Alison

That's fantastic news Ian!

Does anyone else get excited when they see that Pendlewitch has just posted in the manky bits thread or is it just me? Wishing Poppa Smurf the best of health of course, but I'm getting photo withdrawal symptoms (though not bunion-related ones ).

I've only seen one episode of this and didn't think much of it. Will those annoying twittery twins and the ageing ravey woman with pink hair be in it again?

Too late Lesley For bizarre reasons that I cannot even begin to guess at you've decided to "out" yourself publicly - nowhere to run, nowhere to hide You may be doubly cursed for mentioning her by name, so beware! Just take photographs and not share them here (or indeed anywhere) with any luck

Many Happy Returns, Jackie! Hope you're having a great day. Alison xx & Sol xx

Oh Wendy, I am sorry. Lots and lots of positive thoughts emanating from this household for you and Dolly It might be worth having a word with Clazuk about this - I'm sure that her boy Shadow suffered from LP and was operated on successfully.

Nay, nay and thrice nay! But yes Several of my "real life" friends and family clocked this on TV or in the paper and have decided to submit applications. Most saw it and immediately thought of Sol. My Mother on the other hand intends to write a pleading letter citing the desperate need to improve my appearance I've still not forgiven her for the ones she wrote to The Gladiators and Ray Mears (begging them to toughen me up and she included specially selected photos of me looking extra wimpy. You've no idea how humiliating it is to know that a man who eats woodlice pities you.) Have you been talking to him? "Canine rights" is one of his stock arguments when he wants something I deem unsuitable Accusing me of anti-ginger prejudice is another one The whole hound haute couture business comes as a bit of a culture shock doesn't it Phebe? Polly's attitude towards ribbons and bows is the one I was accustomed to pre-Ginge and somehow seems right. It would appear that rolling in unspeakable things and the desire to be glam are not mutually exclusive concepts as far as some dogs are concerned - all very strange I'm not entirely sure that Sol is a poser though; I suspect that he might just be very individual, self-possessed and eccentric. Maybe he was a conjuror's assistant or something in his life before he found me?

Let me put it to you this way. A flamboyant sartorially aware dog wearing nail varnish, jewellery and his garments of choice - which, let's face it could be anything from a vintage quilted smoking jacket to a broderie anglaise christening gown or a lilac twinset turns up on set. Fanny and Tranny ask who we are and Sol says "Fugees". Would you want to be associated with us? I suspect that The Refuge would receive an awful lot of publicity as a result, but would it be good publicity? Probably not.

Sorry, I didn't know where to start this thread - thought about the Photo section but then thought about the people who'd be likely to find this useful..... Folding photo booth fing I've been asked to photograph the flowers at forthcoming horticultural exhibition. It's a really hick affair, nothing to feel flattered about but I do want to do a good job so in true Blue Peter style, I built myself a mini practice studio out of a cardboard box with a bit of fabric as a backdrop. Think Fairy Liquid bottle Tracey Island but a million times less sophisticated After all that toil, sticky backed plastic and ingenuity I found this in Maplins today. Bugger It's fully portable (unlike my home made effort), lightweight and folds up small enough to stash behind an armchair - approx A3 size and roughly 20mm thick when zipped up for storage. I don't use eBay but this would be just the ticket for anyone who does want to photograph things to sell and do justice to the items. I've bought one and had a go with it tonight - the secret is in the lighting. I can post more info on that if anyone wants it but it's only a case of strategically positioning table lamps, torches or whatever else is to hand. Maybe it's a luck of the draw thing but my purchase looks just like the one in this picture with the blue cloth (but obviously doesn't include the lighting and tripod). Half price at £9.99, I reckon this is a decent bargain. Watch this space for my crap flower pics!

Sorry to quote myself but I've just realised that my idea of safety in the event of suspected letter bombs is to open them at arms length with my eyes closed - like that's going to save me! I reckon so too. Will the mods 'fess up when all the boxes have been received?

