o'cockaigne

They were a few busy months. In September we repainted the floor of our house, we had a fun-coursing-day with the Barsoi Club, found the NKC place in Oude Brina, Chidish had to be checked on his heart for a cover with Fortheringhay's Farrah Cailean of Cristina Wüger (DE) What took place a few days later and we had the show in Maastricht. For the latter, Sonja came a few days about what always results in more work as we invariably go to the garden centre and always find something we like to have. So days later I'm still sitting in the earth plants with my hands.

Just before the show in Maastricht I got an email from Marijn that Bibelot had become loops but that he renounced a litter because he didn't have time for his work. After a little thought I decided that I had the time and that it would be a sin to pass this opportunity. We had already talked about this in the spring to use the frozen sperm that I still have from Argyll in Utrecht, at Bibelot. So he quickly called Marijn and it has just settled that Bibelot was able to check her heart on Tuesday. So Tuesday afternoon just up and down to Eersel. For Wednesday I had made an appointment in Utrecht and after research it appeared that she could be inseminated right! Thursday back for the second insemination and then wait and see. Wednesday 1st of November we will go back to Utrecht to see if there are any puppies.

The weekend after that, Sonja and I threw each other on a mini-camping on Friday 6 October. From here we drove to the show in Zwolle the next day. Since we were only later in the morning we had all the time to chat with everyone. Nice to see Gary Boyce again with Moka or Muma, an even very young, beautiful male with a fine character who is well developed. The inspections were, to say the least, "surprising" but it had its advantage; We were able to get back to the camper in time to travel to Ostercappeln where Vision and Chidish would run a coursing the next day. Of the four reported Deerhounds there were three present. In the first circulation, Vision ran alone and got the highest number of points. Chidish ran with Fiddich Forever In My Heart Caoinlan by Ingrid Wagstaff & Erik den Ouden. Chidish cut off quite a bit but got a little more points than Fiddich. In the second turn, Fiddich ran alone and got the most points and ended up in the first place, Vision became second and Chidish third. Since Simon left early on Monday morning abroad I had to return home after the coursing.

Tuesday I had an appointment with Dr. Orange for control of Cytaugh's foot. It was half a year after surgery and he was very amazed and satisfied with the good healing. Cytaugh may run loose again and the sport in! I will always let them walk with a stocking and possibly tape around her toes, even on our own terrain.

Friday afternoon Sonja and I were back in Dortmund on the camper-parking lot in the Wischlingenpark. Saturday we had the Bundessieger and Sunday the international Show. Vision was both days forest and Chidish BOB.

On Monday I went back home after taking some of the station plates, and then packing the caravan to go to RONO-Beach for the coursing there on Thursday. During the NKC, Alfred Nada had asked Simon if he wanted to take care of a field on RONO beach with CC2000 and to do it with a closed fair, it was agreed that CC2000 can take a quad to the EKC next year in Denmark. A great deal! Since there were quite a few employees who had cancelled their cooperation, Sonja and I were asked to jump in. So we had our hands full of walking with the whole group, walking from Vision and Chidish on Saturday and the veterinary control on Saturday evening and Sunday. I also helped some of the paddocks on Sunday. As mentioned, the Deerhounds ran on Saturday. Of the 14 reported hounds there were 4 males. 1 male and 1 bitch were absent. After the first turn there was 1 bitch injured and Nelungaloo untouchable was disqualified due to attacks from his partner just before and at the shelter. He had already done this during the EKC, but the jury did not do anything with it. Now there was finally a jury panel that dared to disqualify such a dog but after the owner made the announcement of the disc. Had gotten the jury for everything that was ugly and told them that they expected this in the morning. Yes, if you know that you have an aggressive dog on the line, you can wait for it to fly out! Hopefully she sees that she is really wrong by letting that beast run. The owner of Islay's Little John was just too cancerous. After the first turn on the trail that did not virtue and after the second turn she made it completely fur! Little John walked together with Chidish and they were well-matched. They both met at the same time at the reception and went together on the hare. The owner of Little John immediately pulled this road from the Hare. In the meantime, Chidish had the hare by grabbing the muzzle and did not loose any more. I was busy getting the hare out of his mouth when Miss Little John started to rant that she didn't think her dog was allowed to be at the hare! Since I was working with Chidish I ignored her but after we got off the Coursingterrein she started again! I told her she had pulled her dog from the hare herself, but she was not susceptible to reason. What a lamb bitch! It shouldn't be crazier! I now also know why many of those dogs are aggressive in the shelter; Their owners are extremely tense and this is about their dog. That told Miss Little John me right before the course and yes, it may well be true, if you know that your dog is not friendly I would be too tense! No, coursing is not fun and we were glad we had our own CC2000 party the weekend. Such a small 30 hounds enjoyed a nice long trail, without stress, without muzzle and dumb Rendek, just wonderfully relaxed with perfect coursingweer. Vision could walk again with Chidish and she walked the stars of heaven. She always runs with Chidish much better than with another, I think it is a matter of self-confidence, she is also so young.

Anyway, the caravan is clean and empty again and can hibernate. We are still facing a busy period; Tomorrow to Utrecht with Bibelot and next week to the world exhibition in Leipzig. And then……. Who knows.