PupAid 2013 - Primrose Hill, London

Show days can be long and quite hard work - but goodness are they fun and sometimes you feel that luck is on your side.  I was late picking up Conchita but Hooray that meant we missed the last real downpour of the day.  So as we got to Primrose Hill, (8.15am),  the rain had stopped and we got a feeling the weather was on our side.
Primrose Hill always has a place in our hearts as it was where Holly and Lily first met and so it all began.

Thanks to Eveline of Doggity for the piccy

Rule of play is you get set up as best you can - making our stall look as lush and gorgeous as possible. Then you have a bit of time to get to know your neighbours.  This year we were so lucky as they were great friends.  The gorgeous baby Lily and her Mum and Dad who run Diet Dog (http://www.diet-dog.com/cart/home.html) and two of our fabulously supportive customers... The Barking Blondes, Joanne and Anna, (http://www.barkingblondes.net).  Both their dogs Mathilda and Molly were fully kitted out in Holly&Lil so could not be more perfect for us!  Do try and catch their fabulous Radio London Show (94.9), every Thursday at 3pm.
Also have a wee bit of time to play with the dogs and have breakfast and tweak the stand.

So Gus played with Mathilda and The Guide Dogs ran through their very clever routine.

But then the show begins and the day just flys by with a constant stream of returning customers come to show how lovely their collars still look. 

The owners of Ruby below had bought her bow collar from us at Hyde Bark this year.  I remembered them well as gave them a wee H&L birthday discount and was proudly telling them how much they had saved .... then realised I was charging them DOUBLE... Shame!

They said until they bought her collar people would stop and chat all about Ruby and what she was... now they stop and ask where did you get that collar!  Charming.

Dasiy owner came to get her a new slim cowspot collar.  They do have a new adorable Flatcoat puppy - who I think was called Fletcher (but I am menopausal!?!?).  Daisy is such a sweet-natured girl and does not tell the baby off  so the PupStar is getting a bit bossy.  They were impressed buy how patient and calm Gus is and I explained how much Holly had helped me train him.  From then on they were encouraging Holl Doll to scold and train the boy.  I hope it helped!

 

We also meet lots of new customers who have a great time trying them on either to buy now or for the future as we do not advise people to buy till Pup at least 6months old.

How lovely did this wee pug look and Daisy,the rescue Staffi,belongs to Heidi Hudson, one of the Pet Photographers for the Kennel Club (http://caninemediaconsultant.com)

 And this teeny baby Chihuahua, Princess, lives with the crazy Licks Boutique Ladies, what fun she must have!

Two nice gals from the Village Vet decked their Spaniel out in Tweed. The Village Vet in Belsize Park was the emergency Vet I ran to when Augustus was hit by a transit van.  Luckily he was no more than shocked but they were a great help so nice to see them again a year on in happier circumstances.

Then many friends just came to say Hello.  My Mum popped in as it was her 82nd Birthday - sweetie.  Dave the Dog Walker came to work his magic on Holly and Gus and Daisy joined in.  Rob my cousins hubbie, gave Gus lots of love.  And Gail and Honey came to say hello to the dogs.  Gail and I met when her dog Missie and Holly were the same age.  before Honey was even born!  She would have Holly at weekends if I was off somewhere; much to Missys disgust.  Haven't seen her since she escorted, (carried) me and Holly and Gus home from the Gaucho Dog Lunch; she just looked BEAUTIFUL!

Sooooooooooooo we had a lovely day and enjoyed it very much... Packing up is always tiring but we got it done.  Concha rolled off to a Barbeque... I and the dogs rolled off to BED!  See you all next year? 

Thanks to the Pupaid crew and Marc the Vet for organising the event it was great. 

 AND PLEASE GO ONLINE AND SIGN THE PETITION - WE NEED 100,000 SIGNATURES TO GO TO PARLIAMENT! MAKE A DIFFERENCE..... #wheresmum

direct.gov.uk/petitions/49528

Be part of the fight against Puppy Farming/Factories

Lexis tale

Several years ago I was at the Royal Veterinary College, RVC, (The Queen Mother Hospital, Potters Bar), sitting in reception waiting to get Holly.  She had had a huge operation and had been given a titanium knee.  I think I was coming to pick her up.  Anyhow a lady and chap came in with the MOST adorable dog.  She was obviously 'not right' and kept circling the reception area.  I became one of her cuddle pit stops.  She was just a real snuggle bunny.
And so it was I met Laura Delee Aaron and the glorious Lexi.

