Pawprints in the Sands of Time

Find the Pup…

2012-01-07T00:39:00.001+05:30

Believe me, there is a pup underneath those blankets! Couldn’t find one?

Well, he isn’t called ‘Shadow’ for nothing!

Technorati Tags: Shadow,Indian Dog,India,Photography

Wishes From ALL OF US here…

2012-01-01T00:09:00.000+05:30

‘Life is like a book, each day has a new page, with adventures to tell, lessons to learn and tales on good deed to remember’

May all things happy and nice come your way….

May you get the best of treats that you wish for…

May health be your inseparable friend each and every day of the new year…

We are thankful today for all our blog-friends…

Thanks for being out there, for sharing our lives and letting us share yours. You mean a lot to us and we hope to celebrate many more new years with all of you…

HAPPY 2012

Wags,

Ginger, Buddy & Shadow

Technorati Tags: Happy New Year,2012,India,Life,Friendship

Morning woes!

2011-12-31T12:42:00.001+05:30

Is it possible to get lost one fine morning, driving down the same road that one has been taking to and from work every single working day in the last six months?

Seems like it is.

I DID get lost today! And it was around 10 AM in the morning!

No, I wasn’t sleep-driving and No, I was absolutely not having a hangover. It isn’t New Year’s eve yet.

Not that I ever get drunk and have a hangover. For that matter, I don’t drink at all. Rather, I can’t. Something to do with my system never being able to metabolise alcohol so that I just end up falling asleep for the next 14 hours straight. Naturally, I have never been able to figure out the pleasures of drinking!

Anyway, coming back to the point.

Yes, I knew the fog was bad. (Didn’t you notice the pictures on Shadow’s Post yesterday?) But I never imagined it would be THIS bad.

As soon as I braved out of our colony gates, I suddenly found myself in this never ending, all encompassing white blur! How was one supposed to drive when you can’t even see three metres ahead of you?

The headlamps were useless. Not entirely of course. They would, combined with the distress lights, help others spot me. But that didn’t serve my purpose. I needed to spot others!

It was daytime..late morning in fact. And I almost missed the sharp right turn outside our gates and crashed into the thick hedge outside the school next door!

Alright. Slow down!

But now what? No car in sight to follow. Or worse,was there a car/bus/lorry right in front of me that I couldn’t see?

I tried to map the road in my brain. Come on! Of course I can do this, I told myself. I know this road like the back of my hand. (To tell you the truth, I don’t know the back of my hand that well. Why people refer to this phrase I could never fathom but it repeatedly kept coming back to me as I struggled to find one familiar landmark!)

Anyway, I did know this road perfectly well. Every curve ahead, every uneven bump, each tree at the traffic lights. I certainly could find my way to the highway and then there would be heavy traffic that I could follow.

I don’t know where exactly I took a wrong turn but I could sense I was lost in the maze of those identical roads in Dwarka. Visibility was down to just my car bonnet!

I don’t think I will ever blame those airlines when fog delays their flights. Even with the best of navigation systems it would be terrifying to take off a huge trans-ocean liner when you can barely see your headlights! (Do aircrafts have headlights or are they called something else? Well, never mind)

For one quarter of an hour, I navigated those (un)familiar roads solely helped by gut instinct and primitive sense of direction.

Wasn’t I glad when suddenly, to my left, there was traffic!

AH! I was entering the familiar high traffic zone that I always dreaded, cursed, and complained about. The stretch of about 3 kilometres which invariably messed up the average mileage of my car.

But today, I couldn’t have been happier to see the traffic crossing which always meant the start of a bumper to bumper row of cars moving at 15 km per hour!!

Guess whoever said there is a meaning and purpose in everything was right.

Today I understood the greater meaning behind traffic congestion!!

Technorati Tags: Delhi,Winter,Fog,Life,India

Screened!

2011-12-29T14:28:00.001+05:30

See this?

This is not photo-shopped. This is the legendary Delhi fog! And at 10 AM too!

At 12 Noon!

This is how it looked just a week back

And my older brother and sister can’t be bothered to check it out! Sigh….

…Now they have even hogged the cosiest sleep-seats in the house!

