The Guisachan Gathering July/August 2006


It was a most memorable few days when we attended the Guisachan Gathering with our two  young girls - Shiana and Clementina.
It gave us great pleasure to be a part of the 200th celebrations of the birth of the first litter of Goldens which took place over the last weekend in July 2006 at Guisachan, Tomich, Inverness-shire. The weather was perfect for the Gathering and 184 goldens were photographed together in front of Guisachan House. We owe a great deal of thanks and appreciation to the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland of which we are members.
All manner of activities were organised including a ceilagh in a huge marquee next to the
Tomich Hotel with Golden Retriever owners attending from many different countries.
As a very fitting closing day to the celebrations, a Dog Show was organised with Mervyn Philpott as Judge.










Our Trip to Australia Dec 2006 - Jan 2007

During our visit to Australia we had the pleasure of calling on Carol Stafford, Secretary of the Golden Retriever Club of Victoria. Carol attended the Guisachan Gathering in Scotland as we had the previous July.
We spent a few hours with Carol and David and their lovely goldens, but tragically since then Carol has had to say goodbye to four of them. Our hearts go out to them in their losses.

Whilst we were in Aussie, Carol invited us to the Scottish Breeds Show at Flemington, Melbourne and during that lovely sunny day we met several of the exhibitors. As well as keeping in touch with Carol, we have also kept in touch with Denise of Emperosgold Retrievers and followed their successes and litters. 
            


We were delighted to welcome Carol and David to our home in July 2008  whilst visiting Europe. They had been to the World Dog Show In Stockholm and came to visit us during the time they were staying with David's sister. We all had tea together and caught up on all the "doggie" news on both sides of the Equator.  


Our visit to the USA - April/May 2008


We had a wonderful vacation in North America spending time with friends.
 Our first  visit was to an old riding friend who lives with her dogs and cats near Rochester in New York State. We stayed with Philippa for 3 days and visited Niagara and met up with her son who has a Golden Retriever - of course !
From New York State we motored west to the State of Ohio to stay with Cindy and Tony and to see how Tegan (Gentiana Golden Prince) had developed and to hear their good news on Tegan's performance in the Show Ring in both The States and Canada. What a stunning boy he is and how pleased we were to see him and their other two dogs. The 3 of them have approx. 25 acres if woodland.... and a creek at the bottom.... a paradise for any dog.
Whilst we were there we all went to a Dog Show at Columbus and watched with great interest all the clapping and "barracking" for the favourite dog, something we are not accustomed to in the UK. On this occasion only American Goldens were being exhibited    
                         



  
We left Ohio and motored on through the State of Indiana and into Illinois to visit our other friends Gina, Todd, their daughter Taylor and their house full of "Goldens."
Like us - their goldens remain with them for life and Nortonwood runs through most of their pedigrees.  We had a wonderful few days with them before making our way back East to New York.

   Frank with Icicle and Arctica