I can only do the 10th onwards, but if that's a problem I wouldn't be offended if everyone met up without me :P

oh I am  sorry then. Unfortunately we can only do the 9, so it looks complicated...

Indeed it is. So I have set up a Doodle (online meeting maker).. Please login and indicate your availability. Surely there must be one day we can all meet!

http://www.doodle.com/izf5ew4yz7ac5spz

I'm technically more flexible (just need to take time off work) so could also do the 9th which is Easter Monday. Just worried that Easter would be a bit too busy for a walk that involves several very bouncy dogs.... Don't want to upset any other sunseekers. Is Camber still an option?

Easter Monday is still OK with us Bouncy Dogs surely not our Setters. Camber is still fine with us or wherever. Well done on the Doodle KC

Thanks KC, i filled our only option :((. I have to see how is the following week end, but i believe we are KO.. 

we come from london, and have a preference for beaches, so camber would be very nice. I never been there, but if dogs are allowed I guess there would be a part where we can run freely.. o no?  but feel free to make you selection of the place of course! 

Have filled in my options, looks like I'm the only one on those dates though :(

Thanks all for participating - it looks like Monday 9th is the most popular with 3 out of 4 who can make it. However, I'm now also travelling to Rye on the 10th so would like to avoid driving the distance two days in a row. Could anyone make the following the weekends, i.e 23rd/24th or 30th/31st? I'm sorry it's so difficult.... I can make ANY weekend in April if that helps.

i guess you mean 21-22 and 28-29.. cant make them unfortunately..

sorry charlotte, indeed, at least with me there is no overlap.. but if you guys find a date in a following week end is great, just remember to send us your beautiful pics:)

Sorry yes, 21-22 and 28-29. Still in March me...  :)

I see.. so it looks that we need at least to convince KC and Errol to spend a lovely night in a B&B in Rye, if we want to do the Easter Monday.. but of course that would be without Charlotte.. upf.. we are still happy to come but is up to you all..

I can do the weekend of that week... the 14th and 15th if that's an option? Probably not though!

mmm unfortunately since monday evening oberon is limping front the front leg.. nothing visible but no improvement in 1 day.. we went to the vet this morning and he's now in anti-inflammatory and rest for a few days, but at this point I am not really 100% sure he can make next monday ..  so I suggest you go ahead without us, and  we will try to do our best to  make the day (next week end or whenever) ... soo sorry... (and worried for oberon :(((

Silvia - a night in Rye would be just the ticket. :) Anyways, sounds like Sun 15th is do-able for all or am I getting this wrong?

Late morning early pm in any case as I'm not going to get up at 6AM on a Sunday - no way! Say 12 noon?

Silvia - our message crossed. I do hope it's only a minor injury and Oberon will be fine in a few days. Do keep us in the loop! And please keep the 15th in the diary if poss. Best Wishes, KC

Geez - what's happening to our dogs?! They are all falling to pieces!!!

Shall we keep Sun 15th in the diaries? Hopefully the boys will have recovered until then...

All the best to Oberon and Hamilton!

Lois, I am so sorry for this!!!!!! His diet will need to be changed with absolutely no fats, but I am pretty sure he'll get used soon and, hopefully, the disease can be under control with just diet, so do not despair ! I really hope he can recover very soon from the drip  experience.

I think is a good idea to keep the 15th then, hopefully also  the weather will be more stable by then. We'll see if we can join (i will be back from germany the 13th late night and Marco is supposed to travel the monday after so is a very crazy week end, but let's see what we can do... ) 

Oberon has nothing visible so I hope is just a strain.. started limping after he went  for a bit of exploration in the brushes but I can't see anything below the paw, so who knows..  finger crossed ;)

Thank you Silvia and do hope Oberon picks up quickly. I have researched Pancreatitist and apart from what the vet said have found raw game, cooked veggies, brown or white rice, low fat cottage cheese, fish, chicken are OK so he should be fine on the no fat diet. I've always cooked their meals for them and chicken, fish and shin of beef were the basis with added potatoes and veggies.  Hopefully by removing the shin and his favourite cheese it will help to stabilise him. Poor Hamilton,he was in a lot of pain and I was concerned when he appeared to be dragging his left rear leg and on laying him down he gave a yelp when I tried to gently move his leg and touch his tummy. Blood tests confirmed his enzyme levels were high so the vet hospitalized him 

I'll keep the 15th free then.

Wishing the two poorly pups a speedy recovery! :(

Hi all, I hope you had a nice Easter break and that Hamilton is feeling better! Oberon's paw is  fine now, he had some pain for 3 days but now he's back in shape and jumping, probably it was a little strain.. so, we confirm that we can do sunday 15th and we would love to do the  Camber beach if this is ok for you :) .. we start getting a bit curious of such lovely sand dunes that you described:) 

15th is still good for me - anyone else have any more of an idea if they can do it or not yet?

Yup I'm still up for the 15th. Went for a day trip to Rye yesterday but as we went sans Errol we didn't go all the way to Camber. The drive back to Brighton was a right pain but hopefully on a Sunday the coastal route will be less congested. Let's hope for dry-ish weather and that Hamilton will be fit enough to join us!

