Author: Sue

Sorry to be rather late in wishing you all the very best of everything for the New Year !  This is because I only got back from England late on the 4th and have been dashing around catching up on what has been happening ever since.

The first thing I have to tell you is that in 2015, Danielle of La Mere aux Betes whom I work very closely with, rehomed over 150 dogs !!!!  This is nothing short of amazing for one person with a little help from Poorpaws.  We couldn’t believe it when we counted up.  Danielle and I are both one man bands, no committees, no band of helpers (though we do receive kind offers), it is just little us to do everything from poo cleaning up to paperwork.  As you know Poorpaws now concentrates on older dogs who are in need – we will be welcoming Motus and Junior into the fold at the end of the month since there has been no luck in finding them a home – whilst Danielle takes in the ‘adoptables’ which we home together from our websites.  We were hoping that 2016 would see a reduction in dog abandons but already Danielle has taken in about 15 new dogs and with Motus and Junior coming to Poorpaws I have to say enough is enough.  We now have 20 dogs here and are really bursting at the seams.  I’m still not certain that when we take the next two four-leggeds, one two legged won’t leave !!!    

My trip to England for Christmas and New Year  was great fun though I have not been away for two weeks for since I can’t remember when and by the time ten days had gone by I was ready to come home.  I missed the dogs so much and vowed never to shout at them again –  huh, that last one evening !!  I spent Christmas with my pal Sue in Bromley, then Ernst joined us and we went to Pangbourne for New Year and after that we went to Fleet to spend a couple of days with friend Geraldine.  Geraldine and I have been friends for 66 years, our mothers having been great mates !  The weather was not brilliant but at least some kind friend sent me photos of apéros being taken outside in the sunshine here.  Grrrr ! 

However, it was lovely to have the time to shop, lunch and have a lazy time eating chocolate in front of the television.  Not having a television here I thought I would be in for a tvfest but I was disappointed in what was on.  Of course I watched Strictly, slept through Downtown, never having seen it before, but did enjoy An Inspector Calls and the three part Agatha Christie.  In Fleet it was lovely to see Geraldine’s grandchildren and play some silly games.  From now on, anyone coming to our place for an evening will be expected to get an After Eight from their forehead into their mouth without using hands !!

Now it’s back to work but before I finish I must mention Molly.  Molly was adopted in 2015 from Poorpaws, a delightful young lady who went through many health issues including being bitten by a snake.  She has come through brilliantly and I am delighted to tell you, won a Good Citizen award at her training class.  Well done Molly !  I’ll try to get a photo on to the website. 

It just remains for me to thank all the lovely people who sent donations and gifts for the dogs.  I’m trying to keep up with the thank you letters so please don’t think I am ungrateful, far from it.  Thank you soooo much ! 

Oh one final thing, if there appeared to be a shortage of Krispy Creme doughnuts in Bromley over Christmas, I apologise, totally my fault, I just love them !! 

Sue xx

 

 

 

 

 

Thought you might like this and I’ll probably forget it next month.  I left the house the other day saying to Ernst that I had an appointment at 4 o’clock in Montcuq for a facial.  “Good luck” was his reply !  He’s expected out of hospital before Christmas.

Well hallo there, let me introduce myself, I am Balto and I think  you will all know a bit about me as I have appeared in the monthly News page before, be it because I run off on walks or perhaps because I scaled a two metre fence to get to the female I love.  Sadly she is in love with a little old mongrol who has been at Poorpaws almost since the day it began.  So, in order to help me get over my chagrin Sue has agreed that I can kick off the newsletter this month with a great photo of moiself showing off a fabulous new kennel that has been donated by Mr. and Mrs. Eyers.  It is huge, provides plenty of space for two large dogs to sleep in and Mr. and Mrs. Eyers drove it a long way down here, such generosity !  In case you were wondering, there is a roof but it is detachable to make cleaning easier – the very latest in kennel class.  So, I am quite liking ……………….

Ok Balto  that’s enough, you’ve had your fifteen minutes now back down !!

