<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758</id><updated>2012-01-26T05:40:33.031Z</updated><category term='crime prevention'/><category term='colour'/><category term='children'/><category term='DNA'/><category term='lifestyle choices'/><category term='merlin'/><category term='biology'/><category term='clothes'/><category term='magic'/><category term='newlook'/><category term='god'/><category term='crime scene investigation'/><category term='blood'/><category term='civil liberties'/><category term='horse poo'/><category term='dresses'/><category term='rant'/><category term='next'/><title type='text'>Merlin's Wizard</title><subtitle type='html'>This blog is about me, my animals and my life. xxx</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>18</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-5277599734191852914</id><published>2009-07-30T15:13:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2009-07-30T15:22:40.936+01:00</updated><title type='text'>The Border Union Show</title><content type='html'>Well madness must run in our family or I have just got a double dose!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Taking one horse is a task, two is a struggle, but we decided to take three! Yes, three. Three to groom, three to wash and three to put tails up (although a kind lady came and did the mare's tail for me) . However we managed to make it to the ring and then the fun began.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Merlin has taken a great shine to Auntie Cecilia and she has to him. He was up first. He screamed his head off for his beloved Auntie the whole time and didn't concentrate one little bit on the job in hand- we got third.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then came Dexter, my brother's horse. He was a gent and my brother showed him really well, the judge must however must have been having a bad day, he got third too.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then came the turn of Auntie Cecilia. She screamed also, but she barged me around too. Now being fully grown she weights not far short of a ton in weight and that really is something that you cant stop when she takes a notion.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To be fair to her she showed really well  but I believe as she &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;wouldn't&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;stand&lt;/span&gt; still a screamed so much &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;that's&lt;/span&gt; why we were given another third place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I then rode her later around the show field and she went so well I kicked myself for the rest of the day for not bringing my show jacket and boots ( she was supposed to be in the ridden class but I withdrew as I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; think she was ready- more fool me). She was a dream and went far better with me sat on her back than she did with me beside her.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The day was good on the whole, if not rather stressful at times, and the horses went there and back safely- which in the end is the main thing.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-5277599734191852914?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/5277599734191852914/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=5277599734191852914' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/5277599734191852914'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/5277599734191852914'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2009/07/border-union-show.html' title='The Border Union Show'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-6298232459883023907</id><published>2009-05-07T22:23:00.004+01:00</published><updated>2009-05-20T13:01:54.971+01:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='civil liberties'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='crime scene investigation'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='DNA'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='crime prevention'/><title type='text'>DNA Database- Friend or Foe?</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Deoxyribonucleic&lt;/span&gt; Acid everyone has it and everyone is unique- its a stamp of who we are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After studying Crime Scene science for 2 years it became a crucial part of what I was studying. Every crime scene I processed invariably had some sort of DNA left behind in it, from strands of hair to droplets of blood. This DNA would then be collected and then sent to the Forensic Science Service for profiling (ours &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;weren't&lt;/span&gt; as we did have real hair and blood, but the crime scene was synthesized for educational purposes).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That DNA would then be stored against that crime and ran through the national DNA Database to be compared to 4.5 million other samples with the hope of generating a match- &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;unfortunately&lt;/span&gt; not always.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So then if in real life those samples were sent and &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; generate a match, what do you then tell the women that was raped, "Sorry but he's still out there and we have no idea who he is"? Tricky question to pose to anybody.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Currently the National DNA Database holds the DNA profiles for all convicted &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;criminals&lt;/span&gt; for life. They also hold the profiles for those who have been sampled but then cleared for 12yrs for serious or sexual offences and 6yrs for minor &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;offences&lt;/span&gt; with &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;juveniles&lt;/span&gt; being removed from the database when they reach the age of 18.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Currently there has been great press interest in the fact that the European Court has ruled that it is unlawful to hold data on people who are sampled and then cleared of the crime. Civil &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;Liberty&lt;/span&gt; group "Liberty" has stated that these people should be removed &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;immediately&lt;/span&gt;. Personally, and &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;I'm&lt;/span&gt; going out on a limb here, I believe that everyone in the country should be sampled and put on the database, then if a crime is committed and DNA is found, then as soon as the sample is processed, a match will be found and that offender will be able to be found much faster due to the data which is held on the database. Also the press would be able to be used as a vital tool in finding them. They would be off the streets much faster and unable to commit the offense again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How many times have serial killers left behind DNA to taunt the police but as they are unknown to the authorities &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;have&lt;/span&gt; been able to go on a commit more murders before they are found? A database would at least give the Authorities a name of who they are looking for, and in turn help speed up the process of catching that said individual.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Furthermore an entire DNA Database of all of the population would also act as a great deterrent to potential offenders. They would know that they could be traced and would be less likely to commit the crime in the first place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is always another side to the argument, like why should &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;everyone&lt;/span&gt; have their information kept by the authorities when they &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;haven't&lt;/span&gt; done anything wrong? And what happens if the information would get into the wrong hands?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Everyone has the right to privacy, but they also have the right to be safe.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-6298232459883023907?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/6298232459883023907/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=6298232459883023907' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/6298232459883023907'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/6298232459883023907'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2009/05/dna-database-friend-or-foe.html' title='DNA Database- Friend or Foe?'