Tea Time

G and L came for tea yesterday and I noticed that the tea leaves were dropping to the bottom in a vertical way. A long time ago a Japanese friend told me that that's a good sign and you'll have a good day ahead of you. True enough - I had a wonderful time. So wonderful that I wished they could've stayed and chatted longer.

Christmas Present!

I got my first Christmas present 2 days ago - thank you Dr. G for such a sweet gesture! I had wanted to open it on Christmas Day but unfortunately the paper bag gave way and I heard something break and sharp bits and pieces falling out. So instead of 3 pretty cups, I now have only 2...... :(

How Do You Like Scrambled Eggs?

Was too tired to cook the dogs' usual dinner and Coco refuses to eat cold canned food. So I cooked some eggs instead - not sure if it's the right food for dogs but Coco loved it. Wawa gobbled it up like he hadn't eaten for a week.

Why Are We Waiting?

Can you hurry up with our dinner, please? We've been waiting for 2 hours.

Coco Gets Angry

Coco : Ok, I'll chew your head then.
Wawa : Owww!

Spiteful Wawa

Coco : Give me my bone!
Wawa : Come and get it if you can.....(chew, spite, chew, spite)

Saturday Morning Walk

"Can I go outside......pleeeeeeease?"
Walking the dogs is now a once-a-week affair because I don't have the energy to carry Coco up so many flights of stairs daily. She still hasn't learnt how to climb the steps. It is blissful Saturday again! The minute Coco and Wawa saw me taking the leash they literally jumped for joy. Wawa as usual is Jet Li unleashed so he will jump about INSIDE the bushes and speed off with thrash in his mouth. Coco must be getting old/fat because she will flop on the ground, tired and panting and getting grass and twigs in her hair while Wawa's energy is endless. He can run round the block, come back and Coco will still be lying where she was.

You've Come A Long Way

2 months later - not so little anymore. My lap can barely fit him but he insists on curling up there although not for long because it is a bit uncomfortable. He will see-saw between the floor and the lap several times before settling down on the floor. How I wish he is still the little pup that he was - much easier to handle. When situation threatens I could just scoop him up in one hand. Now I need two hands and one leg + my tummy to support him.

Cute Little Wawa

2 months ago Wawa was so cute and cuddly and lovable.......my lap seemed the right place for him to snooze.

What Lies Yonder?

Coco : Yonder lies the castle of.......what? Are those buffaloes I spy??
Wawa : Umm..not sure but these curtains look good enough to eat.

Why Are You Locked Out?

Instead of enjoying the much chased-after bone, she left it and went to see why Wawa was locked out! So she waited while Wawa whined and moaned on the other side. Perhaps she didn't like to see her friend in agony. Perhaps she enjoys being tortured by Wawa. The 2 are inseparable so Wawa will not be boarding the plane after all because I think 4 cats are already too much work for my sister. An additional dog will drive her up the wall. So I am stuck with 2 dogs for another.......10 years? Maybe 12?

Bone Of Contention

I bought another man-made bone for Coco but none for Wawa because he would just abandon his and grab whatever interests Coco. Wawa is an extremely covetous dog. Coco chased him round and round until she got tired and flopped on the floor and when she does that Wawa will settle down not too far from her and chew the bone spitefully. Then the chase will continue and Coco will look at me pleadingly for help so I confiscated the bone from Wawa, locked him out and allowed Coco to chew to her satisfaction. Or so I thought.

I Will Follow You...And Sleep

Got up from my chair and saw the 2 dogs sleeping quietly nearby. Coco always wants to be as near me as possible and constantly risks getting her ear or foot stepped on.

Is That The Sound Of The Sea?

Down to the sea, the waves, the sea,

Under the sky-blue sea is me...

(From the Golden Ascension's Files)

Jaws Of Destruction

Wawa SEEMS to be playing innocently with his toy near my feet under the computer table but knowing him as I do he probably has 3 things on his mind. One, those slippers look very nice and chewy. Two, the curtains are just within my reach. Three, plywood table corner good for gums. I tortured him nice and proper when he ripped off a corner of my brand new wallpaper so now just one look is enough to stop him from chewing anything - that is, if I am there to give him that look. A shriek from me also stops him in his track. Did I blog about him tearing off ALL 4 doors of mosquito netting? No?

I Am Tired Of Canned Food

Coco ate very little for a week - she will just lie on her stomach and stare at her plate of dry dog food and she managed only one or two spoonfuls of her usual canned chicken meat. In the past she would jump and bark if I was slow with her chicken meat. Then I decided to give her some of the food I usually prepared for the stray dogs - rice with chicken neck minus bones. That did the trick - it also helped whet her appetite for her canned chicken meat. This morning they had their paws on the kitchen stove while I was boiling chicken neck with liver......plus rice cooked in all that thick yelllow oily juice.

Sun Is Good

I was cleaning out the back room and airing it a bit when I turned and saw Wawa sunning himself near my feet. Although they get in my way I am pleased that my dogs always want to be where I am. Loved ones are too busy with their own lives to keep you company but thank God for dogs who tail you to the tightest corner.

