Super Hero Sunday II

Seasons Greetings

KC and I have decided to call a truce so that we could
get together to wish all my readers a
Happy Christmas!
check out our video...

I feel like all my Christmases have come at once, as I have been given this wonderful award by Fabulous Flo Flo is a young Ridgeback from Australia who lives with her Mum & cats. We're all really pleased that one of them, Fergus is continuing to make a good recovery after a nasty accident.

Liebster means “dearest” in German, and the award is intended to help up-and-coming blogs get the attention they deserve. As with any award, there is a bit of ceremony involved. In order to accept the award, we must do the following:

1. Copy and paste the award on our blog.

2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award

3. Pick our five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.

4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs

Its a shame that I am restricted to five nominations becuase I can think of another pawful of blogs that would deserve the award, but here goes: ( I'd better admit to some nepotism before I start!)

Brindlehounds

Nibs & Ambam are two hounds living in England with their two cats, Mummie & Daddie. Go visit; they are a very funny pair! Nibs is my cousin.

Home Is Where the Hounds Are

Three Greyhounds living in Canada. Veil & Maddy are also my distant cousins!

Two Greyhound Town

Joey & Scout are two Hounds in the States. Guess what? Joey is my cousin! Our Mum's are amazed at how like each other we are!

Greyhounds CAN Sit

Beryl the greyhound and her brother Frankie live in New Zealand. They have a great blog & Beryl's Mum takes some terrific pictures! As far as I know, we're not related!

What Remains Now

Chronicles the life and hobbies of Lori, from the U.S., and her three greyhounds. Surprise, surprise, Casper & Nikki are my cousins!

Declan Does Crafting...

For those of you who enjoy crafting, when did you start to make your Christmas cards this year? 

Whilst enjoying the sun in your gardens in August?  A chilly afternoon in October? Yep. That's what I thought. 

Crafting, or specifically card making, is not something that happens a lot in this household. Mum says why spend hours folding bits of card and getting covered in glitter when she can go to Marks & Spencer and get the whole lot in under five minutes. As ever, Mum misses the point... she is, as we know, a bit of a Philistine!

Other Mum, however, has been very keen on card making in her time. I found Mum rummaging in a cupboard the other day amidst coloured paper, rubber stamps, lights, pens, cutters, shiny stickers and pointy sticks muttering "WTF is all this stuff for?!"  As far as anyone can remember the last card making that happened was the year that Mum & Flynn moved here permanently. Other Mum decided to send cards with Uncle Flynn on them to celebrate. I was hoping to find one to show you, but I can't. Anyway, these are the pictures that were used:

So... it's been a while since crafting raised its ugly attractive glittery head in this house. Imagine then Mum's horror surprise when Other Mum announced she would like to make her own cards this year. Now, this was back in October, right? Wrong! This was last weekend. Everyone else has pretty much posted their cards, and she's just thinking about making them! Well, there was nothing else for it, I decided I would have to lend a paw:

You need any of this silver ribbon, Other Mum?

We made a start....

This double sided tape gets everywhere.......

A couple more.....

Other Mum reckons she might have them done by the end of this weekend. Hmmm... since when have we needed only 10 Christmas cards? Mum (rather sensibly in my view) is off to M&S for back-up.

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday 7/12

No one was sure why Declan had disguised himself as a badger......

New Sleeping Arrangements

As some of you will know ( because I go on about it a lot) I have to sleep downstairs at night. Now I think that most reasonable dogs, and humans for that matter, will not be able to believe that I am treated this badly. Most of you are probably about to send an email to Mums saying that people like them shouldn't be allowed to keep pets at all, let alone a delicate little thing like me... It could hardly be worse if they tied me up in the snow and left me outside all night......

Declan, you are in danger of sounding like a right drama-dog and if you are not careful you will loose the sympathy of your public - Mum


Well anyway.... the reason I have to sleep downstairs is because of ba**a*d cat the lovely KC. Our worlds are divided by the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs. It really isn't fair. Flynn got to sleep in Mums bedroom and have cuddles on the bed in the morning. In fact he spent most of the day on the bed when he got older. So why can't I do the same eh? Of course Flynn liked ba**a*d cat KC in a more best mate, less tasty snack kind of a way I suppose.

B*st**d Cat on the bed that should be mine.....