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-268155400796713684</id><published>2009-04-21T15:11:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2009-04-21T15:31:10.635+01:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='god'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='lifestyle choices'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='children'/><title type='text'>Deborah 13- Servant to God</title><content type='html'>Amazing the mind of a &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;thirteen&lt;/span&gt; year old, dreams of what life has to offer mixed with hormones from the developing body. However it seems not all thirteen year &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;old's&lt;/span&gt; are like this.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I watched a programme the other night which was &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;entitled&lt;/span&gt; "Deborah 13 servant to God". &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;Initially&lt;/span&gt; i was going to turn it off, but the first &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;opening&lt;/span&gt; lines of the programme made me continue to watch it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This programme was about a girl who lived out on a farm with her parents and her nine brothers and sisters. They never went to school, everyone was home taught and they never left the farm for anything else than a trip to the local supermarket.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Life for this girl when viewed by a conventional family seemed &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;bleak&lt;/span&gt;, with no friends and nothing to do. But this girl seemed to thrive, loving each and everyday.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However when she began to talk of god and the relationship which she believed she had with him it then became apparent that she had led such a sheltered life that she was almost brainwashed and was unable to think freely without considering what "god" was going to think.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;don't&lt;/span&gt; believe in god personally but I do believe that people have used faith in may different ways and for some it may heal pain, whilst for others it reforms their behaviour. Deborah, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; have this insight though, she believed he would judge her.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A child of &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;thirteen&lt;/span&gt; should never have to be constantly thinking what "He" upstairs is going to think , it is a time when mistakes are made and that you then build on them to make you a better person in the long run. She commented that she &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; mind not having any friends and only seeking company from her siblings, but how could she not mind? She had never had them in the first place so was unaware of what she was missing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The upside to her life was that she had never had to experience the cruelty of the world, had never had to see how truly awful some people can be and had never had to be and the end of someones foul behaviour. She had no concept of relationships; only that you got married and then never left that person. Her ideals were beautiful in some respects, but it did make her seem so &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;vulnerable&lt;/span&gt;. What happens when she does get married? If that said individual happens to be a control freak that likes to use his hands against her? She would be in effect "easy-pickings" to such an individual. Would she leave him to get herself the life she deserves or would she stick to her vows as she &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; want to disappoint God?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wish every child could have her life to some extent then maybe childhoods &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;wouldn't&lt;/span&gt; be robbed, but &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"&gt;ultimately&lt;/span&gt; I believe that if you are a good parent and help your child, then the bad things in life that a child may see, will only help them to become better more rounded individuals in the future.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-268155400796713684?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/268155400796713684/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=268155400796713684' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/268155400796713684'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/268155400796713684'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2009/04/deborah-13-servant-to-god.html' title='Deborah 13- Servant to God'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-3258896832131405177</id><published>2009-03-21T22:05:00.003Z</published><updated>2009-03-21T22:10:31.773Z</updated><title type='text'>I never thought I would miss her so much....</title><content type='html'>Last weekend saw the day that Auntie Cecelia got the chance to go back to her husband for a naughty 6 weeks!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All being well she will be in foal this time and next spring should see the first of many little clydesdales running around.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's strange though, not having her stomping her feet at me as I pass her field (she believes she should get fed everytime a human comes near), it's little quirks like that I miss. Also she was doing so well with her newly found talent- riding. She has the most honest nature and loves to please and I have been having great fun with her- I now have to wait until after the lambing!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I talk as if she is dead, but its like a big hole not being filled! I do love her and cant wait till she is back- maybe im just jealous after all she has a better life than me! LOL!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I shall send pics soon of her. Take care all and thanks for reading!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-3258896832131405177?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/3258896832131405177/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=3258896832131405177' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/3258896832131405177'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/3258896832131405177'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-never-thought-i-would-miss-her-so.html' title='I never thought I would miss her so much....'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-7329559949442408486</id><published>2008-11-05T22:18:00.004Z</published><updated>2008-11-05T22:41:08.351Z</updated><title type='text'>And We Are Off!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SRIfDq8g5PI/AAAAAAAAAEI/00zoM3MNx0c/s1600-h/DSCF0799.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265305062277702898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SRIfDq8g5PI/AAAAAAAAAEI/00zoM3MNx0c/s320/DSCF0799.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Just a quick post to let you all know what I have been up to- Auntie Cecilia!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;From a mare up on a hill to a great friend all in about three months. It was known in the past that certain Ex-boyfriends had doubts about my horse breaking abilities, but then you generally have to start with something good in the first place! And luckily enough I have! (Right that's my gibe over with, thanks for bearing with me)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Auntie C has become one hell of a good companion and I couldn't imagine life without her now. I think it must be Clydesdale's in general but they seem to have the most amazing aptitude for learning new things and are so eager to please, I couldn't imagine me going back to Hunter types now.