Fiddly Friday

Yes, indeed it is the last day of the PlaySchool Week for those Australians who grew up with the sounds of "Open wide...come inside, it's Playschool"!

I was up at 7 today...woken by Stuarts early morning refrain of "come get me out of this smelly laundry and feed me Mum!!!"
Actually I am sure he does not refer to me as Mum...more as 'thing with a soft sound bark who gives me treats and food and drink as well as growls from time to time'. She takes me outside and plays with me by throwing a round thing with colours and expects me to run after it and bring it back but ha! I am not stupid...I am a pedigree dog (in my own mind) and I will fetch the round furry thing with colours when I want to!!!

You do have to wonder what our pets think of us don't you...I am sure the two budgies we have think of me as the thing that wears colours that tries to emulate them and make noise is a stupid way...always the same thing over and over again. She also gives us delicious seed from time to time and water, but we much prefer the thing with dark hair who feeds us our staple diet and freshens our water all the time as opposed to the boring one.

We used to have a cat once upon a time called Sox who was our bequeathment when Muz's mother died and the kids were littlies. The cat was very disdaining and must have thought we were right nobs, for when she lived at Muz's Mum's she slept on the bed and did whatever she wanted. Sox however here had to put up with 'other critters that made loud abrasive purring sounds' and would chase her whenever they could. I am sure Sox pined for her 'other' life before the big move but she adapted in her own way and learnt to tease the dogs from on high so they would waste their voices and fall down exhausted eventually.
Sox eventually died one night by herself out the front and is probably now still sleeping on that big bed in the sky with all the other cats that have gone on before us.
Can you imagine what Kitty Heaven must be like.....I wonder if they segregate the domesticated cats from the feral ones...perhaps the different breeds live amongst themselves as they all probably speak their own cat language as do dogs I am sure.
The same can be said for birds and kangaroos and elephants...different voices and different languages for different species...just like us!
Well, that's a pretty vast assumption all about existentialism today.....its also my philosophy on life (for the moment) or perhaps its the two cups of vanilla coffee I have consumed so far already today that have triggered my words.

I am currently trying to train Stuart in the art of going for a walk with a leash. I strongly suspect he is of the belief that a leash is for pulling we humans in the direction of HIS fancy thank you very much and he appears to have a strong belief in sitting down on the job when he fancies also.
This preparation is for next Monday when I take him for his second vaccination prior to big walkies...
That shall be a joyous day...walks in the park...(probably more like runs in the park if he has his way). I have learned though that to carry treats in a pocket...Liver Bites seem to be the favourite right now, is a bona fide guarantee that he will be a bit more compliant than if I don't!!!
We are enrolled in puppy school also which will give him some basic education in how to be a really really really really good dog (with a bit of luck).
I am a bit over the chewed chair legs and the going outside for a wee and not doing a wee only to come back inside and finding that favourite spot to have a wee trick he thinks is so very clever! I am also a bit over having to defend the toilet brush's honour as he likes to take it from its resting spot (by the toilet) and place it in other areas of the house...as in HIS bed in the kitchen, or on the lounge room couch!
Mind, the carpet has not been cleaner with all the powders and spays used to clean it.....it smells like a proverbial vanilla bean pod in here right now!
So...thus is my life..revolving around a little (soon to be big) black and white pup who really IS the Lord of the Manor....
Tonight I work a night shift...should be fun trying to sleep tomorrow whilst he stakes his claim throughout the house again.
So,....its not Thank God Its Friday here.......Its Thank God For Dogs from me!

Stuart Week Three

Well, for those of you who are not yet bored, here are a few more pics of the Lord of the Manor. As you will see, he is steadily creating a niche within our hearts and making himself firmly ensconced into our lives.....
What more could you ask for, when you come home and he literally cries with excitement to see you!
Mind, he was not so excited with his first bath in the laundry trough this morning...but boy did he scrub up well! Those photos will come later. Meanwhile, these are of the week just past. Enjoy!

Favourite place in the house.

