January 16th, 2009: It's On Its Way - Finally
It's time to break open the Elderflower wine we made way back in the summer. Our book is finally in the hands of the printer. Yahoo. It is going to be an agonizingly long wait until it comes back. It is one thing staring at a book on a computer, quite another to see it all dressed up in its 'jacket.' We will tell you that it is Karin Mattsson's Sammie from Norway on the front cover and we can take no credit for the photo for it was Karin herself who snapped the photo. She is a dab hand on a camera, in addition to being a superb handler and truly nice person. She should be framing that book cover and putting it on her wall!

So...we wanted a coffee-table book of border collies. It seems that others want one too (thank you!). In fact, a LOT of people want a coffee table book. Perhaps we'll spark an economic revival by creating a worldwide demand for coffee tables.

The only problem we have discovered in writing a book is that there is an expectation of another. No pressure guys (and gals)! Let this one hit the coffee tables first and then maybe... Come to think of it, I (Angie here) was out running this morning and I had an idea for another book... perhaps. But as a sneak preview, here's something Kelvin has on the 'go' - very early stages (guess who the little girl is). Kelvin got this cool 'tablet' from Santa which allows him to draw straight to the computer. It is quite a neat wee gadget as it is like a piece of paper and a pencil, and oh so much better than trying to use a mouse. He is impatiently trying to get the hang of this new toy.

On the topic of running, there hasn't been too much of that going on from either of us. Kelvin seems to go from one bout of sickness to another and me, well, laziness is probably a better explanation. Anyway, over the last few weeks I've been out every other day, getting up earlier than normal to walk dogs in the dark and then at first light hitting the country roads around here. The dogs have occassionally had second thoughts about leaving warm kennels behind at odd hours for a walk in complete darkness (except for the light from a flashlight). I go before anyone else is out of bed because otherwise I'd have to wear a sign on my back saying 'Wide Load.' Ok, perhaps that is an exaggeration but it sure feels like it.

The other day Kelvin suggested I try a new running route instead of my 'old favourites.' He instructions: "go right at the bottom of the hill, then left, then first right. The road curves around a bit, but just run out as far as you like and then back again." I humoured him. As I approached a great big hill (it's probably a small hill but in my state of disrepair it could well have been Mount Everest), I finally remembered that Kelvin is a mountain goat and loves hills. When he is describing a new running route, he talks in code. Curves do not mean the road bends horizontally but vertically. As I ran down the 'big' hill, all I could think was 'I am not running back this way.' So I now have a new circular running route - and one where no-one can see me walking!

Kelvin is back running since his last 'sickness' break. Almost every day he and his two loyal dogs, Blade and Tina, are off running 'up hill and down dale.' If nothing else, his dogs are fit. Kelvin used to be a pretty good runner and if you want a good laugh, check this out. Click here.

After a wonderfully dry spell over the holidays we are now back to torrential rain. Why does it rain just as one starts heading out to train dogs? The dogs have had a bit of a layoff over the last 6 weeks so now we are just starting to get them fit again and into the training field. I was out with my little Sioux the other day and had one of those 'wow' moments when I called her in on a shed and she came so fast it caught me by surprise (I should add it is me who is pathetic when it comes to shedding, not my dogs!). But it was as she took the shed sheep off and drove them away all over the field that I had wow moment. What a driving machine she is and she loves it. Now Sioux isn't everyone's cup of tea as she isn't as stylish as her prick-eared sister, Tina, but what she lacks in style, she makes up for in determination, heart, honesty and loyalty. Did I mention she is a rocket-ship that could teach all Star-Trekkers a thing or two about warp speed?

We have a few pups running around at the moment and they are like little energizer bunnies. We took all 6 of them out for a walk the other day and forgot that the ewes were being scanned and let out into the yard. Ever tried catching 6 overly enthusiastic 8-week olds while carrying two cameras with zoom lenses? The only thing to do was run like hell making lots of high-pitched noise in hopes they would follow us up the field. For five of them it worked. Cian was hell-bent on getting half a dozen ewes off an embankment and back with the others who were by now huddled near the gate. He cast nicely around the top of the embankment and once the ewes joined the others, his attention turned to finding out what all the noise was about. No, he is not for sale!

We had a couple of 'outings' this week. The first was to Nigel Watkins' place where we got to have a run on his sheep and see him run a few dogs. That was fun and it was nice to run on faster sheep than what we have here at the moment. The next day we went over to Kevin Evans' place and saw him run a few dogs. Of course we took the cameras. We always learn a lot from watching and talking to these people. It might be something to do in the training field when working a particular dog, or a tip to remember when competing. Now if only we could a) remember it all and b) actually do it! We are constantly amazed by the generosity of these good handlers as they are willing to share information and dispense advice...and it usually comes with a cup of tea and a few laughs. That is the best part!