Won’t Get Fooled Again

Today, I learned something. Actually I was reminded of something I’d already learned and let fall by the wayside as I moved on.

 

In May 2010, just after our second Gympie Show, we went to a dog training club to see if we could sign up for agility class. They told us we had to do about two months of basic obedience class before we were allowed to do agility, no exceptions. We felt very unwelcome. That night, after I’d cried and felt awful about it, I was just even more determined to make it in the world, on my own.

 

Today I learned that people are still untrustworthy. Even Roy Maloy. He’s just changed his mind about having me at the shows, because I asked too many questions about them. The reason I kept asking so many questions was A. I’ve never done anything like that before and wanted to know what to expect, and B. he kept changing the rules. First he said my whole family was welcome to come along, and then when I asked again he said they weren’t. First he said he wanted me to do one performance at night, then when I double-checked he said two. First he said I needed to do my own hair and makeup, then he said he’d get someone else to do it for me. So I kept asking, checking and rechecking the facts just to be sure what would happen on the day. I don’t know if I was too annoying, and he just got fed up with me, or if something else is going on. Roy also said he had a list as long as his arm of famous/world record holding entertainers offering to perform for him for free, whereas I was going to be paid for my part. He was the one who offered to pay me, I didn’t ask for it! I was very upset at first, but now I’m just angry. How could he let me get all excited, for two weeks, and then pull the plug? So I’ve decided not to rely on anyone else to get me where I want in life, I can do it myself. If anyone else offers me something, I might take it, or I might not. And I definitely won’t be so trusting. I won’t get fooled again.

 

The podiums we made specifically for his events will still be used in our own shows. Roy spent his own money on my costume so that’s his loss, not ours. In the long run, this will just make me stronger, more determined to make my career with Superdogs work. I’m already writing up a list of goals for the future, that I’ll be working towards on my own without relying on anyone else. I’ll train my dog myself, get my own shows organized, never depend on anyone but myself to get me where I want to go.

Project Podium

We now have four podiums in two sizes, just waiting to be painted and get a non-slip bottom before going to their first show. All the dogs have now had a go on them and it didn’t take long for them to gain their confidence!

Opportunity

I have some big news. You remember Roy Maloy, a circus-type performer we met at Winton and then Mt Isa? Well, this week he messaged me and offered me a spot in a show he’s in. Actually, two shows. Sort of. Ok, that didn’t really make much sense, did it?

 

First of all, I’ll be performing once at the Whittlesea Show on November 2. Last year, 50,000 people were expected to come through the gates. It’s one of the biggest agricultural shows in Victoria. Then, that same night, I’ll be doing two performances for a wine and cheese thing in the city, performing to a live band. It’s a big deal, a high-calibre event with a line up of “best in the business” entertainers. The whole family’s coming along, but it’ll be just me and Sparkie actually performing. Roy’s helped me pick out a costume, which really drove home what I’m getting myself into – jeans and a t-shirt won’t cut it here!

(every blog post needs a picture!)

Oh, For Crying Out Loud…

A few days ago I was driving to Gawler, South Australia, from our camp half an hour away. I wasn’t keen on driving into Gawler – it’s busy and crazy and has traffic lights, and roundabouts with five or six roads out of it – so the plan was to pull over just before I got to Gawler and let Daddy take over. But I missed the stopping bay and ended up at the first roundabout. Ok, I could handle a roundabout. Except when I tried to take off again, the van stalled. That’s not unusual, and I’ve done it before, and I can handle it. But this time there was a line up of cars behind me, and the first one in the line was in such a hurry he blasted on his horn the moment he saw a gap in the traffic and I didn’t go. I quickly restarted the van and tried to drive forward, only to stall again. The impatient driver behind me slammed his hand on the horn again. And I’m thinking as I re-restarted the van and finally got through the roundabout, for crying out loud, don’t my L-plates mean anything to you?

 

When someone is learning something new, do we expect them to do it right? Or are they expected to make some mistakes along the way? When I was teaching Sparkie to beg, she’d only lift one paw up for starters. Imagine if, while I was gently encouraging her to lift both feet up, a stranger yelled at her for not doing it right straight away. She would have baulked, refused to do anything, been confused. Nobody would do that, nobody would yell at someone else’s dog like that. And yet when I didn’t do the right thing fast enough, I was tooted at repeatedly. People say how the younger generation has no manners, no respect for others. And yet, both negative experiences I’ve had on the road have been with adult drivers. The “I own the road” attitude from older drivers needs to stop. How else can new drivers learn respect for other road users?

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In the meantime, the bus fit out has started. The black rubber flooring is getting pulled up and new vinyl tiles laid.

We’ve finalized the change of ownership and today we break camp (not literally) and head to Victoria. We have two shows lined up now – the fundraiser next week, and the Hamilton Show in October. Sparkie learning another new trick, as is Freya. Sparkie hasn’t done any agility since Quorn but the rest of the team has.

Full Circle

Considering what’s been happening in my life this past two weeks, it’s ironic that my last post was about change.

 

On Saturday, August 24, we drove from Broken Hill NSW to Quorn SA. The next day we performed three times at the Quorn Show. Monday we stayed in Quorn to relax. Tuesday, August 27, we drove almost to Adelaide to look at a bus, but arrived too late in the day to test drive it. So on Wednesday morning (the 28th) we drove half an hour from our camp back to see the bus, test drove it, and promptly decided we wouldn’t buy it because of all its issues, which were unnoticeable when it was parked. Thursday (29) we checked out another bus, but it was unregistered at the time so we weren’t able to test drive it until the next day. We put on a deposit on this one and headed back to camp, arriving at 9:30pm, only to find the tent destroyed by the wind. We spent the night in the van, and the next morning picked up the bus and drove it home. On Saturday we went back into town to buy some stuff for the bus. Today is Sunday, September 1, Father’s Day, and we are now the exhausted owners of a 38ft 1987 Leyland Tiger.

We’re starting from scratch again, with camp stretchers and air beds and a foldable table our only furniture so far. Today we’ve fixed the lock on the front door, but mostly just sat around doing nothing apart from exercising the dogs and watching movies. We have vinyl tiles for the floor but haven’t started to put them it yet. We’re all really tired but happy to have a bus again!