A Dog's Life - Henry and M.E

M & C Nurish-UM Paste for Dogs - Review

2012-02-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

Fussy eaters can be difficult to deal with - whether it's children or dogs! Making sure they get all the essential nutrients they need can be a never ending battle.

Our fussy eater is Skipper, a one year old lurcher, (definitely not Henry - we have trouble getting him NOT to eat!). You think you've found him something he likes to eat then he'll suddenly go off of it for a few days. He's a very active dog, he just doesn't stay still for a second, so when he doesn't eat for a day or two he loses a bit of weight. Just when we get him back up to his ideal weight, he stops eating for one reason or another - after he recovered from his neutering operation or when he had a bug for example, or just because he doesn't like his food any more.

During these periods we struggle to get any decent food down him, and we worry that he's not getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs, but now we've found something that could help with this and help him to gain weight. Mark and Chappel Nurish-UM is a high calorie nutritional supplement containing essential vitamins and minerals

Fortified with Vitamins A, D, E and B vitamins

Contains Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Biotin, Taurine and Iron chelates

These nutrients work together as an aid in maintaining your pets overall health. This is especially important if your pet is not eating sufficient amounts of food for nutritional support.

Nurish-UM paste

Nurish UM is a paste which your dog can eat daily, either by licking it off the end of the tube, from a spoon or hidden in food. Being so fussy I was very sceptical about Skipper eating the paste, but he loves it! He licks it straight off the tube and he gets so excited when I get the packet out, so it must be very tasty indeed.

It's helping maintain his weight, and more importantly it is ensuring he is getting all the essential nutrients he needs. It is definitely no hardship for Skipper, he doesn't see it as having 'medicine' all he knows he's getting a really tasty treat.

I'd definitely recommend Nurish-UM. It's ideal for use when your dog is recovering from an illness, surgery or when you're trying to help your pet gain weight. The paste is high in energy to encourage quick recovery and contains only natural flavourings whilst being rich in omega 3, omega 6 and biotin to help the digestive system and metabolism. For more information please visit www.markandchappell.com

And the winner is..........

2012-02-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our Crufts ticket competition. The results are in and the lucky winner is.......

Emma Armitage!

Well done Emma, I will contact you now to arrange delivery.

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T04:49:00.002-08:00

Helping the UK's Labradors

2012-02-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

Carolyne Poulton from Lyth has helped thousands of Labrador Retrievers, now the breed rescue club she works for has been invited to Crufts, to tell people all about its valuable work.

The Labrador Retriever is the UK’s most popular breed of dog, with around 40,000 Labrador puppies registered with the Kennel Club each year. Unfortunately, not every new owner will be able to cope with the commitment needed to own a Labrador Retriever and will seek help to find them a better home - last year Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland saw more than 600 dogs needing its help.

Carolyne has been volunteering with Labrador Breed Rescue clubs for 15 years. For the past seven years she has assisted Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland, and for the eight years previously with Caithness and Sutherland Labrador Retriever Rescue.

Carolyne’s passion for the breed all comes down to a dog called D’arcy. She explains: “I never had dogs growing up and I never really thought about them, but my husband loves Labrador Retrievers and often said, the only thing he wanted was a Labrador Retriever.

“Eventually we ended up getting Labradors, but it was not until D’arcy came along that I truly fell in love with the breed. She had such a wonderful nature she really made me want to give something back to the breed of dog that had given me so much.”

Since she started helping Labradors in need fifteen years ago, Carolyne hasn’t looked back. She helps dogs and owners, and helps people who are finding it difficult to look after their dog but only give them up reluctantly, by keeping in touch with the new owners, making sure her rescue dogs are properly cared for, for the rest of the dog’s life.

Carolyne continued: “The majority of dogs I see coming to me have not been badly treated but their owners have been unable to care for them properly. I do see many Labradors that have come from homes where the new owner underestimated the commitment of getting a dog.

“Often the dogs have not been properly trained or exercised and with the right owner, training and lifestyle they make amazing family pets. Other times I get dogs where the owners are no longer able to look after them - sometimes the owner has passed away or become ill, sometimes circumstances have changed. One man lost his job and was sleeping in a tent with his dog - he reluctantly gave his dog up to be rehomed but to this day he still calls to make sure she is doing ok with her new family.”

Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland will be on the Kennel Club Breed Rescue stand at Crufts this year with some of their rescue dogs. The charity will be meeting visitors to talk about the benefits of finding a pedigree dog from breed rescue and about the invaluable work of the charity.

Crufts takes place from 8th-11th March and different dog breeds will be joining the Kennel Club Breed Rescue stand each day. Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland will be on the stand on Friday March 9th along with the Cocker & English Springer Spaniel Rescue, German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue and Midland Golden Retriever Club Rescue.

For more information or tickets to Crufts visit www.crufts.org.uk.

Peter Andre adopts homeless hound

2012-02-11T06:19:00.000-08:00

Singer and reality TV star Peter Andre has a new love in his life after a visit to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on Saturday.

The media star gave a second chance to a five month old Pug named Charlie after it arrived at the world famous animal charity because its owners were moving abroad.

The prolific Tweeter posted a photo of his new pooch on Twitter on Saturday to over a million and a half followers saying: “Welcome Charlie Pug :))) we love him. He is a dude.”

Animal lover Andre hosted Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s annual Collars & Coats gala ball last year which helps raise vital funds for the charity. During the event he was introduced to some of the 450 dogs that Battersea looks after at any one time.

Claire Horton, Battersea’s Chief Executive says: “Charlie’s really landed on his paws in his new home. Having Peter’s support means so much and we are thrilled he’s able to offer such a fantastic home to a Battersea dog. I know Charlie will have lots of fun with his new family, and we may even see him making an appearance on Peter’s ITV2 show!”

Last year Battersea Dogs & Cats Home cared for over 8,000 lost and unwanted dogs and cats. Battersea rehomes all over the UK. If you can offer a new start to a deserving dog or cat please contact Battersea on 020 7622 3626 or visit www.battersea.org.uk.

Wetnose Christmas Pet Photo Competition Winners 2011

2012-02-11T04:50:00.000-08:00

Recently I posted information about a pet photo competition run by Wetnose Animal Aid, and I thought you might like to see the winning photos.

"Wetnose Animal Aid is pleased and delighted to have chosen our 2 winners from some amazing and funny Christmas Pet Photos from our 2011 Pet Photo Competition. We received hundreds of photo’s of pets over the Christmas period, and there were many ‘awwwhs’ heard from the Wetnose Headquarters. In the end we decided these 2 lovely pictures were our favourites.

We at Wetnose would like to say a BIG thank you and well done to everyone for your entries. Rosettes and hampers are on their way to the 2 lucky winners!"

Emma Armitage – Holly & Bella doing their Nativity play (Winner)

Mary Wilde – Lilly (Angle Picture) Runner up.

Interesting Facts about Crufts!

2012-02-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

It's just 34 days to go to Crufts - I just can't wait! Mum and I will be visiting the show on the Thursday and Friday. Sadly Henry can't go so he will be looked after by his Uncle Alan and Aunty Sarah - but I'm sure we'll end up buying him lots of presents so he won't mind too much!