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;She started off with the tack and then came the little bit of weight and then the big bit of weight (me!), now she is quite happily wandering round the field with me and all her tack and is responding very well from my leg aids ( this was done in about 5 Times of riding her)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265306098917200098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SRIgAAuoUOI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/2OOfKboTKc0/s320/DSCF0789.JPG" border="0" /&gt; I promise to you all she has never had any work done with her, not past a lead rope anyway, which makes this truly remarkable how well she is doing. When I first started breaking her my mum (rather optimistically) said " you will be in the show ring next year with her", and to be honest I think I will be if she keeps progressing at this rate. I keep waiting for something to faze her, but it never seems to. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265306672309228210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SRIghYx8UrI/AAAAAAAAAEY/nC2nlD7ctB8/s320/DSCF0793.JPG" border="0" /&gt;Anyway I shall stop babbling now and if you could see me now you would be sick of me as I have the most cheesy grin! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-7329559949442408486?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/7329559949442408486/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=7329559949442408486' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/7329559949442408486'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/7329559949442408486'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/11/and-we-are-off.html' title='And We Are Off!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SRIfDq8g5PI/AAAAAAAAAEI/00zoM3MNx0c/s72-c/DSCF0799.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-4126871299136129285</id><published>2008-10-01T16:45:00.002+01:00</published><updated>2008-10-01T16:47:10.827+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Changes!</title><content type='html'>Just to say sorry for the changes on the blog!. It seems that I cannot get the text to display properly for the older posts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All will be well with the new ones though!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Any chance anyone knows how to get a picture next to my title? I tried and it took over half of my page!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thanks to all&lt;br /&gt;xxx&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-4126871299136129285?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/4126871299136129285/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=4126871299136129285' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/4126871299136129285'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/4126871299136129285'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/10/changes.html' title='Changes!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-1672363810174692032</id><published>2008-09-27T22:13:00.002+01:00</published><updated>2008-09-27T22:23:12.959+01:00</updated><title type='text'>We Can now see!!</title><content type='html'>The puppies have finally opened their eyes today. They are so cute! However they look as if they have a bad hangover!! Each time they open them, they roll around in their heads and then close:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"&lt;em&gt;......ah no, the bright lights....!"&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bless them though they are adorable. The only trouble now is getting them all good homes. To be honest I'm the type that would rather give them away to people who would care for them and love them than sell them to someone who would have no real clue and would treat them badly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Auntie &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Cecilia&lt;/span&gt; has had a good day, she embraced the bit. After &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;trialling&lt;/span&gt; round the shops &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;some&lt;/span&gt; months ago we finally found a bridle that would fit her massive head. The bit was the next problem, 5.5" is the biggest most shops will stock, so i was hard pushed today to find the 6", but i did and it fits like a glove.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To be honest &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;I'm&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;really&lt;/span&gt; impressed at her. she is 10yrs old and has never really been in &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;civilisation&lt;/span&gt;, but she has taken to it really well. she has had so much change and taken it all really well. although some change is better than others, bits and girths are bad, but apple or mint flavoured horse licks are great!!! (she has eaten one in a day!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;although i feel her easy going nature is going to run out at some point and i will soon find out what flicks her switch.......&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-1672363810174692032?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/1672363810174692032/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=1672363810174692032' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/1672363810174692032'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/1672363810174692032'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/09/we-can-now-see.html' title='We Can now see!!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-4724444645690966837</id><published>2008-09-25T15:03:00.002+01:00</published><updated>2008-09-25T15:24:30.146+01:00</updated><title type='text'>I'm Back!!</title><content type='html'>It seems that I have been away far to long!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My grandfather, Tom, whom I had been caring for the two years, passed away on the 4&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;th&lt;/span&gt; July.&lt;br /&gt;I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; want to blog as some part of me thought that if i was blogging about day to day life then I would have to blog about this also. I simply &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;couldn't&lt;/span&gt;. To be honest I sat down last week and thought right, lets do this thing but I still &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;couldn't&lt;/span&gt;. After some thought I decided that rather than force myself ( and only because of a notion I have) then I should talk about him when I can and not deprive myself of my blogging pleasure! so here I am, back in the fold once again!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have had a bad run of luck these past couple of years and to be honest it &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;couldn't&lt;/span&gt; get much lower so it had to get better at some point- and it has, I now have my own home!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What a place though! We walked up the road to see the property and I was buzzing about it, however, when I got through the door it was like I had went back in time. The place was rancid! The previous occupants had decided to let there four dogs pee up the walls and there was dog muck everywhere. It stank!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However one month on, 30 rolls of wallpaper, 7 tins of paint, and about 3 zillion hours of hard graft, its looks like something from a magazine! I love it, so much so &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;I'm&lt;/span&gt; frightened to live in it &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;in case&lt;/span&gt; I spoil it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anyway &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;that's&lt;/span&gt; enough raving about it for now. Back to the horse update. The penny has finally dropped for &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;Merlin&lt;/span&gt; that he is all man. this &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;occurred&lt;/span&gt; after the workmen left the gate open so the mare could wander into the adjoining field. instead of his &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;usual&lt;/span&gt; cuddly &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;manner&lt;/span&gt; he now has one of pure hormones, although he &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;isn't&lt;/span&gt; being rude to me and still knows how to do as he is told when required.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The mare (known as Auntie Cecilia) &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"&gt;Merlin's&lt;/span&gt; aunt, arrived the last week in &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"&gt;July&lt;/span&gt; and has now settled very well and is a real &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"&gt;luvvie&lt;/span&gt;. She did however fail to get in foal as we had hoped and will now be covered in the spring again. Fingers crossed for then!