Today, myself, hubby, Stag, Roxy, Hendrix and Tilly went to out first ever VW Festival! We had not a clue as to what to expect! Our destination was Harewood house, near Leeds for the 7th Annual VW Festival!
The furst hurdle was getting the dogs there without them being travel sick! Both Stag and Tilly are not good travellers! We have recently invested in a 3 pod terrier box for the JRT and this was their first long trip out! Each pod has a cushion in it, to make life comfortable for them! We sprayed all the bedding with DAP spray, gave Stag and Tilly some Rescue Remedy and off we set!
Apart from Hendrix crying and whimpering all the way there, the trip was uneventful, and all dogs arrived none the worse for the journey - result! Time for a quick feed and drink of water and off we headed off, into the show.
What a sight! I have never seen so many different kinds of VW cars and vans in all my life! There were shiney cars, grungey cars, campervans needing work and campervans fitted out with every home comfort imaginable!!! Engines were being revved up all over and the atmosphere was terrific!
We wondered around all the exhibits then headed for the trade stalls! We wanted to catch up with Facebook friends 'Dogs n Dubs' who sell fantastic slogan t-shirst for greyhound lovers and VW lovers! Followed by more wondering around the exhibits, a look around the house's gardens and a bite to eat. There was so much going on, circus acts, graffiti artists and competitions to name a few.
Stag, despite his fear agression towards other dogs, was very well behaved and coped exceptionally well with all the different shapes and sizes he encountered. He also got to meet some of his Facebook friends too!
The journey home was equally uneventful and so we treated outselves to a pint at our local. Well done dogs!
thanks for reading, Lisa x
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Friday, 12 August 2011
I did my first talk today!
Months ago, I was asked by my mum's 'Friendship Group' if I would give a talk on Greyhounds. It seems like a life time away, so I said yes!! How fast 9 months goes by!!!
Last night I thought I had better gather my thoughts, put some notes down on paper and work out what the heck I was going to say! I scanned through my Greyhound books, surfed the internet for interesting facts and made a plan! Then this morning, while grooming the girls, I decided to do a little booklet on each of my greyhounds, a bit about their racing career, family tree and some piccies! So off I went into town to buy something to present them in. Got back with just enough time to rattle something off on the computer, print it off and pop in the folders!! Packed up a bag with books, RGT material, poop bags, treats and off we set.
I have never been so nervous in all my life, waiting for a group of about 18 OAP's to arrive and settle in the village hall. Lucy was in her eliment, every lady that walked in wanted to stroke her and she just lapped it up. Becca was a bit more on the causious side and tried to hide. After a while, however, Becca settle and laid down (I think the bag of treats the ladies gave them helped!)
Off I went, scimming through my prompt cards at speed! I stumbled a little, back tracked and got through the history bits, interesting facts and myths! I talked about the good work the RGT do in finding homes for the retired racers and then did my presentation on my hounds (the bit I was most comfortable with!)
Myth number 1 was dispelled with the sight of Stag in my daughter's car - they loved that one! Pictures of Lucy, roaching on the bed, sitting in a kitchen chair and laid flat out on the settle had them in fits of giggles. And when I told them about Merlin, my OAP, they all just melted (probably because they understood his arthritic pains and general slowing down of pace!)
All in all, I think, for a first attempt, it went reasonably well! They asked lots of questions, a few took RGT money boxes and some of the info, so you never know! Hopefully they will spread the word about just how good greyhounds are a a valued member of the family!... And I won a jar of jam in the raffle!
Thanks for reading, Lisa x
Last night I thought I had better gather my thoughts, put some notes down on paper and work out what the heck I was going to say! I scanned through my Greyhound books, surfed the internet for interesting facts and made a plan! Then this morning, while grooming the girls, I decided to do a little booklet on each of my greyhounds, a bit about their racing career, family tree and some piccies! So off I went into town to buy something to present them in. Got back with just enough time to rattle something off on the computer, print it off and pop in the folders!! Packed up a bag with books, RGT material, poop bags, treats and off we set.
I have never been so nervous in all my life, waiting for a group of about 18 OAP's to arrive and settle in the village hall. Lucy was in her eliment, every lady that walked in wanted to stroke her and she just lapped it up. Becca was a bit more on the causious side and tried to hide. After a while, however, Becca settle and laid down (I think the bag of treats the ladies gave them helped!)
Off I went, scimming through my prompt cards at speed! I stumbled a little, back tracked and got through the history bits, interesting facts and myths! I talked about the good work the RGT do in finding homes for the retired racers and then did my presentation on my hounds (the bit I was most comfortable with!)
