I should know better

And off we went, heading into the dark motorway at 2am on the intrepid dogbus.   Tess Trueheart and Sparkle had never been on a bus before, but fortunately they decided to suffer in silence.  The dog which gives you a running commentary on the journey, or decides to sing you the songs of his people, is not well loved on a bus at night.

I managed on and off with all the parphenalia of showing, which was a relief, and we were allowed to park next to the entrance.  Right inside was the Papillon ring, with toilets and a coffee stall conveniently at hand.   I decided I  might enjoy this.

Well, given that winter draws on, Sparkle , after due consideration has decided it is time to cast his coat.  He showed impeccably, but we moved down the ring in our own personal snowglobe as he showered hair impartially on all ( and especially on the judge).   The judge was not appreciative. 

Sparkle evidently didn`t care.  He is convinced that he will look good naked, a mistake made by many males.   He will be sexting next.

"I`m so beautiful I don`t need a coat!"   Sparkle

Tess Trueheart, who loves to be outdoors, showed with her usual daft enthusiasm and was 2nd.  Both were having a really good time.   They adore shows – sometimes I wonder why, especially when I am tired and trying not to think about the journey home. They have no such worries.

Much gossip to catch up on, quiet amusement about that judge who bought a title, and a great deal of comment  - not about the judging, but the toilets.  Clean, scented with vacuum flush, sweet music and pot plants.  That this created a sensation should tell you a lot about what dog show toilets are usually like…and how much they mean to exhibitors.   I will not go  into details.  Suffice it to say that in one region the provider of toilet facilities is a Mr Pew, and that name is highly appropriate.

Safe home, but very late, already thinking about the next show, across the Irish Sea.   I will see Mr Wag and Cupcake again, and Melanie is going, possibly to stay.   As she is inclined to throw up when she even catches sight of a car, I have great worries about the ferry and have laid in a stock of pills.  The whole thing will be a huge culture shock for her.

I`ve told her it will be a Great Adventure.

A quiet slide into autumn, with not much excitement here.   I always feel winter is near when my yearly order of coal arrives, and that was today.  Only 2 tons this time, as last winter was mild (as I hope this one will be!)  Hard winters here involve being snowed in, and possibly towing in supplies on a sledge if it gets really bad.

Meanwhile the sun shines, and I heaved the shiny new tarp over about 3 tons of  coal. Wild excitement from the dogs.  They screeched at the Big New Thing, and had hysterics when Solitaire decided to investigate it and only discovered how shiny it was when she slid off, landing on her ample bottom and
looking very embarrassed.

My show team ready for home - Sparkle, Plush and Tess Trueheart

 

Shortly now Dancer and Melanie will be off to new homes, where I hope they will settle.  Dancer`s one brain cell will be working overtime when faced with such a big change, and I hope he will cope.

And I have just a few shows left this year.  I am off to one on the dreaded Dog Bus, which I haven`t attempted for a long time.  I just hope I can physically manage it.  My show team, Sparkle, the dirt magnet,   Tess Trueheart the happy airhead, and Plush the capable, have no doubts at all.  They are, as always, very full of it.   I hope for a better result with Tess than last time out, when her worst fears were realised – when I asked her to walk down the mat, 15 huge golden retrievers  in the next ring turned as one and stared at her.  Like her mother, Tess produced the predictable reaction – climb up my leg and ask to go home – now!  But there should be no big dogs this weekend, and it will be outdoors, which she likes.     And Sparkle and Plush couldn`t care less if there were velociraptors in the next ring.    We shall be hopeful.  Pointless confidence is the true mark of the dog shower.  The next show will be The One…

Well, maybe.