Jasmine's 4th Birthday

Saturday 10th October ’09 my wee “baby” niece turned 4. Not so much a baby anymore, how time flies.

I had spoken to my big sis’ and we were all going to AQUA to celebrate her wee birthday.

Made my way onto the motor way (oops I mean freeway in Oz, lol) and proceeded to get to my destination of AQUA. Well I thought I’d gone too far and missed the exit then came off, made my way back and ended up back in the city again – doh!!! Back on the Freeway again and Amanda (my big sis’) called to say they were about 20minutes away – also gave me tips on what exit to take, lol – thank you big sis’. I just had to go another 5 minutes from where I first turned off and would have got there – oh well. Got there second time round – where’s the GPS when you need them???

I met Amanda, Nige and Jasmine there at lunchtime and we went it. The weather was a bit drizzly but most of AQUA is indoors anyway so that wasn’t a bother.

I gave wee Jazz her prezzie outside and she was rather pleased with them. I got her a Dora the explorer wee hidey tent and sweeties, and Samroc, Diva & Mini got her (awwww) a wee shitsu toy dog that walks, barks wags its tail and is very well house trained, lol.

Wee Jasmine was all excited and loved seeing all the sharks, stingrays, giant turtles, crocs, jellyfish, etc. I think the touch pool was a big hit too. They even have a place where the youngies can colour and make their own badges (they wouldn't let me and Amanda do it though since we are too old, lol).

It was such a great day and we all had a “whale” of a time.

It was absolutely fantastic spending time with my big sis, Nige and my wee niece Jasmine.

We went to the Sorrento acrade to look around the shops and have some lunch.

The day was topped off with us hitting the UK sweetie shop - OMG, Christmas come early. Drifters, Wotsits, Smokey Bacon Walkers crisps, jelly babies, wham, whispa's, the list goes on and on.

Happy 4th birthday Jazz, not long now until you can come out clubbing, lol :-)

Perth Royal Show 2009

Well it's been a while since my last post and I have a lot of updating to do.

Will start with the Perth Royal Show.

The "Royal" is one of the big agility events of the year for me and a whopper of an "agricultural" show for Perth. I say agricultural with a smirk 'cause although that's what it actually is I think the kids nowadays go for the rides and show bags.

The agility was on Saturday 26th September and Monday 29th Sept. Teams and open were on the Sat and individuals were on the Mon.

The build up to the Royal for me was shocking. 4 weeks before Diva came into season and didn't get down training or trialling at all. The week before saw me coming down with an almighty cold - very ill. I was in bed from the Wednesday afternoon until the Saturday morning.

As Diva and Mini were in the same team (with Epic and Brynn) I couldn't very well scratch as I was half the team. I had no energy and was feeling really bad. Tom was a gem and came through to pick me and the girls up (I didn't even have energy to drive).

We got there way early and waited on the trial starting at 9am. I had already told Tom and Megan I couldn't run and Megan opted to run Diva and Tom decided to take on the Minxter.

Both had very good job considering they don't normally run them. Megan was unlucky with open jumping with a last bar - doh! and Tom done superb with Mini - she actually stayed with him most of the time and didn't run out looking for me (wee Minmin and her seperation anxiety) - well done guys.

The open came in the afternoon and as Diva had jumped off her a-frame in the teams agility round I had said to Megan I would take her and Mini in just to get their contacts and that would be that.

Wee mini went in open agility (I keep forgetting the seesaw is in it and mini hasn't reached that obstacle yet - doh!). Anyhoo we plodded along got the a-frame, walk and weaves then retired.

Diva was a wee bit after. I had mustered up some energy from somewhere????? We get on the start line and the rest is really a blur. I can remember her running into her 2o2o position on the a-frame and I gave her a quick release. I done the same for all the contacts - supposed to be proofing them my butt - I honestly can't remember much and we didn't get it taped to look back over - oh well. The highlight of my day was the little buggar ended up getting first place in the open agility - OMG what - hang on, what happened again, lol. I was very surprised and very proud - although all I wanted to do was go home to bed. Well done little Diva and thank you!

Monday had me feeling a little bit brighter - not fab but at least I didn't want to just lie down all day and suffer, lol.

