The merits of different dog balls

We have two different kinds of balls for Millie to fetch. The yellow, heavy indestructible ball for the park and the common tennis ball for the beach. Now the reason for the Yellow Ball (capitals are deserved here) is obviously to prevent her from going through multiple tennis balls a week. The reason for the tennis balls on top of this I found out the hard way.

When one goes to the beach, the ball often ends up in the water, tennis balls float, hockey balls float, golf balls float, ping pong balls float (obviously) so I was wondering if this one did. I figured it possibly didn't because otherwise there would be no need for tennis balls unless there was a different, less obvious reason like we don't want to lose an expensive ball.

I did not and still have not taken the ball to the beach, it turns out I didn't need to. I was at the park chucking the ball for the dog when she suddenly took the ball for a walk into the ditch. Due to the recent rain we had there was a deep and above all stinky puddle in there. Instead of keeping hold of the ball, the idiot dog dropped the ball into the big, stinky puddle then stirred up the silt around it. I tried to get her to get it but she couldn't see it and so didn't get it. I poked around with my ball throwing stick in the hope that I might magically catch it and bring it up. In the process of the dog and I searching for the ball more silt was stink was stirred up. In the end I rolled up my pants and had to paddle around in the deep, extremely stinky puddle to find it. It was revolting.

Now we know the reason why the yellow ball does not go to the beach or in fact near a body of water deeper the an inch.

Pet sitting

I am Currently needing to baby sit two cats and a dog. This involves the usual remembering to feed and water them, cleaning up the back yard and taking the dog for ideally 2 walks a day. This started of famously with one of the cats vomiting all over the floor when I got home the first day. The dog routine has been going well though I have had to get creative about the afternoon walk since I work in the afternoon and any time before 5 is too hot for her to enjoy a walk. We have been going to the beach a bit and the kids have joined in the exercising of the dog. 

I say it is too hot before 5pm however current weather is making a lie of this. It has been horrible weather today and yesterday, cold, windy and sporadically heavy rain. Today I went to the beach with the dog to throw the ball. We had the whole beach to ourselves for a very good reason, nobody else was mental enough to be out in such revolting weather. The wind was so strong it shoved you along like a hired goon, then on the way back into it you had to lean forward and shove into it. Throwing the ball with the wind was a good plan, it traveled twice the distance of a normal throw and the dog had difficulty finding it. I didn't throw the ball into the wind because I suspected it may end up hitting me in the face. So this is November and 2 more days till summer.

Last night I went to bible study (like I do) and got home (as expected) to find a lovely gift (not wanted or expected) all over the floor from a cat. Somebody had returned dinner all over the floor in a revolting puddle. Surprisingly I was not thrilled about cleaning it all up. 

I got them back today though by brushing them while they were eating their minuscule serving of dinner tonight. They were lucky to get any but they were hovering so hopefully. 

Also one of the cats has developed a habit of coming in to my room in the wee small hours to rearrange my things (she seems to think they work better all over the floor) and then to lie on my back/tummy/side and go to sleep before launching suddenly out the door with a tremendous kick just when I have forgotten she is there.

Fantastic dog

Millie is a staffy who has a strong need to fetch and return a ball. This makes exercising a very pleasurable experience. If you have the time, you can walk to the beach with the dog and a ball and a ball stick (best dog toy ever) and walk along the beach and back again with her. She is off the lead and focused entirely on the ball the whole time. You throw the ball and walk in the opposite direction. She runs, collects it and runs to catch up, drops it and you throw it behind you again. This means she runs each stretch of beach 6 or 8 times. The ball thrower gives you a big throw and you don't need to bend over or touch a wet, sandy, slobbery ball. For variety you can throw it a short way into the water, this cools her down and gives her another dose of energy.
This morning we walking to the beach and after walking along the beach twice I stood and threw the ball for a further 20 minutes before walking home. She ran non stop for an hour. and still had the energy to pull a bit on the way home. When we got home though, she was so tired she was dawdling along beside me. It takes a lot to tire out a staffy so I am impressed.

Bizarre Day

A few weeks back, just after I had moved into my new place, I was about to go out on a Monday morning, as in literally in the car to drive away, when I saw a man in a yellow, official looking shirt. Like the council workers wear. He asked if I lived here I said yes. He asked if he and his buddies could pull down a section of the fence because they needed to blah blah blah water thingy. I checked to make sure they would not leave an epic mess and then said I would come and help. The man said they would be fine, I said "There is a dog."