Lexi was a wee rescue Staffi cross who had been at Battersea Dogs home. This was one of her online Ad photos.

But she had been lucky and found the best family ever to live with - Laura and Aaron - and so she became known as  Lexi Cuthbertson-Delee and even had her own Facebook page.

So soon after finding her new perfect home she had tragically been diagnosed with a brain tumour.  The Queen Mother was her last hope. I chatted with Laura for a while and just completely madly coincidentally it turned out they lived near our shop in Bermondsey St.

I left them there with all my best wishes.  But the Queen Mother did their work and they gave Lexi her life and Laura and Aaron hope that they would have many happy days with her.  And that was in 2011 I believe and they not only had joyous days but fabulous years.

Lexi was never completely out of the woods but she was a pleasure to be with and just a happy, funny, unique little lady.  And of course she became a welcome addition to our Holly&Lil Pack.  She showed off her bespoke collar perfectly - gorgeous girl.

 Laura wrote to me...

"I just wanted to send you a note to let you know that Lexi ran free over rainbow bridge on Sunday 1st Sept. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but she found a way to tell me that the time had finally come to say goodbye. The night before, she had managed to get up onto my bed and had snuggles all night and the following morning she was sat in my lap relaxed and peaceful as I cuddled her and gave her lots of massages and belly tickles. Unfortunately it seems the tumour had come back and it had started to bother her so it was the right thing to do, although that didn't make it any easier. The house feels sooo empty without her and I keep expecting her to run in for a cuddle every morning as I get ready for work.....  Give Holl-doll an extra big cuddle for me tonight xx" 

Nothing I can say will help but we loved Lexi here and wanted you to get to know her a wee bit - even if only for this one time.  Run free Lexi you were so loving and so loved!

September 2013 Show Season

Lordy September show season starts this weekend.  And, for the first time ever we will be doing 2 shows.  Big ask for us as we have to cover the Shop as well.

Concha and I (with Gus and Holly) will be at PupAid http://www.pupaid.org/pup-aid/

Mary and Chelsea are heading to Lavant near Chichester for the 16th annual Bulldog Picnic
bulldogrescue.co.uk/Picnic.htm

 

Jo and Alex and Connor will be in the shop in Bermondsey Street. People sometimes question why the pack is so big - well this answers that I think.

 The prep' for a show takes quite a lot of organisation.  But we do have the van now and we run as a vaguely creaky but usually well oiled machine. I am on computer 'to do' lists.  Chelsea is on paperwork and minutiae and Alex is on Stock.  Connor is in training to become our muscles and first real male Els Angel.

We have our off days.
I was heading to pick up Chelsea to drive to the Suffolk Dog Day several years ago. I looked over my shoulder at the lights and thought...
leads  - check
tables - check
chairs - check
signs - check
chip and pin and petty cash - check................
"Where are the collars Alex????"
YIKES
Hey Ho - it happens.

We all enjoy doing the shows even if sales are slow (been so hot this summer some shows been very quiet).  But the best fun is when the weather is fine, the crowds are there and we get lots of dog cuddles but make some money too!!! Hooray!

Hope to see some of you this first glorious September weekend?

My first Blog and my lack of Mission statement!

I am not a blog Queen but quite a few of my Facebook friends have been encouraging me to start a Holly&Lil blog.... so I feel the time has come.  
It will probably be a huge learning curve for me but I hope, as we go along, I will be able to 'get' into it.  

This is, obviously, more an "Elaine" Pack Leader Blog than a company missive.
The views expressed will be mine, the waffle will be mine and as usual will be an outpouring - rather than well considered and contrived.

I hope I will not offend - and if I do it will be a good place for discussion to start.

I am no expert on dogs or life or love or ... whatever - so this may well be a waste of time for us all.  Also I do not really get out much so my World is very narrow.  Yikes not sounding good...
It will be more like a diary of a dog collar maker.
To let you have a glimpse into our Holly&Lil World and appreciate how hard we work and yet how lucky we are to be part of this pack.  I hope too you will get a feel the H&L Els Angels and for YOU, our customers, our pack members, from the super sweet ones to the crazies to the awkward to the simply LOVELY.  

I have no mission, I have no plan.  

But I hope it will be a bit of fun with some informed and interesting bits included.

If not please feel free to tell me to SHUT UP!