Thursday, May 31, 2012

An apology to Jehan and Farouk.

May I blame Pamela for what you're about to read? 


This morning, shortly after I woke up and before I could even have a coffee, I saw her post. Then Chandra'sThen Fern's.


From there, it was just a short and slippery slope down my own memory lane with its unruly unpruned hedges.


I don't know if you've heard of Lori's If I Die Today posts.Those of you who also follow her, will know what I'm talking about. I've always had problems answering the questions she poses. But I know one thing. 


If I died today, I would regret not telling you about Jehan and Farouk.

I was startled this morning, to see how similar Rook [on the right] was to Jordan and Georgia. And Han [on the left] to Rufus. 


I spent an hour, maybe more, this morning, digging up old pictures from dusty baskets that sit under a table. They're neatly organized into sandwich bags labelled Friends, Family, Brisbane, Sydney, Norway, Morocco and other places I've been lucky enough to visit in my life. My god. I was so young then! I had a crazy perm, a shape, legs and wore hotpants! 


Many of the pictures were stuck together or had turned brown. None of them were digitally clear. But those sepia shadows made me cry like I haven't in a very long time. 


Some things I don't like to think about because, quite frankly, they make me sad and they make me feel like a bad person. But I know there'll be no stopping now until I'm done with this post.


*


Jehan and Farouk were 2 dogs we had when we lived in Brisbane, more than 23 years ago. They were both pound puppies though I can't remember where exactly they came from.


Farouk was the first to be adopted. 
Even as a pup, he was neurotic and could be aggressive. He chewed through half our backyard and was particularly fond of bromeliads. He got spanked a lot for that.
We got Jehan about 2 months later from a different pound. 
He was about 3 or 4 months old, if I remember correctly, and had been dropped off by someone who'd moved to an apartment. When we first met him on a rainy day, he was filthy, had mangy fur, weepy sores, and the sweetest temperament you could hope for in a pup.


The first 2 years were uneventful. In those days, we didn't fuss over what kind of bones to give our dogs and whether their food should be organic. And [unlike some un-named pigdog], they never demanded that we walk them twice a day, rain or shine. 
Rook and Han mostly played in the 1/4 acre backyard. A few times a week, they'd get taken out for leash walks. I don't remember there being any leash-free parks for dogs in the area though there was a pine forest where we'd take them sometimes. 



Rook loved the smell of coffee and would sit by my side every morning, drooling as I had my morning mug on the back verandah. I thought he was a coffee addict reincarnated. I hesitate to say he was my dog because I know The Other Half will take exception to that. But I do think he was more my dog. We bonded over our neuroses.


Jehan was very devoted to [who else?] The Other Half. He would lie down by the gate all day, waiting for the man to come home from work. There was no shelter there and only gravel to sleep on, but he wouldn't come into the house even when it rained. This is the daft dog that once picked up a cane toad and lived to tell the tale.
In 1991, we made a decision to move to Sydney. There was just no work for us in Brisbane. We had no idea where we were going to stay and we didn't know if it would be possible to bring 2 big dogs with us to an unknown city and into an unknown future. 


So we decided the best thing to do would be to find them new homes.  


You see why it's so hard for me to tell this story?


We put up signs at the produce shop, the butcher's and the vet's. We called around. I wrote a long letter about their quirks and put it in an envelope to be given to the new owners. Or, in the worst case scenario, to be dropped off at the pound, together with our boys. 


Then, in the last week, with the worst case scenario looming, we realised we just couldn't do it. 


So we called our rellies in Sydney instead and begged them to take Jehan and Farouk. Just for a while. Until we were settled. We would look after them. And pay for any damage. Please. Please. Please.


None of them were dog people so it was very fortunate for us that one of them finally said, "Yes."


I can't tell you how relieved and happy we were, but I know you can imagine.


A week later, we all piled into the station wagon towing a trailer loaded with some clothes, our CVs and other essentials, and Jehan and Farouk's worldly possessions. The rest of our house contents were put in storage, waiting for a place to call home.


