TES MacDonald

09/10/2026

This old girl has been with us a VERY long time...

9 years ago this week I was given a deadline by the Big Boss and we effectively had three weeks to move! 😲
Now, to be clear, we had been in possession of Springwood for months, but it had been an incredibly long journey creating a workshop from nothing, whilst still working and T's patience had worn thin. So in typical fashion, he kicked MY arse and gave me 21 days to 1. Keep working & earning, but 2. Move everything and make sure you're out on Halloween 🎃!! Oh yeah, and everyone is working and productive on November 1st too 🫣🫣

This trauma was re-triggered this week when it was time to get the 'Old girl' ready for MOT next week. I was never a big DAF fan, but this truck has been through so much with us, especially that massive migration in 2017! She's worn many clothes over the years, but has always been there when we needed her, including when Nell 'kneeled down' in her first week on the job. I suppose she should have been retired by now, but I've never been able to let her go, so we'll see what a bit of TLC and this week brings 🤞🏻❤️🙏🏻

Nine very difficult years on and we're still here. Lots of things change, but some are constant...

Have a great weekend
Mac

04/10/2026

So a flying visit home after a long week, meant a chance to accompany the boys and Nic for a bit of fun at the field this morning. But it also gave us the opportunity to install the new Hero paws - Life AFTER service sign that North Bridlington Dog Field have so kindly allowed us to display in their shelter at the fields agility park.

As always, the legend that is Andy Varley of Cougar Signs , sorted the sign for us and we think it looks ace 👌🏻 Max definitely approves 🐕‍🦺🐾

Spreading awareness like this is invaluable and we are very grateful to the team at North Bridlington Dog Field for their continued support 🙏🏻❤️

01/10/2026

The amazing Noc at They can't fundraise for themselves! 💚 has launched their annual appeal for Hero paws this morning.

Please join her group and have a look at the wonderful work these guys do for so many dogs 🙏🏻

27/09/2026

🙄

23/09/2026

More quality kit from Knight Sportswear for Hero paws - Life AFTER service Remembrance Collection 🐾🌺💜

21/09/2026

Only bids on the original post will count folks 🙏🏻

🐾🎨🖼️

20/09/2026

So, much earlier than usual, Remembrance begins. It gets earlier every year and the sad thing is, it's only for commercial gain.

Poppies of both colours,
Clothing,
Posts to inspire donations...

I NEVER served!
I cannot connect in the way that those who did, must feel!
I have no personal reference in this season!

But my heart and soul are in debt to ALL those who did and continue to do so 🙏🏻

My / Our devotion to Remembrance, is based on historical loss and a connection to those we know in the military family who have experienced first hand, the cost of war and conflict.

So to end the week and reflect on what lies ahead, a dear friend's views in poetry must be shared! Because although we can NEVER know, we can learn so much about what these guys sacrificed for us 🥺❤️🙏🏻

I Made It Home
Jaime Garner

The poppies start appearing now,
The solemn words return once more,
And people make their yearly vow
To honour those who went to war.

I watch the tributes slowly grow,
As autumn turns the leaves to gold,
But there are names I'll always know,
And stories that don't need retold.

For I don't need November's rain
To bring those missing faces near,
I carry them through joy and pain,
Through every month of every year.

I made it home. They did not all.
A truth that never leaves my side,
For some came back when duty called,
And some forever stayed behind.

We knew them more than names in stone,
More than a photograph displayed,
We knew the lives they should have known,
The future plans they never made.

We knew their laughter, knew their ways,
The jokes that only we would know,
The endless nights, the longest days,
And places only we could go.

And now the flags begin to fly,
The practiced words begin to start,
While strangers tell the world just why
Remembrance matters to their heart.

And most, I know, sincerely care,
They bow their heads and speak their name,
But others only gather there
When recognition comes the same.

For suddenly the loudest stand
Where silence might have meant much more,
With poppies proudly held in hand,
Then vanish when the month is o'er.

That's why this season troubles me,
Though still I'll stand when bugles sound,
For sacrifice is not something
That only matters once around.

Remember them when springtime grows,
When summer fills an August sky,
When nobody wears poppy rows,
And no parade is passing by.

Remember families left behind,
Who carry absence every day,
Remember those with troubled minds
Who brought their battles home to stay.

