Alex and Simon have been living in the beautiful South Yorkshire market town of Penistone since April 2006 when they escaped the rat race of London. Quite literally sticking a pin in a map, handing in their notices, packing the car up and leaving London early one morning with a large grumpy ginger cat, they found themselves in the almost rural idyll that is this part of the world... Shortly after they were married during an amazing day at Portmeirion Village in North Wales and then bought a house - nothing quite like getting all the stressful things in life done in one go!

They just now need the farm house and land thanks to the ever increasing household, which comprises:

Legato Emberlight (otherwise known as Emmy / Emmsie / Emsel / Oyeyou!) arrived in June 2005, while Alex and Simon were still living in a small flat in London, complaining that "life as a mother was not all it was cracked up to be, and could she retire please?!", she soon made an impression! Born in April 1999, she's a lady that knows her own mind but has her eccentricities... Ever had your face washed by a cat? Everyone else watch out!

Button Moon (aka Perdy) made gooey eyes at Simon on the first visit to the Retired Greyhound kennels and that was it! She was born in June 2002 and had a full racing career of 60 races at both Kinsley and Sheffield tracks, winning eight of these. She came to us in February 2007 and decided straight away that she was born to be waited on, and treated like a princess, she gets very sulky if she isn't treated with the level of deference she expects!

White Nose Star (aka Jester) on the other hand, was a very nervous lad, not venturing from the back of his kennel, which instantly made Alex want to take him home and love him. This was in October 2007 when he was less than two, and now although occasionally a little cautious, he's a happy, silly pup, and the most handsome greyhound you'd ever wish to meet! (biased? us? - Never!) Jester never raced, the story goes that he was trialled at Sheffield Stadium but only made it ten paces down the track before deciding that he preferred his kennel and headed back there! Needless to say he was retired on the spot...

Loncoon Tiny Planet (aka Darwin) has been with us since he arrived as a kitten in Spring 2009 as Emmsie's new companion, after we thought it was about time she had a bit of feline company. Well Emmsie wasn't very impressed for the first year, but as Darwin, or Tiddler to his friends, started to grow up she warmed to him. Darwin is a big, big daft lump of a cat that thinks he's a greyhound, but a little shy until he's checked you out... Big, furry and our own tame wildcat - what more could we want?

On top of the "permies" there is also a regular flow of visitors in the form of foster hounds for Erin Hounds Sighthound Rescue. These hounds just need a little time to acclimatise to home life before starting their new lives with wonderful families - A hound finishing school, as it were! See details of these hounds, both past and present, on the Fosters page...

It was thanks to the greyhounds that Alex found her niche in the world, wanting a beautiful collar to suit Perdy's lofty aspirations and only finding collars in the USA with hefty import duties, she decided to make her own - well after the wedding dress how hard could it be?? Well one thing led to another, and now she finds herself with a very successful business creating some of the most stunning and sort after greyhound collars and accessories in the UK.

Simon, finding himself in the midst of this mad-house sensibly has a job which takes him away from home, travelling to various locations around the UK for an IT outsourcing company!