Hole digging in the backyard.

Heres mud on ya nose!

Sour lemons don't taste the best!

Checking out the shoes...

The things you can do with post-it notes!

A lick......

A scratch......

A chew......

Waiting for the man of the house to come home...

Another day...another week.

Its a big week this week...An early morning wake up call by the new boss of the house got me doing stuff (housework) at a very early time for a change. Now its all done and I am contemplating whats on for the remainder of these next seven days.
Today takes me with my Mum to her eye clinic in Footscray where we will sit and wait for ages and ages with the hordes for a consultation, an eye exam, a CT scan, then another consultation before home. I am predicting this will take the best part of three hours and the appointment is not until 2:30 this afternoon,so you can well imagine my high anxiety at the thought.

Tomorrow I must arise at 6am. in order to be ready at the station (train) by 7:25 to catch the 7:28 into the city.
I am most unimpressed with Met Rail or whatever it is they call themselves these days because of my experience last week in the sleeting rain at North Melbourne Station, but, I plan this time to travel to Flinders Street and utilise the tram system as well. Perhaps I might "plank" on the tram lines whilst waiting for a tram just to pass the time. Is that legal still in Victoria?
The main reason for my hightailing it into the city tomorrow though is to ensure I am on time for the first of three days at the A.N.F. (Australian Nursing Federation) for an Introduction to becoming a Job Rep.

I've been one now (a job rep that is) for just under 12 months and had a couple of issues to deal with but all in all it will be interesting to know my limitations and boundaries in this capacity from now on.

So, that takes up Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday I have off and plan to spend with my puppy who will suspect he has been abandoned, then its back to work again for the weekend.

How quickly time will fly this week. We'll all be another week older, Stuart will be that little bit bigger...he is already growing at leaps and bounds. There will be more babies born by the end of the week...many more I suspect, and, who will be the next person in high office to get the flick?
All will be revealed reader....all will be revealed.

Adios until next time.

Obsession

 What a poser eh...you'd think he was made for the camera eye!

 I liken this to a pensive pose

 When it becomes a bit too much...

 Just checking to make sure I was still there with the camera

And last but not least...a bit of a cheeky boy fluff ball!

 Well folks, here are the first shots of our simply gorgeous new edition. His name is Stuart, and he is 8 weeks plus 2 days old.

We brought him home on Sunday from northern Victoria, Tallangatta to be precise and he has been an excellent little boy so far.

He loves company, but on the two occasions I have had to leave him home, he has been quite content to snooze until my return.

He currently is sleeping by the matrimonial bed and has given us no cause for complaint. Right now, he is sprawled out half on his bed, half on the floor as its exhausting being a little puppy, especially when there is so much to explore and play with.

Some of you may know our past history with dogs in recent times. We acquired a little puppy some 12 months ago who died not 3 weeks after we brought him home. Its taken me 12 months to summon up the courage to do this all over again and so far I am delighted.

In the fight against cancer...

I've just spent the best part of the last 24 hours walking with many others in our local relay for life program that happens once a year.

I am part of a team known as Joan's Team in loving memory of a dear colleague who died some four years ago from a cancer related disease.

I am a mere participator, whereas another dear friend Lizzie is a coordinator and leader of our group with support by another, Gayle. Each year the focus is to raise funds for cancer research and education.

This year there have been more participants, groups and money raised than in years past, so it's obvious the word is getting out there that help is needed in order to eradicate this scourge from our lives.

Many people come along dressed in the traditional relay shirts and various bottoms. Some use the opportunity to dress up a bit and demonstrate their inner child.

At sundown on the Saturday there is a custom each year of lighting candles for those that have died, those fighting against cancer and those that have won the battle.

The time does give us opportunity to remember those we have loved and lost and those that are still battling against cancer. We too also rejoice with those that have fought against cancer and have won.

The whole concept is a very exhilirating experience despite being footsore and weary on the Sunday and one is left with the feeling that one has supported the community at large by being involved however minor in something so very great.