Thursday 16th December

Mummy and I had a nice little holiday a couple of weeks back. We went to stay with Chester and Georgie for a few days, but Morsey couldn't come as he and Chester aren't friends any more, so he went to the kennels.
We had a fantastic time.  We're allowed to watch telly on the sofa there and we even got to sleep on the human's bed at night!  It got a bit hot sometimes with the 4 of us and the two humans, you'd have thought they'd have got out and left us to it really, but it wasn't to be.
We get lots of meat, like chicken and steak when we're there because the lady doesn't eat meat. It's like staying in a posh hotel!  Well, it's how I imagine it must be anyway.
I have only been to one show recently, but Morsey has been to two.  We went to a small hall with only red dogs. Morsey got a yellow, I got a blue behind my friend Bronte who won our class, and Mummy won the class for more mature ladies.  It was a very long day and I was really tired by the end of it.
A short while ago Morse went to a big show without us girls.  He said there didn't seem to be as many reds as he normally sees at this type of show and he was a really good boy, but he didn't get anything.  I think he was a bit disappointed as he's been doing really well lately. Never mind, I'm sure I can find a game to cheer him up.
I asked Mummy the other day where Morse and I got our names from, she said that George and Cheryl had chosen them for us when we were babies.  Apparently Morse was named after a famous tv detective who was based in Oxford (where Morse was born) and I was  named after a famous lady detective, my kennel name being from a tv show and my home name from a real life detective lady.  I'm intrigued now.  She said that George used to be a policeman and that both George and Cheryl work for the police so they like to give us names which are linked to their jobs. I wonder if that makes us all kind of police dogs?  But I don't want to be a German Shepherd, I like being an Irish setter!

Friday 26th November

We had snow the other day! It was great, there was loads of it, all white and cold and wet.  Morse and I had a great time chasing around in it and trying to eat it.  We kept falling over too so we looked like snow dogs when we finally went in for a rest. George and Cheryl had to get towels to dry us off.  Mummy came and played for a while but she thought it was too cold so went back in to bed.  It was still there the next day too, although not so much of it.
We've also been to two shows lately.  One was with benches in a place where they have animals sometimes.  It's not too far from home so it didn't take hours to get there.  Mummy started the day off well getting a blue in her class for more mature ladies.  I got the wriggles but still managed to get a green in my class and Morsey got pulled out in his class and was a really good boy.  He didn't get a card in the end but it was a really strong class, and Cheryl said it was more important that he behaved well and had a good day because he still thinks all male Irish are going to beat him up.  Poor Morse, he's a bit of a wimp really.
Our next show was quite close to home where we went a few weeks ago in fact.  It was a sports hall with all kinds of dogs. Mummy didn't come this time as she would have had to go in the same class as Morse.  We had to wait ever such a long time before we went in.  (Well it seemed like it to me anyway.)  Then a nice lady judged us all. George showed me and I was a good girl.  I must have been very good because I won my class!  Then Cheryl took Morsey in.  He was alright to begin with but then he decided to play up and start talking and wanting to play.  The lady must have liked him too because he also won his class.  When we all went back in for best Irish he was a real pain and didn't want to stand still very long.  He was good when he moved up and down, but a real wriggler when it came to standing still.   Anyway, he got best Irish Setter and I got reserve.  I'll beat him one day!!!
I haven't been able to make any progress with my hole by the kennel as someone has put a dirty great fence panel up.  It's not fair, I was really starting to get somewhere with that one.  I reckon a few more good digging sessions and I've have been exploring next door's garden.  Now, I can't even get behind the kennel any more.
We were all working in the garden last weekend, mowing lawns and cutting back bushes and things, so I did my bit and dragged the bits of wood around the garden.  Once it was all done we had a bit bonfire in the little field, but we weren't allowed to watch and got shut in the garage whilst it was burning.
We had a visitor yesterday, well two visitors really.  A lady Irish called Honey came to have her hair cut and she brought her brother Red with her.  She is a nice lady but a little bit on the heavy side.  Cheryl has a hard job lifting her in the bath.  She plays with us when she's waiting for her people to fetch her but she can't catch me, I'm way too quick for her.  We played with Red for a while too; he's much faster.  Mummy really likes him I think, she was flirting with him and he kept kissing her.  
We've had our own haircut today.  Well our feet and tails anyway.   Our feet are a bit muddy at the moment so I expect once we've had our baths tomorrow we'll have to go through it all again, and what's worse it'll be time to do our nails.  EEk! I don't like that bit much.  I know it doesn't hurt, but it tickels my feet.  I don't mind the bath bit too much because I know it means I'll get a go under the blowy thing.  I really must find out what that's called.