Mini had novice agility first and bombed out with breaking her start line - this is dejavu from last year - little minx :-)

Mini done such a good job in excellent jumping although I nearly missed a jump and was heading off for another jump - by the time I tried to rectify it the game was all over - I wasn't quick enough and the minxter got a refusal on the jump - doh! after that I kinda gave up and just wanted outa there - well done mini, great effort wee lass :-))

Diva had masters jumping next and it was an awesome course. Fast, flowing and challenging too. We did an awesome round. A couple of very minor hiccups but nothing to write home about. We got 4th place. On watching the top 3 runs I was very honoured to come 4th to them. I'll tell you though it was a very exciting course to watch. The difference between 1st and 10th was less than 2 seconds, and watching the other 9 rounds I was lucky to come 4th too - that was also special for me - go Diva.

Our last run of the day was the one I had went to the royal for - excellent agility. I desperately wanted a pass in this. It was the final leg/pass we needed to get her excellent agility title and I wanted this bad. We're in excellent longer than I wanted so was very very nervous about this one. Diva's wee brother Maverick came over and had a word with us too about getting our act together and take out this round "FFS" or he would loose all respect for his big 'sis, lol. Thanks Graeme, this actually calmed me down a bit (just a smidge) :-))

Mav egging his big sis' Diva on It had to be said - now come on

Well she done it - CLEAR, woohoo. I almost mucked up the last jump. I ran out of steam (fatty) and nearly made her take the wrong jump. I just had enough energy to get another few steps in and keep her on track - thank the lord. I would've been kicking myself for years to come otherwise. Anyhoo to top it off we won it - yay!!! She was such a good girl (pity about the other half of the team - i.e. me, lol).


I've got some of the runs on video - unfortunately not the open agility as that was supposedly a cracker. I'll put them on my video tab as soon as I get my act together.

Other news from the Royal (yes, yes it's not all about me, lol).

Sam Weaver and Billbee qualified to run in the main arena in the 3 sheep trial. (Only the top 3 sheep dogs with accumulated points throughout trials from the year are invited too). Go Sam and Bill.

Kriszty's Jess - agility and obedience champion - had her final agility and jumping runs in the team’s event. They went out with a bang and won both agility and jumping teams.

Tom got 3rd in Masters jumping with Brynn - Royally beating mine and Diva's ass to the ground, lol.



Megan and Epic got 5th in Masters Agility.

Graeme and the awesome Maverick (Diva's wee brother) got 2nd in CD (Obedience), 3nd in Novice agility with a couple of penalties and 2nd in novice jumping with a bar down - wow. Just wait until he gets clear - watch out Diva he's coming to get ya :-)))



Well this years Royal's was one of the best ever. I really enjoyed myself (besides the cold). And will more than likely be there next year.

Diva can hold her head up high with her wee bro' Mav - well done to them both!!!

Aim for next year's Royal show:

Diva - to be a master in her seesaw and me not baby it

Mini - get a comfy lead out and get a clear round :-))

Who know's though - it is the Royal show and anything goes - as long as we have fun :-)))

Pleasantly surprised

We had a big weekend of agility last weekend. On Saturday we had a double header with Gosnells dog club and on Sunday another agility trial – fundraiser for the nationals. Yes I actually trialled - woohooo!!!!

Photo by Gillian Self -
www.flickr.com/photos/gillianself
We rocked up to Gosnells trial on the Saturday morning and our first run wasn’t until the second half of the morning so we pottered about and watched others do some spiffy runs and others doing some specky stuff but with hard luck stories, then it was our wee turn. We went into excellent jumping first. It was Richard’s course and such a lovely course too. Anyhoo, we get to the start line and Mini’s her usual “barky” self. Little scab broke her start before I was in place but she done brilliant. If her handler wasn’t such a baboon she would’ve got around clear. The novice agility again was a great wee attempt on Mini’s behalf. Vicki was judging and set which I may add a challenging section in the course for novice dogs – wee Mini managed to get it (although I nearly stuffed it up with a “late” front cross and she had to jump out the way of my fat ass, lol). The last 3 obstacles to go were “jump, spread and jump”. Mini has a problem with straight lines and will tend to run around them (she wants more of a challenge) I think it’s just a novice thing – although I’ve been told it’s a Koolie thing. So she does the jump, starts to veer off the spread, I stop to pull her back onto the line of the spread, she’s taking off and crashes the spread – why oh why did I stop?????? Aaaaaarrrrgggggg. Sorry Mini. Was way happy though – she got her weaves and contacts (which we are very novice at and need lots of practise with) – go the minxter!!