Declan this really isn't rocket science. If we let you come upstairs you have to guarantee not to eat KC, pin her to the wall, make her hang off the ceiling, or try and swallow her in one go before we notice. Can you manage that? No, I thought not. - Mum


Alright already! I am trying. I will sit down when Mum brings her into the sitting room now - as long as I'm distracted with 27 bags of treats. So maybe one day. I wonder how I ever passed my cat test? Drugs I imagine.

So, no chance of a promotion upstairs in the near future. My bed sits at the bottom of the stairs and generally over the summer this was ok.

As you can see, there is a radiator behind me and Mum started to worry, now that winter is here, that I might burn myself when it was on or that my poor little back would be cold when it was off. Anyway, after much thought Other Mum suggested we take a leaf out of Sue & Song's book and get me a nice big basket to put my bed in. (Song is my Aunty, you know!)

Hmmm... this is quite nice, but might I be a bit chilly......?

Better, but I still feel something is missing......

Ahhhh...... zzzzzzzz!

Well I still think Mums are a bit evil, but I suppose sleeping here isn't all that bad......

Super-Hero Sunday!!

Yorkshire....... again!

At the back end of last year, our local newspaper challenged its readers to photograph Yorkshire. The very best of the pictures received would be published in a "coffee table" style book showing pictures of towns, cities, coast, countryside, industry - in fact anything that meant 'Yorkshire' to the people who live here.

At the time, Other Mum had just received a new camera for her birthday, so it seemed like a nice little project to get some practice with - both Mums are a long way from competent photographers! They spent a couple of weekends visiting places they thought might offer some interesting pictures and submitted six photos in total.

Earlier this year a couple of their pictures were published in the newspaper which pleased them no end! The article said over a thousand entries had been received and a panel would decide which pictures would be included in the book. Mums promptly forgot all about it, until a couple of weeks ago when they spotted the book in the local book sellers.

Having a quick look through, they were amazed that three of their photos were included!

The bottom left hand corner is a picture of Kilnsey Trout Farm taken by Other Mum

A steam train on the Keighly & Worth Valley Railway taken by  Mum

Oakworth railway station taken by Mum.

Oakworth station and the surrounding countryside was the location for the 1970 film 'The Railway Children' starring a young Jenny Agutter. Who could ever forget her wildly waving her red bloomers to stop the on-coming train!

This photo made it into the newspaper, but not the book. It shows a wind turbine with the missile warning site at RAF Menwith Hill in the background. Mums are still arguing over who took it!

Mums hope this will inspire a few people out there like them; a long way from being  good photographers, but enjoy it and are now feeling inspired to try and get a little better. Of course Mum sees it as the perfect excuse to get other Mum to buy her a nice little digital SLR..... good luck with that one Mum. Hehe!

A number of items featuring pictures of the 8002 steam train are available at Zazzle

A Visit to Ganny's....

Last weekend both Mums & I went to visit Ganny. (Ganny is Mum's Mum) I love going there as quite naturally Ganny spoils me rotten! We'd only been there a matter of seconds when Ganny said "Declan I have a little present for you.."

I love you Ganny.....

Ganny had got me this lovely furry Panda! I thought hard for a long time, and decided to call him........ Mr Panda!

Later on Mum, Other Mum and Ganny decided they'd like fish & chips for dinner, so Mum volunteered to fetch them. As she was going to walk I wanted to go too, but she said there would be a big queue at the shop and she didn't want to tie me up outside in case someone stole me! Other Mum suggested she put a sign on me saying  "Too old to race and has no gnadgers - no point in stealing him" which I thought was a bit uncalled for, nevertheless I stayed at home. 

On the way to the fish & chip shop Mum spotted a big tree which had been decorated ready for Christmas. Mum is a right miserable old git when it comes to Christmas, but even she had to admit it looked lovely. Fortunately, ever since she got me, she usually has a camera somewhere about her person!

The next morning, in time honoured tradition, I joined Ganny in bed for tea & biscuits. Ganny has something called a "Teasmaid" which  Mum thinks is ridiculous and Ganny swears by. If it means getting biscuits in bed, I'm all for it!

Look into my eyes Ganny... You KNOW you want to give me a Marks & Spencer  Gingernut....

As some of you will know, I am not allowed upstairs at home due to that b*st*^d cat my lovely cat KC having  her penthouse up there, so the availability of so many human beds made me quite giddy.....

