Guinness sharing her dinner with her pussy cat friend
The 2007 Fen Bank Christmas Party
And this is what Sky had to say about it....
Hello Auntie Sandra, Auntie Jenny, and all at Fenbank.
Just wanted to tell you what a lovely time i had at the Christmas party. I wasn't in fancy dress as i had been a really naughty girl...my mummy had spent a lot of time going in and out of charity shops looking for something for me to wear. At last she found what she thought was the perfect thing for me. I was sniffing in the bags as usual when mummy and daddy came home when i spotted this pink and white creation. I thought "mummy is losing it if she thinks she can get away with wearing that" Then my worst nightmare... It was for me...
Mummy dressed me in this thing, she said it looked beautiful on me...Daddy said something but i'm not sure what it meant,( it was probably naughty) Tia was wondering what was going on, she gave me a sympathetic look and went into her bed...At last this thing was taken off me. Mummy said she would add some more decorations to it later that day.
Later that day....On the back of the sofa was this thing i was supposed to be wearing at the Christmas party. One jump and i had it down on the floor. (No way am i being dressed as a fairy and that's the end of it) Teeth and claws at the ready i began my attack...shaking it, tossing it in the air ripping it with my teeth until i was sure it was quite dead...
When Mummy came into the room she was very cross with me and said as a punishment i would go to the party without a fancy dress....And they say animals are dumb !!!
Lots of licks Sky xxxx
Friends of Fenbank Fund Raising Anderby Creek Christmas Fete
The Fenbank greys ready for the Sutton on Sea carnival 29/7/07
and at the carnival
hi all,its sophie here.
just to let you know i have settled wonderfully in my new home. i go for long walks, sleep on my own settee (sometimes), eat all my dinner in about ten seconds and the cats if they are not quick enough. talking about my furry housemates i must admit i quite like them, i even let them share my settee and occasionally i wash their heads.
everyone around here makes a fuss of me which suits me fine. mum and dads granddaughters came over last week i was so excited because i adore children i had my photo taken with them and gave them both a huge lick.
well i think that's about it for now as you can tell i am one spoiled greyhound ,who gets lots of love and attention, as mum is writing this i am asleep on the settee with all four paws in the air ,this is the life love to you all and all my pals lots of love sophie storey xxx
Dear all, just a few lines to let you know how I am getting on in the south of England.
After a 71/2 hour journey in the car I arrived with my new mum and dad at my new home, at first it all seemed very strange and scary, I didn't feel much like eating because I missed you all and my mates in the sanctuary, also I had to visit the vet to have 3 teeth out, however, after just three weeks I am feeling great.
I have chosen which settee I am going to sleep on so as I can continue my life as a couch potato. I get lots of love and attention, lots of walks near the sea and I am trying my best at becoming friends with my new house mates i.e. three cats. I will forward some pictures in the near future
all my love
Sophie xxx
January 5th. 6.a.m.
Daff and John are talking about going to the kennels for a bit . I wasn’t supposed to hear ‘cos they were in their bedroom, but sight isn’t the only keen sense we possess and both Bluebell and me heard them very clearly.
6.10. Bluebell starts high pitched shrieking and moaning as she wants to go NOW and I give her a tiny, tiny nip to shut her up.
6.11. All hell breaks loose. Daff and John descend on me and put me out in the garden.
6.13. Did a HUGE poo poo and dug a big hole in my favourite spot by the gate. No- one noticed. Went back to bed. Cry baby now in Daff’s bedroom. Cold- but at least I can have her bed and mine. Go back to sleep feeling mildly disgruntled.
7.30 Awoken to cries of “ He’ll have to go!” Oh good they are going to take me to the kennels too. Wrong again .Apparently they have something a little more permanent in mind. Cringe dramatically.
7.31. It worked. Big cuddle and an extra scoop of breakfast- who says humans are clever ? Schlep around dragging my rear end all morning just to be sure they have got the message,
10.30.John comes back with a bone for me. Eat it feeling moderately pleased with life. Pluck up courage to ask about the holiday.
10.31 Why are they ringing the vet? I feel perfectly well and I can speak Just as well as they can.
11.40 At Vets . He shoves a thermometer up my bum and stares meaningfully into my eyes. I try a growl. He looks a bit less meaningful.
I see the light. He is going to extort more money from my parents. I growl and bark.
11.43. Outside the vets. Apparently I have done wrong again. Only trying to save them money. Don’t they know Greyhounds never bite vets?
12.30 They are still in Aldi – now I know she means business. Not sure if I am pleased. Not too much room in the big kennel on wheels and I might get tethered. They don’t seem to know the difference between a greyhound and a goat- still it’s better than being shot, I suppose. Food is good here too and plenty of it when Cry baby Bluebell isn’t diving in to my dish.
