Mrs B

£1.25 for 3 bars. My "contact" had one in her hand when my OH was speaking to her ........ Is that a message ...........

Will be making contact with my dealer tonight. Will let you know the outcome. (In writing down what you wanted however, I tipped the entire contents of the pen pot behind the computer desk. )

Send details, I'll see what my contact can do.

Working up to whisky in my coffee after dinner if that counts. I think you should stick with the Homechecker Co-ordinator role - your true talents will rise to the challenge I'm sure.

When is a Fugee a Fuggee? Does it help to have consumed Crunchy Nut Cornflakes with Baileys per chance? Trying to download BBC programme from iPlayer to the computer for the first time. Big mistake. Reckon it's taken at least 2 hours to 85% download an 85 minute programme ............... so far. Off to read some rubbishy book, with minimal story line so that I can keep up with the plot in the hope that by the time I wake up the download will have finished. Or could post something from Lumpy Mrs B in HGLS's sponsored diet thread .............

Will be brave, pop up, say "Happy New Year" and run before I'm kicked out of the RMF club. Head currently feels as if it's stuffed full of socks ................ last alcohol one glass of wine Christmas Eve .................. this has more to do with the cold everyone seems to be sharing at the moment. Went to work yesterday feeling but determined to meet an end of year deadline that meant the company would receive a reduced charge for something through 2008. Currently thinking "why?" as in "will they cut me in on the proceeds ............. ?" Reminder to bitch-self - think nice thoughts in 2008.

Happy New Year to the Rescue who, for some reason we have yet to fathom, decided that Tigger was the right dog for someone looking for a collie to share their home with following the death of Susie who had shared their lives for 15 years. And to the same Rescue for being on the other end of the 'phone every time we needed them (and boy was that often) for advice, support and friendship as we struggled to the right thing by Tigger and assure him that the world was fun, and our home was safe. That Tigger has become the Dawgus he is now is in no small part down to you. The same Rescue supported us when we took on Daisy, and continue to be our inspiration as we forever try to learn to do our best by our four pawed family. I raise my glass to Sarah and Paul at Wiccaweys.

Dee, please be assured that I did not post about Alfie here with any thought that people should or would rush to support a demonstration. In my own life, I've messed up on occasions - putting your hand up and admitting it is much easier when someone sympathetically helps sort out the ensuing mess, rather than shouting at you over your misdemeanours! Usually folks shout at me first mind, which as you say, really doesn't help at all. I am convinced that the folks at DogLost have more experience and knowledge about the current situation regarding Alfie than they can or should make public on this occasion, and they are far and away the best people to take this whole problem forward. My only wish in posting here (which perhaps I should have made clearer) is to raise awareness amongst as many people as possible that Alfie is missing, so that as many people as possible are on the look out for him. Keep up the good work.

Alfie has been missing since 1st December, and full details of the what has been happening can be found in the DogLost link below. http://www.doglost.co.uk/forum.asp?ID=11722 I'm not sure if this story has already been posted and I have missed it, but I thought that with the Refuge having so many members, it would do no harm for as many people as possible to be aware of the story and be keeping an eye open for Alfie. Personally I find the whole scenario completely bizarre, disconcerting and worrying. Think I will stop my comments there!

Me-thinks Sam has the measure of me, and I thought that I was just !!! And no I don't work for the Tourist Board .................. I'm still trying to work out how you guessed that. Perhaps I should join forces with some of those who think it sounds and tour the Market with you next year, with obligatory (toy) dog/cat/rabbit/rat/horse tucked under our arms, and see just how much bah-humbuging we could do ................... perhaps I could make you suffer in the good name of ............. ? Love too. What approach would you like me to take? Would you like the smile-nicely cosy-up approach before tearing their argument apart and going in for the jugular, or do you prefer straight in with the contents of the dictionary consumed especially for the occasion (sorry, don't do four letter words, but can come up with a few interesting longer ones), or shall I do all the research beforehand to ensure that I know more about the subject than they do and floor them, or ................ (Note to self. There is no icon on the Refuge, that allows me to demonstrate hitting something with a bat. Return to Forum which knows me better and seems to think I need one!) Meanwhile. Things have gotten worse. I forgot my supermarket list yesterday morning, and so my shopping was a little hit and miss. Which now finds me with 1 oz of glacé cherries in my cupboard, and three pineapple fruit cakes to make! And if you think I'm driving to the supermarket throught the Market traffic Nor can I summon up the necessary to go to collect my lenses from the optician for ditto reasons. And it's pouring down with rain. Where's me snow? Bah Humbug!

