1st Minor Puppy Dog, Ringlands Spirit to Rayol (Roberts) and Best Puppy Dog.

1st Puppy Dog, Frasermar Hurricane,(Comrie-Bryant)

1st Minor Puppy Bitch, Ringlands Phantom Spirit of Amemka, (Connolly)

..and a closer view of Papplewick Pretty in Pink at Adinaken...BPIB.

1st in Open Dog, Dog CC , Best of Breed and Group 2, Feorlig Moonlight Shadow at Ringlands (Munn)

1st Post Graduate dog, Tijuana Teddy Boy (Bruce and Bruce-Jackson) and RDCC.

1st Open Bitch and Bitch CC, Jap Ch. Smileline Silenzo Faralle Sonia (Munn)

1st Limit Bitch and RBCC, Feorlig Under My Spell at Shazzabars (Miller)

North of Scotland Toydog Open show at Arbroath.

This is Pippa (Papplewick Pretty in Pink at Adinaken) belonging to Mrs. Kathy Smith and handled by daughter Jennifer, who won Reserve Best Pup in Show. Congratulations!

We had a rather blue day with Mo, Swallow and Roley winning second placings and Tass being "thrown out" of Veteran. However, good old Spencer came up trumps once again with a win in Vintage (over 10 years).

No celebrations for us last night. This is how Maisie spent the evening. First she had to wash "the boss'" face as he'd been glued to the television, watching the World Masters snooker final and had no time for anything else.

She then went on to the hair and scalp..

did a bit of bird watching out of the window....

then had to clean the chair!

It's a dog's life and it's hard!

Look Out!

You just never know who is behind the next tree stump.

(spotted on Kinnoull Hill, Perth)

Today's walk up the Glen.

The pups and Spencer set off.

The fields on the Law are looking much greener now. Spring has truly arrived!

Sometimes the path runs alongside the burn

and sometimes we are high above it.

The burn water tastes good.

Spencer doesn't like to get his feet wet!

Maisie on the stairs.

Time for home.

10 bob or 50p

Prior to decimalisation in 1971 in UK we were used to paper notes but that all changed with the decimalisation of our currency and now we have (if we're lucky!) a heavy purseful of coins, which, on the plus side, do not wear away or become torn.

While rummaging in a drawer this morning I came across a wallet with four 10 shilling notes and for the benefit of younger viewers, as they say on the telly, it was written "10/-". I used to think 10/- was a lot of money. 50p is the equivalent nowadays and what will it buy?..................not much!

I remember being given a ten shilling note to take to school with me to buy a loaf of bread, as we'd, unusually, run out at home and the baker's van was not due for a few days. Mother didn't drive and she'd never ask father to do any shopping for household stuff. That's just how it was then.

Anyway, I had this note with me on my way to school in Perth and I intended buying the bread on the way back before I boarded the train for home. When I got into the shop I discovered I'd lost the money. I came out in a sweat! What would my mother say when I told her there was no change and no bread as I'd lost the cash? Could I run away to London or catch a plane to the Arctic or, may be better as it's warmer, Australia, she'd never find me there! I retraced my steps back up the pavement as I remembered going into another shop with my friend in the morning and buying a comic. To my great relief someone had handed the newsagent the ten shilling note I'd dropped on the floor. My faith in human nature was restored and I would never worry about anything ever again! Nothing could be any worse than losing 10/-!

My Prize.

Maisie and her rosette after winning Best Pup in Match at our Ringcraft class last week.

Let me have a closer look!

It looks good enough to eat!

Close Encounter With A Big Cat!

It happened today in broad daylight as I was returning home from a walk with four of the dogs. Mo spotted it just inside a garden gateway and, doing what dogs do with cats, he made to chase it but was restrained by his lead. Before I could say "Jack Robinson" it was at him and the other three dogs joined in the fray. No, it wasn't one of those "big cats", just a very tall, extremely long legged, striped, large, domestic tabby, only it didn't seem too domesticated. It set about my bunch in a very frenzied way, front legs flashing out and clawing and as I pulled them homeward it came after us with war on its mind. I tried shouting at it but to no avail, it still pursued us. To say I was mindful of our safety, my own included , would be an understatement. Luckily it gave up as we neared our house.
Tass was the only real casualty--it had clawed her nose.
From now on............Beware of Large Cats!

Junior Handling (age 6-11years) at Perth Show.

I've been having problems trying to post photos yesterday. First they appeared then they vanished for good so I'm having another go.


There was a fairly big class as this was a qualifying heat for the Junior Handling Finals to be held later in the year at Richmond Championship show, so competition was fierce.. As usual the abilities varied from almost complete beginner to real little "professional". Some of the latter could show us older exhibitors a thing or two about how to handle and show our dogs!
Sometimes we see a very small person trying to handle a large breed of dog which would much rather be at the ringside with "mum" and usually succeeds!

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.