Ipswich City Council Administrators Update – Vision 2020 January 2020
— Read on ipswich-qld-gov-au.cld.bz/Ipswich-City-Council-Administrators-Update-Vision-2020-January-2020
The New Member
Well it was my idea. I take full responsibility.
After my best mate passed on about 6months ago I/we decided it was a good idea to get another dog as a companion.
Well the last was a ridgeback Dane and so intelligent we/I thought the similarities would be good and we may get a similar personality as for the past 10 years….
Wrong….. Wrong… So far anyway.
We took possession of a ridgeback, a dear little thing and for about 4 hours we were in charge…
Then it all changed. Yes we got the runt of the litter, the one that struggled to survive in a litter of 13 and did get some human interaction early in its life so what could be better for two sixty year olds to have as a companion and guardian as we all grow older….
Well we did give our last pet the run of the house and property and she appreciated the freedom and acted as a true guard dog. Fooled everybody, she was a sook but a big sook with a bark like a bull whip. Her presence was intimidating to many but once inside the sanctum she had you were a friend if you behaved yourself and not show aggression to her owners or as she may see it as fellow pack members.
The new one although only 5months old is showing great pack mentality too, only we are still deciding who will lead the pack… A battle of wills at times you might say or at time bloody warfare.
When your sixty your skin is not as tough as it used to be, and claws even though they may be well meaning hugs make you bleed and you prized shoes become toys along with clothes, plants, pots anything that has movement.
In fact sometimes you become a soft toy if you are not careful and those love rely puppy teeth are like piraña’s.
And who doesn’t mind being woken in the morning with some loverly kisses, that turn to bites if you don’t move.
Yes we have had altercations,and that is continuing but you know it has given us both life. A new kid that needs to be taught how to behave in public.
Life for her is one big game at present, and its like having a teenager rampaging your house but this time without the heavy metal chords.
Yep and as mother has gone away for a few days its just her and me to sort it out and we will ….. I think.. I have a mate who is a doctor if needed, and if I keep up the food we should survive the ordeal.
I think….
To be continued I hope…….
Animal Therapy Wins
Well its been a while, 7 weeks in fact since Francis the new hip was installed, lost my best mate Ebony to a Tuma but the world goes on.
In my book after I lost my girl I had to focus on recovery and to create milestones slowly to get your life back to normal.
Having family to assist is half the battle and relieving them of their commitment to my cause was pleasing knowing my reliability on them way diminishing daily..
During that period Ebony’s loss was always a reminder and we soon had to make a decision on weather or when we go out and start searching for a puppy and letting go.
Being in the older age bracket as well, considerations had to be made about what sort to companion we wanted taking into consideration our home, location and security.
The latter was never a problem with Ebony. Great Dane Ridgeback was enough to deter many a salesman let alone a person who wanted to take her on and the 410.
Mind you nothing in our house is worth much to any robber as sentiment is rarely transferable, but then again the grubs these days just don’t care.
So we came to a decision, a full Rhodesian Ridgeback and what a decision that was.
Forgot about all the little things that come with a young dog. The slippers, puddles, whoopseys, shoes, sleep, just like a new grandkid. And it is as we not have one.
Anyway while all this is going on my body was getting stronger but chasing her from out of the paddock was out of the question so when we decided to ignore a instruction we came to a altercation we had to have when you have 2 strong minded individuals, there would be only one winner.
I think it was me… Not sure but I won the round anyway on points.
Any way it now a ongoing learning curve for all of us testing boundaries to achieve good results a
is my therapy of getting back to my normal life so its working for both of us.
Yes, never been without a dog for any length of time and what I have read people with pets live longer than those without,and I can see why.
They keep their mouths shut when you tell them secrets, humans rarely can..
Value your Mate while you have one.
What a difference one day makes in our life.
After writing about my Unconditional Mate, later in the day led me to take her to the Vet after a she appeared stressed, and after diagnosis yesterday I had to have her euthanised.
This outcome has gutted us all, but we are confident we got the diagnosis early and although in curable she did not suffer.
That’s was the positive, as I owe it to that beautiful Girl who gave my life and my families so much pleasure daily.
Their will never be another Ebony in my life and she impacted on everybody who had the honour to be part of her pack. …
Love ya Ebbs…..
My Unconditional Mate
Well it’s 11 days since my new hip nick named “Francis”as it was installed the same time as the Pope, and things are moving along quite well.
Slowly the body is allowing me to progress movement with diminishing help from medication, and after you can actually feel the strength returning.
One thing that is really worth mentioning is the behaviour of my “dog” or probably better referred to as my best mate.
On arrival home from hospital she knew something was amiss and stood back for about 30 minutes observing my new body language and movements on crutches.
After she was comfortable she then approached me with caution not to lean or pressure the right side of the body and just let you know she was around.
When settled I called her and she sat down beside me in the chair and just leaned ever so lightly and gave me a lick on face.
Being Great Dane Ridgeback Cross that was not a big deal, as when seated she can nearly look eye to eye, and since then she has accompanied me regardless making sure she is out of the way yet present.
I have always had a dog in my life, and would be lost when not having one. All reasonably smart in their own way, all with unconditional love to our family.
This one Ebbs is exceptional in as I have had many terriers, Ebony seems to have a knowledge of how moods change in her Pack she sees as Me, the Wife and Her.
When you are in recovery mode you do spend the little extra time you have to observe what you really have, a break to our life routine developed from repetition, and time to take stock on what we should prioritise in the future.
The Lateral Hazard 