So, as I said last month, now  I am slightly older now and although I had not intended to celebrate my 66th, events were rather taken out of my hand.  A group of us have a Strictly Sweepstake and every couple of weeks or so we all get together to watch the programme and have supper together.  Ernst said it would be a good idea for us to host on my birthday.  Hmm, the fact that we only have a kitchen diner, not really large enough to feed 28 people didn’t put him off, nor, suprisingly, did the fact that we don’t have a television !  (Well we do but it is fixed on to the wall in a bedroom and used only to watch dvd’s and Wimbledon.)  No problemo, Gaynor and Phil brought their TV round, luckily only 15 of the group could make it so we all sat round the kitchen table munching, drinking, cheering and booing together.  Those of you who know me know very well that domestic goddess I am so not, so the great thing about these evenings is that everyone brings either a savoury or sweet dish so that not everything falls to the host to prepare.

So, a very enjoyable birthday after all and now Christmas is on its’ way with ever increasing speed !  I’m off to England on the 22nd to spend Christmas with friends Sue and Shelagh, leaving Ernst to cope with the dogs and cats.  He cannot be doing with Christmas but I have to say I do like it and haven’t had an English one for about 20 years now.  So it will be a strictly girlie affair, lunching, shopping and watching smaltzy Christmas films.  Ernst will join us on the 29th when we move on to friends in Pangbourne for New Year, then to others in Fleet, coming home on the 4th.  I haven’t been away for so long for years now !  I’m hoping Ernst does make it over as his flight has been moved from 11.30 am to 7.30 !!!  He is not good at getting up early but very good at staying up late, so I have suggested he just doesn’t go to bed the night before.  We have also had to ask a friend to print Ernst boarding card as he has no idea how to even switch on the computer let alone work it and BA only let you print off 24 hours before.  A lovely friend is moving in whilst we are away and another friend is on standby as back up, so all in all it should go well.

As for adoptions this month, well it has been very successful time !  Lots of pups have been homed, Jack the white Jack Russel is in a great place, Nouky too.  The best news for me however is that Berger looks like he is on his way to happiness !  Now if the lovely Junot could find a home, that would really make my Christmas.

You all have a good one and I’ll be back next year !!

Love,

Sue x

October has been a Very Busy Month !!!  We started off with our usual week on Il de Ré where we had the bestest of best times cycling (the island doesn’t have a hill on it which is why I cycle so happily there !), reading, cinema and just sitting at the deserted beach gazing into the far sea.  Paradise !  We came down to earth with a bump on returning home to find that one of the dogs had found out how to open our back gate so poor Louise who was sort of dog sitting for me, had had a right game.  All were present and correct when we arrived apart from Balto the gorgeous old  English Setter who has been with us since he was found in a garage after his owners moved house.  I was frantic when he didn’t come home the second night and by the third was hysterical.  I rang our mayor to report Balto missing and was told that the ex mayor had found a dog on Saturday.  I didn’t think it could be Balto as said ex mayor is our neighbour, albeit 500 metres down the road, and we would be the first people he would come to if he found a dog.  However I beetled down there …………. and there was Balto playing happily in Gerard’s garden where he had apparently been for three days.  Gerard had indeed been up to us but of course we were driving home so not there.  Now I am always banging on about how important it is to have your dog’s telephone number on the collar……. well, mea culpa, the number had ineed been on Balto’s collar but had faded to illegibility.  Anyway, a huge PHEW !  Gate is mended and collar number renewed ! 

Then my ‘old’ friend Phena came over for a few days.  We hit the ground running and didn’t stop.  Apéros, searching through junk shops, lovely lunches, coffee at the Sunday market and, on the Monday, a long drive round collecting books for the forthcoming (then) book sale.  We found ourselves very near to Cordes and since neither of us had ever been there, took the time to wander up to the top.  Loved it, especially because it wasn’t too chocolate boxy.

