me!

Small Fry!

At a recent show we met up with this little dog. I suppose it is what some people call a "teacup papillon". Obviously something has gone wrong in its creation as the rest of the litter were normal sized, as indeed he/she was when born, but just failed to grow on.

Pretty, petite face.

I need a thick jumper for the chillier days!

In the huff?

Come along, Tich!

My World--Loch Leven in Kinross-shire, Scotland.

This is Loch Leven, with Bishop Hill in the background, and is the biggest shallow water loch in Lowland Scotland and was famed for its fishing with major international fishing competitions being held here. Loch Leven pink fleshed trout were world famous. Sadly, the fishing declined when the fish stock was depleted by algal bloom,caused by too much phosphorus being washed into the water from the surrounding area. Much has been done to improve the quality of the water and fish stocks have improved.

A swan investigating "his world"!

A pair of geese.

The green algal bloom in evidence today as it has been warm over the weekend and this has the effect of multiplying the algae.

For other photos and stories from around the world look here.

Ne'er Cast A Cloot...

More signs of Spring in the garden and, at long last, today the local temperature has crept up to double figures (just). It felt so warm that I cast the vest aside for the season! Mind you I'm still not convinced that this warmer weather is here to stay, as my mother used to say, "We won't get warm weather till after the Links Market." This is a huge funfair which is held on the Promenade at Kirkcaldy in Fife, somewhere round about the third week in April and when I think back to my childhood and the annual pilgrimage there, we were always well wrapped up as the biting easterly winds were usually much in evidence. This is the major gathering of the funfair travelling people before they all go their separate ways for the summer season. I well remember having to trail my little brother with me when I went and was allowed some time, with my friend and my older brother, on our own. What did little brother do straight off?....He won a tiny goldfish in a small polythene bag with a carrying string which had to be carted around on all the rides, twirled around on the waltzer and down the helter skelter.........poor little thing (the goldfish) must have been terrified out of its wits!

We also loved the boxing booths where we watched these old looking punch drunk boxers with their cauliflower ears and swollen faces staggering around and we also loved to listen to the incessant chat of the barrowboys selling their wares from the back of their vans, holding the china cups up to the light bulb to let you see how fine it was. I was always a bit mystified by that. I still have a few saucers left from one such teaset which my father bought there.

And, do you know, it did seem to get warmer after that.........or so I remember!

UK Toydog Championship Show.-Main winners' photos

It was held at the Stafford County Showground halls and the Papillon judges were:
Bitches-Miss E Patrick (Volpecula)
Dogs----Mrs Q. Bruce (Tijuana)

There were 179 dogs entered.

Main Dog Winners.

Main Bitch Winners

Reserve Bitch CC- Ger. Ch. Denmore Iconsgabi--Mr S. Carroll & Mr J Newman

Reserve Dog CC Powdermill Touch The Stars--Mrs & Miss A Weston

Best Veteran in Breed--Wee Lucy at Adinaken (Mrs. K Smith)

Best Pup in Breed...Denemore Story's Echo at Tussalud (Mrs K Stewart and Miss K Stewart-Knight)

Bitch CC-Getupandgo de Costalino (Mrs I & Mr G Robb & Mr D and Mrs C Roe)

Dog CC and Best of Breed--Ch. Lafford Fly Me Too Farleysbane--Mr I & Mrs S. Victor & Miss E McLaughlin.

The Show

The two pups were very well behaved all (well, most) of the day and during the journey. There was no peeing, poohing or puking in their cages and stood and walked pretty well (for a first show) while being judged. I'm not counting Maisie barking furiously at a pug in a nearby ring. I was pleased with their placings, Maisie coming 4th out of fourteen and Roley ending up 5th out of nine in his Minor puppy class.

As we had plenty of time between the end of judging and the coach's departure we decided to try to take some photos of the dogs outside on a grassy patch. My friend Jennifer's two were easy-peasy and sat on a little wall by some flowers. Look down to see the results of trying to photograph my two little ones.

Roley jumped

and twisted

but, finally they stood side by side.

Lucy and little Pippa showed how it should be done, sitting quietly on the wall.

I hope nobody spotted us!

Our Initiation.

Maisie (left) and Roley before the bath.

"We've been stuck in the bath and a hose (=spray) turned on us and some sort of soapy stuff rubbed all over, especial attention being given to our ears and bums and finally after being wrapped in a towel (hope nobody saw us looking like that!) we were subjected to something puffing out warm air. That bit was ok."

Little do they know it yet but they will soon be stuck in a coach for several hours as we make our way to their first show.......a championship show at that...but as they have never been to a show they won't know the difference.

How will they react? I've no idea, but they have been quite outgoing at the ringcraft classes, so here's hoping! It's action stations in 2 hours time when we leave to catch the coach at the Forth Road Bridge.

Wish us luck!

Spring reaches My World.

After one of the coldest winters on record, spring seems to have arrived in our area of Scotland. Over the past few months we have seen floods, severe snowstorms with everything brought to a standstill and the longest spell of frost that any of us can remember, but finally we are emerging from bleak, brown/grey surroundings into something more colourful. The grass is beginning to green up and the spring flowers are beginning to show. First we had, and still have, the snowdrops and now, the crocuses of white, shades of purple and yellow, are in bloom. The daffodils are not yet flowering here. Perth welcomes its visitors with a wonderful display of spring flowers.
To see if spring has arrived in other parts of the world click here.