Performance

My little ballerina, has had her first ever performance this weekend and she's shattered. So am I.  We got to watch the show with Mum on Saturday, then I was helping out on Sunday.  So went with Miss J for 1.30 expecting to be helping front of house, OH NO I am helping with the kids!!!  Okay so can cope I think 18 of them, 2 shows, 3 of them in other parts so have to check them, can I cope??  Yes!  Well until I was told that I need to make their hair into ponytails with coloured ribbons that need to match!!  O holy crap, how am I gonna do this when I struggle getting Miss J's right and tidy??  On top of that one of them has short hair!! I'm in love with bobby-pins, I used so many of them and hairspray I would be surprised if they came out :)

From Angie

For Tracy

by Angie Corbett on Monday, 31 October 2011 at 01:55 ·

THE CAT BED IN THE SKY

I thought that you might like to know I got here safe and sound
Though you must feel rather strange not having me around;
Of course, I am not really gone, I've just moved out of sight,
And I don't need that old body, things had stopped working right.
Sometimes I'm sorely tempted, to pop back down and see,
Just how you are managing, without any help from me,
But I'm sure that you will understand I can't come back to stay,
Though I have it on good authority that we'll meet again some day.

The chow up here's delicious - Ambrosia brand, it's named,
Once you've tasted this stuff, Friskies won't taste the same,
And where do they get this nectar, which thick and creamy comes,
It's not like other dairy products 'cause it don't give me the runs.
I haven't found the litter tray, and THIS perplexes me,
That however much I wolf down, I never have to pee.
But there are other plus points, which cannot be ignored,
My claws have all come back again and there are drapes here to be clawed.

Oh yes - I've got a comfy bed, just like mine down there at home,
So things here are quite adequate, I cannot gripe or groan;
But while I'm up here waiting, in my cat bed in the sky,
I'll regularly look in on you, and keep a watchful eye.

Dana

R.I.P my beloved man.  I am glad you are not in pain but I miss you so much already.

Changes

How much has changed in the last 6 weeks or so.

Well had a major crisis at the end of August and "lost" three hours :(

But have been on a great couple of weeks and I feel very positive.

Getting there one day at a time

Training Mae - Week 3

WEEK THREE...
Morning Walk and Evening..... About Turns..... With out you realising you have been doing the Right About Turn. If you have been turning right and walking the other way...... Now you are going to try the Left About Turn. You do this as the Right but this time you will be turning Left. This time you need to Back Mae up. With the lead in the left hand pull it back behind you left leg and saying Back. You turn on the spot. The will stop her and you need to pull her back. Backing her up. Don't let her just turn you need her to walk backwards out of you way. Allowing you to keep walking as you do this. This is a little tricky..... Try doing your turns on your own first. The right turn is easy as it is you slowing and turning on the spot. Mae just follows you as she knows Close she is following you. . The Left you need to slow and turn on the spot in a smooth turn but flowing at the same time. Mae has to move out of your way. Think about you footwork. It is military like in the Army R.A.F Parade.

Sit.  Tand and Down... Home or Back Garden.... With Mae on the lead and at the side of you. As if you are going to walk off but you don't. Tell her to Sit. She should do this striate away. Now tell her to Tand. Using Tand and not Stand. Mae will not get mixed up with the S of Sit or the S on Stand. It is the S. If that make seance. Tell her Tand this time slip you toe under her tummy, while she is still sitting and lift it so she has to stand up. She may jump the first few times. So watch out for that and reassure her. Now form the standing position. Tell her to Down. You may have to put her into the down but do not let her roll to one side. As you will be using you toe to put her into the Sit or Stand. What ever way you want to do this.

Training Mae - Week 4

Morning Walks.....Double about Turn. You already know how to do these This time you will be staying Close or Back twice. As you turn right CLOSE then Close again when you make the move the second time. The same for the left Back and turn than as you turn again BACK again and keep walking so Mae keeps up with you. she may start to turn on command and as you say it she is already turning....

Try to walk round your little park off-Lead....... Just a short time then....  Continue the on-lead work too..... This is know building up the bond between you both. You will be finding it really enjoyable... Working her on and off the lead.

Never be frightened to go back over things. Going back to basic will refresh you both. 

We will be starting to work off lead now. Only do this if you feel you have total control of Mae when you can walk round the park. With out having to correct her a number of times.

All the new things will be off lead.

4. Walking Fast Slow.....This you can do at any time. Just walking at heal. When you are ready to jog. Use MAE HEAL do not wait for her just jog.... You do not have to do this for miles.... When you are ready back to normal pace. As with the fast pace go slow making sure it is smooth. and using HEAL. You may find you have to do this a lot. So far you have been making her keep up with you. Now you are slowing her down. If you feel you have control you can try this off lead too.

5. Recall to The Side....Putting Mae into the sit as you would for the front recall. You are not going to stop and turn to face her. This time keep walking. On your own turn left walk a few paces. Keeping it smooth call Mae to your left hand side you may have to turn you body clapping your hands. You are going to call her to you left hand side as if to heal. BUT you are not going to stop there. As she gets almost to you turn to your right. She is to pick up at you left hand side with out cutting across the front of you. I may have to show you this one if you don't follow what I am saying...... It is easy if you know.... or are shown.  

6. Send Away.....
7. Drop on command from a distance.

Training Mae - Week 2

Morning walks.... Close..... I need You to walk along with Mae at heel. Then step to your right. Yanking the lead to you left leg, saying CLOSE at the same time. Do not wait for her keep walking when she is at the side of you Good Girl praise. So you get to the point where you can step to the right and she follows. With you saying CLOSE and she dose it on her own. Once she has mastered this you should be able to step to the side without saying a word to her......

Evening Walks..... Right About Turn..... The right turn is almost the same, but you tell her close and turn round to your right. At the same time.. Do not wait for her she will start to realise she is with you. Remember she may need reminding now and again by you yanking the lead...  You will be facing the way you have just come from. This time walk about eight paces and do it again. You should end up with walking the way you started...... Remember every time you stop she sits. On you left and striate.

INDOORS THIS WEEK.....STAYS SIT & DOWN.... Put her on the lead Stand with her sitting at you left side. Tell her to STAY. Hold the lead in you left hand at the end of the lead. You are going to walk round her. Slowly walk round her saying Stay all the time. Come back to the point where you started. Wait do not look at her. Count to five and go down to her and praise her like mad.....

Once you have her doing the Sit and Down stays you can start doing this you. With out her moving. Try walking  round her off lead. For now.

Put the lead out in front as with the recall. Tell her to Stay Walk to the end of the lead. Turn so you are side on to her. Wait two minutes. This time you are going to return to her, taking up your place by her side. Do not look at her..... Count to five and praise her. Once you have mastered this do it off lead...... When you are doing the down Stay off lead start working your way further away towards the door.  You aim is to go out of the door with out her getting up.... Only do this when you know you can put her into the stay and she will wait for five minutes.... A little tip here is when you put her into the Down Stay. Roll her onto her side so she is relaxed.

On Saturday take Mae to town for a walk round........