........and I decided it was a situation I had to make the most of.....

Later on Mums had to take Ganny to Marks & Spencers as it had been about 48 hours since her last visit and she was getting withdrawal symptoms. I had to wait in the car, but Ganny promised she'd bring me something nice, amidst much tutting from Mum. When they FINALLY came back, Ganny said she had something she thought I'd like for breakfast the next day. I was a bit miffed as I wanted something immediately, but I smiled anyway. I could hear Mum mumbling in the background that it came to something when her own mother bought breakfast based on what she thought the dog would like & hadn't consulted her once.....

We all had bacon sandwiches for breakfast the next day, which were very nice & even Mum stopped being grumpy!

One of the things I love best about going to Ganny's (and there are SO many things...) is her garden. It's pretty long and there are lots of places to explore.

There are lots of squibbles too......

This is the entrance to the air-raid shelter which was built for  people to  take cover  when the bombs dropped in WWII. The local cats can use it to take cover from me now. Hehe!

Best of all, there's room for me to run really fast!

I had the best time at Ganny's. Mum says we'll be going to spend a few days with her at Christmas, and frankly I can't wait!

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday (30/11)

Being a bloke, Declan could barely contain his excitement over his new collar.........

Declan's  Celtic Knots collar is available from The House of Zed

A Very Happy Thanksgiving.....

...to all my friends from across the Pond!

Declan was in a 'fowl' mood when he realised there would be no Thanksgiving dinner....hehe!

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday (23/11)

QUICK MARCH!

'Hup 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I'm a greyhound, I am greyt!
'Hup 2 3 4.............

Declan knew his training needed working on, but he thought Boot Camp was taking things a bit far.....

A Review of Symply Dry Dog Food from Pets Corner

I was having a snooze last week and dreaming about the things I like to eat.

I was awakened by a loud knock at the door, and there was the postman, with a big box addressed to me!

I couldn't believe that he'd found me when it was just addressed to Declan The Greyhound, Yorkshire! I wonder if I'm a bit like Father Christmas?

Declan, stop right there! Only last week we had to have a little chat about your delusions of grandeur didn't we? - Mum

Yeah well... Anyway, when I got my parcel opened, this is what I found inside:

It was a bag of Salmon & Potato Symply dry dog food from Pets Corner.

I was amazed, Salmon is one of my favouritist things!  Mum said she knew the food was coming because I'd had an email from a lady at Pets Corner asking if I'd test the food for them, but she didn't tell me as she thought it would be a nice surprise. But wait! That must mean Mum has been reading my emails. How rude! Still, it was very exciting to get a parcel of my own.

Mum said she thought it would be good for me to test the salmon & potato variety as it is wheat gluten free, hypoallergenic and good for dogs with grain intolerances which are sometimes indicated by the famous "bum problems". As some of you will know I have just cost Mums a small fortune at the v-e-t  in relation to my bottom issues. We don't think I have a wheat intolerance but Mum is on a "better safe than sorry" kick at the moment! If you prefer you can also have  Lamb & Rice or Turkey & Rice flavours.  Mum says a 6kg bag will feed me for just over 2 weeks.

Pets corner say that if you don't see an improvement in your dog's breath, wind or diet related scratching after a month of feeding Symply, you can have your money back. Well fair enough!

As well as this variety, Symply comes in Adult, Senior, Puppy, Small and Large breed. I could have Large breed variety but I prefer smaller kibble, as I'm a little bit on the greedy side and big pieces make me choke sometimes.

Here are some facts about the Symply range of dog food:

• Symply dog foods are made in the UK
• All Symply dog foods are free from artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives
• They use the highest quality ingredients which are gentler on the stomach and more easily digested
• Higher levels of Omega-6. Linoleic acid is an ‘Essential Fatty Acid’ that has many important roles in the body including the maintenance of healthy skin and coat, ensuring normal growth in kittens and puppies. Omega-6 helps maintain a healthy skin and a shiny coat
• High meat content provides all the protein for healthy and strong muscles. Their dog foods are free of ‘wheat gluten’, a well known cause of allergies in dogs.
• The Salmon is sourced from the Highlands of Scotland and Symply’s lambs are meadow raised in the UK. 
• None of the turkeys in the foods are caged or battery farmed 
• Quality ingredients mean more goodness per crunch – feed less and save money Symply do not participate in any animal testing and do not use any artificial colours, flavours or growth hormones.
• Mum mixed the Symply with my regular food for a few days before giving it to me on its own. 

