Cassoulet for 30 people….no problem

Polly’s 30th birthday, to be combined with a house warming. Would I cook something she asked ? How many people am I catering for I asked ? Dunno she said. Hmm not a great start. How about a cassoulet I said. And so it began. A kind lady in Schull found me an enormous saucepan,  but also commented that West Cork people don’t eat sausages. Ah well first of all assemble the ingredients….

Then cook your beans

Then the Sausages, chicken, and salt pork

All into the pot with some juice, and much to my amazement the pot fitted into the oven…just !

Not your classical cassoulet, but the proof will be in the eating on Saturday.

Anne wants to say a few words

Oh and by the way I’m great with cats

I was up at the guide dog centre today with Belle, my latest guide dog pup, and I was lucky enough to be alerted to Roxy’s presence by Rhea.

Roxy is on day 3 of her training with her new owner, a fragile time, when the dog is learning to transfer her affections from the trainer (Rhea) to the new owner, so it was essential that Roxy didn’t see me or smell me, as this would be very confusing for her.

Rox was down a corridor and there were two doors between us, but Rhea pointed her out to me and I waved to her new owner, she looked lovely and they already seemed to make a pair.

Goodbye lovely Roxy, have a great life and I hope you bring loads of fun and tranquility to the little boy you will be helping.

The Last Last Post

I’ve nearly finished my training. A couple of weeks ago  Anne came to see me in training, I had to behave as if I didn’t know her, although I was dying to jump around the place and say a proper hello, but that had to wait till after the training session.

We went down to the water

Down by the water

And I had to stand quietly while my trainer threw things into the water

And while other dogs came up and examined me….the cheek !

And I had to lie quietly while Rhea, my trainer, walked away.

Then I got loads of praise for being a good girl.

But today was different, Anne arrived at the centre and took me down to the sand arena, she brought Belle, her new puppy in training with her, between you and me she was a bit of a nuisance, but I showed her a thing or two while she was there. Like how to walk up and down the ramp ! But we were both rushing about so much Anne couldn’t get decent photos. Here’s me trying to steal the show.

Anne put Belle away and the two of us had a bit of quiet time together. Anne told me I was going to a new home, and would have a very special new friend to look after. Anne seemed a bit sad, but it all sounded great to me, kennels are OK but I’d rather be in a family home.

The Past, the Present and the Future

The Present

It was Open Day at Irish Guide Dogs today, and I was on show with my trainer Susan, showing how well behaved I can be. There were loads of people in the centre and just as many dogs ! We did a demo with lots of other dogs we all thought we were really great ! That’s me in the middle facing the other way to the rest.

Roxy in a training demo

Then I went back to my kennel for a rest when …..Anne again ! She came into the kennel and stayed ages and we just chilled together. It was great.

Roxy and Anne

The Past

Then Anne went off to chat with some people and bumped into my half brother and predecessor Reece with his family. Aren’t they handsome boys ?

Reece with his partner.

The Future?

Then a visit to the puppy block, and the “B” litter, only 4 weeks old. Anne is hoping one of these will be hers in a few weeks time.

The “B” litter with mum Izzy

Just the “B” litter

It was great to see Anne again, I wonder……

Anne Again !

I’d just got back from a training session with Susan when Anne appeared again. Now I’ve got really attached to Susan, so I was kind of torn between the two.

When I realised , hang on a mo, it’s dinner time, and abandoned the two of them in favour of….food

I know..I’m totally shameless, but I’m also a dog! Seriously it was great to see Anne again, Susan told her I was doing really well on the Assistance Dog Program, and Anne was really pleased.

My neighbour Petra, was a bit jealous of all the attention I was getting.

But soon Anne was off again, after giving me a good few rubs and cuddles, I wonder if she’ll be back again ?

Hey it’s Anne

I had a great surprise today, Anne came to visit me in the kennels at Irish Guide Dogs. There I was roaming around in my pen when I got a scent of this familiar person, so I wagged my tail, the way we dogs do. Then the scent became more and more familiar and I realised it was Anne!

Roxy and Anne

My trainer, Susan Turtle, let Anne into the pen with me and we were sooo pleased to see each other. Anne couldn’t stop patting me and cuddling me, very nice it was too!

Cuddles

And I got to do the trick Polly taught me.

Polly taught me this !

When I first came into kennels I didn’t bond with my trainer at first, I missed Anne and Polly, and was slow to accept Susan, but now I love her to bits

Roxy with Susan Turtle

And I ran away from Anne to get to Susan when she was taking these photos of me !

Where’s Susan

It was great to have my 2 favourite people together! Then Anne got to take me up to the sand arena to play for a while, and I got to show her how well I can retrieve now, I know she was proud of me. I love chasing the Kongs and bringing them back.