Wednesday 3rd November

I've been such a busy girl lately, I've been to two shows and had a little holiday in the kennels.  We went to the place with the big hills for one show.  It was quite a nice day and when we had done our showing we went for a lovely run in the field by the show ground.  We didn't do badly at the show either.  Mummy and Morse both got yellows and I got a green.  The next day we went to another show in a sort of hall.  It wasn't too far from home so it didn't take long to get there, but we all had a really good day there. We all got reds and Mummy was best Irish Setter with Morsey as best opposite sex.  We stayed right to the end for the group, but unfortunately Mummy didn't get anything there.  She was just pleased enough with what we all got anyway so she didn't mind.
We've made a start on digging a new hole in the garden, but I don't think we are too popular!  Just up behind the kennel we have worked really hard on digging a great big hole between the kennel and the fence.  The earth is all lovely and soft in there, but it does seem to like to stick to my fur and my paws!  I keep leaving brown paw prints all over the patio.  I'm convinced if we keep digging we'll find something really interesting because there is a strange smell there.  I can't quite fathom out what it is yet, but I'm working on it.  I don't think George likes us digging there as he keeps trying to fence it off but so far we've managed to find a way round it every time.  
I haven't been able to help bring the washing in lately as a line has been put up in the run of the kennel and I can't open that door.... yet.  I'm sure there must be a way, I'll just have to give it some careful thought.
I heard George say we're going to stay with my brother Chester and Georgie again soon. I don't know when exactly but I shall look forward to that.  They should have come to stay with us last week, I don't know why they didn't but I'm sure Georgie will tell me all about it when I see her.  I think Morsey is going to the kennels though.  He won't mind, at least he won't have to worry about me sneaking food from him bowl when he's not looking!
I think we might be going to a show this weekend as I heard mention of trimming and bathing.  It will be nice to see my friends again as I miss them when we don't go for a while.  We seem to have spells of doing a couple of shows quite close together and then nothing for weeks.  I wonder who'll be there this time?  Perhaps my friend Bronte will be there.  Time for a snooze I think.