Growth Under Eye

" Why is there a growth under my beautiful brown eyes??"

There is a tiny growth under Momokuai's eye for the past few weeks. It hasn't grown any bigger and I hope it will subside in time. Meanwhile AnAn lost a lot of hair on one thigh and it has been like that for a couple of months.....my hamsters are aging.... :((.....2 days from now it will be one year since I brought Mimi home from the pet shop. Time flies.

Room With A View

The hamsters get one of the best rooms in the house - the study room which faces the sea. They get lulled to sleep by the sound of sea waves. They will also enjoy my company because that is where I spend the most time blogging, paying my bills, reading and maybe sewing. And counting my dwindling fortune.

Hamster Park

Mokuai, AnAn and Mimi has a more interesting playground today. I added some greenery and a little elf in a trough so they can rest when they are tired of jogging/see-sawing. This is their amusement park when I clean their homes. Unfortunately they have to take turns as I can afford only one park.

Stop Thief?

My new home has 40 feet of glass windows that face a row of aru trees and beyond that the blue, blue sea. Pretty as a picture. Last night when I looked up at the sky it was filled with stars. Wondrously delightful. And there is lots of space for Coco to chase Wawa around the house. Wawa will skip like a lamb, Coco's possession in his mouth. Coco who is a wee bit overweight will huff and puff behind him, sometimes tripping over herself. I can tell she's frustrated when she manages a few angry barks in between which sounds like "stop thief".

Lap Of Luxury

Not only does Wawa find it difficult to fit into Coco's paws, he is also finding it a wee bit difficult to fit into my lap. He has to twist and turn a few times before he can find that comfortable niche. Find it he must though or he will whine pitifully when he wants to doze off and I am too busy to offer him my lap of luxury.

She Mops Again

Floor mopping is a twice daily chore - once soon as I wake and again when I get home from work. Wawa knows how to keep his paws dry when the floor is wet. He usually sleeps on top of Coco's front paws but he has trouble fitting in nowadays.

Playing Hard To Get

My niece flew over to help me move house and at the same time take a break from work and celebrate her birthday (tomorrow). So sweet of her. Each time she comes she wants to get her hands on Coco and squeeze her but Coco is playing very, very hard to get. She tries everything from creeping up on her on the floor to singing lullabies but Coco shies away all the time. After 3 days of trying Coco finally allowed her to scratch her buttocks this morning. Coco's weakness is being scratched there and under her armpits. She will stand very still with an inch of tongue sticking out.

Disgusting Coco

This is what we affectionately call "chi ku ting". I don't know how that came about but it's like calling it "little birdie" or "little willy" (sorry to all the Willys) instead of p****s. Each time Wawa pisses he knows how to stand still for me to dab his chi ku ting dry when I tell him to. Coco has a disgusting habit of licking Wawa's chi ku ting so I always tell her to stop before I change her name to Monica.

We're Moving

We are finally moving out from my crammed apartment to another larger unit just 5 minutes away. Each day is just not long enough to do all that I have to do. My poor hamsters are alone most of the time in my old apartment while the 2 dogs are still trying to get used to the new one. Tonight I will bring Mimi, Mokuai and AnAn to our new home. Moving is STRESSFUL but the extra space makes up for the hard work. I no longer have to knock my elbows against sharp corners each time I clean out Wawa's cage and Coco doesn't have to hit the glass door because she cannot brake on time after a...um...3 meter run. Wawa is getting very, very playful - to the point of naughtiness. He will run off with my slippers or garbage and now I have to chase him round the dining table. He couldn't do that in the past because my dining table was extremely small - fits two only. Now it fits 6 chairs so he is VERY happy about that. I finally realised that Wawa "chi ruan bu chi ying". Literally that means he "eats soft not hard" so the way to get back my slippers will be to coax him over and gently get it out of his mouth. Chasing will only make him a national sprinter.

You Are Growing Too Fast

Little miserable puppy Wawa has grown from 500g to over 4 kg now, in barely 2 months......no longer miserable puppy wobbling unsteadily. Now his waking hours are spent irritating Coco -- grabbing her toys, her food and giving her a nip here and a nip there. Poor Coco has a sweet temperament but when pushed too far she will pin him on the floor. Sometimes Wawa is so irritating I will let Coco have her way.

I Can Sleep Under Pressure

An An sleeps oblivious to all the noise in the house. If you don't want to grow old beyond your years, rear hamsters, not dogs.

Balloon

Balloons excite Coco a lot and it only takes her a few seconds to waste my money. Wawa however hides under a chair the minute he sees me blowing one. After it pops he will rush to get what's left of the balloon. I have found a piece of it in his stool. He's a yukky dog who eats almost everything.

Tug Of War

Coco and Wawa's favorite game.

Hideaki Tokunaga

There is something about Hideaki's songs that makes the world seem more beautiful. His songs raise my eyes from ugly man-made structures to appreciate beautiful nature -- blue skies, beautiful sea, green leaves......and my fidgety dogs calm down and go to sleep.

