It's been a very exhausting but very exciting few weeks. Last weekend, I went to my first show! It was a Championship Show, so lots of Otterhounds were there, and I saw my mother, Charisma, and my sister, Florin, for the first time since I was 8 weeks old. Here I am posing with my pretty sister (she is the cute little blonde one on the right). And you can probably just see mum sleeping in the background.
I have to come clean, I didn't win, but I did qualify for Crufts. So I will be there with bells on. But my sister won best puppy and my mother, most exciting of all, won best Otterhound of all. So I am very pleased. I think I have a little bit to learn about show ring etiquette (I do not see the point of standing up when there is perfectly soft grass to lie down on) but I was praised very highly for my good manners (judges get enormously personal when they introduce themselves to you) and for trotting out very nicely. Best of all, Leo was entered "not for competition" and got his name in the catalogue as well and also got a bench to sit in right beside me!
It was really exciting having our own benches. Leo got a lot of visitors (because they knew he was there from the catalogue, and everybody loves Leo!). I knew he was popular but I had no idea he had so many fans!
And Leo got to meet my little sister Florin (he's never met her before) and he was also reunited with one of his biggest Otterhound fans, Morse. Morse has quite a crush on Leo. Morse will be going to Crufts too!
Anyway, I have to get lots of practice in for Crufts, so I am going to try and get to a few shows between now and then, even though it has taken us all at least a week to get over it.
But in the meantime, I have had yet another exciting weekend this weekend. We all went to Brighton! We stayed in a wonderful dog-friendly guesthouse, called Avalon. Leo has been there before, but this was my first ime (and my first time at the sea!). I really loved it and immediately assumed my role as guardian. Someone checked in at midnight! Which I thought was quite unthinkable so I bayed at them (from my room of course). I did the same thing at the hens when they came back late (not actually chickens, just strange women with a variety of outfits comprised of pink feathers, who did seem to keep the hours that are opposite to hens, which is quite ironic). But no-one seemed to mind. And I had a lovely time at breakfast, chatting to my new friends and rolling around on the rug with Leo. We were even offered sausages by Brian as he cooked breakfast, but as I am watching my figure for Crufts, and as a man told Leo he was chubby yesterday (here's Leo poking fun at that social injustice while shopping!), we both politely declined. Being in the public eye we have to watch our appearance. Maybe next time!
Anyway, on the first day we went to a cafe called Metrodeco. It is supremely dog-friendly. It has a furniture showroom downstairs (lots of Art Deco things I'm told), and a cafe upstairs, which is where we were. There was even a bed in the corner for Leo! Here he is enjoying some toast in the furry bed.
Apparently the cakes are marvellous (although Leo and I stuck to doggy treats and a bit of toast). In particular, the reports were quite outstanding for the Bakewell tarts, so much so there was a repeat episode the following day (but more on that later ...). So it is an undeniable 5 Finnegan stamps for the outstandingly dog-friendly Metrodeco. Anyway, on Saturday at Metrodeco we met a Jack Russell (who barked at me a lot), and another little dog, and a black lady dog, and then a little Chihuahua which I thought was simply inexplicably tiny.
He smelt like a dog, and yet his head seemed no bigger than my paw. So I lay down to play with him. Here I am playing with my new toy dog (there's more to that expression than I originally appreciated).
Anyway, eventually I could get the grown-ups away from the reportedly delicious coffee and cakes, and we went for a spot of shopping and sightseeing.
We met a lady who was tidying up the street with a lovely broom (I love brooms!) so we stopped to chat to her so I could sniff the broom. And she chatted to us and asked what I was. She was very nice indeed.
We then we to Paw Paw UK (a pet boutique!) and Leo got lots of lovely presents (and we both got some tasty treats!). He also tried on a dinner suit and walked outside the shop to a group of ladies and did a little pirouette to lots of oohs and aahs. He is really quite a showman (I will keep a note of that in my mental preparation for Crufts ...). I got a bandanna which says "01". We asked if there was one with "02" as Leo is "01", but the man said they didn't make an "02" as they probably wouldn't sell many of those. To be fair, that probably is quite right. So I stuck with "01" (it will be aspirational! for Crufts!), and we left with all our lovely new things, and a promise to catch up again at Discover Dogs at Earls Court in November (Paw Paw UK will be there). Here I am enjoying the lush surrounds of the pet boutique.
Then we went to look at the beautiful Brighton Pavilion.
There was a wedding going on (I was told this was quite usual for the Pavilion).
The gardens were beautiful, full of flowers and smells. Leo didn't go to the Pavilion last time he was in Brighton, so he was quite keen to visit as well.
Dogs are allowed in (to the Pavilion, not sure about the wedding ... although I've seen better outfits on Leo), but not on the grass. So here we are enjoying the surrounds from the safety of the pathway.
