Also, photos of Michael McIntyre doing something quite unlikely, a great date recommendation, and the bad thing that Dennis did in front of Dame Jilly.
A friend of my Californian husband came over from LA and brought a crystal collar for Woody, our standard wire-haired dachshund, in amber and turquoise. Meant to prevent ticks - huge laugh as he’s had just as many since it arrived. However it does get regularly admired.
Goodwoof sounds delightful and 😍Seamus (used to have two massive wolfhounds next door who were adorable) as well as Dennis of course. Slightly disappointed that I mis-read the intro and that there was no Great Dane recommendation, but maybe next year. Most importantly that spotty dress is completely and utterly perfect and I am so in awe of people who get clothes so exactly right as I am always over-, under- or just badly dressed.
Oh thank you! It's v old Zara. But a trusty staple even if I do feel a bit Pretty Woman in in. And maybe next year? Every year they focus on a different dog, so Labradors last year, dachshunds this year etc. But all dogs v much welcome!
So jealous of your wonderful time with Jilly - what a woman! Also on a mission to convince someone to come to the dog festival with me but have concerns may end with me stealing someone else’s dog and running away - if you need a Dennis babysitter next year let me know 😂 maybe his chacras will have aligned by then
Let’s all live by Jilly’s POV about dogs! I am going to do whatever I want today. Love Jilly.
Also, it’s about time the world were obsessed with something other than sport. I feel like it’s been a plague on life. Sport here, sport there, sport every bloody where. Time for dogs to be everywhere. A change from football, tennis, pad-eeeeel, golf and so on and so on and so on. Yawn.
Definitely cats next year (I'm scared of dogs, sorry, I know that is incomprehensible to many otherwise lovely dog owners but it is what it is! Very much a cat person though).
And as for padel I say don't knock it til you've tried it - I'm just starting a 6 week 'learn to play' course tomorrow after doing 3 intro sessions and I'm already totally hooked. So much easier and less exhausting than tennis (which I love but am spectacularly bad at) whilst at the same time being a great way to get some exercise and hand eye co-ordination training in without feeling like you're doing something too onerous. I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and being just turned 57 I feel too young to be consigned to the "old person shaking in a corner" image and exercise, balance and brain training are apparently vital in putting the darn disease in it's place. So wish me luck!
GOOD LUCK and I'm totally not knocking it! I'm kind of intrigued by how fast it's spread and how addicted people seem to become. My friend Hols, mentioned above, says it's become quite so popular for corporate events because CEOs and other important sorts don't fear being shown up in quite the same way as they may be on eg the tennis court. Because it's a bit easier to get to grips with. So interesting.
Sue that’s a brilliant thing to be starting, and I imagine quite fun too. My pal Jo is obsessed with it. And a good friend’s daughter is playing competitively across the country. It’s the next big thing isn’t it? Truth be told I have no beef with padel, whereas football… ugh. And hard agree on cats - we have a very disagreeable ragdoll called moggy. She is quite a character as all cats are I think.
Regarding your diagnosis, do you know of the Movers and Shakers podcast? I have been listening to it because of a family member and it’s very interesting and full of useful interviews with cutting edge Parkinson’s specialists. The info on daily exercise and the way it can control symptoms was excellent. x
We have a gangsta one-eyed maine coon rescue called Jack (Captain Jack Sparrow to give him his full title!) who is needy, grabby, bitey and absolutely adorable - he had a hard start to life before he came to us at nearly 4 years old so we let him off and he's a lot better than when he first came, he's now 10 - but just watch your hands and don't go near his back feet!
We were recommended Movers and Shakers when I was first diagnosed last October and we're slowly catching up on all the past episodes - it's been so helpful - although I have to admit also occasionally tear inducing - and they're having such a great effect at raising awareness of the condition. I think we're living in a golden age in terms of how AI can really make massive advances in medicine and so I'm clinging onto the hope that the elusive cure or ability to stop the progression could well be coming along in the future. Thank you for your thoughts x
Jack sounds like a real character and lucky him for having such a wonderful second home. A friend of mine has a Maine Coon called Stanley. He is majestic and panther like. Very calm, unlike her other cats.
