Who Let the Dog In?

Here we have Jade, old in her years but still acts like a pup full of energy. When Lynda comes home from work she lets open the back door and the small dogs come rushing in. Jade sometimes struggles to get past River as she tries not to attract her attention. She is often distracted by noises in the kitchen and is always looking out for any opportunities for something to snack on. 

Ancient Jade

Okay not so ancient but Jade, my sole remaining Italian Greyhound, is starting to show her age. Even though Jade is in her grey years, she still is a sprightly little dog. 

Operation Dog Wash

Let Operation Dog Wash commence. This operation has been long in the planning and finally all the boxes were ticked especially it been an hot day, 31°C. So after church, we got all the items in place and started, first with Maxy, cleaning his wound. I am worried that I might have to say goodbye to. Then came Pup, followed by Podge, then Jade shown above. And finally it was the big galoof of a puppy River Song turn. 

Somehow we got River sitting in this tub and had to use the hosepipe to rinse her. Oh what water fun, splish splash, and we done. All Lynda and I had to do next was to jump into the swimming pool which temperature is sitting at 27°C. Ahhh refreshing. Now to plain Operation Cat Wash. 

Bruno Found

I am tired, no exhausted as I sit here and write this post. Yesterday afternoon I arrived back from a quiet morning at the showroom, to join Andreas once again on a quest to find the source of the sewerage leak. It was a hike down into the veld with grasses that were taller than me, and I am not slouch when it comes to height.

I was tired when I got home. I had just taken my shoes off when I heard the dogs getting all excited with someone or something in the veld outside our home. On investigation I saw a brown looking Labrador type dog disappearing into the distance all alone. I whistled and it stopped, turned and looked at me for a while before turning back around and disappearing over a small ridge.

Going back into my home, I remembered seeing a post on our Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch WhatsApp group about a missing dog. Sure enough after checking my phone, a Labrador named Bruno went missing during that awful weather the night before. I informed the Ops Room that I saw a dog in the veld that matches the description of Bruno. The owner Cindy was in no ticks at my home and in the veld calling, and calling. It seems that the dog went towards the high cliffs that over shadowed the gorge.

Cindy not knowing our area was not sure where to go next. So I took her to the abandoned house that over looked the cliffs. We called and whistled for Bruno and in the wind we heard what sounded like a dog in distress. Now I was not sure what to do as light was starting to fade but I could see the panic in Cindy's eyes so I made a discussion to take her into the gorge knowing full well that it would be a race against time as darkness was closing in. I let the Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch know that I was going in with Cindy and dived straight into the abyss.

Along the way we met pilgrims, which we diligently asked about Bruno, and nothing. Light was about gone when we turned around empty handed with Cindy nearly in tears of not finding Bruno but we had to get ourselves safely out of the gorge before search parties are sent in to find us. It was pitch back when we emerged from the mouth of the gorge, to find a CPF Sector 8 forming a search party to go in after us. Sadly we went back to our homes empty handed with a promise to continue the search tomorrow.

About half past 10 last night, my dogs started to get excited again, someone or Bruno was in the veld outside my home. Everytime I went to investigate, who ever it was moved away only to come back later. Just before midnight Cindy came round to check if it wasn't Bruno that was getting my dogs all worked up and sure enough we had a happy reunion.

Now I find myself tired after all that commotion last night. I need a good nights rest.

Canadian Surprise

Friends of ours, Nic, Suzanne, Nika, and Aidon, from Canada are in town for the Christmas holidays, and they came round for breakfast much to the surprise of Matthew. Oh course I kept it a secret and he was sure surprised to see his friend Aidon who he last saw way in 2008 when Matthew visited Toronto. And my Aidon has grown, he is a head taller than Matthew and Matthew is tall himself. What are they feeding him in Canada?

After breakfast we took a walk into the Protea Forest to the edge of the gorge, it was River Song’s first walk into the veldt and she enjoyed it although she did get stuck at some of the rocky bits and Aidon helped her.

What have I got in my pocket?

After getting Lynda’s car washed, buying new plants, we ended up in the garden for an afternoon of pottering around. The dogs, Jade and Maxy, the 2 Italian Greyhounds, and the 2 rescue dogs Podge the Jack Russell cross with a Pug and Mr Wiggles, formerly know as Pup and who knows what he is, well they all were hanging around hoping for a treat which are always to be found in one of Lynda's pockets. "What have I got in my pocket?" asked Lynda

"Not fair! not fair!" cried the dogs in unison quoting Gollum, "It isn't fair, my precious, is it, to ask us what it's got in it's nassty little pocketsess?" Well it didn't quite happen that way and I am using artistic licence to embellish what was going through their little brains.

