Farewell 2011

2011 has flown by and with it an eventful year of highs and lows fades into history.
The dogs had a good season, Brigg has amassed a goodly collection of trophies and won into Grade 4 in our home county of Lincolnshire making it a very special occasion, he is doing well in Grade 4 already having several 2nd and 3rd places under his collar. Keeto qualified for a Final at the JDA Show and did very creditably and Chart was finally promoted to grade 4 on points so I now have 3 grade 4 dogs which simplifies things for me. Kai, now aged 11 is semi retired and will only run in Veteran classes, he has been a great dog to train and compete with. Tambi now 13, does the occasional Allsorts when the jumps are at Micro height screaming his way around the course with excitement, so no change there! Roli celebrated his 14th birthday just before Christmas, despite being seriously ill during the summer with an infection in one of his heart valves he made an excellent recovery and is still full of energy and enthusiasm despite having impaired vision due to cataracts.
During September my niece Annabel gave birth to her 3rd daughter, Sophie Jane, sister for Lilly, 4 and 2 year old Jessica, bringing my brother's total of granddaughters to 7!
The development which has rumbled on beset with problems for almost 2 years still continues as the council turned down the plans which were finally reviewed on 7th December so we have to wait for an appeal plus revised plans which will mean another 4 to 5 months of living in a state of limbo. I really do not want to move and wish that my neighbours who have dragged me into this situation would sell their houses in the normal way.Since moving here some 29 years ago I have seen the building to the rear of my property replaced by two massive three storey offices, mainly glass, and the cottage next door into some 30 retirement flats so faced with yet another development dwarfing my little bungalow which would possibly have gone ahead without me was not an option!
I finally replaced my old van in September, at 11 years old it had served me well. I was so fortunate to find a 3 year old Mercedes automatic van already fully caged and fitted with a tow bar and dual electric's. It was strange not having a gear lever but I adapted very quickly.
Now that the show season is over we are enjoying long walks in a variety of places. I continue to teach, my adult pupil took her grade 2 exam a couple of weeks ago and despite pressure of work (she works for the Tax Office)! and not being able to put in the required amount of practising she managed to pass with 117 marks while another 13 year old pupil just missed a Distinction in Grade 4, a shame as she had worked so hard but suffered badly from nerves on the day.
May 2012 bring all my friends peace, joy, health and happiness.