Sorry for the delay in writing up my blog but it has been a busy couple of weeks with so much going on and not feeling brilliant due to some virus that I can't seem to shake off. On the 3rd lot of antibiotics now so fingers crossed I will be feeling a bit better soon.

The chickens have arrived and are already laying, 3 hens, 1 cockerel and some young pullets.

I travelled to Scotland for the NBSDC open show where Brizo was BOB Laekenois, Cher was BB and Celine RBB. Gerry and Steve had a lovely day with Kyp winning BD, BOB and BVet in Breed, winning the Noirnuage trophy which they had donated many years ago and had previously won with Peg. Scarlett, Brittanys' Groenendael bitch won her Junior class and was RBB.

SKC the next day and Cliche had the RDCC. Scarlett won her class again and Celine had a 3rd. Lexi won her class too, as did Dana.

It was an eventful weekend having to sleep in the van in a car park the first night due to the booked campsite not letting vans on the site! We found a very nice site saturday which wasn't officially open so we had it to ourselves. It was a late return home on Sunday night.

Monday and Tuesday were spent trying to finalise arrangements for Yvre to fly out to Estonia on Wednesday and having to make sure we had everything done on her Passport. An early drive to Gatwick where I met Tormi, Tiias' nephew. Yvre travelled really well with Grandpa Cello and walked past the roadworks, through the multi-storey carpark, I carried her up the elevators and then she trotted through the airport making friends along the way. She took it all in her stride and only when I had to put her in her crate and say goodbye did she start to cry. I made a swift exit and set off home-it isn't easy for me to say goodbye to my pups at the best of times.

Tiia sent me photos of her arrival at Riga and then of her exploring her beautiful new home. I think she will be very happy and hopefully will be an asset to the Xillys' kennel.

I spent Saturday at Carols and took Chic and Yazoo to play with Darcy which they thought was great fun. Sunday was another early start to travel to Bath Champ show with Barbara. It was a glorious day, dare I say too hot! unheard of for many years at Bath. Only a single ticket which went to Cliches' half sister Camylle. Cliche was BD and BOppSex with Sam RBD. Celine won OB.

Dana had a 1st and a 3rd. Not enough for a breeders class unfortunately. Antar was RBD Laekenois. We had a cuppa in the carpark and the dogs crashed out in the shade while we waited for it to cool down to travel home so back just before midnight. No shows for a while, missed a lot of entries--so many closing at once this time of year.

Great news from Erica that Arien, a Yorn daughter, has had 5 puppies to Tal'q, a Taeus son this weekend.

On the Agility front the dogs have been really busy with Ronnie going Grade 5 and Rusty winning her first Agility CC !!!!! Lots of other placings too for the Bonvivant dogs.

Last but not least news from abroad that Chiraze has taken the CAC and BOB at Namur !!!! Thankyou Claire and Gaston.

I have missed a few bits of news out but will catch up again another day.

This is Bonvivant Yvre, a Cliche/Chili pup who is flying to Estonia next week to Tiia who is going to train her for Obedience and Agility. Her sister Chic is staying here at Bonvivant in partnership with Terry Donovan (Mr.Polo).

It has been a busy few days getting ready for our trip to Scotland for the NBSDC open show and SKC Championship show.

Bonvivant Deja-Vu owned by Barbara Walker Smith has been out at Agility again and got 3 more Clear rounds in Agility, Jumping and Power and Speed.

Riley has been competing again and has had a 9th in Allsorts.

Ralph in Ireland won an Open, all grades Agility!! It is really nice to have so many dogs out there competing and enjoying themselves.

Jo and Grace have had a good weekend(see their respective blogs for updates) and by now David and Rusty will be on their way home from Prague and the World Champs.

I forgot to mention the Breeders Team class--this is the second time we have done it and I must say it does give a bit more flexibility being able to choose your team on the day. It was a shame that Chamonix was unable to be there as she was in full season or I could have made two teams of four up.

This team comprised of Crusoe,Vienna, Deepha and Sam and I think it worked quite well.

Both club shows are holding breeders team classes at the August Championship shows which should be a spectacle, I hope more people get interested in these as they are a showcase for the breeders. It should be quite good, I wonder how many teams I can make up as I think there will be quite a few puppies entering this time as well. What a shame we only have CC status for Malinois at the BSDA of GB show on the Sunday, not at Norbel on the Saturday.

CH. Bonvivant des Iles Fidji

Bonvivant Lumiere
Bonvivant Saumur

and Bonvivant Tete a Tete

Bonvivant Nonpareil with Stonedragon

We have a new Champion !!!!!

Bonvivant des Iles Fidji (Cliche) gained his 3rd CC at Birmingham National Ch. show under judge Keith Baldwin.( Cliche was bred in France by Brigitte and Remy Dugue.) Many thanks to Jacqui Avery who handles him so well for me. His son Bonvivant Tete a Tete (Crusoe) was RDCC. Bonvivant Nonpareil with Stonedragon RBCC. Sami and Helen took the photos which is good as now I know I should go on a diet as well as how the dogs looked in the ring.

Bonvivant Voltaire at Grizwold was 1st in Laekenois JD/B and RBD.

Hot off the press !!! Rusty was 2nd in the individual Jumping in Prague and has qualified for the Jumping Final !!!! Brilliant news and I am so proud of the pair of them. Way to go Rust !!!!!!!!!!!!

The weather has been cold, wet and windy for the past few days and Celine is not impressed, so to cheer her up I let her have the end of the yoghurt pot. She loves yoghurt and ended up wearing quite a bit of it as it was a large pot and she had to put her face in it to reach the bottom!

David and Russty are now in Prague with the UK team for the BSD World Champs so Best of Luck to you all. Competitions start Friday with a training session tomorrow. I will keep you informed as to how they get on.

Cello has been training again and is getting the hang of his retrieve. I wasn't feeling brilliant so messed up his heelwork--must try harder!

Speedy is in the doghouse as he has been "finding" wires that have been tucked away out of his grasp, but I don't think Jackie can be cross with him for long as he is such a handsome chap :))

Venus Speedy

Yvre
Chatter and Rodes

The weather has been really lovely this past week--despite ending cold, wet and windy which is a bit of a shock.

It has been an opportunity to do a lot of jobs out and about in the garden. The dogs have been sunbathing in the paddocks and I have been trying to tidy up the flower beds. I have been tempted to make another blog linked to this one as I love photographing flowers wherever I go. With the hot sun the wallflowers and Aquilegia came out in bloom, and the clematis, which was covered in tight buds, looks glorious. Because I struggle to keep up with a veg plot I filled two large potato boxes with soil and have planted herbs in one and aim to put a few veggies in the other one. I did manage to get some runner beans in and planted some daisies, asters and an osteospermum on Ciels' grave, I shall take some photos once it gets established.
The puppies are growing as usual and getting into all sorts of mischief. Chic and Yvre went for their microchips and Rabies vaccination and were very good pups.

Photos of Beco (Brizo son) in Ireland and news that he is doing very well in training. It was the Laekenois pups First Birthday on the 1st May and I hope they all enjoyed themselves. Venus in Guernsey had a birthday cake and some new toys ! Vogue had a big juicy bone.

This week the GB Team are off to the World Championships in Czech GOOD LUCK ! to you all and especially to Dave with Rusty (Bonvivant Kallisto).