Carpe.....

I have decided to use my Performance Psychology diplomas on myself and the dogs (!), and have chosen Carpe Diem as my motto. Amber and Bryn have chosen Carpe Ossium - unfortunately usually the same ossium....; Corker has chosen Carpe Pinnatum, but only while we are out for a walk and he has flushed the local wild pheasant and grouse a few times.......

Take a Break

I've been promising myself a break away in a proper hotel (!) and also some 121 training with Bryn to try to sort out a few handling issues I have with him.
So off Bryn and I went to The Long Mynd Hotel at Church Stetton (http://www.eurobookings.com/church-stretton-hotels-gb/longmynd-hotel.html?label=gg_en_bh_33990-united-kingdom-church-stretton-longmynd-hotel&gclid=CPLf6d7Hv50CFVVu4wody2Dgrg) for a couple of nights, and a couple of hours training in wonderful scenery with Lee Gibson (http://www.leegibsontraining.co.uk/)
Just don't ask about the journey - either way - or driving over the Burway from Church Stetton to Lee's place the other side of the Long Mynd.....
The hotel was set in the most marvellous location - high on a promontory over-looking the town, with views across to Wenlock Edge, and surrounded by its own woodlands with wonderful walks. Bryn thought the grounds were paradise - though he wasn't so sure about the elavator in the hotel... The hotel had commissioned Dave Bytheway, chainsaw sculptor, to carve animals and birds on fallen logs, tree stumps, tree branches as well as a standing circle of 5 foot high beavers (?) in a glade near the hotel, so taking a walk was fascinating for me too as I tried to spot all the carvings - and failed! Have to go again!!
Lee lives and trains in a beautiful tranquil valley of the Long Mynd, with a stream flowing through the bottom of the vale, and only the sounds of birds, sheep, the wind to be heard. It's idyllic - but I'd hate to try to get there in winter. Bryn and I had two single hours of training, and I proved how unco-ordinated I could be while trying really hard to get mouth, hands and feet in perfect sync. Lee was sooo patient with me! Between sessions I had far too large a lunch at a real olde-world traditional pub, but I did manage to work out what I was supposed to have been doing in the morning. I think I got it slightly better in the afternoon session, but it might have been wishful thinking on my part.
We were both shattered when we got back to the hotel, so had a really relaxing evening. I think we were both ready for bed. However, Bryn took exception to the owls hooting outside, so we spent most of the night in a whispered tussel to stop him barking and waking up the whole hotel. Light on...light off...light on...light off...... neither of us felt much like a long walk the next morning.
Which was just as well as the journey home, which should have taken 3 hours, took 6....Don't ask about the journey!!!!

Signing off in style!

Lune Valley today was Amber's last proper competition. Although not quite 10 years old, and therefore relatively young to be retiring from proper competition in agility, she has had her share of health problems in the past and I want her to continue to enjoy a good quality of life. As spinning between obstacles exacerbates her back problems, I have decided to curtail her agility - effectively to retire her from competition.

How delighted was I to discover that her last 6/7 Jumping course was our idea of jumping heaven! Lots of changes of direction and pull throughs and pass-by's and such like - hardly a straight line in sight. We ran first as no-one else wanted to go - it seems I was in a very small minority in actually liking the course. It was the same course as the Large 6/7 dogs had run, and there were only a handful of clear rounds. That seemed to have put off the Medium handlers a fair bit.

Well, I can't say that it all flowed smoothly but we managed a clear round much to my surprise and delight.......and I was even more surprised and delighted to receive a 4th place rosette!!