Newsletter – June 2026

Dear Irish Terrier Friends

We used to think that our weather was wayward, but it was nothing compared to today when the swings are so violent and different – from showers to storms to wind and then bright sunshine. Makes me want to shout ‘Where have you been unruly sun?’ It changes so quickly and with so many variations of sunshine and rain together or rain and wind or wind and lightning – the combinations are endless.

What I can say is that everything is so much more extreme than when I was a child – I remember mild summers with not such hot days and very few storms, showers so gentle that you could dash across the garden into the summer house and not get wet.

We loved climbing trees, this was in Somerset before the war with the apples ripening all through summer – we had a particular favourite which was called Beauty of Bath with pretty pink stripes in the apple itself and just big enough for a child’s hand.
It was a time when people helped each other and when a new baby appeared, the excitement was enormous. I used to wonder what on earth this roll of linen was – I was given it to carry to give to the new baby.

Our greatest excitement was a fire engine practicing and rehearsing going through the village a little faster than was usual. England was a gentle place and dearly loved by all its inhabitants.

Marybel has just had her 9th birthday and I can hardly believe it.

She is very much in charge of my life and every time I make a move, she gets up just to make sure I find my way out of the door and waits outside faithfully.

She sits beside me on the piano seat and sometimes slumps down with a sigh and leaves me less room to sit comfortably.

She seems to know everything about everyone, she can spot a friend at the gate and rushes down with party manners and if it’s someone she knows well, they often ask to take her for a little walk.

 

 

 

 

 

Her beloved dog walker has a baby on the way due at any time now, I shall be interested to see her delight when the baby appears. Marie is a charming person and she is at the top of the list to take Maryb on if I have a tumble!

Interestingly Marybel, who had never shown any aggression in her life, became very anxious to be the Number 1 in the pack of 5 that go walking together – she actually walloped her great friend Willow, a large black Labrador who go too close to Marie trying to walk beside her. We had to tell Maryb that this was unacceptable behaviour – she’s never done it again, but I knew what she was doing, she was establishing her place in the line.

I’ve had many people write to me and tell me that their dogs get quite anxious when there’s a baby on the way. I’m sure she’ll adore the baby and we’ll try to get some pictures of her on watch.

I often look at Marybel and wonder whether she’s too humanised for a dog- she doesn’t move her nose and ears as most dogs do and she listens only to voices, her vocabulary is tremendous. I do feel sometimes that I could almost read her a story, she concentrates so much on words.

She still goes upstairs and climbs onto Jamie’s bed looking out of the window and she often has an afternoon nap curled up there. I try not to let her get too sad and we usually play tug o’ war with her teddy who’s going to lose his cap any day now.

Our puppy in the Close is absolutely beautiful and everything that a puppy should be – playful, wicked – yes you know it all I’m sure. They are remarkably like children and have their favourite games and favourite people, Marybel has a long list of best friends!.

This hunting thing does not appeal to me at all, the gentle side of the Irish Terrier produces such a wonderful companion, so loyal, so loving, so entertaining and would you believe it at my vast age, I have 94 years of great joy to look back on.

The swimming club for the elderly – I haven’t been drawn into it yet, I’m not a great friend of cold water and somehow the sea never warms up quite enough for me to swim happily in England. Maryb is the only Mick I’ve ever had who really enjoys the water and shallow water to play in, chasing the gulls and splashing through the shallows is her favourite game and of course it has been very hot.

We’re looking forward to the summer, an old fashioned summer – accepting the rain when it comes and waving it off when it goes. Of course the elaborate weather forecasts, have made us completely neurotic, we all know every inch of rain but as long as the swallows and the swifts arrive, I don’t mind what the weather does.

Marybel and I send our love and we’ll all continue to enjoy the day.