Just went "clucky" today after seeing a dog up the road with a pig, and started taking photos of it and my pets.
This dog normally barks at us as i walk my dogs down the street. For the last week it's had a companion - a piglet who comes to it when it barks. I thought this was just so cute! I've also see Bantams and Muscovies in the front yard with it too.
I was out the back watching the news after feeding the pets, when I saw Hallie jump up and run over to the fence. Before I could do anything she grabbed something in her mouth and shook it to death. I though it might have been a rat, but it turned out to be a blue tongue. Poor bloody thing. while she was shaking it I saw half come loose and sail in an arc into next door's.
Mind you, if that's what she's good at, I may not have to worry about snakes much any more.
Jayne told me Wednesday morning that I cried and sobbed in my sleep so loudly it woke her and Alex (her son). Apparently when asked I said "I'm fine" but I don't remember this at all (then again, I said the same thing while asleep when asked if I wanted coffee the night before). I've been so sad lately after Peggy's death. Maybe I needed to do some more crying.
In the morning while I waited for Jayne to wake up, I watched Pan's Labyrinth. A film about any number of things, where being true to oneself is more important than staying alive. Very sweet and sad.
I knew though that I needed to go home. Spent most of the day travelling. Normally I like the trip by train, but yesterday I just felt tired. It wasn't the regular 8 carriage intercity train, but a shorter 4 carriage thing that was poorly air conditioned. Hated it, and was glad to get off at Cardiff. Did a little shopping on the way home. Not much. Was greeted by Hallie at the front gate. Kevin and Michelle were in the shower so I quietly went out the back for an hour and read a comic, and then just sat there thinking about things.
I finally met Kevin, who seemed glad to see me back. Then I borrowed Hallie and went for a bush walk to the cairn. When I walked the fire breaks and bike tracks around here with Pegasus, I discovered a cairn on top of a hill. I have no idea who started it or why it was there, but it had survived the big fires of 2000 (when everything between Barnsley and Holmesville was burnt to the ground). Every time something important happened in my life, I'd walk up there with Pegasus and ad another item or rock.
This time around it didn't seem right to go alone, so I took Hallie with me. I also took a windbreaker I'd bought the day (shown left) before and marked 7 of its 8 petals 
P E G A S U S. It'd been a while since I'd been there (Peggy wasn't up to the walk the last year) and the animal trails up to the top were overgrown. But we got there, and I planted the windbreaker on top of the cairn. Ave Pegasus.
Then we walked home. Been a long day, and later when I walked to the chips shop with Bobby (who seemed very happy to see me) I found that it was shut, so it was a cheese sandwich, watching House on TV, and an early night for me.
Hallie escaped out the back fence somehow in the late afternoon and I went out in pursuit. It developed more into an informal bush walk. It's been a while since I had one - Peggy wasn't up to it with his bad back leg - and I guiltily enjoyed it. Eventually I caught and leashed her, but not until we had a lot of fun in the process. Even so, right in the middle I just sat down and cried, because it reminded so much of the good times I used to have with Pegasus doing just that. Don't need much excuse to cry today.
When Kevin gets back I might see about walking Hallie properly down the bush tracks. Both her and Bobbie seem fit enough for it, and more exercise like this would be good for me too. But Hallie needs to learn discipline. Can't walk a dog that wont come when it's being called, because no matter how careful one can be, accidents can happen and dogs can get loose, and that's when they need to come when called.
You know, Pegasus used to really love bush walks - all the sites and sounds and smells out there. When he was fitter he used to chase roos and wild goats, though he never seemed to catch any.
And those walks were the nearest thing I'd get to a proper meditation. I have really missed them so much!
OK, it's Tuesday and Kevin's still not here.
I've had no messages, no calls as to his whereabouts. So far as I know he was last here Saturday afternoon when he went out with Michelle to one of her friend's parties somewhere near Maitland. I had no indication that he wouldn't be here when I left, and I mentioned several times that while I'd probably be back Sunday I mightn't be home until Monday.
So what gives. I haven't phoned him yet as I couldn't find my mobile for a bit (it was tucked up in an obscure pocket in my new drawing carry bag) and I'm charging it right now. Apart from being concerned about Kevin (it seems unlikely that he's gone somewhere with Michelle as she has her HSC tests this week) Hallie is starting to get to me.
She escaped out the back some how just as I was about to have a shower. I went out dressed in only a dressing gown and hat and lured her back with cat food. But I lost my temper with her too and pretty much terrified her. When I let her out of the room (Kevin always gives her time "Out" by locking her in his bedroom) she was huddled under the dressing table.
But I can't afford her running off like that - what if she'd done it while I was trying to catch today's bus (for the replacement appointment with my G.P)? What if I come back and she's missing, likely to be dumped or in the pound? She's going around with a leash attached for the rest of the day and I'm going to have to lock the dogs inside for the rest of the day.
If Kevin's not back by the time I get back from the G.P., I'll give him a call and find out what's what. If I do that now (before I see my G.P.) it's only likely to complicate things, and bugger that!