12.32. Try and fail to resist the urge to stretch out. Bossy Sally dog objects. I bite her ever so slightly . Why is there a crowd gathering?
1.00 Apparently I am a hooligan . Does that mean the same as tired do you think? Bit worried about this as mum has gone off to see the doctor about me. Doctor is not so easy to confuse.
3.00 Things are happening .Seems mum went to see the doctor about her as nothing more has been said. The doggy bag is being packed ! Bowls and doggy towels and even some food, must mean we are all going together! Bluebell and me decide to be good just in case they leave us behind. No sign of the big kennel on wheels- bit worried.
3.05 Go outside to look. Gate open. Go for a wander. Man opposite shouts when I water his garden. Wander back. Phew they haven’t missed me. Bluebell trying to tell tales but Daff tells her to shut up. I snigger and she shrieks and drops half chewed shoe on my paws. I get the blame, sent to bed on my own. Start howling LOUDLY John lets me out of prison. I lick his hand. Never does any harm to have an ally does it?
4.00 Daff says we are going for a last run and we have to stay clean and together. Pile into solid silver car and John drives us down to the Patch.
4.05 We all leap out and follow nice Mr Paddy down the field over the ditch and out into the next field which is satisfyingly muddy. Just in time before I am muddy on my back as well I remember I am a white dog and I don’t like water. Turn back. Can’t find mum and dad. Start to bark.
Mum appears. Shrieks very loudly ( I am still not deaf- can’t think why). I fawn a lot and am forgiven because I manage to make my eyes fill with tears – useful trick that one. Took me months to learn it, but well worth the effort!
4.30 Now we are all together again the other three are very wet and I am very dry. Dad looks a bit grim and mum is muttering about more washing before they get away. We go for long drive. Solid silver car smells of wet dog. Sally is making me damp. Try a growl- get a thick ear. Finish journey in silence.
5.35 I know where I am! this road leads to Aunty Sandra what (sic) used to be my mummy before Daff! Very pleased as I know I can be a proper hooligan now! Nice Mr Paddy wags tail, Bluebell does small shriek Sally looks bored. John smiling. He likes us to feel happy!
5.40 Pile out of car, stream through gate and mob Uncle Bulgaria who growls a very lot but we know he is pleased to see us- who wouldn’t be?. Aunty Peggy and old lady who is very frail, in prison until “we settle down” . Bluebell and Sally bite Discit .Uncle Rocky bites me. Uncle Shaun shouts and Uncle Bulgaria sits on me and we all remember we are childhood friends except nice Mr Paddy who is on the mat in front of the fire and Bossy Sally dog who has gone to eye up Peggy Dane and decided discretion is the better part of valour.
6.00 Daff and John go. Uncle Shaun gets our dinner. We got pheasant and rabbit stew on our biscuits. We all eat a lot and go bye byes until its Coronation Street on the telly.
7.30. Aunty Sandra wakes us up and bellows “Wee Wees and Poos”- nobody moves. Doesn’t she know this is our favourite programme? Hear her say “ I am not having a week of this. They’ll only do it indoors later!”
Grabbed by scruff of neck, dumped outside. Do business, creep back in. Only missed ten minutes. Biscuit shoved in my mouth. Nod off……………….missed my favourite programme.
10.30 Woke up with a start- she’s got my neck again. Try a growl - get a really evil look so shut up quickly. Go outside it’s cold. The door is shut. Can’t dig the garden as there isn’t any. Do business.
10.40 At last they have remembered me! Shoot indoors .Uncle Shaun says “Sweeties” and we all line up. Have two Markies each unless you are a hulking Great Dane who gets Four! Uncle Bulgaria only gets one, can’t work that out. Give up trying, Climb on nice warm sofa recently vacated by hulking Great Dane and go bye byes……..
5.30. a.m. LIGHT SWITCHED ON….. it’s a bit early. Try to ignore it. Grabbed by neck again “When Am I going to learn they mean business and it would be a good idea to get up when first called?” I don’t know the answer to that so stay very quiet- seems the wisest thing to do.
5.31. We all stampede outside together- lots of talking in the playground until Uncle Shaun roars. Bluebell tries a shriek, fails, and does another one. Great Dane puts paw on her head. She’s gone quiet, must remember that one….. Nice Mr.Paddy goes indoors we try to follow- blocked by large person who says we haven’t finished. So we do, quickly. Clearly if you are big and black in this house you are on to a winner. Decide to give that some thought.
6.00 Back in bed. Its cold so I let Bluebell in with me ‘cos she looks lost.
6.01 Regret it . She starts biting my feet. Smallish dog fight – they don’t notice –think they must be doing their business!
6.15. Breakfast Gong. He’s moving dishes! Beat hulking Great Dane into kitchen. Assume pole position.
6.16 Elbowed out of the way by Rottie Bulgaria who is not pleased. Mumble an apology and slide backwards avoiding eye contact. The groan ups are laughing at me .It’s not fair. Black again- what is it with black in this house?
