Saturday, 29 December 2018

Isla, Ted and Bracken

Isla and I met up with Ted and Bracken for a walk around Coton this morning.  I've been to Coton many times (OK - always to The Plough) but never knew about the recreation ground or the walks around it.  A great place for dogs - and humans too, of course.



This is "Two Ball Isla" proving that she hasn't lost the touch.


Ted and Isla, having had their balls confiscated, decided to make their own entertainment by finding sticks.






What a handsome boy Ted is turning out to be.





Bracken, although significantly more "grown up" than the pups, thoroughly enjoyed running around the fields and rolling in something distateful.




 Finally, the dogs showing that they're anyone's for a piece of cheese...



Sunday, 4 November 2018

A Walk with Ted

This afternoon, Ann, Phil, Meredith and I took Isla and her big mate, Ted, on a walk around the fields in Toft.  Ted is older than Isla only by a few months, but is significantly larger.  Let's just say that, when the pair of them crash into you while playing, it's sometimes quite difficult to stay upright.


Despite having had his nuts removed, Ted still has a one-tracked mind...


Meredith and Ted.



What a pretty boy.





Ann was left to deal with Ted and the poo bag...


...while Phil got to grips with his new camera.


Isla was forgotten when a second golden retriever appeared.  Not blonde enough, presumably.


Sunday, 21 October 2018

Dog Training with Isla

Ever since Isla was 12 weeks old, we have been taking her to South Cambs Dog Training Club, based in Whaddon.  There was a time she would do pretty well everything we taught her, but at the moment we're going through a bit of a teenage phase (selective deafness, mind of her own, etc.).  Issy and I usually take it in turns to do the handling, and yesterday she did it all leaving me free to take pictures.



Isla's Achilles Heel has always been the "stay" command, but this is gradually improving.



Playing is much more fun, though - especially when the toys belong to someone else.



Steve Argent, the trainer, was surprised to see that Isla could pick up two toys at once.  No challenge for "two ball Isla", as readers of this blog will know.  Steve decided to teach her a lesson by tying knots in the toys...



...which Isla took as an invitation to carry three at once!


What a well-behaved dog.  Sometimes.



Isla's recall has always been good, but today the exercise needed to finish with her in a "sit" position.






Sorted.  Now it's play time.



Thursday, 4 October 2018

RPS East Anglia Exhibition at Wingfield Barns

Last Sunday I went to see this year's RPS East Anglia exhibition - the first for five years which I hadn't been involved in organising.  As always, Moira Ellice, Matt Clarke et al. had done a superb job, and the exhibition looked very impressive indeed.  The turnout wasn't too bad either, considering the remoteness of the location.





There was also a retrospective exhibition of Brian Beaney's work, ranging from darkroom monochrome prints from the '60s to his more recent digital "creations".


Since Amber always used to come with me to help at RPS exhibitions (see here and here), I though it was essential that Isla should be inducted into the tradition as soon as possible.  Like Amber she was less interested in the photography than the box of biscuits, but she was also happy to play with anyone who came through the door.