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rosie the Jack &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"&gt;Russell&lt;/span&gt; (pictured) has given birth to her second litter of pups, four in total, which are all strong and healthy, and are ready for new homes come 1st &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"&gt;November&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well I think that's me all caught up now- and I shall promise to come back to you all without such a long gap!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take care&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-4724444645690966837?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/4724444645690966837/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=4724444645690966837' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/4724444645690966837'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/4724444645690966837'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/09/im-back.html' title='I&apos;m Back!!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-1678525901220730341</id><published>2008-06-14T19:39:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2008-06-14T19:45:36.883+01:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='horse poo'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='merlin'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='magic'/><title type='text'>Merlins Magic!</title><content type='html'>Just a short post today- but it seems that Merlin has magic within him!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A few weeks ago we planted large wooden troughs with vegetable plants not knowing whether they would be successful or not- they are massively!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At the bottom of these troughs are piles and piles of horse muck- Merlins.  When we went to do the usual watering it seems that these plants have made a mad dash for the heavens as they are massive now. Lush green leaves and healthy strong stems. We have put it down to the fact that they must have finally grown down enough to reach Merlin's muck and have now taken a growing spurt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Therefore we have now renamed his dung as Merlins Magic- as totally is!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If anyone is coming to Northumberland and would like a boost to their veg plots then let me know and I will fix you up with a bag!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-1678525901220730341?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/1678525901220730341/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=1678525901220730341' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/1678525901220730341'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/1678525901220730341'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/06/merlins-magic.html' title='Merlins Magic!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-1199301076100040920</id><published>2008-06-13T21:11:00.002+01:00</published><updated>2008-06-13T21:26:59.944+01:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='biology'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='blood'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='colour'/><title type='text'>What Colour is Blood?</title><content type='html'>Last night I was round at a friends house and he decided to shock me with his new found knowledge. So he told me our human blood is blue!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well to be told that blood was blue was a shock to say the least but then my logic kicked in, and I argued the point. He then proceeded to go onto the Internet to prove his point. I was then presented with more clap trap on the Internet, thankfully some logical and normal people had also written on these sites.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is my argument:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The heart circulates blood which is oxygenated by the lungs. Therefore to claim blood is blue until it is exposed to oxygen is incorrect.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;When blood is taken by a nurse, the equipment has to be completely air free, or else air would enter the blood vessels, with fatal consequences to the patient.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Some people state that blood is blue as that's why our vessels I our wrist are blue. Our vessels in our wrist are blood due to pigment in the vessel. Some people have blue vessels and some have green- does that mean they have green blood? The pigment in these vessels are also linked to our ability to tan, those with green tan better than those with blue.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;I know most of his information as I used to study crime scene science and I saw plenty of blood. I also did degree level biology and also went to the morgue to look study bodies. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If anyone thinks that blood is blue then please tell me why as I cant understand how in the world this is so.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thanks all and I hope you enjoy this post.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-1199301076100040920?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/1199301076100040920/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=1199301076100040920' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/1199301076100040920'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/1199301076100040920'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-colour-is-blood.html' title='What Colour is Blood?'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-9045763260832779975</id><published>2008-06-04T17:12:00.006+01:00</published><updated>2008-10-01T16:21:18.799+01:00</updated><title type='text'>We Did It!!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SEgTWNGay5I/AAAAAAAAABk/kcKCtV-vfsw/s1600-h/DSCF0663.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208434241248611218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SEgTWNGay5I/AAAAAAAAABk/kcKCtV-vfsw/s400/DSCF0663.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have finally got it together to report on &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Northumberland&lt;/span&gt; County Show!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;The start to the day wasn't as we had hoped- Merlin wouldn't load into the box and in the end we managed to get him in by physically pushing him up the ramp into the box. However, once he was in there he travelled great and didn't seem to mind the whole job!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;We finally arrived at the show ground at 6.30am and then the great clean up began. Merlin who was &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;pristine&lt;/span&gt; the night before had thought that it would be good to lay in his shit. Covered from head to foot he had a rather green alien like glow about him! His beautiful white feathered feet also had the green thing going on and my father and I had to bath him from head to foot. About two hours later and a bottle of &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;shampoo&lt;/span&gt; and stain remover he was back to the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;pristine&lt;/span&gt; chap he was the night before!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Luckily I met up with some great people who were old hands at the showing &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;malarkey&lt;/span&gt; and held my hand right through the process.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Merlin was so well behaved that I am rather dreading the next show as I have a feeling that he has pent up mischief to release!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I was up to high doe by the time we got to the collection ring and the waiting was making it worse for my nerves. Merlin however decided that this was the perfect &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;opportunity&lt;/span&gt; to take a nap in the sunshine- I wish I'd had his confidence!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SEgTz9682bI/AAAAAAAAABs/qAA57TBui4Q/s1600-h/DSCF0644.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208434752570055090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SEgTz9682bI/AAAAAAAAABs/qAA57TBui4Q/s400/DSCF0644.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;After walking and trotting out for the judge, he decided that we were to take second place which I was &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;ecstatic&lt;/span&gt; about. We were beaten by the people who helped us so I was rather relieved as I would have felt bad if it had been the other way round.