We started off at 5am. I remember that clearly. The journey took more than 13 hours, with many stops along the way for the boys to stretch and pee. They used to love going for car rides but after that epic journey, neither of them were ever keen on cars again!


It was dark by the time we drove into Sydney where we immediately got lost for another hour before we finally arrived at the rellie's.


And there we gratefully stayed for the next couple of months until I found a job and we got our own place. 


*


Our new home had a big back and front yard! 
Every day, the boys got to meet and play with other neighbourhood dogs in the oval and green field just across a side road. There were a few nature reserves nearby too! [I wrote about one HERE, not too long ago.] It was a happy time for all of us.
But it was shortlived because I suddenly lost my job. The circumstances of that loss still makes me angry today, but it isn't relevant to this story so I'll not write about it.


The economy was in bad shape back then and with a mortgage, we did what we had to. When I was offered a job overseas, I jumped at it. The Other Half stayed back to keep trying for a job, and to look after Jehan and Farouk. It wasn't an ideal situation, but it was the only way we could think of to keep our boys.


A few months went by. The Other Half had to have an operation to fix a perforated eardrum. I thought I'd come home to cheer him up. 


On the drive from the airport to the house, he told me that Farouk had been in an accident. 


On the morning of the operation, The Other Half  had wanted to give the boys a last walk before checking himself into the hospital. Rook had been hit by a car while crossing the quiet suburban side street to the oval. The impact was hard enough to fling him more than 3 meters away. The woman in the car stopped only long enough to raise her arms as if to say, "Why the hell did you get in my way!" Then she sped off. 


Should Rook have been crossing the road off-leash? No. Could the woman have stopped in time or swerved away? Yes. Why didn't she do it? We don't know.


Farouk's left front leg was badly damaged.
He couldn't use it but the vet didn't think it was time to amputate. So we fashioned a sling for him. [I now wonder about that advice. What was the point of it? The leg would just have atrophied.]




Eventually though [it may even have been more than a month later], the leg started to agitate Rook and we knew it was time to remove it.


I remember being amazed at how easily and quickly he adapted to his 3 legs! Before we knew it, he was running on them like he'd been born a tripod!



*


With no local jobs available,  The Other Half finally decided to join me. We would both be working long hours and staying in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in a crowded city. It wasn't going to be any suitable place for 2 big dogs that had grown up with space. 


So we decided to rent our house out at "a very good price" with the proviso that the tenant take care of  our boys. Looking back now, it seems an absurd idea. But we were desperate and in a hurry.  


In actual fact, everything went well for quite a few months. Then one day, we got a call from our neighbour in Sydney. The tenants, they said, were no longer looking after our boys well.


So we took a month off and the next flight home to sort things out. 


*


Some dogs are born into a good life or are lucky enough to find one. We had hoped to provide that life for our pound puppies, but it just didn't turn out that way.


The boys were only about 3 years old then. This time, we were able to find friends who agreed to take them. Though we tried our best to find them a home together, no one wanted 2 big dogs. So Jehan and Farouk had to go their separate ways.


Jehan stayed on in Sydney with a friend. A year or so later, that friend was offered a job overseas as well, and left Jehan with his sister. I managed to visit Han one time and found him in poor shape. His fur had become mangy again because no one was brushing him. He felt grimy. He didn't seem to remember me. I know he was sad. The Other Half never managed to see Jehan again, despite repeated requests. 


You see, the friend had, over the years, become heavily addicted to drugs and was no longer the person he used to be. Sadly, he didn't even tell us when Jehan died.


Farouk was luckier. He ended up with friends who lived on a farm in Adelaide. He grew fat, fell into the pool chasing the family cats, was loved and died in the late 90s. 
Neither I nor The Other Half ever saw him again after he left our family.


That last day, when the pet taxi came to pick Rook up to take him to the airport, I remember helping him into the van, giving him a big hug and telling him, "Don't be scared, Rooky. You'll be okay. I love you. Be good and we'll be together again soon." 


I was still hopeful at the time that we would be home, maybe in a year. And because the boys had gone to friends, I thought we'd be able to get them back.


But then, you already know how it ends.