Dog and Cat Walk

Since we have moved here, Lynda has never taking a walk to the edge of the gorge and well now is a good time so off we went taking the dogs with us. But not to be left out, the cats decided that they too also wanted to walk with us.

Pup Rehabilitation

Pup sunning himself on the steps with Jade and Podge

On Saturday Pup, a dog that was attacked and could not walk due to spine injuries, arrived at our home. All he could do was crawl around on his knees and elbows as the nerves did not co-ordinate his walking but soon he was on his feet albeit wobbly, Pup is well on his way to recovery.

My dogs have being great in helping Pup to gain his confidence, as he is very determined to run with the uh big dogs, okay Italian Greyhounds are big in love if not big in size.

Maxy, my oldest Italian Greyhound seen in the video too with Pup, still has a growth in his inner ear, we have being trying to manage it but the pain has returned, which means I have to put him back onto his pain medication, not nice to see a loved one suffering.

Zama Zama

Living next to a green belt is rather spectacular except for the opportunistic crimes staged from the bush. Down in the gorge below us there is an old gold mine shaft from the early prospecting era of Johannesburg and some caves. These hovels have become the home to about 15 to 20 destitute people who have been blamed for the opportunistic crimes in the areas surrounding the gorges or could these vagrants be zama-zamas, slang for illegal miners, since there is a mine shaft down there.

In the early hours last night 02:15 to be precise, the whole valley’s power tripped and a few hours later at about 03:30, the vagrants attempted to gain entrance to our property by using the darkness as an advantage but our home is well secured and the parameter alarm triggered the armed security who were soon at my home.

The electricity connection was finally repaired at about 08:30 but the reason I am writing about this is that a few moments ago, at 21:25 they, the vagrants attempted again, twice in one day, and again our security held them at bay, this time it must have been my security companies entire compliment of night duty officers who descended onto our property as a show of force to these would be vagrants who slip quietly back into the veld, back down to their mine shaft and caves.

One of the officers, hearing a noise from the dog house went to investigate and found my dogs nice and snug in bed. He was amazed by our double story dog house. It is a normal 3m x 3m wendy house but with a second floor about a metre high, a stable door which the bottom stays open to allow the dogs in and out to the bottom floor and steps up to the top. The top stable door gives us access to the top floor where all their bedding is. There is a window in the top half for light and a panel heater on the one inside wall for the cold winter nights.

Podge, the Jack Russel, was the only one who got out of bed to welcome the security officers, the Italian Greyhounds well who are we to get them out from under the blankets. Here is Jade and Maxy, warming themselves in the weak zuma-zama autumn sun early today just outside their dog house.

What happened to the sun?

Winter is coming as temperatures drop to the mid teens. My poor little Italian Greyhounds who look for spots of sun in the garden to keep warm have been staying indoors in their double story dog house. The window upstairs is north facing and they can be found lying on their duvet by the window trying to maximise of any sun breaking through the clouds.

From their window perch they can survey their domain and of course see if daddy goes out into the garden, then both the iggies and the cats rush to be by my side as I walk in the garden, okay okay only 2 cats Minky and Paddington join the iggies. Here is Jade trying to decide if she should stay by my side, be loyal and shiver or head back in doors where it is much cosier.

The Bodyguards

At first Paddington was a little wary of the dogs but whenever I take walk in my garden Paddy and Minky join me and the dogs exploring every nook, cranny, and tree. The pool was not looking so wonderful, full of leaves and a palm branch after all the rain and nearly gale force wind of yesterday, so I decided to take a picture of a sparkling blue pool with floaty leaves but then I noticed Paddy walk straight under Maxy and I had to take a photo. Here is Padding with his 3 bodyguards Maxy, Podge, and Jade.

Jaded Selfie

Okay try getting a selfie with a wiggly worm called Jade. Not easy but Jade takes every opportunity to get into my arms when I am out in the garden, followed the rest of my dogs and 2 cats Minky and Paddington, which are all vying for my attention, Jade normally wins.

On Sunday, my daughter in law Robynne, lost 2 of her beloved dogs when they got electrocuted due to bad workmanship at their home. It is not nice to lose a loved one, so my heart goes out to her. I had 3 horrible incidents with my dogs, the first was when I lost Skye my beloved whippet to biliary, another was when I found Patch after he was attacked and killed by a pack of Jack Russels, and the last one when Jade broke her leg 2 years ago. If you look carefully on Jade’s front right leg, you will see her battle scar from her broken leg. These are some of the posts over that frightful period, rock bottom, Jade at Lammermoor Veterinary Clinic, Jade and her daddy, banned from the vet, two sick ladies and a tiger, Lammermoor Vets, What to do with Jade? Cat got your Tail? and my favourite it’s behind me, isn’t it?

