Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

Tis the season to be jolly! We're looking forward to another ocean beach Christmas. It's casual, relaxed affair. Just us, our friends and four dogs! There is a wonderful ' Dogs N Grog ' Christmas tradition in our Melbourne park.  All the dog owners are invited for festive drinks in the park with their pooches.  The beauty of a summer Christmas. It's a casual chaotic affair by all accounts - bring a bottle and a dog or two. It pretty much sums up how our Christmas will be. And the really good news is that I've found the gin,  goodness knows where the brandy's gone and sherry forget it. So proud was I of my gin find, I decided to make a feature of it. What do you think? I'm not doing much (read anything) in the way of Christmas decorations... So I was rather proud of this effort - hic! Well, I'm just about to fly to Bangkok for a weeks house hunting, and we're not having Christmas here in Melbourne anyway. I kno...

I’M READY TO FLY THE NEST… Three months in Europe with a stop over in Singapore. Here I come! I think I have remembered to pack everything. Certainly anything remaining has been  washed, polished and tidied away. Well, maybe not in the study...  I am not Wonder Women!  I’ve been busy. The house is clean,  and all the sheets changed. Car was washed,  and I even vacuumed the soccer muddy car mats. My yoga mat is rolled and stored Surely I will be Zen enough, without yoga for the duration… I have had appointments galore from the hairdresser, to my mammogram. I’m fit to leave! The dog’s also had the right royal treatment. He's been clipped, scrubbed  and had his nails done. Snap! Me too!  Well if the Crazy Poodle gets a pedicure,  then so do I… He’s got a shiny new bling bone dog tag  with new contact phone numbers and al...

'Mum, I bought a dog We sacked the Security Guard and I spent $5 on a puppy He's covered in fleas but he's very cute'... Daughter Number One is in Africa.  She is living with no running water, infrequent electricity, sporadic internet and this mutt. Saturday Critters: New Guard dog! Her e-mail arrives whilst we are in New York on holiday. The next day we find ourselves wandering round the American Museum of National History I am drawn to the African Mammals  and wonder how many of these exotic animals she will get to see during her time in Africa? 'Suppose it could be worse - she could have a pet monkey or pigmy hippo?! Black and White Colobus Monkeys  American Natural History Museum, New York So unable to forget about this poor flea infested dog, I'm in the pet shop a few weeks later... 'I need some worming and flea treatment for a puppy'. 'No worries - How old is the dog?'.... 'Ermm not ...

It's been a big start to the year. We have been trying to decide whether to move. There were job offers in Hong Kong, Singapore and China. Next year all the kids will be at University. We are technically footloose and fancy free - Yay! We become Empty Nesters,  and can sail off into the sunset.  OK you're right...  We're probably more likely to take a plane  but the furniture can go by boat! But there is one little problem:  The Crazy Poodle. The various faces of the Crazy Poodle We won't take him with us, DH declares,  'Not to Asia. It's not fair!'  'Whaaat? It's not fair to leave him, he's one of the family',  I reply in hushed tones, just in case Mutt is listening. He knows some thing's up as he sits there all cute and adorable in his kennel... We're in the dog house for thoughts about leaving Mutt in Australia I never wanted a dog, but we promised the kids that when we eventually settle...

Shhhhhhh Let's get  wordless Q

Doggie Heaven Seeing double....  Here is Mutt our scruffy poodle, with one of his best Cavoodle friends who is on holiday with us... Here they are down by the Yarra River, trotting through the woods, sniffing out anything interesting.... It was a beautiful September day in Melbourne, all the Spring Flowers are out.... Mind you, getting them to slow down to smell the roses is a tad tricky, unless there is a yummy treat on offer..... Ok boys off you go..... Sign of a good walk, just look at those muddy paws..... Little Wandering Wren Location: Bulleen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA