Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Wrapping up….

 

Yes, wrapping up a few things, tying up the loose ends before we step into the new year…

…Mummy and Daddy’s goals at work – small and big, tidying up the house, getting the laundry done before the stroke of midnight(!!), friends and a few guests, special meal for our three street pups and new winter coats too, last minute shopping, return calls and messages, some cooking and some baking, braving the rain that has added to the chill and yes, MOST IMPORTANTLY - GETTING THAT LAST NAP OF THE YEAR before we pawtyyyyy!!!!

 

 

Hope you’ve had a beautiful Christmas and hope you’ll have an even more beautiful new year.

 

bud santa

 

gin santa

 

shad santa

 

We leave you today with Neil Gaiman’s words…..

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”

 

Thank you so much for being friends, for coming by and sharing our lives. We treasure you, dear friends.

 

 

Wags,

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

 

 


Friday, December 20, 2013

My Confession

 

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Finally, after running up and down the stairs (the lift, she said she felt was running too slow! Shesh!) , to the main gate asking the guards to be on the lookout, checking the garden and then some more running around the complex, up and down the stairs she came and found me right where she should have looked in the first place…the top floor terrace of our own block! Near the lift, waiting for her to come fetch me.

She could have just taken the lift up instead of running herself into a heart attack of sorts.

I had just gone checking to see if the fog was as thick high up there and she had to go worry herself to death.

Mummies, I tell you! You’d imagine it’s somehow my fault the way she has been going on about it.

 

Hope you’re having some lovely adventures,

Ginger

 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

It’s Official!

 

We officially declare it ‘WINTER’ !!

 

Bud ball

 

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Shad red sweater

 

 

Mummy says we have taken over ALL her favorite corners in the house and she has nowhere to sit and read or blog in.

Don’t believe her. We know for sure it’s just an excuse so she can shift the blame for not helping us blog. Why, we do let her snuggle in and keep her feet warm. We ALWAYS make space.

Hope you are having a great start to the week.

 

Wags,

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

 

 

Saturday, December 14, 2013

What's wrong with our country anyway??!

 

Homosexuality ILLEGAL!!

Punishable by law!!

Says who? Says the Supreme Court!! You mean you want to jail, fine, punish people in whatever way you deem fit for being just themselves?

I thought we lived in INDEPENDENT India - the world's largest democracy!Here we are gearing up to celebrate Republic day in just a month and a half's time - a day we dedicate to celebrating our constitution and the highest judicial body in the country has made it altogether clear that we aren't allowed to live up to the values of true independence and freedom that the constitution embodies.

Upholding the constitution isn't about following some regressive, subjugating, moralistic idea based on 18th century values but about moving ahead with the times and letting people enjoy true freedom.

Upholding article 377 is like saying 'YES' to apartheid. Like saying yes to abominable crimes like rape or murder or child or animal abuse because it happens to a small minority anyway!!

And then of course, there's the debate that has taken on all political hues possible. Win votes by supporting LGBT, lose votes from the perceived majority against LGBT!

 

Seriously, are we actually crazy or just a plain ignorant, regressive lot? Here we claim to be the largest progressive English speaking country with the highest number of graduates on earth, highest number of computer literates and blah blah blah and we aren't even sure if we can let people lead their personal lives the way they want to.

This is just so sad, embarrassing and infuriating all at the same time!!

Do we need to be an animal to support animal rights, a cricketer to support team India or a beauty queen to use the cosmetic brand endorsed by one? Well, you certainly do not need to be gay to support gay rights. It's just plainly about humanity, moral dignity and FREEDOM in the true sense.

 

‘Understand that sexuality is as wide as the sea. understand that your morality is not law. Understand that we are you.’

……. Derek Jarman, English Artist

 

A prayer: May our country rise out of this darkness. Amen

 

gin

 

Pee ess:  Mummy is super angry and has been seeing all red reading the papers. So we just let her deviate from our normal subjects and have her say here so she can let off some heat. It really isn’t on our agenda to discuss politics here but we do believe in absolute equality amongst all and a right to live free with dignity.