Snooze..zzz..

Shadow

Technorati Tags: Shadow,Delhi,Fog,India,Winter

Art for Art’s Sake

2011-12-27T11:36:00.002+05:30

‘Awaiting Expression’

For more ‘Shadow Shots’ please go visit Harriet’s beautiful meme ‘SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY’.

Technorati Tags: Photography,Art,India,Shadow Shot Sunday,Monochrome World

Coldest Christmas in 10 years!!

2011-12-26T13:08:00.001+05:30

1.1 degrees Celsius right in the middle of Delhi. Some fog. Some humidity. No rains. Definitely no snow. Coldest ever Christmas and the coldest December day in 10 years!!

We elected to stay cosy indoors. Yummy food, a good movie and plenty of snoozing by the electric fire. Even the laziest,fattest Persian feline must have been out-snoozed by now!

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Bless you…

Ginger,Buddy and Shadow

Technorati Tags: Christmas,Delhi,Winter,Coldest day,India

Kindness

2011-12-05T22:35:00.001+05:30

As M.K.Gandhi stepped aboard a train one day, one of his shoes slipped off and landed on the track. He was unable to retrieve it as the train was moving. To the amazement of his companions, Gandhi calmly took off his other shoe and threw it on the track to land close to the first. Asked by a fellow passenger why he did so, Gandhi smiled.

“ The poor man who finds the shoes lying on the track will now have a pair he can use”, he replied.

It just takes a little will to be kind. Not power, not riches, not time….just a little will. You just need to find it in your heart.

Technorati Tags: Gandhi Ji,India,Indian Dog,Life,Buddy

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Everyone

2011-11-24T23:30:00.001+05:30

"For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hope you have a lovely time and get to enjoy heaps of table treats!

Love you

Pee ess: You can probably tell that Mummy has gone back to work from our now customary disappearance from the blog world.

SIGH!!

Day 16 Post Surgery. Our puppy brother is doing just fine.

No licking the wound. Absolutely NO attempt at removing the stitches. They are gone now anyway. COLLARLESS recovery achieved!

Back to full duties.

Pigeons and Magpies invading our balcony chased, the night guard with the loud whistle admonished for waking up the neighbourhood, every dried fallen leaf investigated (It is fall! Our potted plants are shedding and changing colours and looking sad), every stray on the street reminded once again that the neighbourhood park is exclusively our territory.

And yes, he is back to herding us all to bed at night. SIGH!

Does he imagine he is the pack leader?

Well, we don’t mind as much as long as he doesn’t boss us around. Besides we were a bit sad to see him so subdued after the surgery. The first couple of days he wasn’t himself. The generalised weakness post surgery wasn’t the only reason. Our super brave pup seemed rather jarred by the vet experience. Tail tucked in, ears folded, scared eyes – poor dear boy. Was it such a scary experience for him?

That is why we are so glad he is back to his normal self. Tail definitely upturned into his trademark ‘J’, super active 15 hours a day.

Our Puppy brother is all repaired and we are just so thankful for it.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the warm thoughts you’d sent our way.

We indeed are thankful for you, our friends, today and always….

Technorati Tags: India,Shadow,Thanksgiving,Friendship,Life

ALL IS WELL AT OUR END

2011-11-09T00:39:00.001+05:30

Shadow’s back home! And he is doing absolutely fine.

The vet was very impressed too. He was awake and wagging away when Mummy went to see him just 15 minutes after the surgery and then stood up and growled, albeit feebly, at the large doggy waiting outside within just 30 minutes.

Even on his way back home, he insisted on sitting up and pondering over the terrible state of the traffic. Daddy had a hard time trying to make him lie down.

We are being extra careful not to let him exert himself. Shadow seems to be in a hurry to get going.

Not only did he not forget to mark his favourite lamp-post but also pricked up his ears at the rustling in the usual squirrel hide-outs during his walk today evening! And this when he is still unsteady on his paws!!

We always heard Mixed Breed Indian Dogs are tough and extremely sturdy. Shadow proved it today. We are so proud of him.

He had some chicken soup in the evening and loads of water. He doesn’t seem to be in pain now and readily let Mummy dress the wound after he was back from his walk.

