MAXDOG, TOBY, KATHLEEN, DOG SHOWS...the week's roundup.

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXMOM here...

Early summer has finally descended on Johannesburg and the trees are all sporting their pretty green leaves.

Some of the seasonal birds have also returned and generally people are in good spirits.

The Rugby World Cup competition in New Zealand is also contributing  to a generally festive mood in our country. Temperatures too are in their mid-20’s and our pool is looking more inviting by the day. Admittedly, I’ve not yet found the courage to brace it’s chilly contents, but I do imagine that my first swim of the season is just around the corner.

Toby, however is unperturbed by the weather.

He takes his swim whenever he gets hot. But today was the "Hooligan’s" bath-day because tomorrow, and on Sunday, he’s attending a dog show again.

Anyway, his grooming is completed and he’s looking very handsome indeed. If only I can wash some of his energy out. Donovan might well have to call on all his skill tomorrow to control him in the ring….Good luck, Don’!

It’s been a busy week for me: My attention has been largely focussed on finalising MAXDOG’s book cover, finalising the manuscript and finalising the discussions around the foreword. Next week, the editor is going to start her scrutiny, so I have to have the manuscript totally ready (which it is) to hand it over. After three weeks with the editor, we begin the serious layout design of the manuscript. We also have to finalise decisions about which photographs to include. Phew, I can’t believe it’s finally happening…but it can’t happen quickly enough now!

I need to see MAXDOG in print!

One of my special blogging friends, and talented artist, Kathleen Coy, agreed to write the foreword to MAXDOG. Her contribution is really touching and has reduced me to tears this week. For those who may be unfamiliar with Kathleen : - she is the artist who painted the

 ‘MAX-TERPIECE’

 – the beautiful portrait which is on the cover of MAXDOG.

At the time, the painting was sponsored by many of my blogging friends around the world and has come to be extremely sentimental to me. It hangs on the wall of our lounge and we are able to look at Maxdog’s face every time we walk past it. Kathleen truly is a fantastic artist and I am so grateful that she has written the foreword to this book.

Thank you Kathleen for your poignant words and also for the encouragement you have given me on this incredible journey.

Unfortunately however, my readers are just going to have to wait for the book’s publication to read what she has said. I can, however, tell you that…it’s really beautiful!

You can check out some more of Kathleen's beautiful work at:

KATHLEEN COY FINE ART STUDIO

---xXx---

It’s also WORLD CUP RUGBY FEVER here in South Africa at the moment. Patriotic T-shirts and various branding is been sported by many of our South African supporters.

Good luck to the Springboks, who play against Fiji tomorrow. Oh, how I wish I was in New Zealand at this special time.

Well, that’s all for now, except for a few more photographs of my ‘Sweet Hooligan’.

"Wherever MAXDOG goes, let it do good!"

Sending lotsaluv to all my friends around the world