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

Hi John pleased to be your ES friend

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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