Where do we go from here?

Where DO we go from here? (all suggestions welcome)

Vizslas at Crufts

Yey! Massive congratulations to the Quad shoot in Norfolk & to Auntie Tolly and our sisters Bay, Eszti and Ilka on winning the HUGE (23 entries) all breeds Gamekeepers working team class. Beating other HPRs and all those pesky retrievers and tiresome spaniels. Awesome.

Read all about their achievement here on the HVS site. Well done girls and for all being placed in your huge breed classes too. Proof (who needs it?) that we red people can be truly versatile. Beautiful as well clever.

Mz Bert is going to write to that Ronnie Irving chap to ask if next years Crufts can include a freestyle rabbit retrieve competition.


In the show classes we redgirls were in the ribbons too!

Mz Bert says for once budge up always headline hogging, attention seeking Mz Hat - my turn for the limelight - this is ME! 2nd place in mid limit. People say I move nicely. Blimey. They haven't seen me on the hills! Run, run, run.

Mz Hat is sulking. Pout! I got a rosette too - 3rd place in the biggest class of the day - 18 entries - but did anybody care enough to take a pic? No they did not! Sob. Am I losing my touch? Is it b'cuz I iz red?All I have is the paperwork.

Our boring old mum wants to say. For me it was just such a fab day. And the best bit by far was talking to so many lovely people about important things like health issues. And properly meeting folks who until then I had only spoken to in emails or on the phone. Lucy, Marcus, Jackie and as always Gillian and her special Spice - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so honest and open about your vizslas with polymyositis. Lucy your boy Alfie's contribution to the research is immeasurable. We are so happy that you have another red person with whom to share your life.

Albert !!! Our new hairy heart-throb. We would have liked to show you his blue rozzie. But he ate it!

Here is sweet puppy Albert. And his best pal Alfie.

Absolutely Fabulous February

We LOVE this time of year! Mum is not so busy and is more properly attentive to our requirements. The shooting season has finished and lambing has not started so she is a lot less tedious about curtailing our ahemm *exuberance* when we are out and about. Run, run, run. Hunt, hunt, hunt. And - oh my - we sure are finding a lot of birds!

Here is a video clip of our prowess.

Mz Bert says I like to think that *my* technique is special but have to grudgingly admit that this point by my sister Bay puts me to shame. Classic eh?

Oh and another very excellent thing about this chilly weather is that we get to wear our designer gear.

Tired now (WHAT a strange feeling!)

A wish

oh please mum update our blog ....

The Seven Ages of a Redgirl

Mz Hat .. born 16th October 2003. Vital statistics. 100% Gorgeous.

1. BABYHOOD. And Transport Arrangements.

2. TERRIBLE TODDLER ...

who ate the pies? who ate the bulbs? Not ME!

3. SCHOOL DAYS

4. TEENAGE MODELLING

5. CAREER WOMAN

Successful

Experienced

And still very foxy

(thank you Professor Buster)

6. MIDLIFE CRISIS

7. WHATEVER NEXT ??

Menage-a-Trois

Yes. Our pal Piper came to stay. We've known her since she was a wee baby girl.

Only a couple of little niggles. Piper is WAAAY too pretty for our liking (won her Yearling bitch class at Crufts this year) Also she is horribly o-b-e-d-i-e-n-t (won her Good Citizen class too) Piper does something called heeling. Off lead! Weird eh?

Senior Redgirl Hattie takes up the story.

Don't get me wrong. I LIKE Piper. She is fun. She likes the same games as we do (crocodile jaws especially) BUT (and it's a big one) she keeps trying to steal Berta. MY Berta! Well of course I'm having none of it. Here is a video showing me explaining my point of view. I had to be quite firm with my instructions and so you may wish to adjust your volume control. ( Piper is the one with the collar)

Yes. I had to keep re-asserting my status. And I learnt a new skill. Cocking my leg! I have to say I got a bit obsessed with it. Every single time that Piper ahemm peed well I just HAD to do another one on top of it. My goodness it took vigilance but I don't think I missed a single one.

