Starting dull and dry but becoming drizzly, I used the best of it for Sam’s walk after which I worked in the garden leaf clearing with Della.
Then off dog training with Sam to Harlow who firstly disgraced himself and then did well.
Home to my office to do some administration before watching the summary of todays' Grand Prix.
The day started dull and dry again, and quite mild, but it ended up a bit drizzly as we got the first real rain since the floods. A lay in and late out with Sam for his morning walk, taking some car to keep him under good control ahead of his training session this afternoon. Back for a latish breakfast with Diana and the girls (as Daniel is always later still at the weekend) and then persuaded Della to join me in the garden to help gather and shred the leaves. She was very good and worked with me for two hours, separated by a refreshment break, as she raked the leaves up and I loaded them into the shredder.
**"Read More" BELOW for the complete story**
We made a reasonable job of this by lunchtime so that the gardener will start the week without a backlog to clear up before he can get started. Being the first Sunday in the month, it was Sam's training session near Harlow and we made it just in time and I let Sam socialise with the other dogs before the training began. Unfortunately, the occasion was too much for him and he barked at some others, cocked his leg against two poor handlers' boots, and then (according to an experienced trainer) tried to bite him!
Not a very auspicious start to the afternoon as the trainer lifted Sam by his jowls and shook him until he whined an apology. I am advised to be stricter with Sam who is very resilient and can withstand being told off without worrying. Some more sensitive dogs collapse into a whimpering heap when even shouted at, but that is not so with him. The same trainer supervised us for the lesson and Sam did well again amongst a half dozen peers. He was tested on both wood pigeon and pheasant and was all right and achieved his land and water retrieves better than the others. If I can just curtail his boisterous behaviour, he would be an excellent dog.
Poor Jim Bird was struggling with Ben who has really gone off the task of retrieving and just noses or picks up the dummy before dropping it and running off. It also continues to whine incessantly and so he has his work cut out in the next month. There until dark and then home to feed Sam and come in for my own tea. A little time watching TV with the family and then to my office to do some administration before the summary of todays' Grand Prix.