Bounces with Beagles

Yesterday Nicky and the Dughallmors took us somewhere new. We went out along the west side of Findhorn Bay and it was a beautiful walk. The tide was really high but the water was flat calm, the sun was shining and there wasn't a breath of wind. I suppose it's technically an estuary and there was plenty of bird life.

The point at where the trees end on the left of the photo below is approximately where the Beags very quietly disappeared! Obviously following some wonderful smells. Luckily they didn't go very far so Nicky didn't have to go scouring the woods for them! Apparently you can get GPS collars.......we agreed that these sound a good idea. All Beagles should come with one!

Some geese took off when they heard us coming, Jana goes to investigate

On the way back with 'spooky' goose noises behind her

The Beagles head out for a swim

Gabbi and Jana think a paddle is enough

Snoop was loving it

Deep enough

Hovering

A perfect Beagle sized hole in the fence - this was just before they all silently vanished!

Jana and Alfie doing semaphore with their ears

Louis at Bon Accord

Louis after being awarded Best Veteran at Bon Accord.

Bon Accord and Euan time

It's been a busy weekend here. Yesterday was Bon Accord Open show, fairly local for us as it is held at Thainstone Auction mart, Inverurie - just over an hour away. It turned out to be a very successful show too.

Rosa won her class, Pansy didn't manage a red but did get placed 4th. Jana was next in the ring and the timings worked out perfectly so that I didn't have to rush from the toy to the gundog ring, something that often seems to happen. There were 6 present in Jana's post graduate vizsla class and I was really pleased when she was placed 2nd! The other dogs all looked so nice that I was sure we'd be getting flung out! She was also in the Any Variety Gundog Yearling class and I was so chuffed when she won it.......and I think there were 9 in it!! What a great day for her.

Not to be outdone, Louis won the Toy Veteran class and this meant we had to stay until the end and compete for Best Veteran in Show. He won this award at Bon Accord last year and a repeat performance seemed unlikely so you can imagine just how pleased I was when he did in fact win!!

Photos below but I'll hopefully add a few more from the show soon.

Rosa wins her class

Best Veteran in Show

Ian, Lynne and Euan were up visiting for the weekend and we had a nice walk today, followed by the obligatory farm shop lunch (mmmmm.....carrot cake) and some fun in the play area for Euan. Jana had a great time racing with Jura and Ky.

Jura was very interested in this icy puddle


Jura running.........


.........then slamming on the brakes. Click on the photo to see just how she is using her back legs.

Is this an agility obstacle Mum?

Ian, Euan and Lynne

The swing - Euan's favourite.

Peek-a-boo

The paps went out all together later in the day.

The race for the ball

Throw it!

Best Veteran yesterday, back to leader of the pack today

Still catching up

Tuesday was a beautiful day, as you can see from the photos below, which were taken on our walks that day. Jana just loves a stubble field......what a pity it will be getting ploughed some time soon.

Now that Gypsy is free from her motherhood responsibilities she was able to join us on walks again. It was the first time she'd been out since they were born and she really enjoyed the freedom.

Teasel on the right with her 'mad happy' face

Jana enjoying a favourite game of 'let's wind Louis up'

Freedom!

My ball!

Happiness is.......a vizsla in a stubble field

Manchester show

Our eventful weekend.

I went down to Manchester Champ Show with two friends in a motorhome. With the three of us and seven dogs there was a slight lack of space but we coped fine and had a good time. Manchester show is actually held at the county showground at Stafford, which always seems to be damp and squelchy, but being there in a motorhome is one of the best ways to do a show, especially when you are doing two days, as we were.

Rosa and Pansy were on the first day but, although Rosa was short-listed in a large class, it wasn't to be their day as they both went cardless. Jana did manage to get placed the following day but it was a rather unexciting 5th. She was on very good form though and seemed to enjoy her time in the ring, it was good to see her tail well up as she can sometimes look a bit miserable.

Our journey home started off well and all was going to schedule until we were in the Borders and pretty much in the middle of nowhere. This was where the motorhome engine started to make slight noises, followed by a loud roaring and then started belching out smoke! We pulled onto the hard shoulder and got out quickly. Morag was snoozing in the back when this all happened and was woken by shouts of "Get out quick, we're on fire"! The smoke did stop once the engine was turned off and things calmed down a bit. It was all quite dramatic but I'm afraid I have no photos, in the rush to get out I didn't grab my camera........I'm sure a really dedicated blogger would have!! Of course, I could have got Morag to stand in the doorway and pose but I doubt she would have been that keen.

Once things had calmed down, we sat for quite some time waiting for recovery. A mechanic arrived but was unable to fix the motorhome and so we were towed to the nearest services, which were about 10 miles away. The van towing was actually smaller than the motorhome and I did worry that it too might break down as it seemed to struggle, especially on some of the hills. It wasn't a fun experience for Elizabeth trying to steer and break and we nearly had kittens when we were towed out virtually into the path of a huge lorry on a roundabout!

We made it to the services and then had to wait for a recovery lorry to come a long way south to collect us and transport us back home. He arrived at about 2am and we spent the rest of the journey in the cab of the lorry trying to get a bit of sleep. The dogs had to stay in the motorhome but they seemed none the worse for the excitement. At one point I didn't think I would get back home in time for work but did actually make it with about an hour to spare! The journey back from the show should have taken around 8 hours but in the end was nearer 18!!

Certainly a show we won't forget in a hurry.

Just enough room for us all!

Morag winning with Logie

Being towed

Desmond....still doing time

I have a bit of catching up to do, after something of an eventful weekend. I'll start with news of Des.

As you can see, he no longer has to put up with the bulky support dressing, which came off last Thursday. It left a nasty looking pressure sore on his elbow but that is now healing up nicely. Although he has his leg back, he still has to put up with cage rest for another 10 days or so and then it will be a gradual build up of exercise. The new 'go faster' Des doesn't really understand the need to take things steadily and we've a job to stop him hurtling around the garden......he can go pretty fast on three legs! The good news is that he is using the leg ( except when he wants to go quickly and three is easier) which must mean it's well on the mend and not too painful.

Puppies' progress

The pups are now 6 weeks old and doing well. This is such a fun age.

On the move......