Judging by the state of the packaging I suspect that the postman had indeed tried to push it through the keyhole rather than the letterbox Having said that though, he's usually very good so this might have been the result of some sort of CL-fear induced hit and run. I had described her in lurid detail to him earlier in the week so maybe he was just as frightened as the rest of us? By a process of elimination, I'd ruled Ingi out. She posted something in the Good Bad Ugly thread about her box being full of green stuff and these socks are vividly rainbow stripey. I'd ask Sol to model them and take a photo but he's just had his nails done and the varnish is still a bit sticky. So that leaves Elaine. Has she ever admitted to having a foot fetish? (Socks, paw print decals.........) Anyway, it was a lovely surprise and what a relief that I didn't get CL! I was unwrapping that parcel as though it was a letter bomb I can tell you

Coming Billy's way! I'm sorry to hear that Phebe I can't offer any advice as KC isn't something I have any experience of but I do hope that Billy and Polly recover quickly.

I'm lucky in that I volunteer for a small rescue where there's no need for a "one size fits all" policy. We rehome on the basis of suitability of owner/owner's circumstances for hound and vice versa, simple as that. Given the level of voluntary support we're able to assess the dogs and prospective owners really extensively and thus match them up. Perhaps some organisations feel they have to insist on certain criteria (no kids, no small furries, no full-time workers, no entire dogs) because they're just too stretched to judge each individual case on its own merits? I have friends who were turned down on the grounds that they both work. The rescue refused to take their shift patterns into account and the fact that sprightly mother-in-law lives in and desperately wants a dog too. Any dog rehomed there would not be left alone for one second of the day or night, but as soon as the "work full time" box was ticked, they were turned down and told that this was the sole reason It's easy to judge - and I have thought long and hard about the above - but maybe they do have valid reasons? If every dog they ever rehomed to a household with an entire male bounced back, that might give them cause to instigate this blanket rule. I'm not saying it's right, just that they might have their reasons.

None intended Simikins Finding the CL sweet really is a worry though - if in doubt have a word with Matron (and if you are Matron, give yourself a good talking to! ) Anyway, which mod is the Scottish person with a foot fetish? My CL-free box ( ) was here when I arrived home from work and contains fab socks, paw print decals, a lovely handmade bookmark, stylish hound tassels and an Historical Scotland linen tea towel. Thank you very much, Mystery Mod!

Yes, and in public he never fails to look at me as though I was something unpleasant that he found on the bottom of his shoe! Nuts to giving him the chance to gloat about it on TV though. I'm his agent/driver/dogsbody so I get to choose the gigs.

Well I'm 17.5 (= bad according to received BMI index wisdom) yet my GP and friends in the medical profession - some real experts amongst them - all think my weight to height ratio is just as it should be. No, I and others don't think the category that puts me in is fair.

Pillar boxes that give you an electric shock to the nose

Happy Birthday, my spangly friend! Sol xx & Alison xx

If I receive the CL in my mod box I'm going to offer an "Alison and Sol Box" in the next auction which may or may not include her (might or might not include me and Sol for that matter) Do you think anyone would dare to bid?

How did I miss this? Belated greetings, Joe

I'll hazard a guess that Chicken Tikk's mod box came from Melps. Don't ask what gave it away (but it wasn't the Angel Delight)

The rescues at White Lodge just lurve their new twinsets as you can see, dahlink! I've managed to twist the arm of a publicist to get an editorial published in a posh local magazine and will ensure that The K9 Rescue Knitting Club gets a mention. Many, many thanks to all the knitters for these lovely gifts Rudy Dusty Suki Neville Ozzy Suki & Dusty As it happens, the timing could not have been better. 4 abandonded dogs arrived during the week, all of whom will need to be kept extra cosy in their kennels whilst they are being restored to health so these "boudoir jackets" are just perfect. Here is one of those youngsters sporting his favourite number which fits him so snugly Gizmo Carrie, I've got lots of other photos which probably do the knitwear better justice than this random selection. Could you PM me your e-mail address if you'd like them? It goes without saying that you are more than welcome to use them on your website if you think they'd be useful.

Sectioning order for Simikins required urgently - nurse, NURSE!

If you want to sleep tonight, in the name of all that is holy, DO NOT click on that link!

I'm going to make sure I'm wearing brown trousers tomorrow when the postie calls I can tell you The ever shortening odds clearly revealed as this cruel thread unfolds are terrifying me - CL roulette indeed! The suspense is killing me. Ignorance is bliss Dibs, believe me.........