Paws up for THAT.

Wags,Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

 

 


Monday, December 9, 2013

Life at our end

 

A lot has been going on at our end. A lot of activity involving work, Mummy’s entrepreneurial ventures (it’s her secret so we will let her talk about it when she’s ready!) and our regular life. Naturally we miss blogging and that makes us pretty sad. But we have been learning and reading and attending life seminars, and the things that we have come across over the past few weeks have proved pretty inspiring and thought provoking.

 

bud study

 

Second week of December. And here we are, still enjoying extended spring! Delhi should normally have been under a thick layer of fog by this time of the year and we should have been going for our morning walkies in total darkness!

But autumn is holding. The mornings are a tad chilly, the sun still gets up on time though a little reluctantly and we still wake up to the chirping birds and squirrels.

Mummy loves winter clothing and she has everything out and ready…coats, caps, boots, mittens, scarves but unless she means to suffocate herself to death, there’s no way she can wear these yet.

We are rather grateful for this extended pleasant weather. There’s so much one can get done when you get to breathe in lovely fresh air, enjoy refreshing walks and gorge on yummy winter treats.

It’s election time here in our state. Naturally every other political party out there is busy trying to prove it’s the best. In the process, our neighborhood parks got new bright flood lights! Now our nightly walks are much more fun because we are allowed to be off leash and run around as much as we like in the big park without Mummy worrying herself to death about us getting lost in the dark!

 

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What is it that you’ve been up to? For many of you it is Christmas season. Have you been good? Are you already putting up your stockings? We must run over and find out.

Till then, you might ponder over this…

 

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Hasta la vista, friends

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

 

 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

No sweeter arrangement…

 

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‘LITTLE DOG’S RHAPSODY IN THE NIGHT’

He puts his cheek against mine
and makes small, expressive sounds.
And when I'm awake, or awake enough

he turns upside down, his four paws
in the air
and his eyes dark and fervent.

Tell me you love me, he says.

Tell me again.

Could there be a sweeter arrangement?
Over and over
he gets to ask it.
I get to tell.”

― Mary Oliver

 

 

 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

It’s that time of the year…

 

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It’s Diwali eve and the entire world all around is alive!

The weather is just perfect, with just the right amount of chill in the air. Of course, Delhi is known for her exuberant enthusiasm while celebrating each and every big and small festival almost all year through. Like she always tries to find an excuse to party!

But Diwali is different. Delhi never looks more beautiful, more festive and more dynamic than at this time of the year. It is as if the entire city has been waiting to get dressed up in all her finery.

The spirit catches on. Despite the long queues at the parking lot, the billing counters in the gift stores, restaurants and not to mention the traffic crossings not many are complaining!

I love the little things that mark this time of the year. Like the joyous helpers at this petrol pump next door.

‘ Namaste, Ma’am. How many litres?’ , with folded hands this young boy greets me, red vermillion mark on his forehead saying ‘Diwali’ in big letters!

‘ Where are your dogs today?’

A short chit chat (wherein I explain why because of the loud crackers Gin, Bud n Shadow aren’t out on a drive) and a full tank later he once again smiles with folded hands, ‘Namaste’.

‘Thank you very much. Happy Diwali’, I say.

‘Thank you, Ma’am. Same to you.’ he says in perfect English, smiles widely and rushes off to attend to the long queue behind me.

Then, at the nearby super market.

‘Why haven’t you guys put up any lights? , I asked the manager. ‘Your boys are working so hard on a day everyone else is busy with festivities. You should cheer them up.’

On any other day it would have been none of my business. But this was Diwali season. And having worked on so many holidays as a young doctor ( Thank Dogness I am old enough now to leave the ground work to youngsters!!) I know exactly how it feels to be working while the entire world around you is busy with the festivities!

With all Diwali cheer, the manager perked up.