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;We then had the afternoon to chill out (and for me to grin &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;permanently&lt;/span&gt; about the placing) before going on grand parade in the main ring with all the other 1st's and 2&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;nd's&lt;/span&gt; of the day.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SEgURzA14VI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Kw-eYvAM4jo/s1600-h/DSCF0684.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208435265038049618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SEgURzA14VI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Kw-eYvAM4jo/s400/DSCF0684.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The grand parade was great and M&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;erlin&lt;/span&gt; obviously &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;wasn't&lt;/span&gt; bothered about it as he decided that this again was another great &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;opportunity&lt;/span&gt; for a sleep!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We again had trouble getting him in the box but fortunately we had the help of lots of others so we did it much quicker than on the way down! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;After &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;coming&lt;/span&gt; home, I had to phone the Clydesdale Horse Society about another matter. The lady was asking about the show and afterwards she said that I was to be awarded to Clydesdale Horse Society &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"&gt;shield&lt;/span&gt; for the best yearling in show (they had to be fully working downstairs to get it hence why the people who beat me at the show &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; win it as &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"&gt;theirs&lt;/span&gt; was gelded) and that she needed his full name so she could have it engraved- I shall &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"&gt;receive&lt;/span&gt; it soon. &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"&gt;Wooohooo&lt;/span&gt;!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;The day was fab, Merlin was an absolute star and the bonus was the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"&gt;shield&lt;/span&gt;. But to be honest whether we got anything or not I would still be chuffed to bits as he did so well considering it was all new to him and me. He really settled my nerves, what a lovely chap! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-9045763260832779975?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/9045763260832779975/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=9045763260832779975' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/9045763260832779975'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/9045763260832779975'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-did-it.html' title='We Did It!!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SEgTWNGay5I/AAAAAAAAABk/kcKCtV-vfsw/s72-c/DSCF0663.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-3872413228666715442</id><published>2008-05-22T10:47:00.004+01:00</published><updated>2008-05-22T21:33:12.261+01:00</updated><title type='text'>I must be Mad!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SDVFP_CEsCI/AAAAAAAAAA0/id6xghVW3gU/s1600-h/DSCF0616.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203141085416960034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SDVFP_CEsCI/AAAAAAAAAA0/id6xghVW3gU/s400/DSCF0616.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; It has come to the time where Merlin must go to his first show. Merlin is a one year old Clydesdale Colt ( still has his manhood) and as he is registered, I am able to enter him for the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;in hand&lt;/span&gt; show classes and also the Clydesdale Horse Society &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;Shield&lt;/span&gt;. However I was &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;initially&lt;/span&gt; looking forward to this, I am not now. Everyday when I think "right I'm ready and I know what I am doing" something else crops up. For instance yesterday I was thinking great, I have all your pampering stuff, you are going to look great- all set". Today I find that I might need to plait him up! This entails more shopping for ribbon and raffia and also its a new style of plaiting that I have never done before! Personally &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;I'm&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;dreading&lt;/span&gt; it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I can see us now.........................&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;"&lt;em&gt;&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;Merlins&lt;/span&gt; wizard is now &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;entering&lt;/span&gt; the ring. But whats this? Her steed has taken off round the ring at a flat out gallop &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;dragging&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;Merlin's&lt;/span&gt; wizard with him.! After regaining some control the pair look as if they should be &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;entered&lt;/span&gt; for the best dressed hedge!"&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I think I will be fine (I say completely unconvinced), but I have little confidence in this area and Merlin has never done this before, at least it is the blind leading the blind. I suppose if we disgrace ourselves this much then we wont have to go back next year!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I will report back on &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;Monday&lt;/span&gt; evening on how Myself and Merlin did at the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;Northumberland&lt;/span&gt; Show.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;Merlin's&lt;/span&gt; Wizard&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;xxx&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-3872413228666715442?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/3872413228666715442/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=3872413228666715442' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/3872413228666715442'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/3872413228666715442'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-must-be-mad.html' title='I must be Mad!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SDVFP_CEsCI/AAAAAAAAAA0/id6xghVW3gU/s72-c/DSCF0616.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-7568969140092025705</id><published>2008-05-19T13:57:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2008-05-19T14:04:08.785+01:00</updated><title type='text'>My Gran</title><content type='html'>I wrote this poem last night about my Grandma- its a bit of fun and I hope you enjoy reading it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;                               My Gran&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She's the one who makes my sore tummy feel better,&lt;br /&gt;She's the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;woman's&lt;/span&gt;' whose handwriting you cant read in a letter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She's the woman who says "put the lights out please",&lt;br /&gt;She's the woman who makes scones with red cheddar cheese.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She's the woman who &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;vacuums&lt;/span&gt; like shes got &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;OCD&lt;/span&gt;,&lt;br /&gt;She's the woman who loves soaps on the TV.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Everyday I wake up I hope I grow up to be like her,&lt;br /&gt;Because she's my gran, and she's just super!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-7568969140092025705?