Interesting facts about Crufts

Crufts began in 1891
1928 saw the award of the first Best in Show Champion to greyhound Primley Sceptre.
Apart from the two world wars Crufts has only ever been cancelled once in 1954 due to an electricians' strike.
The Best in Show has been awarded for the past 79 years. There have been 40 breeds that have been awarded the Best in Show title over the years and the Cocker Spaniel has won the most frequently, with seven wins.
The Welsh Terrier and Irish Terrier have each won four times.
The Greyhound, German Shepherd Dog, Fox Terrier, Labrador Retriever, English Setter and Standard Poodle have each won three times.
Hundreds of Cross breeds also take part in Crufts, through agility and flyball competitions and have their own Kennel Club organised Scruffts competitions throughout the year.
Vulnerable breeds have won Best in Show at Crufts eight times. This is normally followed by a peak in interest in the breeds. For example, the Kennel Club saw enquiries about the Sealyham Terrier increase by 55 percent in the month after the breed won Crufts 2009 and saw eight registrations in the first quarter of 2009, compared to 0 registrations in the same quarter in 2008. The Kerry Blue Terrier also saw the highest number of registrations in the breed for more than ten years, in the year following its 2000 Best in Show success.

Win Tickets to Crufts 2012!

2012-02-03T03:26:00.000-08:00

With nearly 28,000 happy, healthy dogs enjoying the thrills and excitement of Best in Show with their owners, there's no better place than Crufts to experience and learn about the wonderful world of dogs. There is so much to see and do - meet dogs and their owners, watch displays and competitions including agility, fly ball and obedience, and much, much more!

DATES - Crufts 2012 is 8 – 11 March 2012

VENUE - The NEC, Birmingham

TIMES - Show opening times are 8.15 - 19.30 each day.

TICKETS - Crufts 2012 tickets will be on sale from October 2011 from this page http://www.crufts.org.uk/ticket-office

Competition

One lucky follower will win a pair of tickets to Crufts 2012. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is -

Follow this blog using Google Friends Connect
Leave a comment on this post with an answer to the question below and a way to contact you (email or twitter name).
Question - What would you most want to see or do at Crufts?

Terms & Conditions

The competition is open to UK residents only
Only one entry per person. Multiple, bulk or automated entries will be disqualified
The winner will be contacted by email or twitter
The winner will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11.59pm on 15 February 2012
The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
The winner's name will be published on this site

A mixed couple of days for Henry

2012-01-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

Henry has had some ups and downs over the last couple of days. Yesterday he had a small operation to have a tooth extracted. Henry's never reacted well to anaesthetic, so I was very worried about it. Thankfully the operation went well, but he was very drowsy and upset last night. He was wandering about like he was drunk and kept crying and whining. He's a little better today, although he's not quite his normal self and is in some pain. Fingers crossed he'll be alot better tomorrow.

On a happier note, Henry is featured in the current issue of Nibbling News magazine. I must admit, I've never heard of this magazine, but it is a great read and I'd recommend it to animal lovers.

Thelma and Louise’s rocky road leads them home for Christmas

2012-01-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

Mongrel Thelma and Jack Russell Terrier Louise, who are thought to be around six-years-old, were brought into Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in November. A member of the public saw them being thrown from a moving truck onto the side of the road in Oxford and took them to a nearby boarding kennels who then took them to Battersea.

The clinic team at Battersea nursed the two bewildered dogs back to health by removing the hernias and giving them lots of fuss and attention before they were rehomed just before Christmas (19 December). The dogs share such a close bond that Battersea staff were keen for them to find a new home together. The pair, who have been renamed Tilly and Milly, have spent Christmas soaking up all the attention that they deserve with new owners Di and Andy Tamlyn and in their twilight years will be enjoying walks in Pound Wood nature reserve and curling up in front of the fire in their new home.

Di said: “We looked on the Battersea website and thought that Thelma and Louise were adorable. We didn’t plan to get two dogs, but we saw them and knew they were right for us. We’ve both had dogs as children, but for the past 17 years we’ve had two cats, but sadly they had to both be put to sleep recently. We can’t have a home without a little furry heartbeat, so we are really pleased to have found Thelma and Louise.

“Everyone knows Battersea and it seems like the best place to get a new pet. I think there are dogs out there for everyone, and people shouldn’t always just focus on the puppies, as the older dogs have also had tough lives, and need a loving home too.”

Battersea staff were looking for a special home for Thelma and Louise where they would be able to recover from their ordeal. Philip Heron, one of Battersea’s Operations Managers, said: “These two gorgeous dogs have been through so much in the last few weeks but despite this they enjoy the company of people and just want to be showered in affection. We’re so happy that they made a full recovery and that they got to spend Christmas at home with their new family, where they belong."

Happy New Year!

2012-01-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

Henry and I would like to wish all our followers a belated Happy New Year. Personally we've had a bad end to 2011, so we're hoping 2012 will bring better things for everyone.

Our New Years Resolution is to start blogging regularly again, which I haven't been well enough to do since Dad passed away in November. We've got lots coming up including competitions, some great product reviews and lots of rescue news so stay tuned!

Wetnose Animal Aid Christmas Pet Photo Competition - still time to enter

2012-01-06T02:04:00.000-08:00

WetnoseAnimal Aid is currently running a Christmas Pet Photo Competition and you still have time to enter.

Catch your pet dog playing in the snow, swimming; ride in the car, or cat pulling a funny face, climbing over a fence, pony laughing or jumping, parrot pushing a toy trolley.

Whatever trick or funny moment you catch on camera send to Wetnose Animal Aid before the 31.1.2012.

2 lucky winners will receive a luxury pet hampers and toys with first and second rosettes with pictures on our website.

Send your photo to: Wetnose Animal Aid, Newgate Lodge, Newgate, Kirby Cane, Norfolk, NR35 2PP before the 31st January 2012. You can also enter by email. Find more details here.

Good luck!

Get knitting to help rescued cats keep warm this winter

2012-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

Wetnose Animal Aid are asking for help from knitting fans this winter. Please help them if you can. Here is their appeal:

If you have some spare wool and can make some lovely cat blankets please send some blankets to us so we can to send to catteries here in the UK. Many cattery people often help and feed feral cats at night too so they would be very grateful for some snuggly blankets to keep them warm during the cold weather.

Wetnose Animal Aid is aware of how many catteries are now full of unwanted cats, elderly cats or cats that have health problems and are no longer wanted, so let’s help our cats nap in warmth this year.

Send your parcels to Wetnose Animal Aid Ltd, Newgate Lodge, Newgate, Kirby Cane, Norfolk, NR35 2PP and we'll do the rest. We'll update our facebook and website with details and news.

Donations are always very welcome too.

www.wetnoseanimalaid.com

Dad's funeral went well

2011-11-27T12:49:00.001-08:00

It was Dad's funeral on Thursday and everything went well, I think we gave him a good send-off. Henry came to the service and was a great comfort to us all. I managed to do my reading and poem OK, I hope Dad would have been proud.