Myth number 1 was dispelled with the sight of Stag in my daughter's car - they loved that one! Pictures of Lucy, roaching on the bed, sitting in a kitchen chair and laid flat out on the settle had them in fits of giggles. And when I told them about Merlin, my OAP, they all just melted (probably because they understood his arthritic pains and general slowing down of pace!)
All in all, I think, for a first attempt, it went reasonably well! They asked lots of questions, a few took RGT money boxes and some of the info, so you never know! Hopefully they will spread the word about just how good greyhounds are a a valued member of the family!... And I won a jar of jam in the raffle!
Thanks for reading, Lisa x
Thursday, 11 August 2011
What have we been up to lately?
Life is certainly never dull in this household! Stag has provided endless entertainment over the last few years, he is certainly a dog of character!
When we first had the dogs, hubby used to make their feeds up on the windowsill. Now underneath this windowsil is where we stand the wellington boots - you see where this is going!!! One night Stag was to be seen, snuffling around the boots, getting quite excited! All of a sudden the silly fool stuck his head in a boot, got stuck and walked around the room with said boot on his head!!! You can bet he got the kibble though!!
When my daughter got her first car, a little Renault Clio, she was so proud of it. Washed it fairly regularly, hung pretty things from the read view mirror, that sort of thing. On one occasion she carelessly left the door of the car open! Well this was just an open invitation for several dogs, of assorted shape and size to dive in, hoping for an adventure! Stag was found, sat in the passenger seat, waiting patiently for the off!!! We have a photo somewhere but I have no idea how to upload on here!
Stag (there is a pattern forming here!) has 'acquired' many things over the years! He is a thief of professional proportions!! One lunchtime I quickly grabbed some leftovers, put the dish in the sink and dashed back to work. Now we are talking Belfast sink, glass pyrex dish and glass lid! When I got home the glass dish was on the (Stone) floor, licked clean, while the glass lid remained in the sink, in one piece!! I will never be able to explain that one!!!
The list of thieved items gets longer as the years go on! Most dogs pinch slippers, cushions perhaps, socks seem to be a favourite. But in the house hold its things like 1lt White Spirit (unopened!), a pair of scissors, daughters expensive work boots and Christmas chocolates. He has also recently 'played' with MY greyhound soft toy - the sewing kit will be coming out shortly to reintroduce nose to said toy!
Tomorrow myself and the two girly greyhounds, Lucy and Becca will be doing a talk, all about greyhounds. This is in a local village to a group of pensioners! I hope this goes well as I am not a great public speaker, but I figure the audience will just want to pet the dogs, so won't notice me at all! Stag will not be joining us on this little adventure! He would most probably pee on all their handbags, pinch all the bikkies and make terrible smells all through my talk!
When we first had the dogs, hubby used to make their feeds up on the windowsill. Now underneath this windowsil is where we stand the wellington boots - you see where this is going!!! One night Stag was to be seen, snuffling around the boots, getting quite excited! All of a sudden the silly fool stuck his head in a boot, got stuck and walked around the room with said boot on his head!!! You can bet he got the kibble though!!
When my daughter got her first car, a little Renault Clio, she was so proud of it. Washed it fairly regularly, hung pretty things from the read view mirror, that sort of thing. On one occasion she carelessly left the door of the car open! Well this was just an open invitation for several dogs, of assorted shape and size to dive in, hoping for an adventure! Stag was found, sat in the passenger seat, waiting patiently for the off!!! We have a photo somewhere but I have no idea how to upload on here!
Stag (there is a pattern forming here!) has 'acquired' many things over the years! He is a thief of professional proportions!! One lunchtime I quickly grabbed some leftovers, put the dish in the sink and dashed back to work. Now we are talking Belfast sink, glass pyrex dish and glass lid! When I got home the glass dish was on the (Stone) floor, licked clean, while the glass lid remained in the sink, in one piece!! I will never be able to explain that one!!!
The list of thieved items gets longer as the years go on! Most dogs pinch slippers, cushions perhaps, socks seem to be a favourite. But in the house hold its things like 1lt White Spirit (unopened!), a pair of scissors, daughters expensive work boots and Christmas chocolates. He has also recently 'played' with MY greyhound soft toy - the sewing kit will be coming out shortly to reintroduce nose to said toy!
Tomorrow myself and the two girly greyhounds, Lucy and Becca will be doing a talk, all about greyhounds. This is in a local village to a group of pensioners! I hope this goes well as I am not a great public speaker, but I figure the audience will just want to pet the dogs, so won't notice me at all! Stag will not be joining us on this little adventure! He would most probably pee on all their handbags, pinch all the bikkies and make terrible smells all through my talk!
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