Merlin's Magicians February 2010 Newsletter
A big thank you to everyone who came to the very belated, Christmas dinner at the Curry Leaf in Cynwyl, it was, shall we say…….. an experience! The company was great, you were all great, the service was abysmal and the food was cold!! I had booked a table for fifteen, but they had laid for twelve!! We had to move a table from elsewhere ourselves to make up numbers. When I went to get drinks the girl serving looked in the fridge for Red Wine!! Should have told me something, she then charged poor Kathy for a can of Larger after pouring half of it into a glass and putting the rest under the counter! Kathy was so taken aback that she didn’t comment. We waited from 7.30 until 9.30 before complaining that we hadn’t had our main course. Other diners had arrived, eaten and left! We were told it was because we were a large party but, they had taken the booking so it was no excuse. Offered the meal at half price we accepted, only to be served barely warm food which we couldn’t eat! As I said, the company was great, the service…………….. Having said that the first club meal won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
By now you will, I hope, all have had the letter telling you that despite being very successful (number wise) our club isn’t paying its own way, and that I have been heavily subsidizing. Something I can no longer do. As a result from April we are putting up the weekly charge to £4 for one dog with a charge of 50p each for extra dogs. There will also be a membership fee, due April 1st each year. The amount was discussed during the wait for the meal, and £10 was suggested, I have thought this over and hope that £8 single and £10 for joint membership will be acceptable, bearing in mind that we do have insurance, this web site and, pay for venues. Joint membership will cover any number from the same address. I have been busy seeking sponsorship or donations to help us along too, had lots of ‘Sorry but’ letters. Some money off vouchers from Alpha Feeds and………
£50 donation from, Ace-Canine, do look at their link, they do canine supplements and, one is something I use, a seaweed granule that helps your dogs teeth to stay clean and healthy, Plaque Away (I have been using Plaque Off but will be ordering Plaque Away in future). We also have £50 from Merial, the producers of Frontline Flea and Tick treatment, plus £50 and the offer to pay for Polo Shirts from Bayer HealthCare, the colour of the shirts is still under discussion as is the our logo for the back, the front will have the Be Lungworm Aware logo advertising that web site. We have Brenda to thank for these, won by approaching the reps at the Veterinary Practice she works for.
What will become of other requests I have made I do not know but I have had response from a couple saying we are being considered. So cross everything please! The good news is that the insurance due the end of March is now covered!
Our new Multibreed team name has been approved ‘Merlin’s Witches Brew’ A Multibreed team has to consist of four different breeds; one can be a collie or WSD one a Crossbreed. We certainly aren’t lacking in either of those then for two other breeds we have Duffy Cocker, Trumps Lab, Ruby Rottie and, I hope, a new member who is going to be joining with her JRT and another Lab. Both of which have been doing Flyball with a team in the Midlands.
Starlight has started with a bang, new dog Rebel who, with owners Janice & Alan has mastered Flyball in the first two sessions!! Janice runs Rebel and I am hoping to co-opt Alan into box loading. We have split the class as ten or eleven dogs was too chaotic. Coming in on his own for the first class, Bo was brilliant! Sam with Hannah is doing really well but is a bit noise shy (Sam not Hannah) so we can’t do the box yet. That said he is quite happy to fetch the ball from in front of the box and is no longer thinking about running out so I will try the training box. He will get there. Ishka the Great Dane is happy to do almost the same; her problem is she isn’t that fussed by Tennis balls! She was fetching a rubber ball so we shall see. I must say it is quite a funny sight; Ishka is so tall you almost worry that she’ll trip over the jumps as she certainly doesn’t have to jump them!
We could still do with a few more people/dogs at Ferryside, I am hoping that when we start Agility there (following the Flyball session Sunday mornings) April, we will gain recruits.
Agility/Flyball is starting up again at Bryn Iwen 2.30 Saturday afternoons, weather permitting, from 6th March, I shall be going up to get the equipment put out again with Gavin’s help very shortly. We need more for this venue to make it viable, so bring a friend!
I need numbers to be confirmed for the Anglesey Training Weekend, fifteen provisionally booked so far, one or two each way won’t be a bother but I need anyone who hasn’t already said they are coming, especially if they need electric hook up for a caravan or camper van, to decide and tell me if at all possible please. Details are in ‘Events’ Please note this is open to anyone from our area who wants to ‘have a go’ not just our members. Ask your friends, dogs can be complete newcomers too.
Those of you that want to compete this year and haven’t already done so, will need to join the BFA, I would suggest from April 1st. Forms can be downloaded from www.flyball.org or ask me I usually have some. Your team for the form is Merlin’s Magicians and the team number 201. Following Anglesey we will have to do some team training, I am hoping that Saturday afternoons and/or Monday evenings at Bryn Iwen will be acceptable. We also need to ‘get together’ and talk/discuss. This is your team guys! I am open to suggestions as to where/when/how often. Anglesey will do for the first time; weather permitting we can have an evening with a takeaway and a bottle or two of wine. Put our world to rights!
Keep smiling, June