*


Jehan and Farouk never got to see each other again. And we never became a family again, as I had promised we would.
And for that, my boys, I need you to know something, however belated it is.


I'll always, always be sorry for the way your lives turned out. I wish we could go back to make amends, but we can't. So we're just going to do the best we can with the dogs we now have. Thank you for the lessons you taught us. Sorry for smacking you for the bromeliads, Rooky! And for blaming you, Han!


I love you both very much.








Afterword.
I want to end this post on a happy note so let me tell you a little joke. It was told to me by the friend in Adelaide who gave Farouk a home.


When she went to the airport to pick him up, the person who handed Rook over said to her -


I asked what kind of dog we'd be picking up today and you know what I was told?


"A 4-legged one."


 And then the crate arrived and we opened it up.




Thank you for reading and good night x









Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The sisterhood of white pants.

Continued [sort of] from yesterday. A post for women. Men may read, with caution.
I've made myself a rare 2nd mug of coffee with 1/3 full fat milk [skim is for wimps], and am now ready to talk about why menopause isn't as scary as it's made out to be. 


[Okay, that came out a bit suddenly. I'd like to spend a bit more time being anal and tweaking this intro, but apparently someone wants to read this in a hurry.]


Menopause is not what you might call a relevant topic for a dogblog perhaps, but I'm feeling lateral this week and it's what I want to write about. So if you're already switching off, arf! arf! I totally understand. Please go in peace and have A Most Excellent Day. [Don't forget to come back though. I assure you, this is only a phase.]


*


When I first started turning menopausal [notice how I can spell the word now?], I remember mentioning it to a girlfriend. Her immediate reaction was to commiserate with me. "Oh no! Poor thing!" she cried, or something to that effect. I had to tell her, "It's perfectly okay with me."


I don't know how many of you feel [or felt] this way, but from the time I was in my early 40s, I actually looked forward to being menopausal. I couldn't wait for the day to come and had no idea why so many women dreaded it.


I knew there would be some discomfort and possibly osteoporosis to look forward to, but wailing about it seemed as helpful as crying over death and taxes. 


Anyway, seeing as how there's so much bad press about this unavoidable phase of life, I thought I would come out with a quick list today, of the things I do like about being menopausal. [PLEASE NOTE: This is not a medical report, it's the view of one {1} menopausal woman.]


And here they are.


1. I no longer have to deal with cramps, bloat and breakouts.
2. I save money every month on sanitary products, pimple cream and other stuff I probably shouldn't mention on a G-rated dogblog.
3. I no longer have to calculate the dates when I can safely take off for a skimpy beach holiday. 
4. I don't need to sleep so much. [This is otherwise called insomnia, but it's also a good time to catch up with blogging or movies on late night telly.]
5. I don't have to worry about accidents and can wear white any day of the year (though why I would want to do so is something else). 
6. I can be crabby and forgetful and blame it on my hormones. [Warning! In my experience, this excuse is only good the 1st year and should be used sparingly.) 
And finally...
7. I don't need exercise, heating, or a pigdog sitting on my lap to keep me warm. [You hear that, Georgia?]


That's all I can think of for now! I know there must be more good things to say! So sister! if you have anything you'd like to add, feel free to do so! 


Meanwhile, I'm off to the shops to buy myself a nice fat slice of double cream cake because 


8. I'm old and no longer have to worry about being attractive to construction workers. 


Hallelujah!













Monday, May 28, 2012

Menauposal musings.

1. Learn how to spell menaupause properly.


2. Do not get upset that Georgia is always on The Other Half, keeping him warm while refusing to do the same for me. 
3. Do not get jealous either. She's A Dog and I'm only imagining that she's gloating.
4. Remain calm when The Other Half tells me, "Your thermostat is not working." What does he know? He's only A Rude Tick A Man With A Portable Personal HeatSac.


5. Do not laugh when he tells me there's no such thing as male menaopause, while cruising with a bunch of grey warriors wearing a skull mask.


6. Show some compassion when he refuses to get rid of  shirts from when he was young[er].
[I'd appreciate it if you didn't encourage him by saying it's nice. I'm trying to shame him into putting it into the Salvos bin.]


