Exclusively Setters

Home for Irish Setter Lovers Around the World

John Murphy's Comments

Comment Wall (21 comments)

At 8:23am on November 28, 2011, Lois McCullough said…
Welcome John hope you enjoy ES it's an addictive site
At 8:43am on November 28, 2011, Chantal McIlveen-Wright said…

Welcome to ES John!!!  welcome cuddles to Flame  :-)

At 3:47am on November 29, 2011, Peter Hennig said…

Hi John pleased to be your ES friend

At 4:52am on November 29, 2011, Lynn Spencer said…

Hi John,

Welcome to ES.  I see you've already made some wonderful friends here.  I am also from Melbourne & my Irish Setter girl is Tess.  She will be 10 this coming Saturday.  This is a great place to meet lots of lovely 'Setter' people so I hope you enjoy it here.  Flame looks a beautiful girl.  Will look forward to seeing some more pics. of her here. 

Again welcome.

At 5:30am on November 29, 2011, Cheryl Gorey said…

Welcome John, lovely to read you are also owned by your setter!  Flame looks gorgeous.  They are just so lovely with their grey faces.  My old girl, Emby turns 13 this Sunday. 

cheers from sunny Queensland, Cheryl

At 5:35am on November 29, 2011, Chantal McIlveen-Wright said…

Thanks for the invite John and very happy to become your new ES friend!!!  Welcome cuddles to beautiful Flame too  :-)

At 6:23am on December 1, 2011, John Murphy said…

Hi Chantal.

Thank you for your email.  Yes, the relationship with an Irish Setter senior citizen is pretty special, albeit unfortunately short.  My relationship with 11-year-old Flame, particularly our communication, is becoming clearer and closer (hopefully not imaginary or wishful thinking).  Our little intimate moments are quite special.  I am becoming increasingly conscious, however, of the fact that our time together is limited.  Makes me appreciate her even more (as you know from your own experience with MC).  In their twilight years they can be taken from us at any time and without warning.

Our last Irish passed away at 11 years after having a seizure in the morning while on a walk and her last breath at 3.00 am the following morning. I sat up with her all night as she had periodic seizures.  It was clear that she wasn't going to make it.  It wan't the first tme I had sat up all night with a very sick doggie.  

It's amazing that MC's mother was 17.  I've not heard of an Irish living to that ripe old age.

I am considering another Irish.  The breeder from whom we adopted Flame seven years ago has another Setter who's three plus.  Her owners asked the breeder to look after her when they went overseas but they never came back. The breeders plan to get a litter from her before rehousing her.  She been in the show ring recently.

It's a big decision for us as we are not keen to jeopardise Flame's special position in our lives by taking the other dog on the grounds of sympathy. I have no doubt that she will be found a home if we decide not to take her.  Flame is our priority.  Previously I have had three Setters at the one time, so I am aware of the joys but also of the demands.

My partner works in psychiatry and she tells me that my desire to get another dog when Flame's in her twilight years is my attempt to avoid or soften the grief from losing Flame.  This is the downside of having a partner who works in psychiatry!!  Over the last 23 years I've always had a 'doggie bridge' from one dog to the next.

I can imagine how hard it must be for Billy Connelly living with Pamela Stephenson! 

Anyway, we have until Christmas to decide.

I really enjoyed your photos.  Any of them could have been of Flame or the five others that we have had over the years.  It's clear that Irish Setters throughout the world have much in common.  Their owners too.

Best wishes,

John

 

 

 

 

 

At 8:10pm on December 1, 2011, Finding_Beau said…

Thank you, John. I am very happy to be your friend. Some of my English Setters have been rescued too. Helping animals makes me feel worthwhile. As Katherine Hepburn said: Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give, which is everything.

At 4:13am on December 2, 2011, John Murphy said…

I knew that there must be more to Katherine Hepburn than her acting and Spencer Tracy.  She had wisdom to share.

At 1:25am on December 5, 2011, Rhonda Fisher said…

What a wonderful part of Victoria for Flame to retire to. The sea air and the beach would be lovely for her.  Kerry and Murphy have just started to have a touch of grey. Their Granny had a lovely white face in her later years so it will be interesting to see how the boys go.

 

At 3:57am on December 5, 2011, Rhonda Fisher said…

Murphy is my partners dog. Phil Eddy. At the vet his Irish Boy is referred to surname first.

Eddy Murphy!! He is the larger brother on the left.

At 3:40pm on December 5, 2011, John Murphy said…

Very funny.  The best I can do in this regard is that we adopted an Irish named Jessie from the Lost Dogs Home but we already had an Irish named Jessie.  When referring to them in conversation we called them Jessie 1 and Jessie 2, but when asking them to come we just used to call out 'Jessie'. Very convenient.

At 5:13am on December 6, 2011, Cheryl Gorey said…

Hi John, thanks for Emby's birthday wishes.  Hope all is well down your way.  We have some thunder and lightning rattling around the sky tonight and had drizzling rain all day today.  Nice to have some rain!  cheers, Cheryl

At 6:35am on December 10, 2011, Rhonda Fisher said…

Ok John

Peter Hennig has started a summer theme. We need you to put a photo of a beach, with or without an Irish.

Cheers

Rhonda

At 3:52pm on December 19, 2011, Finding_Beau said…

Dear John, Thank you for your Christmas greeting. Wishing you and Flame and your family a peaceful Christmas and the best of wishes for 2012. xxxxx

At 5:19am on December 23, 2011, Cheryl Gorey said…

Hi John, thanks for your comments on my pics.  These redheads are all so very special.  Been off-line with computer problems for the past 2 weeks... grrrrrr.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a great year ahead and talk soon.

cheers, Cheryl

At 5:33am on December 23, 2011, Rhonda Fisher said…

Thank you for your Christmas wishes. I hope you and your family have a lovely relaxing Christmas too. Oh for a sea breeze mid morning to finish off the heat before turkey is served.

Give Flame a special Christmas hug from us.

At 5:06pm on July 3, 2012, john murphy said…

john, thanks for the friends request....we must be from the same stock; both of my setters have been rescue dogs, bradley is about 5 and is as mad as a hatter..hope you enjoy the site and look forward to your photos

At 8:16pm on September 24, 2012, Dianne cook said…
Hello John, before we moved we were living very close to where you live... Small world and you also have a flame but ours a boy. Lobelt to here you have a lustrous home one too. Look forward to chatting about our Red kids. Take care Dianne, Flame, Ruby and Poppy.
At 10:18pm on September 24, 2012, Dianne cook said…
Hi John, thank you for your comment on our photos. Please, please excuse any typing errors!! I at present only have an I Phone Hmmmm, not a lot of Internet coverage where I now live!!! Frustrating. Yes you are so right, the twighlight years are wonderful enjoy them with your Flame. The two girls I have run me off my feet, I look forward to having a setter from a pup one day. Lovely to talk take care Dianne.

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