Gail Smith

I had a goat who had no milk and I was advised by someone to feed her fennel seeds and this would bring in her milk.  I fed her a teaspoonful in the evening and another in the morning and lo and behold her milk came in with a vengeance.  I dont know if you could do the same for your mare? Have you contacted a vet?  You can get milk powder for orphans.  Alternatively you could contact a local goat farmer, there are loads in france, have a look in the pages jaunes or get in touch with your local agricultural cooperative or chambre de Agricol (sp) and they will point you towards one.   I sold my milking goats to someone up your way.  I cant remember their exact address but maybe you could pm me your exact location and I could check to see how close they are to you. Gail

Darling Charlie is still waiting for a lovely home and so I have taken some more pics of him today.  He has just had a brush and is sitting on the terrace surveying the garden. Please would you ask around your friends and help to find a lovely home for this super little dog.  He really needs someone to give him a forever home (without cats!). [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/frenchfarmgites/Charlie042.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/frenchfarmgites/Charlie034.jpg[/IMG] Gail

I am writing to update about Charlie and how he has been getting along. He settled fantastically well with the Dobermans and slept with them in their beds every night and played with them all day long. Today he spent the afternoon licking the ears of the big male dobie in his bed. He was a real hit with all in the family and loved a cuddle and to snuggle on an available lap when he was allowed. Now the bad news.......... Unfortunately Charlie chased their cats. and not just chased for fun but in a totally focussed hunting dog kind of manner. He is definately sight driven and the fact that they run away from him just excites him more. I believe that Charlie is in fact a fox terrier crossed with a poodle. Although he has lovely soft fluffy curls he also has the wiry coat in places of a fox terrier. He 'points' when he sees prey ie cats and also shivers and shakes in anticipation if they run up a tree to escape him. So sadly Charlie is coming back tomorrow, not in disgrace, but with a lot more information available for anyone who might be interested in re-homing this lovely affectionate dog. I dont think a home with cats is advisable. He is definately not a bichon/poodle cross. I am afraid that you will have to take my word for that although when he gets home I will take some more pics of him to try and show his pedigree If anyone might know of a potential home for him then please dont hesitate to get in touch and maybe come and see him. You will fall in love with him I am sure. Gail

I have spoken to the new people today and he was a bit bolshy with their male Dobie but fortunately the dobie is a softey and so it was ok.  Unfortunately he keeps chasing the cat and so he is having a lesson in feline respect today!  He needs to be castrated asap and I have told the new people that I expect them to do that if they keep him and they have agreed.  If he comes back to me then I will get him done asap. They are happy with him though and it's looking good.  The new people are very experienced dog owners and went into having him with their eyes wide open.  I wouldnt have let him go to just anyone.  He has to have the right home because the worst thing that could happen is that he was shunted from pillar to post.  There will always be a sanctuary here for him if things dont work out. Gail

Well today I had 3 of my horsey friends over for lunch and one of them was absolutely smitten with Charlie (Number 14). The long and short of it is that she rang her husband from my house and he said 'yes' and so Charlie has gone home with her It was as if he picked her out to be his mum, because he went and sat right next to her and just looked into her eyes. He hardly left her side all through lunch. She is a doggy person and a very experienced dog owner and already has 3 dobermans, so I hope he is going to behave with them. The only thing I couldn't tell her was how he was with cats as we don't have one. He is such a good boy that I am sure he will be fine. She is going to have him on trial for a week and then if all goes well I will hand over the papers to her, if not then he can come back to me with pleasure as he is no trouble at all. Fingers crossed. Gail

Perhaps I should clarify that I have not adopted 'Charlie' myself as I already have 3 dogs rescued from the SPA.  I cant take on a fourth on a full time basis but I do foster whilst dogs find the right person to live with. I just wanted you all to know that this lovely little dog will make a brilliant pet and if you can or know someone who can give him a loving home then contact me. Gail

I went to get 'Charlie' as I have temporarily called him this morning and he is adorable.  He is 2-3 years old and a Bichon cross Poodle.  In the car he was perfectly behaved and lay down in the foot well and just went to sleep.  He was not sick or anything which is more than I can say for my own dogs!  He stank a bit when we got him home so he had a hair cut and a bath.  He is very gentle and is playing with my little dogs and has settled down well.  The first pic is him before his bath and you can see all the hair on his back end was totally matted.  I had to use the clippers on it and so he is a bit shaved around his hind end now [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/frenchfarmgites/Charlie009.jpg[/IMG] Here he is sitting in my kitchen window after his bath and watching the world go by. [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/frenchfarmgites/Charlie015.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/frenchfarmgites/Charlie023.jpg[/IMG] We have all been for a walk this evening after tea and he was very good although we kept him on a very long lead just in case.  He is getting the idea of coming when he is called and loves a cuddle and fuss. He did bark a bit at my horse but soon got over it.  Tomorrow I will introduce him to the goats/sheep and chickens. If anyone is interested in rehoming him then we are in Northern Dordogne between Riberac and Perigueux. Gail

