Post Christmas cut

Oh, it's grooming time again. How I hate going there. Godpa was busy at work so uncle Leon sent me instead. I clung onto uncle Leon as he removed the collar, worrying each time that they might forget to bring me home. As you can see, I'm mentally exhausted after four hours away from familiar faces.

I'm not entirely unhappy of course. A new cut perks me up quite a bit.

Merry Christmas 2010

Where are you bound

Godpa's been spying on me at home with a new human toy. It's an Internet surveillance camera that he can use to check out what I'm doing. One thing he's confirmed for himself is that I'm a very loyal dog who waits by the main door for the family when they're not home. They've long suspected it but just couldn't verify.

In the human world, cremation is also used to send off the departed just like how Benji was transformed. Godpa sent off his uncle today. Eulogies are not common in Singapore but godpa actually had a pleasant memory in mind even though he was not familiar with his uncle. Back when he was a fresh army recruit he had some tough times in camp for the first three months, somehow this uncle got to hear of it and actually made a call to feedback to the staff. You see, his uncle was a career soldier. There must be lots more about his uncle that he doesn't know about. I think it's really a privilege when someone gets to know you well, just like how godpa knows me so well.

The meaning of dog companionship

Why do humans in Singapore bring a dog into their home. Godpa is pondering this question. We were happily enjoying Kodak moments at home but later in the evening a near disaster happened.

While on our usual walk around the estate, we encountered a bull terrier (looks similar to the picture below), under the care of a domestic helper, and which we later found out was actually off leash. As usual I gave a few growls as we briskly walked past the seemingly docile and quiet dog. Suddenly it dashed out and attacked me. It took a minute or so for the lady to pull the terrier away. Godpa anxiously checked for injuries and also asked her about the terrier. At least she was knowledgeable enough to say the dog is a bull terrier and is very strong. Fortunately there were no injuries though the event left me shivering for some time.

There's alot to say about leashing, muzzling, obedience, etc. But what disturbs godpa is how some people have stopped valuing the whole experience of having a dog, from grooming, exercising, training, picking up it's poop, to nursing it in ill health, and so on. A domestic helper takes care of the "shit" work and the dog owner (or rather purchaser) just sits back and enjoys "having" a dog. Godpa may be over generalizing things but his personal observation is that dogs are more often seen with the domestic help (mostly busy chatting on the handphone) than with actual owners. At this rate, I wonder how humans will end up treating their own young.

Merry "X"-mas?

The dog run at Nexus mall isn't ready yet and godpa overheard a pet store staff saying the roof area will take about three weeks before it's opened. It's a very crowded mall and all seems bright and beautiful but I don't understand humans who just like to create excitement and add stress to their pace of life.

Humans loved the cute Winnie the Pooh bear sitting ontop of a large Christmas wreath like thing, so I guess I should wish humans "Merry Pooh-mas" there? As for me I'm a lot more cuter than Pooh bear under the morning sun light.

Spots of interest

Godpa left me at home over the weekend as usual. He had gone to Batam to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea.

Actually he would have loved to bring me over as it would have been fun for me to get wet in the clear seawater. He also took a peek into the newly opened Nex mall to check out the dog run but unfortunately the rooftop area wasn't opened yet.

As soon as he's free he'd better bring me to the new dog runs at Bishan and Nexus.

Sunny green

It feels great to have godpa around on a weekday morning. I get cuddled and taken out for a tan, and to nibble on grass (which should be clean after the rains).

The morning sun adds a cheerful tinge to everything, even simple plants look great under its glow.

And of course, I look gorgeous in any situation.

Dark matter

Godpa just fed me the last piece of Heartgard medication and he's looking for new stock online. His previous source from an online doggy forum seems to be missing in action. It may look like a dirty chunk of stuff but sure tastes good.

Godpa himself also ate dirty looking stuff which is some kind of Japanese curry. He'd wanted to try the Go!Go!Curry! for some time and finally did yesterday. Basically he just wants to try it before the shop closes down. That's his prediction for it because he finds the food is nice for a single try but not worth revisiting regularly.

Home Hot Home

Godpa's been back from his trip for almost a week. He came from an autumn cool climate, spending time enjoying mountain-lake scenery and basking in sunrise-over-mountain range experience. He decided not to buy stuff for me but brought back some pictures to share.

He came across two Shar Pei dogs who spend their time on a homestay (民宿) balcony in the cool mountain regions of Cingjing Farm, Nantou county, Taiwan (清境农场，南投县，台湾). I'm envious that they get good food and live in such a tranquil place while I make do sharing the air-conditioning with godpa. Even my little chinchilla pal, Rocky, tries his best to keep cool as he naps in this hot wet weather.

In Taiwan, dogs are brought almost everywhere, including on trips up to catch the sun rise at an altitude of 3275m! Such lucky dogs. The highest I ever went was Uncle Leon's HDB flat on the 9th floor.

