SOMETHING DIFFERENT AS A HEADER.

This week I was unavailable to have the weekly visit out with Richard being involved with Discover Dogs at Crufts on both Wednesday and the first day of the show Thursday. Both days were extremely busy and must admit to being grateful on both days in getting home and putting my feet up.  We have over 200 breeds of dog on display for the public to see and ask questions of the owners about the breed.

We still own Golden Retrievers ourselves and this breed is a delight to live with.

We have shown Golden Retrievers for many years and for anyone who shows dogs the pinnacle is to get your dogs to Crufts, the step above that is to get your dog into the "big ring". This we managed in 2010 show in the final for the Pets as Therapy , PAT dog of the year for 2009.
My wife visited Rainbows Childrens Hospice for 9 years with Jody visiting the children, a job I must admit I would have found very difficult seeing these poorly children, some weeks visiting twice if she was called in by the co-ordinator. It was then a real honour when Rainbows agreed to support Jody and my wifes entry for the PAT dog of the year competition which they did. My wife had to submit photographs of Jody working with the children and numerous nomination forms had to be filled in from different departments and parents at the Hospice. A selection committee considered all the many entries and eventually finished up with the final six of which Jody was one, and this is how we made it into the big ring and coming second in the competition. I have nothing but admiration for my wife and Jody for what they achieved in helping these children through such terrible times, the love shown by them both is indescribable. 

When it came to being at Crufts, we had to visit on Friday evening to have a practise for the Saturday competition so we didn't get home until 23.30 hrs. Then we had to be back at he N.E.C. for 09.00 hrs on the Saturday where Jody and my wife were on display to the public until when she went into the ring after lunch. During this time I could sit and have a rest but my poor wife was on her feet and answering questions all day. After being in the ring they did some time on the PAT dog stand for photo's and then some time on Discover Dogs for the Kennel Club, Jody never tired of being stroked and giving love to everyone. We eventually got away from the show for 16.30 hrs to go home. Only to be up early the following day {Sunday} as it was Gundog day and Jody was being shown in Veteran bitch being 11 years old which meant she was in the show ring for 08.30 hrs so we had to be in the show for 08.00. We were all shattered and after showing I think she slept the rest of the day in her bench, except when she had visitors  and being a Golden Retriever you have to play to the crowd.

We sadly lost Jody when she was 13, she a was a real delight  to have had in our lives and with my wife did so much good for the poorly children. We still miss her.

The header image is our Golden Retriever bitch,  Jody having her photo taken on the winners rostrum at Crufts . 

My Wife and Jody in the middle of the Ring in the spotlight. 

Having received her award from Roy Barraclough, Jody then got a really good fuss from him. Jody qualified for Crufts every year from being young until when she was four she got her stud book number that meant she qualified for Crufts for life. But she always managed to be out of coat for the show bless her.

Jody at work at the Hospice, she was such a gentle dog. She also had a full coat,so not anywhere near the time for Crufts.

Jody's daughter Maddy {left} and grandson Bruce, Maddies son. Bruce having just won 5th place in Limit dog. Crufts 2011. 

RUTLAND WATER.
2nd March
Part 2.

Shelduck Drake, Shoveler Hide. Lagoon 3.

Beautiful colorful bird feeding reasonably close to the hide, read recently that the female nests in a disused rabbit warren.  

Shoveler Drake, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

This bird stood in the shallows having a preen then all of a sudden. 

All hell broke loose 

The bird then performed a perfect somersault splashing water all over the place. 

This turned into a double somersault. 

And then peace returned 

Only to start all over again and give me the opportunity change some settings so as to freeze the water droplets.

We then did a barrel roll, it was showing off by this time!! 

And this was the end of the Shoveler bath and the bird flew.  

Smew Drake, Plover Hide, Lagoon 4.

I decided to visit this hide for the Smew as seven had been reported and sure enough they were still in attendance. Unfortunately this is the position the bird was in for most of the time we were watching, 150 metres away and sleeping. 

Smew Duck, Red Head, Lagoon 4.

We had six Red Heads and one drake, wonderful to observe, but the Drake still slept on??

By this time the wind had drifted him somewhat closer. He made no effort to move himself, I'm sure if he had been much closer we would have heard him snoring!!

And then a female approached and he awoke. 

He then gave a bit of a chase, but soon thought better of it.

And then the sun came out. it was by this time getting very low in the sky with a red tinge but it helped show the beauty of this duck. 

Heron Near one of the Islands, Lagoon 4.

This Heron stood for a while with the Black Headed gulls in attendance. 

Little Egret, Lagoon 4.

Pair of Ringed Plover, Lagoon 4.

Just these two sat on the island to the front of us and spotted by Richard.

 Heavily cropped image of the left bird.

Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed your visit as much as I did in the getting of the images.

I hope you will forgive the self indulgence with my inclusion of the early images showing our dogs. Since this time my wife and I had a visit to Africa in 2010 and she  caught a Virus and has been poorly ever since, this means she can no longer carry out this work that she loved so much.