AMCA , it's fun to visit with the AMCA!!!

You may not know that the TV stopped working. Auntie Mrs Captain Archer carried the new one down the stairs as I am particularly pathetic, but first, the very reluctant Labradors had to be locked in the front of the house to bar accidents. They knew AMCA was here on an unexpected visit. When it was all over I opened the hall door and they ran at warp sped up the stairs to the very back gate but she wasn't there!!! They raced back inside to discover her sitting on the couch. There were paroxysms of joy and much leaping about and wagging of tails. They had to be shown the Lemon Juice of Calming Down. The Labradors are not smacked, they are shown the Lemon Juice squirty bottle and in the most desperate situations of bad behaviour they are squirted.
Today I am very tired so we have not been further than the back gate. We have played ball and bottle and had a big nap this afternoons from 12-30 till 3-30pm. Now the labradors are sleeping again. It has been warm and Peri has been sun bathing again!!!

Hey There Georgie Boy

Last night Peri watched 'George Negus Tonight' with particular intent as there was a dog whisperer and some alpacas. I wish I had taped it for her as it kept her riveted to the TV for the entire time!!! There was a Golden Retriever who was so good at sitting when it met someone. I want Peri to learn that!!! We will have to work on it. Of course now GNT is cancelled so Peri is very sad.
We slept a long time last night, all the way till 9-30 am this morning. Harki scratched me in the eye accidentally, so it is sore but still working. We didn't go for a walk until 10-30. There were a lot of people at the dam so we walked on leads till the bush. There were no entrails today and Peri came really obediently when called. The little pool was very full so there was big dipping. Peri runs like a maniac, launched herself off the little footbridge and then there is a dull echoey splash as she dives in. There was much happiness.
Harki has played with the big tennis ball and has some more bags so we have been putting things in them. Peri has been sun bathing again and then drinking gallons of water. Everyone is napping now except for me!!!!!

Don't rain on my Wednesday - from Hello Doggy

Well hello, Doggy, yes hello, Doggy,
It's so nice to have you inside - no it's not!!!!
There is some rain Doggy,
But it's not foggy,
You are playing inside, running inside, won't go out.

It has been raining all night and all morning so far, which is lovely but the Labradors don't like it outside today. They went out a bit earlier, as you do when you are a dog and have been inside all night, but now Harki pokes her head out the dog door, and then runs inside quickly. Peri has been outside doing a Gene Kelly in the rain but is inside causing havoc now. She keeps taking Harki's toys and running away with them, it is a good game. Harki has spent an amusing 5 minutes trying to fit both the big tennis ball and TeddyBunny in her mouth at the same time. It can't be done, but she is unwilling to admit defeat.
Last night Peri stole the hot water bottle and took him to the garage but he was unscathed and so doesn't leak. We are frightened of electric blankets incase they explode or electrocute us, so we have a hot water bottle.
No GardyGardeners today as it is too wet so no morning tea for the Labradors - they are very, very, very sad, as only a Labrador with no extra food can be.

Insides out

OMGCB, Peri found the innards of a dead beastie thing on our walk and she carried it triumphantly around in her mouth, until, in an unexpected flowering of obedience , she put it down in favour of a treat from me!! We left really quickly and on the way back, armed with a stick, i hefted it away where perchance a Devil will devour it by Thursday.
The Blue toys are still mainly intact, one even still has its squeaky noise. The Labradors love them and they have played Tug-of-War and Chasings with them. Harki slept in this morning till 8-30 pm and so did Peri so our walk was a little alter than normal. We just made it home before the rain and it has been raining on and off all day. Harki's big tennis ball went under the bed, but I didn't know. She was crying in the bedroom and had made a dribble puddle on the floor as her head was thrust under the bed!!!

Blue's Chews

Today Harki was up at 5-30 am frolicking in the hall, playing loudly with thumping sounds. We all had so much sleep yesterday, she was extra awake. We went to get the paper and then it started raining so the Labradors played in the rain for a while.
This afternoon they got a new present each, a blue stuffed dog toy - when you squeeze the belly it goes
( in a high pitched way) 'Woof, woof, woofwoofwoof, whine, whine'. Peri is not sure whether it is actually alive or not, but she can sometimes make it woof. Harki recognised it immediately as a type of TeddyBunny and proceeded very competently to make it woof, and then to pull the stuffing out. After this whirl of activity, they are now having a nap. Oh and they had lovely sardines for lunch!!!