‘Sorry, Ma’am, he apologised for no reason at all, ‘we have been pretty busy and have hardly had the time to put up the lights.’

’ ‘Hey Boys!’, he called out loud, ‘Why don’t you guys put up some lights and flowers and stuff like Ma’am says?’

And then he continued, ‘Ma’am, when people like you come in, our store lights up anyway’.

‘ Oh! Thanks. That’s a sweet thing to say. Happy Diwali!’, I came out feeling elated.

The only thing, and by far the most significant, that stops me from fully enjoying this beautiful festival are the fire-crackers.

Diwali is not just a festival. It is an occasion to count your blessings, be grateful for your bounties, share and give of whatever you have in whatever big or small way you can, spread joy and good cheer.

What then of those poor street dogs that are in thousands on our streets? Those that so many of us feed and take care of but are now helplessly scared by the noise, the traffic, the exuberant activity all around.

Why, instead of burning noisily hundreds and thousands of rupees, can’t one feed them an extra special meal? If not feed them, why not feed any human less fortunate. If not this, then at least one could go buy oneself something more worthwhile than a noisy fire-cracker, light up one’s home and eat to one’s heart’s content.

Why, in the name of a beautiful festival, do we all decide we get the right to endanger the lives of thousands of poor dogs who anyway fight for survival each day?

At least, I feel there must be some designated place in each colony where you could collectively enjoy fireworks instead of lighting them in the middle of any street take takes your fancy.

 

Diwali Pictures (1)

 

Diwali Pictures (3)

 

Ginger is terrified of the crackers. These days, we have a hard time getting her to get down from the car for her walk in the park, especially in the evenings. Tonight was the most difficult, with the escalating noise.

(Note: Tomorrow evening we MUST make it to the park earlier, before the major din starts)

And even while at home, she imagines ‘under something’ or ‘someone’s lap’ are the safest places! For once today, I was glad to see she found comfort lying close to her brothers on the TV room divan. By her standards, that’s very brave.

Shadow and Buddy are relatively alright. They do get disturbed by the noise, remain tired but they aren’t as scared as Ginger is. The soft classical music that we keep on to cut out the outside noise seems to help.

Even as I dread tomorrow’s noise and dream up all sorts ways to keep Ginger, Buddy and Shadow comfortable, my heart weeps for those poor little pups who might run scared and lose their mother, those that might get burnt, those that might come under the wheels of a speeding car, all those who are definitely scared stiff by the racket all around and have nowhere to go and no one to comfort them.

Keep safe, somehow, please be safe…..

 

Diwali Pictures (2)

 

 

Thursday, October 31, 2013

BOOO!!








What would you prefer...a spooky walk, tricks or treats?


We went for a nearly mid-nightly walk in our park tonight. Ginger ran away into the darkness, disappeared for quite a while and almost tricked Daddy into a heart-attack! 
Well, that's probably why we didn't get any special treats!
Sigh!




(Courtesy: www.muttcomics.com )











Monday, October 28, 2013

HMMMmmnnnn…!!

 

Well…Oh…I guess it’s time..

 

 

Gardening

 

 

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Of Friends, Birthdays and Good times

 

 

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Ricky has gone back home and the house is suddenly so quiet we are wondering if it was as quiet before he came a week back.

October is nearly over. After two super hectic weeks, we are trying to get back to routine work, blogging and everything. Typical of this time of the year in Delhi, there is a pleasant chill in the morning air. We have decided to snuggle on the blanket that Ricky used during his stay. It hasn’t been to the cleaners yet and it still smells of him.

18th of October was his Dad’s birthday. We are so proud that he learned everything that we tried to teach him – pottery painting & cursive writing among other things – and had his own gift for his Dad ready on time. And hey! He even composed his first blog post.

