After an unfortunate start to the day for Sam, off for Norfolk gun-dog training with Jim where my dog did quite well and then a fine meal with Jim and July Bird before home to Paxton to watch Chelsea’s F.A. Cup quarter final football match and then to read my comprehensive new book on the German Short-haired Pointer breed called Der Deutsch Kurzhaar
I found out this morning why Sam was unsettled in the night. He had a tummy upset and had messed his kennel and run, poor thing, which he knew was wrong but I had not let him out! I slept well and enjoyed the rest. Quickly ready and then a breakfast of cereal before packing up ready to go.
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A short run for Sam who was still suffering from looseness and then off to Wymondham to meet Jimmy by arrangement. The night had been wild with gale-force winds so that the car was buffeted all over the road and I was fearful of how we would get on with the dogs. I need not have worried as it was sufficiently challenging without being impossible and made a good test for them. I had a cup of tea on arrival and then we took off to do some quartering across some fields. Both Sam and Ben hunted reasonably, and we were definitely improving them with practice.
There was not enough cover for the partridges to sit and be pointed but there were several hares about. Ben chased a couple, but Sam was lucky to only find one close when I stopped him before he could get after it. Then over to a lake for some water work. Sam entered all right to get his new water dummy and we only tested Ben paddling as we did not want him to fail. Then, Ben having grazed a paw, we tried Sam on some dummy launcher work; insisting that he did not run in to the sound of the firing, which was a very useful experience.
I also got him to retrieve the dead jackdaw and a pigeon. He still plays with the dead birds too much but gets steadily better. Jim and July Bird then kindly treated me to a nice meal of roast pork before I set off back home. This journey was better despite the continuing A45 road surface repairs. I listened to the radio commentary on the Chelsea F.A. Cup quarter final football match and then went inside upon arrival to see the final stages. Veteran player/manager, Glen Hoddle, put himself on after a player was injured and did well for Chelsea, helping them to win.
A rest for tea in the lounge and then off out with Sam for a short walk to the gravel pits before feeding him and putting him away. Time this evening spent reading my comprehensive new book on the German Short-haired Pointer breed called Der Deutsch Kurzhaar to find out all about the famous dogs that make up Sam's pedigree. Then this last two days' journal and a bath before bed.