D'Arcy came to us on Christmas Eve (Mondy night) rather than Wednesday as usual. This meant he woke up at my house on Christmas morning, and opened his stocking. The Christmas Father brought him some interesting things, particularly two Bionicles that he put together really quickly. He's getting very good at them.
But of course his big and exciting present was a cubby house from my parents and sister. They came around on Sunday and Monday to construct and paint it. We got quite a lot of dog help with this, as Honey came around too. Honey and Larry get on really well, they play together a fair bit, chasing each other is their favourite. Laz is very patient with Honey, even when she won't stop with the chasing, he doesn't lose his temper. There is a photo of Honey on Flickr showing what happens when a dog tries to help with the painting.
Christmas day was great. We went up to mum's house for lunch, and my Dad was there too. After lunch my uncle and his daughter and ex-wife came around and we had a good time. It was nice and cool so we had the traditional roast - turkey, ham and all the trimmings. Being up the duff, I can no longer get into the Christmas spirit with the same gusto, but it is kind of interesting being the sober person in the room. I did have brandy butter with my pudding though.
We went to Cooma to visit our friend Davy, who was visiting his mum there, and had a lovely day with them and our other friend Peter Chicken, who we took with us. Larrry even played well with Davy's mum's fluff-ball Pomeranians.
Now I'm sick again, and still tired. I have a cold with sinus infection to boot, and D'Arcy has something which gives him a really impressive rash all over his body. We actually went to the doctor yesterday, who reassured me that it wasn't the kind of virus that should be worried about, but it's viral for both of us. It's stupidly hot today, so I'm staying inside, snoozing in front of the telly with the cricket and playing Scrabble on Facebook, and feeling miserable.
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Friday, 21 December 2007
The Pre-Christmas Post
I think all the shopping is done, the food is mostly organised, and all that remains is to do some housework so that I can remain vaguely sane. However two things stand in the way of this, the first is that I have to work on Monday until 6 pm. The other is more concrete, and involves a conversation that we had with D'Arcy after dinner one night a few weeks ago.
M: You know how we've been talking about babies quite a lot lately?
D: Yeah...
M: Well, I need to tell you now, that it's because we're going to have a baby in this house.
D: What do you mean? I don't understand??
M: There's a baby growing in my tummy right now.
D: (now very anxious) But what do you mean? HOW?!?!?!
Lots of tears ensued.
The Beloved and I exchanged glances, and later observed that it was an unexpected reaction. We'd expected more anger.
After a few days to let it sink in, D'Arcy started asking some questions, and while he's still not happy, he's coming to terms with it I think. More details as they emerge, but due in June.
One of D's classmates' mum is also having a baby in June, similar circumstances - second marriage, 7 year gap, previous only child...the only difference is that the classmate is a girl, and is excited about the prospect of a sibling.
Hmmm. Very tired.
M: You know how we've been talking about babies quite a lot lately?
D: Yeah...
M: Well, I need to tell you now, that it's because we're going to have a baby in this house.
D: What do you mean? I don't understand??
M: There's a baby growing in my tummy right now.
D: (now very anxious) But what do you mean? HOW?!?!?!
Lots of tears ensued.
The Beloved and I exchanged glances, and later observed that it was an unexpected reaction. We'd expected more anger.
After a few days to let it sink in, D'Arcy started asking some questions, and while he's still not happy, he's coming to terms with it I think. More details as they emerge, but due in June.
One of D's classmates' mum is also having a baby in June, similar circumstances - second marriage, 7 year gap, previous only child...the only difference is that the classmate is a girl, and is excited about the prospect of a sibling.
Hmmm. Very tired.