Love you Dad
x

This month's competition winners

2011-11-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

I've just been sorting out the competitions from the last month, and all the lucky winners have now been contacted. Thanks to everyone who entered

Weight Loss the Esseential Guide - Laura Jones and 'abijo'

JML Mantis Car Cleaning Sets - Sheila Reeves and Angie Hoggett
Sanex Shower Gel - Pippa Ainsworth
Picture Pockets - 'Manfa.Lou'
Vanilla & Poppy Seed Soap - Stacey Guilliatt

Henry and Dad

2011-11-20T05:08:00.000-08:00

Henry and I are missing my Dad so much, we still can't believe we'll never see him again. I'd like to share some photos of Henry with Dad when we went on holiday in October. They loved each other so much, Henry helped Dad through all his ill health and the ammputation of his leg.

Name the Moose to win £500 of Toys R Us vouchers!

2011-11-20T04:47:00.000-08:00

We've always been a fan of Sudocrem products, and were really impressed with the handbag sized Sudocrem Skin Care Cream which we reviewed here. Now through Blog-Match.com I've just heard of a new Sudocrem mystery product in the pipeline which is expected to be launched in 2012. Sudocrem have just launched their Twitter and Facebook pages for this exciting new mystery product, and to celebrate they are running a competition to name the mystery product's mascot, the Sudocrem Moose. The winner will received £500 worth of Toys R Us vouchers and a personalised Santa sack, the winner drawn in time for Christmas!

He's a cute looking chap isn't he? What would you call him? Henry and I have had a go at the competition - we think the moose looks like a 'Marvin'!

Instructions on how to enter:
It’s simple all you have to do is ‘Like’ the new Facebook page and then enter your suggested mascot’s name. One lucky winner will be picked on the 21^st December 2011 and receive their prizes shortly afterwards.
Competition Start Date– 18^th November 2011
Competition Finish Date– 17^th December 2011
Competition winners announced– 20^th December 2011
The Prize: £500 worth of Toys R Us vouchers and a personalised, handmade Santa sack worth £150.
Competition found on; http://www.facebook.com/SudocremMousse

R.I.P Dad - you will be missed

2011-11-15T07:54:00.000-08:00

I'm very sad to say that Dad passed away in Intensive Care at Exeter hospital on Friday 11 November. I still can't really believe he's gone and keep expecting to see him sat in his chair. Henry's all confused and out of sorts too, bless him.

I'll be taking a break from blogging for a week or so, while I help mum sort everything out. I'll sort out outstanding competitions and reviews once everything is settled.

R.I.P Dad, we love you x

The night from hell!

2011-11-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

Dad was rushed into hospital again at 1am this morning. We thought we had lost him, but thankfully the paramedics resusitated him. It was a very close call. He's stable now and is responding to treatment. I've been at the hospital all night and am exhausted so I've come home for a rest. I think Dad's used up another of his nine lives!

‘Piggy in the Middle’ Teatime Gift Set – Christmas Gift Idea

2011-10-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a perfect gift for an animal lover, then I’m sure they will love this pretty ‘Piggy in the Middle’ teatime gift set from The English Table. It contains a fine china mug, coaster and a melamine tray.

Piggy in the Middle Gift Set

I was sent a sample of this gift set to review and I loved it – I definitely would be happy to receive it as a gift this Christmas. The design in so cute. Mummy and daddy collies are looking after their little puppies, and what seems to be a foster piggy! Both dog and pig fans would be delighted to receive this thoughtful gift.

The quality of the items and the printing is top-notch; I honestly couldn’t find a single fault. The mug is a good size and thickness - Dad has severe arthritis and sometimes finds mugs too heavy but this was ideal for him. The small tray holds two mugs – or one mug and a stack of biscuits! It’s ideal for someone living on their own, and would make a great gift for your hard to buy for relative.

The gift set costs just £8 from www.english-table.com

Why not take a look at The English Table website where you will find an array of fantastic tableware for everyday use as well as pretty gift sets like this one. You are sure to find the ideal gift there.

Fabulous Sevi Wooden Toys brought to you by John Crane

2011-10-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

When I was little one of my favourite toys was a wooden dog on wheels which I pulled along on a string. This little dog went everywhere with me – even shopping! He truly was a special toy that made lasting memories. Now you can create special memories for your little ones by treating them to a fabulous wooden toy from Sevi. The Italian toy specialists have been making wooden toys for nearly two centuries, and they will now be brought to the UK by John Crane Ltd.

I have had a browse through the range of Sevi toys, and I really impressed. They look fun, bright and colourful – so much better than a lump of plastic! There is even a range of pull along toys like the dog I can remember, including a funky zebra. Boys would love this fabulous wooden garage which includes vehicles and figures. There is something to suit every child including musical instruments and a brilliant wooden kitchen range.

Sevi also have some brilliant Christmas toys and decorations which would keep any child happy in the run up to the big day. I love the pretty nativity scene, which would make a great decoration even if you haven’t got children.

For more information on the Sevi toys please visit www.john-crane.co.uk, or visit John Crane’s Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

I was introduced to Sevi and John Crane by Blog Match

Happy Halloween from Henry

2011-10-31T04:19:00.000-07:00

Henry would like to wish you all a very Happy Halloween!

Appalling neglect of gentle giant dumped in street

2011-10-31T04:15:00.000-07:00

A stray dog who suffered shocking neglect, which left her nearly bald and covered in sores, has been saved by The Blue Cross in Burford.

Gentle giant Hettie, a four-year-old mastiff crossbreed, had such advanced mange she had lost large patches of fur when she was found wandering in the village of Kingham. She was underweight, her muscles had wasted and she was suffering from benign tumours and a congenital eye disease which had been left untreated.

The dog warden who brought her to the charity's adoption centre on Shilton Road said she had never seen a dog in such a bad state. Yet despite the great pain and neglect Hettie had suffered, staff were touched by her affectionate and gentle nature.

Elly Griffiths, animal welfare assistant at The Burford Blue Cross adoption centre, said: “Hettie was in such a shocking condition when she arrived that it was clear her problems had been allowed to deteriorate for weeks if not months. Her skin was swollen, red raw and covered in sores, and her eyes were red and weeping due to a condition which had clearly never been treated.

"Hettie had clearly given birth to several litters despite being just four years old and it seems she was the victim of an irresponsible breeder who appears to have used her and discarded her to fend for herself.

“We have no idea how long she was wandering as a stray but this is an appalling case of neglect and it is hard to imagine how anyone could have let her suffer so much pain and discomfort.

“It is amazing what a loving and gentle personality she has after what she has been through and we are hoping she will find the new home she deserves.”

Hettie was found by a passer-by on 25 August this year and taken to a vet in Chipping Norton, who contacted the council.

The dog warden brought her into The Blue Cross where staff were shocked by her condition. The vet confirmed that she had suspected mange, which is caused by mites burrowing under the skin, plus a secondary infection of the skin. She had conjunctivitis, and her weepy, red eyes were caused by an inherited condition called entropian where the eyelashes grow inwards.

Caring staff at The Blue Cross have been treating her skin with weekly baths in medicated shampoo and giving her antibiotic eye drops for her conjunctivitis. She has been neutered by vets at the charity but the operation was more complicated than usual due to the awful condition of her skin.

She now faces more surgery to correct her eyelids and to remove some benign tumours.

Elly added: “Hettie has been through a huge ordeal and we are just pleased she was rescued when she was as she would have been in great discomfort. She loves life and is a happy-go-lucky girl who has already learned lots of basic training.

“Hettie may not be the prettiest of pets but we would urge people to see past her looks and recognise what a wonderful dog she is.”