I'm really hoping for a dry day because Finn gets really cold in wet weather and it aggravates his cough :( the weather forecast isn't looking that good but hey ho

So shall we say the 15th at Camber then? What time would be best for everyone? Obviously we all need to allow time for travelling.

Lois - how is Hamilton doing? I hope he's fit enough to join us.

BBC weather promises 9C and sunny spells but no rain so let's keep our fingers crossed. I suggest a lunchtime meeting, i.e. sometime between 12 noon and 1pm. Is this a good time? It'll take me at least 2hrs to get there depending on traffic... And where shall we meet?

i think is great!

Thank you for asking about hamilton. He is progressing slowly in the right direction although he now weighs in at 31kgs as opposed to his usual weight of 34.5kgs. I think at last his tummy is settling for the 1st time in 2.5 weeks his stools are becoming firmer and he is still on 4 meals a day - little and often boiled chicken breast, white boiled fish and cooked rice. In himself he is now the happy Hamilton he's always been jumping around and grumbling or just being very vocal . I think I've read just about every article ever printed re Canine Pancreatitis and also realise how common it is although Hamilton doesn't seem to fit the category of dogs most likely to be affected. We are hoping to make it to Camber sands on Sunday and suggest the best place to meet is in the car park which leads on to the sands there are usually a couple of horseboxes parked there as well. The car park is not free so do take some change the cafe is fairly average don't think it will be possible to miss each other have never yet seen more than 2 ISs there - ours!!

We live in Upminster (Essex) and have 1 elderly Irish, 1 5yr old IRWS & 2 15 month IRWS.

I'm not sure if its because our red & white favourite playmate is an irish a few doors down but for some reason they just know when they are playing with another irish setter.  Any irish they meet they will play with like complete loons whereas they can be sometimes shy of some large dogs, the play differently too.

Maybe its because they know that I'm going to be stood chatting for a while so just decide to entertain themselves...

Lois - that's great news. Sounds like he's getting back on track due to your sterling efforts in "beefing" him up with the right food. Sorry this probably doesn't come out right.  :)

Susie - please come along if you can.  The more the merrier!

Can I just ask where this car park is - is it beyond the Pontins Holiday camp? Is it sign-posted? I've not seen a cafe anywhere on the beach there but may not have been along the right stretch of sand...

KC I think the car park you usually use is in New Lydd Rd which is where Pontins is (I hope I'm not mistaken) so from your direction continue past the car park and bear right into Old Lydd Rd you'll pass a few restaurants, pubs, cafes, souvenir shops on your left until you reach the car park at the end. There is a cafe, ice cream shop, souvenir shop in the car park backing onto the dunes. Good luck!!  

Susie, would love if you could join us! 

I'm going to need to beg my mums satnav off of her... I've never driven to Camber myself!

Ok !

if i understand correctly i think the place Lois is describing  is called

Camber Sands Car Park Old Lydd Road, Camber, East Sussex TN31 7

shall we met there say at 12.30? my mobile is 07717223650 : maybe it would be good to exchange the numbers so in case somebody is late he/she can contact the rest of the group and join :)

it will take at least 2h to us as well from london,  and we will leave early but the traffic is of course impredictable..

looking forward to play with all such lovely IRWS and IS :))

and is great that Hamilton is progressing: we will do our best to make him happier and happier tmrrow:)

silvia

Hi Silvia - just sent a text. Thanks for posting your phone number, the travel details and adding a message to the blog. Looking forward to tomorrow.KC 

perfect!! so at least Lois, KC and Errol and us will be there, let's hope all others can join as well and see you soon  :)

actually, i am not sure that the post code is correct since i get different results with the search . the postcode of a car park is probably not so well defined and the search gives, randomly,  something in the area .. anyway, the place is in old lydd and is what is called "central car park" in this map

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/19C1E740-485D-4640-8001-2...

sorry for the further post, but i just dont want to confuse those using a satnav (as poor charlotte :))

Hi I joined the group yesturday, hope I am classed as south east I live in Colchester Essex. Reading some comments most of you seem to be on the south east coast.I read earlier conparing dog pedigree and a reference to caskey concept who is the father of my youngest bitch born 7th. May 2007. Mum is caskeys vough.

oohh another wonderful caskey joining us:) wellcome angela, I hope when the nice weather will blossom we can duplicate a meeting somewhere and we can met you! your place is 2h from london, so is definitely easy-reaching for us :)

i saw your profile and I am very sorry for the epilepsy of the older.. I hope is well controlled and seizure free by now.. but yes: IS do LOVE children and they really are wonderful with them!! we dont have children but its a joy to have one of those wonderful dogs with such a nice and easy going temperament, since Oberon  can play with all children  gently in all parks, and is such a joy for the parents when he met them:))

Happy Easter y'all!

I was thinking... isn't it time for our annual SE Setter meeting? Camber was real fun last year! We have Byron, our latest addition, to introduce to the community...    :))   It would be great to welcome more peeps & hounds as well.

How's everybody fixed? Once we know a few dates I can set up another Doodle.

hi! looks a great idea. we are pretty booked in april, May look things may be better, and we can only in the week end .. we are ready to fill the doodle :) cheers

s