Well, he doesn’t really understand yet what blogging means but he was interested to write his story when we told him a number of people would read and appreciate it. We are hoping this will inculcate in him a habit of journal keeping which we think is one of the best things a child can learn. Not only does it encourage you to improve your handwriting but it also makes you dream, which is so important if you want to really achieve something big in life. Besides, your diary can be your best friend in times of need when you are all grown up and need to vent your feelings without telling the whole world. It really helps.

 

So, starting today, we shall be hosting a few blog posts from our guest blogger Ricky. Hope you enjoy these posts as much as we did putting them together.

 

 

Have a great week ahead,

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

 

 

Monday, October 14, 2013

It wasn’t my fault

It certainly could’t have been. After all the workers took a long long time and then Mummy took some more to clean up after them.

Oh Alrighty! Let me tell this better.

We had to stay in the bedroom the whole time the workers fixed the shade over our balcony the other day. Something to do with them coming and going carrying heavy stuff and the weilding work being too dangerous for us to snoopervise. We did get to snack on our favorite stuff from time to time but no dog likes to be scooped up inside while there is so much going on outside, snacks or no snacks.

So after much deliberation I decided to amuse myself with some chewing exercise. Apparently my new stuffy wasn’t the right chewy. Well then, where was the right chewy toy when a dog needed it?

Mummy freaked out because I had swallowed both eyes, both ears and a paw off Mr. Stuffy.

 

bud chewy

 

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She was worried it would all line my stomach and cause a blockage and I will need to go see the vet. (she is reading a little too much about intestinal obstruction in dogs ,I’m sure!)But nothing of that sort happened. I have as good an appetite as earlier, my tummy isn’t bloated and my stool is well formed and just right. I guess I AM a champion chewer!

 

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Our garden is almost 70% done. Some pots are meant to be hung from the suspenders on the rim and a few lamps are to adorn the ceiling. Mummy is working on growing some plants in bottles that she means to style up!

It’s really nice that we can now sit outside for breakfast and enjoy the lovely weather. It rained yesterday. We sat outside listening to the pitter patter of the rain-drops on the roof, smelt the beautiful earthy smell, read a new book and munched on snacks. BLISS!

 

Our friend Ricky is visiting! We love it when he is here. He is a fine human pup and we always look forward to his visits as much as he does. This holiday our mission is to teach him to brush our teeth, brush our fur, feed the strays, paint earthen pots, read a dictionary and cursive writing. Last time he visited us, we taught him how to bathe us without getting water into our ears and he remembers his lesson perfectly well.

 

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Will soon get back to you with the latest pup-date of our progress.

Till then, be good, keep wagging and feed the strays.

 

Wags,

Buddy

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Exciting Projects!

 

A lot has been happening in our corner of the world in the last few days.

Mummy is between changing jobs so she has been home for longer hours than earlier which we are really enjoying. We would have loved to have her stay home with us permanently and we suspect she would quite enjoy that too.

But looks like that isn’t gonna happen, at least not for now.She has been trying hard to stop working full time on a nine to five  ( most times no time-limit) job and start something more entrepreneural. Till that happens or she gets into a less demanding job, we are concentrating on enjoying this little sabbatical that she’s on!

In the meanwhile, we all have been trying to get a number of things done. Like finishing a few pottery painting projects that were pending since time immemorial!

 

Do it Yourself Pottery

 

Guess what came in those earthen pots? Our favorite desserts – Kulfi and Mishti Doi and Ras Malai.

( For the un-initiated – Kulfi is a type of Indian ice-cream that comes in a variety of flavours. Our favourite is coconut Kulfi. There are some special joints in Delhi that sells coconut kulfi which is not just flavoured but has real grated coconut in it! Ras Malai is a kind of sweet that is made of refined flour and is shaped like small little balls in thick creamy sweetened milk. Mishti means sweet and Doi means Curd. The sweetness comes from a mixture  of sugar and jaggery mixed with cream.)