Gosnells PM trial – well I was over the moon at Mini’s performance from the morning and although no qualifier I was still on a high. We went into excellent jumping, Cindy had set up an awesome jumping course – again if mini’s handler aka me could actually handle we would’ve gotten around the course – kick me!!!! Oh well she had fun and barked all the way around.


Novice agility was judged by Nic Forde – again a lovely novice course. Wee Minmin got all her contacts, her weaves and actually got around clear – yay Mini – to top it off she won – woooohooooo!!!!! (Hence the photo at the beginning with the quail card and Rosette – thanks again to Gillian Self for the photo). On a high doesn’t even come close.


I did notice something though – Mini needs a lot of help on the course – I think after going through all that stage with diva and now having a more confident dog and well basically a dog that’s been trained lol I have been not lazy but expecting too much of wee Mini. I have to take that extra step or tell her “jump” at that point – she needs that extra helping hand at the moment. This will differ as her experience grows but I need to “baby” her at the moment. Glad to have found it out now though than stuffing her up. Feel free to kick my butt if I’m slack with Mini and not helping her out.



So we had it all to do on the Sunday again. We rocked up to CAWA for the fundraiser trial and had excellent jumping first. Cindy was judging again and set up a great jumping course. Wee Mini goes in – on the starline and “woof woof woof woof” – I wasn’t confident on the start at all. I wanted to get into a spot and do a front cross but released her and wasn’t even in the spot to do a fc so we done a rear instead (Mini’s learning rears and picking it up not too badly) – anyway she was listening to me all the way around and – yep we got clear – OMG Mini got clear in excellent jumping – guess what – guess what else – she won it!!!!!!!!! Yippppeeeeeeeeee. Way to go Mini.

We had novice agility next and she done really well up until the weaves – owwwwww she went into the wrong entrance side – she really tried though. All we had left after the weaves was table and jump – nearly Mini – she tried soooooo hard too. Great effort mini well done wee chicken.

Don't have much video footage of mini but managed to capture some on the weekend and have her runs from the classic in march (lol - if you seen it you'd know :-) ) So I'll have to put together a wee movie for Mini with her runs on it.


I'm pleased at how mini is coming along - especially with our lack of training. Mini is supposed to be a 400 dog in CAWA but we now jump 500. She can cope easily. She's obviously much slower on 500 than 400 but I have confidence that she will speed up. I'll let her do that in her own time though and make it as fun as possible along the way. Sure we're gonna have some hiccups and setbacks but that is the game of dog training. It has to be fun for her and I have to make it fun. Afterall I have to remember she's doing it for me.


Thank you Mini xxx

Contact debate

Well well well, I have to talk about contacts and a little debate I'm having at the moment.

I have taught Diva a 2020 for both a-frame and dog-walk. This enables me to have a quick release if I need it but ensures I have a reliable dog on her contacts (obviously not 100% as she is not a robot although she is a magic dog, lol) :-) The last time at training I quick released Diva every time and she nailed them - very naughty of me as I didn't go back and hold them before the session was over. Nevertheless, next time at training I will do a few quick releases but more holding them - hopefully I haven't lost them :-S She has very fast contacts and I have put in a lot of hard work and time into them so I don't want to stuff them up.

Now what to do with Mini??? She had a fast dog walk and I have been teaching a 2020 and now completely stuffed up her walk- doh!!! I think I may stick with the 2020 on the walk and work on improving it - as I am in 2 minds I don't want to work on 1 method then change my mind and ask for something else along the line - this will just lead to confusion and totally stuff her up. So I'm not sure if I want a 2020 or a running???? hmmmm. The other thing is the a-frame. We have been working on a running a-frame and when she gets it - boy she gets it. Move over Diva 'casue the Minxter is coming through. I am again half hearted in a running a-frame but she can do it sooooooooo fast and am thinking about persuing this - again in 2 minds and don't want to stuff her up. I have been slack in training mini in agility and want to get her properly going for next year. I want good contacts that I can come out the ring thinking "yeh that was nice - good job" rather than "OMG my heart skipped a beat and almost completely stopped".

