5. December 2009 by admin.

3 Dec 2009

We arrived home on Sunday and Tony started rehearsals on Monday. After a week of clean, civilised living I was straight back to being knee deep in mud (well almost). The drive that leads to our stables at home was under water on Sunday and I understand that it had been like this all last week. The donkeys were unimpressed. They don’t do rain as they have a different coat to horses. They insisted on making their grievances known by standing by the gate and bellowing as opposed to waiting sensibly in the field shelter until I appeared. And it is soooooo cold.

I have had the usual “can we have an article today please” emails, plus a meeting with the manufacturer of our new dog harnesses and interviews to do regarding the publication of the new book - and I have only been home for a few days! In New Canaan (where we were recently in the US), there is a great community programme that is aimed at enabling the older residents to remain in their homes for as long as possible, offering lifts to the shops and arranging a whole host of social activities. It’s called ‘Staying Put in New Canaan’ and as I was walking across the top 26 acre field in the company of bouncing, muddy dogs, with the biting wind numbing my face and ears and the rain beginning to fall once again, I was tempted to return and see if I could also sign up.

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5. December 2009 by admin.

27 Nov 2009

I think Thanksgiving is a very civilised holiday. There is excitement, good food and great company but without the stress of a manic build up. Unless you are a turkey of course! We spent a wonderful day yesterday with Jane’s friends who invite us every year and we walked around their lovely neighbourhood with all the children in the afternoon before heading back for pie, pie, pie. Apple pie, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie. Yup; we went pie mad. (How weird does that word look now that I have written it several times?)

We headed out to Westport today to buy new light fittings and visit a jewellery store. On the way back to the car we all played a silly game of tag as compensation to the boys for dragging them round the shops. We were trying to run around the grass on one side of the car park but I had boots with heels and Tony and Jane had heavy winter coats so we weren’t exactly fleet of foot. ‘Base’ was a piece of modern art, and the trees provided some much needed sanctuary at times, but the more we laughed, the more ridiculous our running became. As we were playing we all noticed a funny smell in the air but desperate not to be the next ‘it’, we paid little attention to the acrid aroma. The game went on for some time until the combination of hysterics and vain attempts to run across unlevel ground to ‘base’ proved all too much. We stopped and turned to face the car and our jaws dropped. Another car in the parking lot, just a few metres away from where we had been playing, had flames flickering from under the bonnet. The Fire Chief’s car, the police and a huge fire truck were all in attendance and the area was filled with fire-fighters and on lookers. So intent were we on running round in circles we had been completely oblivious to the whole thing!

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5. December 2009 by admin.

24 Nov 2009

We are now in New Canaan in Connecticut and Tony is busy building Lego with my nephews. We left New York yesterday after a perfect day, catching the train from Grand Central, which is one of the most stunning stations ever built. The Museum of Modern Art was a great success although it was a while before we tracked down the Kandinskys. They had been moved to the upper floor for the Bauhaus exhibition. On the way around the museum I came across my all time favourite painting - Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh - and I had to keep returning to the fifth floor to stand in front of this rich, glorious piece of work. I have always loved Van Gogh having been enthralled by a visit to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam as a child.   

MOMA is also home to this lovely Magritte entitled Empire of Lights 11 which Tony and I were both drawn to. I don’t think it is particularly typical of Magritte’s usual style but perhaps I simply didn’t pay enough attention in History of Art class.

It’s heaven here with my family and New Canaan is such a great place to visit. Once the Alien Force Super Duper Flying Whizzing Lego thing has been constructed we will all head out for supper.

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5. December 2009 by admin.

23 Nov 2009

Yippeeeeeee. I am in my favourite city in the world. I adore New York. Tony and I had a very civilised flight from Heathrow with our usual airline who certainly look after us well. We have a wonderful view from the hotel overlooking Central Park and had a lovely evening yesterday with my sister Jane and my nephews, Max and Cameron, who called into our hotel on their way to Grand Central Station following their visit to City Hall. All is good and I am one happy bunny. Tony and I are heading out for breakfast before doing a little shopping. We are also going to visit MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) as Tony wants to see some work by Kandinsky as research for his upcoming theatre appearance in the play Six Degrees of Separation. It is set in New York on the other side of Central Park, which is partly why we are here.

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5. December 2009 by admin.

21 Nov 2009

I had a dog workshop at the farm today and it was the most peaceful one I think I have ever taught. I usually have some vocal, reactive or nervous dogs (which is why their owners come) who always settle during the course of the workshop, but today it was peace from start to finish. The majority of the participants were involved with working dogs, had a canine therapy background, or were involved in overseas charitable work organising ‘Trap, Neuter, Release’ programmes or veterinary clinics, and all the dogs were laid back from the start. By the end of the day, they were virtually comatose.

It was a perfect end to a frantic week and I am already in the holiday spirit. I really should be packing but am so relaxed after such a lovely day that I am sitting here watching television with Tony and Emily (who has come back to Bath to house/animal sit) and writing my blog instead. I did have one heart stopping moment earlier when I remembered that Tony and I had completely forgotten to fill in the on-line visa application form but I think we are all sorted now, bar the empty suitcases.

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5. December 2009 by admin.

17 Nov 2009

I spent a lovely day in London yesterday working at one of my favourite animal charities, the Mayhew Animal Home. I taught a short staff workshop and worked with two dogs and a gorgeous kitten who dislikes being held. The kitten was hand raised and it can be a problem when any animal is raised without a mother and/or siblings as they miss a vital part of their social education. They can develop behavioural problems around humans as they mature, becoming pushy and somewhat challenging, and this particularly applies to horses. It can also occur if a horse is over handled as a foal and is not given the opportunity to play with youngsters of a similar age.

Daisy joined me for the afternoon which was great and we had sushi together at Paddington before I caught the train back home. I have a busy week ahead with the usual writing, work and emails and am looking forward to Sunday morning when Tony and I travel to the USA to spend Thanksgiving with my sister and my gorgeous nephews.

I headed back up to London again today to teach on the International Training Programme organised by Dogs Trust. It was great reconnecting with people that I had met at ICAWC. On the way home I called in to to see a dog client that suffers from anxiety. I ended up seeing two dogs and didn’t leave Surrey until 9pm. I arrived home at 11.30pm, caught up with a little work and fell into bed. Roll on Sunday.

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5. December 2009 by admin.

15th Nov 2009

For the next few days I will turning to the ‘Bark Side’ once more, as it will be all things canine. Tony and I went to Discover Dogs today to catch up with friends and watch the Best Rescue Class, which is our favourite but always quite emotional. The suffering that some of the dogs have been through is horrific and bless them, they have emerged with their temperaments intact. One tiny, fluffy dog had been punched in the head so hard that she was totally blind and her tongue had also been cut off with scissors. The children that she lived with were responsible for these injuries and I wonder what terrible scenes the children had been witnessing in their own life that triggered them to do this to their small, loving family pet.

My new book, co-authored by my good friend Marie Miller, was launched at the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) stand. Our cover star, Fred, was also at the show, which was fantastic. He is such a cool character and his owner, Mina, has worked wonders with this little terrier. We headed home in the afternoon to a quiet house my daughters Emily and Daisy are both staying in London. Daisy starts filming on Tuesday and will be away for three weeks and Emily has auditions and is also preparing for the V Awards.

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