Laura Seabrook's Ramblings

Was not happy when I woke up today. In fact, I was extremely angry, which continued for most of the morning. Initially this was over what I'm betting will be a rip-off deal with Kevin. The agreement was that they would get the red curtains that I bought to hid a partition provided that a) they did some washing up in the dish washer and b) Kevin fixed the bathroom door. The upset was that they took the curtains only after the first. Kevin has yet to do the second. What's the problem with the door? This:

They put Bella the pup in the bathroom for some reason and the above is the dame she did trying to get out. Kevin has agreed to replace the backing and repair the door. But - once they've moved out, how likely is that? Hence I was upset that they'd already taken the curtains. But wait - things developed! I tried going on the net to check film sessions, but no net connection. How come? This is why:

The above is the end of the new LAN cable I added a couple of days ago.  That, and both the ingoing ADSL phone cable (and a regular phone cable going to the back rooms) were severed! At first I thought Kevin had cut them - the phone cables looked neat enough, but looking at the above you can see that it's been chewed, most likely by a rat. Pretty strange that it happened today. I was going out anyway because the stress was getting to me, but now in addition to seeing a film I had another reason - getting a replacement phone cable.

There were other complications as well. A couple of days ago I'd swapped a LAN cable cutter for Kevin's cables which we'd been using until now. The cutter cuts the ends of LAN cables clean, and helps put a plug on. This means that unless I get such a tool (again) and do that, the above cable ($20 for  20m) is useless. Cheaper just to be a new cable. Anyway, I got away to Glendale Supercentre.

I was going to run myself ragged looking for those but decided to see a film first. I caught YOGI BEAR (in 2D) and loved it. Yogi and Booboo  (voiced by Dan Ackroyd and Justin Timberlake) were favourite sof mine as a kid, and they've captured the flavour of the cartoons quite well for a live/3D action film. Had a bit of lunch (probably ate the wrong thing (a works burger from KFC), because I later had the runs, and then shopped around. It transpired that Bunnings had the cheapest stuff - $10.50 for a 10m phone cable, and (had I bought it) $17 for a 15m LAN cable. I also bought some PVC pipe for $3.  Came out of Bunnings and my bus home arrived in under 5 minutes. I had though of visiting a friend, but to me that was a sign saying GO HOME.

I did. They'd loaded up almost everything with the help from Michelle's family when I got there, including my trolley, which was taken off and left behind after I mentioned that. I had thought the dogs would be with me until tomorrow but they took them as well. Just as well, considering that I'd pounded on them a few times in the last week. There is still a lot of stuff to clean up and crap to remove, which will be a long process. My immediate problem was reconnecting to the net. I removed the damaged cables and enlarged the holl in the wall where they'd been chewed until I could fit the PVC pipe through. Sawed off a short bit of that and inserted it through the wall (the idea is that rats will have to get through that before getting to the cables). After a lot of fiddling I got everything connected again. What a bother!

Went to the chip shop  while walking Bobby, and got a real works burger for dinner. Watched a bit of TV and read a bit on the sofa in the backyard, had a bath, and here I am writing this. Been a long long day, but the bulk of this is over.

I do not, as yet, have a forwarding address. Kevin has not fixed the bathroom door yet (no $$$ for materials) and over the last week Kevin and Michelle took their toilet paper to the new house, and used 15 out of the 18 toilet rolls I'd bought! Sounds trivial, but indicative of the esteem in which they hold me.

BUT THEY"RE GONE. Just me, Bobby the Dog, Ebony, Xena and Gabby (all cats) now. Who knows, Xena might even come into my back yard again.

I got to sleep eventually.

This morning I walked Bobby, came around the back, fed my cats and then passed the dogs on the way back to my end. Strip and Hallie are tied up. Bella might be as well but I can't see the lead. In any case they were excited to see me. Only they are not my dogs, and there was no way I was going to let them off. Not when they are right next to K&M's bedroom.

I just fed Bobby and had breakfast, and the dogs were whining, but there's no way I can let them off.  They have food and water, and shade, so they should be OK. Besides, in the new place, I won't be there to rescue them, so whatever K&M (or their pups) need to learn here, they need to do it themselves.

They're about 7 weeks old now:

General melee

Some affection please

Hey, I want some of that!

Went out and did a bit of shopping and when I came back put some washing out on the line and let the pups out to play (as instructed). Got them back into the pen and then noticed that Hallie was missing. I spent almost an hour looking for her and was about to give up and phone K when in she comes through the front door looking very sheepish.

Dogs!

There are eight puppies, and the father seems to be George from up the road, a big goofy boxer. So relieves it isn't the grey cattle dog from across the road.

They're mine!

After mum had a walk and a pee.

Just woke up and went to the toilet. Right next to this (in the whelping box) is Hallie with  5-6 pups!

Photos soon.

Kevin finally got this built.