Thursday 8th October

It seems my visit to the shed did the trick, we did go to a show last weekend!  I decided when we were all having baths to go into the shed and find the benching quilts.  They were folded up on a shelf just inside the door, so there was no problem in reaching them. I pulled at the corner of one and the whole lot came out.  I then dragged them out into the garden and lay them near the blowy thing.  Cheryl was really surprised when she turned round to find them.  I thought she'd be really pleased that I was being so helpful, but she didn't seem very impressed and told me I was naughty.  I can't imagine why.  I mean, if we're having baths we must be going to a show so we were bound to need them.  Anyway she put them in the big black bag and that then went in the car, so I knew for certain then that the next day would be show day.
We made quite an early start as it was still dark when we got up for our breakfast. Morse was doing his usually bouncing desperate to get in the car.  The journey wasn't too long so I was able to have a little nap on the way, but we soon seemed to get there. I recognised the place straight away as it is the one where the quiet airplanes fly and there is a big flat grassy area where we can have a good run.  We were soon on our benches with a drink and a little bone shaped biscuit ( I like those) and when the chairs came out I knew we would be there for the day.  It wasn't long before Mummy had to go in as she was in the class for mature ladies.  I could just about see her from where I was and she was stood at the front with lots of ladies in her class, some I had seen before some were strangers.  I saw the man going over her and saw her run round the ring, then I couldn't see her again for a while.  Eventually all the ladies had been seen and Mummy was back at the beginning again. I saw the man looking round and then he asked Mummy to move again.  He also asked the lady next to her to move, then he stroked Mummy's head and I saw Cheryl taking her out to the middle, she had won!  I was really pleased and barked over 'well done Mummy'! She was obviously really excited as she didn't want to stand still for her write up, she just wanted to jump for joy.  When she came back to her bench she had a large red card with a picture of an Irish on, a silver medal with a red ribbon and another coloured card also with an Irish on.  She was ever so excited.  She said it doesn't matter how often you win, or how old you get, it never gets less of a thrill to be first.  I was very proud of her and I heard George and Cheryl tell her they were very proud too.  Morse said he thought Mummy looked beautiful, but then I suppose we are a bit biased.
It didn't seem long before it was my turn to go in.  I'd had brush and this time Cheryl was showing me instead of George as he wasn't feeling too well ( nasty cold).  Off we went and there were loads of us in my class.  Cheryl told me she didn't mind if I didn't get anywhere, just so long as I was a good girl and didn't fidget.  I tried my best and we all stood still for the man to look at us.  Then when he stroked me and looked at me I managed to stand still the whole time.  I did my triangle without sniffing the ground (even though it was very tempting), and went back in the line to wait for the others to be seen.  Eventually they had nearly all been gone over and we were getting ready to have to stand still again.  Cheryl said I had to be really good again now and stand still with no fidgeting or moving my legs around.  She said If I was a really good girl I could have one of my favourite biscuits when I got back to the bench.  I thought about this for a while and decided that if I was going to have to put in that much effort I deserved at least two biscuits.  I sat neatly and Cheryl seemed to understand because she said' well, alright then, 2 biscuits, is that a deal?'  I gave her my paw and we shook hands.  Then it was time to stand up again.  I tried my hardest not to lean over to one side, and not to move my feet.  The man seemed to be looking at me but I tried not to look at him in case I leaned over or turned my head round.  After a short while he came over and stroked me again. Then he touched my head and told Cheryl to take me out first.  We went across the ring and stood there for a while before he chose another girl, then the rest of the places.  Cheryl told me I'd got to stand still one last time, so I stood up proudly trying to look my best.  Then another man came and smiled at me and told me what a good girl I'd been and gave Cheryl a big red card and stuff like Mummy had got.... I'd won the class!  I was really pleased and Cheryl had to let go of my tail because I couldn't stop it wagging.  The judge wrote his notes and said thank you, and we left the ring to go back to my bench.  George, Mummy and Morse were all really excited and proud.  They all said I'd been a really good girl, and sure enough I got my biscuits as soon as I got on the bench.  A little while later I saw Cheryl going off with Bronte's human mum.  George said we were in for a treat because she had gone for lunch so we could have her sausage roll.  It was lovely!  
later in the day it was finally Morse's turn. He was a bit nervous because he still thinks all the other red boys are going to hurt him since Chester beat him up.  Cheryl took him off down the other end of the hall so I couldn't see what was happening but he told me all about it when he got back.  While he was waiting for his class a lady gave him some liver for a treat and then gave Cheryl some to take in the ring.  He said he enjoyed the liver so much and was so desperate to get the rest of it he never gave the other dogs a thought all the time he was there.  He got a card too so we all did well.  I wonder if I'll get liver when I get shown next.  I like my bone biscuits, but liver would be nicer.  Now I wonder how I get this message over to Cheryl.  Raid the fridge perhaps?

Thursday 16th September

I'm really bored now that the boys have gone back to school.  I haven't been able to play football or chase the shuttlecock for days!  I've had to resort to my old game of bringing the washing in from the line and chewing the pegs.  The weather still hasn't improved much.  We had a few lovely sunny days where I was able to lay out in the sun for a sleep, but other than that it has been cold, wet and windy, yuk!
Just before the boys went back to school Nick took some photos of us in the garden....