Roxy in the sand arena

Then it was time to say goodbye, but I heard Anne say she will come back and see me again in a month or so.  Life is so good !

Bye for now

 

Anne: It was great to see Roxy, looking so happy and content. Big thanks to Susan for taking the time to let me and Rox  be together for a while. Roxy is currently targeted for the Assistance Dog Program, which will suit her well as she adores children and is very gentle. More later in the year….

The Last Post ?

I could feel an atmosphere around the place yesterday, it had been a great return home, so I didn’t understand why everyone was a bit down, we’re very sensitive to people’s emotions you know.Sunday started as usual with a trip to Church, where everyone was very plaesed to see us, and then a trip to Harbour View and THE BEACH !!

Harbour View

Getting just a little wet

Ann and Anne went for a cup of coffee to the Pink Elephant, they are very dog friendly, and there’s a lovely view and good coffee!

View from the Pink Elephant

Lovely day ! Then yesterday we were up early and over to James Fort with Anne, Polly and Polly’s boyfriend Simon, they all tried to get me to go for a swim, but I don’t like to go in too deep, we had a lovely walk around the headland, then Anne dropped the others home and we were off to meet Orla, where I had to don my jacket and halti, and do my guide dog walk around Ballincollig. While we were waiting for Orla I got loads of cuddles off Anne, and she was talking away to me, something about being a good girl, and guide dogs ?????

Next thing we were up to the IGDB headquarters where I got to play with these 2 guys for ages and ages.

IGDB

That’s my tail

Roxy's Tail

Making friends

Making Friends

Sussing each other out…such fun

Sussing each other out

Hey hang on where’s Anne gone ?

Anne: I’m going back to France this week to start a 500k trek on horse back to raise funds for the assistance dog program. Le Big Trek Roxy will start her training in May, and may go to another puppy walker for a few weeks, I wish I could have got her back in time to join the rest of her litter in training, but it just didn’t work out. I shall miss her.

Roxy’s Back in Town

Wednesday started with long walks, Fionn told me he went up the Gardette, while I had a final run in the Water Meadows.

Roxy at the Water Meadows again !

Anne spent the rest of the day packing everything up and loading the car. Boxes of wine, General bits and bobs, and of course Fionn and myself. And finally we were off!

Loaded Car

Loaded Car

A slightly drugged Fionn

Roxy on the way home

and we're off

2 days driving and we finally arrived at Roscoff

Roscoff

Fionn and Roxy at Roscoff

Our Ferry

Our passports were checked and we were soon on the boat. Poor Fionn had to go into a kennel on the heliport deck, and I came up to see him from time to time, and also to use the toilet facilities.

Roxy on the heliport deck

Then it was down to the restaurant where Anne said the food was only fatastic

We arrived in Ringaskiddy on time, our adventures in France were over, but it’s great to be home

Visit to MIRA

We went on a day trip this week, to Isle de la Sorgue, it’s a town built on an island and it’s like a mini Venice. Anne hadn’t planned on going there, but when pilates got cancelled and we were already in Apt, she decided to go to Kerry Apt Union , which is part of the Kerry group, and probably if you’ve bought candied peel, or glacé cherries they came from here.

So Anne stocked up on fruit for next Christmas, and was heading for home when she saw the sign for Isle sur la Sorgue, and remembered that there is a training centre there for guide dogs for young people from 12-18 years, part of the MIRA organisation.

First we visited the town itself, where Anne tried to find directions to MIRA without success, but we had a good walk around the town, and a coffee while Anne texted her daughter to get the address off the internet. It was getting near lunchtime and everything stops for lunch in France, so Anne was worried the place would be closed up when we got there, but as luck would have it we got there just as two trainers returned with their pack, and they welcomed us and gave Anne a guided tour , and then I was allowed to play with all the pups in training. Great Fun.

Anne:- MIRA France is a very small organisation, they train just 8 dogs at a time, with 2 trainers. They have the site setup to mimic a small town, with a road, traffic lights, a phone booth, an enclosed area where they reproduce day to day sounds, and a half a car, that can be placed as an obstacle anywhere on the road. And at the weekends the dogs go back to their puppy walkers. Most of their dogs are imported from the main organisation in Canada, and they use lab/retriever crosses and purebreds, and Bernese Mountain dogs and crosses . But there was the same lovely dedicated attitude and enthusiasm  that we see at IGDB back home.

So from there we headed to Fontaine de Vaucluse for some lunch, and I was given a bowl of water with English writing on it…very impressive!

Fontaine de Vaucluse

View from the restaurant

A very picturesque rown

A lovely day, the best bit was the rough and tumble with the other dogs!

Egg Cosies for Easter

My sponsor Tanya has been busy knitting egg cosies for Easter and they are now on sale at the Guide Dog Centre.

I think they look just lovely, maybe there will be some left for me to see when I come home next week