New Year, New ......

We have a new dog! He is a rescue terrier cross called Finnegan but as that name is such a mouthful he will be known as Finn. I'm so delighted - he's fitted in well apart from raiding the biscuit tin, trying to jump the garden fence and retrieving a quality street from under the sofa and stuffing it down. I managed to get most of it away from him as dogs and chocolate do not mix. 

It all happened rather quickly - we had seen several terriers online at Battersea and Dog's Trust that we liked but each time they were reserved before we even had a chance to visit, so we decided to wait until after Christmas before looking again. My sister saw Finn on the Allsorts Dog Rescue site and we applied. They responded - saying he was already reserved but then on Tuesday of last week they contacted us again as the man had changed his mind. We had a home check on Wednesday and went to see him on Thursday, loved him and brought him back there and then.

He's gorgeous but quite naughty, completely the opposite in character to Bill although he looks similar. I think he will provide us with a lot of fun and love and many stories for this blog!

Hear

Day 24 of the August Break is hear. My Jack Russell's hearing suddenly went a year or so ago, the only consolation being he is no longer terrified on bonfire night or frightened by thunder and lightening. He used to cower under the bed - a pitiful sight. I really miss talking to him though and getting a reaction, it's also difficult to let him off the lead as I can't call him back, he just trots along, faster and faster until I have to run and catch him.

touch

Love

Day 4 of August Break - LOVE -it has to be my JRT having a Sunday morning lie in!

And my love of walking - up on the South Downs in the sunshine - what could be better? Unfortunately we have to leave Bill behind now as he can't manage such long walks. 

♥ 14 ♥

My beloved JRT is 14 today. ♥ Happy Birthday Bill ♥

A bit late but ...

Found that the Fiat 500 blog had featured the patterns I'd designed for their car! Exciting - but I came across this a couple of years late, well better late than never. My original post was here and I'm pleased to say that I did actually get one and I love it - although it would be even better with some patterns on it.

sleeping beauty

It's his birthday on Monday, he will be 12. A valentine's boy!

Proverb

How true!
© nicky linzey for illustration friday

Diary

A week ago today on July 8th my Mum and Dad's dog Ellie had to be put to sleep. She was the sweetest dog and My Jack Russell's best friend.

Ellie was found by a lorry driver, wandering on a motorway in Liverpool, never claimed, she was eventually shipped down to Brighton RSPCA where they thought she would stand more chance of getting a home.

We went there looking for a dog and she chose my Mum as her new owner. It took her a long time to settle in, she didn't bark for over a year - in fact we thought she couldn't. (She made up for this later in life though!) She sat on her bed in the kitchen huddled in the corner, scared of her own shadow, eventually realising what a lovely, safe, new home she had - filled with love and she responded accordingly. She was nearly 14 when she died and we all miss her so much.
© 2010 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

How I spend my evenings . . .

He's eleven now and still no signs of slowing down. Oh well, that's a jack russell for you!

Impatience

My Jack Russell shows terrible 'impatience' when he cannot extract his biscuit from his kong. On the up side, it keeps him busy for hours!

PS Think I'd better explain that a kong is a dog toy which you can stuff with treats to keep your dog occupied.

© 2009 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Life

How lucky am I to have a family that pulls out all the stops in a crisis? Love to you all x

Celebrate

It's Valentine's Day so I'm going to celebrate the love in my life, plus it's My Jack Russell's birthday!! A quick doodle this week - pen and ink on a photo of some gazpacho soup I made in the Summer!

© nicky linzey 2009 for Illustration Friday

Guest Blog

It's My Jack Russell's birthday, he's 9 years old so I've decided he can choose the subject matter for this blog today. He's very sad as he cannot see his true love on Valentine's Day - she's just had an operation to remove some lumps. Luckily she's ok although it took 4 hours and she's very sore.
So he wants to say "Get well soon Elle - I love you!"

Thanks - Day 4

Thanks that I live with someone who will do this to make me laugh and what's more, be happy for me to put it up on my blog!

smooth suave sophisticated!

Happy Birthday to my lovely dad - shown modelling in this photo about 50 years ago - he's the one on the left! This picture is so typical of the era in which it was taken - it makes me smile whenever I see it.

This sums him up for me: modern jazz - good food - jokes - generosity - 'here's that rainy day' - parties - stylish dressing - 'oklahoma' - lobster - silk ties and handkerchiefs - horse racing - garlic soup - sancerre - kindness - french holidays - brer rabbit - card games - frank sinatra - love of life - encouragement - south of france - candy pink shrimps - restaurants - french dressing - love