Here is Bonvivant Yvre (Lili) at the Nordic Show. She was 2nd Junior class in the first day.

At LKA Remy was 3rd Tervueren PGDog, Elle won PB and was Best Puppy in Breed and Psyche was 3rd in OB Groenendael. A Bruine son was BPD Tervueren. Pictured here is also Ruari (Revloch Yabba Dabba Doo) a Cliche son, was BP and RBD AVNSC. Well Done Tracey and Jean.

The weather has changed again and the temperature has plummeted, with -9 degrees forecast for next week !

Caper went for his first obedience class and was very surprised to see a black and white puppy--he hadn't a clue what it was-but he was very good and very confident in a strange place without his mum. He has turned into quite the mountaineer and has had to be rescued from very high places--onwards and upwards seems to be his latest motto. He starts big school at the end of January.

Sad time yesterday as I took the ancient lurcher, Double Diamond, to be put to sleep at 16 years old.

I am hoping to install a woodburning stove in the kennels soon as, with well below freezing temperatures being forecast,it will take the chill off. Old people will have to have winter rugs this week-if they will keep them on.

Photo of Chiraze with Strike du Domaine de Varoux who she has been mated to in Belgium.

Cougar has things sussed. After his morning game with the rugby ball and a mad scat he bounces into the study and settles down for a nap under the desk. I caught him here on the settee having a kip--it was warmer there than on the floor!

Caper is having great games with his mum now but she is having to put him firmly in his place now and again.He is such a character and so like his dad Zippy in many ways.

Weather has been cold and miserable again and we so need some hard frosts to dry the paddocks out so the dogs can spend more time out there. Freezing here tonight so maybe the rain has stopped for a while! The mud makes all jobs really hard and the chickens are not impressed either. They have been enjoying the small amount of sunshine and have been free ranging to try and give their runs a chance of drying out.

News from Ireland that Toyah has had two healthy pups but so disappointing that both were males--last time she had 5 males and I know Jean was desperately hoping for a female this time.

News from Belgium that Chiraze has passed her brevet "chien d'accompagnement" BH with Gaston. She has also been mated to Strike du Domaine de Varoux. She has a show in December and then will be scanned before returning home to, hopefully, have her puppies.

A mixed bag of weather again with cold, wet windy and sunny. Here is Vogue who has found a lovely sunny dry spot to sunbathe.

Cello had two Christmas parties which he thoroughly enjoyed and he had David for his Tuesday night and Ria for the Wednesday afternoon. Plenty of cake and sausage rolls kept him very happy. No training now until the third week in January so lots of work to do over the holiday.

Caper has a new bed--well two --no expense spared! He likes his banana boxes and has some toys in one and has taken a couple of toys into the one he likes to sleep in. He has modified the edges a bit but they are nice and draught proof.

Another wet soggy weekend and it is really cold too-looking forward to the woodburner being fitted maybe before Christmas!

Well done to a Cliche/Csara daughter-Belsharose Oklahoma (Yana)- on her BPIS at Lichfield, and BP BOB Gp2 at West Torrington this weekend.

Congratulations to Kate with Megan, Bonvivant Wish Me Luck, for passing the Bronze Good Citizens test tonight. Megan is by Bonvivant Kronik x Bonvivant Habibi.

Sadly I lost my two old this weekend-they must have been about 8yrs old which is old for Guinea Pigs.

Caper is 6 weeks old now and a cheeky chap. He insisted on trotting through some stinging nettles and then held his paw up to say how much it hurt. Celine is very tolerant but he is starting to play a bit rougher now and she does put him in his place.

Yesterday was the meeting to discuss Inter Variety mating between Groenendael and Tervueren. It was held at the new KC building at Stoneleigh with Jeff Sampson.

Cross registration(Groenendael in Tervueren litters/Tervueren in Groenoendael litters) has now been allowed indefinitely.

A Breeders Commission will be formed with three candidates from each of the three clubs (BSDA,NBSDC and WBSDS) which will assess each individual claim for IV matings and then submit them to the KC. A letter will be printed in the dog papers shortly inviting anyone who wishes to be put forward to stand on this committee to submit a CV, detailing their interest and knowledge of the breed, to one of the breed clubs for consideration.