WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Monday is menosukhi day - the one in which I go all sentimental. For a few weeks this means you are sharing my memories of two darling creatures, Jade Dog MacWoof and Jasper Cat MacMeow.

When we moved to 21a after six years at no.36, it took all three of us some time to adjust.  A property one third the size can feel a tad restrictive.

Jasper, whom you have read is inclined to climb then seek lowering assistance, seemed to forget that he had ever needed any help and had a great time getting up and down places.

"Did you say chicken strips?"
A spot which fast became a favourite was the roof of the courtyard shed, which I had transformed into a laundry.  There was a 'liquid amber' tree right beside it which provided sufficient traction for the upwards journey.  Then on the opposite side was the ladder and a wheely-bin, onto which he could drop.  There was only one misadventure involving calling mum to use the ladders yet again…  How in the name of St Francis he ever managed to get ON the roof of the house is beyond me.  But mine was not to question why - and thank heavens the ladders were long enough for this rescue job.  Despite this little hiccup, he became a very adept mountaineer. Also an adventurer.

He was always inclined to roam the neighbourhood, but at no. 36 I never got to know anyone other than the immediate three and Merry.  This all changed in our new suburb.  We had arrived in a place of community and long-term residence.  The J's revelled in the attention everyone paid them, especially when out on walks.  Every second house would have somebody wanting to say hello, petting and patting and sharing history.  Where houses stood now, orchards once had been and a lucky few still had original trees in their gardens!

For our first three years at 21a, then, we were never short of pears, oranges, mandarins, persimmons, lemons, plums…  thankfully neither of the J's particularly favoured these fruits, so I 'scored'!

Of course, as happens everywhere, that began to change.  The aging population began to dwindle in one way or another and young busy families bought in. It was an affordable 'starter' suburb in a housing market that had gone  haywire post-Olympics.  (I bought just six months prior and almost immediately after the 2000 Sydney games the value all but doubled!)

Now the J's had to adjust to having kids pawing all over them.  Jasper tolerated this for only a matter of minutes, mostly.  Jade, however, figured out that two-leggers of a certain vintage were inclined to want to play. They could be conned into throwing toys for hours on end.

Many a family who had been petless to that point found the joy of having an animal around.  Some of the mothers who were prone to the modern "don't touch that you'll catch something!" mentality, started to relax and others who were convinced dogs were baby-eating machines, discovered they were actually rather fun.  Two families that I am aware of ended up adopting puppies as a direct result of their positive experience with Jade.  They were responsible folks and saw to it that good training was put in place - particularly for the kids!  There was one family however, for whom life was a conundrum.  Of these I shall write next week.  Meanwhile , please enjoy these garden photos from 21a.



Jasper was a keen sun-bather, true Aussie that he was!



...and Jade was ever on 'the sniff'.  Had I thought about it early enough, she'd have made a great search and rescue dog...











BOZO awaits your visit and don't forget the Canine Chronicles.  Also, my friend Aitch has allowed her grand old dame, Lady Victoria near the computer...

6 comments:

  1. Made me go all fuzzy inside.

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  2. Hari OM
    Ah yes, fond memories. &*>

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  3. Ah another lovely story of Jade and Jasper, I wish I had meet them, Mum and Uncle Pip told us about them, I know he liked seeing them. Lady Vicki xxooxx

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  4. Hari OM
    Yes Lady V, I remember well your mum and "Uncle Pip" coming to stay - Jade particularly loved his attention - she was a bit of man's lady; shame she got landed with me!!

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  5. Oh, yes, I'm sure Jade converted a lot of people. Lindy does that, too. Just yesterday, some of the children from next door (big family) were petting her and saying, "We're cat people, but we LOVE your dog."
    Interspecies ambassadors, your Jade and our Lindy.
    I once had a cat who, unlike Jasper, loved children. He also loved puppies and kittens, and used to follow me on dog walks.
    I really enjoy your stories of Jasper and Jade. Keep them coming.
    Luv, K

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  6. Hari OM
    Yes Kay, I can well imagine Lindy being an ambassador for the K9 kind... indeed most of our doggy-blog mates would fit that category I think!!

    Thank you and have quite a few more J-tales to come (actually didn't realise how many until I started this!!), so keep reading! YAMxx

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