Save Arrunden Kennels!

Imagine having a successful, established boarding kennels and cattery business for over 30 years and then a builder comes along, throws up a few houses next to it, rents them out and then the tenants who move in moan to the local council because of the noise at the kennels. Then, because of this complaint, the business gets threatened with a noise abatement order from the council - an order which if not complied with would result in huge fines through the courts, which in turn could potentially lead to the business having to close due to bankruptcy. It just doesn't seem right does it and correct me if I'm wrong but I don't ever remember a dog having a volume button? Unfortunately, this is EXACTLY whats going on up at Arrunden Kennels and Cattery in Holmfirth - I kid you not - and it needs to be stopped!

Please help to save Arrunden from potential closure!

Surely you would think, when first looking at a house to rent that the tenants would notice a substantial, well advertised boarding kennel right across the road and if they didn't like to hear the sound of a dogs bark maybe choose somewhere else to live?  I just don't understand why on earth these people would choose to live there if they didn't like noise but now because of the fuss they have made, one of Huddersfields most well-loved boarding kennel businesses is under threat because of noise (a noise that has been there for over 30 years might I add and never been cause for concern before) - the worst thing about it is though, the original tenants that kicked up such a fuss and caused the owners and staff at Arrunden major upset for over 6 months don't even live there any more - they have moved out!

Now you all know Mr C and I well by now and you also know and love our little pooch - Pedro.  We have been taking Pedro to Arrunden boarding kennels since he was a puppy and he is now nearly nine - we have always loved it there too - they are so caring, keep it spotlessly clean and learn the character of each pet quickly, for instance, when we picked Pedro up one time after a holiday we asked if he had been O.K. and we got the reply 'Oh! Pedro will do anything for a biscuit!'. That made us feel so good as they are obviously bothered about treating your pet in a friendly, dog loving manner, rather than just dumping them in the kennel and ignoring them until you come back for them!

From time to time, if Arrunden has been full, we have had to take him to other kennels in the area and I have to say, unfortunately, many times when we have picked him up he has stunk - like he has been sat in his own pee all weekend and this always upsets us.  This is why we always choose Arrunden if we can - in our opinion, it is by far the best boarding kennels in Huddersfield.

Jackie, the owner of Arrunden kennels and all of her staff are absolutely lovely and work very hard to run such a wonderful place where you can leave your beloved pets without worrying about them. Its just not fair that after a year of being terrorized by the tenants who have now moved out they are still being subjected to the stress of the noise abatement order which could potentially ruin their long standing business - they have been there for over 30 years without a complaint before so why should it be different now?  Perhaps the question should be asked - why was the planning permission for the houses passed in the first place when there was an already established boarding kennel a few metres over the road?

Please help raise awareness!

Anyhow, this is the awful situation that Arrunden are currently in and its heartbreaking to see the stress caused to such a nice group of people who offer a fantastic service to the local community, so, like my posts before regarding the closure of the Children's heart unit in Leeds - its time to get behind them too and support a long standing local business that does not deserve to be under threat of potential closure if they do not comply to the noise abatement order.  If you would like to help put a stop to this threat, please read on for ways in which you can show your support to Jackie and her team:

1.  Write a letter to Councillor Khan expressing your concerns over the potential threat of closure to Arrunden due to the noise abatement order.  You can write to him on the.leader@kirklees.gov.uk

2.  Sign the official petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37588 after you've signed it - PLEASE SHARE IT!

3.  Share this post on Facebook and Twitter in order to raise more awareness about this situation and hopefully get more people to retweet/share and then sign the petition/write to Councillor Khan!

Your help would really mean a lot to them up at Arrunden kennels - this has been going on for a while now and needs to be stopped - it is awful that they have this terrible situation looming over them day in, day out - all they want to do is go back to running their business without worrying about a potential closure if they can't adhere to the noise level!

It would also mean a lot to Pedro - he loves it there and that is important to us too.  So please help - I mean, just look at his little eyes below - how can you possibly ignore such a cute face?!

'Please help to save Arrunden Kennels - its my favourite!'

Comedy Night Dave - Now To Donate To Children's Heart Surgery Fund!

Kimmi Custard (that's me if you didn't already know!) is excited today - I have some fabulous, fabulous news which will give you even more reason to buy tickets for Huddersfield's first comedy championship - 'Comedy Night Dave' which will be held on Saturday 29th September 2012 at The Keys restaurant beneath the Parish church.  It is going to be truly fab and I personally can't wait!  They say that laughter is good for your health and with this awesome news - it will be - literally!

Laughter is great for health!

As you may have read in my last post, the organizer of this laugh a minute event - Dave Cowan, has drafted me in to help him sell the tickets for this exciting new idea.  Well, last Saturday I had a meeting with him and the owners of The Keys - Paul and Vicky, so that we could get things under way. At the meeting we were all very excited and managed to kick off many ideas for the night that are sure to make it a great success!

Whilst chatting, we got onto the subject of this very blog and Dave mentioned my previous posts about the Leeds heart surgery closure saying how great he thought it was that so many people were getting involved in the campaign to keep it open.  I told him about the new fund that has just been set up to raise money in order to launch a legal fight against the decision and that's when the news came......

Dave, Paul and Vicky have decided in order to support such a heart felt Yorkshire cause, that £1 of every ticket sold for the comedy championship will be donated to the children's heart surgery fund!!!  How amazing is that!  There is also now talk of a raffle on the evening to raise even more money for them too - so this means that now there is even more of a reason to buy your tickets as this truly magnificent fight by the people of Yorkshire will be supported too by this event!