Since I have been searching for Mini's best methods and what she can do quickest and easiest naturally I have been faced with another question which seems to be varied in answers - how to time your contacts and how long to hold them for? I will be working on this with mainly diva for the next few weeks. I have an idea in my head what I want to do but am I wrong?

If I am timing her contacts do I time them from the point she touches the up to the point she leaves the contact? From the point she touches the up to the point she touches the down contact? Remembering I will be holding her on 75% of the sessions? hmmmmm.

On this note do I have a standard time to hold her on? one second, two seconds, five seconds? Do I be consistant on the timing?

Do I then count the 2 seconds from the point she hits the up contact - one, two, then release her or do I hold her on the down contact, one, two then release her? To me it makes sense to hold her on the down contact for one, two, five, etc, seconds then release but others seem to be doing this a bit different?

Over the next few weeks I'll work on contacts and keep with a 2020 for the walk and running frame for now, and also diva's contact - I'll work on my own timing methods i.e. count when she is at the end "one, two, disco" and will also vary the timing length - but have it in my head before we do the obstacle. I am interested in your opinion though - what do you think about the contacts?

agility nationals fundraiser agility trial

Well we actually entered an agility trial today - wooohooo :-)

Have to say - although I had a stinker of a headache (think it was the lack of food and water) I had an absolute blast.

The weather was very kind to us - only had a couple of little spurts of rain - so can't complain at that - considering the grey clouds that were upon us.

The jumping rings were a bit soggy though - no fault to anyone except mother nature :-) Made it very hard to run and the dogs were sliding about too - poor mini and her face plant - she's all good though - in fact I think around 50 per cent of the dogs and handlers either slipped or landed on their rear - poor Erica Pope running Roy feet slipped away from her and she still got up and ran - the second slip was a bit hard to recover from - luckily she was allowed a re-run and performed an awesome run with Roy.

I didn't have luck on my side today at all - was wanting my final leg in Excellent agility - Diva managed to nail the seesaw (along with all the other contacts and weaves) - it was just a jumping sequence left - normally diva would have nailed the jumps if I could help her out and actually tell her where to go - my legs were like lead - my quads were throbbing for some reason - must've hurt them from friday?? not sure - anyhoo she went to do a wrong jump (where my body was telling her to go) - managed to push her off the wrong one and by the time she was at the "next" jump to do she was upon it and dropped it - doh!!! I stopped after that - my legs were sore and gave up - she was a good girl, and she got the seesaw - yey Diva.

Masters jumping was a bit of a disappointment too - I sent her in the wrong end of the tunnel - doh!!! it was as if I was watching someone else run and didn't work her at all - oops - again my wee diva I'm sorry for stuffing it up. We got in the correct end of the tunnel and done a rather nice round - not like a normal blitzing diva run but nice all the same - just that one thing - if only..... hmmmm!!!!

And wee mini was in too. She done her first excellent jumping - I was terrified and not sure how she would cope - must say even though we didn't come close to clear she done a not too bad round - along with a face plant. She's getting there - starting to understand the obstacles and what I am asking of her.

Wee minmin was also in Novice agility - OMG - she got 1 fault - and it was dropping the first bar - awch. I mean the round wasn't very pretty at all but go minmin. Trying to think back what happened - she was funny on the walk - didn't jump off at the end - rather done a 2o2o position but at the beginning of the contact zone on the down ramp instead of actually on the grass. I asked again and she moved slightly further down - 3rd time she done it correctly - tells me she's trying to work it out - kinda getting the idea - that's cool - indicated what level she's at and clearly doesn't understand that the position I am after is at the end of the contact rather than there abouts - she's thinking though and not just blowing me off - which is nice. She stayed on the table and let me get a bit away from her - good girl, after the table there was about 2 or 3 jumps then the weaves - still learning the weaves - have to help her into the entry (not practised them nearly enough) so I mucked about with her and got her lined up nice and easy and she done them all - yay- it was just the a-frame and last jump (think it was a spread or broad - can't remember now) - anyhoo she nailed the a-frame with a running (which is what we are doing - well for now :-) - then she went to deviate from the last jump straight in from of her - hey blondie you've gotta finish correctly - not sure where she was going but kinda went behind me or something - was weird - I called her though and like little harry potter she reappeared as fast as she had vanished and done the last jump - great effort mini - well done wee chicken.

