Tomorrow I start a four day practical instructor’s course with the IMDT ( I did the two day theory last autumn.) I’m looking forward to learning new things.
Whenever I hear about kookaburra’s I think of the song you used to have to sing at brownies (I hated brownies my mam made me go ) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, merry merry King of the bush is he.. laugh kookaburra laugh, gay your life must be
Never heard it ever. Raised by anti social wolves who weren't into paramilitary youth organisations so like a lot if stuff I had no exposure. I honestly feel like I didn't miss out. It just gets a bit weird
I think Boys and Girls Brigade is the whackier one, and google tells me they're still around! My kid did a year of Pippins and Brownies (Girl Guides) and really enjoyed it - it was a whole lot of hanging out with other girls and doing fun things. The atheist in me didn't like how they had to sing the classic "day is done" song aka Taps at the end of every meeting - I would have preferred her singing along about kookaburras!
Mine were weird I didn't taste ice cream until I was in my twenties. I was aware of brownies but it wasn't for us for to organised.
Rug up @Emily and get your brolly out! After a dry and unseasonably warm Autumn, Melbourne is set to receive about a month’s worth of rain by the end of the week. With tops of 19 degrees today, maximum temperatures in the state’s capital are set to drop to 13 degrees tomorrow and on Friday. This would be the city’s coldest pair of days this early in the season since 1978 It's hitting us on Friday Better get the sloppy joes (pullover, sweater) and heavy doonas (eiderdown, quilt) out. And a heavier blanket for Maxx. At least we are going to get some rain Sydneysiders will also be feeling the winter chill, with temperatures set to drop seven degrees, from a top of 24 degrees on Thursday to 17 degrees on Friday. It’s likely to feel colder than that too, with the wind chill factor forecast to be at least one or two degrees across the city. Showers are expected to hit on Saturday afternoon as minimum temperatures hover around 12 to 14 degrees over the weekend.
I know! It's going to be awful! I wish I wasn't so busy at work, otherwise I'd consider taking a couple of days off to hibernate in the house. A top of 13°....maddness!
That must be so frustrating when you're desperate for rain, but you want the right kind, not the "so heavy that it doesn't get absorbed into the soil" kind. All these weather extremes around the world are not great.
That's the height of summer in the Isle of Man. It's 8.9 degrees today. And piddling down. Though I did catch the sun at the weekend whilst "gardening". I wore a woolly hat this morning, walking Coco.
I’m halfway through a four day course with the IMDT and enjoying it very much, but I’m so sunburnt / wind-burnt as it’s all outside. I must remember sun cream tomorrow! Yesterday evening I was exhausted - so much to take in, new people and quite a long journey (heavy traffic means it takes about 1 1/2 hours each way). I’m a bit more with-it this evening. Molly is flaked out though - at the moment she’s asleep in the garden!
Well done @Joy, it's great that you're doing this -- I bet it's really interesting and worthwhile. Does Molly go with you then?
Yes, for this practical course you are asked to bring your dog. We have had some talks / lectures given to the whole class (outside sitting on the grass in the shade) but most of it has been in groups of 6 or 7 people. The group instructor has done some demonstration lessons, explaining why / how they are doing it that way, and then we have all had a turn at giving short (5 - 10 minute) lessons to our group, with the instructor coaching us. Tomorrow we have been asked to provide a lesson plan for a 15 minute session, showing how we will differentiate for individuals at different stages. So our dogs are there really just as stooges. However one person in my group gave a really good 10 minute session of training your dog to walk backwards today, which I’m going to follow up with Molly as I’ve never trained her to do this. It’s also interesting as several of the instructors have shown different methods of teaching the same skill. The message seems to be that if it’s ethically sound (force-free) and it works, then feel free to do it any way you choose. I really do love the IMDT ethos and have seen it in practice all the time I’ve been on the course.
Doesn't sound like @SteffiS gun dog trainer has been anywhere near this type of training. Well done Joy.
We really need some rain but don't worry, I'll be whingeing about it after one day! As much as I complained and worried about Max during the extraordinary heat waves we had this year, I really don't like the cold (hard to please ). That is pretty cold @edzbird! But it's all about what you are used to and I'm sure your house is warm and cosy. Our house is freezing in Winter as we tend to gear towards combating the heat and forget that it does get cold in Winter, even if it is pretty short. I've seen lots of pictures of the Isle of Man and the scenery is breath-taking and the medieval history is amazing. I hope I can visit one day