Not Ronnie Barker

Today we had porridge for breakfast. The Labradors like porridge, but they don't have milk as it is bad for them. We slept till 9-15 am and then went for a short walk. We saw another man walking his Golden Retriever. The Labradors wanted to simultaneously play and guard!! Harki had half her hackles up and Peri was sitting and crying.
We have been playing with the large tennis ball. It is just big, or small, enough, to fit into a Labradors mouth. It is much better to throw than some of the things harki chooses. Peri is outside sun bathing and she comes inside every so often for a drink and a pat then off she goes again. She is more independent, or less bonded!! Harki likes to be with you and to do what you do and go where you go.
Last night when I got home I was sniffed and smelled to the nth degree as I has had Tommy and Fifi sitting on me, the Labradors are very jealous.
Harki has been very excited every time I sit on the couch. I didn't think it could be just me - and it wasn't, the box of bought dog biscuits was on the Buck Rogers Tea Trolley and she really, really wanted one. I have had to move the box to curb the enthusiasm!!!

A room with a view

I am at Auntie and Uncle New House, with Uncle Engineer and Auntie Cleavage and also Auntie Mrs Captain Archer. It is the House warming for Auntie and Uncle New House's house. Fifi and Tommy the puppies are here. They are waving to the Labradors.

Afternoon Tea at Tiffany's

I hope Auntie and Uncle Library have recovered from afternoon tea!!! The Labradors were so excited there was jumping, there was running, there was drinking and subsequent drooling......... They had such a lovely time and all the dogs co-operated and played nicely.
Jack fell in love with Peri, though the relationship was doomed from the start, he was just too small, but he followed her everywhere - especially to the laundry where there was food, albeit in a container. Syd and Annie were very happy and Harki did her GreyFriars Bobby impersonation and sat outside the glass doors for about 90 minutes just gazing at us.
At times it was like a horror Disney movie -5 dogs, locked out of the house, how will they survive???
The grown-ups had lovely cheese and red pesto and marinated nibbley things and a cup of Russian Caravan Tea and a lovely chat. It was all very civilised inside until the door was opened and it was as if we had been separated for 90 years not 90 minutes.
At the Hospital earlier when Harki was given some new drops for her Flippy-Floppy Ear, we bought 2 new green leads, dark green with little dog outlines on them. Auntie Library took Harki down the path and over the road to the car and I took Peri as she is more dangerous!!! We came home and had a sleep, then later on a bigger sleep till about 10 am this morning.
The Labradors are excited as Auntie Mrs Captain Archer is coming for tea and there are always treats!!!!!

Bring me my coat of many odors

Harki will be going to the Hospital at 1 pm for her Flippy-Floppy Ear. Peri will have to stay home with a bone as a sop. I have made a nice banana cake with lemon icing for the Doctors and Nurses too.
Today we had a messy walk. Peri rolled in boogelly things and then totally immersed herself in the muddy pool and was mud coloured. Now she has a coat of many odors, pong and mud, and she is all tufted.
They are excited as they have smelled the farm smells and the scent of Harki's sister, Honey, who lives with Auntie Debbie, on the carton of eggs.
Today the Labradors are saying hello to Auntie TOTM ( Tournament of the Mind) who has a German Shepherd. This afternoon is the big afternoon tea as well. I had to make the Hospital appointment around it. They are very kind.
Hi all the Doctors and Nurses at the Animal Medical Centre!!!!!!!

Acute hearing? Yes, nice bit of jewellery!!!

Harki has Flippy-Floppy Ear, that is what it says on the computer file at the Hospital as her official complaint. I am like Mrs Pumphrey? And Tricky-Woo from All Creatures Great and Small, except I am real and far more scary!!! We have put ointment in her ear. We do the sit, drop, roll over on the bed and she lets me stick the tube down her poor little red ear and then massage it in. She seems much happier now than this morning.
For morning tea they had Vegemite and Bran biscuits in the shapes of bones, cats and fire hydrants.
That is all we have done today, they had a big snorey sleep all afternoon and soon they will have a juicy bone to gnaw on.
We are still excited about going to afternoon tea at Auntie Library's tomorrow!!!!!

