new beginnings Archives - Joanna Taylor

February 2, 20260Comments

Teachings of Dog: Joy in Small Things

Well, we hadn't planned it, but on Saturday we had a totally unexpected 12-hour round trip to Wales to collect a very special, tiny lady... Violet has joined the family -

January 5, 20260Comments

R is for… Rest and Reflection

So... Happy New Year! For many of us, today is the beginning of the first "proper" working week of 2026, and how are you feeling? Fully refreshed and

December 20, 20240Comments

D is for… Darkness… and Dawn

It's Yule - in the pre-dawn on the eve of the Winter Solstice. We are in what my late mother-in-law used to refer to as "the dark days before

July 5, 20161Comments

The Magic of Discovery

It's just over three weeks since little Luna joined us, and we can't believe how easily she has just taken everything in her stride... Nothing seems to faze her, and

June 15, 20162Comments

Eat, Play, Love… Part 2

Since the sudden loss of our beautiful Daisy at the end of May, we have been helped by a great many words of comfort and wisdom from friends and family,

October 2, 20120Comments

Teachings of Dog: No 27 – Creatures of habit

It is interesting how we all become creatures of habit. The very act of doing something over and over in the same way creates a neurological pathway in our brain,

April 27, 20120Comments

The Teachings of Dog – No. 23: When the Gates of Life are left open…

We've had a lot of rain this week here in Wydale, and the canine members of staff have not been impressed. When we open the kitchen door to the garden,

March 14, 20120Comments

The Teachings of Dog – No 22: Why break the habit of a lifetime?

We had some old friends round for supper the other evening. We hadn't seen them for ages, and they were enchanted to meet the two new part-time canine members of

August 25, 20111Comments

The Teachings of Dog – No 18: Finding the Right Candidate

One of our part-time canine members of staff has recently left to pursue a new career with her original breeder. Poppy does not seem to like being an "only dog"

July 13, 20091Comments

Happiness is a Warm Puppy

Poppy arrived today - and has been greeted by general adulation from all of us. A happy and contented little soul - she has settled in remarkably quickly, completely unfazed

by Joanna