7. Do not wait to be 80 to fall out of a plane and show the world my underwear.


Jumping off this platform last year was a good start.

This pic from HERE. I don't have a picture of myself or The Other Half since I was strapped into the harness [quietly freaking out].  

8.  Do not be sad that I still can't do a proper handstand after 9 years of capoeira, while 20-somethings that started training last week are already walking on their hands.





9. Get serious about where to move to next before fear, inertia, death and/or hip replacements make it impossible.


That's enough musing for the day, don't you think?


Time to go hang out more doggy laundry and see what else Georgia needs done.



+


men·o·pause  (mn-pôzn.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Thank you Mr Callaghan!

I received a comment this morning from the gentleman who is heading the Companion Animal Review. I thought it might be a good idea to share it here, in a new post, rather than to leave it buried as comment #41.


Hi everyone my name is Aaron Callaghan. I am the Senior Parks and Open Space Planner at Leichhardt Council who also happens to live locally and also has a two and half year old dog who loves to run free in the off leash parks. Milton and I go for long walks twice a day (starting at 6am before work). Its part of our routine and it’s a great way for us to socialise (with humans and other dogs) and its also our form of recreation, exercise and fun in the outdoors. 

I am also responsible for heading the companion animal review which this blog seems to be very misinformed about. The last time (and the first time) this review was done was when the original “on and off leash areas” were established within the Leichhardt area. This was back in 2005 and it is timiely that such a review is undertaken as community needs have changed as have some of the parks in terms of development and use. Council has no plans to reduce any off leash areas. The review is aimed at assessing current provision, restrictions and signage as well as recommending to Council where possible changes to make on and off leash areas clearer to the public who use such spaces. This would benefit both dog and non dog owners. 

Parks and opens spaces are there to share for all and Council recognises the benefits of companion animal ownership and the role that local parks and opens spaces provide for companion animal recreation, socialisation and interaction with humans. However there must also be balance between different park uses and the provision of spaces for other activities which do not necessarily include dogs ie children’s playgrounds and sporting activities. I would encourage anyone in the Leichhardt or Sydney area who wants clarity on this issue to phone me on 93679270 during normal business hours.



Here is my response:


Dear Aaron Callaghan, 

THANK YOU for writing to let us know the situation! I have been at your Council website and saw the 2005 Plan and realised that was probably why it was up for review.

I could not however find any other updates or information on the progress of the current review and would be grateful if you would post a link here for us.

As you might know, being a local and a dogowner yourself, there are many of us who are concerned. Any news that I have personally heard regarding changes seem to imply that off-leash times and zones will be reduced so it's good news that you're saying this will not be so. There's nothing so awful as lack of or mis-information and I'm very happy to be corrected!

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write us.

Regards, The Typist x



[If you haven't already, you can read that post and all comments HERE.]



This pic is from HERE and is dedicated to Fab :)


It would appear I've been premature in panicking and that our off-leash rulings are in the good hands of a local and a dogowner. 


Since Mr Callaghan has already read the post and possibly your comments [gulp], I suppose there's no longer any point in sending it onto him. 


I'm very pleased that we got a response and some clarity on the situation! 



+


This, I suspect, will be the first and last time I venture into becoming A DogBlog With A Cause! I have no idea how some of you do it. Normal programming with stories about Georgia's chuckups and tantrums should return shortly, after my feathers have unruffled and I have ingested some Panadeine Forte.


Till then, thank you again for your support and all your thoughts on off-leash dog parks, wherever in the world you are. I know now, from your comments, that we here in the peninsula are luckier than some and not as lucky as others. 


And that, of course, is how life is.


With love and respect always, The Typist x

+


Some interesting links.

+ If you'd like to know what the City of Sydney stand on off-leash dog areas are, CLICK HERE.


Excerpt from this 2008 article:
"Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore says additional off-leash areas are important for people living with pets in the inner city. Ms Moore said it was all about educating the general community about the benefit of pets in people’s lives and educating pet owners about responsible pet ownership. “This is about equity, it’s about not treating dog owners as second-class citizens."