Friday, 23 November 2007
Another new addition to the household
Under pressure from the Beloved we had been looking for a dog for few months. We had tried the RSPCA a few times, including the time we came home with two cats, but hadn't found our dog yet. We turned to a local group who scour the country pounds, buy dogs at a reduced rate, then rehabilitate them, and put them up for adoption. the nice thing about that is that when you go to meet the dog, you meet them in the carer's home and the carer has spent time with the dog, so can give you an accurate assessment as to whether the dog might suit you or not. So we'd met a few dogs, but none of them were quite right for us - we have a number of constraints - small child, cats, no-one home during the day some days - and so we kept looking.
Two days before D'Arcy's birthday, one of the carers rang us and said "We were just at a local pound, and there is this lovely dog there who I think might suit you - he's quiet and well mannered - but he is due to be destroyed at 10 am tomorrow, and none of our carers have room to take him. I couls email you some photos and if you like the look of him, perhaps you could ring the pound in the morning to ask more questions.
By some miracle I didn't have to work that morning, and of course when she sent the photos, we thought "oh, he looks lovely" so we rang the pound, and the staff there couldn't say anything bad about him. In fact they loved him. He'd been there for his allowed 21 days, but for some reason they hadn't been able to rehome him. The woman said "you know, there's a lot of dogs that I would prefer not to see re-homed, but this isn't one of them". I don't know how they would have gone giving him the injection...that doesn't really bear thinking about.
So we got to the pound at 9.30 and at 9.48 said 'yes' so his name is Larry. He's very sweet, doesn't jump up, has respect for D'Arcy most of the time, and after some settling in, is currently more scared of the cats than they are of him. Pretty bloody lucky.
We don't know anything of his back story. He was left in one of their night-cages, had no microchip and wasn't de-sexed. However he knows to sit, walks well on a leash (as long as he gets a walk every day) can even shake hands, and knows 'outside'. So he's a total mystery. He doesn't fret if he's left alone all day, just snoozes on the deck, or in his kennel, so he's not an escaper. Our vet suggested (when he saw the condition he was in - very fit, muscular, and no fat on him) that perhaps he was a farm dog who just chased the sheep too much, and so they got sick of him.
We know nothing of his breeding either. At the pound they reckoned he was a Staffy cross, but he doesn't really look like any Staffys I've ever met - his legs are longer and his chest narrower, and he sits squarely on his bum, rather than on one hip. He does have a fairly blocky head, but spends most of his time with his nose on the ground. His colouring suggests mastiff/ridgeback, but he's nowhere near that big.
He's a good guard dog too. If we're out walking and men approach me he'll give them a good bark and a growl. Same when we're at home and someone comes to the door. We had a houseguest about a week after we'd got Larry, and every time the guest came home Larry would bark and growl at him. Kind of a good thing, but not terribly sociable. I have plans to take him to obedience training in the new year, when the classes start again, so that might help. He loves meeting other dogs,but then doesn't seem to know how to play. He just wants to say 'hello' and then go on his way.
D and I are having a sick day today, which means that Laz won't get much of a walk, but he's been inside a lot, which is a nice treat for him.
Two days before D'Arcy's birthday, one of the carers rang us and said "We were just at a local pound, and there is this lovely dog there who I think might suit you - he's quiet and well mannered - but he is due to be destroyed at 10 am tomorrow, and none of our carers have room to take him. I couls email you some photos and if you like the look of him, perhaps you could ring the pound in the morning to ask more questions.
By some miracle I didn't have to work that morning, and of course when she sent the photos, we thought "oh, he looks lovely" so we rang the pound, and the staff there couldn't say anything bad about him. In fact they loved him. He'd been there for his allowed 21 days, but for some reason they hadn't been able to rehome him. The woman said "you know, there's a lot of dogs that I would prefer not to see re-homed, but this isn't one of them". I don't know how they would have gone giving him the injection...that doesn't really bear thinking about.
So we got to the pound at 9.30 and at 9.48 said 'yes' so his name is Larry. He's very sweet, doesn't jump up, has respect for D'Arcy most of the time, and after some settling in, is currently more scared of the cats than they are of him. Pretty bloody lucky.
