It all started with Sheba, bless her, born the 4th March 1991 our Sheba (Lindjan Naughty But Nice) came into our lives around about the 20th April that year. What a bundle of fluff ! She was a real baby and treated like one. We only went into Goldens because a neighbour at that time had their daughter staying and in came this adorable Golden Retriever male, well he was all over us and having lost our family pet some 8 months prior to this we were besotted.

After Sheba had been with us for approximately 2 years we decided she should have a playmate and started our search for a companion for her. One of the main reasons for this was in view of the fact we had lost our family pet of many years and now the children were grown up we didn't want to be left ever again with only one dog. We searched and searched and found Orlas  Retrievers, Mrs Mary Potter, and duly booked our puppy Jodie (Orlas Crystal Celebration at Goldiemay) from her. Jodie was born 20/11/92

We were then looking to do some showing and maybe have a litter. Meanwhile the kennel where we had purchased Sheba from contacted us to see if we would have Hollie from them as they had too many dogs and wanted her to go to a nice home. So we collected Holly around Christmas that year and had Jodie on January 10th 1993 (our 23rd wedding anniversary), so at about the same time we had a 20 month old Golden, a two year old and an 8 week old puppy, all of a sudden our family had grown but we didn't mind as they were all gorgeous and great company

Another very good friend Mary Dimmock (Denmarella Goldens) advised and supported us. She taught us a lot from her wealth of knowledge along with Mary Potter. I have to say we are both grateful to them for their tremendous help, guidance and support over the years and their wonderful friendship, this is why we put a lot of emphasis on people who have our puppies staying in touch. We think it's important to do that and offer support where we can.

Our Sheba has mothered every puppy we have ever had and kept and although she has never had puppies herself due to her hips score being high, her temperament has been wonderful and that is most important thing to us in our breeding programme as our puppies go to families in the main, especially ones with children and the importance of the temperament cannot be stressed enough.

Jodie had her first litter 5th March 1996, she was just over 3 years old and the dad of her puppies was Sky (Motlasia Fly High Guy) Mary Murley (Motlaisa Goldens), another very good long standing friendship which we both value very much and again thank her for her help and support. There were ten puppies but we were not able to keep one this time as Cassie was only a year old so we agreed we would keep one next time, there is always a next time!! Cassie unfortunately has never been able to conceive puppies and our Denmarrela line has ended, what a shame because she is a great ambassador of the Golden Breed and though she is now 9 1/2 years old she is still like a puppy and has done well at showing, winning several firsts and placed nearly every time at the shows both in breed classes and gundog classes and doing especially well in Veteran now. Unfortunately with our family as big as it is we do not have the time to go touring the country showing very much but we enjoy our outings to the beach and agility.

Jodies second litter to Connor (Tamarly Pacific Heights) was born on 22nd February 1998, 9 boys and 2 girls. Now the time was right to keep another girl Megan (Goldiemay Crystal Cascade) and yes we couldn't resist Charli (Goldiemay Sparkling Charli) a boy with all these girls!!! He was gorgeous and from the moment he was born he was Champagne Charli. Unfortunately we couldn't register him with this name as the Kennel Club refused it but he was lovely and had to stay along with his sister Megan who was equally as gorgeous. We had great fun showing these two.

They were doing really well in puppy classes and exemption shows. Megan really enjoys showing and has nearly always been placed, Charli is not so keen but loves his agility classes but more recently neither have been shown much due to maternal duties and coat losses. Jodie was mated again to Connor (Mal and Sheila Watkins special boy) and had her last litter of puppies 30th January 2000. Buttons was kept from this litter and is now nearly 5 years old, full of mischief and a very special part of our lives. After nearly losing her to intersucception, requiring constant care for weeks, she was nursed around the clock and has given us two lovely litters although her maternal instincts are not as good as her mums (Jodie) who is happy to mother any puppies you care to give her. When we had Charli and Megan we barely new we had them as they were brilliant puppies, trained superbly by their mum with a little guidance from us. Megan has taken on the dominate roll from her mum Jodie and her first litter of 4 puppies to Tenfield Border Rambler who is owned by Kim Ellis resulted in us keeping Chaz who is a dream, very lively and outgoing, a great specimen of the breed. His temperament is superb and all our goldens live in the house, in fact we live with them and wouldn't want it any other way, they are loving , sensitive, waggy tailed and panic when they cant bring you their favourite toy, they are always happy to see you and never bare any grudges, never moody, never not speak to you in fact they all have there own way with communicating with you, all have different characters and never cease to bring a smile to our faces - such happiness and joy.

The puppies we have are reared in the house are loved and cared for both by us and our goldens until they are ready to go to there new homes where we know after getting to meet all the people that they are equally going to be loved and bring those people the same kind of love that we get. The importance of them being a completely 'One of the Family' pet cannot be stressed enough, these guys give so much and deserve the same in return. Our lives would not have been the same without our experiences with them, yes there is sadness, worry, etc. but the rewards through having known and lived with them cannot be put into words. Although there is a lot of anxiousness when your special girls are mated, the worry of whether they will be okay through the pregnancy, the birth and then the worry of the very tiny babies when they are born, the rearing and caring for the mum and babies, etc. all this brings added worry and then trying to find the best homes so that you are sure that the people you are entrusting the puppies to are genuine, caring, loving people, all this worry but the tears are of sadness and joy when these puppies leave for their new homes but when the feedback starts to come in after a few days bring such happiness to know it has all been worth while.