+ If you'd like to know where the off-leash areas in the City of Sydney are, CLICK HERE.


+ If you'd like to know more about Leichhardt Council's current Open Space Strategy for Dogs, CLICK HERE. [This is the 2005 document.]


+

Update 6.15pm!
Mr Callaghan has kindly emailed me the link to the latest news on The Companion Animal Access Review 2012. HERE IT IS! It includes a pdf that explains the Review process. 


If you're bubbling with concerns and ideas, and haven't yet submitted your thoughts on the matter -


The closing date in the wards of Leichhardt and Birchgrove is  now Wednesday 30 May 2012 at 4pm.


Loving this dialogue :Have a great weekend everyone! x




Update Sunday!
I received an interesting and, may I say, rare comment from a local resident and dogowner on Friday night. I should have done something about it yesterday but have been crook. [Yes, please feel sorry for me.]


I think it's worthwhile highlighting as I know many people [oddly] do not read comments as avidly as I do. For those of you who do not live in this area or country, [and for Mr C if he should pop by again], it gives you an idea of the confusion on the ground.


Hi Georgia,

Thanks for posting all of this info over the past weeks. I think it was still really wonderful & valuable that you encouraged Balmain/Birchgrove residents to write in to council because as it states in the pdf link that Mr Callaghan sent you "Council will consult key stakeholders - such as pet owners and park users", however there was never a guideline as to how as pet owners and park uses could be heard as part of the consultation process.

Local area precinct meetings tend to be a first port of call for council to "consult" with local residents and unfortunately Birchgrove precinct's own chairman is against any changes for either more off leash space (like at Ballast Point Park where there is none at all) and would love to have existing off leash space reduced. The small group of vocal residents that attend these meetings (around 8 people), share this view are so vocal and it seems, they are always contacting council with this view giving the impression that they 'speak' for the majority of residents on the peninsula.

The issue that a lot of us local 'balmain dog lovers' had was that some LMC staff such as the grounds keeper at Birchgrove Park/oval and other park staff members had started to tell those of us with dogs off leash (in off leash park zones) that "we had better enjoy it now as there were going to be changes to the amount of space and timings our dogs could play off leash", I was told this very thing not even a week ago.

Anyway, well done with bringing all this info forward and public, you & your fantastic blog defiantly add value to our community.

Calley x
(www.balmaindogblog.com)



I have a feeling it won't be over till the fat dog howls.
"Typist, is it safe to come out yet?"

Thursday, May 24, 2012

What can a blog do?

The deadline is just a day away to save our off-leash dog parks. I'm afraid I may have left this too late but I'm going to give it a go anyway.


I've never done anything like this before and I don't know if it'll work, but I hope you can help.


My plan is to send Leichhardt Council a link to the last post with as many messages of support as I can get. To add your voice, all you have to do is leave a comment.


+


If you have knowledge of how off-leash areas benefit dogs [and/or people], feel free to write or link the information.


If you have personal experience of how they've been useful or good for your dogs, even better.


If you live very far away, not in this peninsula or city, possibly not even in this country, it doesn't matter. You can still be a supporter of the idea of off-leash parks.


If you like, you can share this post on.


+


I will be closing the comments on this post. If you CLICK HERE, it will take you back to the last post where you can add your voice.


If you prefer not to write a personal comment, here's something you can copy and paste -


YES! I support off-leash parks for Georgia, Larry, Ted, Lloyd, Pearl, Darcy, Aggie, Tara, Sammy, Winston, Rocky, Hector and Hector Too, Millie, India, Annie, Trudeau, Paddington, Sparky, Dell, Milo, Atlas, Ranger and The Other Ranger, Ginger, Meg, Nelson, Cooper, Lily, Molly, Scotty, Leopold, Peppa, Karl, Father Jack, Luke, Lizzy, Delle, Kody, Pedro, Baxter, Mana, Tora, Benny, Walter, Pippa Longstocking, Pepper, Belle, Quinoa, Echo, Gracie, Shadow, Corby, Lulu, Banjo, Spike, Belle, Tia, Bruto, Hummer, Merlin, Vegas, Ada, Mozart, Benji, Tyson, Bobby, Callum, Alfie and all the dogs of Balmain and Birchgrove!