He is fast asleep now.

Very unlike him, of course. He herds us all every night and insists we settle down before him. Tonight after dinner, again some chicken but this time real meat and bones, he seemed too tired and sleepy to bother.

It is such a relief watching him sleeping peacefully. He has shown no interest in his wound site at all. So he gets to be without the terrible E-Collar. We don’t know about later, when he is back to his active self. But for now, he is settled into our warmest blanket on the cosiest bed WITHOUT THE COLLAR.

Me and Buddy are sleeping with Daddy tonight while Shadow sleeps with Mummy in the other room. We don’t like this arrangement at all. But then it is necessary. At least for tonight.

Sleep tight, Baby Boy. And heal soon and heal well.

We are so very Thankful and Grateful for all of you, Our Blog-Friends out there. Shadow would have said ‘Thankies’ for all your healing thoughts, we know. Only he is dreaming deep dreams right now. So we are saying it on his behalf.

Wags,

Ginger and Buddy

Technorati Tags: Shadow. Surgery,Neutering,Ginger and Buddy,Indian Dog,Delhi,India

SHADOW’S Surgery

2011-11-08T00:50:00.001+05:30

Thank You very much, Friends from the bottom of our hearts for your love and wishes for Shadow.

May we now ask you to send in your prayers for him for tomorrow?

You see, he is scheduled to have his neutering surgery tomorrow morning.

The vet said he is a very healthy pup and doing very well and is absolutely fit for surgery. But we are still a little worried.

Well, make that VERY worried. Just the thought of our tiny little baby boy going in for surgery, however routine, is freaking us out.

We think this is a good time otherwise for him to have this surgery now. Mummy will be home for the next few days as she is still recuperating. So, he shall always have company, loads of hugs the entire day and needn’t be scared or anything.

He is a BIG pup now - 1.4 years old. He SHOULD be alright. Besides, he is SUCH an active, forever hungry, forever ready to play pup. He SHOULD recover fast.

Tonight, at our home, all the paws and fingers and toes are crossed.

Hope by this time tomorrow we can get back to you to say ‘he has eaten his dinner and gone to sleep’.

Touchwood!

Ginger & Buddy

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Neutering Surgery

SHADOW’S 1st GOTCH DAY :)

2011-11-07T14:08:00.001+05:30

‘You come to me a blessing I know
Lent to me from above
To teach me to be soft & kind
And giving of all mankind
How I look in those bright brown eyes
my hearts melts - sweet and kind
I treasure you now
Your job so big
and mine so small
For I know nothing of forgiveness
as most of mankind
and you only in return ask for
a pat or game of fetch , meal and water
I will do this without a problem
for you touch my heart and soul
But my four legged friend
If you teach me the
unconditional love that you have
I know the world can be a better place

……Author Unknown

We love you, Shadow Baby. From the very bottom of our hearts……

Thank you for being a part of our lives. We will never forget that you chose us to be your family out of all the pawple you must have met out there on the streets.

‘Happy Gotcha Day’

Warmest and tightest hugs from Mummy n Daddy, Licks n wags from us, Ginger n Buddy

Technorati Tags: Shadow,Indian Dog,Gotcha Day,Family,Love,Life

CHURCH SIGNS

2011-11-06T22:36:00.001+05:30

No.1 - Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours long and the pay low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world!

No.2 - When the restaurant next to a church put out a big sign that said ‘OPEN on SUNDAYS’, the church reciprocated with its own: ‘We are open on Sundays too’!

No.3 - Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon…!!

The pictures above are of the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at Panaji, Goa.

Located in the heart of this beautiful, quaint little city, this is one of the first Churches to be built in Goa estimated around AD1540s. It was originally a chapel and was elevated to a church in 1600s.

The great bell of the Church is only second in size to that of the famous Se Cathedral in Old Goa. It wasn’t originally there but was moved to this church from the ruined Augustinian monastery in Aguada in 1841, when Panjim became the capital city of Goa. It is known now as the "Bell of the Inquisition"

The Red laterite four tiered staircase which makes a dazzling contrast to the immaculate white church entrance was built in 1870.