Hettie is looking for a home with a family who can give her lots of love, play and continue her training. She is sociable with both people and other dogs.

The hard work The Blue Cross does with needy animals like Hettie is only possible due to the generous donations of its supporters because it receives no government funding. Her treatment has so far cost more than £500.

To find out more about giving Hettie a home for life, call The Burford Blue Cross adoption centre on 0300 777 1570 or visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

Pink Lady Toffee Apple Tart - Halloween Recipe 7

2011-10-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

Our next recipe would be perfect for a special treat at a Halloween or Bonfire Night get together. Thanks to Pink Lady Apples for sharing this delicious recipe with us. For more great recipes visit www.pinkladyapples.co.uk

Pink Lady® Apple Toffee Tart

Pink Lady ® apples are grown in America, and to pay a tribute this is our apple version of the classic American banoffee pie. Light crisp filo pastry encases sweet crunchy pink lady apple slices and truly scrumptious toffee sauce. The easiest tart you can make.

Serves 8

Preparation time: 10-15 mins

Cooking time: 15-30 mins, plus cooling

You’ll need:

50 g butter, melted

8 x 25 g filo pastry sheets (approx. 24 cm x 25 cm)

1 x 397 g tin dulce du leche

2 Pink Lady® apples, cored and finely sliced

2 tsp caster sugar

15 g flaked almonds

What to do:

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan oven/gas mark 4 and put a baking tray in the oven to preheat. Brush the inside of a loose bottom 20 cm cake tin with a little melted butter.

Put one sheet of filo pastry onto a clean work surface and brush all over with butter. Lay another sheet of filo pastry on top, slightly offsetting the corners. Repeat with butter and remaining filo pastry sheets.

Take the filo pastry stack and use to line the cake tin, allowing the edges of the pastry to hand over the edge. Spread the dulce du leche all over the base of the pastry.

Arrange the apple slices all over the top of the dulce du leche in circles, slightly overlapping the slices. Scrunch the over-hanging pastry over the top of the apples.

Brush all over with a little butter, sprinkle with the sugar and almonds and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and pastry is cooked. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Dorwest help pets relax during Firework season

2011-10-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

There is one thing I have in common with alot of cats and dogs – a fear and hatred of fireworks. If anything is going to set off one of my panic attacks, it will be fireworks. I dread this time of year, when there no longer seems to be just one night for letting off fireworks, but a whole season that seems to last for weeks. The logical part of my brain knows that fireworks and thunderstorms aren’t going to harm me, but as soon as the first bang goes off I turn into a complete wreck!

If fireworks affect me like that, imagine how much worse it can be for sensitive cats and dogs who do not know the cause of these frightening noises, or where they are coming from. Pets can have a range of reactions to fireworks - one of the spaniels we used to have, Pippa, was petrified of them. She used to run and hide under a table, shake and cry – it was upsetting to see her like that. Henry reacts differently, he runs around the house growling and barking at the fireworks (I think that he thinks someone or something is trying to get into the house) working himself up and getting very stressed. Others simply run from the noise. One of the saddest sights I’ve ever seen was on the 6^th of November a few years ago. In the middle of the road there was a black Labrador, who seemed to have bolted from her home straight into the path of deadly traffic.

Dorwest Say Relax

You can help prepare your pets for fireworks (or any other stressful event) by giving them Dorwest VetinaryScullcap & Valerian tablets for cats and dogs. Dorwest Scullcap and Valerian is a licensed herbal medicine for the symptomatic relief of anxiety, nervousness, excitability and travel sickness in cats and dogs. It is the ultimate herbal combination in a sugar-coated tablet, invaluable to calm and relax dogs and cats suffering from excitability, apprehension, phobias or hyperactivity. It is widely used and particularly effective for those suffering from noise phobias as a result of fireworks, thunderstorms or gunfire.

Henry has been taking the tablets for a couple of weeks now, and took them easily (I just wrapped them in a small piece of ham). They had their first test this weekend as the fireworks started early here. Henry was definitely calmer; he barked initially but soon settled down to eat a treat ignoring the fireworks. When there are even more fireworks next weekend, we will be giving all three dogs Dorwest Valerian Compound to help keep them relaxed. This is an organically certified liquid that acts in around 30 minutes when give by mouth. It can be given in addition to Scullcap & Valerian tablets as a top-up for especially scary moments. Valerian Compound is particularly suitable for cats who will take it with food and a few drops can be placed on to the bedding to help calm your cat.

There is lots of helpful information on the Dorwest website where you can download a leaflet which has lots of advice about helping your pet relax through the firework season.

Go to www.dorwest.com for more information or to purchase online.

Don't forget the clocks go back tonight!

2011-10-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Grandfather Clock from Next, £40

Just a quick reminder that British Summer Time comes to an end tonight (did we even have a summer?) so the clocks go back an hour tonight. Which means we all get an extra hour in bed tonight! Yay!

Itsyourstory.co.uk Personalised Photo Books – Review

2011-10-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve heard of personalised books with photos before, but I assumed they were just story books for children – I was wrong! Its Your Story also produces special books for animal lovers featuring photos of their pet – a fantastic idea! You can choose between a Birthday Wishes Pet Book or a Christmas Wishes Pet book which have delightful poems alongside photos of your pet. I was sent a Christmas Wishes book starring Henry, which we all thought was fantastic.

Christmas Wishes Pet Book

The personalised Pet Books are produced in partnership with the Pet Poets Club and have a series of Christmas or Birthday themed poems accompanied by a photo of your pet and appropriate illustrations. Henry’s book has twelve Christmas poems in it, some short, some long but all of them are really well written and are sure to bring a smile to your face. You can use photos of any type of pet for the book, not just cats and dogs. So if your grand daughter loves her hamster, or your aunty loves her parrot the Pet Books would make great gifts for them!

The illustrations in the book are great – Henry appears as Father Christmas, on top of a Christmas tree and even as a fairy! I love the little rhyme that goes with the fairy picture:

“Have you ever seen

A Christmas fairy

Full of love….

Or quite as hairy!”

The quality of the book is fantastic. Both the paper quality and that of the printing is top notch. The books are easy to order on It’s Your Story’s new website. Just choose the book you’d like to order, upload a photo and the details you’d like to include. As a famous meerkat would say – simples!

"Who's that handsome chap?!"

I think these books would make fantastic gifts for pet lovers of all ages. When I showed Henry’s book to my sixty something year old Dad, his face was an absolute picture! He loved the book – the poems made him laugh out loud and put a big smile on his face. This alone is worth the £14.99 price tag, which I think is very reasonable for such a fantastic keepsake.

Another great thing about the Pet Books is that for every book sold £1 is donated to the Dogs Trust, so you are helping homeless dogs in their care.

For more information about the Pet Books, and to browse the many other personalised books available please visit www.itsyourstory.co.uk

Arcobaleno Jewellery Design – Review

2011-10-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

If you’re going to treat yourself to some pretty new jewellery, why not make it a unique, handmade piece from ArcobalenoJewellery Design. Arcobaleno carefully handcraft each piece of jewellery in their studio, putting lots of thoughts and love into each ‘one-off’ piece.

