Yippee, hurray .... Heartland Series One is out on DVD! I wasn't certain if I could get it or not, but I've just had it confirmed that I can order it from America on your behalf.

It's in two parts, series one part one, and series one, part two. The first DVD is available now and the second DVD, part two, will be released by November, so you should be able to get them both in time for Christmas.

This is the series that recenlty screened on ABC2 based on the best selling books by Lauren Brooke. I loved it and so did a lot of other people and I'm sure it's going to be an enormously popular Christmas present.

Over the last month, I decided to branch out into the world of dogs and also to have an Australiana section.

I had a lot of requests for dog movies with people saying " what horse crazy person doesn't have a dog or two in tow?" The Australiana movies I promoted earlier this year for Australia Day were such a huge hit I decided to make them a permanent feature.

So with much decision making and work, and a bit of revamping of the headings, it's slowly all coming together. Don't worry, it will always be horses first and foremost.

Still to come is a gift voucher component, discount coupons, and regular specials. It's all taking time in getting it right, but it shouldn't be much further away now.


Jody xxxx

Check out the doggy section as there are some lovely old favourites as well as cute recent movies. I am still adding to this section with new titles arriving regularly. There are still a few blanks in some of the headings, but these will fill out over the next few months.

Chestnut (pictured here) is such a feel good and heartwarming movie -

"You'll love this family comedy brimming with hope and heart. Join Sal and Rae, two orphaned young sisters, on an amazing adventure.

They discover and take in an adorable abandoned puppy on the same day they themselves are adopted by a couple with big-city digs.

Two surprises unfold when they realize their posh new apartment does not allow dogs, and their new puppy is a Great Dane! With the family of their dreams within reach, the girls pull every smart pet trick in the book to hide their growing mischievous pup, survive the big city, and let dreams come true."

I have always had a soft spot for anything Australian (especially if it's horsy), but even if it's not, who cannot admire the film industry and the authors of our own country?

There have been some brilliant Australiana movies and TV series made over the years, especially during the 1980's when Australiana content was being subsidised by the government. Titles like "Picnic at Hanging Rock", "We of the Never, Never", "The Getting of Wisdom" and many others should be a part of everyone's film collection.

The definition of Australiana is "an item of historical or cultural interest of Australian origins. Australiana often borrows from Australian Aboriginal culture, or the stereotypical Australian culture of the early 1900s."

Bearing this in mind, I've picked out some of my own favourites, but let me know your own suggestions and I'll try and track them down.


Rain Shadow (pictured) -
"Country vet Kate McDonald (Rachel Ward) is battling to keep her community afloat in the face of an unrelenting drought. Forced by necessity, Kate hires a new veterinary assistant, Jill Blake (Victoria Thaine).

Kate is cranky, difficult to get along with, and to date, has gone through a string of assistants. Jill is her last chance of getting the help she needs.

Feisty, defiant and with a passion to get to the truth, Jill has set herself the task of succeeding under any conditions. Faced with silence and suspicion, she soon realises that the Paringa farming community has a secret which Kate and the farming community are anxious to keep hidden.

Paringa needs the help of these two opinionated women and they must find a way to work together. In doing so, Jill becomes aware that Kate has a dark secret of her own."

Hi everyone, it's Chief here... I'm still receiving lots of letters and cards from you all, and can't thank you enough for all your best wishes.

I recently competed at Canberra at both the NSW and Australian Showjumping Championships with mixed results. Some classes I was hopeless in, and others I was very well behaved and did my absolute best.

The classes were enormous with about 170 in each section, so placing in the top 5 so I could get a ribbon, was pretty well impossible. My best placing was 14th out of 183 entries (I don't think they all started) so I thought that was pretty impressive.

The weather was appauling with sleet, rain and freezing temperatures, so I decided I had better duck into the coffee tent for a hot chocolate. Luckily Andrew wanted one too, so we were able to go together.

I certainly have lost some of my zing since my terrible illness last year and I don't think I'll ever be able to jump like I could before I was sick. My mum says it's not important though . As long as I'm happy and healthy and enjoying what I'm doing, that is the important thing.

If you would like to see me jumping at Canberra, you can go to the new Blog section and see one of my rounds on video. I think I look very flash.

Best wishes to all from CHIEF

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