The very simple interior is dedicated to Mary. There is however an altar dedicated to Jesus and a chapel of St.Xavier, the Patron Saint of Goa.

Photography was prohibited inside the chapel so there aren’t any pictures to show.

The serenity inside is complimented only too beautifully by the fresh breeze that blows in, bringing with it the smells of the sea just a few miles away…

In spite of being in the heart of the city, this very pretty church and the churchyard is some place where you can be at peace with yourself….

Technorati Tags: Church,Goa,Humour,Photography,India,Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception,Panaji,Panjim

A Long Evening Drive

2011-11-05T23:06:00.001+05:30

Just settling down after an active evening.

Mummy was getting quite jittery after being cooped up inside for the last 234156000 days. She says she knows the exact number of tiles on our floors, the exact number of turns in the design at the base of the ceiling fans and every little spec of dust on the far end of the bookshelf!

It was time, we decided, we take her out for a long drive. Daddy insists she isn’t still strong enough to walk us but she has mended enough to go for a quiet outing.

Fresh evening air, a little misty with the hint of autumn chill. Head sticking out of the car window, ears flapping in the wind…a perfect drive.

We watched the big airplanes landing and taking off.

The rich neon lights made psychedelic patterns as we zoomed by and the soft breeze rustled the tree leaves framed against them.

Afterwards, we went to pick up some grocery and stuff. We are supposed to have custard pudding for dessert tonight and there weren’t any fruits at home.

Mummy is a tad tired from all the activity and says her tummy hurts a little, but she certainly appears invigorated. We must do this again soon.

Have a good weekend, Friends

Wags,

Ginger, Buddy & Shadow

Technorati Tags: India,Delhi,Night Drive,Outing,Family

Life Size Legends and Festivities

2011-11-05T12:17:00.001+05:30

On 26th of October, we celebrated the very beautiful festival of lights Diwali.

Last year, if you remember, this day became all the more special for us all due to a very endearing reason.

The date: 7th of Nov.The day: Sunday.

Our lives changed forever when our little brother Shadow literally walked into our home and decided to adopt us, bringing with him so much love and warmth.

(In case you’d missed it, you can read his story HERE n HERE)

It was a simple affair this time. Mummy was just back from the hospital and not strong enough to potter around arranging for an elaborate event.

We put up our lights and lamps,went out with Daddy and got back some of Mummy’s favourite sweets for her. Daddy played chef and cooked up a lovely dinner. Afterwards, we settled down for a Johnny Depp movie.

Except for the loud crackers and fireworks part, we love everything about this festival, especially the myriad sweets and savouries. You’ll be glad to know that Ginger wasn’t as scared or as badly affected this time by the terribly loud crackers. She went for her walk readily, ate her dinner - albeit tentatively, and slept well.

The Diwali spirit must be rubbing off on her!

The city of Delhi literally comes to life on Diwali. Food, colourful lights, sweets, flowers - you name it and it is just everywhere. The enthusiasm is catching.

But this time we couldn’t really venture out due to Mummy’s surgery. So there aren’t many Diwali pictures to share. But we hope you will like a few others we are sharing today - some beautiful moods of the festivities preceding Diwali.

We talked of the legends associated with Diwali in an earlier post.

Today we are posting pictures bringing to life the legends associated with a few other festivals linked to this special festival of lights.

Diwali is not a date linked event but one that is celebrated on the darkest night of the lunar cycle, on the 20th day after Dussehra.

Dussehra is the last day of Navratri and falls on the 10th day of the waxing moon during the Hindu month of Ashvin (around September or October)

Dussehra also celebrated as Vijaya Dasami is the culmination of a 10 day long festival that marks the victory of good over evil.

Some parts of India celebrate it as Durga Puja to symbolise the fight and ultimate triumph of the warrior Goddess Durga over the Buffalo-demon Mahishasura.

(The powerful Warrior Goddess Durga bearing 10 types of weapons in 5 pairs of hands!)

Others celebrate it as Navaratri - 10 days of fast, colourful rituals and festivities. Yet others indulge in Ram Lila- a theatrical enactment of the life of Lord Rama who slays the ten-headed Demon King Ravana. This stretches over nine days preceding Dussehra.

