Little Miss Tonka Little Miss Tonka

Shop, shop, shop...Can I have a toy and some treats please?

So we’re done in the ring, time to hit the shops and then go home.  Well we tried to.  We got stopped, the exit pass had disappeared in one of the bags and we tried to go out the wrong exit.  At least they have good security here, I’d hate to be stolen.

Oh and now, apparently we have to go via Ness’s school, she’s got to go back for sixth form open evening.  Good luck to her!

Well I’ve had a very strange day, lots of excitement, lots of nerves and lots of visitors.  Overall I think I’ve enjoyed myself, yep, I think I’ll come here again.

It's been a long day, even the flash is tired

Well we didn’t get placed, but then we weren’t expecting too.  At least I know what all the fuss was about.  I was very naughty on the table, the judge wanted to see my teeth and I was not in the mood, my strategy was to refuse to stand properly, not that it worked very well.

So I’m all relaxed, but then for no apparent reason I’m being groomed again.  Will I have any hair left?

Can I just chill here?

Oh, I see it’s the good citizen class.  Well in that case, seeing that we worked so hard for our award, I’ll go again!

Am I meant to be standing? I thought I'd skip

Well this is very exciting Ness has finally relaxed and I feel like playing.  Wow we got two rosettes.

steady,

ready,

go!

So the sign says relax, I am, see my tail's wagging

Ring time!  Well Ness tries to get me excited and wants to play with me, I’m wondering what’s going on and why my team of humans is getting in such a frenzy.  Ness gives up on playing with me, Tony has a go, I’m having none of it.  There is a big white bull terrier in the way, I need more space.  Sue comes over and I look for Flaxen, but she’s not here.  Where’s Flaxen? Sue means Flaxen and Flaxen means play.  Sue makes a big fuss of me, apparently we are just about to go in the ring and she has rubbed the top of my head and messed my hair up.  I liked it, but Ness thinks it’s a disaster. Sue laughs, but I don’t think it was because she thought it was funny, she’s nervous too.  I wonder if that’s because Flaxen isn’t with her.

Well we’re in the ring and here are the pictures…

We ended up talking to these ladies because I tried to steal sandwiches out of their bag!

What more brushing!

Well it’s all action stations now, Tony drags me off to the toilet.

toilet time!

Well, when we get back, Ness is in a real panic.  My feet have mud on them and she is concerned we won’t have enough time to get me ready.  She thought Tony would only be a minute, not nearly half an hour.  Ness’s Mum is there too, making encouraging comments, but she’s excited too.  What’s happening?  I’m getting a bit worried, but I try not to show it.

Will we be ready in time?

Ok, so Ness is watching the judging and trying to work out what we need to do.  Tony is sat keeping me company and reading a book, as is Mick.  Ness’s Mum and Joseph arrive, they are also very excited, however, they don’t stop long, they’re off to watch the border terriers, Sue and Karen arrive, but make a quick exit, they are off to see the sites and say they don’t want to get in the way.

Nothing much is happening, for me.  However, I am wondering why so many people keep walking past and looking at me making ahhh noises and why everyone is so excited.

nothing much is happening, I'm a bit bored to be honest

It’s 12.3o and Ness’s mum has come back, she takes a seat and seems to be enjoying a pint of beer!  I think she’s been watching the Staffies and the Bull terriers.

Everything has stopped for lunch now, I’ve done nothing and everyone apart from Ness has disappeared.

Ok so we’re in.  The catalogue has been collected, Ness has been making excitable comments about the picture on the front of the catalogue (Cairn Terriers by Fannie Moody and an excellent choice in my opinion too).

Now it’s time for me to pull forward.  I don’t know where we are going, and neither do Tony and Ness, but the keep stopping to look at signs and their map.  Wow, carpet everywhere and lots and lots of trade stands…can I have a toy as well as pull like mad?

Well we seem to be here.  Ness spots Dawn and her team and then we find Mick and Babs.  We’re next to them.  Jane is opposite with  with Archie, oh and there’s Bret.  Everyone is so excited and hugging and kissing each other, it’s lovely.  Now it’s time to set up my crate and wait to see what happens.

Why are we up so early?  This is early even for a week day. Wow Tony is up!  I’m getting brushed and packed up into the car.  What’s going off?

Why are we up so early?

See, they're so sleepy they haven't noticed I'm on the sofa

My goodness me, where did all these dogs come from?  We’re in a car park, ness’s phone has been going mad with excited text messages and there are loads of dogs about.  Tony has come with us too, which is a good job as we seem to walk a long way (being a man he carries the stuff).  Am I at a dog show?  I’ve not been to anything like this before…

After about a 20 minute walk (well there were lots of smells) we joined a big queue.  Tony and Ness got in a mess with catalogue vouchers, entrance tickets and my admission pass, but they got there in the end.  Everyone is so excited!