Thereafter it was all hands on deck to prepare for the Poorpaws/Cancer Research Book Sale !  The team was rather apprehensive as we had changed the venue, we clashed with the Phoenix Great Book Sale and our own personal Quercy Cake Goddess  Amanda, is having a right royal battle with T cell lymphona.  So the cry went out to our baking friends and they did us proud with offers of cakes, scones and quiches coming from all directions.  I feel I must give a special mention to Liz who came up with a carrot cake to beat all carrot cakes (don’t read this Amanda !!).  It just melted in your mouth.  The sale opened and we immediately realised we had lost three of our usual big spenders, one sadly has died , another has closed her shop and the third we expect was beetling up to Phoenix (no hard feelings any money raised for dog rescue is fine by us).  HOWEVER, we were very quickly very, very busy with people filling up boxes, bags and tummies.  Our new snack lunches of quiche and/or soup were a success as was the accordionist musician who generously played for free giving the whole event a lovely atmosphere. My fears were unfounded, we had the best sale ever raising 2,000 euros!!  So, from 48 hours previously when I was wailing that this would be the last sale, not doing all this again, never filling my bedroom – and half my bed ! – with boxes and boxes of books……………… we have already reserved the hall for Easter Saturday next year.  26th March, get it in your diaries.

Life is a little more peaceful now so I can get on with the many jobs that have been waiting too long.

As for dogs, well, Jack the little white Jack Russell has a great permanent home, Liberty has gone as have several pups.  Another dog who never appeared on the website for security reasons has now found a happy home well away from here and will enjoy a proper life instead of a small balcony 24/7.  Another great story is that Fleur the gorgeous Labrador will be going to a new home on Friday.  She’ll have a new ‘brother’ and we are all hoping that they will get on better than their first meeting when Max leapt out of the car and went for poor Fleur.  Max has a sad history and although he is now in a great home he tends to think that attack is the best form of defence.  After the initial shock he and Fleur walked happily together, though Fleur was, understandably cautious.  Fingers crossed for them.

I think that’s all for now, see you at the end of November – by which time I will be older !!!

Love,

Sue x

 

 

 

First of all I have to say Happy Birthday today to one of my big brothers !!!  Phil is two years older than me and would love to come to live in France but cannot tear himself away from his grandchildren.  Or perhaps it is my lovely sister-in-law Carol who cannot  leave the grandchildren !!  Still, they live in a most beautiful part of Yorkshire so they are not too badly situated !  Hope you have had a great day Phil.

As for Ernst and me, well we are getting ready for our annual much awaited and loved week on the Il de Ré.  But, if anyone else says to me “you’re always on holiday” I will have to get really ugly and deck’ em.    Yes, we had our usual week at Cap d’Ail in September but we have just two one week holidays a year, usually one in May and one in September but because of my nephew’s wedding in May, the week on Ré had to be postponed.  Glad really because now we have it to look forward to !  Next year we are hoping to add a week in Cornwall to our calendar.

I am starting to believe that we should make the most of every single day – Carpe Diem and all that.  Don’t put things off do them now.  We have a lot of friends at the moment who are having a really shite time healthwise which makes you realise that we are not immortal.

Enough with the doom and gloom, look at all the puppies on the adoptions page, 24 of the little beggars all desperately hoping for a lovely caring home.  Believe me these are cuties of the serious degree and if someone doesn’t hurry and adopt the Brittanys I could well find myself adding them to our pack and Ernst would surely move out !  On the adoption front Ivan the lovely white Jack Russel has gone to a great home as have Jake and Louis – who turned out to be Louise !!  Please, please, please, can someone adopt Junot a most wonderful chap and Fleur who has come soooooo close  twice this week but has been passed over at the last minute.  Hey, they would make a great pair for someone looking for two dogs !

The most important news of the month is to tell you of our Autumn Book Sale !  To be held on the Saturday 24th October at the NEW  VENUE of the St. Pantaleon Salle de Fetes.  St. P is a tiny village (where I live actually) five minutes from Montcuq in the Lot.  10am start with the usual great selection of books and dvd’s at 1 euro, plus our famous yummy home made cakes which you can enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.  Extra this time will be soup and rolls and quiche and salad for a snack lunch.  The new venue means that all the goodies can be enjoyed whatever the weather, outside if warm and inside if cold/wet.  Ample parking in front or in the village car park down the road.  We want this to be our biggest and best sale, all proceeds going to dog rescue and cancer research.  Our own  Quercy Cake Goddess whose cakes, scones and hot cross buns you have enjoyed over the last few years is very seriously ill so this sale is very important to us for her sake and for ‘Tricia and Tony who are both fighting their own battles.  If you need any additional info please email me – susan.glibbery@orange.fr – bearing in mind I’ll be away from 3rd to 10th October.