Decided to stay home. Glad I did, as everything turned very wet. the washing I put out earlier is soaked (the wind would have dried it) but it can sit there for a while.
Been working on web comics, and watching Lonely Hearts, an interesting film with good performance by the Travolta clan - there's no less than three of them in it - about a series of killings by con artists in America in the late forties, which looks like it was based on a true story. Gripping stuff, even though mostly it was a police procedural.
Anyway, time to draw more pages I think, and stay inside, dry and warm.
Oh, and I tossed Hallie's ox liver bits into the bus while she was inside with Kevin and Michelle. Better that way.
Kevin bought some cheap "Ox Livers" for the dogs.
It sat at the bottom of the fridge for a week. Yesterday I took them out the back to give to the dogs as a treat. It was rather odd - I came back in to talk with Kevin and when I went out they were gone - I though the dogs must have had a good appetite. Then I found both parts further up the backyard, untouched.
It seems that Hallie had run of with them and dumped them there. Whenever Bobbie would go up that way Hallie would cut him off and sit near them them. She'd also run up there if I said "Pussy's going to get Hallie's food!" This morning Kevin and Hallie were woken up early by a delivery, and the first thing she did was go up and inspect/guard the livers (not eat them, mind you).
( Photos under cut )
I fixed two out three holes in my fences today. Well, when I say "fixed", both are temporary measures which might become permanent.
Hallie just walked thru the trellis next to the front gate! This happened while I was in Second Life attending a ritual, and Kevin went after her. That was fixed with some wire mesh attached with wire over the gap.
However there was also a gap on the side fence caused by the removal of stuff that had been lying next to it since before I moved in (1997)! It seems that the people next door have separated and they are selling the house. Paul is still living there and cleaning it up. He was not very happy and pointed out potential problems that I may or may not have after it's either sold or leased. Wonderful. I fixed that gap by inserting plastic cladding along it. It'll keep Bobby in at least.
The last gap was on the other fence where a door I used in constructing it has rotted through. Luckily I have a spare post and will attempt to fix it tomorrow.
Paul was rather gloomy, saying that termites were endemic at the back of the block which is probably true. Other predictions of Paul's were development of the horse paddocks behind my place into a state housing farm, and development of the other set of paddocks next to it into an industrial estate. Oh joy, any way you look at it I have a whole set of decisions to make.
Not today though.
Jenn went into emergency (again) today. The ambos took her off to Mercy Mater hospital around 4am. I didn't find out until about 3pm, just after today's course.
That was a good thing because I was able to catch the next bus to the hospital. By that time she had her own room. We talked, and after making a list with her, went to her flat where I met her mother and stepfather to pick a few things up.
One of those things was her terrier dog Bobby, who's now at my place while she's in hospital. He was here over a year ago, the last time when she went into hospital for an extended period. Ebony came here at that time as well, and never went back. that might be the case with Bobby too, if things don't go well.
It's impossible to know if that'll be the case or not - Jenn suffers from MS and there's an irreversible deterioration in her nervous system. That's been slowed down by drugs, but not stopped, so she is going to get worse and worse. Hopefully she'll be able to go back to her flat for a while. Jenn underestimates the problem, and her mother assumes the worse, so I'm none the wiser about just what's going to happen.
In any case, Bobs is over here now. He's used to Kevin, Peggy and me (and even Ebs who he used to live with) but not Hallie. There was an initial mad panic when Bobs tried to escape, and Hallie automatically chased him. But things have settled down a bit and now he's only scared of her. Hopefully by the end of tomorrow that won't be the case. On Hallie's part she seems genuinely interested in him, and I can easily see her accept him as part of the "pack".
Going to be "fun" for a few days. Both Kevin and I will be out tomorrow, so Bobs will stay inside and Hallie on a handicap. Good fun (er, maybe)!!
Hallie, being the American Staffordshire pup that she is, likes to "escape" and run up the street and explore. Neither Kevin or I am keen on that happening.
A while ago, Kevin came up with a solution, which he called a "handicap". He put a leash on her and tied a large object (big enough so that it would stick in the pet door, or a gap in the fence) on the other end. The first object used was the side of an old D-I-Y storage box - this was a square wire grind about 10cm wide. This was fine to start with but the wire was thin and broke into segments that cut and snagged on things.
After a while I I found some replacements. They were circular metal wire pot plant stands. Both had wheels on but I removed these from the larger thicker base, while leaving them on the smaller, thinner one. The small one (with wheels) would get attached while she was inside, and the larger (with no wheels) while she was outside. It worked for a while.
But Hallie lost the small one when she ran under the house and it snagged on something. The large one stood up well, but Hallie has grown and when she runs around she just pulls it about like a toy, even though the object is heavy and solid. This is how she ripped the grill of the fly-wire door. This is how she caused damage to various objects in the house (including my fan last night). This is how she injured my right foot too the other day, when it swiped the back of it.