If you're new to blogs, here's how you comment -


1. At the bottom of the last post, you will find a link to COMMENTS. Click on it.
2. This will open up a box where you can write your own comment or copy and paste the above message of support.
3. If you have a blogger identity, please use it. If not, click on Name/URL. 
4. This will open up another box. Just so Council knows you're not a fictitious person I made up, please type in your full name. If you have privacy issues, do not use your home address or email address. However, including a city and state or country would be great. If you like, you can include the name of your dog[s].


EXAMPLE: Sarah A. Connor, Fido and Rover, Sydney, NSW. 




NOTE! This is not meant to take the place of a formal letter to The Council. It's just another way to  show support. I will forward the link to Council with a note from Georgia [The Dog] at 4pm tomorrow.


I hope this works! However you wish to participate, thank you for your support!


With love and respect always, The Typist x


I'm sorry I don't know the origin of this picture, but a friend shared it on FaceBook recently and I find it appropriate for this situation. Thanks Im! :) 





Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Big Important Deadline.

I've lived in my neighbourhood for 3 years now. My humans have been here much longer than that.

They tell me that, a long time ago, they used to visit the area every weekend and liked it a lot because of all the little beaches and parks where they could see dogs running around and playing. There were dogs sitting at cafes! There were water bowls outside shops and pubs! And us dogs were even allowed into a few!

So really, they moved here so Mr Piglet and Mr Thumper would have lots of friends and places to explore.

But all that's changed over the years. 

Now, there are some humans who don't want to share the parks with us dogs any more. If you remember, one tried to kill us. And others are telling The People In Charge of These Things that we don't need to have so much space and time to run around and play.

I don't know why no one ever taught these humans it's good manners to share.
"If you break up the big piece, we can each have a little. Wouldn't that be nice?"

My Typist sent a letter to The People In Charge Of These Things for me. I hope lots of other humans did it for their dogs too because it would be too sad otherwise.


Deadline for writing to Leichhardt Council with your views on our local off-leash parks
FRIDAY 25 May, 5pm. 
ADDRESS: Recreation@lmc.nsw.gov.au

Every letter counts! Thank you for your support. With love and respect always, The Typist x





Friday, May 18, 2012

The rest of our holiday OR a lesson in why spontaneity is highly over rated.

Here, at last, is the final instalment of our Stories from HolidayCamp which will hopefully get The Other Half off my back for a while. [SIDE SURVEY: Does anyone here have A Other Half that complains when you don't post regularly? Or am I the only lucky one in this respect?]


HEADS UP! If you mean to read the whole thing and not just scroll through, you might like to take a toilet break, and grab a coffee and some bikkies before you start. This is a long post. 
Many of you asked where we went on our doggy holiday. Now that we've left the building, The Paranoid Typist [that would be me] is able to divulge that we were at Culburra on the New South Wales south coast. This tiny town is just 2 and a 1/2 hours away from Sydney [near the word SHOALHAVEN on the map below].
South Coast NSW Map
If you'd like to read more about the towns in the south coast, CLICK HERE for the clickable map.


*


I have to admit, we were pretty slack about going anywhere other than the beach, which was a 30 second walk down a private path accessed from the back garden gate. 
In our defence, nobody goes to Culburra because it's a pretty and interesting town.


But on Friday night, after Uncle D turned up, we finally felt guilty enough to take Georgia for a drive on Saturday. We had no plan whatsoever and no real idea of the area. It turned out to be...


The road trip to nowhere. 
With one more body in the car, Georgia ended up at the back.
"Don't you think Uncle D should have gone to the back and not me? Some humans can be so rude."
This was not to her liking. 


But she soon sorted out the seating arrangement.
We decided to go to Greenwell Point. Uncle D had some fond memories of the place from his childhood days.
Greenwell Point is marked A on the map below. 