A little funny for you.  Overheard at a business lunch, a lady who had two supergolfbores either side of her was patronisingly asked if she played golf. “Oh no” she said “I have an active sex life” !!!  Silence was the reply !!

Have a good month, can’t believe it is STILL sunny !

Sue x

 

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This is a photo of the lovely Mikaela with Honey, a Very Lucky Dog !  Mikaela and her husband adopted Honey a few years ago and provided her with a great home.  Very sadly Mikaela lost her battle with cancer on the 1st August and I am sure that Honey misses her dreadfully.  Mikaela was always very kind to me and often sent me cheery encouraging emails after reading the Poorpaws News at a time when I was having a tough time at work.  It didn’t stop there, after Mikaela had died  Graham suggested charities to donate to in her memory and Poorpaws is lucky to be one of those charities. I would like to thank both Mikalea and John for their kindness in thinking of others at such a difficult time.

From a great act of kindness we go to the other end of the scale and I would just like to thank the miserable thieving bastard who stole our large dog transport cage from in front of our gates.  I had used the cage to collect a dog, then needed space in the car for something else so took the cage out and put it in front of the gate to take up to the house later.  It’s not even as if our gate is on the road, you have to drive in to the parking area.  A couple of days later we found an injured deer in the field opposite and needed the cage to transport the poor animal to the vet for a pet CT (more about that later), when we suddenly realised that the cage wasn’t there.  So, you despicable little piece of shite, beware, my telephone number is on the cage so don’t even try to sell it on EBay or at a Vide, my spies are out.

I’m thinking of having a ‘Good News Competition’ as in our circle of friends there seems to be nothing but bad at the moment.  Death and illness all round.  Our own dear Domestic Godess, queen of cake baking, Amanda, has just been diagnosed with cancer for the second time.  I would say that life is crap sometimes but it is in fact just the opposite, life is wonderful and I for one intend to try to remember that every moment from now on and stop moaning about unimportant things ……….like the theft of a dog cage !

As for our doggies report this month, well that IS good !  Both Brittany Spaniel pups have been homed as have Lucy and Luke (now Baily), we are down to two Labradors and little Lili has a new life.  More pups on the way from a rotten home and this time we may have to kidnap the poor mother to get her sterilised.

Oh yes, the deer.  Well Ernst set off for the vet with the deer in the back and I telephoned ahead to let them know he was on his way.  “Oh” said the receptionist, “he can’t bring it here, we are not allowed to treat wild animals you have to contact the local chasse”.   Whaaaat ?!  No possibility of contacting Ernst to stop him so I expected him to come back  rather disgruntled with the poor deer still in the back.  But no !  Our wonderful vets turned up trumps.  Ernst spoke to one of the ‘back room’ girls who told one of the vets who came out, climbed into the van, gave the deer a shot of antibiotics, checked him over and stapled up the wound.  Ernst then took him way beyond the back of our place and the deer beetled off.  I did tell him to come back in ten days (the deer not Ernst) to have the staples  removed but I don’t think he heard …….!

Vide Grenier day in Montcuq yesterday where we held our usual second hand clothes stall.  I am not kidding you when I say that our first customer was at a quarter past six in the morning !!  We made a very healthy 530 euros so a huge thank you to all who helped and bought.

A ‘save the date’ message, Autumn Book Sale will be on the 24th October at a NEW VENUE.  The Salle de Fetes at St. Pantaleon which is five minutes from Montcuq in the Cahors direction.

I’m away on holiday in September, just for a week – can’t wait !

Love,

Sue

 

 

It has been pointed out to me quite sternly that it is already the 5th August and I have not delighted you all (both !) with the delights of the past month.  Sorry, sorry, sorry but it has been quite busy here , soooooo hot and my computer heats up to such a degree that it is almost too hot to handle, giving out wafts of heat.  Thinking of moving it into the freezer …… if we had one !!