It is sad today sitting in my garden thinking about Skye and Patch up there across that bridge chasing rabbits and butterflies. Thankfully Jade is still here getting a selfie with her daddy.

Cabbage Tree View

Our garden consists of mostly indigenous plants, living long side a nature reserve has its price, nature overflows into our garden. Beautiful plants welcoming beautiful creatures who visit. In the veldt there are a proteas, cabbage trees, and wild peach trees.

This cabbage tree is in our property, the cats love climbing up its soft trunk, and the from the tree the dogs have a nice vantage point into the veldt. Here are my 2 Italian Greyhounds, Maxy and Jade doing what they do second best, gazing into the distance, hoping catch a glimpse of some guinea fowl or a rabbit or two. Second best as the best is all in the chase, baby!

Rebekah Jade

Robynne and Rebekah came round this afternoon to visit and to see Lynda’s vegetable and herb garden which is growing very well. Jade our Italian Greyhound and Rebekah got on very well, I should say Rebekah was more Jade’s size in terms of humans should be.

Peace and Serenity

After all those big bangs last night, I am slightly deaf, but Sunday marks the beginning of a new week and last night the beginning of the New Year. And what better way to celebrate new things than being in the quiet and peaceful garden of our home.

While Lynda pottered around in the vegetable and herb garden, while I rested myself on the lawn while our cats and dogs looked on in amusement all the while birds sang softly and brought back serenity to my traumatised ears.

10 Years Blogging

Yes finally the end of 2016 and 10 years of blogging a picture a day with 3653 posts. This year has been a tough one on me with 4 family funerals, a few pets who died violently, a move, and a retrenchment under the bridge.

So as we celebrate the end of this season in our pool with the sun setting on a tough year, I feel confident that God has an awesome plan for me in 2017 because towards the end God spoke to me through a verse Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” It is clear, I am a child of God and God is a good father.

3, 2, 1… Thank you Lord. Here is to a new season, a new beginning, a new future, and another 10 years of blogging.

Shuu Tsukiyama

It is that time of year again, a few weeks before Halloween where the geeks go crazy and cosplay. Yip it is Rage time again, and this year Matthew decided to go as a ghoul called Shuu, Shuu Tsukiyama. Matthew has always swam against the flow of all the Marvel and other comic book superheroes when it comes to his heroes as he loves anime.

My word, walking with a purple Matthew attracted a lot of stares, which I am not used to from my normal introverted ways always trying to keep a low profile. Me introverted, well that may come as a shock to most of my friends, because introverted I am.

"I fight in order to survive" - Shuu Tsukiyama.

Walkies

After the three days of no electricity, our water tanks ran dry and now with the electricity back on, there seems to be a blockage somewhere as we have no hot water other than a trickle. Sigh, I am starting to give up.

Anyway let’s get my head back onto positive things. Who remembers Barbara Woodhouse and her calling “Walkies!” on her television series Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way?

Well in the weak winter sun Matthew calls “Walkies” and Podge, Maxy, Jade, and Minky come along for a walk. Tiger and Princess were a little reluctant after the Killer Jack Russell incidents that left two of my cats and an Italian Greyhound dead.

As you can see, Maxy and Minky both kept a wary eye out from where the killers could strike from but Matthew kept them safe on their short walk in the sun.

Winter is Here

A cold front has swept across southern Africa leaving a dusting of snow on all the highlands. Brrrr it is cold in Jozi as winter finally arrives. Okay before anyone says 7˚C is not cold, for us in Africa it is as our homes are not built with insulation and double glazing. So it is time to put jerseys on the Italian Greyhounds before they catch a cold.

Later on by afternoon the temperatures reached 15˚C. Warm enough for us to head out to Emmarentia Dam for the inspiring Jozi Land Art 2016, meet with friends, and of course for Mark’s birthday.

Pothole Luck

It has been a bad day and I want to eat worms. Jade shown above tries her best to console me.

Johannesburg has been overtaken by Cape Town as crime capitals but surely Johannesburg must still be the capital of potholes? Driving on the streets of Gangster’s Paradise you are caught between eToll thieves on one side, highjackers on another, smash and grabbers posing as beggars or window washers on another, and now not to forget potholes everywhere. There was a time when weaving on the road meant that you were drunk but now it means you are avoiding potholes and the ones driving straight are drunk.

Trust my luck, I went through a mother of a pothole and damaged both my left hand side tyres. With only one spare wheel, two flat tyres, and two damaged rims, I now just sits my head in my hands, this is not good.