So far I've only managed to lift my right leg. Are boys ambilegstrous?

Job Vacancy

Redgirls are advertising for a new member of staff. We are looking for a personal assistant with good secretarial skills. The successful applicant will be a city dweller with access to shops and urban activities. Pockets full of treats would be an advantage but are not essential as full job training will be given.

Control freaks who are fond of the o-b-e-d-i-e-n-c-e word need not apply.

Yes. We have given up on our mum. She is rubbish. Useless at updating our blog. Her head is full of nonsense.

She calls it work. (She does Bed and Breakfast things) Too tedious for words.

Nope. Not even the biggest bone in the world will appease us.



Applications and CVs urgently invited.

Our new personal assistant will help us tell you about when our pal Piper came to stay



Oh and if SHE steals our blog ever again to talk about cat things then we will be not happy. Not happy at all.

Natural Instincts

Yes. Our mum is wishing that our skills were not JUST so finely honed!

Early this morning we brought her some presents. 4 feral kittens! We gently put them on the lawn. Not a mark on them (we have very soft mouths)

Three of them were very cold. And dead.

One of them was very cold. But alive! Just.

And 12 hours later she still is alive! Mum and vet reckon she is 3 days old. Mum is syringe feeding. Hand reared kittens have to be fed every 2 hours. Mum says yikes!

We will keep you posted.

What's the point?

Caught in the Act! We actually made our mum edit these video clips. In the first one from point to flush took about 9 minutes. (Watching. Paint. Dry. Big. Yawn. Are words that spring to mind)

Here is one we prepared earlier!

Mind you we have always had the best mentors

Cleo(1991-2006) daughter Saffie(1995-2005) .. and little Hattie




Saffie age 9 and .... baby Hattie

Publish for now. Still looking for lovely old doglet pics.

Bonjour!

Les Filles Rouges d'Ecosse (merci B3) just want to say that we will be back soon. Oops pardon! Bientot!



Oh and at long last we have updated our links list to include our lovely transatlantic chums.

Back soon. Very soon. XXXXXX

Rest in Peace Darling Radio

Yesterday Radio died. He was only 3 years old. Radio was everything that is good and brave and humbling about our most beautiful breed.



Radio had polymyositis and other immune mediated problems too. Throughout his short life he was an inspiration to all who were privileged enough to meet him whether in person (such a loving, cheerful and talented boy) or through his blog. He brought laughs and joy to very many people across the global vizsla community and he will always be so fondly remembered and cherished. His contribution to raising awareness about myositis in vizslas is immeasurable.

Our thoughts are with Andrea and Lasse. We do not think that there could possibly have been more devoted owners.



Redgirls and Di loved Radio very much indeed. Blogworld will feel empty without him.

A DREAM Holiday !!!!

Well. We don't usually post twice in one week but the most exciting thing EVER has just happened. And we have to thank that queen of urban cool - the very pretty little Mz Brisztow Jones.



We are still pinching ourselves but our pal organised a dream holiday .. to NYC .. with everything more wonderful than ever we could have imagined. We are still too busy shopping and partying to go to an internet cafe but pretty Mz Brizstow asked her staff to post some pictures of us having just the most amazing time.

*** Here *** they are. Definitely our best shots ever. How lucky are we redgirls to have just such a lovely friend? We hope one day return the favour. Thank you, thank you Brisztow. Hugs and urban MWAHS!!!

Town versus Country

Redgirls have been banging on about this for EVER and you all know how desperate we are to escape from this hell hole on earth. Every day we check out the blogs of all our down south friends and that of the queen of cool pretty Mz Brizstow Jones and we know that we are missing out big time! And now we see that the topic Town/Country is on the Discussion Group.

WELL! Hold us back!

To tell it from the beginning.