6.30 Well that was good – must have a word with mum when I get home. Biscuit and Spaghetti Bolognese –what a blow out. Assume upside down position on MY sofa and have a serious sleep.
9.31. I need a wee NOW! Door open, rush outside -where is everybody? See Uncle Shaun and others playing on the dyke side. Gate shut can’t join in. Bellow loudly. Nobody takes any notice. Decide to chew gate. Too thick to chew through ,get a splinter in my mouth, cry a lot. Discit comes and looks at me, rushes off to tell Bluebell who laughs. I really hate her sometimes. Uncle Bulgaria tells her off and tells his dad. Lots of sympathy I don’t think. Grabs my mouth and yanks it out and says “You’ll be all right!” Still I am outside the gate now……blood on my chin . I’d never be treated in such a cavalier fashion in Surfleet I tell them. Nobody takes any notice. I sulk.
9.45 There is an open door next to where I have disconsolately slouched. Glance casually through the crack. Wonder of wonders it is black inside! Is this the secret of success here? Go inside properly and close the door behind me.
9.46 Climb nice smelly mountain. Reminds me of those biscuits I get when my tummy is poorly. Try a mouthful- mm.. lovely and crunchy. Have some more- oh what’s that? Sure something moved over there. Climb a bit higher- look over the edge- it’s the woodshed. I know what that is because my dad has got one. See a tail moving down the wall near me. Lunge for it ,miss. Falling.
10.01.Wake up covered in the dark smelly stuff, feels hard but not heavy. Shake my head and try to move. Scream loudly there is something on my poorly foot!
A great big piece of wood with a metal thing on the end is imprisoning it.
Scream even louder.
10.02 Door flung open- Uncle Shaun starts to laugh at me. Calls Aunty Sandra who also laughs but not quite as much. They remove shovel from my foot and take the coal off my nose.
10.05 I am on a rope lead and its not looking good. I know what a hose is for and it isn’t going to be me.
10.07 Oh dear apparently I am wrong, and it is.
10.10. They’ve left me tied up and streaming with water. I’m calling the RSPCA
Now! Oh praps not, here comes a big white towel , why are they carrying me?
Scream for help. No one answers. Taken indoors. Smell hot wet water in the room where they do their business- thrown into big white tank full of frothy bits-try to get out ,forced back. Sit down reluctantly. At least it is warm here.
Smell of flowers. Uncle Shaun is rubbing my private bits –think about growling- forget it. Not a good idea when you are outnumbered.
10.20 Now they are drowning me – gasping for breath water in my ears and running down my nose. I want my mum. She woudn’t be so cruel . Start to snivel. Water stops. Now its rushing past my feet…….panic. Try to get out . Succeed and shake myself all over my tormentors. I* really hate them and I want to go home NOW!
10.21.They know they’ve done wrong! More big towels and really gentle rubbing. I expect they hope I’m not going to tell on them. Well they’re wrong. Now I’m black like nice Mr Paddy and Uncle Bulgaria I can get away with anything I like!
10.40 Thoroughly dry. Strut outside and square up to Uncle Bulgaria- lots of mean looks and a few of my best throat tingling growls.
10.41 On my back. BIG black paw across my throat. Teeth inches from my nose
Apologise profusely. Wave paws and say “fainites” and anything else I can think of to make him go away. He spits his toy out of his mouth… oh God it’s the end, my life flashes before me, I’ll be good forever and ever if only you’ll spare me. Close my eyes………..goodbye world…………….
10.41 .and a half He licks my nose. I wee in ecstasy…………. Look up at mirror Aunty Peggy is holding. I am still white!!! No wonder it didn’t work………………
10.42 Thank him profusely for sparing me, promise to be good forever and ever. Eat all my greens , let Uncle Shaun clip my poorly foot, let my mummy have the sofa in the evening, Give up all my dinner to whoever wants it……..he doesn’t seem interested and wanders over to his dad. Hear Uncle Shaun say “He’s done it again- Muffin will be a changed dog now”
And he was. So much so that this is where his holiday diary ends, because from then on he was the world’s most perfect pup!................and we all know that perfect is boring!
(Uncle Bulgaria is available on loan for a hefty donation for the education of the pointy nose brigade!- ed.)
Muffin and Bloobell will continue their adventures on an occasional basis as guest writers!
WATCH THIS SPACE…………………………
S.M.H.
Hello to all my old mates. I have settled in now at my new house, it took a while to get used to all the fuss I get but I would not be with out it now. That little boy Brandon is so strict with me when he takes me to school in the mornings, I am a little bit famous on the school run everybody talks to me. I am looking forward to going back to Skegness where my owners have a mobile home, it has been a long time since I have been on the sand for a run. We even go out on the boat and I have my very own life jacket, my Dad thinks he can ski but he cant, still it keeps me entertained on those long hot summer days. I have got to go now hope to pop into my old house soon to show you how I have grown up, good luck to all my old mates. Remember there are some nice people out there who will give you a nice home some day. Buy for now.