The Big Seep

I would just like to point out that Raymond Chandler has nothing on us!! There was, in truth, no seeping , as I said in the last entry, there was, in fact, a lot of sleeping.
Sorry linesmen, sorry Bogarts!!!
Today we had a lovely walk and a swim proper with stick throwing and everything. There were tourists so we had to go on the lead for half the time , but it was generally very exciting. Peri swims like a fish, but Harki swims like Sally Robbins ie not very well. She is a propitious paddler, however!!!
We went to the supermarket and then when we came home the parcel postman came, the one who looks like Santa. He gave us a parcel for Auntie Mrs Captain Archer to use at school.
Oh oh oh such exciting news, Auntie Library has invited the Labradors to afternoon tea on Thursday to meet her new grand-dog Jack. There will be 5 dogs, it will be interesting to say the least. I will have to cook a big batch of bone shaped biscuits. I will recount our afternoon tea experience on Friday.
Peri had an empty bag for a toy, except she carried it by the bottom edge and her eyes were in the bag. We laughed as she went down the stairs like a haughty lady. She worked out it is much better to carry it by the side. Very funny.
The Knitting Ladies may drop in, so Hello Auntie s Knit and Purl!!!!!
We are off for a nap as there is a social outing later on!!!!!

Stairway to Heaven

The labradors climbed the stairs to the Look out at the dam and I forgot to mention it. It is momentous because the stairs are metal and have no back in them so they are not user friendly. Harki and Peri went up to the top and looked out and then realised they could see me if they peeped through the bars!! I waved and they played and then came down!!
Today we had an uneventful walk, and a swim in the muddy pool. Something is living in a big thicket of ferns and they spent a good ten minutes rustling around. Honestly there could be nothing there and they are just chasing smells!!!
They had a healthy multi grain roll from the bakery and now Harki is sad as her new toy, an apple in a bag, had become cider or apple pulp in a bag and won't throw any more.
We had a giant seep from about 5 till 6-30 pm and then from 6-35 pm till 8-30 am this morning. I was very tired and the Labradors are trained to nap think heavens.

Calling a spade a spade

Ask me what I have just been doing? Well, after an unsuccessful attempt to defrost the chicken frames welded together - I have been outside performing a strange and unnatural sacrificial rite with the afore mentioned spade and chicken frames.
Kevlar and reinforced concrete have nothing on two frozen chicken frames. It made me worn out. I have managed to half separate these twin chickens, and now they are in a photocopy paper box recovering and the Labradors do not understand why their bone has gone away.

They are Sphinx-like at my feet, staring unwaveringly and longingly. If I die they will eat me - well Peri might, Harki wouldn't. All that rubbish about Bridget Jones being eaten by German Shepherds ( Alsatians in the UK) - it is so untrue, German Shepherds are so fussy and pernickety they would never eat a dead person unless they had pate or cheese on them!!!!!

The Labradors want to say hello to Auntie Newjob and to Snowy and Auntie Semi-Precious Gemstone!!!!

Not frowning, but waving

The Labradors have greeted me with exuberant enthusiasm and now they have left me all alone and gone outside to play. At Daylight Saving time there is, according to them, an excess of sunlight and so many more playing hours!!
They are waving to Auntie Hockey- Hi Auntie Hockey.
They are waving to Aunt E as well- Hi ho Aunt E.
That is all for today, without doubt there will be more exciting adventures tomorrow!!!

It's worse than that - it's dead, Jim!!!!

Yes, it is worse than that but it could have been a disaster. Today a fully recovered and better than before Peri rolled in a kangaroo. Yes, that's right - or it could have been a wallaby - couldn't tell as it was dead dead dead.
The only positive note was that it was dead and DRY as opposed to dead and maggoty and wet. She had a brief roll and then ran away. Thankfully she also had 2 dips in the little pool, doing excellent dog dives and came up smelling, if not of roses, then definitely not of dead marsupial.
We haven't had a walk for 2 days as one or the other of us has not been well, so it was a very exciting ride in the car. This morning Peri was so excited at waking up time that her morning frenzy resembled Lucy Liu's (sic) standing up back massage in Charlie's Angels.
Harki is sooking because she wants me to throw her stick all of the time and I think she should have a rest before she plays as she has just eaten ( I am a 50's housewife mother - come away from the water, you've just eaten!!)