This is why our mum loves Scotland. She calls it peace, space and tranquillity.



And this is why redgirls HATE Scotland. We call it bloody boring.



No shops. No parks. No Parties. No chums (well .. apart from disgusting gross stinky labradors and annoying terriers. And things called hounds) No buses. No social life. No McDonalds wrappers. No tubes. No viz whizzes. No canals. No cats in gardens.

Redgirls have urban ambitions. We know what we want.



Mum had an idea today. She wanted to do something on an Isadora Duncan theme. She wanted us to get behind the wheel with our Bugatti gear.




Well. Crap timing. Co-operation? No way! Does she not *get* how pissed off we are?




Oh. Please. God. If you are good? Maybe don't show our urban blogworld chums this pic ???

Happy Vizsla 2008

Well we are not so sure. Mum has decided that we are lawless and things have to change. For a start she's switched our lovely pink blog back to boring tasteful country colours. Yawn.

We had a fab Christmas though.

Lots of people. And when we were not in their beds .. then .. they were in ours. Excellent.

But now it's back to reality.

Which isn't so bad really. Today we had some snow

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR BLOGWORLD CHUMS

Vizsla Girls in Vogue

Yes. Redgirls are in that place called season. Both of us. We have come over all very peculiar and for the past 10 days can only think of boys. We are off our food. We bark and whine during the night. Mum seems irritated with us and we do not understand why.

The only good thing is that we have found a new game. And the brilliant thing is that you can play it anywhere.

In the House.

In the Garden.

Sometimes even on walks we break off from hunting to have a quick play!

Mum DOES seem annoyed. We heard her talking darkly of the "knife".

Whatever can she mean??

A vizsla looks good in PINK

Wahaaaay. She's gone to bed. And forgotten about parental controls.

PINK!! What do you think??






Do you like our new clothes?? They are very exclusive designer labels. "George" and "Cherokee" Mum says that these are famous Paris and Milan fashion houses.

Haggis

Yes. The Glorious 12th. Of November. The start of the haggis season. It lasts only 2 weeks. H. vulgaris are now on the endangered species register and are incredibly rare. The season has to be very limited. The taste of genuine wild haggis is not to be compared with that of the disgusting things in butchers shops. (Artificial. Sheeps stomachs membranes. Stuffed with offal/oatmeal/spices. A travesty.)

Redgirls have to brag and share. Today we caught a real one. They are so FAST. We've never hunted so well. This is definitely our ultimate achievement. Our mum is really proud of us.

Flush

Kill

Evil eye(they are actually quite scary)

Proud

In traditional dress

Our haggis will now hang to mature until the 25thJanuary. Here is our very favourite video clip of a Burns Night Supper. Ooo. Naughty boy!

All of the biggest landed estates in Scotland are clamouring for our haggis. We'll probably choose Balmoral. We like the sound of The Honourable Redgirls MBE.

Our Hero - Super Radio

Radio was on holiday. In the lake district. On the door step we thought. But Andrea and Lasse and Radio being who Andrea and Lasse and Radio are were buried in the very middle of nowhere. Redgirls stopped at a lot of farmhouses before finally they found their hero.

Totally beautiful scenery



We went for a very long walk. Andrea out in front. Papping as she goes.




Redgirls loved meeting up again with Radio. Old games are best



And it was good to catch up on celebrity gossip



It was a lovely day.

We are Beautiful!

Well of course we are. But girl to girl a bit of colour always helps.

Redgirls love Autumn.

There are mice.



And moles


And hare


And bliss upon bliss pheasants


And the best news is that we're going to have computer rights for a while and can talk to our pals. YEH !

Will you still need me, will you still feed me ... ??

.... when I've lost my teeth. (Waiting for dentures)

Well. This a bit of a ridiculous apology for a long absence.

Oh and also "homage" to Toni with his many chequered musical analogies. He's not as old as our mum though. Click BLUSH . See what we mean ??