There were some awesome runs and heaps of hardline stories too.

Megan had an awesome day - Epic got 3rd in Masters jumping with a lovely run, she also done a fab round with Dancer and won Excellent agility - well done Megan. Tom done a few specy runs too - think it was masters agility they were hooning around the course and got 1 bar down - what a shame it was a blinder too. Steve done a fab round with Spud - nailed the contacts and got a refusal on one jump - lovely contacts though. Tracey ran a great round with Makko and just got a penalty on the seesaw - owwww. Nicola ran a smashing round with Kite - he's coming on fab and with super fast contacts - as per normal for nic's dogs. There were other's too which I can't name right at this second but will remember as soon as I post this blog.

Tell you though I got a bit of a wakeup call and a motivator today when I saw Karen had her young dog Sonic in Masters agility and Masters jumping. She's doing a bloody good job with him. I can remember him and mini both being in novice together and now he's further ahead than diva who's about a year older than him. Kriszty had a bit of a laugh and said I had to actually enter trials to get qualies - yeh yeh - I know I have been soooo slack so need to get my but back into gear and back into the ring. I mean taking nothing away from Karen - she's progressed sooo quickly and so well - but she's give me a shake - thanks Karen - you've motivated me to get my butt back into the ring.

So my goals for this year (yes I am going to trial):

Get Diva her Excellent agility title
Gain 2 legs towards Diva's masters agility title
Gain 2 legs towards Diva's masters jumping title (she's got 1 so far - woohoo)
Achieve 1 good clear round with Mini in excellent jumping
Achieve 1 good clear round with Mini in novice agility

Note: by clear I mean no mucking about or babying - getting the job done and done right!!

Well that's the target for this year - now I think our next trial is the end of september (I think it's the Royal which I never have any expectations of going clear due the atmosphere so it's probably october) so we've got a lot of time for me to get my fitness up and to practice and pray :-)))

Blame it on the rain

Well here are 2 little stories I have to add – kept for a rainy day

Story #1: know your surroundings

Well since moving into my new place – a whole new area, I have found a smashing place to take the dogs for a run. Just round the corner from me there’s an empty riverbank and beyond that a large open area for the dogs to run their wee socks off ;-) On the first spell of rain we had I drove to the normal spot – parked the car up and let the dogs out – it was raining, but not too heavy like it had been earlier. I had a pair of jean on and trainers so my feet weren’t that well protected but I had a nice warm jacket on, snugly. I discovered the empty river bed was no longer empty – filled to the brim – no way have we had that much rain over night – hmmmm. Well I can’t cross here without my canoe so I decided to walk down-stream a bit to see if there was a place I could cross. Sure enough further up the road there was a wee island thingamajig I could jump onto and then get on the bank at the other side. We done our walk and just as we got near where I normally cross the heavens opened up – it was soooooo heavy rain, I was walking backwards and looked at wee Samroc who was walking beside me – his head was lowered and he was closing his eyes best he could. Stuff this, come on boy, I ran to where I normally cross the river to see if there was a way we could all get over. Diva and Mini jumped straight in, had a wee swim and over the other side. I’m looking frantically for somewhere to cross – then I spotted it. Someone had placed a largish tree branch to use as a crossing point – why didn’t I see that before? The thickest part of the branch was about a metre from the bank so I got my footing right, careful not to slip and fall into the burn – counted in my head – 1, 2, 3 – and made the jump onto the branch. Doesn’t quite end there though – the branch wasn’t actually a crossing point which someone had kindly placed – it was a random branch which had been washed up and was momentarily having a rest from its journey down stream and beyond. Now here’s me up to my waste in skanky water – freezing cold and completely soaked through. My first reaction wasn’t to scream out or immediately get out the water – my first response was to look about to see if anyone saw me – how embarrassing, then I waded over to the other side. Once I was out I couldn’t stop laughing, what a walley - even the dogs were laughing. I got in the car covered in crap that was skimming on the top of the water and went to the wee local shop – I squelched into the shop and squelched out – went home dried the dogs off and had the best bath ever – moral of the story – if you’re gonna do stupid stuff take someone along and a video camera – TV shows give you money for that :-)