The desserts, of course, are mouth watering. We do not like to throw the pots away afterwards – they have that handmade earthy look that we find so appealing. Once cleaned and dried, they are ready to be a part of the décor of your house. Of course one can go buy such pots which have been manufactured for this express purpose but somehow we like the look of these ‘not so perfectly shaped’ pots. Besides they also remind us of the lovely long nightly drives we went on to get these desserts from a special joint at the far corner of our city!

Mummy is in the process of prettying them up and we mean to put them on our new bed-stand.

 

Oh! That reminds me!

We got this nice new bed last week. It’s much bigger (Hopefully it will fit us all better – three dogs and 2 humans- and we need no longer to sleep in a tangled mess!!) and comes with an exquisite new comfy mattress. Ever since it got into our bedroom, Shadow has been monopolizing it! I think he believes the bed has been bought explicitly to cater to his lounging needs!! Paah!

The weather is just perfect at this time of the year in New Delhi. Not too hot, not too cold, a fresh breeze blows at almost all times of the day and the fragrance of the pretty autumn flowers wafting along makes you happy for no reason at all…

 

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For some time now, we have been contemplating on doing up our little garden on the balcony. The pigeons have been messing up our plans (literally!) and we need to get the better of them. Much as it hurts us to think we will be chasing them off from their homes on our window shades, we have decided to construct a shade, sort of a fibre-glass ceiling to keep them off but allow the light in.

The workers are at work right now and we are all are very excited!

 

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It will be lovely to sit out there, feel the nice fresh air on our faces, admire the flowers, read, dream and compose our posts.

If only Mummy could stay home permanently!

 

Sigh!

Buddy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, September 30, 2013

Living the Good Life

 

“……and the leaves were telling secrets to the wind.”
― Peter Mulvey

 

…..Oh! To stick out your head and feel the wind rushing past, to breathe in the fresh morning air and to taste the raindrops, to take home with you the lovely fragrance of the early winter flowers….

 

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Green peace

 

 

 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Kindness

 

There are these little pockets in various corners in our city. Peaceful, happy places where you find flocks of pigeons that have made there homes in those public places so permanently that they serve as a landmark.

You could easily say, Oh! Take a right at the intersection where you see this large flock of pigeons!’

 

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I love these places. I feel they are perfect examples of little bits of sanity left in our otherwise frantic city lives. And of kindness.

The birds are there because people come and feed them. Different people from different walks of life. If you stop and watch you’d find the humble street vendor sharing a bit of his food with them, a student busily walking past munching on a snack stopping to drop some for the birds even while busy on the cellphone; or a well-dressed person in a fancy car generously feeding them a large bag of grains!

 

Delhi City Tour (4)

 

Honestly I have never fed these birds. I don’t know why, nothing against them. I suppose it is just that I am too much of a dog person. I always carry biscuits in my car for the strays and an empty bowl in summer to give them a drink of water or milk but I have never fed the birds.

Oh! The more I think about it, the more I feel I should.

 

Delhi City Tour (3)

 

This post is an entry for ‘ABC Wednesday’. K is for KINDNESS. Please run over HERE for more ‘K’s

 

P. S.:  Note from Ginger, Buddy and Shadow – Honestly woofing, we are on a love hate relationship with pigeons. As long as they stay away from OUR balcony and are perched on other people’s, we love watching them. But we hate it when they come and mess up ours! You’d understand what we mean if you just go check out this post HERE!

 

 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

‘THE SECRET GAMES OF CHILDHOOD’

 

 

 

Black and White photography

 

 

“How dreadful...to be caught up in a game and have no idea of the rules.”

Caroline Stevermer, Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot 

 

Enjoy more monochrome wonders at  The Weekend in Black and White.

 

P.S: Precious moments captured forever. Memories of a precious holiday in the Himalayas with our friends. Featured here is Mummy and Ricky, her friend’s 6 year old son. Ricky is our best human-puppy friend. Kind, wiser than his years, extremely sensitive, helpful and intelligent, we are all so proud of him. He sure will grow up to be a great human being. ..Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

 

 

Friday, September 20, 2013

Page 52, Sentence no. 5!!