By the way Redgirls are VERY jealous of Diesel's social life. And Radio's. And Charlie's. And Hamish's. And Ziggi's.

So. We just needed to say that we are still here. And always checking out all of your blogs. And loving them. And looking forward to having something interesting to tell you about.

Redgirls doing mwah things. XXX

HELP! S.O.S.! HELP!

That's it. We've had enough. No fun. No shops. No adventures like our down south friends. We are bored out of our skulls. We have to get out of here. This is an emergency. HELP! Please rescue us!

We're packed and ready to go. Oh please help !

A special present for Mum

But was she grateful? No she was NOT. Took us aside. And explained very slowly (like we're thick or something) that we are NOT allowed to do our own thing.


Evidently "proper" gundogs sit at their master's side. And retrieve on command only once game has been shot. Uuuh? Well obviously redgirls have no intention whatsoever of remembering *that* particular little lecture. Cut out the middlemen say we! Save the planet!

Thanks to mum's meddling this pheasant got away. And was only just a little less bushy in the tail feather department. It was a hot day so we expect he felt cooler. He was probabably grateful to the redgirls for their help.

Redgirls LOVE cats !

So why do they run away?

And hiss and spit at us ?

Redgirls go to the Seaside

It's little Charlie Morph's fault. All that talk of beach huts.


We see no ships. Or shops. Or beach huts. Sadly.

Sit?? Here ?? Why??


Wanna PLAY

Redgirls meet Radio

At long last!




Our Hero.









Bonnie Prince Radio (and his loyal tartan army)

Just HOW loved is this Radio ??

Line Dancing

But Hat the Fat is out of step. Her head has been so full of nonsense recently that obviously she's skipped the practice sessions.

Hormones ! !

Hormones. Yes. VERY peculiar things. Last week I longed for babies and now I remember that actually I don't much like them. Too well do I recall young Bert's arrival !

Dear Nana Cleo lived with us then. She was NOT fond of small v people. Once upon a time she had a family of her own. Nana Cleo was very very old and extremely wise. I guess she knew best !

No Babies After All ...

well .. no.. it was a bit of a false alarm. Am feeling embarassed. I just so love cuddling up with puppies !!

A redgirl is listening for the patter of tiny paws!!

Senior redgirl here. Answering to Fattie Hattie at the moment. Yes. I am CERTAIN that my babies will be here soon. Very soon. Probably tonight. I am frantically reorganising the nursery. Unlike my stick insect housemate I have always been rather proud of my womanly curves but now .. well .. I am blooming! Laydee boobs at the ready !! I do hope that I have some girl babies .. I am dreaming of pink accessories - collars and bedding obviously but I've looked in the catalogues and have my eye on some really dinky fleeces too.

I heard mum on the phone twittering on about a "phantom pregnancy" ?? anyone heard of ?? Anyway forget her. MY hormones know for sure what is going on. Hmmm. I do have to say that I cannot precisely recall (shy cough) a "wedding ceremony" but I guess that could easily be the kind of thing that a busy working girl would most likely forget about ?

Anyway back to sorting out my birthing arrangements.

Misery

We are sooo unhappy.

Our hero. Radio. Is going out with another woman.

Yesterday. Doberlady (a black/tan BITCH?)

Radio went to Knightsbridge. To Harvey Nichols. A stones throw from Harrods.

And sent us the pictures.

Too cruel.

This Vizsla Redgirl wants to be a zero dress size

Yes. Younger redgirl Berta here (do HATE that blokey name. WHY did she not call me fifi or mitzi or paris or something else girlie). Anyway I have ALWAYS been health conscious. Obviously I don't do the "diet" word (too much bad press). But I HATE fat. So. I am quite a "selective" about food. NO CARBS!! And as little otherwise as I can get away with. Well. BC (before crufts) she got so uptight about what she calls my "toast rack" look that she pulled out all the stops. Whole chickens. Lamb. Stuff in the freezer that had been there for a while. Pheasant. Salmon. Pork pies. Sausages. Sometimes I capitulated. (But I always spotted and rejected the sneaky carbs like rice or pasta or even potatoes .. yuk) And despite myself I put on a pound or two.

