Planning Panic sets in

We are leaving for another show week end tomorrow so the week end packing, planning and general panic is upon us. Why do we have to manage four days work on the one day before we leave? Ken's gardens called his name all day long so he was happy in that Ken sort of way but grousing about everything he wasn't getting done.
It was sit at the desk and get the paperwork done day for Lee - one of my favourites- not! All was going well until I read the phone bill and realized that I was being charged last year's advertising rates for this year's reduced contract. Aliant kindly advised that while they bill for yellow pages, they really have nothing to do with them and referred me on - and happier I got, not. After wending my way through a second set of computer generated instructions, I spoke to Lisa who advised me that I was right, the amount is incorrect and thank you for bringing it to their attention - it should be $50 higher! And then the dialogue turned. Fortunately I did have a copy of the contract as well as the email chain with their agent. All was sent since Lisa claimed none of it was in their office. The situation was made more challenging since we did not receive our telephone book so I had no idea how the contract had actually been executed and translated into print. Phoning back to follow up, I was told by another YPG staff member that Lisa is very busy but that a dispute resolution file was being started and I would hear from them in four weeks or so as to the status of my claim. Guess what - that didn't sit well with Lee. So, after asking through clenched teeth to speak to a manager who wasn't quite as busy as Lisa, I was advised that busy Lisa would call me back. And call she did, noting that indeed she had found the paperwork supporting the paperwork that I had sent - imagine that - and that I was correct - who would have thought. So, several hours of time and effort later, the dragon was slayed and a lot of money recaptured. Now to find a phone book to see what they actually put in . . .
The rest of the day was spent baking bread - or at least that's how it felt. Again, we will be at the house in PEI so we take breakfast and dinners with us. Grain bread was made for toast, raisin bread (Bob and Luella's favourite) was made for Chantelle's folks who again offered to house sit and hold the fort and finally pesto french bread will accompany the traditional PEI lobster dinner Saturday night. Margot and Margaret will join the Regalridge family so it will be a great week end. Atlas, Jessie and Billy are the canine crew who will be on the road trip.
Chantelle brought dinner home, saving a great deal of time, and then headed to the kennel to put the final touches on the show dogs through the late evening. It was a pretty day here and followed by a lovely evening - one of the longest of the year and we needed that.
The dogs, with the good weather, had an active day. KC has settled in nicely and has become fast friends with Jack and Apollo. The three boys played together, developing games and racing around. Apollo has become an 'Airedale in waiting' and will go to his new home with lots of new tactics that may not have come to the mind of a Standard Poodle without the support of his new Airedale pals. The little kennel managers departed amid a flurry of reciprocal greetings. We will miss those two! Kirby is settled and happy as only an old Welsh can be.
Lee was given a task yesterday and fulfilled it well. Ken, in true Ken fashion, added to Lee's chores with a request to trim Atlas' ears. After the yellow pages adventure, Lee went to the kennel to fulfill her obligations. from the gaggle of Airedales in yard number 2, the Airedale was pulled out and put on the grooming table. As the ears were trimmed, Lee expressed her concern to a passing Ken that Atlas didn't look very well taken down for a show and wondered if there had been more work done in gardens than in the grooming room. And the worm turned . . . Finishing the ears (not a quick or easy task), Lee moved on to go over the rest of the dog - and discovered that it was Marguerite on the table. To her credit, she did confess the error of her ways to Ken and later to Chantelle and will live with their derision for some time to come. Atlas' ears were then done and his trimming lauded by Lee. (Chantelle: Ken and I had to give Lee a short lecture on the birds & the bees as well as the difference between males & females!!!! LOL)
Late last night Nick had his daily road trip with Ken, the two of them going into Bedford to pick up keys. Patti had a lovely day in the yard managing the Regalridge dogs and organizing games for all.