Afterwards, we did a bit more shopping, but most importantly, we came across another doggy mecca, "Doggy Fashion" and we got some yummy treats, a floating toy for the sea, and some new dog bowls. One is a Crown and the other is a Court Jester hat. They are great, and best of all, so heavy I will stop scattering my food everywhere each time something distracts me in a middle of a snack. There was also a very lovely little miniature Schnauzer lady in there (I think you can see her doing some modelling on the Doggy Fashion website). She didn't like me at first, but it didn't take me long to work the Finnegan charm on her. Leo wasn't interested, there were open bags of doggy treats everywhere so he had other things on his mind.
After our shopping we went back to the hotel and got changed and packed a few things for the beach. This was very exciting, my first seaside!
We all went in the water, but everyone was quite a bit braver than I was. It was ok paddling, until the waves came in. They roar a little and they splash as well. So I really wasn't sure it was such a good idea.
And the water was quite astonishingly cold! Web feet and waterproof coat aside, it all seemed at best ill-advised and at worst the kind of craziness I have come to expect!
But one thing I did notice was that when the waves went out, they also came back in again. This turned out to be very handy indeed, as not once did I have to pursue the floating sea toy when it went out, because it always came back! The perfect game, all from the shore and with very little energy expended. I am growing up to be quite the practical-minded problem-solver.
The grown-ups did lots of swimming (but I promised not to document that!), but here's proof that I did at least a little bit of paddling.
And then it was time to enjoy the scenery (paddling is tiring!). And combined with the hard work of walking on all those pebbles, we were all ready for a snooze afterwards, in the fresh Brighton sea air.
Here we are lying on the beach in the sunshine, drying our curls and soaking up the Brighton vibe.
Afterwards, we wandered along the parade and looked at all the various bits and pieces, and meeting lots of new dogs. And lots and lots of seagulls. I just love things that can fly.
The next stop of importance was to be the Brighton Pier. This is world famous and I couldn't wait to see it up close. But when we got there it was "no dogs allowed". Brighton overall is very dog-friendly (cars stop for you to cross the street!), but this made me a bit sad. I was packing bags, surely I could have had a little visit? Anyway, here I am at the doorway to the forbidden city.
I probably won't be allowed to go to Somerset House to watch the outdoor movies either, but I think I will still ask!
Anyway, we were all very salty and tired after our swims and adventures, so we went back to shower and change again and find somewhere yummy to eat. On the way, we heard a lady saying to her friend, "is that an Otterhound?" As we got closer she stopped to ask us and we said yes. She said she was very pleased to see one, and of course I was proud as punch.
We then went to a place called "Tin Drum" for dinner. We were allowed inside and we sat in a really nice booth with loads of space for Leo and me. We were both exhausted, so we slept rather soundly after our snacks.
Apparently the food was good, but not as good as Somerset Coffee House and the Marquess Tavern, but on dog-friendliness alone it was just great! The space was fantastic, the staff kept coming over to say hi and give me cuddles, and we could really stretch out in style.
So from me, the Tin Drum gets 5 Finnegan stamps!
It was the perfect way to relax after such an exciting day.
Leo and I were quite exhausted and ready to sleep away the evening. Although I did make sure I woke to pass some barking judgments on the unruly hens.
Sunday, our last day in Brighton, we enjoyed breakfast at the Avalon. Here we are blurry with play! It's such a fun place (even if we declined the sausages!).
Then we went for another spot of fun on the beach. We went back to our favourite stretch of the dog beach, making our way over the millions and millions of pebbles (who put them all there? where is the sand?).
When we got there I met a very fetching little redhead terrier who was quite a dynamo with a ball in the sea. I didn't dare venture in after her, but I was certainly not averse to admiring her handiwork from the shoreline.
She was so incredibly fast, but I worked out if I stood still in the middle of her route, she would have to go past me at least twice a run.
Leo was also very brave today and paddled by himself! Without even waiting for enticement! He is such a star. The redhead stayed for quite a while playing, chasing her ball and running so fast, so I spent quite a lot of time running around with her (or at least, watching her run fast).
And here I am having a go at impressing the little redhead with my seaside machismo.Eventually she had to go, but we stayed and played some more before heading off to our new favourite cafe, Metrodeco, for some lunch.
Well, it was full of doggies, of all sizes - all lying around waiting for the naked bike ride (before you ask, we left before they cycled past, but I'm too young for such things ...). Here are some of my new friends!
We then had time for a final view of the sea before saying goodbye to Brian at the Avalon and heading off home to London.
I was very tired, and slept and snored most of the way, and was very pleased to hit my beanbag in front of the tele that night. But I have to say, I had a woderful time by the seaside and can't wait to go back.
Oh what a wonderful time we had, the day we went to Brighton!
