Archive for July, 2006

Canine classroom

The Kiwi jokes and the Collie versus Kelpie banter flew thick and fast this weekend when John and I attended a school led by top international dog handler Bernard Arends of New Zealand [that's him on the left, above].

About 15 dog owners got together at the Burbury’s beautiful property, Inglewood, to learn from Bernard — an inspiring dog master indeed! Read more…

First time nerves

She would flirt, she would frolic, she would scamper and play, but when Jock wanted to get down to business, Connie wasn’t being wooed … not this time round anyway.

Yes, the planned joining of Connie and Jock is all on hold. Read more…

Truth, more exciting than fiction …

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from writing … or so I thought last Friday when I settled down to work on my next novel, kid-free and content.

An hour into my re-writing, I heard to the dogs bark, looked up and was stunned by the vision of a large mob of horses galloping flat-stick past my window. Read more…

The boy next door

Connie met Jock last night. She watched him leap down from the ute, pee on everything, then roll in horse crud. Instantly, she was in love.

Jock’s full name is Barerock Jock. He’s from next door and he’s potentially Connie’s ‘first love’. At the first sign Connie was coming on heat, I was on the phone to our neighbour Damien to ask if we could use Jock as a sire.

Last night in the paddock, with beers in our hands, we watched Jock sniff and wag and Connie dance and flirt. She’s coming on, but we’re not quite there yet. It’ll take a few more days and a few more beers.

I’m trying to be casual about it … but in truth I’m nervous as a cow in a crush. Read more…

Kelpies and kids

People often ask me if they can read anything else I’ve written (other than my two novels).

You’re in luck. You can read a recent story by me on Tasmania’s Journal of Discovery — Leatherwood Online — all about Kelpies and kids.