I've already posted this on another Forum, but I thought I'd share my rant with you too! http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/Information_page...det.asp?id=9862 For those unfortunate to have to live and work in the Lincoln area for the four days of the Christmas Market, this is definitely a bah humbug occasion. Every year the event gets bigger and bigger, whilst the infrastructure of the City remains the same. This year they reckon 200,000+ will visit the Market (don’t ask me how they are going to count people in and out, I’m past caring!) Not only does it take me forever to get to work, and get home, as I wait everywhere for all the extra traffic to disperse, not to mention waiting for the conveys of coaches to pass through, escorted by the police, blue lights and all, with up to 30 coaches in each convoy, but anything and everything that you want to do by way of “normal activities†grinds to a halt due to the sheer numbers of people descending on the City. You can’t park anywhere, due to car parks being full, road after road being closed or having parking restrictions put on them (we’re talking about at least 50 streets here), and the Park and Ride (only one, so you have to travel around the City to get to it) which they put on for the Market, is, of course, on one of the roads I go home on, and, being all of 2 miles from the Market, they charge £10 a vehicle for the privilege of taking you to the Market. I really feel for any unfortunate (like the guy I work with) who lives either in the vicinity of the Market or, even worse, on one of the streets the Market is on. If you’re on one of the closed roads, you may be able to get through with the benefit of a vehicle pass, but for four days, you can’t have any visitor come to your house by vehicle. And just imagine having tens of thousands of people traipse past your house because you are on a road with stalls on, or have a fairground ride across the road from you, blaring out “music†for four days. Even if you don’t go to the Market itself, town is full of people wondering what to do with themselves until the coach is due to take them home again. The coaches have to be registered with the Council for a timed arrival and a timed departure slot. Forget trying to pick up a couple of things at lunch time, by the time you’ve queued, it’ll be time to go back to work. And then there’s the actual Market. OK, so I can be a real bah humbug here, ‘cause I really don’t go to it. After all, why would I want to spend a few hours, entering the pedestrian one way system (yep, you read that right, there is a one way system for pedestrians, due to the sheer volume of people who attend this), shuffling along, shoulder to shoulder with people I’ve never met before, treading on my toes, thumping into me with bags, sticks or worse, some of whom are the worse for a visit or two to a tavern, to view for sale items which are either vastly over priced, or complete tat – even assuming that you can get into the actual vicinity of a stall to view anything at all, before being swept up by the people heading through. And then there’s the fairground stalls, where you can spend your money, and come aware with a breathtaking prize of a blow up teddy or some huge cuddly seal – all the better to batter your fellow crowd walkers with. And yes, can you just imagine Tigger and Daisy in the midst of that? Thank goodness they ban dogs from the event - it would just be too cruel to put them through this. Naturally any food or drink is served in or on a plastic serving dish, is grossly overpriced and, on the whole is rubbish. What else. Ah yes. Just wait till it rains. I see we're forecast for heavy rain on Saturday, and heavy showers on Sunday. Fantastic. Once you’re in the Castle grounds, you’re on grass. Can you just consider what happens when tens of thousands of people trample over wet grass? No wonder the ambulances are on standby. Tonight we’re going out for a meal with friends – and have to cross the Market traffic – and I know already that it’ll take me forever, and I’ll be frazzled before I arrive. No resident in the locality should consider having a life until the event is over. And public transport is all over the place. Bus routes have to be changed to deal with the road closures, and the buses haven’t a hope of running to time, and I’ve lost count of the occasions I’ve stood for an hour or so waiting for a bus home which hasn’t come at all (however lucky me has the car this year!) And absolutely worst of all. This is the only day of the year, including even the days of the Lincolnshire Show, when there is no way I can get home to Tigger and Daisy in the middle of the day. Which puts me in an even worse humour. (But they are being looked after, don’t worry, I just prefer it to be me!) I do not promise my bah humbug is over. I may remember more things to rant about. Normal smiley Christmas service will be resumed on Sunday evening, or possibly Monday morning. Off to try to buy a couple of things in town ................. and some more chocolate.

