Lisa and I adopted Gypsy today. And no doubt I'll be telling you more about her, and showing you proud pictures, as time goes by. I don't after all, have quite the same data protection issues if I tell you all the personal things and stories about a dog that I would have if I told you about a colleague / team member / human family member.

My old "Observer's book of dogs" doesn't list the lurcher as a breed on its main pages - there's a paragraph at the rear of the book on them. And yes it the 30 or 40 years since the book was published, the Lurcher has become popular. Or rather the name has been greatly taken up to apply to Greyhound and summat-else cross-breeds of the "isn't that a lovely big dog" genre. And, yes, she is a lovely big dog.


First days in a new home will always be busy and interesting ones (and today has been a busy and interesting day, which is why I am posting up so late). We have adopted cats in the past (Charlie the cat and Gypsy are aware of each other - keeping out of the way in the first case, and showing no interest in the second) and know not to expect miracles (but rather accidents) on days 1, 2 and 3 ... but with a field right behind, we're well set to take her out, walk her, get exercise ourselves, and deal with all the issues that come up. Hopefully you'll find us taking on the sleeker looks she has when you see future pictures of us ;-).


But Gypsy would like you to know that even in her first few hours, she likes it with us and feels quite at home.

You won't meet Charlie or Gypsy if you visit the hotel ... they're strictly not mixing, but anyone who comes round to the house is liable to be lick-greeted from this point onwards, and may have to play shove-a-dog to get themselves a place on the sofa.

(written 2009-04-18, updated 2009-04-19)

 Z203 - Cat and Dog
  [3606] Gypsy and Billy enjoy the snow - (2012-02-10)
  [3561] Happy Christmas ... a Christmas morning walk in Melksham - (2011-12-25)
  [3553] Changes to morning routines - (2011-12-16)
  [3541] I loves Melksham - (2011-12-06)
  [3537] Letting the foster parents know ... too little or too much? - (2011-12-04)
  [3533] No message - just doggy pictures of the new doggy - (2011-11-30)
  [3530] A typical weekend?? - (2011-11-28)
  [3338] Return trip - Dogs Trust, Newbury - (2011-06-27)
  [3324] Rabbit Shelter - (2011-06-12)
  [3096] Contrast in pictures - (2010-12-20)
  [2897] The Land of the Black Labrador - (2010-08-01)
  [2787] Sleeping in on Sunday - (2010-05-30)
  [2689] Can my dog eat potatoes? Doggie Dietary Research, and political sleaze! - (2010-03-23)
  [2555] Bookkeeping - (2009-12-29)
  [2499] ourdog is Greyhound, Staffie and Ginger Cake - (2009-11-09)
  [2496] A better design of mouth - (2009-11-07)
  [2456] Bright Eyes - (2009-10-16)
  [2451] Gypsy says - (2009-10-12)
  [2450] Family Gathering at 404, The Spa - (2009-10-11)
  [2295] The dog is not in trouble - (2009-07-17)
  [2271] Dogs Trust, Dog Show, Newbury - (2009-07-06)
  [2252] Leaping dog, Leaping horse, copyright of old masters - (2009-06-20)
  [2167] Watching the tele - (2009-05-10)
  [2140] Beware - giving copyright away when you upload a picture - Dogs Trust - (2009-04-25)
  [2138] Ski bore ... train bore ... dog bore - (2009-04-24)
  [2029] Also for the eyes of the cat - (2009-02-07)
  [771] From cat breeder to Cobol to Perl - (2006-06-21)
  [744] We can offer a room, but we can't operate on a dog - (2006-06-05)
  [547] Taking the dog for a walk - (2005-12-29)
  [96] Variable Scope - (2004-10-22)
  [62] Technical Open House - (2004-09-25)

Z700 - People
  [3512] A colleague and friend who changed my life - (2011-11-07)
  [3466] Passing of Steve Jobs - R.I.P. - (2011-10-06)
  [3355] Family Pictures - (2011-07-12)
  [3298] Quiet Monday in - (2011-05-23)
  [3297] A long day, a long journey, and families and similarities the world over - (2011-05-22)
  [3268] Baby Pictures - (2011-04-27)
  [3184] Visiting relatives - (2011-02-26)
  [3125] The familiy is defunct. Long live the family. - (2011-01-09)
  [3055] Zyliana Kyrei Cox - (2010-11-16)
  [3034] Birth Notice - Aeryn Cassandra Ellis - (2010-11-07)
  [3008] Dulwich College Preparatory, and Sevenoaks, Schools - (2010-10-21)
  [2886] Congratulations, Kimberly - (2010-07-25)
  [2846] Catching up with an old friend - (2010-07-01)
  [2795] Simon says - (2010-06-05)
  [2503] Melksham manslaughter case concludes - sort of - (2009-11-14)
  [2100] Visiting Family - (2009-03-23)
  [2078] A lot has changed - but the memory lingers on - (2009-03-12)
  [1988] Melksham, Wiltshire. Town Crier Competition, 2009 - (2009-01-11)
  [1980] Michelle - (2009-01-06)
  [1916] Why I remember East Grafton - (2008-12-02)
  [1627] Amazing family members - (2008-05-02)
  [1570] London Midland ... Merrymaker ... Percy Danks - (2008-03-10)
  [1522] Paging Martin Noke, who petitions for more trains from Trowbridge to Swindon - (2008-01-28)
  [1385] Delegates of all shapes and sizes - (2007-10-09)
  [1303] Heading Upstate New York - (2007-08-14)
  [1279] The Gdansk fireball - (2007-07-27)
  [1238] The kind spirit of Melksham - (2007-06-21)
  [1197] Back off home with our best wishes - (2007-05-21)
  [1151] Gordon Dodge, R.I.P. - (2007-04-16)
  [1119] The Last Word on the road - (2007-03-26)
  [1107] Weekend Visitors - (2007-03-13)
  [1065] Graham Ellis - an Introduction - (2007-02-05)
  [1064] Light and shadows at Beach - (2007-02-04)
  [820] Robert and William Whitworth - (2006-08-01)
  [794] Perl delegate - much more than just a delegate - (2006-07-06)
  [763] Much more that the world cup - (2006-06-15)
  [704] Erin Brent - rest in peace - (2006-04-29)
  [650] A person of few words - (2006-03-18)
  [611] Look out for the motor cyclist - (2006-02-17)
  [601] A fond memory of Sir Freddie - (2006-02-11)
  [584] Loosing breath with Gerald - (2006-01-31)
  [543] The world didn't stop for Christmas - (2005-12-26)
  [530] Perl course during the week, getting married at the weekend - (2005-12-16)
  [423] A Victorian Lady - (2005-08-23)
  [392] No Smoking - (2005-07-27)
  [388] BBQ Season - (2005-07-24)
  [207] Canteen Dragon - (2005-02-09)

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