Remember those who still wake late
To memories they cannot explain,
Who made it through the camp and gate,
But carried something home again.

So wear your poppy. Wear it proud.
Stand quietly when bugles play,
But honour doesn't need a crowd,
And memory needs more than a day.

For those we lost deserve far more
Than fleeting words when autumn comes,
Their names belong on every shore,
Long after silent fall the drums.

And I will stand, as I have done,
Among the living, growing old,
Remembering every missing one,
And every story left untold.

Because I made it home somehow,
While others never made it through,
And that's why remembrance, even now,
Is not one day.
It's what we do.

*Credit Jaime Garner image and prose*

Thank you on behalf of those who weren't part of your world... 🙏🏻

20/09/2026

It's incredibly sad that we have to share posts like this, but VERY important that we do. We also know how frustrating and often demoralising it is for a charity such as Hero paws to have to point this out. Their selfless and never-ending work is only possible because of your wonderful support and donations, and others who capitalise and profit from people's desire to help, without ever contributing to animal welfare should be ashamed. They are nothing short of criminals and the lowest of the low who use remembrance to profiteer.

Please share this for awareness 🌺💜

💜 BEFORE YOU BUY A PURPLE POPPY THIS REMEMBRANCE… PLEASE ASK WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES. 💜

Every year, as Remembrance approaches, poppies appear everywhere. Red & Purple

Badges. Hoodies. Wristbands. Patches. Jewellery. Purple poppies in every shape imaginable.

And every year, people buy them believing they are doing something good.

But please, do your due diligence.

The purple poppy has become widely associated with remembering the animals who served, suffered and died through war and conflict.

The horses.

The dogs.

The pigeons.

The countless animals who had no understanding of politics, borders or war, but served alongside humans nonetheless.

Yet putting a purple poppy on a product does not automatically mean the money from that product supports those animals.

Some organisations selling purple-poppy merchandise may support the wider Armed Forces community, but provide no direct support to serving or retired military animals.

Others may simply be businesses selling Remembrance-themed merchandise.

That doesn't necessarily make the product wrong.

But you deserve to know where your money is going.

If you're buying a purple poppy specifically because you want to help military working dogs, horses or other service animals, ask the question:

💜 Who benefits from this purchase?

💜 Is any money actually being donated?

💜 If so, how much, and to whom?

💜 Does that organisation actually provide support to the animals represented by the purple poppy?

Because remembrance should mean more than putting a symbol on merchandise.

At Hero Paws, we see the reality after service.

The veterinary bills.

The emergency welfare cases.

The dogs needing somewhere to go.

The families needing support.

The retired dogs requiring care for the rest of their lives.

And we know just how few organisations are actually there providing that support.

So this Remembrance, wherever you choose to purchase your poppy or Remembrance merchandise:

Look beyond the symbol.

Ask where the money goes.

Support organisations whose work reflects what that symbol means to you.

And if you're wearing purple for the animals who served…

make sure the animals aren't the only ones who don't benefit from it. 💜🐾

18/09/2026

Well this last couple of weeks has been interesting 🤣🤣🫣

There's not a lot of pictures from the workshop this week, because to be honest, we've been too busy actually 'doing' the work and also trying to ignore the phone! Isn't it amazing and actually quite worrying how ONE post on this platform can completely transform how you think? I've never been one to hold back or filter a lot of what I say, but I'm happy to stand by it. That being said, I can't believe the 💩 that bounces off some people's keyboards, when they know nothing about us or in fact, ANYTHING it would seem 🙄

Anyway, enough of that, it's done, we said our peace and completely stand by it, but that's last week's 'chip wrapping' as my nan used to say.

It's been a full on week and working with less space has presented some challenges. I think we get used to something and even a little bit lazy, so it's no bad thing to have some organisational issues to deal with. The ONLY thing that matters is that the job still gets done, the quality is upheld and our customers are happy 👍🏻

My patience and respect for a lot of humanity has taken a pounding, but to be honest, if you have a big mouth then you have to be prepared for it. What's great is that all the usual suspects stepped up and supported us, along with a huge amount of like minded people we've never met ❤️

So here we are then. Friday, beer-o-clock and ready for a normal weekend of work and domestic chores 👌🏻

Whatever you're up to have a great weekend and remember...
"If life gives you lemons" - make a G&T🍸 🤣