Centre of Excellence Pet Care Award

I had a lovely surprise this morning, when I awoke to find an email informing me that I have won runner up in the Centre Of Excellence 2019 Pet Care Awards.

I have completed several diplomas with the Centre of Excellence over the years, these being:
Dog Grooming,
Canine Health and Nutrition,
Canine Behaviour and Training.

I completed these diplomas, and am currently working towards another - Animal Assisted Therapy; solely because I want to be as well informed as I can in everything and anything relating to my canine companions, so that I can best understand their needs.

When I received an email a few months ago, asking me what I have done since gaining these diplomas - I responded explaining the charitable work that I occasionally do - rescuing, rehabilitating, retraining and rehoming dogs. I also sent several images of the rescue dogs I have groomed.
I explained that in addition to this, the grooming diploma helped me to reach my lifelong goal of maintaining a standard poodle in show coat and showing at Crufts.
I certainly did not expect to hear anything back from the Centre of Excellence, but thought that my story might inspire others to learn with them.
I didn't actually realise that I had submitted an application to the awards panel when I replied to the email!

I was very taken aback to receive an email back this morning stating:
'Huge congratulations on your incredible achievements! The judges were blown away by your story. You have shown real strength and determination and are an inspiration.'

To say I am thrilled to have placed runner up is an understatement!

My certificate in currently in the post but I will share images of it once it arrives.

I *think* have a problem

Our friend Jade came to visit last weekend and, as I have passed my love of chickens onto her (sorry, not sorry!)
She decided that she should go and get some more hens to add to her flock, from our favourite poultry supplier - Sign of the Owl
I was adamant that I wasn't going to get any more, I didn't want any more.
5 was quite enough...
And then I saw the leghorns!
Leghorns are a pretty little birds, they come in array of colours, have very large combs and lay smallish white eggs. On the day that we visited the pen was full of blacks, with one particularly scrawny little white.
Neither of us fancied the white, so we got a black hen each and I also bought a lavendar hybrid.
I named my two new hens Myfanwy and Mrs Floppy head and took them home where they joined my flock. I then proceeded to tell Jade all about how she was a bad influence and that we were never going to Sign of the Owl again...😂
Well, Jade went home on Sunday and I have spent the last few days thinking about the sad little white chicken so today I went and collected her too!
I am now at maximum capacity with 8 birds, but goodness me I love them.
The new girl needs a name, but for now she will be Britney, because Oops I did it again!

Here are a few pictures of the new girls below:

These really are the last hens now!!!