<html><head></head><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7733"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7734">Twinkletoes
flew round gently waking everyone later that afternoon. She and Poppy ATB were
terribly excited because on the Tube ride I had told them about our special
evening event. My two-legged sister works at Sadlers Wells, London’s prime ballet
centre, and that night, the company was holding a special dress rehearsal of Sleeping
Sharpei and we had exclusive invitations.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7735"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7733"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7736"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7737">We arrived
after visiting a couple of pie shops, and were shown to our seats. The
orchestra started to play and Halfred, Rusty and Hooter the harrier got dreamy
looks on their faces and started the hum along. Several of the hounds edged
forwards to see the musicians play.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7738"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7736"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7739"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7740">Then the
curtain went up and the stage was full of beautiful hounds and houndettes
wearing incredible outfits and dancing like their paws never really touched the
floor. Pawtunia couldn’t take her eyes off the costumes, “if only I could just
try one on,” she whispered. “Me too,” said Heidi. Millie, Grace and Daffodil
just gazed, with tiny glistens of drool hanging down their jowls, like diamonds.
<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7741"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7739"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7742"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7743">At half time,
we went to buy frosty paws from the usher who was standing in front of the
orchestra pit. Halfred gazed over the edge “I would so love to make music” he
sighed. “Me too, agreed Hooter, Rusty stood on his back legs and peered into
the pit. “Hooter, you and Chrsitmas the beagle have long legs, see if you can
reach over and reach that lovely ’cello. Hooter leant over, and reached out “Christmas,
hold on to my back feet and I might just,……….Oh, oh, ohhhhhh………………” <o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7744"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7742"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7745"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7746">There followed
a mighty BOOOM as Hooter landed right in the middle of the kettle drum.
Christmas jumped down to help him up and Rusty, leaned over to give a paw, with
Chunky holding onto his tail to add weight. Just as Christmas grabbed hold of
Rusty’s paws, with Hooter clinging on to his tail, Mac and Ted came running
down the aisle. They hadn’t seen what was going on and cannoned into Chunky and
Rusty, who toppled over the edge of the pit and landed slap on the drums and
the piano.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7747"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7745"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7748"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7749">Herr <span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7750">Leidenschaft</span></span>, the German Shepheard
conductor, stormed into the pit to find out what was going on. The boys were
mortified “We so loved the sound of your music,” explained Hooter, “we were
trying to see better….”<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7751"></o:p></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7752"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7753">Herr <span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7754">Leidenschaft</span> </span>looked cross, but said: “Ov
course you boyz vanted to hear ze music, it ees the bezt in England. You shall
come at ze end and ve vill play juzt for you."<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7755"></o:p></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7752"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7756"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7757">When Mariah
heard this she called down “Mr <span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7758">Leidenschaft</span></span>,
if the boys can have special music, can we girls dance? He looked up into her
beautiful eyes and sighed “Miss Mariah of Hawaii, for you, anything. I will
speak with the stage manager and wardrobe houndettes.”<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7759"></o:p></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7756"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7760"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7761">We were so excited
when we went back to our seats that I’m afraid we rather fidgeted through the
second half, so much so we needed three extra helpings of frosty paws. <o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7762"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7760"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7763"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7764">After arhooing
loudly and stamping our paws for the performers, we rushed to the orchestra
pit. Some of the hounds wanted to dance and some wanted to help with the music,
but Madden just sat looking sad. “I can’t see well enough to help with the
music, she sniffed and I’m frightened I might fall off the stage if I dance.”<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7765"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7766"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7767"> </span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7768"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7769">Queen Olive fluttered
her angel wings and landed beside her. “Don’t worry,” she said. “You will dance
in the middle of the stage, the others will dance around you, and all with
angel wings will watch you from above. We will not let you fall. Madden was
delighted as the other hounds described the beautiful costume she wore and she
joined them on stage for the most wonderful night of dancing and music.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7770"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7768"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7771"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7772">As the hounds
went to leave, Herr <span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7773">Leidenschaft</span> sidled
down at Mariah. “Beautiful houndette, will you allow me to call on you while you
are in town?”, he asked, staring into her eyes. “I would so like to see you
again.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mariah
smiled shyly, but I didn’t hear her reply.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7775"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7778"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7779">We
left the theatre and being exhausted, hailed a passing black cab. The driver
looked at the whole pack and said he wasn’t sure we’d all fit in. Ipo, our pit
mix friend, stood up and looked him in the eye. “OK, he agreed, somewhat
warily, “Everyone aboard.”<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7780"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7778"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7781"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7782">By
the time we got back to the hotel we were exhausted and fell straight to sleep,
dreaming of the wonderful music and costumes we enjoyed that night.<o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7783"></o:p></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7781"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7611">
</div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7784"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7785">Where
we went: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7786"><a href="http://www.sadlerswells.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7787" class="">http://www.sadlerswells.com/</a> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7788"><o:p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7789"></o:p></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7784"><br></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7784">Please remember,if you are on our trip, we would welcome you giving a little of your cookie money to Basset Hound Rescue Network Great Britain. You can donate on their webpage through Paypal, on their Just Giving page, or send me an email and I will send you the address for checks. bassetydogshomr@gmail.com </div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7784"><br id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_8014"></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7784">Many thanks</div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7784">Clara and Rolph, UK</div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7784"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7916"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493649486829_7917"><br></div></div></body></html>