We have just had a wonderful weekend meeting my Auntie and four cousins who live in America. As a surprise for my Aunt's 80th birthday, her four daughters arranged a surprise trip to the UK. We didn't have much time to organise things, but had a lovely meal in a typical "English country pub" and today drove them around the local moorland/countryside which we so take for granted. They were so grateful and overwhelmed by our beautiful British countryside, that it made me realise just how we take it for granted as it's only five minutes from home. I sat on a bench with my Mum and Aunt, whilst my husband took my cousins for a short stroll and my Aunt was quite amazed at how friendly everyone was and how much freedom our dogs are afforded. As we chatted afterwards, everyone was amazed that I felt safe enough to spend hours there each day, just mooching around and passing the time of day with others.

What has surprised me the most, is how similar we all are. All four cousins are just dog mad. Cousin One travels worldwide working as an American Consul and whilst on her postings, works with local rescues and arranges to fly dogs back to the US for adoption. She has a Terv and Giant Schnauzer.

Cousin No 2 is in a similar line of work, and has been fundamental in setting up welfare charities in China and Thailand. Recently she working with a charity rescuing dogs from Bosnia. She told quite a scary story about how they have to do night runs, and cross borders pretending that each of the rescue workers owns 8 of the dogs they have on board. Usually there are 6 people and 48 dogs per trip, and she is often travelling with people who she has never met before. She has no dogs of her own at the moment, but she usually has a house full of fosters. In her 'spare' time she makes beautiful crafted goods, such as quilts, aprons, etc to raise funds for numerous animal charities and has offered to make me some as I am involved with Golden Retriever and German Shepherd Rescue. An offer I will definitely take her up on.

Cousin No 3 adores all animal and currently has a arab (horse) and an Afghan which is a registered "therapy" dog. Apparently all the Therapy Dog testers came out to watch when she had to undertake her test, as they had never had an Afghan qualify.

Cousin No 4 has a Spanish Water Dog who is her pride and joy. She was quick to add that she has had him for many years, long before we had even heard of the Obama's. He sounds a great fun dog and is adored by my Aunt.

It is obvious that all of them adore dogs. What is the most surprising is that my Aunt was badly savaged for three escaped guard dogs when she was a child and as a consequence was terrified of dogs, so the children were not reared in a doggie environment. Apparently if my Aunt used to see a dog she would cross the road to avoid walking past it, yet all the children developed a great love for dogs. It does make me wonder whether it is somehow in the genes.

It was very sad saying goodbye, and it was awful seeing my Mum and her Sister so upset, but wI have exchanged email addresses with my cousins and I will definitely be keeping in touch and would love to think that we will see each other again.

Sorry to have rambled on, but I have so enjoyed my weekend and feel very proud of the work they do.

Spanish Water Dogs are not what the Obama's have theirs is a Portuguese!

Wonderful story about your family though.  Unfortunately have a small family so no relatives to compare with and nothing like any of my cousins :) 
So pleased that you all had a great time.

Sorry my mistake. Was meant to be Portuguese but I think I am still buzzing. It's not like me to really enjoy socialising, but they were just such lovely people to meet.

I have actually suggested a friend looks at the Spanish as she has always had Bouviers, but has had such terrible health problems with her last three, that she is looking to change breeds when she next gets a pup.

I wish the rest of my family were dog mad. :-( Two older half brothers - neither like dogs - one younger, who was terrified of them when he was little - but I have managed to persuade him into liking them now. :-D :-D That was the advantage of having someone younger to work on. ;-)

What a lovely story.  Could you and your cousins not contrive to help your Mother and her Sister talk to each on skype video sometimes.  I do this with my sister in America frequently and it really does seem to make the distance fade away.

That is amazing... How lovely to be able to show off our beautiful country side!

We met up with a cousin whose family my OH parents had lost touch with when he was a small child.
We had so many things in common,His wife and I even looked similar!!

Isabel's idea is a goodie I got Skype when Sam went to uni so we could chat and my "web cam" was £19 from Dixon's. I have a skype phone now and a webcam built in and we use it in the business as well make a great pressie for them??

Well i've been on my afternoon stroll and really appreciated everything around me. Before I don't think I noticed the peace and quiet, or the natural beauty of our fields and moorlands, but today I relished every moment. I can't wait for them to get home then we can email each other and hopefully catch up and get to know each other better. It's odd that even though we had never met before, we didn't feel like strangers, everone was so comfortable with each other.

They were so delighted with our lambs, that I have found a lovely sculpture of two gambolling lambs, made by Border Fine Arts, so I am going to get 5 of them to send over to the States as a little momento of their trip. I did intend getting them a Beswick lamb, but I am struggling to find 5 in perfect condition and I don't really want to wait too long before sending them. If anyone has a better suggestion, please feel free to suggest.

Skype sounds a great idea, but what exactly is it. I especially like the idea of the built in web cam, then they could see each other as the speak.

Doesn't have to be a built in webcam.  You can buy one for next to nothing in Asda etc and then just sign up here.  Dead easy, even I managed it :-)

Ooh thanks for that Isabel. I will have a good read, it would be a lovely surprise if we can set them both up without them knowing.

Just put skype into a pc search engine, and sign up its free, then webcam as Isabel said and off they go takes about 5 minutes.
Thats from someone who sends a DSI card to my son in Kent to upload!!!! Im really pc ignorant but I did do skype on my own.

what a lovely sounding weekend :)

i've been having a lot of family contact the last couple of months. we spent some time with my 2nd cousins when we went to scatter my grandparents ashes and then about 2 weeks later another set of cousins brought their daughter up to look at dundee uni and arranged to meet up with our lot so my sis and i could talk to her about going to uni here. i had only met her mum when i was little and i couldn't belive how much she looks like my gran (but younger). they are all very like us.