Life was finally finding its rhythm, with Lottie’s little meltdowns becoming as rare as a sunny day in England. We were stuck in the usual weekly grind, no exciting trips on the horizon. I stumbled upon an ad on Facebook for Dog Fest, organised by the famous vet Noel Fitzpatrick. Known for his orthopaedic and neurological surgeries, he was hosting this canine extravaganza at the stunning Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire. The event promised scurry racing, dog agility, a group dog walk that anyone could join, security dog displays, and a fun dog show. Plus, there were stalls selling goodies for dogs, cats, and other pets, along with burger vans and food stalls—perfect for our two drooling Labradors!
We arrived, joined the queue, and as we waited, both girls were as calm as cucumbers. But as we started moving, Poppy decided she was quite content where she was and joined the family behind us! We wandered through the stalls, with the girls showing a keen interest in anything food or toy-related. Honestly, why do stalls always put food at a level low enough for dogs to reach? I had secretly entered Jason and Poppy into a couple of dog show classes, so as we strolled, I whispered to Jason that he was up next! Poppy, for an hour at least, came out of retirement and strutted her stuff in the show ring. She performed like she had never left, though she didn’t win this time. But hey, it’s the taking part that counts, right?
While Lottie and I were watching Poppy, or so I thought, I glanced down to see Lottie eyeing a couple having a picnic, ever the greedy Labrador on the hunt for her next meal. Chocolate Labradors were still on her radar, and there were a few, so she was in her element. Despite the not-so-great weather, it was a delightful day out, topped off with lunch at a local spot.
As we wandered around, we kept hearing the same comment: “Ahh, aren’t they lovely!” When we revealed they were mother and daughter, it made people coo even more.
Dog Fest is still going strong, and we’ve been back a few times since. They’ve even added a massive swimming pool for dogs to dive into!
Jairkingsly Labradors 
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