Dog shows

Went to Newbury to a Dog Show today - Not showing Flashy as did not enter = However his brother Glebeheath "Johnny the One" was on show - only got a third - Julie - his (and Flashy's)breeder was not best pleased but as she is a good loser did not show it too much !She did let her 4 year old daughter use the back of the Prize Card for drawing on though spent a fortune which we don.t have on a grooming table with stringing up pole - So we can get him into the peak of sartorial elegance for his next show - today week at Cheltenham - If we got enough cash we'll take the caravan to the club site for the weekend - bit of a break

cheers

Mog

Bumble Bee in jam jar ?

Due to our current financial state (flat broke!) I am having to work when and where I can - currently in a Pub - more of which another time. But the main thing is, I cannot at present, afford to run "Big Ange", the Range Rover. So to get to work I bought a little 50cc scooter. Very sophisticated these days. Electric start, disc brakes, properly working indicators, brake lights on both brakes etc., etc. It did about 100kms to the 5 ltr (not quite sure what that is in old money) but quite a bit ! About 70 kph or 45 mph and sounded like a "bumble bee in a jam jar" or infuriated wasp ! The only problem is that to get to work I have to go down the main A40 - not too bad on the dual carriageway Witney Bypass - but as you approach Eynsham it goes into single carriageway. When I used to ride motorbikes I last had a 750cc which went like "greased weasel s**t"So I was not used to having 38 ton lorries right up me chuff - then overtaking so close that I was thrown about in the displaced air !! So it had to go - I now have a 200cc "Joy ride" scooter - which feels a lot safer. Have only just filled it for the first time (it is also a 4 stroke rather than a 2 stroke - so no messing about with separate oil etc) also water cooled so does not overheat in traffic) so not sure how many kms to the ltr etc., but interestingly it cost no more to insure than the little one ? - I ran out of street cred years ago but at least it is much quieter than the "Bumble bee!!"
cheers
mog

Whistling in the Dark

During my "Depressed" period (a bit like Picasso's Blue period - but darker!) I often wondered about the whole blogging community. Why would someone want to write things - mostly about themselves on a world wide media platform ? Are we all self-obsessed ? Any one seen Echo about recently ?? Unable to figure it out I could not summon up the energy ? Possibly could not think of anything to write about - lost all sense of self worth - dunno - but perhaps did not wish to share it with the world - Albeit with an inflated belief that someone out there WOULD read it ! As I gradually get back into blogging - I now believe it's a bit like whistling in the dark - keeping one's spirits up - Hoping that someone will pick it up and comment - I remember it took several months of "pecking away" before anyone picked up my mad musings - Lots of help from Scary Duck - He even e mailed me in person no less ! So I shall continue to whistle in the dark and keep "Up Spirits" ("Stand fast the Holy Ghost" - for those Ancient Mariners)
cheers
Mog

Sewage Woe part the Second

At this point I rang the Water Board again and they said that we were responsible for the pipe right up to the main drain (again). Rang the Insurance Company - "Read the small print - only responsible up to the edge of the property". Now rapidly losing temper. Neighbour whinging on as if it was my fault ! We then get a formal letter from - guess who ? The Water Board - "It has come to our attention that the sewage outlet pipe from your property is damaged - Under law it is your responsibility to maintain it - It will require replacement as you have not got the correct standard of pipe fitted (tried to explain that the pipe WAS the standard when the house was built - to no avail!) Also as it will require digging up the road only the specialist contractors the Board has certified can carry out the repair. Please contact "Nabitt and Scewt" our authorised contractors ! - Heavy sighs - they send out survey team and cost will be near enough 5 grand !
Spoke to neighbours and they will pay half - Was trying to borrow our half when Mother in Law (God Bless her) came up with the necessary. Eventually team arrive - work one day - leave "Things" sticking up out of the trap and one empty tea mug ? - Several days pass - Ring the company "Oy where's me repair man? Sorry - he was taken off to hospital and won't be back for some time. Only got one team then says I - "Yes" says they - Will get a team from another area when we can - upshot being it was some days (and the trap was filling up again!) before the new lot arrived - was at work so did not see the results at the time. Came home - large new patch of tarmac in road - trap re-fitted and all right with the world . Since then the Company have sent us back a cheque for thirty some odd quid as we over paid !! - The lorries have continued to queue up down the road - and I have now noticed "Dyno rod" type vans further down the road - so I think there is more to come - Today I notice the road repairers are down the street and putting new tarmac down - and guess what ? the patch put in by the drain people has been "chalked " for repair already !
God Help us
Mog