Poor poor Peri

First of all the labradors want to say hello to people. In the interests of anonymity they will not be named - and also as it is probably highly embarrassing to have dogs saying hello to you!!
They say Woof Woof wiggle wag to C, A, G, and the black cat, the people with no kitchen, it is like camping. We hope your kitchen is installed soon, and do email me with the type of cake you would like for your kitchen warming!!
Hope it's not a kitchen warming like I had when my kitchen burned!!!
It is raining so I expect Peri will be out there soon so she can come inside all wet and cuddle me!!!

Yesterday Peri was not well. Her little right front paw and leg were hurting. She was all calm and sad and clingy. I rubbed her leg and she crept close. In the night, even though it was warm, I put her blanket on the end of the bed and she slept under it. She pitifully wagged her tail with happiness.
When we woke up she felt well and wagged her tail and Harki and Peri are outside now in the rain!!!!!

The Day Peri Almost Ran Away

Today is the day Peri almost ran away. The Gardy-Gardeners come on Wednesdays and Uncle B brought the Labradors a bone and I foolishly opened the barrier and Peri was off like a bride's nightie. She ran down the stairs and towards the road but she stopped to smell the letterbox and then came back when I called her. It is a miracle akin to Fatima!!!!!
When the GGs come the Labradors have a personality swap. Peri sits in the corner and is angelic. Harki bounces about like an elephant bounces about - she whines and asks with all her paws and dribbles and drools and is generally wicked. I have to show her the lemon juice. That calms her down . ( and I do mean show, I wave the squeezy bottle about a bit)
Today we had cheese and bacon sconnies and the Labradors had the ends and their bone biscuits too.
I bought a new Labrador mug at the shop. It has baby Labradors!! It is lovely. I am going out later on to explain Roman numerals to G. The labradors will be having a chicken frame then!!!!!

Rolling in something awful

That is what Peri did today at the dam. She rolled in something awful - the only good thing was she wallowed in the little pool and washed some of the smell off. Harki and Peri both slipped through the hole in the wire at the side of the gate to the bush track - what a long sentence!!! But Peri came back out and waited to go in the gate. She is so silly.
We went to the shop to buy condensed milk to make a slice for Auntie Mrs Captain Archer. The Labradors waited in the car and when I came back a man was watching them in amusement. When they see you coming they wag their tails furiously and leap about ( as much as it is possible to leap about in the back of a station wagon) There was no present for them but they had breakfast and a bone biscuit and then Harki wanted to play stick. She couldn't find it so for the first time she went by herself and chose another one, usually I have to graft the new stick to the old, but not today.
Harki is in a monster mood, she menaced Peri when we went to get the mail and is still bouncing about. It must be spring!!!!!

Day 5 Where there really is NO orgy!!!

So far today we have been to get the newspaper, always an exciting time, smelled the broad bean plants and been to get a parcel from the letter box. A day of joy thus far!!!!
We have weeded on bag of weeds and had breakfast and now we are playing stick. The stick has orange wool wrapped around it . Harki persists in leaving it in the hall and then running up the back yard and yipping to me so I will throw the stick. Then there has to be a giant search till it is found!!!. At the moment it is lost so I have a few minutes of peace while she searches. Peri was watching next door through the fence in the hope of a biscuit!! I called and she came!!!!! Amazing - so she had half a biscuit and Harki found stick but is having a rest on their doona in the lounge room.
A big woof and wiggle to Syd and Annie whose names I still don't know how to spell. When Harki was little she went to the Golden Retrievers' house for afternoon tea!!!!
Oh the parcel postman has just come and he patted the Labradors through the front window. They are having a good day, even though it is not a walking day.
I mis-typed orange and the spell check insisted I meany 'orgy'. I can assure you I did not, infact this house is as far from an orgy as you can get, it's almost a convent!!!!!

