Bru went to the Pre Selection Qualifier a couple of weekends ago and had four of the hardest courses he has ever competed over to prove he was worthy of progressing to the next stage of Team GB selection. We know that weaves are his weakness and the weather was not on his side as we hadn't been able to practice weaves or contacts for three weeks with him! 😫 As predicted he missed every weave entry but only got one elimination over the four courses and made it through to the AWC (Agility World Championships) tryouts! 💛 He also got selected for the EO (European Open) tryouts as well!! The tryout weekends are in a couple of weekends time so watch this space! Now it is a bit nicer and the ground has dried out we will attempt to actually practice with him. Here is one of his runs
Tired Rupert!!
Bru and Brooke competed at Hoopers a couple of weekends ago, they were fantastic! Again due to the weather they hadn't done much but both won a couple of classes 😍
Brooke found competing very exhausting...she needed a Toad pillow!!
Uncle and Nephew
Mr Toad on Harpenden common
My little helper setting up at 'the office' First week back teaching there for a while...finally!
Our phantom post box topper crocheter has made this for St Patricks Day, its so cute!
Branston had a go at Mantrailing last week, he was a natural and really enjoyed finding his 'misper' who is showing him her scent article here.
Lian kindly invited us to visit and Bru got to do some training with his super brother Siri who also made it through to the next stage of the tryouts! Here is Brooke and her brother Sonic who is Bru and Siri's dad and Branstons grandad ❤
And a recent Branston video...you can see them all on YouTube if you click on the 'burdett shelties' link
So we came home and got this leaflet through the door highlighting the new rules for Tier 4 (which basically are the same as tier 3 but with no meeting in groups outside but lots of people seem to be ignoring that anyway sadly) We watched the Coronavirus news briefing today expecting tougher restrictions but nope and the schools are set to go back next week despite 981 people dying yesterday and over 50,000 people testing positive. There is a new variant in the UK that spreads quicker than the older version which is causing the surge in cases. Although we now have two vaccines being rolled out it is unlikely many people will be vaccinated quickly.
Someone was so tired from holiday that she dragged her bed into the middle of the room and slept for ages!
We also came home to Brooke and Brodies hoopers winnings...wow is all I can say!!! The prizes are beautiful!
Christmas was very different this year. For the first time ever it was just me and Matt for a meal so we decided to have roast beef with trimmings, it was very tasty! We did go over to Matts folks for a walk but obviously no meeting inside. We did manage a zoom present opening session though!
Yearly sofa photo, first one without Bracken 😢
On our walk Bru found a tree his size!
And had sweet dreams of Santa Paws!
My friend got me a gorgeous painting of Bramble, my first sheltie so now I have the whole set!
Our new jumps!
And I got this cool game from my sister!
I may have got a bit carried away doing baking!
Since Christmas we have been in the limbo where you don't really know what the day is and you just eat cheese 😂😂 It has been nice to relax and catch up with some friends too!
So from us and the furry ones we wish that your 2021 is a better year than 2020 and that some normality will resume at some point. For us I'm hoping it will be the addition of a four legged family member!! Thanks for the couple of you that actually read this waffle!!
The above photo says it all! What a clever little Brooke Bean 💚 We went to our first Hoopers UK show and what a brilliant show! We only had Brodie and Brooke entered as the original date of the show clashed with a workshop that Bru was on in the evening so he wasn't entered. Brooke has hardly ever run or trained with Matthew so the fact they nailed FOUR clear rounds was amazing! And as she was the only dog to do so they won the Golden Hoop award for being the most consistent partnership on the day! She was very excited about it! Individually she came 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in her classes with some tough competition!
Brodie also loved his day out and in Veteran (bear in mind he is against dogs that are over 8 and he is almost 14!!) He got two 1sts and a 2nd! 💙
Here is a couple of runs from each dog!
I had to include these photos as they are the cutest! Brodie was very cross that we had washed his bed so he thought he'd get into the washing basket 😂
The dogs and I have been trying to get out for the occasional longer walk which is a battle when we are working and it gets dark so quickly. I managed to catch this...how does her tongue fit in her mouth?!
And the cutest little pounce!
Rare photo of me but I am making good use of my Christmas mask that my Mum in law made me, its very comfy!
The dogs are currently on an agility break, the last bit I did with Spark was a workshop with Jenny and she had a brilliant time! 💜 She even managed to stay out of the van for the entire 1.5 hours without driving everyone nuts!
Bru hasn't had much of a mention bless him! His tricep muscle is all fixed but he won't be doing agility until Kelluki before Christmas...hopefully he will remember what he is doing! 💛 He loves snuggling with his auntie!
Matt and I have had a great week off work apart from the weather which really wasn't on our side for the first half of the week! Unfortunately for Spark she started the week with a visit to the vets as I found a lump on her tail and wanted them to take a sample which they duly did. Yet again I'm kicking myself that we haven't changed vets as they have been useless at getting back to me with the results! They got the results on Thursday but its only a vet that can tell us and despite me ringing a couple of times he never rang back. I'm furious and worried! I'm hoping I will hear tomorrow and that it is good news
This was her face post vets!
We spent some time in the garden despite the rain trying to clean up our pond...it was gross! We have got rid of so much stuff in there and found a big frog and a newt in the process...they will have more space now!
We decided to do a 7 mile local walk on one of the wettest days which was so peaceful (no one else mad enough to be out walking!) and the doglets had a great time.
Toad got to be pub dog! He was shattered after such a long walk but was still bouncing along at the end despite being 13.5 years young!
On one of the nicer mornings we had a sheltie photoshoot with Bridget Davey who is an awesome dog photographer (she took the lovely bluebell photos last year) The theme was heather and ferns and the shelties just loved posing for her! Here is Brooke bean getting up close with the camera
A phone pic of the three of them ❤
Toad in the ferns!
Miss Sparkalina hates cameras so we took her for a separate walk and took a pic instead!
After that we spent the afternoon at Bru and Brookes breeder as she has a beautiful litter of pups (Bru's half siblings) I could have taken this little boy home! We also had a chat about future litter plans and I'm so excited about a pup hopefully next year fingers crossed!
Auntie Bean always loves socialising the babies!
These are pics from one of our other local walks, Bru actually was brave enough to get his paws wet!
And Brooke was the pub dog!
Thanks to Amy for suggesting we grow rainbow chard, isn't it beautiful!
A special mention for my Aunt and Uncle who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary!! Huge congratulations to them! 🎉🎉🎉 My cousin had been super organised and got a cake with a wedding photo printed on it and some goodies and we surprised them with a family zoom call!
The last two days of out week off were spent on agility camp, it was insanely hard stuff but so exciting to watch Matt and Bru trying the courses. I'm hoping the videos will post as blogger was a pain last time! I will give it a go, fingers crossed! Spark also got a go doing some course running!
Bru camp Day 1
Bru camp Day 2
Spark course running
Here is Brooke having a play at my field this week