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/7568969140092025705/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=7568969140092025705' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/7568969140092025705'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/7568969140092025705'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-gran.html' title='My Gran'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-8469346599100397561</id><published>2008-05-08T23:07:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2008-05-08T23:38:46.145+01:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rant'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='clothes'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='next'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='dresses'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='newlook'/><title type='text'>What a Porker!!</title><content type='html'>I feel that it is time for a rant!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am going to a wedding reception this Saturday night and I discovered I had nothing to wear, as I spend my life in wellies and riding shirts. Hit the shops I thought.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So off i went to B&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;erwick&lt;/span&gt;- Upon- Tweed, thinking I was bound to get a lovely dress that would be perfect. Into New Look and all that was on offer was the usual casual wear, all made from the cheapest material and to be honest looked as if it would unravel in the washing machine. Not going to get anything here then, I thought.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Off to Dorothy P&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;erkins&lt;/span&gt;, same as the above, not a single thing which could be used for that type of function.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And so it went on and a &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;traipsed&lt;/span&gt; into every single clothes shop in the town. In sheer desperation I went into the local designer &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;label&lt;/span&gt; shop ( I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;don't&lt;/span&gt; usually go there as I refuse to pay the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;exuberant&lt;/span&gt; prices) I saw this dress, lovely it was, made by Firetrap, and teamed with the right accessories it would be perfect. "What size" said the man. "Well &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;I'm&lt;/span&gt; usually a 12/ 14 it depends on the cut". "A large" he says, as he thrusts the £95 dress into my hand. I trotted off into the changing room and slipped it over my head. "Mum can you please zip it up for me?" "Not a hope in hell" she says, "You need at least another 6 inches of material to get it to meet!". My mum is a whiz at sewing and if I had found out about this event sooner she would have made me a dress. She measured my bra against the dress and it was no way a size 12 let alone 14. Outrageous I thought, you pay all that money for the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;label&lt;/span&gt; and you &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;don't&lt;/span&gt; even get the cloth to go with it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My quest for an outfit then took me to K&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;elso&lt;/span&gt;, where I found the most amazing tailors shop. Munroe's near &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;Somerfield&lt;/span&gt; (please go a must for bridal/ ball gowns etc). Upon walking in you could tell it was quality, lovely cuts, good fabric and taste! Not some &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;Friday&lt;/span&gt; night pulling outfit, but real classy. The problem with this shop is that the dresses were too nice. However if I get a Prince Charming to marry me or &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;even&lt;/span&gt; take me to a ball, then I know where to go for a dress.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Eventually I ended up in G&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"&gt;alashiels&lt;/span&gt; and after &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"&gt;traipsing&lt;/span&gt; round Next, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"&gt;Tesco&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"&gt;Asda&lt;/span&gt;, M&amp;amp;S etc I got something to wear, only in each shop I was a different size, and also I was trying on size 18 clothes when I only &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"&gt;officially&lt;/span&gt; measure up to a size 12/14. As you can imagine I was mortified with this and vowed to cut out all the labels when I got home, so that no-one could see what a fat porker I had become. I did however really feel down about the job, but when I reflect now, it must be quite horrible for all women to go into shops and have to try on sizes much larger than they would normally wear, a real downer on someones self-esteem.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I do think though that clothes have gone down the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"&gt;swanny&lt;/span&gt; in quality terms and that if you pay £20 for a top then you should get a) the right amount of fabric, b) something which is made from decent fabric and not something which will &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"&gt;disintegrate&lt;/span&gt; in the washing machine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well that is it for my rant, and feel much better. My self-esteem is back up as I realise that the its the shops which are a fault, not me.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-8469346599100397561?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/8469346599100397561/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=8469346599100397561' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/8469346599100397561'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/8469346599100397561'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-porker.html' title='What a Porker!!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-3768526358441495430</id><published>2008-05-06T09:10:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2008-05-06T12:47:37.271+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Lack of oxygen</title><content type='html'>My breathing became so laboured, I was fighting for air. With each breath in I knew that the supply of oxygen was getting less and may chest became tighter and tighter. I had to get out of there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I struggled through to my area in the factory and a met a friend, he could see my trouble and told me to go upstairs into the offices.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The stairs were long, my breaths were short- it took some time. When I made it to the top it felt like there was an 18 stone man sitting on my chest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The people in the offices looked at me as if to say "gods whats up with her, this is going to harm production," to be honest &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;that's&lt;/span&gt; all they cared about.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was told to go have some fresh air and go home, and some body from the factory would check me out in a few weeks- nobody ever did.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I had this terrible feeling all night long. As someone who smoked I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; want to say anything to my parents as I believed that the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;cigs&lt;/span&gt; had finally caught up with me, I was later to learn that they &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;hadn't&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The next day was lovely, warm and sunny, with a gentle breeze. Perfect for a spot of gardening. My grandma is a keen &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;gardener&lt;/span&gt; and I offered my help to her as grandad is unable to help &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;due&lt;/span&gt; to his spinal condition. I was still feeling very chesty and tight and had come to the conclusion that it was a chest infection.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lunchtime came and grandad wanted a kipper so I cooked it for him in the microwave, as I lifted the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;clingfilm&lt;/span&gt; off the top and waft of fish laced steam came up into my face. It was down hill from then.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As I tried to move things in the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;greenhouse&lt;/span&gt; I was unable and spent most of the afternoon on the seat outside the bungalow, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;shielding&lt;/span&gt; what was wrong from gran (who is an ex- casualty sister), I managed but after supper I got washed and went straight to bed as it was getting worse and I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; want to worry her, still thinking in my mind that it was a chest infection.