Monday 7 October 2024

What a dasching sight! Thousands of sausage dogs take over seaside town for biggest gathering of its type in the world

 More than a thousand dachshunds — and their equally enthusiastic owners — gathered for the world's largest sausage dog event this weekend. 

The annual gathering in the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk featured a mile-long walk from the harbour to Southwold Pier, with some dogs venturing into the sea.

The event, which began seven years ago and organised by 33-year-old Laura Baggott, has become a major date on the dachshund community calendar. 

In 2022 it set a world record with 2,238 dogs attending.

The festivity is partly aimed at raising awareness and funds to combat intervertebral disc disease, which is common in sausage dogs due to their long bodies. 

More than a thousand dachshunds — and their equally enthusiastic owners — gathered for the world's largest sausage dog event this weekend

More than a thousand dachshunds — and their equally enthusiastic owners — gathered for the world's largest sausage dog event this weekend

The annual gathering in the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk featured a mile-long walk from the harbour to Southwold Pier, with some dogs venturing into the sea

The annual gathering in the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk featured a mile-long walk from the harbour to Southwold Pier, with some dogs venturing into the sea

The event, which began seven years ago and was organised by 33-year-old Laura Baggott, has become a major date on the dachshund community calendar. In 2022, it set a world record with 2,238 dogs attending

The event, which began seven years ago and was organised by 33-year-old Laura Baggott, has become a major date on the dachshund community calendar. In 2022, it set a world record with 2,238 dogs attending

The festivity is partly aimed at raising awareness and funds to combat intervertebral disc disease, which is common in sausage dogs due to their long bodies

The festivity is partly aimed at raising awareness and funds to combat intervertebral disc disease, which is common in sausage dogs due to their long bodies

This year's event nearly faced cancellation due to health and safety concerns. But permission was granted by East Suffolk Council just days before to the delight of sausage dog lovers who came from as far away as Florida to enjoy the walk

This year's event nearly faced cancellation due to health and safety concerns. But permission was granted by East Suffolk Council just days before to the delight of sausage dog lovers who came from as far away as Florida to enjoy the walk 

This year's event nearly faced cancellation due to health and safety concerns. 

But permission was granted by East Suffolk Council just days before to the delight of sausage dog lovers who came from as far away as Florida to enjoy the walk.

Baggott said: 'There was a lot of red tape and paperwork to get through, but we managed it, and the council were brilliant.'

Heather Forbes, 52, of Wymondham, Norfolk, who was with her dogs Patsy, Saffy, Bubbles and Dolly, said: 'They are just an absolutely fabulous breed.

'One you have one dachshund you can't stop. They are cuddly, snuggly, playful and loyal, despite being a bit gobby.'

Veterinary assistant Amy Walker, who was with her pets, eight-year-old Lilly and 13-year-old Pickle, added: 'I love their wild personalities.

'We have been coming to the walk for three years. It is a lovely event and we really enjoy it. Everyone is so friendly.

'It's true that they are noisy little dogs, but nobody is bothered about that in Southwold today.'

Sausage Dog walk organiser Laura Abbott at the event. Baggott said: 'There was a lot of red tape and paperwork to get through, but we managed it, and the council were brilliant'

Sausage Dog walk organiser Laura Abbott at the event. Baggott said: 'There was a lot of red tape and paperwork to get through, but we managed it, and the council were brilliant'

The gathering successfully raised thousands of pounds for Dedicated to Dachshunds with IVDD, a charity supporting disabled dachshunds

The gathering successfully raised thousands of pounds for Dedicated to Dachshunds with IVDD, a charity supporting disabled dachshunds

Karen Hodgkins, 61, of Bowers Gifford, Essex, who was in Southwold with husband Brian, 72, and their rescue dachshunds Toby, Minie, Sasha and Harley, said: 'It is so lovely to see all the dogs together. They have got such beautiful characters, and they are so friendly'