Sewage Woe

We used to live in a very nice, quiet, residential neighbourhood. Our house was built on the corner of an enormous plot by the owner of the plot who just happened to be a builder!. So, last year he decided to sell his entire plot getting planning permission for a development of 23 bijou dwellings (2 to 4 bed executive houses!) He published the planning permission on page 34 of the Asian pig breeders gazette (american edition) or some such well read publication !! So the first thing we know about it is the arrival of several huge trucks containing demolition equipment totalling blocking the road ! Most neighbours turn out to see these behemoths and try to tell them this is the wrong road - No they say - order to demolish dwelling at no 40 and clear plot prior to building !!! Cue a vast parade of 38 ton lorries - We happen to share a drain with the neighbours - with the main traps on our drive. One Morning Her next door bangs on our front door (door bell disconnected to stop dogs barking house down) "Did you know that the drain is blocked and the sewage is now 3/4 up the trap in the drive" Says she. We go and inspect trap - and sure enough "S---t" almost to the top. Out with the drain rods. Poke poke poke - gurgling sounds but no "whoosh" of emptying drain trap! Go indoors and find insurance policy. Ring them and sure enough - for once a straight answer (Ho Ho) - Man with gear will be out shortly (don't call me Shortly !! - sorry wrong film!) Main in bright orange van arrives and wheels out all sorts of gear including tv scanner - Go indoors to make tea for said man - Go out clutching mug (with three sugars mate) and find him packing gear. Slurping tea he exclaims "Rodded right out to the edge of your property mate - even went 3 feet out into road" "and" says I for want of witty reply "Well that's all the insurance covers, the blockage is not on your property, so that's all I can do" "Great" says I - "Now what" - "Ring Water Board" Says he - looks like their problem". Soooooo ring water board - "Will have to charge you £60.00 for call out fee" Says they. Sewage now rising to within 3 inches of top of trap and smelling not unlike the bogs in the local pub ?? "Send them soonest please" says I - negotiating with the next door neighbour who promises to pay half bill. Enter White van man with similar equipment to man in orange van (are they in league ??) Unpacks gear and rods, jets and shoves away. "Definite blockage there Sir"(more polite than orange van man - obviously cause I got to pay him) At this point yet another convoy of 38 tonners turn up for what has now become the noisiest building site in Christendom. "Ah", says he "That's the problem" pointing at the trucks ! "When your houses were built they used a Fibre type pipe, as this sort of traffic was not expected" "No" says I - "We didn't expect it either !!" "What has happened is that the lorries have compacted the road and the pipe has literally become squashed" "What now ?" says I "Best you ring Water Board again, and that's £60.00 before you forget!" he says . Ring water Board - tell them that the blockage is out in the middle of the road - not on my property. Now this is where it gets downright bloody annoying. "Did you not read the small print on the documents when the drains were put in ?" "No, I bought the house second hand !!" "Ah - the fibre pipe was the one specified by the Water Board when the house was built, but specs have changed since due to the fact that heavy traffic can cause the pipes to fail" = "Rightamundo" says I, We got 38 tons trucks arriving by the minute here - "What steps do you intend to take" ('kin great ones in the direction of Jerusalem - sorry wrong joke again!) "Ah", again says official - "Read small print again - You are responsible for the pipe right out to the main drain - which is on the far side of the road"
more tomorrow !!"
cheers
Mog

Raincoats for dogs

Continuing the Wimp dog theme - We bought him a "Doggie Raincoat" when we first had him stripped (removal of excess hair) for show purposes - Was too big for him then - will dig it out and try and get him into it - will take a piccy and publish - that will embarass the littke sod
cheers
mog

That will teach me !!

Having just blogged about the small sod dog - saying what a brave, courageous, and dumb! sort of dog he is - It was raining this morning. He woke up at his usual time of 0530 ish and began his morning "I wan't to go out chorus" - interspersed with "I WILL PEE ON THE FLOOR IF YOU DON'T GET UP AND LET ME OUT RIGHT NOW", whines and very sharp barks. Groans from the other side of the bed (She who must be obeyed will NOT get up and take him out in the morning !) Staggered down stairs in dressing gown - meaning to just take him out to the end of the drive for a pee - pulled curtain from across door and = lo and behold its either persistently raining or hissing down (to quote another euphemism!) - harnessed him up and opened front door - he peers out and digs feet in "IM NOT GOING OUT THERE - ITS RAINING" You are a brave and stupid Border Terrier -all the other ones I've ever seen delight in getting wet and muddy - says I - NOT GOING says he ! Listen small sod dog - I'm in my dressing gown and I am going out - look - end up dragging him out of door - he hugs side of house and pees quickly, turns round and paws at front door - THE BLEEDIN DOG'S A WIMP !
After a quick towelling down he regains normal humour and sits in front of the Patio doors watching the birds on the feeders and jumping up and swearing at them. - Opened door and he shot out in the rain ! Too interested in chasing birds round patio to realise it's still raining. Birds fly off (as they do) and the little light bulb appears above his head "DING" looks up - gets rain on face and obviously thinks - "This ain't too bad" and nonchalantly strolls back in ! However he did not really want to go out for his morning walk after brekkies - So still not sure ??
cheers
mog