I went into a steep decline after the 12th July, what to do for fifty weeks until Wimbledon comes back ?!  There was a little sweetener when Great Britain beat the French in the Davis cup the following weekend but living here in France one has to be careful about making comments that perhaps the French could use their tennis racquets as spaghetti strainers ……. !  (Kidding, HONESTLY !).  So, the TV has been unplugged again and a good thing too,  the rubbish I watched whilst it was connected.  I mean, how small minded do you have to be to watch a programme showing poor people not being able to pay their debts so, hey, let’s watch them being evicted .  Actually, as small minded as me THAT’S why we don’t have television the rest of the year, I’d be a mushy brained addict instead of just mushy brained !  I did love watching The Dog Whisperer though, that man is a genius, only wish I had the same talent then perhaps my Jip would not have chewed up the watch, glasses and sandals of my sister-in-law !! 

Then we had the mini German invasion (do they ever give up ?! – again, kidding !) to celebrate Ernst’s 70th (a second eek to go with last month’s) birthday.  Two cousins arrived a day early and found the hotel didn’t have a free room so there was much dashing about, a brother and nephew arrived in camping cars much to the delight of the dogs and cats – so many wheels to pee against and unprotected food to steal – another nephew arrived, Ernst’s sister arrived and another cousin.  All this was a surprise for Ernst who’s reaction was …… “oh, hallo” !  Master of the understatement is Ernst !  A great time was had and they loved the fete at Trebaix, it really is the best village fete ever.

As for doggy news, well, all the Shih Tzu’s have been adopted, as has Jimmy (yey !) and the amazing black Basset Hound mix.  Luke went off to a great home and is now Bailey (hmm, something of the same name was responsible for my fuzzy head on Saturday, haven’t drunk it for ages, now I remember why !!).  The little two-coloured Spaniel mix is still on the hoping list and Lucy is so (not) missing her brother !!  There are still a couple of Chocolate Labs waiting and there was an unexpected arrival of pups to a little terrier so they will be on the website soon.

Loving this hot weather, hope it lasts for friends’ arrival at the end of the month and into September for our holiday on the Cote d’Azur.

A couple of dates for your diaries, Luxury Afternoon Tea in aid of Cancer Support France on Thursday 27th August in Montcuq, 12.50 per head, contact me for booking/directions and we will be manning our cheapy cheap clothes stall at the Montcuq Vide Grenier on 30th August.

Have a great August and remember PLEASE don’t drag your dogs around all the festivities, leave them at home in the cool.

Sue x

ps. Ok Colin ?

 

 

 

 

 

So the email read something like this.  “My wife and I are moving away to enjoy our retirement so need to rehome our four year old dog.  Can you take him for us.”  Hmmm.  O.k.  Now, what do you think my reply was ?  (a) “Oh I quite understand that to enjoy your retirement you have to get rid of your dog and how intelligent of you to take a dog just four years before said retirement.  Yes of course we can take him there are only millions of other needy dogs in desperate search of a kind home so it will be no trouble at all to take a dog  who already has a home and put him to the top of the list and please do enjoy your retirement.”  Or, was it  (b) “You heartless expletive deletive etc., etc., etc.”  Answers on a postcard !!!!  I just couldn’t believe it.  How could anyone be so cold and callous ?  I did, after I had sent the insulting email say that for the dog’s sake I would try to help, but strangely I never had a reply.

So that was my rant for the month.  Apart from that the news has been mainly good, lots of adoptions, although strangely the chocolate Labs are not exactly leaping off the page and they are soooo gorgeous !

Here at Poorpaws we have taken in Honey who was on the adoptions page for quite a while.  She came with her friend Patch and what a lovely pair they are too.  They have settled in beautifully and are great characters.  the favourite game is for someone to throw a ball or toy, Honey will go fetch but take the object to Patch to bring back as if to say “I’m tired, you do a bit !”  Patch is a Bearded Collie and arrived looking a bit like a sheep.  Her owner had done a great job of trying to keep him groomed but he was in need of a good haircut.  So, off to Virginie in Prayssac and one and a half hours later I collected what looked like a Meerkat !!!  This is no reflection on Virginie who I recommend to any of you, but Patch’s fur was so matted close to the skin that a complete shave was necessary !!  We now have to be careful he doesn’t get sunburnt !!

