I'm back !!

I know, you're all wondering where I've been aren't you?

The NEC show kept us busy for a week and even though I wasn't there every day it was certainly a busy week in the office. Sue and I had a day off on Friday so took our two to Formby sands for an enjoyable run along the beach.

Then on Monday morning it was off to Sussex for a meeting of The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes and I got back about 30 minutes ago!! So you see I haven't been sitting around doing nothing have I :-)

As usual on Monday morning everything was trying to conspire to keep us at the centre. A kennel door in the boarding kennels decided to fall off, we had some family problems to sort out with a dog we'd taken in over the weekend and then to cap it all a very nervous bitch we'd taken in quite recently was suspected as being in pup with probably a week or so to go - wrong - first thing Monday morning one of the pups made his entrance. By lunchtime nothing else had happened so we left Milly in the capable hands of the staff and she later gave birth to a second and final pup. Mom and pups are doing well I'm delighted to say.

The NEC Show was a successful week, we spread "the word" to many new people, met lots of collie owners and signed up some new supporters to our Sponsor A Dog Scheme and Support Scheme which are vital to our work and of course particularly under pressure in these times of economic hardship for so many people, so thank you to all who came to the stand and bought goods, donated money and joined our schemes.

Bye for now

Ben

Headache

The computer change did certainly not go according to plan. I've set up all the computers in our office at the centre with very few problems - my own - what a nightmare. All I will say is I gave up after 5 days and am now on my second new computer in a week. Different make and model though. So far so good, he said with fingers crossed.

Homing has gone quieter after the mad rush of August and September and with another miserable day weather wise it's not really surprising.

Next week sees us at the NEC for The Caravan and Motorhome show so if you are going along do call in to see us in Hall 6 stand 52.

Right I'm off to move 8 years worth of photos from my backup hard drive to the computer - again !!

Bye for now

Ben

Back to normal

I knew it wouldn't take long, no sooner have we reduced our waiting list, for dogs needing to come in, to its lowest for years than the calls start pouring in. It's been quiet today from the homing point of view - no doubt the cold wind has put people off!! We've a couple of young dogs coming in over the next few days. I'm off to Wales on Monday to collect a couple of dogs and one from Telford from an old gentleman, suffering from bad health and he can't cope with the young collie he acquired recently. I do understand that people who have had dogs all the lives really do need the companionship and it must come as something of a blow when they realise they can't manage a young lively dog anymore. Of course there's always the oldies - but its not always easy convincing them that's the best option.

I've just added another 6 different Christmas cards to our website so we now have the best choice we've had for a long time. Our own exclusive cards are selling well but its always good to have plenty of choice. Hopefully visitors to our stand at The Caravan & Motorhome Show, which starts on the 14th October will be stocking up on Christmas cards!! Oh - by the way - we still have some complimentary tickets available if anyone would like some. Just send us an email to reserve up to 4 tickets and send us a SAE asap.

The weather forecast for tomorrow looks pretty bleak so it looks like a perfect day to set up my new computer at home. The old one is 5 years old now and has taken to switching itself off just when I'm in the middle of................................ yep just like that :-). So I've now got the pleasure of setting the new one up - now where did I put all those discs !!

Bye for now

Ben