...  (Morsey) This ball is definitely mine!.....................................(Me) Anyone for badders?...............

As you can see, this was one of those 'nice' days and I was in one of my favourite places, the hammock!
The family were all away at the weekend so we went to the kennels.  We haven't been there for a while because we usually stay with Georgie and Chester so it was quite nice to have a change of scene.  Some of those dogs can be very noisy though!  Every time anyone came to feed us, or let us out, or just to collect anyone, they barked and howled at the top of their voices.  Naturally I felt I should join in so as not to be the odd one out, but I was glad when all the noise stopped.
We haven't been to many shows lately, the last one was miles and miles away and we had to leave really early.  It was a long, wriggly road to get there and I think we've been there once before but I can't be sure.  The benches were nice and big so I had a sleep until it was my turn to go in.  Morsey went first as there was just one judge.  He was very bouncy and kept talking in the ring, but made friends with the dog next to him and kept trying to play with him.  He was pulled out in the final few even though he was being a real wriggler.  I'm not really sure what happened next, but apparently when he was stood in the line up one of the other dogs grumbled at him, so he grumbled back and then refused to stand up.  I heard Cheryl telling George that he squealed and threw himself on the floor, refusing point blank to stand up.  Eventually she had to withdraw him as he obviously wasn't going to show but she wasn't too pleased, especially since he had already got so far.  I tried to ask Morse was had happened but he said he didn't want to talk about it and just went to sleep on his bench.  He was really quiet and sulky for the rest of the day.  When it was my turn there were lots of girls in my class so plenty of people to play with.  Unfortunately of course I wasn't supposed to be playing, I should've been standing still so I got told off too!  Mummy on the other hand was a goody two shoes!  She was a really good girl, moved properly, stood still, but unfortunately didn't have a lot of coat and just missed out on getting a card.  The lady looked at her for a long time and I think she almost got one, but perhaps next time.
We all had to have a bath this week.  Not for a show, just because we were smelly from being in the kennels.  I wonder when our next show will be?  Perhaps they won't take us any more because we were naughty.  Oh dear!  That would mean I wouldn't see my friends anymore!  This could be a real problem, I might have to resort to making friends with the black and tan lady over the road.  Mind you, there's always Cassie and Oscar to play with although I haven't seen much of them lately.  Hmmm.  Maybe if I get the dog bag from the shed they might get the hint?  Or if I pull out the benching blankets?  I'll have to give it some serious thought.