I really liked this dog food. It has a good smell and is nicely crunchy! Mum said if she sniffed it she could smell the salmon too. I did offer her some to try, but she refused. Sometimes Mum is a bit silly!

Symply is available at Pets Corner shops or via mail order.

Declan was not financially compensated for this review

Finally.. Mum gets her finger out!

Now don't get me wrong. I love my Mums. But Mum (rather than Other Mum) is ever so slightly prone to procrastination. The list of things that she "really must get around to doing" is ridiculous! Hell will freeze over before she ever gets to half of it I'm sure. It's not like there's anything deadly serious on it. I've never heard her say "I really must get around to popping into the hospital for that open heart surgery I need", for example. But she has been "meaning to" make an appointment for her 6 monthly health check for about the last 6 months and she's also taken to hiding behind the magazines when she sees the Practice Nurse in the local shop.

 So... we have established that when it comes to doing stuff for herself, Mum is a bit rubbish. On the other hand she tends to be pretty good when it comes to to KC and me, and really we want for nothing.

"Quite so Declan. We are still smarting from the £230 v-e-t bill in connection with your recent bottom issues" - Mum. 

Anyway...... moving swiftly on..... As I said Mum is pretty good with us kids, but nevertheless, ever since she got me in July, she has been "meaning to" get into a regular teeth brushing regime with me. We got the brush, we got the paste.... but we didn't really get much further. Until last week that is, when Mum read the post entitled "Pearly Whites" by NEVER SAY NEVER GREYHOUNDS

Many of you will know this blog, but if you don't then take a look as it contains excellent advice on all aspects of greyhound care and training. In a nutshell the post was saying its a great idea to clean your dog's teeth everyday & once you're into a routine it's no hassle at all. Well, Mum was inspired!

She was all prepared to follow the very good advice about taking it slowly, just starting with a couple of teeth (and not holding me in a vice-like grip) but I really quite liked it.

Honestly, I'm standing there quite happily and that is not a strangle hold at all! In fact I was so laid back about it, Mum brushed all my teeth on the first go!

Hmmm... Pity we didn't have this picture for Halloween!

I've had my teeth brushed everyday for a week now, and it really isn't any bother. Mum says she thinks my teeth look better already and my breath is quite sweet. Not that it was ever super-stinky, you understand!

So what do you think?!!

So Mum, the moral of this post is, stop putting things off that would take much less time to do than you spend thinking about them. GET YOUR FINGER OUT! Hehe!    Deccy xx

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday (16/11)

Well what else can I do? I don't have a pocket to keep a handkerchief in...

Declan was deluding himself again.......

"This is my intellectual look. Bet I get all the girls now....."

For all the girls I've loved before!

God's Own Country........

....... or Yorkshire as some of us call it.....

Hello Everyone. It's Deccy's Mum here. I thought I'd take my chances whilst the man of the house has a snooze on his sofa!

I've been taking a look at some of the comments Deccy has received on his posts, and one in particular made me stop and think. Jasmine at The Wild Life said something like Deccy's walk in Yorkshire looked much more interesting than where she is in Texas. My immediate thought was that I'd much rather be in Texas than here, but I guess that's human nature; most places are more interesting than home. When it comes down to it, everywhere is different but maybe we should appreciate what we have a little more. That's why I thought I'd tell you a little bit about our home.....

Before I say anything else, I'd like to make something very clear (and I don't want to be sued for libel either...) I like Yorkshire, I like the people, I live here. My partner is Yorkshire born and bred; clearly I'm a fan!

Although I've visited this fair county on and off for many years, I've lived here permanently for just over four years. I can now get away with walking down the street without people pointing (that was probably because I wasn't wearing clogs and a flat cap) but I'm still an outsider. I imagine in 20 years time there will still be an old chap who says "you know t'lass that lives up t'road; hasn't been here long....." I don't suppose I'll ever be in a position where I don't have to show my passport when I cross into Yorkshire from one of the surrounding counties. If you try and cross from Lancashire, armed guards will shoot you. You think I'm joking don't you?