I was sent a bracelet and an anklet to review, which arrived in a lovely silver organza gift bag. The jewellery was wrapped in tissue paper, and as a special finishing touch some sparkly fabric butterflies were also in the bag. I was really impressed with how well presented the jewellery was, it would make a lovely Christmas gift for someone.

I wasn’t sure what the jewellery was going to be like, so when I un-wrapped the tissue paper I was so pleased to find a dainty beaded bracelet with a pretty swallow charm and a multi-coloured anklet with some lovely gold coloured charms. I adore the swallow bracelet; it’s a really pretty piece that anyone would be proud to wear. The anklet is gorgeous too; it has lots of different beads and charms which work well together to make a striking piece.

The designer obviously has a very good eye for design and colours that work well together. Both the bracelet and anklet are well made, with good quality beads and charms. The cord is neatly tied and seems to be very strong and long lasting.

If you pay a visit to www.arcobalenojewellerydesign.co.uk you will be able to browse through lots of different designs. There are a range of different styles available, but if you don’t see exactly what you want you can contact the designer who should be able to make a bespoke piece for you. The prices are really good too, especially considering the amount of work that has gone into each piece. I’d definitely recommend Arcobaleno Jewellery Design for unique jewellery pieces that would make fantastic gifts.

Creamy Pumpkin Curry - Halloween recipe 6

2011-10-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

For our next Halloween recipe we have a delicious curry from Philadelphia. Perfect to warm you up this Halloween! Take a look at the Philadelphia website for lots more wonderful recipes.

Creamy Pumpkin Curry

Serves: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes Total time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

1500 g pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled & de-seeded

2 carrots, peeled

1 pepper, cored & de-seeded

1 courgette

2 small onion, peeled

1 tbsp oil

3 tbsp mild curry paste

50 g Philadelphia Light, softened

150 ml semi-skimmed milk

Method

Cut the pumpkin, carrots, pepper, courgette and one of the onions into large chunks. Roast for 30 - 35 minutes at 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6 or until cooked and starting to brown round the edges.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, gently heat the oil. Finely chop and fry the remaining onion with the curry paste for about 5 minutes. Add the Philly and milk. Continue stirring on a low heat until smooth.

Stir the curry sauce through the roasted vegetables and serve with rice or warm naan bread.

Hyde Bark Treat Co - Review

2011-10-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

We all know that the best treats for our dogs are natural, fresh and additive free, but’s it not always easy to find healthy treats that are still tasty. Homemade treats, with tasty fresh ingredients are the perfect snack for your dog – but how many of us have the time or inclination to bake dog treats ourselves? The Hyde Bark Treat Co have done all the hard work for you, and are the ideal place to buy fresh, homemade dog treats from. Henry, Bandit and Skipper were lucky enough to try a selection of treats from The Hyde Bark Treat Co - let’s see if they liked them.

I was really impressed with how the treats were packed and presented. The dogs received four packs of treats, which were wrapped in paw print tissue paper. The treat packets themselves were tin-tie Kraft bags, which were re-sealable, recyclable and made from renewable resources.

The first treat which the dogs tried were ‘Gnashers Healthy Bites’, which are different shaped crunchy bites coated in sunflower seeds to help with cleaning the ‘gnashers’. These were really popular with all three dogs; they seemed to love their crunchy texture. The ingredients are listed on the pack, and they are all natural ingredients and are similar to what you’d use if you made biscuits for yourself. I’d much rather feed these to my dogs to help keep their teeth clean, that the additive filled alternatives that you find in most supermarkets and pet shops.

‘Gnashers Healthy Bites’ have other health benefits too. The sunflower seeds contain Omega 6 which is known for producing a beautiful skin and coat, as well as a visible sheen. The Bites also contain dill, which can work as an antibacterial and can help inhibit bacterial growth and reproduction in the mouth. It can even help with the early onset if gingivitis. The bites are suitable for freezing. ‘Gnashers Healthy Bites’ cost £3.50 for 150g or £5.75 for 300g.

Next we come to Bandit’s all time favourite treats – Harvey’s Honey Bones and Biscuits (£3.25 for 150g or £5.50 for 300g). I think Bandit must have a sweet tooth because he went absolutely crazy over these! There was a mixture of large and small bones in the bag, which I must say looked pretty tasty – I was tempted to try one myself! The bones are nice and big in size and took a while for the dogs to eat, so they felt like a special treat for them. As well as tasting great honey is really good for dogs too. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals and can help with your dog’s skin, coat and arthritis. Harvey’s Honey Bones are also available with frosting for an extra special treat (they look so pretty!).

Bandit and Skipper trying the honey bones

Hyde Bark Tedster’s Peanut Butter Bears have to be the cutest dog treats I’ve ever seen! With three different sizes in the bag these will suit all dogs and occasions – the little ones for a quick reward, and the larger ones for a special treat. It’s no surprise really that our nuttiest dog, Skipper, liked the nutty Peanut Butter Bears – he really enjoyed these, as did Henry and Bandit. They are made with organic peanut butter with no added sugar which contains vitamins H and E. These vitamins help protect your dog from disease, and improve the quality of coats, skin and nails. I never knew that peanut better was so good for you – and dogs!

The final treat that the dogs enjoyed was Coco’s Cheesy Stars. Regular readers will probably already know that Henry is a big fan of cheese, so I knew before he tried them that these would be a big hit with him – and I was right! They were an ideal size to use as training treats, or as small reward and are really healthy so perfect for slightly podgy dogs like Henry! The stars are made with parmesan fresh carrots so if the old myth is to be believed Henry will be able to see in the dark! The star treats cost £3.75 for 150g or £6.50 for 300g.

Overall I was really impressed with these treats – the dogs gave them a big paws up too! They are just the kind of treats I’d like to be able to make myself, but with all the hard work taken out. There are many other different types of treats for your dog to try and the Hyde Bark Treat Co also makes a selection of special cakes and muffins – perfect for celebrating your dog’s birthday! Visit www.hydebarktreatco.com for more information and to purchase some treats for your dogs – they will love you for it!

Your little ones can look scarily stylish this Halloween

2011-10-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

There are only a few days to go to Halloween so make sure that your little monsters will stand out from the crowd with the fantastic Halloween collection from Next. They have some seriously spooky outfits which will be perfect for trick or treating, or for enjoying a scary Halloween party.

Next Fancy Dress Outfits

These outfits are so cute! The spider tabard (£12) is my favourite, especially when matched with the purple spider felt bag - perfect for collecting all of your sweet treats at Halloween. The bags are also available as a bat and a pumpkin, they are only £3.50 so are an affordable way for your child to join in the fun this Halloween.

For slightly older children take a look at this brilliant glow skeleton costume which is just £14 - just the thing to scare Granny with this Halloween! Super stylish girls will love these bright witch (£15) and bat witch (£14) outfits that manage to look cute and scary at the same time!

Next Candy Store

Next can also help you choose some tasty sweets to keep the ghosts and ghouls happy and to ensure you don't have any tricks played on you! They have a variety of different sweet jars containing old favourites like Wham bars and strawberry bon bons. Not only do they taste great, but they'd look fantantastic lined up on a shelf too!

I hope you all have fun this Halloween!

Please note I received no payment or products for this post

Henry's in another local paper!

2011-10-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

I've just found out that Henry is in another local paper this week - the Sidmouth Herald. At least there aren't any pictures of me this time!