Karen Hodgkins, 61, of Bowers Gifford, Essex, who was in Southwold with husband Brian, 72, and their rescue dachshunds Toby, Minie, Sasha and Harley, said: 'It is so lovely to see all the dogs together. They have got such beautiful characters, and they are so friendly'

Sarah Waddoups (pictured) who travelled down from Alfreton, Derbyshire, with her 11-year-old sausage dog Lord William, said: 'This is a great day out. It is fantastic to walk along the beach and meet so many lovely people and their dogs'

Sarah Waddoups (pictured) who travelled down from Alfreton, Derbyshire, with her 11-year-old sausage dog Lord William, said: 'This is a great day out. It is fantastic to walk along the beach and meet so many lovely people and their dogs' 

Some adventurous pups even dashed into the sea, frolicking in the foam whipped up by brisk winds

Some adventurous pups even dashed into the sea, frolicking in the foam whipped up by brisk winds

Krystal Alright of Caister-on-Sea who was with her dogs Shelby, five, and Rollie, three, dressed in Halloween costumes, said: 'Sausage dogs are an acquired taste. I just love their personalities and their stubbornness'

Krystal Alright of Caister-on-Sea who was with her dogs Shelby, five, and Rollie, three, dressed in Halloween costumes, said: 'Sausage dogs are an acquired taste. I just love their personalities and their stubbornness'

The air was filled with excited yapping on Sunday as the charming canines took over the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk

The air was filled with excited yapping on Sunday as the charming canines took over the seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk

Sarah Waddoups who travelled down from Alfreton, Derbyshire, with her 11-year-old sausage dog Lord William, said: 'This is a great day out.

'It is fantastic to walk along the beach and meet so many lovely people and their dogs.'

Karen Hodgkins, 61, of Bowers Gifford, Essex, who was in Southwold with husband Brian, 72, and their rescue dachshunds Toby, Minie, Sasha and Harley, said: 'It is so lovely to see all the dogs together.

'They have got such beautiful characters, and they are so friendly. We adopted a mother and daughter, and then we got a brother and sister.'

Krystal Alright of Caister-on-Sea who was with her dogs Shelby, five, and Rollie, three, dressed in Halloween costumes, said: 'Sausage dogs are an acquired taste. I just love their personalities and their stubbornness.'

The gathering successfully raised thousands of pounds for Dedicated to Dachshunds with IVDD, a charity supporting disabled dachshunds.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13932149/ausage-dogs-seaside-town-biggest-gathering.html




Thursday 3 October 2024

Skype


 

When your parents try Skype for the first time!




Autumn

 



Autumn (Excerpt)
by Thomas Hood
Art by Omar Rayyan
The squirrel gloats on his accomplish'd hoard,
The ants have brimm'd their garners with ripe grain,
And honey bees have stored
The sweets of Summer in their luscious cells;
The swallows all have wing'd across the main;
But here the Autumn melancholy dwells,
And sighs her tearful spells
Amongst the sunless shadows of the plain.
Alone, alone,
Upon a mossy stone,
She sits and reckons up the dead and gone
With the last leaves for a love-rosary,
Whilst all the wither'd world looks drearily,
Like a dim picture of the drownèd past
In the hush'd mind's mysterious far away,
Doubtful what ghostly thing will steal the last
Into that distance, gray upon the gray.



Friday 27 September 2024

Stockton and Darlington Railway

 



Gladstone's Library 

Hawarden
Flinshire
On this day (September 27th) in 1825 the world's first modern railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, opened, with 25 miles of track.
At this time William Ewart Gladstone was just 15 years old. When Gladstone died in 1898 there was more than 20,000 miles of track in the UK. Imagine how different travel would have been at various points in his life!
Did you know we hold a collection of books on the history of technology? Created by Richard L. Hills, it covers a wide range of technology including gas, papermaking, and the railway. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about this collection!
📘: A practical treatise on rail-roads, and interior communication in general - Hil L.3/35