On the tenth day, larger than life effigies of King Ravana, his son Meghnath and brother Kumbhakarna are set to fire.

(The Effigies in Production! The X-large hulls are of dried bamboo so they light up easily. The hollow insides are stuffed with firecrackers!)

(The Unsung Artisans)

Whatever the legend, they all talk about the victory of good over evil and inspire people to choose Right over Wrong in their everyday lives.

The message to be taken is to conquer the inner demon and lead a simpler, gentler life.

GRANT US PEACE

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

Pee Ess: We only just bumped into Mimi’s Peace Meme. And though we are late, we are joining in. Better Late than Never, Huh?

Pee Pee Ess: THANKS Heaps for all your Good wishes for Mummy. She is mending well and feeling much better too.

Technorati Tags: India,Diwali,Dussehra,Navaratri,Durga Puja,Legends,Delhi,Dona Nobis Pacem,Peace

WHILE WE WERE AWAY….

2011-11-02T22:38:00.001+05:30

It has been so long…just too long…

We thought we had things sorted – a photo post 3-4 times a week, one proper post per week and at least once a week blog visits when we go visit all our friends.

But nothing has been going according to plan. We just couldn’t keep up. Then again, there isn’t much one can do if your secretary/typist falls sick without arranging for a replacement.

Yes, Friends.

Our Mummy had taken an off from everything. She has had a surgery.

Now, don’t you lose fur worrying about it.

She needed to have this surgery for some abdominal ailment for quite sometime and was just postponing it. So this was an elective surgery and nothing like a terribly worrisome emergency.

Anyway, she is mending and mending quite well too. She is more like her usual self, though she isn’t fully active and still not going with us for our walks. Something about us being too boisterous.

Nonsense!

We have been such good pups all throughout her surgery & recovery period. We have been snuggling a lot and keeping her nice and warm. Never once have we jumped up on her demanding to play, except of course the day she came back from the hospital. Couldn’t help it – she was gone for over 24 hours and we were really worried.

Apart from that one episode, we have been very careful not to stress her. We don’t want her going off to the hospital again. A sleepy, slow Mummy is better than No mummy any day!

We are really thankful Mummy found the Most Wonderful doctor for herself. She had been ignoring her problems for so long the state of her insides was pretty complicated.

Not only did the doctor do a wonderful job on her (we got to see the video of her surgery!) he was very kind and caring and took good care of her all throughout.

Dog Bless him!

And guess what? He lives with a little Weiner Pup named ‘Bertie’.

Well, well! We certainly approve Mummy’s choice of doctors. We haven’t met him yet but from what we hear of him, we think he would smell quite alright. After all a Weiner pawson can’t be all that wrong. What do you think?

Anyway, Mummy is on the mend. And of course the best part of the whole episode is that she has been at home all this time. The whole day, with us!

It is another matter that she sleeps most of the time. But then, it isn’t all that bad. The weather here is changing. We have the first inklings of a real winter. The mornings are chilly and it is dark now when we go for our evening walks. Soon, Mummy says, the mornings will be dark and cold too.

This will be our first real winter. Hyderabad winters never got cold and dark, just a wee bit misty.

Well, let’s wait and watch how different it is going to be here in Delhi.

For now, we are enjoying the warm sun that shines softly through the morning mist, the crackling of the fallen leaves, the soft blankets and spicy evening treats…

‘But I do feel a little teeny right now that I'm just about ready to start, and winter is entering. Half past autumn has arrived’
….Gordon Parks

Wags n Licks,

Ginger, Buddy n Shadow

Technorati Tags: Mummy's surgery,Delhi,Winter,India,Family

Our Favourite Snoozing Spots

2011-09-21T21:18:00.001+05:30

Technorati Tags: Wordless wednesday,Photography,Life,Home,Siesta

Markings….

2011-09-18T23:05:00.001+05:30

There! We’ve put our mark.

And unlike the window-nose- art that are wiped off unceremoniously, this is permanent.

What do you think?

