LOWDOWN Winter 2011 page 2
The Editor’s Bark
. . . . woof! woof!
Hi, everyone.
Blimey, winter already! What did happen to 2011?
Is there some Einstein theory about time passing faster the older one becomes?
After a promising spring, the summer seemed to come and go without too much intervention by the sun. That said, we seemed to have been very lucky with the weather on our Branch walks and, indeed, our Fun Day.
The real gem for me was October - sunny and warm. Luckily, Frankie and I had decided to have a few days away with the hounds in our caravan during the first week. I don’t think we could have five better days, weather-wise. We found ourselves sitting out of doors at nine in the evening, eating under the stars, still in our T-shirts - perfectly warm. I have written of our adventures on page 17.
Many of you - especially our walks’ regulars - will know the lovely Trudy Allen and her hound, Mollie. In September of this year Trudy fulfilled a long-time dream and moved to live on a small island in the Philippines.
Trudy has been a very enthusiastic member, managing to recruit more new members to the Branch on her various travels than anyone I know. She was the first winner of Lowdown’s Winnie Wheelbarrow Trophy. She will be greatly missed, but I know that she starts her new life with everyone’s best wishes for the future. You can read her moving farewell in this issue.
As ever, I am indebted to everyone who has contributed items to the two issues of Lowdown that we have published this year. I would especially like to highlight the work of Sally King for her regular, wonderful stories of Clara and Rolf; and Sheila Williams for her charming line drawings which brighten our pages. Thank you, ladies! I would be very grateful to receive contributions from any of our many new members.
I believe that 2011 has been a very successful year for the Branch. New members have continued to join and many have tried our monthly walks - some coming from quite far away (you can see photos of our new hounds in this issue). Jill Malin, who keeps our records, mentioned to me that fifty-five different hounds have attended our ‘meets’ this year. Wouldn’t it be great if they all turned up at the same time?
Looking forward, one innovation that is being trailed in 2012 is holding our Midsummer Walk & Picnic on a Saturday. Hopefully, this will attract members who find attending Sunday ‘meets’ difficult.
In fact, the committee would be very eager to know whether holding some of our walks on Saturdays, rather than Sundays, would suit more members. If you have an opinion on this please contact Lowdown at the email address shown on the back page, or any member of the committee.
Your Branch committee holds around four meeting throughout the year, plus an AGM each spring. It is at these that all our events and direction of the Branch are planned; I know that I speak for the entire committee when I invite suggestions from you, our members, on how to further improve the Branch. Perhaps, new members can see opportunities which we old hands might not have spotted.
On the subject of the Branch committee, I must add how hard working and enthusiastic the present one is. It is a real pleasure to be a part of such a great team - plus, we do have fun!
I must use this ‘bark’ to encourage those of you with computers to visit our website: www.bassethoundowners.org.uk - especially if you have not done so recently. It is packed with goodies which our brilliant webmaster, Derek Harris, constantly refreshes the content and appearance.
It contains some real gems and is not wholly free of Derek’s dry wit. My own favourite being his inclusion of contact details for Birmingham International Airport, handy for those travelling to Bickenhill for the BHC Championship Show in their private jets. Te! He! Please check it out.
Drawing by Sheila Williams©2011
I guess this Lowdown will be dropping through your letter boxes just as you are making preparations for the season’s festivities. On behalf of everyone on the Branch committee, I would like to wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012.
Enjoy your wonderful hounds!
editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk
Drawing by Sheila Williams©2011
Hi, everyone.
Blimey, winter already! What did happen to 2011?
Is there some Einstein theory about time passing faster the older one becomes?
After a promising spring, the summer seemed to come and go without too much intervention by the sun. That said, we seemed to have been very lucky with the weather on our Branch walks and, indeed, our Fun Day.
The real gem for me was October - sunny and warm. Luckily, Frankie and I had decided to have a few days away with the hounds in our caravan during the first week. I don’t think we could have five better days, weather-wise. We found ourselves sitting out of doors at nine in the evening, eating under the stars, still in our T-shirts - perfectly warm. I have written of our adventures on page 17.
Many of you - especially our walks’ regulars - will know the lovely Trudy Allen and her hound, Mollie. In September of this year Trudy fulfilled a long-time dream and moved to live on a small island in the Philippines.
Trudy has been a very enthusiastic member, managing to recruit more new members to the Branch on her various travels than anyone I know. She was the first winner of Lowdown’s Winnie Wheelbarrow Trophy. She will be greatly missed, but I know that she starts her new life with everyone’s best wishes for the future. You can read her moving farewell in this issue.
As ever, I am indebted to everyone who has contributed items to the two issues of Lowdown that we have published this year. I would especially like to highlight the work of Sally King for her regular, wonderful stories of Clara and Rolf; and Sheila Williams for her charming line drawings which brighten our pages. Thank you, ladies! I would be very grateful to receive contributions from any of our many new members.
I believe that 2011 has been a very successful year for the Branch. New members have continued to join and many have tried our monthly walks - some coming from quite far away (you can see photos of our new hounds in this issue). Jill Malin, who keeps our records, mentioned to me that fifty-five different hounds have attended our ‘meets’ this year. Wouldn’t it be great if they all turned up at the same time?
Looking forward, one innovation that is being trailed in 2012 is holding our Midsummer Walk & Picnic on a Saturday. Hopefully, this will attract members who find attending Sunday ‘meets’ difficult.
In fact, the committee would be very eager to know whether holding some of our walks on Saturdays, rather than Sundays, would suit more members. If you have an opinion on this please contact Lowdown at the email address shown on the back page, or any member of the committee.
Your Branch committee holds around four meeting throughout the year, plus an AGM each spring. It is at these that all our events and direction of the Branch are planned; I know that I speak for the entire committee when I invite suggestions from you, our members, on how to further improve the Branch. Perhaps, new members can see opportunities which we old hands might not have spotted.
On the subject of the Branch committee, I must add how hard working and enthusiastic the present one is. It is a real pleasure to be a part of such a great team - plus, we do have fun!
I must use this ‘bark’ to encourage those of you with computers to visit our website: www.bassethoundowners.org.uk - especially if you have not done so recently. It is packed with goodies which our brilliant webmaster, Derek Harris, constantly refreshes the content and appearance.
It contains some real gems and is not wholly free of Derek’s dry wit. My own favourite being his inclusion of contact details for Birmingham International Airport, handy for those travelling to Bickenhill for the BHC Championship Show in their private jets. Te! He! Please check it out.
Drawing by Sheila Williams©2011
I guess this Lowdown will be dropping through your letter boxes just as you are making preparations for the season’s festivities. On behalf of everyone on the Branch committee, I would like to wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012.
Enjoy your wonderful hounds!
editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk
Drawing by Sheila Williams©2011