If you'd like to see a clearer map of the route we travelled on Saturday, click this: View Larger Map

We saw quite a few people fishing off the pier, which was very exciting because we both love fishing and haven't done much since we lived in Brisbane, more than 20 years ago. But we never got to do any that day. [Surprise.]

Right about then, The Other Half casually mentioned that he'd forgotten to put a collar on Georgia. [Maybe some of you were sharp enough to pick that up in the picture above. I was sitting with her and didn't.]

"Do we have to go back? I promise I won't run away!"


So we all piled back into the car  and drove back to the house. [Because I insisted.]


"I wouldn't mind some fish and chips." Uncle D said when he saw this seafood shack on the way out of town.
Even from the car, it smelt terrific. Too bad someone forgot Georgia's collar or we would have stopped.

*

After we got the collar, we set off again. We thought we'd check out Jervis Bay. 

"Uncle D didn't know how to read the map!"
 
"My Typist says it was a good thing it wasn't HER that said "Turn right!" when he meant "Turn left!" or she would have been in deep poop."

It was an easy pleasant drive, punctuated every 5 minutes or so by Uncle D talking about how there would certainly be good fish and chips at Jervis Bay.
After about an hour and quite suddenly, the road ended here.
This is a bad picture because I was trying to be surreptitious. The little buildings were booths where we had to pay to get in. 


Utter confusion broke out in the car. 


The Other Half couldn't understand why there was a toll booth in the middle of nowhere. I couldn't understand why we had to pay money to get into a town. Uncle D couldn't understand why he couldn't see any fish and chips shops anywhere.

Then, the lady commandant in the booth saw Georgia in the back seat and said, "Dogs. aren't. allowed."

And that was that.


"The Typist took this picture so she could tell everyone I'd been to Jervis Bay, which turned out to be an entire national park and not a town with a bay."
By then, we were all feeling quite bummed about how our spontaneous road trip was turning out. So we were very relieved when we spotted a sign that said Hyams beach 4km! 


Many years ago, on a much better planned holiday, The Other Half and I had gone to Hyams beach with Jordan and Rufus. They'd had a terrific time running and playing with other dogs on the beach. It was a gorgeous spot!


So imagine our surprise when we were greeted by this unfriendly sign.
Which basically said, dogs on leashes only.
We didn't even bother to get out of the car. "How about Huskisson?" Uncle D suggested as we drove aimlessly around the side streets looking for a non-existent fish and chips shop. I suspect the man was quite faint with hunger by then. 





To cut a long story slightly shorter, that's how we ended up in Husky for a very late lunch of very greasy, very soggy but fresh fish and chips.

"After all that, I had to make sure everyone knew I'd been to Husky."


*

On Monday, if you recall, the sun didn't come up so the beach was out of the question. 
We went for another little drive instead...
...and ended up here.


Jim Wild's fresh oysters.
This is Jim Wild who was a world champion at opening oysters in the 90s.
Here's a short video of the man at work.

We sat out back of the shack, by the river where the oyster leases were, and pigged out.
"I wish I could tell you how delicious the oysters were but I wasn't allowed any. [My humans had 36.]"
"I don't get it. I eat roadkill. How could one tiny succulent mollusc have made me sick?"


*


And then, all too soon, it was time to go home.
Tuesday morning, we set off with a plan! We wanted to make a few stops along the way so Georgia could be a well travelled dog! 


Our first stop was Berry, which is as charming a country town as you can hope to find anywhere. 
"I met some of the locals!"
"They're not real, you know."



"I thought my humans would take me to the treat factory, but they didn't."
"Sadly, I didn't get any champion sausages either." 

"The Typist, however, managed to buy a whole bag of stuff for herself  from this shop."
After Berry, we headed straight home. Apparently, it was my fault. I had somehow managed to spend 2 hours shopping in a town smaller than our suburb, so we ran out of time to stop anywhere else. 
Luckily, The Dog didn't really mind.
"Cushion, do you think that cement truck is a little close?"
It was [sort of] good to be home.


*

"Goodbye sea. Thank you for not drowning me. See you again someday soon."




The End.