Beer 'life-saving' dog up for award

Puppies thrown away like trash - can you help?

2011-10-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

The RSPCA are looking for the person responsible for dumping two young dogs in a bin bag in Wiltshire. They were alerted after a member of public discovered the two brindle-coloured Staffordshire bull terrier-cross puppies in a black bin bag in an area of woodland in Wiltshire known as Bluebell woods.

The area of woodland where the puppies were dumped is just past fields behind the village hall in Middle Winterslow, near Salisbury, and it is thought somebody in the small village may have witnessed someone acting suspiciously.

The four or five week old puppies, which were found at around 4pm on Sunday, 9 October, were rushed to a local vet by their finder. Sadly, however the darker brindle pup was found to have ulcerated ruptured eyeballs and was put to sleep to prevent further suffering.

The surviving lighter coloured male puppy has been named Piglet, he has an abscess on his back leg, which is currently being treated with medication and daily dressing changes. Piglet also appears to have chewed ear tips, a minor umbilical hernia and some fur loss, possibly as a result of mange.

Piglet is being cared for by Wiltshire dog warden staff at Hillcrest Kennels in Coombe Bissett, near Salisbury, where he has already been offered a home by a member of staff.

The RSPCA are very keen to trace the owner of these puppies and find out how they came to be found inside a bin bag in woodland.

RSPCA Inspector Patrick Bailey, who is investigating, said:

"It was very lucky that even one of the puppies survived, having been dumped so callously.

The suffering of the puppy found with ruptured eyeballs does not even bare thinking about and his littermate was not in a much better state.

I would urge anyone with any information about where these puppies came from or have information about them being abandoned to contact the RSPCA so we can ensure there are no other animals in the home being allowed to suffer."

If you have any information that could help the RSPCA investigation please call their 24-hour cruelty line in confidence on 0300 1234 999.

Thank you.

Penn State Pretzels - Review

2011-10-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

I love nibbling on snacks like crisps and nuts, but until recently I’d never really tried pretzels before. Penn State Pretzels are the ideal snack for any occasion from a snack throughout the day, to pre-dinner nibbles at a sophisticated dinner party. They are oven baked, not fried, so are a healthier alternative to other snacks for all the family. I was recently sent two different flavours of Penn State Pretzels to try, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are really very yummy!

I was sent 175g sharing pack of the new limited edition Gammon & Mustard flavour pretzels to try. Steve Harger, from Intersnack, the company behind the Penn State brand says, “After carrying out extensive research, we discovered that people were looking for an extra kick to their healthy snacks and that’s where the Gammon & Mustard flavour originated from. As with all our products, the new flavour is low in fat.”

I wasn’t sure that I’d like these as I’m not a big fan of mustard, but the level of flavouring was just right for me, with the mustard not being too over-powering. The gammon flavouring comes through nicely too, subtle but really mouth-watering. The only problem I found with these was that they were so moreish and addictive that Sarah and I munched our way through a whole pack one evening! We absolutely loved these, and have since bought another pack for our Saturday evenings in front of the TV.

We were also sent a small pack of the Worcester Sauce flavour pretzels to try. These were just as addictive, really tangy and tasty. The Worcester Sauce flavour was re-launched this summer after previously being discontinued in 2009. Worcester Sauce Pretzels are available to buy now in ASDA stores, in 30g and 175g packs, RRP: 60p & £1.29 respectively.

Worcester Sauce itself is made using a secret recipe and is famous around the world. Steve Harger, from Intersnack, the company behind the Penn State brand, said: “We’re very excited about reintroducing the deliciously different Worcester Sauce flavour to our pretzel range. As such a popular flavour, we just had to bring it back. We have listened to the advice of our fans who couldn’t wait to see a return of the flavour. Behind the scenes, our team have worked tirelessly to create the distinctive Worcester Sauce flavour in celebration of this Great British sauce.”

To find out more about Penn State pretzels, please visit www.pennstate.co.uk

Spider Cup Cakes - Halloween Recipe 5

2011-10-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

I have another fantastic Halloween recipe to share with you, thanks to Rachel's - one of the UK's leading organic dairy brands. It uses Rachel's Greek Style Natural Yogurt which has a traditional, thick, smooth texture and rich, creamy taste.

Spider Cup Cakes
Chocolate Cup Cakes decorated with liquorice legs, great for Halloween!

Ingredients                                                           Makes 12 cakes

Cakes    Frosting
100g plain chocolate                                               4tbsp golden syrup
150g unsalted butter, softened                                 80ml double cream
150g caster sugar                                                    100g milk chocolate
20g cocoa, sifted                                                    100g plain chocolate
3 eggs, beaten                                                         3 tbsp Rachel’s Greek Style Natural Bio Live Yogurt
125g self raising flour
1 ½tsp baking powder
2 tbsp Rachel’s Greek Style Natural Bio Live Yogurt

Decoration
Chocolate sugar strands
Smarties or similar sweets (for the eyes)
Liquorice laces or Catherine wheels

Method
1. Pre-heat the oven 180°C, gas mark 4 and line a muffin tray with paper cases.

2. Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and microwave on medium power for 1 minute until melted, alternatively place over a pan of simmering water.

3. In a mixing bowl beat the butter, caster sugar, cocoa powder and eggs, until soft and creamy. Add the flour and baking powder. Lastly add in the yogurt ensure the mixture is well combined.

4. Spoon the mixture into the cases and bake for 20 minutes until risen and firm to touch. Leave to cool.

5. Meanwhile in a small bowl gently heat the icing ingredients, except the yogurt either do this in a microwave, medium power or over a pan of simmering water until the chocolate has melted, leave to cool then add the yogurt. The frosting should be soft but not runny.

6. Spoon the frosting onto each cake and carefully spread with the back of a knife. Dip each cake into
chocolate sugar strands then place the Smarties for eyes, cut the liquorice laces into 8 equal pieces and push into the icing – work quickly before the frosting sets. To make the eyes stand out and a mouth simply place some of the frosting in a piping bag with a small plain nozzle and pipe for the desired effect.

Pippa Needs a New Home

2011-10-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, my name is Pippa and I am about 5 years old. I am a cross breed and I am looking for a new loving home. I love people, especially ones who like doggy cuddles. I have previously lived with children and would be more than happy to live with sensible children again. I don't mind other male dogs and the staff here at the kennels say they are happy to oversee any new dog introductions. I'm not really sure about cats (they are funny looking things!), if you are prepared to teach me I would consider living with one. I really am very friendly and enjoy being a round humans. I sometimes get anxious if I am left alone for too long and think I would be best to live with people who are at home most of the time. I also loves my walks so would like to live with someone who can take me out at least once or twice a day. Please come and see me, I am sure that you will fall in love with me and I promise I will be a great companion!

Love and licks, Pippa xxx

For more information please visit www.dogs4adoption.co.uk. Pippa is currently in kennels near Taunton, Somerset.

Mister Waffley Christmas greetings cards from SmileyEyes – Review

2011-10-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a special card for the loved ones in you life this Christmas, then I have just the thing for you! Featuring an ultra cute rabbit character called Mister Waffley, SmileyEyes greetings cards are extra special and a little different from the standard cards you can pick up in the high street or supermarket. In their online shop you purchase standard verse cards, large story cards and postcard style notecards.