We’ll be celebrating Ernst’s 70th (eek) birthday this month and unbeknown to him there is to be a small German invasion of relatives plus friends from England stayig at various venues.  I’m trying desperately to get him to finish the second shower as there will be eight of us, some in camping cars over the weekend.  What will I buy him ?  Well twelve years ago we saw a clock that we liked in the Horlogerie in Montcuq.  We couldn’t afford it and had nowhere to put it, but made monthly payments and finished paying after six months.  Since then the clock has stayed at the shop because the house wasn’t finished.  it still isn’t but I think that now is the time to collect the clock !!

Not much getting done here partly because of the heat and, obviously, because of Wimbledon – enjoy both !

Sue x

 

 

I had intended to start off this month’s update with a mega rant but have decided, in order to stop things getting out of hand, to just get past it, move on and not waste the energy !  Suffice to say that Spider and Molly have a new home and we have kittens who need homes.

Thank you to all who supported the Boncoeur book sale at Beauville last month,  I was selling clothes and was very happy to come away with enough money to pay the dogs’ feed bill this month !  This is just as well as there has been another addition to the Poorpaws oldies’ home, Mr. Beagle !  This little old boy has been kept on a short chain under a sort of shack type kennel with a bowl of green water to drink and food thrown in now and then. Hhe was removed by the cruelty inspection ladies from the SPA at Cahors and an email went round looking for someone to take him.  As a dog who was supposed to be coming to us  now wasn’t, I agreed to have him here.  What a love, just skin and bone when he arrived but now looking very fine.  We have discovered he is stone deaf which makes finding him in the garden at bedtime quite a challenge !

He did however give me a day of grief and insane panic when he got out last week the day before Ernst and I were leaving for England for my godson’s wedding.  I had left home at 8.30 on the Wednesday and didn’t get home until 5.30pm to find the answerphone machine flashing the red light.  It was a message left at 10am that day to say that people down the road had two of our dogs !!!  I had a quick count up and found that FOUR were in fact missing.  Now what is it with men that they cannot pick up the ‘phone when they see there is a message ?!  Of course when I got to the house the dogs were long gone.  I wasn’t too worried about three of them, they have been with us since god was a boy and know their way around, but Mr. Beagle ?  I was frantic.  Two of the dogs turned up during the evening but no sign of the others.  I left messages with friends and neighbours and everyone was looking out for them.  I left the next morning with a very heavy heart and a severe lack of sleep.  However, whilst we were waiting to get on the ‘plane, my friend Louise who was looking after the dogs, rang to say that she had found Mr. Beagle obviously making his way home.  What a relief !!! The other dog also turned up during the day.  How did they get out ?  Well someone had obviously done a three point turn in our driveway (just hope it wasn’t me !) and hit the gate, pulling out the wire netting which the dogs had clearly pulled at to make a hole big enough for the escape !

The wedding was great, held in Peckham and Dulwich, very unconventional, bride and groom walked down the aisle together, a poem was read, my brother made a speech, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison played and the formalities kept to a minimum.  My beautiful new niece-in-law (?) is the youngest of a family of ten, yes TEN children, a real fun family as witnessed by the Irish country dancing in the evening where we all did our best to show off our fancy footwork !

Another very happy event last month was the departure of Cannelle to live in England !  My ‘old’ friend Jackie had seen her on the website and it was love at first sight.  At last this weekend all the necessary paperwork was done and Jackie and son Dominic drove all the way down to collect her.  All went well until they got back to the U.K., when they were told that the rabies page of the passport should have been laminated !!!!  However, they were allowed in and the photos I have received show a very happy Cannelle with her new pal Dudley.  Thanks to Julie for taking care of Cannelle during the weeks before she could leave France.

Apart from Cannelle, Ruby, Inja, Adele and Hugo all went to new homes and the lady who found Dream dog has decided to keep him.  There are just a couple of labradors left, these really are handsome pure Lab boys.

We still have lots of dogs to home  including  Brittany Spaniel pups and a gorgeous Standard poodle.

Tennis time again, oh happy, happy day !!

Sue xx