(new) message from
molly the lurcher lover

Hello again Well, June is nearly over - next Tuesday I will have been married 34 years......... imagine the poor man, he had had a very deprived childhood without a dog! On his wedding day he received a horse [if you “can’t beat them, join them” philosophy!] and at that time 3 dogs. One of our first visitors was courtesy of an ex-boyfriend who asked could we look after his Irish Wolfhound for a couple of weeks while he went job hunting. She came for two weeks and stayed two and a half years!!! Malcolm noticed a colleague walking a Bassett hound in his lunch break, upon enquiry it transpired that the marriage had broken up, he kept Maxwell-the-Bassett and went back to live with his mother whose JRT took a violent dislike to Maxwell. This was a serious problem; Malcolm had the answer ‘We’d love him, he’s so handsome and he begs beautifully.’ Home they came to our bungalow where I had Penelope the Wolfhound confined in the kitchen IN SEASON!! Malcolm hadn’t even remembered this minor detail!! The night was spent with a wailing Bassett in the hall and a singing Wolfhound in the kitchen. The next day Maxwell was re-homed to another friend who had a Bassett bitch and who had just lost her Bassett dog.......... they lived happily ever after! We have muddled along ever since - a major move from Dartmoor to Ireland in 1978 complete with three dogs, a cat and three horses: I went on the lorry with the horses and he drove the 1969 Land Rover and Farmer’s Hunt trailer with the feed bins, rugs and house plants. We still have both the Land Rover and trailer............ don’t ask about the condition though! There were two furniture lorries as we were moving my parents with us, amalgamating two households into one large house. At the time there were many British Army families here for a tour of duty, and one of the first questions we were asked was ‘How long are you staying?’ We answered that we had come to stay...... when they saw what we had brought with us they thought it was just as well! At this time we were entertained by a very well-connected family, they were wonderful. The husband had a very high profile position and the security services considered he was at risk from terrorists, so all the main rooms in their house were fitted with bullet-proof glass, except the kitchen!! His wife said she was obviously of no account when she was cooking! The lady mentioned was a large lady and somewhat eccentric, our introduction to her was auspicious in as much as Malcolm was convinced I would grow just like her when I was older - he was so right!!! She came up from the yard followed by a pack of dogs, I remember predominately JRTs., a sheepdog and a couple of rough coated Lurchers. I think maybe 14 dogs!! We dined with them one night, when ushered into the dining room where a beautiful table was set with the family silver, I noticed at the head of the table there was a carver chair with a cushion on it, the table setting was for a DOG! His name was Dudley, a battle scarred JRT of doubtful origin; it was explained he was the founding father of the current brood, great-great, great, grandchildren and children!! Malcolm had imagined that the ‘Irish R.M.’ was all fiction........... Her husband explained that when he married his wife she came complete with her family groom, this gentleman was a stickler for doing the correct thing. We were told that the groom decided which horses might be hunted on a particular day and by whom! All these aforementioned people have since died; I hope to dwell with their treasured dogs and horses, in a place where there is no arthritis and all are sound and happy. Meanwhile up to date things here: Malcolm has returned from his foray onto the golf course in Scotland where he was accompanied by his trusty friends, Tig and Alfred. Tig actually caught a rabbit, and he’s getting old now. They had a great time, all they have done since their return [the dogs] is sleep. Malcolm has left me AGAIN tonight driving the jeep and a trailer of our own logs, to dash up to the other house to cut the grass, chase the builder and tomorrow lunchtime pick up 6 young ones together with our son who have been attending an Alternative Music Festival in the wilds of Co Donegal. I’m trying not to think about the state th jeep will be in by the time he gets them home.... dogs are clean in comparison!! As I write in the kitchen I am surrounded by snoozing hounds, all happy and contented and sleeping until I say “Ok, out-time” then all hell breaks loose, 36 feet trying to do handbrake turns out of the kitchen, through the back hall and conservatory to the front door where they skid to a halt, [God Help the Plants] while I struggle to open the door wide enough to allow them to progress to the front garden, low garden and field, or anywhere else that takes their fancy. I think we have a fox hole alongside the Yew Walk, there seems to be a great deal of interest in that region. Well, to all my friends on Doggy Snaps, thank you for the messages, treats and good wishes. It seems so sad whenever I read of another doggy friend departing this earthly life leaving behind a grieving family; I have a nightly sniff! Love to you all, The Large Eccentric Lynda, and only 9 dogs, 2 cats and 3 horses [have a few to catch up yet!] .Message to Archie.......... BOLD = English means brave bold= Irish cheeky, forward, naughty etc. What a lucky dog to have been left by the travellers.......!!
on 29 Jun 08

(new) message from
molly the lurcher lover

So Archie's bold........... English bold, or Irish bold? Thanks for the message. Off to do the treat!!
on 27 Jun 08

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