They are. So recommend away on the net stuff too.

Can anyone recommend a book to me for someone who's starting out on owning a dog - something that they can refer to throughout the dog's life from puppyhood to old age, via general care and common problems. I'm looking for something specific to golden retrievers, as that is the breed they have taken on - I've already suggested something to them for an "all purpose all breeds book", but am not looking for something more specialist to suggest. Thanks (hopefully).

OK. I won't give up just yet - so you can't either. Forget the ball. Perhaps stick with the fluffy toy? I know you say she gets too excited then, but then if Mollydog's interested and excited, then she'll want to try harder. Two fluffy toys perhaps? And six hands (to hold toys, clickers and treats of course - this IS a clicker training thread ............... ) So, still sticking with the clicking for showing interest, interacting etc with the toy. If you actually get a retrieve, get really excited yourself (you're a Fugee, you will enter into the spirit of the thing) jump up and down, dance around, clap your hands, smile - and give her an even bigger and better fluffy toy as a reward - NOT to retrieve, just to play with. So, she's done the boring bring back a semi-interesting fluffy thing, you've given her a bigger and better fluffy thing to do whatever she wants with. Don't forget the food circuits as well - I'm sure you said she was a foodie, and she obviously likes chasing. If not fluffy toys, and not balls, use your imagination to try other things that might nudge her imagination into interacting with them - a piece of cloth, dumbbell (yawn), plastic bottle, ring - doesn't have to be a dog toy, it could be something from around the house if you think it will work - even a sock, or couple of socks rolled up together, or a glove or something like that. What else could you possibly have to do on a Sunday ............

Have you tried going right back to basics with the retrieve? So instead of hoping that the retrieve will become instinctive, actually have a go at teaching it from nothing? So have a ball (or any other object you fancy - but not something that is normally chewed or tugged), and set yourself up for a clicker training session, put the object literally just at your feet and start by clicking for showing an interest at the object - looking at it, sniffing it, touching it, just being in the same space as it - if she doesn't show interest, touch it, or tap the ground near it to encourage her to come and investigate - and the nearer the mouth it goes (perhaps a close sniff) the bigger the reward - so act the silly goat, bring out the favourite toy or tugger or do food circuits or whatever it is you use for the big rewards. So really, to start with, you're forgetting you want a retrieve, you're teaching that you want "something" to happen when that toy is out. Eventually it will go in her mouth - and the further down the road you go with being more successful at getting more "mouth" interest, the less you will click the looks, sniffs, etc. Admittedly there will then come the fine line between aiming for more mouth touches and clicking those, and perhaps going through a phase of not getting them, but having to give a click for something else like a look or a sniff, so that your dog doesn't lose heart. Once there is a good chance that you can get it in her mouth more often than not, you could put it a short distance away (like a foot/30 cms, not half a mile!) and go through the same process. Having watched someone clicker train a Tibetan Terrier to retrieve - who was completely disinterested in temperament and inclination to retrieve anything (and even now has trouble seeing where the things gone he's supposed to be bringing back!) I have complete faith that with time, patience and persistence you will succeed with this. The only other thing is that you will have to do this without any other dogs helping. Left to their own devices, Tigger and Daisy do exactly what your dogs do - Tigger retrieves, Daisy runs along madly, goes round and round, but doesn't actually ever bring back the ball. So, I have had to train Daisy on her own, how to retrieve - and it is just beginning to happen. I will now retreat back to my observer status.