I was sent a large story Christmas card and three of the standard verse Christmas cards to review. The Mister Waffley character is just adorable, really well illustrated and printed. He looks full of mischief and fun – children and adults alike are bound to fall in love with him. As SmileyEyes say, Mister Waffley and friends are ‘characters with spirit’ with ‘lots of cute appeal’. If you take a visit to the SmileyEyes website you can find out more about everyone’s favourite rabbit, Mr Waffley. Did you know he loves homemade food, but hates carrots?! And his ambitions are to build a rocket-ship and to learn how to fly! I love how SmileyEyes have put so much thought into creating such a great character.

All of SmileyEyes’ designs and stories are created in-house at their studio in South Wales. All of their characters are hand-drawn using a Wacom Graphics Tablet, as well as natural media of good old-fashioned pencil and paper. They are then partially 3D modelled and textured and are digitally printed using local suppliers in South Wales.

The large story Christmas cards are quite simply fabulous. They are A5 sized with a cute Mister Waffley character, that looks like he’s about to step off the page! Inside it has a printed sheet with a lovely story about Mister Waffley’s adventures, which you can finish reading on the SmileyEyes website using the password provided. The story is a brilliant extra touch, which will make your card stand out from the crowd this Christmas. There are three different Christmas story cards available – Mister Waffley & presents, Mister Waffley & Stocking and Mister Waffley & pudding – priced at £2.20 each.

There are five different designs in the standard verse cards Christmas range, which include a short verse about Mister Waffley’s adventures. These are A6 sized cards, which are priced at £1.50 each or £6.00 for a multipack of 5 cards. As with the large story cards these are of a very high quality, with thick card and fantastic illustrations and printing. My favourite is the Mister Waffley and snow bunny card – so sweet!

I would definitely recommend these cards to anyone looking for a card for someone special. They are not just for children either – I know I would love to receive one! Visit www.smileyeyes.co.uk to find out more and to purchase online.

Win a Vanilla & Poppy Seed Letter Soap - Competition

2011-10-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a special personalised gift for a loved one this Christmas, then take a look at the products on offer at Jonny's Sister. 'Love Letter' cushions, wooden letters, personalised bunting, soaps and lots of other wonderful products are available. I love the bunting, which is perfect for a party, child's bedroom or wedding and is available in different fabrics and colours. I just had to share this photo with you, showing another very handsome Henry!

Jonny's Sister have kindly offered one lucky follower a lovely Vanilla & Poppy Seed Letter Soap worth £5.99. The soaps are handmade in Somerset, by Jonny's Sister's own aromatherapist using the finest natural ingredients. The soaps are free from Parabens and suitable for vegetarians. Jonny's Sister are passionate about the quality of their ingredients and their soaps are so mild and gentle they are suitable for all skins, even the most sensitive.

The Vanilla and Poppy Seed Soap is enriched with coconut oil and real honey. Hand wrapped in glassine paper in a white gift box they make wonderful presents for children, friends, teachers, or just anyone that appreciates something a little different and personal. Use for initials, spell a name, or how about a word... BATH, WASH, SOAP, SUDS...

Giveaway

One lucky follower will win a Vanilla & Poppy Seed Letter Soap. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is -

Follow this blog using Google Friends Connect
Leave a comment with an answer to the question below and a way to contact you (email or twitter name).
Question - What's your favourite item from the Jonny's Sister website?

Bonus entries

There are two ways of getting extra entries
Please make sure you leave me a separate comment below for each one, telling me you've done this for your extra entries to count

1. Follow me on twitter @juliebarrett62 and tweet about this competition giving a link to this blog entry. You can write your own comment or copy and paste this one-

#WIN a Vanilla & Poppy Seed Letter Soap http://adogslife-henryandme.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-vanilla-poppy-seed-letter-soap.html closes 26/11/2011 with @juliebarrett62

2. Comment on any one of my other blog posts (not including competition posts), then come back here and tell me which post you've commented on.

Terms & Conditions

The competition is open to UK residents only
Only one normal entry and up to two bonus entries per person. Multiple, bulk or automated entries will be disqualified
The winner will be contacted by email or twitter
The winner will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11.59pm on 26 November 2011
The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
The winner's name will be published on this site

American Style Beetroot Pie - Halloween Recipe 4

2011-10-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

For the next in our series of Halloween recipes we have a delicious American Style Beetroot Pie from www.lovebeetroot.co.uk. It may sound slightly unusual - but it's really yummy! You can find lots of other lovely recipes using the versatile Beetroot here.

American Style Beetroot Pie

Serves 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 45-50 minutes

You’ll need:

250g shortcrust pastry

325g plain cooked (vacuum packed) beetroot, drained

3 eggs

75g soft brown sugar

2tsp ground mixed spice

½ tsp ground allspice (optional)

½ tsp ground ginger (optional)

250ml double cream

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 200˚C/Gas Mark 6.

2. Roll out the pastry and use it to line a 23cm loose bottomed pie tin. Line with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Bake blind for 20 minutes.

3. Whilst the pastry is baking, prepare the filling by pureeing the beetroot along with the eggs in a food processor.

4. In a small saucepan add the sugar, all the spices and cream and bring slowly up to a simmering point. Pour into the food processor and mix thoroughly with the beetroot puree.

5. Remove the pastry case from the oven and reduce the temperature to 180˚C/Gas Mark 4.

6. Pour the filling carefully into the pastry case and bake for around 25-30 minutes. The edge should be puffed up a little and the centre will still be a touch wobbly. Allow to cool and chill in the fridge. Serve with crème fraiche.

Curious kitten rescued from car engine bay

2011-10-18T03:04:00.000-07:00

A curious kitten which appears to have a love of the sound of a purring engine, managed to travel 15 miles in one vehicle and then had to be freed from another.

The kitten, named Diesel by RSPCA staff, is believed to have begun his adventure when he stowed away in the engine of a car on Monday, 3 October which was visiting the Lace Market area of Nottingham. The driver thought she heard the sound of a meowing cat, but believing it was somewhere nearby, she began her journey back to Station Road, Southwell, 15 miles away.

The next morning the driver again heard the sound of a kitten, and called on her husband to find him. They discovered Diesel hiding in the engine bay of the car, but when they tried to rescue him he ran straight under their other car.

The couple then tried to remove him from the second car, only to find to their horror that he had dashed across a busy main road and straight into the engine bay of another parked car. Once again they tried to coax the cat out of the car, but it appears he was having none of it!

After a few hours of perseverance by local residents and the RSPCA, the fire and rescue service was called. A crew from Southwell attended and with the help of a local mechanic they managed to jack the car up in a bid to rescue Diesel.

RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Fran Whitten said:

"The kitten was terrified to come out of the car and remained there for several hours. But we couldn’t just leave him as it was dangerous.

It took more than two and a half hours to rescue the kitten. He was removed completely unharmed although very dirty.

He has been taken to the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Shelter. We hope that his owner comes forward to reclaim him, if not we will look to rehome him.

I would just like to thank everyone who helped out in the rescue of this kitten, and we are relieved that he is safe and well following his ordeal. He clearly has a thing for cars."

OMG! We're front page news!

2011-10-18T02:24:00.000-07:00

All I can say is that it must have been a very slow news day........