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9pm came that night and when gran came through I now &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;couldn't&lt;/span&gt; talk I was that short of breath. I told her what was wrong at this point and what had been happening and she called my parents and an ambulance.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the time I got into the local hospital I had &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;waited&lt;/span&gt; three hours. This was because it was a &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;Saturday&lt;/span&gt; night and all the drunks and people who had been fighting had taken up the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"&gt;ambulances&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I had a chest x-ray there and then when i arrived and it showed that my left lung was full and the right one was half full, full of histamines that my body had produced in an allergic reaction- effectively I was drowning to death.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After three days in intensive care I was allowed home. I was still very weak and it took many days to get better. I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; get a positive diagnosis of what was wrong for 2 months. I had A&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"&gt;naphylaxsis&lt;/span&gt;, caused by occupational asthma that had been untreated, therefore it went to the next level. However it was so severe in my condition that the smell of any type of fish and shellfish was enough to put me into A&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"&gt;naphylactic&lt;/span&gt; shock.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"&gt;tell&lt;/span&gt; when I am going into shock as my chest becomes extremely tight. I go light- headed and if I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"&gt;don't&lt;/span&gt; have my adrenaline pens within minutes of the attack starting then I will go into a coma and die in around 10 minutes of the first symptoms &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"&gt;occurring&lt;/span&gt;. I also have the usual symptoms of my mouth swelling if I eat anything that contains a fish product (oils and omega 3's), the back of my lips also swell up and burst.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"&gt;naive&lt;/span&gt; when I first got A&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"&gt;naphylaxis&lt;/span&gt; as I thought that it would be easy to avoid, but potential harmful items are everywhere. I cant go out for meals and socialising in general is quite hard. &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"&gt;Ive&lt;/span&gt; found that its easy to protect myself but its much harder when &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"&gt;I'm&lt;/span&gt; in a group or out and about as the people themselves could be a potential threat as I cant in any terms expect everyone to understand my &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"&gt;condition&lt;/span&gt; as much of the understanding comes after someone has seen me have an attack. I would &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"&gt;love&lt;/span&gt; to get in touch with others who have A&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"&gt;naphylaxis&lt;/span&gt; as I would like to think that my experiences could help somebody else and that I could also be a support to others as it can be very daunting when the condition first occurs.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-3768526358441495430?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/3768526358441495430/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=3768526358441495430' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/3768526358441495430'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/3768526358441495430'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/05/lack-of-oxygen.html' title='Lack of oxygen'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-296241482306937226</id><published>2008-04-26T21:48:00.006+01:00</published><updated>2008-04-26T22:22:44.306+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Ban the 500yr Old Tradition!</title><content type='html'>Dear fellow &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Bloggers&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you imagine a horse, what do you see? This perhaps?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBOWOMvnBZI/AAAAAAAAAAU/ApwsVA32tIk/s1600-h/image+of+nice+horse.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193659965971563922" style="WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 143px" height="143" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBOWOMvnBZI/AAAAAAAAAAU/ApwsVA32tIk/s400/image+of+nice+horse.jpg" width="142" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Two months ago I was reading the paper and after I turned the page, I saw an image which struck sheer terror through me - horses fighting.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBObVMvnBaI/AAAAAAAAAAc/FTcmdOPesTk/s1600-h/horse+fight+2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193665583788787106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBObVMvnBaI/AAAAAAAAAAc/FTcmdOPesTk/s400/horse+fight+2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;In china and the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;Philippines&lt;/span&gt; each year stallions are put together in a ring with a mare who is in season, in order to frenzy them so that they will fight to the death. It is illegal in the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;Philippines&lt;/span&gt; (however it is not policed so remains a feature of many villages) and &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;legal&lt;/span&gt; in china where they class it as a 500yr old tradition and although the government has been petitioned they have refused to ban it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;The people who run these fights, who are &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;largely&lt;/span&gt; organised crime networks, earn vast sums of money through betting and have a total lack of regard for the stallions welfare along with the mare, who used as bait, may be covered by "&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;championing&lt;/span&gt; stallions" over thirty times in a 6hr period. even before she has to suffer the torture of being covered yet again, she will be kicked and bitten repeatedly by the duelling stallions in each fight.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBObjcvnBbI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Rgl9pk6rU9o/s1600-h/horse+fight+3.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193665828601922994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBObjcvnBbI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Rgl9pk6rU9o/s400/horse+fight+3.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;In &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;Britain&lt;/span&gt; people do not usually leave their colts entire and will have them gelded in the first 6 months of their life, unless the colts will be used for breeding purposes later in life. Anybody who has a stallion ( I do) will tell you that you cannot leave a stallion in a field with another gelding or &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;stallion&lt;/span&gt; as the hormones take over and they fight to the death. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The people in these countries do not only watch this barbaric sport themselves, but children are also taken along- so from a very young age think that this sport is acceptable. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBOby8vnBcI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Ocr0XVgkeYE/s1600-h/horse+fight+4.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193666094889895362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBOby8vnBcI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Ocr0XVgkeYE/s400/horse+fight+4.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;To read the articles which I have found please type "horse fighting" into Google where you will get the full reports from both the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;Philippines&lt;/span&gt; and china.