Newsletter – June 2023
 

Dear Irish Terrier Friends

It seems that our website, weloveirishterriers.com has been ‘on the blink’. I do hope that no one has been made anxious or felt in any way inconvenienced. Because I know nothing about computers and have 2 charming talented helpers, I am easily exasperated with ‘complications’. “Just make it work” I plead “and don’t bother to explain!”

I haven’t even got to grips with the jargon – is it software or softwear or even softwhere? It’s all the same to me. I was surprised to discover that an iPhone was not spelt Eyephone having mused gently for years on how or why something which is patently related to the ear should be named eye, well now I know.

Libs and Maribel are well and enjoying the long summer days Libs however feels the heat, especially at night and sometimes has me out of bed and cooling off in the ‘car park’ at 4 in the morning.

Last night I wrapped her in a cold wet towel. She refused to drink anything and I poured in a little milk in the water bowl which she lapped up at once.

I have been quite bothered about her but she was fine this morning and went out for a walk very happily. I’m trying not to become too anxious about her. She’s always so kind and cheerful but like most old ladies and I include myself, is growing more wayward every day.

There were not as many answers from you to the May Newsletter and I wondered whether I’d banged on too much about the bloomin’ roses.
I do want to tell you that the dreadful dead heading has taken over and I feel like ‘The Lord High Executioner’ nipping off the dried out ‘darling buds of May’.

 

Marybel has her routine minding her precious scrape in the rose garden. She must visit it 10 times at least every day. She’s not very conscientious about chewing her treats and carries them about in her mouth for days. Then quite suddenly they disappear and I often wondered where she’d put them or if Libby has done the work for her – she loves nothing more than a good chew.

I have discovered, while dealing with the darling buds that 3 were tidily arranged in Maybel’s favourite scrape. They were fairly noxious but I picked them up with my fingertips, hosed them down and re-presented them to Miss Maryb. She gave me a withering look – what a cheek, but very carefully stashed all 3 sideways across her mouth. Then came the careful walk on tiptoes with tight buttocks and rigid legs back to the rose bed. I feel she might well be the funniest Irish Terrier we’ve ever had and she knows when she’s playing for laughs.

Now the big news for this month was of course, a visit to Buckingham Palace, an invitation from their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla to celebrate the 150th birthday of the Royal Kennel Club.

It is a remarkable institution and what a record of care, devotion and management to make the lives of pedigree dogs as easy, healthy and happy as is possible.

I have never met with more dedicated and unending devotion. There are and have been a few mistakes on the way – that is inevitable.

But we owe so much to the skill and dedication of the innumerable committees which make up and contribute to all that the Royal Kennel Club has achieved.

Now when the invitations arrived, I thought at once “I’m not wearing frillies and a fascinator pinned to my left ear. I shall find a stunning trouser suit and a matching tailored hat” (having checked that trouser suits were acceptable)

And behold the perfect fuchsia pink suit appeared in St John’s Wood High Street – that’s it!

We were allowed to invite a guest (no dogs please) and I invited my eldest grand daughter Harriet (Pobs) – she’s a natty dresser and I wasn’t going to let the side down.

We arrived early and had time to spend in St James’s Park which was looking beautiful. We were so amused by the geese walking their goslings in straight lines – pit pat paddle pat – begging for titbits.

Back to the Palace, through the side gates and into the gardens. It was a beautiful afternoon, not too hot but perfect for tea, delicious sandwiches, and strawberry tartlets, quite unchanged for the last 70 years of my memories of the Garden Parties.

It was fun chatting to fellow members – a lot of talk about dogs – and everyone recognised my Irish Terrier brooch of pure gold which suits the heart and soul of our beloved Micks.

The Royals were not around and Pobs and I set off to explore the gardens even before the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arrived, it was a lovely experience. Sweeping lawns down to the lake, enormous ancient trees and plenty of entertainment with marching soldiers and bands playing.

One group (or was it a platoon?) performed a wonderful piece of choreography which included all the marching steps and a lot of tricky manoeuvres. What was extraordinary was that it was performed in quick double time – quite astonishing and so expert. We tapped our feet in time to the beat. I was intrigued and wondered how long it would take to learn – a lifetime probably, by the way, they played their own music which seemed remarkable – I was thrilled.

The back of the Palace is the original Wren design with the stones a beautiful beige and so much more impressive than the side that faces down The Mall. It looks out over this beautiful open space and it was strange to see the tops of the red London buses over the high wall – two such very different worlds and yet so close.

I felt sad once again for our beloved Queen Elizabeth. She has been such an icon in most of our lives and I would so have loved to have seen her, striding across the sweeps of green grass with her corgis playing and running around her feet.

This is a birthday picture for Miss Liberty Belle, she turns 13 next week and she’s sending you all her love and very best wishes.

We’re all so proud of the beautiful picture of her painted by Arabella Dormanwhich we presented the Royal Kennel Club.I do hope you’re all enjoying the summer and having time off in the fresh air – come and see us in Lymington if you’re down this way, I feel very spoilt for being by the seaside.