I did our last changeover of the summer yesterday and it seemed to take forever! The strange thing is that someone has nicked the tie backs from the curtains in the main bedroom.  They are the same material as the curtains and I just cannot imagine why someone would take them..... I had a swift count up of missing linen yesterday and several towels, bath and pool, 2 single white fitted sheets, 1 single mattres protector, 2 white pillow cases and 2 french square pillow cases are missing.  I am going to have to be more rigorous in 2009 and count them back in every Saturday and not just pick up the armload for the machine. Now I feel like a holiday........  What's one of those?  We havent had one since we came here 4 years ago but it's too difficult for us both to get away because of the animals.  Still at least we will have the place back to ourselves a week today.... Yiiippppeeeeeeee Gail

I flew through EMA in May and took my handbag out of my small handluggage case to go through security.  I was getting my passport out of the handbag and then intended to put it back in the case.  The bloke at the security conveyor told me that as I had 2 pieces of handluggage I had to go back and check in!  I told him that I had just got the handbag out to get my passport but he wouldnt listen.  I slipped the handbag back into the case within about 7 seconds and lo and behold one piece of hand luggage.  He let me through but uttering dire warnings about the power he had to stop me flying etc, etc...... I cant tell you what I was muttering about him under my breath.  In the muddle of people leaving the security area near me were two women who each had a case and their handbags.  They were commenting to each other 'You see there was no need to worry about the one piece of hand luggage rule, they never bothered at all about us having 2'. I flew again in August through EMA and didnt bother taking a handbag this time.  There were people who had 2 bits of luggage and others who were madly trying to convert 2 into 1. At the end of the day it is the luck of the draw on who is manning the entry to the security area. Gail

I'm from Cheltenham too.  What a bunch of nutters!  They must be to throw themselves down that incline. Gail

Oh Dave I just so know how you feel.... I can't wait til September   Gail

I had a dog a few years ago who was very dominant.  He got worse and worse until we couldnt let him off the lead any more because he would fight with any other dog and I couldnt go near him when he had food.  The final straw came when he started cocking his leg in the house...  I understand from my vet that this was the ultimate sign of where he stood in the pecking order in the house! In the end we had him castrated and the difference was amazing.  He became a lovely amenable dog that we could take anywhere, take his food from him, trust with anyone.  I do strongly recommend castration if you do not intend to breed from him. We have a lovely long haired miniature dachs bitch now and she is very dominant.  She even bosses my poor Alsation sized Griffon and wins.  She definately believes that she has an inner Rottweiler.  The only person she doesnt dominate is me... Gail

There is live music every Saturday during the summer at Renamont which is about 15-20k from Riberac.  We went last Saturday and there were 3 bands and it was fantastic.  Entry fee was 7 euros.  It is usually 4 euros but because they had 3 bands it was more.  This weekend it is the music festival in perigueux and the standard of the groups, bands, solo performers is outstanding.  We went last year and were stunned by the quality. We live about 15k from Riberac and we love it here.  There are lots of Brits but you dont have to talk to them if you dont want to.  We are very rural and are surrounded by French.  We certainly wouldnt move from this area if we ever decided to downsize. Why dont you come down for a few days and try it out? Gail

Hi I'm Back   I have found this link where it tells you all about competing unaffiliated etc.  I really hope this helps and if you need more info then ask on Equine online as there are loads of peeps on there who compete at the lowest level and many more who compete at a very high level http://www.equineonline.net/horseforum/showthread.php?t=5980   Gail

I dont know the ins and outs of it but you can compete without having passed your Galop 7 and with a horse whose origins are unknown.  You need to go to a riding centre and get a licence to compete which I think is about 36 euros.  Your horse does need to be registered with the Haras National as 'origin inconu'.  At the moment I am going nearly every Sunday to small shows in our area where people I know who do not have the Galop 7 compete.  These are local shows and I dont know the whole thing, I just know that you can! I will find a link for you and post it.  Your best bet is to go to a local riding centre which does jumping and get friendly with them.  You can only get the licence through such a yard. Please dont shoot me down in flames for only giving half the story, I just wanted the OP to know that she can jump if she wants.   Gail