So about 20 minutes later I went out with the gorgeous staffy Millie in tow. The poor dog was dragged around town with me. Then at 1130 I had to pick up my little girl from school so I took the dog with me. The kids thought it was fantastic as I found myself in the bizarre position of sitting at school with not my dog, and not my friends dog (I have never met the owner) to pick up not my children. One little boy asked if she was mine, I said no, his eyes opened wide and he said "did you steal it???" Then we had to go to swimming lessons so Millie spent a bit of time tied up in the back yard of the kids house while we went. Then the dog, the child and I came back to my house to chill out and watch beauty and the beast before going to get the boys.
The workmen finished with 5 minutes to spare but I had decided to take Millie anyway and go and visit my friend and their dog after school. My flatmate had a mentally busy day and had to do heaps of stuff, rush home to walk Millie then go back to work again. I texted to say she didn't need to walk the dog because I was taking her for a play with the kids.

As a result of this day, I was behind in what I should have been doing and didn't catch up till Wednesday and my flatmate was ahead of what she had to do and much less stressed.

The other funny thing about that day was on the Sunday, while creating a new garden, we noticed one of the posts had been removed and set aside. These are the posts at the ends of alley paths to stop cars from driving through. So on Sunday a hole was dug and the post dutifully put back in its place. I said that it would be funny as if someone comes along tomorrow and sayd "Good grief, who put that there, we took it down for a reason." Anyway Monday morning and I look and about 6 cars had driven through the newly made garden past the newly removed post so they could fix the water thingy.

Pets

It seems to be my lot in life to end up in houses with pets. I was a bit slow off the mark this year, in a house with only one, fairly boring, cat. Annie is a ragdoll cat who had never quite learnt to sit on a lap. I taught her  that laps are pleasant and desirable to sit on however she seems sadly confused about how to actually get herself from beside the seated human to sleeping on the seated human. Most cats stare at you until you move and make room and then they stomp around making themselves comfortable, sticking a tail in your mouth and finally settling down to sleep. Annie somehow isn't certain about the ownership procedure most cats employ when manipulating their humans. She comes up on the couch next to you and then leans against you and tries to lie down sort of half on your lap and half on the chair. This doesn't work so she swaps to the other side and tries again.

Now I have moved and live with 2 cats and a dog. The 2 cats are sisters and are like chalk and cheese. Pickles owns the house, is self assured and has definite ideas about what she likes and her place in life. She will act like she is condescending to sit on your lap and if you pat her she will leave (sometimes) she doesn't like being picked up, ignored, touched on her tummy, feet, sides, tail or ears.  Chutney, her sister, is much slower to warm up to a new person. This is to the point where some people are dubious about her existence. She skulks and hides and hates changes in routines.
Millie is a black and white staffy. Apparently she used to be completely mental but now, after lots of manners training and 2 walks a day, she is a lovely pleasant easy dog to have. All one needs to do is wear her out with a ball each day and she sleeps.

Lastly there is a new puppy belonging to the family I work for. She is little with sharp teeth and an unerring instinct to mess inside the house mere seconds after coming inside.

This is a bit like last year, 3 cats and 2 dogs at the house last year, one of whom was a puppy, and 3 cats and 2 dogs between the 2 houses I spend a lot of time at here.

Luckily I like animals :)

Small World and Church

Last week, a new person came to church, just passing through. My friend was talking to her afterwards and invited me and her for lunch after church. This new person was a huge encouragement to me being in an identical life situation to me and extremely strong in her following of Jesus and her belief in Jesus saving power. We are both single, working on contentment, doing our best to grow in Godliness and serve God, our brothers and sisters. We are both loud, can sing (she can harmonize) humorous, energetic and talk and laugh lots. We hit it off very quickly and were a bit sad that she couldn't stay more permanently.

On Sunday another young single girl from Hong Kong was introduced to me so I could look after her and welcome her. I did as well as I could and invited her along to bible study and worked out transport for her. We were looking at her map to work out where she lived and the place I work was circled. I couldn't imagine why. It turns out that the kids she cares for is taught piano by my boss.

Long time no see

Sorry for such a long gap, I have had some interesting things to write about but was sadly lacking in internet availability. Since my last post I have been overseas and moved out, energetic yes?

Moving out was a necessary step in my age development and feeling grown up. As a live in nanny it feels a lot like you are a big sister who gets paid huge amounts of pocket money to care for younger children. Meals are provided, rent is paid etc. This does not assist in the feeling of grown-up-ness. Moreover when living at work, you miss the opportunity to go home, work hours are blurred and the family you work for misses their just family time.

I am extremely enjoying moving out and going home after work. My flatmate is funny and interesting and very generous and accommodating. There are 2 cats and one dog (the dog is temporary) All the inhabitants of the house are of the female persuasion.

This has made the possibility of staying here next year a lot more certain and promising.