Story #2: take your time

Again another poring day – I was sitting in the house with the dogs and doing some work. The back door was left open the dogs could come and go as they pleased. I had a pair of short and a t-shirt on, along with a big granny housecoat – which mum insisted on giving me – bright purple with flowers on – not very sexy but warm all the same. I had finished my last cigarette and was putting off going out to the car to get the full packet sitting on the front seat. Stuff it, if I go now then it’s over and done with. I opened the front door and saw the downpour. I used the bleeper on the car keys to open the car up – the car keys are on the same key ring as the house keys which are in the house door. The dogs all came running toward the door, trying to be fly I pulled the door kinda closed to stop them running out into the rain which would have included me running to the car with my sexy housecoat, opening the car door, all the dogs jumping in the car, me telling them to get out, grabbing the smokes, closing the car door and running back into the house – me soaking and all 3 dogs the same. So I tried to beat them at the game and kinda pulled the door shut and made a dash for it – wee mini was too quick and managed to get out – but I must’ve pulled too hard and heard the door close. I jumped in the car and went “oh no”. I’ve got a deadbolt on my door you see so it can’t be opened from the outside. I’ve got no shoes on and not really dressed for the occasion – WTF. So I had a cigarette and pondered on what my next move was. The back door is open – I could possibly jump the fence if I had something on my feet (British feet can’t handle outdoors uncovered). I looked around the car and saw gleaming at me a pair of steel toe cap boots which I like to wear at herding (sheep can’t hurt your toes if they stand on them) – so I put them on and went to the side of the house where the fence is the lowest. It was hammering with rain now – how the heck am I going to get wee Minmin over – I lifted her up and bent across the fence and lowered her as best as I could – she jumped down and barked at me – go in the house Mini – again I have to stress it was teeming with rain – she barked again – such a loyal dog, not wanting to leave her master out in the rain on her own – go on Mini, in the house your getting soaked – little loyal mini my butt – she took off around the corner and obviously ran into the house – God now the others are gonna come running out and get in my way when I’m trying to do the krypton factor and get over this fence – not a bloody sign of them – selfish buggars  So I lifted off the wooden slat thingys I put on the fence to make it higher and tossed it on the ground – right on the section I’m jumping down onto – so I managed to get up on the fence with my bright purple granny housecoat and very heavy steel toe caps, look at where I could land so as not to snap the wooden slat fency thing and make sure my housecoat wasn’t hanging over anything to get caught on and have me dangling in mid air – JUMP – I made it – whooohooooo!!! I put the fence back together and wandered back into the house – all 3 dogs are sitting in the lounge – looking at me drenched. I imagined if I was looking out my window and saw one of the neighbours doing exactly what I had just done, including wearing what I was, it would either be time to move or time to start a blog and write about it. Moral of the story – never wear anything embarrassing in case you get spotted with in on in public 

home at last

Well it’s been a long time since rock and roll and far too long since my last post – with a good excuse may I add.

The last post was about my new car (still loving it) in January. I’ve had more changes in my life since then – I changed jobs and started in February – loving that too.

I love a job where you really enjoy being there and are enthusiastic about your work. It’s a great feeling waking up in the morning and not dread going into work, but to actually look forward to it

More changes after that – I bought a house. The settlement went through in April. Such a great feeling having your own place – no more renting for me

The house itself needs heaps of work done to it and I need to get a bobcat or dingo in to flatten off the yard for the dogs and to get reticulation in to make it my agility space – will get there though. I want to get things done right rather than half heartedly so I’m in the process of saving to get the stuff done. The house itself is absolutely tiny but it’s a nice size for me – and less cleaning

It’s great having my own place – funny story too. I came around for the inspection with Ray from my old work. The house itself was filthy, smelly, cracks on the walls, windows broken and missing, every room is like a shoebox, holes in the doors and walls, no locks on the windows, front door needing replaced, nail holes in every wall (big ones at that), carpets with candle wax embedded in them or stains and holes, lino coming up and needing redone - not much of a looker.