 

 

Did you know? It is International Books Week!

Our friends Bookerman and Asa’s Mom has started an intriguing game.

You need to grab the nearest book, turn to Page 52 and post the 5th sentence. Do not reveal the name of the book !!

 

Our offering….The skin on her face is all loose and wrinkly like a Shar Pei’

So, what have you been reading this week?

 

Shadow books

 

Here’s something more from what we have been reading that we really liked. From another book, of course!

 

‘ Positive Imaging’ is positive thinking carried one step further. If you consistently picture the best – not the worst- happening to you, powerful forces will work to bring it about.

 

Never doubt it. What is imaged in your minds tends to actualize itself. The pyramids of Egypt, the Pantheon, Saint Peter’s in Rome, the great soaring bridges in New York, once existed only as an idea in somebody’s mind – and that is when their real existence began. Somebody imaged them – and then those images took on form and substance.

 

That is the sequence : first the germ of the idea, then the image of the idea, then the energy and determination to clothe it with reality, and finally the triumphant reality.

 

Put imaging to work, and your self image will expand and grow.

- Norman Vincent Peale: ‘ Positive Imaging - The Powerful Way to Change your Life.’

 

 

A must read , if you are at that point in life where you want to change it’s course. Like if you want to give up your job and follow your dreams or feel you need at least to cut down on work to devote more time to do those things that make you happy.

May be painting, writing, cooking or working for animals. Join an NGO may be.

Or if you think things aren’t going the way they should for quite sometime in spite of your best efforts. May be you need to put in more positive energy, more visuals of success in your plans, even if they mean a daily to do list.

With more visuals of a successful day, you do tend to have a successful day. Somehow, somewhere forces in nature conspire – they say- to make it all happen for you!!

 

Positively imaging stuff,

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

 

 

 

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Senior Dog ?

 

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Buddy turned eight last Thursday, that is on the 12th. That makes him a senior dog, or so they say. 

That’s supposed to make him a wiser, quieter dog. A dog that who knows the rustling of leaves outside means just that..the wind rustling the leaves and not a squirrel. The door-bell ringing doesn’t mean the door will open itself instantly. One needn’t throw oneself at it and one can wait till someone else takes the trouble to check.

A walk means a slow, casual stroll enjoying the smells, the air and the company of your human. An older dog who has lived his youth and now likes to snooze away his time.

But whoever sets the rules for senior dogs to live by certainly has given Buddy the miss! Or may be he just doesn’t want to live by the ‘Senior Dog Rules’.

Not yet!!

 

Agreed. Buddy does love a good snooze but he is never lazy about getting up and checking on the important things in life. Like, for example, delicious smells that are wafting from the kitchen!!

 

Senior Dog (2)

 

Dog Adoption (2)

 

Though I, Shadow have willingly taken over the responsibility of checking on the rustling leaves, the noisy night-guard with his whistle, the birds on our balcony and the door bell, Buddy always double checks. Just in case!

Only he is now wise enough to know he needn’t always break his neck doing it!

He was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism some six months back. But after the initial set-back he hasn’t let that interfere with his life. He still is the most enthusiastic trekker and believes in the merits of an active life-style.  High places or thick vegetation, Buddy never lets any smell go unexplored or any squirrel un-chased!

 

Dog Adoption (1)

 

Pet Vacation

 

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He believes in warming his belly in the sun, dreaming of the good things in life, enjoying the soft grass, the smell of the earth or the plush cushions, whichever may be the case!!

 

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Lansdowne holiday destination

 

And at the end of it all, one does notice that wise, quiet, all knowing softness in his eyes….

 

happy bday bud

 

 

Wishing for a lot more fun and happy times ahead with you.

We love you.

Ginger and Shadow

 

 

Pee ess : ( Don’t blame us for not coming up with a post on Buddy’s birthday. Didn’t we tell you our editor needs to be fired? Can’t imagine why we haven’t got round to doing it!!)

 

 

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