Now. Why I am here. Is there a forum for abused vizslas? I can hardly bear to talk about it.

For the past couple of days she has slapped down odious things (eg tripe ???!!) and said (wait for it) "like it or lump it" Well of course I just shan't eat. And soon I will be a tiny zero dress size.

Redgirls need time to think

Here we are. Back in Scotland. Crufts a week ago.
Feeling pensive.

Town / Country ?? Town / Country ??

A life changing moment. Well. Do YOU see any shops ??

Taking bearings on nearest Harvey Nicks. Edinburgh?? Leeds ??

Vizsla Redgirls do Crufts

We have just done the best thing ever. We went abroad to a place called Crufts. It was sooo exciting. We nearly BURST.
For a while we had guessed that something mighty strange was going on. We were being cossetted and pampered. Encouraged to take a pride in our appearance (yippee .. about time too). Special food. Extra rations. Supplements. A pedicure. A session with the dental hygienist. Much brushing and polishing. A night in a hotel where we both slept like logs on top of humum.

And suddenly we were there. And yes oh yes we always KNEW that we were cut out for city life. Hustle and bustle. Crowds. Things to do, places to go, people to see.

SHOPPING!!!!!

There was a tedious bit in the middle where we all had to stand still. And then we had to run around and it wasn't a game or anything and there weren't any pheasants. Very odd. Another strange thing was that some extremely attractive vizslas seemed very pleased to be getting things called "rosettes" but they were rubbish colours so we were very relieved not to be offered one.

Anyway thankfully once that bit was over it was back to the meeting and greeting, seeing and being seen. There were some VERY handsome boys there. Redgirls spotted them straight away !! And flirted like mad when we got the chance. We are pretty sure that we turned a few heads. As ever Redgirls dream of eloping to more civilised parts of the world.

We desperately wanted to show you some pics of us looking our best. Where WERE the paparazzi ?? For once they might just have been a tiny bit useful. Up here they dog our every footstep.

Well anyway. There WERE some family album pics (you will spot us .. we are the two particularly pretty ones)

We do have lots of other things to tell you. One day soon.

Mountain Rescue

Well suddenly we are not so busy and have been able to turn our attention to other assignments. Our first SAR operation! An elderly lady had disappeared whilst out hill walking and redgirls were asked to help find her. Well of course we managed. She was a good bit heavier than a pheasant though.

Vizslas rescue an old lady

... the search party look for clues (but the terrier person seems to be thinking about rabbits!!!)





... lets find the poor old thing




... we are getting there



... the redgirls are closing in



Berta retrieves the poor old lady. Fortunately her pink hat had kept the cold at bay.

Vizsla girls do not like cold and rain. Sorry.

Well .. today the weather was hideously vile. Wild wet cold and windy. We shivered. She did take pity on us and put our coats on. Not good for serious gundog credentials. But we were grateful all the same. Brrr.

Happy Hunting Vizsla

THIS is what we were bred for. NOT stupid things like free climbing for heavens sake. Back to work tomorrow. Sigh.

Vizsla Heaven on Earth

Lots of pheasants today. It is VERY good to be a vizsla. (Can you see three of us?)

Vizsla Heaven

Today we were allowed a day off. And did what comes naturally. Oh bliss!!

Psychological Tactics

Team collaboration is vital

Vizsla Night Goggles

Yep. Even when it's dark we have to work work work.

Vizsla Training .. Swimming

Brrrr. It's November !! We have a hard life.

Vizsla Training .. Mountain Marathons

We do two full marathons a week.

Tired Vizsla

Sometimes she lets us sleep.

Information is Power

Never underestimate your competitors.

Practice makes perfect

Free climbing on the barn wall.Up to first floor.