Mr. Billion

Billion, the bride's dog (or rather her parents'). Billion is extremely grumpy and snarls at all who go near. When Diamond, the other dog in the house, goes near him there will be a lot of snarling and growling and teeth. So hostile....:(

Here Comes The Bride

Just before the bridal bouquet was tossed. The sister of the bride got it so we are hoping for another wedding in the near future.......:)

A Wedding

A wedding in the family at last! The last wedding was 8 years ago so everyone was extra happy and excited about my niece's wedding. Mummies and aunties splashed on new outfits while daddies and uncles got stressed!

Guan Le Jiu Hao

There is a common chinese saying that parts the darkest clouds and make rainbows appear on the dreariest and weariest of days. I love people who answer me with a "guan le jiu hao". It means "it's ok when you're used to it". A load seems to lift off my shoulders and and my whole body relaxes. When I have to clean every tile in the house of dog shit and tears are hovering I cheer myself up by saying "guan le jiu hao". When Coco pisses a pool for the third time after I've mopped the floor I tell myself "guan le jiu hao" and I can even smile and stroke her head and tell her it's ok. When you've lost an arm, a leg or a loved one -- just say "guan le jiu hao" and then you will be able to shrug it off your shoulders and carry on with (a hint of) a smile.

Mr. Big Bully

This is Mr. Big Bully, a stray male who will always reach the food first and snarls off all the other dogs. Everyone has to wait until he has had his fill. I shooed him off after he had swallowed two thirds of the food so he is looking at me and wondering why I won't let him eat. However, he has his endearing side. He is the bravest among all the strays, coming near me, whining softly, wagging his tail and lately touching my hand for an instance with his nose. Signs of appreciation. He seems to have put on a little bit of weight and I haven't seen him scratching his back that much. He used to scratch so hard with his teeth until he bled. I tried pouring calamine lotion but he didn't like that at all. Village folks say coffee powder is good for drying up wounds quickly - must remember to try that on him.

The Magic Cooker

Cooked a whole pot of chicken legs and innards for the stray dogs last night. The thermal cooker left behind by my sister is not called Magic Cooker for nothing. It saves energy and time and is a great blessing for busy people. Bring pot of soup to the boil, take it off the stove and leave it in the thermal cooker overnight. It is still hot the next day and the chicken legs are so soft the dogs swallow even the bones.

Best Friends

We're best friends, mother and child, brother and sister --- when we're not fighting.

Please Give Us Some!

This is the kind of pressure I get each time I sit down to eat. 2 dogs with great expectations. Wawa will jump in and out of the crate, Coco's paws will be at the edge of the table and there will be a symphony of whines from both.

My Crate

I got this crate for free when I bought Coco and almost wanted to give it away. Lucky I didn't because now Wawa uses it. He will jump into the crate for 2 things - food and toilet needs. What a good little puppy. Never had to train him. Once he jumped off my lap and ran into his crate. I thought he wanted to piss - he ran inside to puke instead. Good dog!

Bliss

The dogs are sleeping blissfully at my feet while I watch tv after a delicious breakfast which will last me till dinner. What a beautiful Satuday. Thank God for Saturdays.

Beautiful Saturday

Today is a beautiful day -- all golden sunshine, blue sky, cotton clouds and green, green grass. As I prepare breakfast someone is cleaning the blue, blue pool (sigh..not mine). Everything is so w-o-n-d-e-r-f--u-l-l-y peaceful.

Dog Vs People 5

Dog runs far, far away when I look upset. So do people.

Dog Vs People 4

People won't do this to my couch. Dog does - constantly.

Dog Vs People 3

Dog stays by your side, regardless. People leave you, regardless.

Dog Vs People 2

Dog : When will you be home? I miss you (and I'm hungry).
People : I'm leaving home now cos I got my own life to live....bye and oh by the way, thanks for the free food, free rides, free accomodation, free cash. What, parents have to be repaid? You gave birth to me!

Dog Vs People

Dogs don't lie or deceive -- people do.

More Goodies

A client asked her granddaughter to send us some Hari Raya cookies yesterday - what an extremely nice gesture. And she seemed to have given us the best. Nowadays traditional delicacies have been largely replaced by cookies so Hari Raya delicacies are nothing more than just cookies in different shapes, sizes and colors. I was given two tips for melt-in-the-mouth cookies. One, don't use egg whites, just the yolk. And two, don't use a roller for the dough. Just press it briefly with your fingers before shaping them. Apparently, too much rolling toughens the dough and hardens the cookies. I don't know if an extra post about the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive will bring an extra bag of food for homeless dogs but there, I've mentioned it, so I hope it works! Can't just be me having good food, the poor homeless dogs must have their goodies too!

Not Too Late

Thank goodness I didn't miss this opportunity to feed a homeless dog - thanks to the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive. Ah well, this poor puppy will never get to eat Pedigree's Healthy Longevity Food For Dogs but some poor homeless puppy will at least get a full bowl of it.

Snoozing Together

Will Coco miss Wawa when he leaves? I sure will..... :(