Bruce.
P.S I would like to thank my new family for giving me a great home.
| Greyhounds with a party Spirit |  | Fancy Dress |
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Dear Santa Claws,
I am a little boy dog aged one and three quarter years and I have been very good since last Christmas, well, most of the time anyway, that is except for when I chewed all my mummy’s shoes and took a piece out of the back of the car and ate the corner off the old blanket chest in the dining room and bit my mummy when I cut myself and she tried to make it better and wee-d in nice Mr Paddy’s food bowl and tried to bite Uncle Shaun when he wanted to cut my toe nails on my bad foot, and when I play too rough with Bloobell and my friend Henry Bratbags and make them cry and when I take over the sofa so my mummy and daddy can’t sit down a few other things but they aren’t serious and I am disabled so you have to make allowances for me.
Please could you bring me the following things for Christmas and I promise to be even better next year. I will be in the little kennel on wheels at Auntie Sandra and Uncle Shaun’s on Christmas Eve so be sure not to make a mistake and deliver my presents to our home cos I won’t get them on Christmas Day if you do. If you want to deliver them to home in advance, on no account try to climb down the inside of the chimney because there is always a very hot fire in the log burner and you will set fire to yourself – the conservatory door is always open. Please feed the black goldfish in the tank by the back window while you are in there.
I would like
1 A rabbit. I don’t mind if it’s alive or dead, so long as it’s nice and big.
2 A family-sized Spaghetti Bolognese ready meal.
3 A pair of leather shoes with flat heels. Expensive ones last longer and are more satisfying to dismantle.
4 Six large-sized hide chews in the shape of a bone.
Some DVDs with animals in them. I don’t mind what sort of animals, and I can’t really concentrate for longer than a hour.
5 A sofa of my very own.
6 Some fluffy toys or rag dolls with lots of nice white wadding in them to take out.
7 A piece of garden I can dig big holes in without getting shouted at.
8 A daily newspaper to tear up.
9 A packet of Schmackos for every day of the year (365).
10 A new back foot with the right number of pads and toes on it. If that’s not possible, then a nice leather boot because if I walk a long way my foot gets sore.
Also, dear Santa Claws, I don’t have any pocket money to buy Christmas presents for my friends, so do you think you could give them some from me?
Such as
For my mummy – a megaphone so she can shout even louder without over-exerting herself. Also a camellia, an amelanchier and a dozen sweet William plants to replace those I chewed up during the year.
For my daddy – a Fair Isle sweater to replace the one that Bloobell chewed big holes in which was his very favourite. Blue and taupe are his best colours.
For Bossy Sally – a bottle of Grecian 2000 cos she’s going grey round her muzzle.
For nice Mister Paddidog – a big piece of cheese (any sort). Please make the piece big enough so he can offer it round.
For Bloobell – some new tassels as I ate her last ones. Any colour except blue which doesn’t show up well on grey fur.
For Aged Charlie Pussicat – a tin of Whiskas a day for a whole year as I think he must be getting a bit old for crunchy biscuits.
For Strange Gordon Pussicat – also a tin of Whiskas a day for a whole year in case he fancies Charlie’s.
For Uncle Bulgaria – a week at a health farm.
For Auntie Peggy Dane – a King-sized, four-poster bed with memory foam mattress.
For Mr. Rocky – a long weekend at a charm school.
For Old Lady Stella – a bit of peace and quiet at her age.
For little Discit a special present that you can choose for her.
For Auntie Sandra – a course of advanced driving lessons.
For Uncle Shaun – his very own Aga cooker and full set of utensils, and an extension to the kitchen if it won’t fit the present one.
For Cousin Leah GSD at Sheffield – a course of therapy to make her like her fellow dogs more.
For Cousin Dudley Labrador in Norfolk – a big white teddy bear or any other fluffy toy to suck.
For Cousin Dudley’s mum – a washing machine to wash all his smelly sucked toys in.
For Cousin Gerry J. Russell, adopted brother of Dudley – a muzzle.
I think that just about covers everyone. Thanking you in anticipation.
With love from Muffin xxx
PS I hope you have a lovely Christmas and a very happy New Year.
More Tales from Muffin's Diary
CONTINUING OUR SERIES ON THE EXPLOITS OF A FEN BANK PUP!
“Muffin Does The Garden”
(from Muffin’s diary of 27 June 2006)
Last Sunday we did a Meet and Greet at Birch Grove Garden Centre, Spalding. I was told my behaviour was exemplary, which is more than can be said for my new friend Bluebell, who yelled and screamed and was an absolute pain, but she is only 8 months old, so you expect that sort of behaviour from a baby, and a baby she certainly was. In fact, I quite like Meets and Greets, as everyone makes a fuss of you and they are all very sorry for me because of my deformed back foot, which makes me feel like a martyr, and that can’t be bad.