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;The &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;WSPA&lt;/span&gt; Asia is running a &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;campaign&lt;/span&gt; in &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;association&lt;/span&gt; with the network for animals, in which it would like &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;people&lt;/span&gt; to write to the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"&gt;Philippine&lt;/span&gt; bureau of animal welfare.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-296241482306937226?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/296241482306937226/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=296241482306937226' title='9 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/296241482306937226'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/296241482306937226'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/04/ban-500yr-old-tradition.html' title='Ban the 500yr Old Tradition!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SBOWOMvnBZI/AAAAAAAAAAU/ApwsVA32tIk/s72-c/image+of+nice+horse.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>9</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-6651599978472955798</id><published>2008-04-25T12:09:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2008-04-25T13:40:57.744+01:00</updated><title type='text'>A Little Girl- The Genius of Tomorrow.</title><content type='html'>I would like to write about a little girl I met recently.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Are you going to feed the baby pet lambs" she would say, "Of course, would you like to come?" I replied.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Every day this little girl would come with me to feed the lambs, and everyday it would take us 20 minutes to get her wellies and &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;boiler suit&lt;/span&gt; on, but those 20 minutes were never wasted. Those 20 minutes were filled with recollections of what happened last week, things she wanted to do, and always flashes of her incredible sense of humour. I was as bad as her for &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;getting&lt;/span&gt; ready, as I would tickle her a mess around, but we shared frequent moments of sheer laughter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One day that &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;particularly&lt;/span&gt; stands out in my mind was a snowy Grand P&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;rix&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;Sunday&lt;/span&gt; afternoon. After playing games with her and her dad in the kitchen, we started to fool around tickling each other. It was her turn to tickle me. I usually have the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;ability&lt;/span&gt; to resist the urge to laugh but she caught me off guard, and I flew backwards onto the floor taking the chair with me. Her and myself laughed so hard and so long, and &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;couldn't&lt;/span&gt; look at each other for laughing- that moment was so pure.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The days grew longer for me lambing sheep and the weather got colder, it was fair to say that my &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;enthusiasm&lt;/span&gt; was taking a beating, but things had to be done and I had to get on with it. Then the little girl came out with me, her high spirit, in turn &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"&gt;lightened&lt;/span&gt; mine, and the day got much better. she really was a bright light on a cold windy day, and from that day on I knew if I was feeling down I only had to wait until the school bus came before I would be cheered up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The sheer brilliance of this little girl never ceased to amaze me, such &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"&gt;intelligence&lt;/span&gt; encased in such a young mind must be torture for her, as those who &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"&gt;don't&lt;/span&gt; know her just see an 8yr old and not the mind she &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"&gt;possesses&lt;/span&gt;. &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"&gt;Fortunately&lt;/span&gt; for her she has a fantastic mother who sees this and encourages it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another day which stood out for me was when an older lady came to see the pet lambs, naturally I was there with the little girl. The lady looked on at the little girl's bursting personality and you could see the old mind in this lady was just dying to give her a smacked bottom and tell her to be quiet. The whole time I thought, perhaps you would like her to be a little quieter, but just maybe you can see her brilliance, and perhaps you should embrace what is there instead of trying to change it, after all the mind in this little girl is most probably the genius of &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"&gt;tomorrow&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Its safe to say that this little girl is has the most enchanting spirit and has the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"&gt;ability&lt;/span&gt; to make the best of everything, if only we could all be like her!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; want to include this little fact at the start, but this &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"&gt;Little&lt;/span&gt; girl is autistic. I would really like people to comment on this blog as I would like to to know just out of interest whether people would have read this blog &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"&gt;differently&lt;/span&gt; if they had known right from the start.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-6651599978472955798?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/6651599978472955798/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=6651599978472955798' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/6651599978472955798'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/6651599978472955798'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/04/little-girl-genius-of-tomorrow.html' title='A Little Girl- The Genius of Tomorrow.'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6854977985509856758.post-4144232719956028181</id><published>2008-04-24T23:29:00.000+01:00</published><updated>2008-04-24T23:40:35.801+01:00</updated><title type='text'>The First of Many- I hope!!</title><content type='html'>I am new on blogspot and I'm not sure what to say. Perhaps I should start with how I found out about this site- crystaljigsaw- I love her bloggs please read them, they're great.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am dull to many as a person I have 4 Jack Russells of whom I shall introduce later and two horses. My name Merlin's Wizard, and my new baby horse whom I adore (how I came to have him is another story!). He is only 11 months but already towers above me at a mighty 15.3hh!! That's massive I hear you say- he should be he's a pure bred clydesdale, with the most enormous feet and should be at least 18hh when fully grown!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I also have severe anaphylaxis, and would love to help anybody who has just been diagnosed with the condition as I know how scary it can be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So between the anaphylaxis and the country living it's no wonder I am a touch dull!! lol.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take Care&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Merlins Wizard xxxx&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6854977985509856758-4144232719956028181?l=merlinswizard.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/feeds/4144232719956028181/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6854977985509856758&amp;postID=4144232719956028181' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/4144232719956028181'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6854977985509856758/posts/default/4144232719956028181'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://merlinswizard.blogspot.com/2008/04/first-of-many-i-hope.html' title='The First of Many- I hope!!'/><author><name>Merlin's Wizard</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01055056976137826592</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EdB1H8_6hHM/SNuZSe_hrwI/AAAAAAAAADM/3SEyYtyEOaY/S220/puppies+merlin+032.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