I have to say - I am delighted at this news and I am really loving how everyone is now pulling together to help the campaigners overturn the decision to close the unit - its amazing to feel such unity!

'Comedy Night Dave' will be donating to the children's heart surgery fund!

So....just a recap from the last post as the tickets will sell like hot cakes because of this fantastic news now that is has been announced - tickets are on sale NOW from The Keys restaurant which is situated in the crypt beneath the Parish church on Byram Street in Huddersfield town centre.  The tickets cost £10 but include a free supper too (excellent value for such a great night out!).  The tickets are limited so if you want to go to this event its worth getting some as soon as possible!

Should you want to actually enter the comedy championship, there is a prize on the night of £200 for the winner who will be chosen by a panel of judges.  To enter please call The Keys restaurant on 01484 516677 for details.  An amazingly funny night which is coupled with support for a very worthy cause is sure to be a winner so:

 BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!!

The Keys Restaurant - Amazing venue and home to 'Comedy Night Dave'

New Comedy Championship - Calling All People With Nerves Of Steel!

Laughing is good for your soul....a good belly laugh can have some great effects on your body.  Not only does it make you feel good but the health benefits on your body are massive - it relaxes the whole body, boosts your immune system, triggers and releases endorphins and helps to protect you from heart disease! As the saying goes 'laughter is the best medicine' so, here at Custard HQ we have something exciting to tell you about that will help the people of Yorkshire laugh even more!

 

Laughter is the best medicine!

My good mate Dave Cowan (one of Huddersfield's funniest men himself) is organizing a series of 'Comedy Championship' events in one of the most amazing eateries in Huddersfield - The Keys - which is situated in the crypt beneath St Peter's, the Parish Church on Byram Street. The events offer budding stand up comedians a chance to win £200 on each night - the winner of which will be picked by a panel of judges.  This is sure to be one of the funniest nights out of your life as the comicness of the Huddersfield community is about to be unleashed to the world!

Budding comedians needed!

Dave has drafted me in to help him sell the tickets and raise awareness for the first championship which is on Saturday 29th September from 7.30pm - 11.45pm. Mr C and I are very excited about it and will definitely be going - its about time we had something a little different in the Hudd - lets get some belly laughing going!

You can either enter the competition or just come to the event and laugh your socks off - the choice is entirely yours but either way you need to buy a ticket.  The tickets cost £10 each for entry and a free supper (what great value for a night out!) and are available now to buy from The Keys restaurant.  I will stress though, the tickets are very limited so if you fancy the event - go and buy some quickly!

Should you have nerves of steel and fancy a shot at the £200 prize money, please call 01484 516677 for more details of how to enter.  The closing date for entries into the comedy championship is two weeks before the event - Saturday 15th September.  Should you want to follow the event - a Facebook page has been set up by Dave - www.facebook.com/groups/comedynightdave/

This is going to be an amazingly funny night that is held in a beautiful restaurant and due to the wonderful architecture of the building the laughter is sure to be rip roaring in no time at all!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Children's Heart Surgery Closure Latest - Please Donate!

You may have all read my previous posts about the fight to keep the Leeds Children's heart surgery unit open after the horrendous decision to close it - if you did, and maybe even shared them - I want to start this post by saying a huge 'THANK YOU'! Through the magnificent numbers of people that have read these posts, it wholeheartedly shows that this is an issue that has struck a major cord with the people of Yorkshire and surrounding areas.

The save our surgery fight goes on with mega strength!

People like you who are following the campaign and sharing posts like this to raise awareness of the fight are soooooo important because it is constantly keeping the situation in the public eye and because of this, more and more people are joining the fight and like I've said before - many drops make an ocean.  Many of the people involved in the campaign have direct links to the surgery such as children who need the unit due to illness - but now, the amazing thing is that many people who don't have a direct link to the unit are also getting involved!  To stand behind the people in the thick of the fight will only make them stronger so lets keep doing our bit and help to hold them up!

Over the last couple of days, a fund has been set up in order to help the campaigners fight even further by hopefully launching a legal challenge against the decision.  This development so far has been welcomed with open arms and the people and businesses of Yorkshire have already started to donate money to the cause due to it being such an important unit to keep open!

Children's heart surgery fund logo

Should you want to join in and help to overturn this decision, please, please, please donate anything you possibly can to this very important fund - it will help to show the bigwigs that the people of Yorkshire have a massive voice and will fight to the final hurdle - even by using their own money!  Should you want to donate there are three ways in which you can do it:

1.  By 'Just text giving' - type in code SOSL18 followed by the amount you want to donate - £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 0r £10 then send the text to 70070

2.  You can donate online through the 'Charity choice' website - please follow this link and fill in your details - In the comments please state 'restricted for the Fighting Fund'. This ensures your donation is allocated to this project specifically. :

https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/childrens-heart-surgery-fund-1739/donate

3. You can send a cheque made out to 'Children's heart surgery fund'  Please post to:  Room 001, Ground Floor, Old nurses home, Leeds general infirmary, Leeds, LS1 3EX.  Charity number 700753

For any more information, please visit the official Children's heart surgery web page:

http://www.chsf.org.uk/fighting-fund-1

Absolutely anything would be fantastic guys, and if you can, I know I ask you to do it pretty often but after you've donated please share this post in the hope that other people will donate and share too!  Thanks very much from the bottom of my heart.....you are all so wonderful and if we all stand together with all our Yorkshire might hopefully the unit will stay open!

You're all so awesome guys!