SEASONS GREETINGS! ...and also a little confession....

Best wishes to everyone for Christmas and may you have a prosperous New Year! We L Clan are having a far better Chrissy than last year (as we Aussies call it). No one is ill... as far as we can tell. We are off to have lunch with some old friends and that should be very pleasant.

Now for the confession.... about a month back a lady came into work with a beautiful Siamese cat.... she was trying to find him a home as she had saved him from euthanasia, her landlord does not allow cats. Now anyone who has owned a Siamese would know they are not the kind of cat you can keep quiet in your home. They strut around shouting on top of their lungs and befriend all they see. NOT good idea when you are meant to "not exist". So said lady got served an eviction notice.... as in "Its you or the cat".....

Her choices were back to re-homing him or euthanasia........... I offered to re-home him, I just could not see him euthanized......... It was just before Christmas, what was I to do. D was consulted and said OK, cat can stay awhile whilst we look for a home. I got him home and D took one look and said "I think I know of a good home"..... with a big grin on his face........



And so now we have Ty...an eight year old Seal Point Siamese kitty. He lives in A's room and sleeps on her tummy. He purrs madly when he sees any human.



The other cats are a little freaked out ............OK they are VERY cross with us.......... they will get over it ....... they always do..........

Oh and we got another birdie...........



I better stop now .... dont'cha think?



Chat soon
Si

Cats .....

My cats are true felines, they have trained us well. The only reason we put up with their behaviour is because of the wonderful feeling of having a purring kitty wrapped in your arms. In winter the Siamese sleep curled up in my arms... built in hot water bottles. When summer comes they abandon us... too hot, instead they there find the room with air con and then do not move at all during daylight hours. I am a firm believer in a "CAT CURFEW", that is no cats out at night. The reason being that during the day felines sleep, at night they like to fight, hunt and gallivant. If you keep them in at night they are unable to do these activities, thus reducing your Veterinary bills as well as keeping the Australian Wildlife safer! This is a very noble undertaking because this means that my three are locked into the house when they are most active. This has a few drawbacks.

They sleep a bit (Average amount of hours cats sleep is 18 out of 24) and then then CAT OLYMPICS begin. They gallop around chasing each other, running up fly screens, leaping over furniture and ambushing one another at every opportunity. I lie in bed and every 20 Min's or so a cat flys over my head, or lands on my stomach... not conducive to a deep sleep. I thought that as they got older they would settle and be less active, nope not true. Blue is 5 and Bindii is 4, no sign of slowing down at all. There are many foul forms of torture developed by man... all that time wasted when my two Siamese would get the toughest man to break in a few hours.



Blue Cat's Method:

Jump repeatedly on Human until they stagger out of bed.
If no response then attack feet until they bleed.
Knead human with claws fully extended and purr as loud as a tractor.
If human does not respond or turns away, extend paw with claws fully extended and hook human skin, act innocently as if you are loving them.

Bindii's Method:

Shout loudly, do not take no for an answer.
Walk/Run up and down corridor screaming in loud Siamese tones.
Run over top of owners head and have fight with brother.
If door is shut scream and throw yourself against door repeatedly.



Kitten's Method:

Very quietly and subtly swirl around human making soft mewing noise.
At unexpected moment bit leg HARD.



I cannot tell a lie at 4:30am (when the bloody sun rises in Qld) we are tortured until we fill the food bowl and open the cat door to allow the felines outside time.
A friend stayed over to Animal sit and she complained that although the bed was possibly the most comfortable she has slept in......the bloody cats nearly killed her... she left for home sleep deprived and wondering how we survive it!


I have a few days off and am so enjoying some down time. No news to tell really... which in our case is GOOD!

Ciao for now
Si

Greyhounds and other stuff....

Last weekend we attended the GAP Christmas party. Karma and Shani were very excited to go see all their friends. We gave one of our old foster dog's , Suzie a lift to the party. Suzie was a very shy, scared girl who was very anxious when we fostered her as she had come from an abused background.


Our home was WAY too busy, people coming and going, shouting ,noise....not for the faint hearted and poor Suzie did not really enjoy the environment. The story has a very happy ending as she has been adopted by a wonderful Lady "L" who lives alone with her cat. A much quieter environment and one that has given her back her confidence.Well our little shy girl has blossomed into a happy, energetic crazy grey and is so obviously happy, it is just wonderful to see.



I thought she may find the GAP party a bit too busy, but oh no.... she was the perfect party animal and even won the "Shiniest Coat" prize. That is one of the most rewarding things to see, a little dog who has learnt to trust humans again.


I was the "clip your dogs nails for a gold coin donation to GAP" person. There were lots of nails to clip let me tell you! Next year I need a cushion to kneel on... J was taking photos and socialising as usual. Lots of familiar faces. We took home some very tired greyhounds.



On the home front, all is well at the moment. J has finished school for the year and A is in her last two weeks. A starts High School next year.... where did the years go?


Will write more soon , I have a few days off coming up.

Chat soon
Si

The Silly Season...

I Know this may sound like I am a cranky cantankerous, grumpy old lady.... but I have my reasons for this behaviour... and I am at "That age" where becoming a grumpy old woman is my right.

It is early November, or it was when I started to get irritable. All the shops are festooned for Christmas already and I am getting so much junk mail advertising Christmas specials that I fear for the rainforests! Forget global warming, at the rate we use paper, we will run out of oxygen long before we fry...