During the day, Daff went walkabout, which was a nuisance, but only what you can expect from a professional gardener. She spotted some nice herbaceous perennials, and decided that as she was redesigning a bed in her garden, she would spend a bit of money, but as the Pain in the Neck (aka Bluebell) was demanding attention, she would return the following day. I have to say that although Bluebell can be a lot of fun at times, she is also a real problem when she doesn’t behave like the rest of us greyhounds do – and, my goodness, can’t she scream when she isn’t getting her own way!
Yesterday Daff decided to plant the herbaceous perennials she bought yesterday. She dug out all the old plants and spent much time pondering on where the old ones would go. Bluebell and I were slightly worried, as she would stand for hours at a time, looking at the nice bare earth. We wondered if she had gone off into a hypnotic trance, never to come round again, but eventually she would place a plant, then go off into a trance-like state again. However, she came round finally to give us our teas, thank goodness or we would have expired, before digging big holes and sinking the plants into these. We (Sally, Paddy, Bluebell and me) went up to bed and were asleep long before she had finished.
Today started lovely and sunny and Bluebell and I woke early. Bluebell has a little problem and needs to get up throughout the night, so I got up with her on her third visit to the garden.
At 4 am it was already daylight and all the birds were singing loudly. We inspected the new planting and, frankly, decided it was rubbish, but at that time of day there wasn’t much we could do about it, so we went back up to bed quietly so as not to disturb Paddy and Sally – and, of course, Daff and John, who were snoring loudly in the next room.
8am Think there must be something afoot today. Daff is spring cleaning everything, inside and out, which is always the case when someone is coming.
8.15 Eat breakfast and keep low profile.
9am John goes in search of potatoes.
10am Unfamiliar car arrives on drive. Man with box on legs (camera?) gets out. We all rush to gate. Daff (still on her own) tries to restrain me and Bluebell as we give man our usual enthusiastic greeting. She fails. Bundles Bluebell and me into the garage. Sally and Paddy go back dutifully into house. What a pair of creeps.
10.05 BB and I decide we don’t like this garage business. Start high pitched shrieking.
10.10 Hear another car arrive. Hear lady get out and start talking to Daff. This really is most annoying as we can’t see what’s going on. Redouble our shrieking efforts (now apparently on the threshold of pain). Nobody takes any notice.
10.15 John arrives back.
10.16 Daff (now with reinforcement) lets us out. Bluebell finds paper sack John has brought back. Opens it. It is full of potatoes. We like raw potatoes. Start removing them from sack for instant snack.
10.17 I spot man with camera in garden. Rush to finish greeting him. Knock over camera which is saved by large bush. It is pointed out that this camera is worth £4000 and if I break it, I will have to pay for it. I know that’s rubbish cos I haven’t got £4000.
10.18 Bluebell spots lady visitor with notebook. Hurls herself at her in frenzy of love. Not sure lady likes dogs cos she doesn’t seem pleased especially with nasty red scratch marks on arms and neck.. John and Daff grab us by collars and return us to garage.
10.20 Man with camera is in a hurry and wants to take picture for local paper of Daff with greyhounds then rush off. Sally and Paddy invited to do the honours because “they will behave better and get on with it”. How typical of grown ups. Character in dogs is never appreciated.
10.22 Man with camera leaves. Lady with notebook goes into sitting room. Daff makes coffees. We start screaming and kicking at the garage door. Bluebell sticks her head through the cat flap and howls.
10.25 John lets us out, muttering something about ASBOs if we continue like this.
10.26 We rush into sitting room, knock over coffees. John cleans up with new Vax carpet shampooer and goes to help neighbour mend garage roof. Shuts us in garden.
10.30 Bluebell and I decide this is a good time to rearrange Daff’s new border. Not sure how to do this, but we know it involves digging lots of deep holes.
10.45 We seem to have made rather a mess, all over the path, all over everywhere, in fact. Abandon job in favour of potato snack and several wee-wees. Funny what a porridge wee-wee and soil make when mixed together.
11am Daff must have thought we were a bit quiet, so looks out of window. Discovers mess. Opens back door.
11.01 We rush upstairs to bed. Beige carpet now covered in muddy footprints, rather like that material sometimes used for making dog beds.
11.45 Lady with notebook leaves.
11.46 All hell let loose. Daff does not appreciate our morning’s efforts. We remain in bed (they can’t touch you there).
13.15 Daff finishes replanting new plants, filling in holes and washing carpet.
13.20 John returns for lunch and finds there isn’t any.
14.30 Daff goes to front of house to work in garden. Bluebell and I give a critical look at new flower bed and decide we don’t like the way Daff has reinstated it. We have another go.