I can understand listening to the podcast must be a real mix of emotions. I found the more practical episodes better - the one on diet, one on exercise, one on stress etc. Hoping there will be a cure very soon, surely with all the AI advances it can’t be far off? Sending you my best wishes. xx
Maybe the rose quartz will stimulate all of Dennis’ chakras on the, ahem, way through? He might be onto something there. I only have to look at Michael McIntyre and I start smiling. Glad to hear Dame Jilly is as fab as you hope.
Great read Sophia, Goodwoof sounds right up my street! There’s been a lot of noise around Padel recently which is great; I used to work for ASICS and it was the sport which was being given a big push, and it would suggest there’s now a turning point; (McIntyre wearing ASICS trainers). 😍 It may be working at a European office, but it was always pronounced Pad-el, which always made me feel a bit of a idiot, as there’s nothing worse than an English person trying to sound Spanish (or any other nation for that matter). 🤣
Ah in my running days I was a huuuuuge fan of ASICS because I have such flat feet and over pronate, and they were the most stabilising. And ha I reckon yes probably because it was a European office. Come to Goodwoof next year! Am on a recruitment drive.
Yes it was the nose of sweet Pim, owned by Hannah Betts who's on here too and I just tried to do a clever link to her substack but it won't let me. Still, she is a v lovely whippet!
When I'm in the UK, I'm always struck by how much better behaved the dogs are than in Canada. I keep expecting two people's dogs to stop and confront each other, or a dog to run off chasing birds, or to accost a passerby - and then they just pass by with out incident. I don't know how it's managed.
A friend of my Californian husband came over from LA and brought a crystal collar for Woody, our standard wire-haired dachshund, in amber and turquoise. Meant to prevent ticks - huge laugh as he’s had just as many since it arrived. However it does get regularly admired.
Ha yes I have my suspicions. Ingesting the rose quartz doesn't seem to have much noticeable calming effect on Dennis I have to say...
Goodwoof sounds delightful and 😍Seamus (used to have two massive wolfhounds next door who were adorable) as well as Dennis of course. Slightly disappointed that I mis-read the intro and that there was no Great Dane recommendation, but maybe next year. Most importantly that spotty dress is completely and utterly perfect and I am so in awe of people who get clothes so exactly right as I am always over-, under- or just badly dressed.
Oh thank you! It's v old Zara. But a trusty staple even if I do feel a bit Pretty Woman in in. And maybe next year? Every year they focus on a different dog, so Labradors last year, dachshunds this year etc. But all dogs v much welcome!
And Julia Roberts looked fantastic in her spotted frock too!
So jealous of your wonderful time with Jilly - what a woman! Also on a mission to convince someone to come to the dog festival with me but have concerns may end with me stealing someone else’s dog and running away - if you need a Dennis babysitter next year let me know 😂 maybe his chacras will have aligned by then
Next year! Come along. Although I think it may take his chakras a bit longer...
Let’s all live by Jilly’s POV about dogs! I am going to do whatever I want today. Love Jilly.
Also, it’s about time the world were obsessed with something other than sport. I feel like it’s been a plague on life. Sport here, sport there, sport every bloody where. Time for dogs to be everywhere. A change from football, tennis, pad-eeeeel, golf and so on and so on and so on. Yawn.
Next year maybe cats? Quilting?
Definitely cats next year (I'm scared of dogs, sorry, I know that is incomprehensible to many otherwise lovely dog owners but it is what it is! Very much a cat person though).
And as for padel I say don't knock it til you've tried it - I'm just starting a 6 week 'learn to play' course tomorrow after doing 3 intro sessions and I'm already totally hooked. So much easier and less exhausting than tennis (which I love but am spectacularly bad at) whilst at the same time being a great way to get some exercise and hand eye co-ordination training in without feeling like you're doing something too onerous. I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and being just turned 57 I feel too young to be consigned to the "old person shaking in a corner" image and exercise, balance and brain training are apparently vital in putting the darn disease in it's place. So wish me luck!
