Major improvements

We are improving the entrance to our home/Dogs Paws and Cats Whiskers. The is the view from the drive with the highway behind you. This was a grass paddock and will be the entrance. We are installing electric gates which open and close automatically. Set on a timer. This will improve our security. There will be a very discrete CCTV system installed.  

 This View is from within our yard. There will be a brick wall here, leading unto the electric gates. 

These improvement will certainly enhance the appearance, improve our security and give more clarity to those wishing to find our exact location. 

The CCTV system is linked to the internet and will send me an alert whenever the sensor detects movement. So sophisticated and offering peace of mind.

I would just have liked the weather to hold off whilst we completed the digging out as the mess!!!

Sorry for any inconvenience caused but please bare with us though as it will be very worth it :)

My heart lifted

Thursday evening my youngest son accompanied me as we had to take Gemma (Jam Jar) Aged almost 15 years, to the vet. She clearly was very unwell and the enevitable outcome was decided.

A very sad day as she has been with me and my boys almost as long as we have lived at West Farm

Friday morning, after dropping my boys for school I headed off up the M1 to Harrogate for a funeral.
Very sadly a family member aged just 53 years  He was far too young to die.

The M1 was horrific with very dark cloud and heavy, heavy rain. The usual volume of traffic of course.


I am a radio 2 fan and had Chris Evens on in the car, feeling very fed up and downhearted.

His first guest was Gary Barlow who sang live.
It was nice and made for presant listening but my head was still full of Gemma, the looming event in Harrogate etc etc

His next guest was Alfie Boe, some one I had heard of but didn't really know.

He was also invited to sing live and WOW every hair on my body stood up.

What a voice, what power and he seemed a lovely gent too.

The rest of my day and journey back were very sad of course but my spirit was lifted and I shall certainly look him up when in concert :)

After 15 years we are all missed our gorgeous Jam Jar

Golden girls!

Phoebe, Ruby and Gilly have all passed their gold good citizenship kc award.

I along with the other handlers are so very proud as they are all just 1 year old.

We are going to have a puppy party to celebrate :)

All For Dogs are going to continue with our training sessions by introducing some fun classes.
For me, I just love getting her out and about, learning how to be a good, well behaved member of society. The handlers all have a good chat and giggle too.

One of my jobs soon will be to strip the grape vine. It is laden, as always. Full of black, very sweet grapes. Our fruit trees have had a great year too.

All go!

My lovely boys are all very happy all at different places at different times which is challenging but fun.

Eldest now at Futaba doing an engineering apprenticeship and enjoying it.

Middle son very happy doing his AS levels. Particularly enjoying economics.

Youngest having a great time at Denstone where he has settled very very well. Wish I had moved him sooner.

Down on the farm we are still quite busy from the summer rush. The cattery was completely full last week end.

I have an apprentice coming on board Monday. She seems very keen and I think we shall work well together so fingers crossed as I may even manage to get a day off :)

Summer is over!!

Yes the temperature has dropped and the sun seems to have gone in but what a lovely summer we have had. T shirts only for months :)

We have been very busy with no room at the inn for either dogs or cats which is what we worked towards and this keeps us afloat in the lean times. We are still reasonable busy with those without school aged children taking their holidays.

For me this is time to do maintenance, cleaning and prepare for my next project.  Well! we cannot stand still :)

Phoebe continues to do very well with her training. She is working towards her gold KC award but I am also doing some "rally" training with her which in a nut shell will further develop her heal work and obedience. I am so proud of her.

My boys are all very settled and enjoying life.

Eldest has started his engineering apprenticeship middle is enjoying being back at school studying for AS levels and youngest is loving it at Denstone College.

Sooo well behaved!!

Ok, so it took a few attempts but this is Phoebe training group. They all came to play at ours and we did actually do some training. The dogs were pooped and the humans chatted lots of course

Finley decidid he had had just about enough of sitting and looking pretty :)

Busy busy

As I suspected we are very busy with every unit, everywhere booked for the summer.
I am really enjoying it which is just as well with a truly 24/7 life.

I have some help now and I couldn't manage without it.
My boys are great too when I need extra help.

The vast majority of dogs come in and settle easily but we have had an odd one who has struggled a little. I find it so very rewarding to be patient and work with these dogs to bring them out of their shell. I watch their confidence grow and by the end of their visit they are out playing with the rest. Owners have commented about a "different" dog coming home and have booked for next year so we must be doing some thing right :)

My eldest son has been offered an apprenticeship and the company intend to sponsor him through his engineering degree. He is thoroughly enjoying driving too. We insured with "insure the box" this was chosen for many reasons but it does enable him to view, on line how he is driving. For me I hope it keeps him driving sensibly as if not his insurance will not decrease next year.