14.45 Flower bed doesn’t look much different from our previous effort. Dig some more holes.
15.00 Daff returns to back garden. Discovers bigger mess. Shrieks louder than Bluebell in full voice.
16.45 Daff finishes clearing up again. Can’t really see why her scheme is better than ours, but there you are. That’s the difference between grown-ups and young dogs. Grown-ups have no eye for design.
16.46 Daff goes to local garden sundries shop and buys large roll of plastic covered wire fence. I really don’t like that sort of stuff at all. It’s so – well, it’s so NAFF.
17.05 -19.00 Daff and John erect fence, using plastic covered metal stakes to hold it firmly in position (we’ll soon chew the plastic off those). Bluebell and I don’t like it AT ALL, but we’re too tired to do much at the moment. All that gardening takes it out of a dog, especially when tea is two hours late.
19.15 Tea served grudgingly.
19.30 I notice Daff has left her new leather sandals just where I can reach them. Time for bed, with a pair of most satisfactory chews.zzzzzzzzzz
Daphne Ledward
Coming soon :Muffin goes on holiday and Muffin gets ready for Christmas!
BIRCHGROVE MEET AND GREET
As a result of this occasion we homed five dogs, unfortunately the third of the 3 Graces Bob the Builder was not one of them, and he is STILL waiting for a home!
A very successful meet and Greet at Birchgrove Garden Centre Spalidng Kim is the owner of Charlie and Bella who is a Fen Bank Dog. Kelly is one of the kennel staff. The 3 Graces |  |
DAPHNE LEDWARDS OPEN GARDENS
sanctuary greyhounds enjoying the ambience of daffers' garden.
Taken from Muffin’s diary for 3 April 2006 with spelling and grammar corrected
06.15 John gets up to make cup of tea for Daff and discovers I was indisposed on the dining room floor in the night (must have been that pear I helped myself to from the fruit bowl yesterday evening). John shampoos carpet (again).
06.30 Get up and discover Paddy’s bed is warmer, smellier and altogether more inviting than mine. Try to evict him by biting his feet. He will not be moved. Decide to investigate Sally’s bed – Sally still in it so start shrieking in her ear. She will not be moved either and growls at me. Go downstairs.
06.45 Bladder full so go outside (used to go in dining room but don’t think Daff likes that). Wee on rockery – all plants dead there now so no need to worry.
07.00 Back door shut. Can’t get in. Nice camellia full of buds on doorstep waiting to be potted up. It would look better much shorter with all those fat buds removed. Accomplished.
07.05 Daff really does shout a lot. Didn’t get that sort of treatment at Fen Bank. Want to go back.
07.30 Say good morning to cats in garage. Cats nicer to me than Daff. Help myself to their biscuits (wonder if that’s why I’m a bit loose since coming home from Lincoln last Friday?).
08.00 Breakfast. Wash up my bowl thoroughly, then Pad’s and Sal’s. They didn’t save me any. Why is everyone so mean this morning?
09.00 John rings caravan awning manufacturer to arrange collection and repair of panel I adapted while in Lincoln in the caravan last week. What does “HOW MUCH?????” mean?
09.30 Discover Daff has left her favourite flatties on floor. Think they would look much better as mules. Remove heels.
10.00 Daff finds flatties. Discovers modification and doesn’t like it. Shouts again (I shall be deaf before the end of the year at this rate). Puts them in recycling box. What a waste.
10.20 Notice bowl of pot pourri on coffee table in office. Smells nice but makes me sneeze. Sneeze in bowl.
10.21 Daff vacuums office carpet.
11.00 Go to our field in the car with Sally and Paddy. Paddy treads on me – HARD. Bite Paddy. Sally bites me. Small dog fight in back of car.
11.10 Race round field three times. I win every time. Not bad for dog with funny back paw, eh?
11.15 Daff plants onion sets in raised bed. Think I could do the job better and dig them all up again. More shouting – was only trying to help.
11.30 Raised beds full of compost make a good trampoline.
11.35 Go home in total silence. Must have done something wrong, but can’t think what.
11.50 Vigorous grooming session to remove compost from fur.
13.30 Wash up after lunch. Speciality – baked-on food on Pyrex dishes.
14.00 Tackle large hide chew; intend to reduce it to a knuckle before tea.
14.10 Sally steals chew. I start high-pitched whining. John starts shouting.
14.15 Give up trying to reclaim chew and steal Daff’s boot instead. Put it down somewhere and can’t remember where.
14.30 Loss of boot discovered; Daff begins intensive search. Still can’t remember where I put it.
!4.50 Wonder how cats in garage are getting on. Might have a few of their biscuits while I’m here.