Yorkshire folk are fiercely proud of their county and its heritage. Take cricket for example. Cricket is a religion in Yorkshire, but much more important. Up until as late as 1992 you had to be born within the boundaries of the county in order to play for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. This led to some quite ridiculous scenarios involving men dragging their heavily pregnant wives half way around the world in order to ensure that, should she have a boy, he could play cricket for Yorkshire. For our American friends, you must understand that this is MUCH more important than getting into an Ivy League college or becoming a Rhodes Scholar, or President of the U.S.A!

All you need to know about the U.K.

There are advantages to living here. I can now say with a degree of honesty that I  have a second language. When someone tells me to "put wood in t'ole" I now know they want me to shut the door. I have learnt not to look confused when asked if I want "scraps" on my fish & chips. ( Weeks old bits of burnt batter that are fished out of the fryer.. why would you?!) I now know that a "teacake" is not a toasted current bun, as served in Ye Olde Tea Shoppe, but a large white bread roll the size of a dinner plate, sold in fish & chip shops and used to make Chip Butties. When I go to a sandwich shop, I no longer ask for wholemeal, granary, bloomer or baguette. What I order will come in teacake or a flatcake (even bigger!) and will require two grown men to lift it.

When talking about food, it wouldn't be right not to mention the famous Yorkshire Pudding.
In the rest of the U.K. Yorkshire Pudding is traditionally eaten with roast beef. Not in Yorkshire. It's eaten with EVERYTHING! I'm convinced that one day I will see someone dipping a pudding into a boiled egg for breakfast. For example, Christmas Lunch is as follows:

• Starter: Soup ("We don't like owt fancy") 
• Pudding Course: A dish of Yorkshire Pudding with gravy. 
• Main Course: Roast Turkey, Potatoes, 27 different root vegetables and Yorkshire Pudding. 
• Sweet: Yorkshire Pudding served with sugar and jam.

Yorkshire people are economical. Not "short arms un deep pockets" (mean / tight) just economical in all that they do. To a large extent they have had to be. It's traditionally a land of Haves and Have Nots going back to the Industrial Revolution when the great wool merchants lived in their mansions and everyone else lived in a "back to back" sharing an outside privvy (toilet) with 6 other families and working a 16 hour day in the mill. It probably accounts for the economy with words too; not much point in speaking when no one could hear you over the din of the weaving machines. It still holds true today though. Telephone any company in the world and you will find yourself slightly irritated by the sing-song voice of a receptionist saying " Good morning, Smedley & Smedley Ltd. My name is Janice, how can I help you today?" Ring a company in Yorkshire and, assuming anyone can be bothered to answer that damn new-fangled contraption called a telephone, they will say "Nah then?" Essentially, this means exactly the same as what Janice said, just in a more succinct way!

So.. should you ever find yourself walking down a Yorkshire street, remember the following. If you meet someone there is no need to smile or make eye contact. Simply mumble "Nah then" and expect a reply of "'appen" (meaning maybe I am / maybe I'm not) There is no need for any further discourse. Simply touch the brim of your flat tweed cap and with the barest nod of the head be on your way, whippet at your heels and quite possibly a ferret down your trousers...... but maybe that's a story for another day!

Below is a fabulous video by the comic duo Hale & Pace entitled Yorkshire Airlines. It sums it all up brilliantly. Look out for the whippet and ferret!!

By the way, thank you all for voting in Deccy's present poll. Baseball cap and Pigs Ears were joint first and so with the casting vote I'm awarding him Pig's Ears. No son of mine is walking around looking like a right numpty in a baseball cap, I don't care what his Other Mum says!!

Still Guilt Trippin' !!

Mum took me on a lovely walk yesterday. I don't want to appear cynical beyond my years, but I think it may have been part of her "For God's sake Declan, in how many more ways do you want me to apologise for leaving you for a mere 5 days?" campaign. The list is endless Mum. Really.

Anyway she took me along a section of the Leeds & Liverpool canal that runs through Hirst Woods in Saltaire, West Yorkshire

Mum says the woods are really popular with dog walkers and at Christmas time they hang cards for each other on a holly bush. 

Oooh hang on I think I can see a squibble...!

We walked through the woods and over the old bridge before heading back along the canal.

I can see that pesky squibble again...!

Well she may owe me, but I don't want to walk THAT far.....

Hirst Lock as it is today......

..... and a picture of the lock painted in the 19th century.
Bradford Museums & Art Galleries

If you look very carefully, I'm sure you can see a handsome greyhound sitting at the top of the lock...... ;-)