Day after the Election

Today we went for a lovely walk at the dam. The Labradors jumped in the pool near the path and ranged far and wide. I baked them bone shaped biscuits. They are lovely to look at and apparently lovely to eat. I sent some to Auntie Mrs Captain Archer's dad's dog, and to HollyPolly and her guest Kettle at lunch.
The labradors had a big beef bone and we have played stick but I am tired today. We are not doing anything else at all really.

Day 4

Today is Election Day and we all slept till 8-15 am and then the dog door was opened and the labradors fed. Then back to bed . At 10-30 Harki and Peri began a round of Greco-Roman wrestling and there was no more sleep. Hiding under the doona did no good. Harki stands beside the bed and nudges determinedly until finally you look out and then there is a furious wagging of the tail!!!
They had a beef bone to chew at about 1 pm then off to vote. Always vote in biro incase someone rubs out your vote. I like to vote below the line and fill in all the numbers. On the north island some ballot papers have almost 300 candidates and you would go through an awful lot of pencils.
We have had a play with the stick, which is currently wrapped in purple zebra striped fake fur fabric - don't ask.
It is hot and Peri has been sunbaking but we are all inside now in the cool.
Today I saw 2 thin Labs, a black and a golden, and a golden Lab going for a ride in the car!!!
I think a more formal nap will be called for soon.......

Day 3

Today we went for our walk to the dam and in the car on the way we saw a dead kangaroo on the road. I drove around it but Peri thought it looked very interesting. When we got to the dam there were 9 Fire Service vehicles, and ambulance and the Fire Rescue hazmat truck. All the officers set up shade tents and they had all kinds of equipment. There must be a rescue exercise today - or they were having a big barbecue breakfast. I did hope there might be a sausage for the Labradors if that was the case, but no such luck.
In the bush Peri and Harki played in the little creek that pools near the path. Peri goes beserkers-bonkers and runs around in tight circles wanting Harki to play. She banged her head on a small tree with a thin trunk, but it didn't seem to make a dent or a dint in her brain function!!
Harki has just come inside with a stick and I can see hours of throwing the stick up the backyard looming. She has not brought it here yet, she is lying in the spot of sunlight in the lounge room. She has moved closer, it will soon be time. ( Luke, I am your Father!!)
Off to have a cup of Irish breakfast tea, Twinings, in the green packet, in a green teapot, but in a Star Wars cup today.
More later!!!

Day 2

Today is Agricultural Show Day. Auntie Mrs Captain Archer's ( blatant pseudonym to protect the innocent)(who is my particular friend. I love Pride and Prejudice) class won first prize with the quilt they made!!!!
We woke at 6 am, but I had a headache so I opened the dog door, and then we all slept till 10-10am!!
Peri played with an empty tissue box and spent a good deal of time trying to get into the bed - not allowed. I spent a great deal of time holding her back paw and tickling it. Harki wanted a pat. They had to have simultaneous pats. Peri likes to ask with her paw and then hold on with it and that makes it particularly difficult to continue patting!!!
For breakfast they had a savoury custard made from the poaching liquid, skin etc from the smoked grenadier, thickened, and their dry dog food. There was no walk this morning, but there will be tomorrow.
I went to Auntie Mrs Captain Archer's and made a curtain too long ( no Alec Guiness you see) and it rained very hard.
Sensibly the Labradors had spent the day in the shade of the garage and were not all wet. They had a biscuit. I made bone shaped biscuits with a cutter that was a gift from Auntie Mrs Captain Archer ( I can say this more times than Mark Latham can say "Ease the Squeeze") .
Now they are sleeping again. I think I shall make a graph of how long they sleep. It will be the majority of the day I expect. I shall adjust the clock to our time too.
Despite the day being a holiday here in the north, the postman still came. We received 5 lots of election propaganda and no letters!!! But there were shopping brochures. We like those.
More from the Labradors tomorrow!!
PS Hello Uncle Bradley
PPS Hello HollyPolly

Day 1.5

Hooray, it worked !!! The dogs have their own blog. They are so underwhelmed they have gone to bed. Personally I think it is Daylight Saving, all the extra daylight has worn them out.
More illuminating and riveting adventures anon.

Day 1

Will this work? Will the dogs get their blog????