We don't know anything of his back story. He was left in one of their night-cages, had no microchip and wasn't de-sexed. However he knows to sit, walks well on a leash (as long as he gets a walk every day) can even shake hands, and knows 'outside'. So he's a total mystery. He doesn't fret if he's left alone all day, just snoozes on the deck, or in his kennel, so he's not an escaper. Our vet suggested (when he saw the condition he was in - very fit, muscular, and no fat on him) that perhaps he was a farm dog who just chased the sheep too much, and so they got sick of him.
We know nothing of his breeding either. At the pound they reckoned he was a Staffy cross, but he doesn't really look like any Staffys I've ever met - his legs are longer and his chest narrower, and he sits squarely on his bum, rather than on one hip. He does have a fairly blocky head, but spends most of his time with his nose on the ground. His colouring suggests mastiff/ridgeback, but he's nowhere near that big.
He's a good guard dog too. If we're out walking and men approach me he'll give them a good bark and a growl. Same when we're at home and someone comes to the door. We had a houseguest about a week after we'd got Larry, and every time the guest came home Larry would bark and growl at him. Kind of a good thing, but not terribly sociable. I have plans to take him to obedience training in the new year, when the classes start again, so that might help. He loves meeting other dogs,but then doesn't seem to know how to play. He just wants to say 'hello' and then go on his way.
D and I are having a sick day today, which means that Laz won't get much of a walk, but he's been inside a lot, which is a nice treat for him.
Sunday, 28 October 2007
It's that time of year again...
So it wasn't too late for the icecram cake lady. She did a lovely job, as usual, and there's quite a bit left over. The rain held off just long enough for the kids to run around the park, find some stolen car number plates in the bushes, eat, and sing. D'Arcy's dad got tied up again, but I have no photos of that event. Now listening to the sound of thunder, with excitement.
Sunday, 21 October 2007
school holidays
In the second week of the holidays we got around to doing all the things we were going to do in the first week, except we got sick. So we had haircuts, and lunch and merry-go-round rides in town. All on the same day. D'Arcy is looking pensive, which is by far the best facial expression for a merry-go-round. Except perhaps one of excitement. Still, you never quite know where you are with things that spin.
School has been back for a week. Someone has a birthday coming up, and someone else has to organise the party, so it's all systems go here. i still haven't found out what kind of cake he wants. Last year we got him an ice-cream cake from a local ice-cream maker, but i fear it may be too late for that. I'll giver her a ring tonight and find out, but I'll need to know a design for her...
School has been back for a week. Someone has a birthday coming up, and someone else has to organise the party, so it's all systems go here. i still haven't found out what kind of cake he wants. Last year we got him an ice-cream cake from a local ice-cream maker, but i fear it may be too late for that. I'll giver her a ring tonight and find out, but I'll need to know a design for her...
Sunday, 7 October 2007
OMG! I've created a monster
So we've been sick for a few days. D has been watching me play Scrabble through fcebook and was very interested. He remembered that there is a Trabble Scravel set in the cupboard, and got it out to play around with. I suggested that Scrab isn't that hard (especially since each time he gets sick with a vomiting fever thing his reading ability escalates enormously) and that he might like to try playing a game with me. We got down to it, and it was great. I helped him with a lot of his words, but not all of them, and he got the hang of it pretty well. It's still a challenge remembering that you have to attach your word to something (he didn't like that rule), and that if you play what my Scrabble buddies call a 'parlour trick' (where you lay out a word next to an existing word, creating a bunch of two-letter words) that all the two letter words need to make sense. The remaining letters on the right were mostly mine, I couldn't find anywhere sympathetic for them to go. Of course D'Arcy won.
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Dress up as your favourite animal day.
Someone wanted to dress up as a lion, and in the manner of Jean-Luc Picard, I made it so.
He was not entirely happy with the result. I think he's just got to the point where he's noticed that other people have opinions, and that he might want to pay attention to them, so he thought that being a lion was a bit daggy. Oh well. I liked it (and it is all about me isn't it?).
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