GOOD LUCK and I'm totally not knocking it! I'm kind of intrigued by how fast it's spread and how addicted people seem to become. My friend Hols, mentioned above, says it's become quite so popular for corporate events because CEOs and other important sorts don't fear being shown up in quite the same way as they may be on eg the tennis court. Because it's a bit easier to get to grips with. So interesting.
Massive congratulations for doing something positive and good luck indeed!
Sue that’s a brilliant thing to be starting, and I imagine quite fun too. My pal Jo is obsessed with it. And a good friend’s daughter is playing competitively across the country. It’s the next big thing isn’t it? Truth be told I have no beef with padel, whereas football… ugh. And hard agree on cats - we have a very disagreeable ragdoll called moggy. She is quite a character as all cats are I think.
Regarding your diagnosis, do you know of the Movers and Shakers podcast? I have been listening to it because of a family member and it’s very interesting and full of useful interviews with cutting edge Parkinson’s specialists. The info on daily exercise and the way it can control symptoms was excellent. x
Hi Holly,
We have a gangsta one-eyed maine coon rescue called Jack (Captain Jack Sparrow to give him his full title!) who is needy, grabby, bitey and absolutely adorable - he had a hard start to life before he came to us at nearly 4 years old so we let him off and he's a lot better than when he first came, he's now 10 - but just watch your hands and don't go near his back feet!
We were recommended Movers and Shakers when I was first diagnosed last October and we're slowly catching up on all the past episodes - it's been so helpful - although I have to admit also occasionally tear inducing - and they're having such a great effect at raising awareness of the condition. I think we're living in a golden age in terms of how AI can really make massive advances in medicine and so I'm clinging onto the hope that the elusive cure or ability to stop the progression could well be coming along in the future. Thank you for your thoughts x
Jack sounds like a real character and lucky him for having such a wonderful second home. A friend of mine has a Maine Coon called Stanley. He is majestic and panther like. Very calm, unlike her other cats.
I can understand listening to the podcast must be a real mix of emotions. I found the more practical episodes better - the one on diet, one on exercise, one on stress etc. Hoping there will be a cure very soon, surely with all the AI advances it can’t be far off? Sending you my best wishes. xx
Maybe the rose quartz will stimulate all of Dennis’ chakras on the, ahem, way through? He might be onto something there. I only have to look at Michael McIntyre and I start smiling. Glad to hear Dame Jilly is as fab as you hope.
She really was!
💪🏻❤️
Great read Sophia, Goodwoof sounds right up my street! There’s been a lot of noise around Padel recently which is great; I used to work for ASICS and it was the sport which was being given a big push, and it would suggest there’s now a turning point; (McIntyre wearing ASICS trainers). 😍 It may be working at a European office, but it was always pronounced Pad-el, which always made me feel a bit of a idiot, as there’s nothing worse than an English person trying to sound Spanish (or any other nation for that matter). 🤣
Ah in my running days I was a huuuuuge fan of ASICS because I have such flat feet and over pronate, and they were the most stabilising. And ha I reckon yes probably because it was a European office. Come to Goodwoof next year! Am on a recruitment drive.
Was that the nose of a whippet I saw? I have two. Whippets, not noses.
Yes it was the nose of sweet Pim, owned by Hannah Betts who's on here too and I just tried to do a clever link to her substack but it won't let me. Still, she is a v lovely whippet!
I’ll have a look thank you.
Lovely picture of them with Bill Bailey.
Another glorious newsletter, might be my favourite one yet! Xx
Oh GOOD am especially happy you've said this Jill as I was worried it might have been sliiiiiiiightly too doggy!
When I'm in the UK, I'm always struck by how much better behaved the dogs are than in Canada. I keep expecting two people's dogs to stop and confront each other, or a dog to run off chasing birds, or to accost a passerby - and then they just pass by with out incident. I don't know how it's managed.
I suspect puppy Dennis is the exception to that.
Ha yes sometimes he's perfect. Sometimes, even I will admit, he's a tiny bit terrier like!
Oh interesting. I would say it can be quite hit and miss in Crystal Palace park on an early morning stroll though!
🫶🏻🤣
I’m not a dog person (sorry), but I’d read you on anything, Sophia, I almost want to go next year now!
Ha I'm SO glad I've done it justice in that case! And thank you!