Sunday 15th August

I don't think much to the weather we've been having lately, all those crashes and bangs, and white lights in the sky.  I'm not impressed!  Even Mummy doesn't like it.  When the sky starts grumbling we all get in our beds and cuddle up together for protection.  Morse sometimes barks at it, but it doesn't make it stop or go away, so eventually he gives up.
Georgie has gone back home now.  It's fun when she comes to stay, we have some great games and she's never too tired to play with me.  We've got a new game now.  We push the black lids off the blue boxes where the tins and bottles go, then we bounce on the plastic bottles to make a noise and chase them around the garden.  I usually find a nice smelly tin and chew it up a bit, this makes the other chase me and then it also makes Cheryl chase me!  I don't think she likes me getting the tins.  I found I can't get the lid of the blue box for tins any more as there are bricks on it.  I can't understand why she doesn't want me to play with them, it's a great game.
Honey came to visit on Thursday, she's the lady Irish with a fluffy coat who comes sometimes for half a day.  This time she brought her brother with her.  His name is Red, and he's really handsome.  I talked to him whilst he was in the kennel, but he wasn't allowed out because Cheryl said it wouldn't be fair on Morse.  He thinks all Irish Setter dogs are going to beat him up now.  Mind you, he was talking to Red through the kennel fence and they seemed to get on quite well.  They didn't grumble at each other and Morse didn't even stand his fur up on his back.  I think Red quite liked me too, I hope he comes again some time.
While Georgie was staying I didn't go to any shows, I stayed at home to keep her company.   Mummy and Morse went to a show where there was all sorts of things going on.  There were lots of dogs, but also other animals and people selling things from tents.  Morse said there were funny little frogs in the grass, really tiny ones, they must be babies I suppose.  Morse got a blue at that show and Mummy got a red and also reserve best Irish Setter.  The boys went on some rides, whatever that means, and Georgie had a go a rifle shooting.  It sounds a bit dangerous to me, but apparently he was quite good at it.
A few days later they all went of to Coventry for an open show and I had to stay at home again.  This time both Mummy and Morse got reds, and Morsey got the Best Irish Setter.  I think they would have like to stay for Best In Show, but the weather was very hot and there was no group judging, so eventually they decided to come home as it would've been too hot to wait in the car.  Shame though as Morsey it looking really handsome at the moment.
Last weekend Georgie was going home so I got to go to the show this time.  It was quite a big show at the place with big hills behind the showground and the benches in cattle sheds.  It was very hot again, but not too bad inside.  Mummy started the day really well by getting a blue.  I think Cheryl was quite surprised because she said Mummy was naughty on the move.  She always gets excited if people clap and she jumped about when people in another ring started clapping.  Morsey was also very good, he had quite a big class and got a white card.  I wasn't so lucky this time, but then my coat hasn't really grown back yet.  I'm a bit tatty looking.  I can't help it, and I think I behaved quite well, but perhaps when my coat grows back I'll start to do better again.
Well I think we only have one more show to go to for a while now.  All our shows seem to have come together.  We went for ages when we didn't go anywhere, then we've done about 6 or 7 quite close together.  I heard George saying that after Wales there aren't any more booked so they can do some work around the house.
I hope it won't be too long before we do another show as I like seeing my friends.

Thursday 22nd July

Poor old Morsey has been in the wars again.  He's hurt his paw now.  He went to a show yesterday, just him, not me and Mummy too, but when he came home he said he had a sore paw.  Apparently he was fine until he went into the ring but then he got some gritty stuff and little stones stuck on the pads of his paws.  He said when he had to run for the judge his paw was hurting so Cheryl picked it up to have a look at and found all this stuff sticking to it.  She brushed it all off and wiped his paw clean on the grass and it felt a bit better then.  He was chosen for the final line up in the class so had to run again and this time it wasn't so bad and he won a white card.  He was very pleased and did his usual bounce of celebration.  When he went back to the bench George and Cheryl had a close look at him and checked him over for anything else stuck in his paws but they couldn't find anything.  He felt okay then so he went back to compete in his next class.  Everything was fine until he had to run again, but as soon as he did he felt his paw was still tender.  When he got home he said it was still a little bit sore but I think it must be feeling better today because he was still able to chase me around the garden!  Mummy says she expects that he has bruised himself and he should try slowing down a bit for a couple of days, but telling Morse to slow down is like telling birds not to fly!  Talking of birds, we had a really strange one in our garden today.  It was only about the size of Woody the pigeon, perhaps a bit smaller but had a curved beak and stripey feet.  Cheryl and the boys tried to take a photo of it but it flew off before they could get the camera.  I heard them say they thought it was a hawk of some kind and that it was chasing a small bird.  We get lots of pigeons and doves and blackbirds and sparrows and wrens and bluetits and those big horrible black and white things that screech, but I don't think we've ever had a hawk before.  Mind you George did find a swan in the garden once.  It was only a baby and it had landed on the kennel roof, silly thing.   It couldn't take off again so a man came and carried it out to a white van then he set it free on the lakes down the road.
We all went to a show last Sunday.  I knew it was coming as the trimming bag came out during the week and we all had hair cuts.  Then on Saturday we all had baths.  I decided I didn't really need a bath this time so I waited until Cheryl let go of me for a moment and jumped out.  The problem was I was already wet and covered in that foamy stuff so I still had to get rinsed off.  I did enjoy the blowy thing though, that's the best bit.
The next morning I started to think perhaps I had got it wrong as we didn't make an early start.  Morsey was bouncing up and down at the gate as usual but  no one seemed to be making any moves to put us in the car so I went back to bed.  Eventually after breakfast and a bit of a lie in, George came to put our leads on and we all set off in the car.  It was quite a long way and I wasn't sure if I recognised the place to begin with but when we pulled in to the car park there were big hills on one side of us and lots of building all linked together in a line.  I remembered then that we have been there before.  There were quite a lot of red dogs and the boys were in first as we had seperate classes this time.  Morsey was in a big class of boys and they all looked handsome to me, although Morsey was obviously the most handsome.  He was very good and got a yellow.  The man who was giving out the cards thought it was funny because Morse was bouncing up and down and asked if he was pleased.   I think it should have been my turn next, but I didn't get taken in.  I was a bit confused by this.  I mean, what's the point in getting a hair cut, having a bath, going all the way there and then not going in?  Seems daft to me.  Anyway, Mummy then went in to her class and got a blue.  We stayed to watch for a little while longer, then we all went home.
This morning I was talking to Mummy whilst we were playing chase the ball and I asked her if I had done something wrong because I wasn't shown on Sunday and didn't even get to go yesterday.  She said I shouldn't worry, she didn't think I had done anything wrong, it's just that I don't have much coat at the moment.  It all fell out a little while back and is only just starting to grow back again.  I still need to be groomed, trimmed and kept clean, but if I don't look my best it's probably not a good idea to try and compete with girls who've got lots of shiny coat.  I hope I'll be able to go again soon because I miss my friends.  Perhaps this weekend I'll get to go and this time maybe I'll be allowed to show.  