Humph. Note to self. Sarah never asked me. Off to bake me a cake. Suppose you want them in purple too ......... ?

Here are my special dogs, Tigger and Daisy, who are deaf dogs for the hearing. Tigger Daisy Tigger and Daisy

I have just spent ages sorting out my freezer ready for my Landywoods delivery tomorrow - to just receive a 'phone call from them saying "won't be tomorrow, will be Wednesday"! They were lucky I was so cross that I was unable to say what I thought. I wouldn't be quite so mad - except they do this every time - change morning to afternoon to evening, change the day, the week - and normally I have to book holiday to receive the order so they're really mucking me about. Not sure whether they just select me to muck about, or whether the share their unreliiable service with all their customers. Rant over. I'm going to put my head back in the freezer.

Hi Nicki Does this mean you call yourself yellowbelly? And please can we see some photos of Sukie Sue! Welcome to the Refuge.

You'd have to throw all your obedience thinking out the window Lindsey - no neat presents with the retrieve articles, just get the article off them as quickly as possible before sending them back into the square. And obviously pulling on the lead on the scent trail permitted.

We had the chance to take Tigger to a “Working Trials Taster Day†on Saturday. This had been arranged by our trainer, so there were just a few of us, which gave each of us a really good chance to try everything – following a trail, including a corner (and playing tuggy with the socks which the dogs found along the way), searching a square and retrieving objects, having a go over a spread jump, and doing a sendaway. We were lucky enough to have as our trainers for the day some really good people from the Working Trials world, who gave us a real insight into the discipline, and who really took the time to explain things thorougly and encouraged us at whatever level we were at - we all had a fantastic time, helped along by it being a lovely sunny day. Tigger (as some of you will know all too well) can still be a challenging young man, but Tigger really had his “good boy†hat on that day, focussed on what he was doing, made friends with everyone and his tail never stopped wagging till he arrived home and couldn’t keep awake any longer. So, just a few photos from the day – they were all taken from a distance so as not to interfere with any of the dogs who were working, and I was taking photos into the sun, so some of the lighting is wrong. So here’s Tigger’s take on the day. First things first – this lady definitely needs subjecting to a Tigger-cuddle. Just whisper in my ear what it is I do next Daddy. Come on, can’t I go yet? Now I think we need some introductions along the way - this lady is Mattie, she did really well – she looks a bit like she's not a collie to me! And this is Wys – OK, so I hear she’s a Show-Girl really, but I saw her being an agility girl last year, not to mention doing a bit of obedience stuff, and she put us all to shame on the search square on Saturday …………….. not bad for 13 years young! Not sure that this was quite what Clyde was supposed to do. Think Hex has the right idea ….. Oh, and here’s Griff – he’s nearly as good a poser as me. It’s all so different from how life used to be and it's all such FUN!

Does shouting at deaf dogs count?

Oh dear, oh dear. Obviously should have donned my mob cap and apron and made my way into the ring with my basket. Although I believe you said that Patrick was coming on Sunday - did he not know that he should buy cake for you to make up for all the energies expended doing your Compare Compère duties?

He needs help! Introduce him to me next time, I can't let a Fugee go wanting.

I've been somewhat tardy adding to this thread - could be something to do with me still trying to tidy up at home after the weekend. It was a great day, if somewhat windy !!!!! I'm sure there must be various people with very sore arms from the time they spent hanging on to gazebos and the like. It was great to meet some of the folks from here - I was the one going round saying "and what is your name on the Refuge ....... ?" Which came after me saying "Have you bought your raffle tickets yet ......... ?" It makes me feel a little braver about posting here if nothing else. And which of you didn't buy your cake quota? I've had to bring some home to sell ............... Tigger and Daisy were completely whacked out at the end of the day - in fact Daisy actually had the sense to go back to the van for a snooze in the afternoon - maybe next year Tigger will realise that this is a "good thing to do" too. Now we just have to be very :) to Paul and Sarah, and say "next time ........." I'm hoping that one year I'll actually have the chance to look properly at all the stalls! AND take some photos.