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October 2009

Dear Irish Terrier Friends,

When I last wrote we were setting off for Wales to visit our dear friend who walked Zu and Beeg in their puppy days and her equally dear Irish Terrier Seanna. Karen is Danish and has an extraordinary and instinctive love of dogs and they for her. She’s like the Pied Piper with the trail of dogs behind her. It is a long winding drive from Ross on Wye through the Brecon Beacons and down to Fishguard and seemed to take forever. But the coast is breathtakingly beautiful and the air as bright and clear as champagne. We ran about on the beach and seemed to be cheerful and refreshed in minutes.

 

It was such a very happy few days and Zu and Beegie were ecstatic to see Karen again. Beegie especially reverted to complete puppyhood running around her digging trenches in the sand at her feet and chasing about with Seanna. We had some wonderful walks following the cliff paths. There was no doubt left in anyone’s mind that Karen and Seanna are still vivid and greatly loved friends – oh far more than that! I suspect that my ‘best beloveds’ abandoned me to get on with enjoying the view, while they renewed their membership of Karen’s pack.

 

Do have a look at the new Irish Terrier Association website. It is full of information and very easy on the eye. You can follow the link from our website. It was set up by Susan and John Seabridge who are leading Breeders and a huge asset to Irish Terriers. They have a lifelong understanding of the dog world accepting the ups and downs of the Show Ring and have developed the distinguished and distinctive Sujoncla line of terriers. They are such good sports and I always love Susan’s comment ‘Our Show dogs tend not to get the treats that most pets do, that’s why they must enjoy the Show Ring like a trip to the seaside’ and her dogs do.

 

They run the wonderful Fun Day at Roade every year with great skill and good humour. I decided not to take the dogs with me this year. Beegie has won the sausage race so many times that I thought she should retire and give someone else a chance.

 

Unlike Zuli who would have nothing whatever to do with it, Beegie has adored the races and the fancy dress from the first day. I was sad to leave her behind but it did give me time to concentrate on selling books and catching up with friends. There were some lovely puppies paraded by their proud owners and a huge class of obedience – good heavens! ‘Obedience’ as you know has passed me by. We’ve always just trundled along together with a bit of give and take and not setting the bar too high. I do wonder whether it’s the children or the pups who delight me most at the Fun Day.

 

We’ve been looking after Isobel and Nonnie again which is great fun and always ups the tempo. I remember how, as children, we used to play the fool when our cousins came to stay so tend to forgive the odd spot of rioting.

 

They were not pleased to be left upstairs one morning while I was teaching a movement class and ‘dismantled’ my bed…pillows…covers in a heap before moving on into the bathroom to throw towels and bath mats about. There was dead silence when I went in. Not much remorse I fear but four brown dogs giving me the well? / and? ‘look’. Are we the only family who suffer the odd payback time?

 

The trouble is I’m never quite sure whether they think it’s revenge or a work of art and neat piece of work well done. There’s always a deal of tail wagging and supervising while I’m cursing and tidying up.

 

I have found a few ticks on the dogs this autumn. Those grey ones which balloon up if left. They are easily removed with a dab of nail varnish remover applied with a cotton bud or a blob of Vaseline if it’s near the eye. They ‘pick off’ fairly easily but Zuli is always left with a raised place which takes days to disappear.

 

I will leave the Minstead show for the next letter as this one has rambled on.

 

Thank you for the many lovely pic’s. Even if they don’t all make the calendar we’ll certainly put them up on the website and some we’ll save for next year. The calendar will be ready next week. The basic colour this year is the current trendy purple.

 

One last thing. I saw War Horse last night. I have a terrible weakness for animals (not just dogs) so there were a few tears. It was an incredible production – the puppet horses were so real. It brought back vivid memories of writing Jock of the Great War. Courage moves my heart almost more than anything else and there was plenty around at that time. Do see War Horse if you can. We did wonder if we were sitting where the Queen had sat the night before!

Many greetings, my love to the dogs,

Lucy