Monday 5th July

I've been away on my holidays recently, staying with my brother Chester and little Georgie.  She calls me 'auntie Ellie' and we've become good friends. Mummy and I went to stay there and Morsey went to stay with another lady so he and Chester couldn't fall out again.  We were only going for a week to begin with but as we were due to go back the following weekend, Chester's man said we should stay right through.  I like having our little holidays there.  We have two little girls to play with and a big white rabbit.  We're allowed to sleep on the sofa ( I like sleeping along the top at the back) and we can go swimming on our walks, although the people in the boats don't like it much when we pop in to say hello!  I expect I will have put on some weight too because we get lots of left over meat there.  I think it's only the man who eats it and he always cooks too much so there's plenty for us too.
We're back at home again now thought, and it is nice to be in my own garden, and I did miss Morse (even if he is a pain sometimes).  His ear is all healed up now and you can hardly see the scar over his eye.  He said he had a nice holiday too although he went home before us and got to go to a hotel when Cheryl went to a judging appointment.  He spent his holiday with a lady who also had Irish like us. Apparently she had a little boy puppy  and Morse spent a lot of time talking to him.
I found a little bird in the garden this morning.  It was only small and brown, but hopping along the ground instead of flying.  I picked it up in my mouth and carried it to the kennel where I put it on the floor.  It just sat there for a little while before hopping through the bars and going where I couldn't reach it.  I tried barking for it to come back, but it just kept hopping until it got up onto some bricks and then to the top of the fence.  I haven't seen it since so I suppose it must have flown of.
I had a present come in the post this morning, a diary with my name on it so I can make notes about things that happen, then I won't forget to tell you.  I thought that was really nice.  I also had an email from my friend Bronte.  I had poorly eyes at the weekend, they were all sore and I had a job to open them properly.  Cheryl has been putting some stuff on them but she had mentioned to Bronte's lady about my eyes so she wanted to know how they were.  Well, I'm pleased to say they are much better now.  I didn't enjoy having stuff put in them, but it seems to have done the trick as I can open them up
without a problem now and they don't itch any more.  
I think we must be due for some shows soon as the trimming bag has made an appearance and I heard the 'b' word being mentioned, although I don't think it is this weekend as I think there will be some major gardening being done.  I heard George talk about strimming and mowing and planting some new flowers and things.  Oh goody, more things to dig up and chew!

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