Henry and I are on the front page of the Pulmans View from Seaton newspaper. The article is about Henry being a finalist in the Nylabone competition, and how he saves my life.

Life saving dog reaches final!

Win £500 worth of Baby Goodies

2011-10-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Infacol, the UK’s leading colic relief treatment, is offering one lucky person the chance to win a £500 worth of baby goodies and raising awareness of colic in the process.

Infacol’s new social media pages officially launched on 3^rd October 2011 (Facebook / Twitter / Blog / YouTube) and together, are dedicated to creating the ultimate parenting and baby wellbeing social community where you can learn, share tips and advice and get updated on all things relating to the wellbeing of your new addition - with a focus on colic of course.

To celebrate the launch of this new initiative, Infacol are running a sweepstake competition on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/infacol), the prize being approximately £500 worth of baby related goods.

COMPETITION DETAILS:

It’s simple – Just ‘Like’ the new Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Infacol) then answer 3 colic related questions correctly and follow the instructions to enter the contest - one lucky winner will be picked to win the prize on 2/11/11.

Competition Start Date: 3/10/11

Competition Finish Date: 1/11/11

The Prize: The goody bag contains an exciting range of premium brand unisex baby related goods, ideal for a newborn. The actual contents of the goody bag remain secret but the total value is equivalent to £500 of goods (RRP).

Thanks to Blog-Match.com for sharing the news about this competition with me.

Good luck to everyone that enters!

Pumpkin and Philly Bruschetta - Halloween Recipe 3

2011-10-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

For our next Halloween recipe we have a deliciously simple seasonal snack from Philadelphia. Perfect for a grown-up Halloween or Bonfire Night party! Take a look at the Philadelphia website for lots more wonderful recipes.

Pumpkin and Philly Bruschetta

Serves: 6

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time:: 30 minutes

Total time:: 40 minutes

1000 g pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled & de-seeded

1 tbsp olive oil

2 sprigs rosemary

black pepper to taste

1 – 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1 ciabatta loaf or small white loaf, thickly sliced

180 g Philadelphia Light

1. Cut the pumpkin into chunks and toss in the oil with the rosemary and black pepper.

2. Place in a lined oven tray and bake at 200C, 400F, Gas Mark 6 for 15 - 20 minutes, until turning golden and tender. Add garlic and cook for a further 8 - 10 minutes.

3. Lightly toast the bread slices and spread with the Philadelphia. Top with pumpkin mixture and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Energy 932 kJ / 222 kcal, Protein 8.8g, Fat 7.598g, Carbohydrate 31.1g

Tip: To increase the fibre content why not use granary bread

Spooky Puffs - Review

2011-10-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

Thought the breakfast table was safe? Think again! Prepare to be spooked out of your wits as Honey Monster’s terrifyingly tasty cereal, Spooky Puffs rises onto shelves for a second year running, just in time to go Trick-or-Treating. Crammed full of scrummy toffee-apple flavoured puffs, Spooky Puffs is a breakfast treat for those tricky little monsters. The limited edition cereal contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives as well as being a source of fibre.

Spooky Puffs

We were sent a packet of Spooky Puffs to try and they received a little bit of a mixed reaction, but the overall opinion was definitely positive. I loved the toffee apple flavour; I thought it was a deliciously different flavour for breakfast cereal. My brother loved them too; he thought they were very moreish! Mum and Sarah weren’t as keen – they liked the Spooky Puffs straight from the packet, but felt the flavour didn’t really go with milk. They were really popular with the youngsters though, so I’d say they were possibly more suited to the tastes of children, which I guess it their target audience anyway.

Perfect for a scary treat this Halloween; Spooky Puffs make a fun addition to your breakfast table.

Speaking about Honey Monster’s latest offering, Sheena Darji, Brand Manager, said, “Following the frightfully great reception Spooky Puffs received last year, we just had to bring them back this year with a bit of twist, and nothing says Halloween like the flavour of Toffee Apples! As a brand, we’re always eager to develop new and exciting flavours for Honey Monster as well as building on old favourites that we know our consumers love”.

Spooky Puffs is the third limited edition to be produced by Honey Monster Foods this year, following in the footsteps of Honeycomb Puffs and Strawberry puffs. Other lines in the standard edition range include Sugar Puffs, Honey Waffles, Choco Waffles and Choco Puffs.

With an RRP of £1.50, Spooky Puffs are on shelf now and available to buy from Tesco and Asda.

Picture Pockets - competition

2011-10-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Picture Pockets are inexpensive hanging photo display galleries that have proved incredibly popular with children and adults alike, for many years, all over the world. They are ideal to display photos of children, family, friends and pets.

Of course you can use frames and albums to show off photos, but nothing is as inexpensive, immediately convenient, and with the capacity to hold up to 40 photos on view at all times. Picture Pocket photos are kept clean and undamaged, continually on display, and are easily interchangeable. As soon as you fancy a change, just turn the Picture Pocket over to reveal 20 more photos (for the large version shown here).

It is available in several different sizes and in versions to hold both your standard size 6 x 4 inch photos or 5 x 7 inch larger format too.

The Picture Pocket has a collection of pockets into which even young children can place their favourite photos - and change them - over and over again. Perfect for show-and-tell, for a child's very own photo collection, for children in the hospital, for nursing homes, for nurseries, kitchens and bedrooms and for every room in the house. The Picture Pocket makes a wonderful gift for family and friends.

Stockists:

Clever Little Ideas Ltd
www.picturepockets.com
Order line: 020 77 345678
RRP £7.99 (size large A, as shown in photos)

Thanks to Clever Little Ideas Ltd we have one large Picture Pocket, size A which will hold 40 photos in 20 pockets (as seen in photos above) to giveaway to one lucky follower. See below for details of how to enter.

Giveaway
One lucky follower will win a Picture Pocket. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is -

Follow this blog using Google Friends Connect
Leave a comment with an answer to the question below and a way to contact you (email or twitter name).
Question - What sort of photos would you display in your Picture Pocket? Your children, pets, or do you have any more unusual ideas?

Bonus entries
There are two ways of getting extra entries
Please make sure you leave me a separate comment below for each one, telling me you've done this for your extra entries to count

1. Follow me on twitter @juliebarrett62 and tweet about this competition giving a link to this blog entry. You can write your own comment or copy and paste this one-

#WIN a Picture Pocket photo display hanger http://adogslife-henryandme.blogspot.com/2011/10/picture-pockets-competition.html closes 19/11/2011 with @juliebarrett62

2. Comment on any one of my other blog posts (not including competition posts), then come back here and tell me which post you've commented on.

Terms & Conditions

The competition is open to UK residents only
Only one normal entry and up to two bonus entries per person. Multiple, bulk or automated entries will be disqualified
The winner will be contacted by email or twitter
The winner will be selected at random from all valid comments received by 11.59pm on 19 November 2011
The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
The winner's name will be published on this site

Fabulous Fern needs a new home

2011-10-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

Fern is a beautiful female Staffi, who is looking for a new home. She is at the same rescue centre in Somerset that we adopted Henry from.

Meet Fern a stunning female Staffie. Fern is very loving and friendly but needs to be the only pet in the household. Fern would be suitable to live with older sensible children.

For more information please visit www.stgileskennels.co.uk