I went out the back garden and heard the bell ringing in my head – ding dong!!!! I didn’t want to seem too eager to the agent and tried my hardest not to let my jaw drop or smile – it’s not the biggest garden by any means but it’s flat and all I could imagine was an a-frame there and a dog-walk there and seesaw probably there – could fit a tunnel there and some jumps too (may be not all at once) I could get a shed put there with a concrete slab for my agility equipment, and I suppose I could get a wee’er (lol) shed there for my gardening stuff and other stuff that’s supposed to go in sheds (think that’s all the stuff that doesn’t fit in the spare room or attic).

I had been looking for about 6 months and the quality of houses was much better – in fact, I’d go as far as saying far superior – but most of the gardens weren’t right for the dogs. Well as soon as I’ve unpacked my camera (can’t find it at the moment) I’m going to take before and after shots. As long as the dogs are happy I’m happy. I mean I’d love 10ha but 900sqm isn’t a bad start.

Do you know the other thing – since buying my own house, this is the first time I feel like I actually am meant to be here. Staying with my sister before and then renting wasn’t my own – now actually having a place where you can settle and call HOME – I actually have used that in a sentence you know regarding this place rather than saying I’m going to my house or I’m gonna go tae ma hoose, I tend to say I’m going home  silly mind thing I’m sure – not intended but it’s been a battle to get here – after all the caper.

I have to also say a big major major thank you to Tom and John who not only helped me move but helped me tidy up the rental – thanks guys you are legends.
Another wee thing – just before I moved in here I got professional cleaners in to gut the place and a gardener who removed all the debris from the garden, cleaned the gutters, removed waste, etc, a handyman to replace all the doors and locks (still to get the windows done) – 1 step at a time.

On the final move day which was just the smaller stuff – Tom and I came here and it was the first night I would be staying here – all the dogs were here – I let them out the back and all 3 of them were sniffing and peeing everywhere (could obviously smell the other previous dogs) – anyway Samroc came over and gave me a cuddle – I crouched down to him and started crying – I told him thanks for being such a great wee man and putting up with all the Sh*t for the last 6 years – for leaving a great loving home in Scotland (mum & dad) and that we had finally got our own place  (means so much to me I’m actually teary at the moment writing this). Me and my boy (and of course my girls too) have got our own place where they can do whatever they want to and have not a house or a place to live, but a home at last

The plan – I want to get a dingo or bobcat in to level both sides of the garden – Aaron (my buddy Corrine’s hubby) has made me promise to let him do the levelling with the bobcat when I hire it – I said only if he doesn’t knock down the house or fences – or any trees that may fall onto the house or fences  lol.

There are 2 sides to the garden – the bigger section for the dogs agility – round the corner from that there is a wee area where I can get my veggie patch and herb garden going – then there’s a separate section to the right – fenced off from the other area where will be my entertainment area – only small but I want to get a built in bbq (I think) a wee undercover area and may be way in the future a small pool or spa????? Would love to have a pool – coming from Scotland I’ve never had a pool and although heaps of folks say to me – “don’t get a pool they’re sooooo much work” I’d love to get one for the sake of saying (especially to folk back home) – think I’ll get in the pool today for a swim – it’s very hot here

Although the area isn’t that big (and that’s the bit where I hang out my washing) I think it may be more of a big puddle than a pool – not sure if pools come in mini size – i could always get a kids paddling pool and just leave the “paddling” part off when I’m describing it

Well since I’ve no photo’s to put on here and it’s pretty boring just reading I think I will leave it there. I want to get photos of how the place looks now (not very pretty) and what it looks like after I have done – this too will inspire me to get stuff done around the place.

I must admit though I am looking forward to making mine, Samroc, Diva and Mini’s home better - don't mid a bit of DIY and love when you look back at old photo's and say - did that really look like that :-) Oh well I know it will take a long while to do up MY HOME but it's worth it :-)