14.51 Cat biscuits placed on shelf higher than I can reach. How mean, a dog could starve with an attitude like that.
15.00 Three nice ladies arrive from the BBC at Hull. Sals, Pads and I are banished to the house as dog spit brings the camera girl out in hives. Wanted to watch action, so destroyed a new pair of sandals as revenge. Didn’t get shouted at as the telly people were outside.
16.00 We three dogs invited outside to do something called a ‘walk through’ with Daff. Paddy and Sally didn’t want to, so I went on my own. I AM GOING TO BE A STAR.
17.00 Film crew departs. Producer wants to take me home. Gave the matter some thought, but decided to stay put.
18.00 Time for tea. All this fame makes a dog very hungry. Nothing left in other bowls. Still hungry.
18.02 Think I’ll watch TV a bit. I like nature programmes best. Dog Borstal upsets me. Nothing like that on tonight, so have to make do with Coronation Street. Don’t understand it at all, but sometimes there’s a greyhound like Sally and a Great Dane in it, which can be interesting.
21.00 Very tired now; it’s been a busy day. Think I’ll go up to bed. Don’t like going to bed on my own. Sals and Pads asleep behind settee, don’t want to move. Whine at Daff to see if she will go up with me.
21.10 Daff has early night. My bed is nicely aired and very comfy. Wish I could remember where I put that boot………zzzzzzzzz
Note from Webmaster: More about Muffin's mum can be found at www.daphneedward.com
KELLY and AMANDA changing beds in the kennels
Honey greeting her sponsor Margaret at Phoenix Care Home accompanied by Barney, one of our homed dogs.
Sometimes we receive a request it is impossible to refuse however full the kennels are, and this has happened a lot this year but none more poignant than a recent call from Doncaster Social Services. A very nice man by the name of Nigel Colley rang to enquire whether we could help with two dogs belonging to a client of his. The elderly husband had died and his wife had become increasingly confused and unable to cope and had finally |
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been taken into Care. The dogs had been home alone for over a month with a neighbour going in to feed them once a day. He was concerned that they were getting distressed and soiling the house. We immediately took yet another dog indoors and bought the pair in to rescue.
Ginger is six years one of the “old” colour ginger brindles and Skippy a very elderly eight year old. Both dogs are very confused and Ginger relies totally on Skippy who is the dearest sweetest brindle girl with a white face and faun eyes. He stands for hours with his head on her back, but she is grieving and prefers to be indoors in her bed. Their Social Worker has rung several times to enquire after them and from what he has said, the two dogs spent all their time in one room with the old couple who loved them dearly and until recently took great care of them.
We believe these two have lived together for the past five years and desperately want to find these dear dogs a home. If you know of anyone who could offer them a quiet secure and permanent home please get in touch. Ginger is very fit and can be quite strong on the lead initially but Skippy is a featherweight in every respect and both are very loving and steady.
Fen Bank has moved across the Square in Alford to a larger shop, number 2/3 Market Square, the rent of which is being subsidised by generous donations from two of Alford's residents who are anxious to see continuing support for the dogs in the community. We hope to have an official opening soon, but in the meantime have opened as we cannot afford to be shut!!
We can now take small items of furniture as well as clothes and brica brac and the shop is large enough to take your donations during opening hours 9.30 -1 in the mornings or in the afternoons by appointment as we may otherwise be shut .Please ring 01205 270166 and also if you have items for collection- if it is economical to reach you, we will collect!!
We'd particularly like to thank our local supporters and our previous landlord for all their kindness and support over the past 18 months, and all those who have donated through the website- We hope to be BIGGER ,BETTER, and more successful for the sake of the dogs- all our helpers are unpaid volunteers and every penny goes to the dogs.
My friend who runs the Great Dane Adoption Society has just told me that I shouldn’t be let out without an escort! And this foul slur upon my personality was incurred merely by the fact that I announced we are going to have a GREYT GREYHOUND CHRISTMAS PARTY ON DECEMBER 3RD. ABSOLUTELY ALL GREYHOUNDS ARE INVITED AS WELL AS THEIR KISSING COUSINS,LURCHERS. She went on to point out that as we have a Great Dane perhaps they too should be invited- NO- but there is SANTA PAWS who could be another Breed ! I shall say no more…….
It seems to me that Christmas should be a dog thing too and our creative Trustee Ann is as silly as me and has produced some marvellous things to taste and buy and look at - and yes we are frantically busy but what fun….games, silly things to do, eat, buy and chat about and well before the Christmas jamboree gets into its swing – and carols round the Tree to close… I shall go anyway- so far we have only 3 volunteers to help…… All those lights to put up with just a puppy to help! Yes I probably ought to be locked up but see Greyhound Events for more details, before you throw away the key. It might just be fun- and raise some money for the dogs!
