Thursday 17 October 2024

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat......." Artist Gail Stirling Robertson

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat

I
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
   In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
   Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
   And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
    What a beautiful Pussy you are,
         You are,
         You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

II
Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!
   How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
   But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
   To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
   With a ring at the end of his nose,
             His nose,
             His nose,
   With a ring at the end of his nose.

III
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
   Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
   By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
   Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
   They danced by the light of the moon,
             The moon,
             The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

Source: The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (1983) 




Cecil Aldin

 


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