MARCH 17 and MARCH 18 2007
By BC Branch Pup Reporter, Georgie Stokes

GEORGIE'S PERSPECTIVE
Click HERE to see the photos

When all things green, scarves, necklaces and hats come out, and I get extra attention to my ears, feet and neck, and to crown it all a bath, then I know it is CelticFest time in Vancouver again.

CELTIC MARKET - MARCH 17 TH.

We picked up Auntie Carole, and drove in to town with windshield wipers going full bore. I sat up and watched intently to make sure that we went the right way. The downpour continued all day. What a hive of activity, as our allocated space was organized, with Fran at the helm, Emma working on our space, as tents were set up to afford as much protection as possible for us in our x-pens and for the sales tables. We wondered if anyone would come to the market in the pouring rain. Well, they did, we had crowds, armed with umbrellas, I guess this is why we are sometimes called the WET coast. Sally, Brenda, Carole, Pauline, Katy, Fran, Emma and Shirley {my Mum} worked the tables and talked with our many interested admirers throughout the day. The stage was close to our location and our people had wondered if it would be too loud, but the Celtic Music was great, with just the occasional "boom".
There were four of us hounds, Kiltie and Griffin and Kerak and me. Our beds were under cover, but our trips out to find city bushes and green grass were "Rainwater rinses." Emma discovered the best "lawn" at the Art Gallery, which became our destination for each sortie. Each time when we got back, we had a lovely towel massage, by the end of the day the towels were wetter than we were, and what had started the day as a puddle had become a pond.
There was a steady stream of people wanting to see us, so we got lots of attention, and managed not to get our eyes poked out with umbrellas.
When we got home, Mum spent the whole evening washing and drying out my towels and bedding for the next day. Even her money got wet!

PARADE DAY - MARCH 18TH

Early next day Auntie Carole, Mum and I headed into town in thick fog. As we got into the city, the fog was clearing, and it was DRY as we headed for the sales tables and x-pens. Emma and Fran had re organized our x-pens between the sales tables and this worked out very well.
This year the parade route was U shaped, with the Market situated at the base of the U. It was very exciting as Philip and Loragene arrived from Robert's Creek, with their three hounds, and Ceilidh came racing over to see me with Brent in tow. Brent was Ceilidh's handler for the parade. Peter, Brenda, Pauline and Helen, with the help of toddler Kaelan, worked at the very busy sales tables during the parade.
Fran marshalled the rest of us towards our assigned assembly point for the start of the parade. There was an air of excitement as the various groups got organized, or practiced. {bands and dancers}.
We had twelve hounds and all their people, and everyone was very happy. Close to us were twelve precision horses and their riders from "West Coast Riders". The parade was lead by two superb, huge police horses.

Our I.W.C.C.- B.C. Branch group was lead by Milena and Chelsea carrying our banner. Our two very junior handlers were centred in the group. Emma's two year old granddaughter Olivia, with her mum and dad {Kristin and Jonathan}held the leash of Cashel,{my granddad} and went the whole route with Emma. Sally's three year old grandson, Cameron, strode the whole parade holding on to Gemma's leash. Sally just kept a finger in Gemma's collar, and all was well. Carole was our rear guard control and official pooper scooper. The rest of us spaced ourselves out in the group as we proceeded along the parade route; Katy and Jerry with Griffin, Pippa and Gary with Clancy, Jim with Gaellen, Loragene with Kiloran, Jean (Fran's friend) with Kerak, Fran with Talann, Philip with Seamus and Brent with Ceilidh. Carol, and her trusty camera accompanied Conall. Conall is my litter brother, and he and I were thrilled to wear the I.W.C.C-B.C. Branch coats and flank the group. There were lots of happy people and kids, and they enjoyed brief visits with us hounds as we passed by.
We had a fun group "Celtic Sports Club" following us, demonstrating hurley and soccer. We hounds enjoyed them, they were very laid back, and included us in their megaphone comments.

As we peeled off at the end of the parade, some of the boy hounds found a solitary tree/bush, and lined up to take their turn watering it.

When we got back to the Celtic Market, Brenda had restored the I.W. photo and information display, and the sales table was "hopping". The besieged crew, were thankful for the returning help as Fran, Milena, Carole, Katy, Jerry and Emma, and my mum got to work. They were all still busy enough to barely get away for "pit stops". Five of us hounds settled onto our beds in our x-pens, and for most of the day the crowds were several deep around us. We had some of our people with us at all times. Jerry and Katy looked after Griffin and Talann, and talked "Wolfhound" with the people. Chelsea helped, keeping us hounds happy. Pauline doubled between the sales table and us. Emma talked about us and wolfhounds in general, made sure that we were safe and treated us with her "New Beginnings" cookies. The ones for sale sold out quickly, I wonder how many people munched on our cookies?

Carol and Conall mingled in the crowd for a while. Sally and Jim with Gaellen and Gemma worked around our area in the crowd for most of the afternoon, providing photo opportunities, and giving us a break.

By the time that we all packed up and headed for home I was ready to crash but revived for long enough to tackle a bone and supper.

HOPE TO SEE LOTS OF US THERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR
-LOVE GEORGIE