Speaking of pups- lovely to see Bubba going off to her new home with two cats- at last my glasses, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, knickers and other items are safe! between her and two babies with deformed feet I spent a month chasing their tails and achieving nothing ! but a lot of fun, so the newsletter is late again, I now have two new pairs of glasses and I can’t find either of them! My mobile phone has disappeared and various of Shaun’s electronic marvels have disappeared forever into puppy mouths and have reappeared unrecognisably from the other end!!! Mandy of Northants Greyhound Rescue unwisely rang me and asked if we had anything small to go with Rodney- oh yes,we most certainly did! he now has his very own Dell boy again! Apparently though, little Tim is perfect and he was the housetrained one! I have kept the one with the very deformed foot and the leaking bladder ! He doesn’t do “outside” unless to play- what else did we build the conservatory for he enquired when I shouted rather more than usual! Hey ho! Not for nothing did we name him Muffin!
Huge thanks to Mandy who not only came armed with goodies but also spent the day helping at our very first dog show- huge success raising nearly £3,000.00 and how nice to receive letters of thanks afterwards. Thank you to all 200 entrants to the classes and to all who came and helped make it a fabulous day- subsequently homed 4 dogs too!
KELLY down at Fen Bank is steaming ahead with Richard our new Kennel manager ( for picture see Alford Meet and Greet-) and several dogs have been turned around by their determination to find homes for our long stay dogs and FRISBEE is the first to GO! Richard’s terrier Gus who is a bad’un and wriggles with delight when Richard tells him so, has played a large part in this and is not above putting any of his towering friends in their places! “ Don’t mess with me or I’ll have your …….ouch!” I.m thinking of asking Gus to train Muffin he’d probably do a better job than me! More of this and other things in Fen Bank News!( Should be with you by November!)
We had a Trustees Meeting not long ago, in fact we have them a lot, and we decided it really was time to step into the 21st Century- or more accurately it was decided that Sandra should join the ranks of the computer literate!
Ever optimistic, Shaun furnished me with an email address. Within a week I was sending all message back to myself. He corrected my little problem three times , I still send emails to myself, have managed to block irrevocably most of the most useful addresses I need to use and am reduced to asking others to send messages for me! So if you don’t get a reply please phone me! I like simple technology………..
Brainwave number two was an entry in Yellow Pages- the Sanctuary phone number always having been a closely guarded secret – so now everyone knows who and where we are WHY are they ringing us up and asking for cats!! Honestly we have had four calls in as many days and two for swimming an injured dog! ( Someone must have heard that Marmite likes to swim in the Dyke!)
Brainwave number three. Let’s advertise our dogs. Homing was slow and we have never ever before resorted to this- either people come by invitation or recommendation or they drop in through the shop. We advertised. Net result two dozen eggs, half a dozen cockerels which needed plucking! and not a sniff of a home, so we won’t do that again! However, endless fun with the dogs and hard boiled eggs in their entirety! I think they regarded it as being on a par with eating sheep’s eyes!
Brainwave number 4 was collectively Christmas Merchandise- a generous helping of dosh being desperately needed for our poor starving dogs. We are now awash with Christmas Cards,( four thousand of them –not only is Sandra Computer illiterate, she doesn’t do “Printer speak” either!) two different calendars, wonderful Christmas spices, designer collars and other goodies yet to be revealed and thrust upon our unsuspecting supporters and if anyone would like to buy early for Christmas please get in touch. Between that and the dog show I soon won’t be able to get up the stairs in my house!
And then there are people…………..
“I’m looking for a dog . It must be fawn and it must have a white tip to its tail and at least three partly white paws and it must be a bitch and not older than three.”
When I eventually got to the bottom of that one it turned out to be a matter of Feng Shui. We weren’t able to help.
“I’d like a dog for my friend in Germany and we will do the home check for you if you can pay our expenses out there!” Yes honestly- I was polite –just!
“I would like a dog to live with my 5 cats”- yes we had two! It is only the impossible that takes a little longer!
Who volunteered us for this?
It’s all to much. Guinness taking five.
Awaiting judge’s decision.
Shaun’s entries.
Best child handler.
Wedding party.
Bride & Groom.
Best in show.
Dell and Molly eating their ice creams with their mum Jill
Richard our kennel manager gets to licks with his new job, heled by Dell
In the market square at Alford during our bank holiday meet and greet
Fen Bank tombola at Skegness charities day with Sandra, Shaun and Anny
Fen Bank bottle tombola and merchandising stall at Revesby Country Fair Sunday 7th August 2005
Fenbank's Teddy Tombola and Bottle Stall at the Splisby Country Show Sunday 10th July 05
Twenty-two ex Fenbank greyhounds with their owners eagerly waiting to take part in the Sutton on Sea carnival on Sunday 31st August
Website design and maintenance donated by ScreenIT Ltd. If you would like a website built by us email us from our site and state that you saw us from Fenbank greyhound site and we will donate 10% to the Sanctuary