Got sick of that, so for a few days I replaced the stand with a plastic milk crate. It worked, wasn't so destructive, but stuck in everything. Today, after jenny's I bought a steering wheel cover at Big-W and Kevin put this over the stand. It seems to have reduced its destructiveness and Hallie even held it in her mouth for a while. It might work better with an inner padding of cut hose as well. We'll see.
Any suggestions how else we can stop the bitch escaping (we hope she'll grow out of it)?
Tabby turned up this morning again, though this time he didn't climb the fence. He turned up this afternoon as well, but as Xena was already on the fence, she gave him a big hiss and off he shot.
Hallie's been making a recovery. Kevin's had her doped up on an antihistamine for the last two days. I was talking to Kelli earlier and when she got out the other day, she drank heavily from the water container just in front of the front gate. Later that day she came down with hives. Now that was interesting, because her big relapse happened after she drank from that same container.
Maybe it'd been contaminated, infected with algae, or poisoned somehow. Yesterday I bought three new water containers and replaced all the side containers. I also moved the one mentioned above to just behind the front gate, just in case.
But the curious thing was Pegasus's walk this morning. I was out the back early this morning feeding him and he looked bored so I said "walkies" and we were off up the street. Got as far as just behind the chips shop and next to the day-care centre when he started acting "funny". He seemed very distracted by the kids there, like he'd never seen any before. Later we turn into a street but only got halfway down it.
There was a woman on her front patio and Pegasus dragged me up to meet her! Like Pegasus, she has arthritis in her leg as well, and like me has three cats. We chatted and Peggy was interested in two of the cats. I tried to continue the walk, but he just sat down and wouldn't go any further!
She had to go over the road and visit her daughter, and Peggy just wanted to follow her over. Then, when I tried to take him home he just sat down and wouldn't go anywhere! The woman took pity on him and drove us both home. Very odd behaviour. Maybe Pegasus still loves his walks, but is hurting in that leg more than I thought. And maybe also, it was Mother nudging me in the right direction, making a new friend. Have to wait and see.
Otherwise, both Hallie and Peggy have been fairly quiet today. Poor things!
I'm going to check out the Computer Markets today at Broadmeadow.
Normally I end up at the other markets, in the Basketball courts, as they tend to be be more heavily advertised (and each is a week apart from each other. However, these markets have a higher proportion of Software sold at them, and I shall hunt Painter.
On the way back, I'm going to buy four new water containers and replace the existing ones by the side of the house. If Hallie did drink something that disagreed with her (Kevin suggested that maybe some spray had contaminated them), then better to be safe than sorry.
Kevin's dog Hallie has broken out in hives.
Apparently she did so late last night,and spent most of today inside.It's been raining (and she's afraid of water) so that's not surprising. She seemed OK tonight. And then she came up to me and wanted to be let outside.
I opened the front door and she went straight to a water container near the front gate and lapped it up for almost two minutes. Then,about 10-15 minutes after we came back in she came running back down my end and rolling around and scratching again. It was pretty bad.
Kevin asked me what had happened and I told him the above. The most likely explanation is that she's developed an allergy to something. Most likely in my opinion,is something in the water containers outside.That being the case,I'll replace them all this morning (cleaning might not work).
For now she's going to be kept down the other end which is all lino floored,just in case it's a reaction to fleas down my end. They're not so bad just now, but the weather's been the sort that makes it hard to avoid them.
Poor dog!
Just in case they feel left out, here's a photo of Pegasus and Hallie all over the sofa and me:
And of course here's Ebony too, in a typical "Humph!" pose. I've had a curtain up between the lounge room and the hallway to my bedroom and the craft room. That was to disguise from Hallie the fact that Ebs is there, however Kevin suggested removing it as a step to "normalising relations" between Hallie and Ebs.
Hallie still mostly thinks that Ebs is interesting and loves to chase her when she can. The other day, when Kevin's girlfriend Kelli was here I brought Ebs down to show her. Poor Ebs ended up behind a curtain while Hallie kept on sniffing at here (with occasional swipes and hisses from Ebs). She snuck back down to my end of the house some time later.
Ebs may have felt neglected until then. She clawed a hole through the fly-wire over a side window and may be sneaking out and back via that at night. She loves to go out early mornings while Hallie's not up and stalk about in the front garden. Lately too, she's been visiting me when I go to bed - I'll be lying on my side and Ebs will jump up on me and peer down until I pat her. I woke up once and she was still there!
I got only one web page of comics done yesterday, and not either of the two promised for the event. Today I have to go down to Sydney for a BBQ - they're only on once a quarter and I missed the last two. That leaves tomorrow to do those other pages.
Overnight the house has been shut-up, after Hallie got out and not only got into next door's, but the backyard next to that. This is just like her being on heat all over again. Not happy, as last time that happened Hallie would come up to the front door (next to wear I was was sitting in front of the PC) and pee on the carpet before I could even open it.
Not happy.
Actually, in a way, I'll be glad to get away today, though the infoline page that I've been using refuses to find a route that will get me to Bent St before 2:45pm?! It might be the track work and replacement buses that are fooling it - I'm off to Cardiff Station anyway.
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zvi and krja