This time of year also seems to bring out the "bad behaviour" in people, I'm understand that its been a long year and everyone needs a break... BUT Why must they act like wild animals? I go to my local shopping centre and it is jam packed... the noise of the food court is like standing under a Jumbo Jet taking off... my favorite coffee shop has a queue 10 deep to get a Cappuccino! Wanna see me get nasty... deny me my coffee. I want to scream, I think "Holy Sh*^t", I better get my Christmas shopping done now, or I may cause someone bodily harm in December when its even busier....

Its a "Conspiracy Theory" of mine that "THEY" do this so we buy now, and then in December we buy more because all the stuff we already bought is now discounted.... Its pure genius I tell you. I am no saint though, I am the perfect target for advertising... I just have to try new things and I cannot walk past a bargain! I have saved thousands getting items at amazing prices... except I never really needed them to start with...

I AM GOING TO BE STRONG THIS YEAR... I am not joining the madness... No Siree, I am going to have a quiet year.

I also sort of struggle over this time of year, I have not had a a good Christmas for awhile. Last year we got "CANCER" for Christmas.... Someone asked D what he is doing for Christmas.... he said "Not getting cancer"....





So a quiet , mellow, no fuss day will suit us all down to the ground........

Ok off to brave the mall.....need a cappuccino BAD!!

The coffee kid
PS Excuse my macabre sense of humour.......

You can teach an old dog new tricks...it just takes longer...

Well its been a busy few weeks for me. Changing job is not for the faint-hearted. You forget how comfortable your routine is...until you change it that is! Then you discover that you have to play catch up to get yourself in the groove!

I am going through the what,where,how,when part of being the "New Kid on the Block". Don't know where anything is kept, don't know nuttin......... It will come in time, it always does but its amazing how you forget that feeling of slight panic...



Am winding down from a successful...yes SUCCESSFUL year of Study! Passed everything friends...yyyeeeehaaa! Now if I could just have a celebratory drinkie poo.... But ALAS the bloody stomach/liver does not allow alcohol anymore........not too worry....I am now a caffeine addict of note. There is not a coffee franchise in Southeast Queensland left unturned........


It is absolute bliss working so close to home. I "pop" home for lunch...and no matter how late I finish.......it is always only 5 mins to home! Don't have to fill my car with gas too much anymore.... I should walk.....one day I may.......but my excuse for now is that its summer and its too hot!

I have also managed to read a book...first one in about 6 months...could not read or I would not study...now I can read all the way to FEBRUARY when my FINAL YEAR begins!!!!!!!!!!!!

G'Nite
Si

Blog Drought..............

Long time no hear, sort of feel guilty I have not been a good little blogger. Much has happened these past days. I am officially finished working at Anvet and am now working at Peninsula Vet full time. It is such a novel feeling to be able to leave for work at 7:55 and be at work on time at 8am! Probably buys me an extra 6-8 hours of spare time a week.

It was very sad saying goodbye and I have warned the folk I'll be back to visit very frequently. I even hugged Churchill the abusive Clinic cat goodbye....

We went out for a farewell dinner at Southbank and I was given the very best gift a girl can get.........a voucher for an "Indulgence Massage/Facial" that is an hour and half.........I CANNOT WAIT....I luuurve being pampered.

I have had result back on my Radiology Certification, and have passed that ...now just to hear back on my last exam on Ultrasound/Endoscopy/ECG and Fluid Therapy........... If I pass that one then its on to the home stretch next year.......final year! Yay, I have a break now until Feb 08........which I am already enjoying thoroughly.

J and I went on a "Greytwalk" and have only just downloaded the photos , so you can see how the Grey Girls had a good afternoon with their Greytmates.........

I am writing this on a spare computer because my laptop has fallen ill, the keyboard is playing up and I can't type anything........I really hate it when computers break.........its like a rattle in your car that you can't locate.........

Sayonara

Si

Go the Bokke! Good to see South Africa win!

Woke up real early this morning and watched the boys take the cup.........its a good feeling! D is walking around with a silly grin on his face. Our second world cup win...now for 2011 in New Zealand, I think the All Blacks will be exiled if they don't win that one..............



I am a bit exhausted from my stupid schedule I have allowed myself to get into but hey I am working on simplifying things. Gonna take control of the "Rat Race", slow the bus down... I am gonna take a slow ride. I realise that I am the one to blame for how busy I am...apparently there is a word called NO... I just have to finish this last exam of the year and then I am going to read books like a madwoman and RELAX. I officially change jobs on November 1 and then I am down the road from home.



The family are good, D has passed his 6 month check and all seems clear on the cancer front. He still has eating issues and gets tired very easily but i guess that is to be expected after all he has been through the past few years. I do actually have a diagnosis on my "mystery illness" as well.
No one rang me with the results from the biopsies taken when I had my endoscopy. I took A to see the Doc and happened to mention that I am still battling, and that I know everything is OK but its really sore...........

The doc checked my file and said "Oh actually there is a very good reason you feel the way you do"...turns out I have Bile Reflux and my insides are and I quote "markedly inflamed with the look of caustic burning".......nice huh! I am fairly sure that a combination of stress, exhaustion and allowing myself to get overweight have been huge contributors.........

On a happier note today J and I went on a GREYTWALK



Karma and Shani had a ball, they loved seeing all their greyhound pals and the walk was held in walking distance of home so it was very convenient. Shani was very social and had an absolute ball. Thanks to M for all her hard work organising these walks every month. The turnout today was impressive and the greyhound attracted lots of admiring glances.

I also managed to fit in some study time, got an exam hanging over my head. Its tricky subject and my head is swirling with Fluid Therapy calculations and what all can go wrong...


I will write more soon...just gotta get through the next 2 weeks..........

Ciao for now
Si