Well, at least godpa's safely home now to bare the heat with me.

Novelty

Sometimes life is just so boring even with all the colourful stuff around us. Fortunately we have each other.

Of course, getting a new chew toy helps too. Somehow we lost the old bone in the house. It's still a mystery how it disappeared.

Come what may

Oh my, I got into trouble last Saturday. A neighbor came knocking on godpa's door and asked for compensation for her maid's medical bill. Godpa was a bit surprised but handled it calmly. Godpa's parents had brought me down for a walk and were taking a rest watching the world go by. Unfortunately no one saw a young chubby maid come by who intruded into my space. Me being impulsive and they being older folks, I soon barked and chomped on her leg in the blink of an eye. Godpa's dad had brushed it aside as a small scratch until godpa saw it for himself there was a puncture wound.

The lady was rather flabergasted that her maid's plight was minimized by godpa's dad and so appeared rather demanding. Godpa checked the bill, looked at the wound, and just apologized and paid up. It took her by surprise and she appreciated godpa's response. Godpa didn't even scold me or his dad who had control of the leash. I think he can be a Zen master. Of course thanks to me also, I've educated him about my biting powers after giving him a taste of my chompers last year.

Welcome home

We all miss Uncle Leon so this entry is dedicated to welcoming him home this Monday morning. While he was away godpa made sure I had good exercise and we made an excursion walking all the way from home to Sembawang Park and then back again. We got to see the sunset along the seaside which was beautiful but for me the local cats received most attention from me and that caused quite a commotion among the humans because of my loud barks.

To kill boredom, godpa also kept himself busy meeting friends over good food. How he wished the feast could be shared with me and Uncle Leon.

Welcome home!

Come fly away

Godpa went out early this morning to Changi airport. I thought he'd bring me along but no, I didn't have a chance to send Uncle Leon off at the airport. He's going away to attend a training at the other side of the globe, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Godpa wanted to pass him his new camera but he preferred to bring an old point-n-shoot that takes so-so pictures. Oh well, at least now I get to be the subject for testing out some fancy camera features when godpa's bored.

Mid-autumn

It's mid-autumn festival and I look hopefully each time godpa takes a slice of mooncake to nibble. I can smell the different flavours like durian, green tea white lotus, and mixed nuts. He tells me we have eight pieces this year and it all costs just $50 from a neighborhood confectionary. I think godpa is salivating as he writes my blog today.

Other than great tastes and smells, there are also beautiful sights to celebrate the occasion. Big floating lanterns now adorn the Singapore river along Clarke Quay. Of course godpa had to run his new camera through some low light shots.

For my outing, we went to Bishan Park dogrun and discovered it will be closed from 13 September till end of the month. Fortunately we were there on 12 September and I guess many dogs and humans came because they knew it was the last day. There is a new area designated for a new dogrun. Let's hope it will be much more bigger and with more seats for humans.

Seeing stars

Godpa spotted some stars by chance. Not the twinkling type but the celebrity type. It was also a good chance for him to test how his new camera performs under indoor lighting.

And since this is my blog, I have to be featured regardless. And no, I'm not a follower of Edward or Jacob (from Twilight).

Keep smiling, keep shining

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

It's time for godpa to move on to a new job. He had been contemplating for some time and I was among the first to know besides his friends.

Meanwhile, he was also busy looking for a new handy pocket camera for travels. He's getting a bit tired of lugging around a big DSLR at this age. It came down to the Panasonic LX3 and the Canon Powershot S90. Fortunately he waited a while and discovered Panasonic LX5 (not shipped yet) and the Canon S95 were launched. He made a wise choice and got the beautiful sleek black S95. A powerful compact that has features comparable to his DSLR.

Godpa is seldom keen with fancy features on consumer cameras but I guess technology is really getting useful these days. Look at the shot he took using the smile detection technology. It works really well for taking memorable moments.

The other neat thing is the camera's low light capabilities. Godpa took a test shot of Singapore's night scene and it looks swell without using a tripod and any post-processing touch up. Hopefully I can be featured more often in future. Yay!

Pondering

Godpa is pondering on some kind of change, he says it will be another significant milestone in his life. Of course it won't be as moving and memorable as my adoption. He has whispered it to me so I shall ponder together with him till there is good news.

Butterfly kisses

There's two things I know for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she's
daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes and
I thank God for all the joy in my life
Oh, but most of all
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;
sticking little white flowers all up in her
hair; "Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
In all that I've done wrong I know I must
have done something right to deserve a hug
every morning and butterfly kisses at night.

Oh, godpa celebrated his birthday earlier today. I decided to give him a nice big kiss (just in case there's leftover cake for me). And no, I didn't make the cake for him, it came from Uncle Leon as a surprise. I did get some healthy treats for being such a photogenic girl today.