And this one is to ensure that no one gets bright ideas about who the old car belongs to…

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Santro,Hyundai,Chevrolet,Beat LT,Bumper stickers,pawprints

Our Grand New Gift!

2011-09-15T20:36:00.001+05:30

We haven’t told you, have we, about our grand new gift? Well, it is ‘Grand’ still but no longer brand new!

It came in between Buddy’s Gotcha Day and Shadow and my birthday and we decided to share it amongst ourselves.

What do you think…..?

Yes, That’s our New Car!!

And Hey! It’s a Chevy!

Except for a little nose job that Mr Chevy needed and Shadow obliged with, We have been living Happily Ever After!

Technorati Tags: Delhi,India,Chevrolet,Beat

HAPPY, HAPPY BARKDAY BUDDY BOY!

2011-09-12T22:58:00.001+05:30

Our Big Brother is six!

Six already? He looks so young! Not only does he look so young, he is the bounciest fittest and liveliest six year old lab we know…

WE LOVE YOU HEAPS and HEAPS, BUDDY BOY. We are so very glad and feel so fortunate that you are a part of our lives today..

Wags n Hugs n licks,

Ginger and Shadow

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Birthday Cake,6th Birthday,India,Family

MONSOON…!

2011-09-11T22:52:00.001+05:30

Hiii Friends,

How have you all been? Good? Aah…we are so glad to hear that.

At our end, it has been raining now on and off.

The Monsoon is here. Heavy rains aren’t all that fun, it does spoil our walk. We just rush out and back in drenched to the bone! And you know how that messes up our floor!

(Err…please excuse Shadow!)

But a strong drizzle now and then is always very welcome. The cool rain splashing on your face always feels so good. Our balcony is just perfect…you can enjoy the rain and get wet without really getting all soaked and messy.

Anyway, the entire world is that perfect shade of fresh green now..…

Today morning the sky was a pretty clear blue all the way to the horizon. The heat is settling down now. Most days, it is windy and the air smells of wild flowers…

We brought back a few from our morning walk today. Only we couldn’t bring back the lovely smells. Guess we shouldn’t have plucked those flowers after all…the fragrance is lost….

But they do look ever so lovely, don’t you think? This corner of our living room certainly looks so much livelier.

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,India,Delhi,Monsoon,Rain,Life

A Potted Garden!

2011-08-25T23:48:00.001+05:30

Hi Friends,

Hope you are all well and happy and healthy. We are all doing ok at our end.

Now don’t you be surprised to see us here. Guess what? Mummy had a lighter day at work today!!

Yes, this really is a sad state of affairs. Our blogging is now decided by how many people fall sick and come to Mummy’s department for treatment!! Should we all start crossing our paws for the general health and well being of everyone if we want to continue blogging?

Ridiculous!

Anyway, we have been waiting to tell you something. Look what we found outside our door the other Sunday!

Yes, an abandoned broken pot full of top soil!

Ever since we started living in a house perched high up in the sky closure to the clouds, we have begun to value the earth so much more.

The feel of the earth is special now. Not only do we need to walk down and out so much farther to get our paws on the earth and the grass, even the soil for our potted plants come so precious!

That is why we were pleasantly surprised to find this pot near the lift, close to our front door. One of our neighbours seem to have ‘killed’ one of their plants and broken the pot!

Sadly there was nothing we could do for the plant, but we didn’t feel it would be right to let the soil go waste. So there, two of our pots got a refill!

Talking of pots, do you think a potted garden counts? Why shouldn’t it, anyway. It adds to the atmospheric oxygen as well as any other tree that is being planted.

We are talking about this very enthusiastic initiative by the Delhi Government.

There are centres at various metro-rail stations distributing free saplings, encouraging everyone to plant and look after at least one tree each this monsoon.

We think we are doing our bit towards the cause.

Over the past few weeks we have been working on our garden real hard.

We want to give it an earthy and ethnic look. We did get some unfinished terracotta pots but Mummy is yet to get down to painting them. She is sure to take ages!

If you ask us, we think she should have just got the finished ones and not entertain grand ideas of a DIY project.

But well, at least our plants are looking greener by the day and are really lively. And we do have one nice little Ganesha idol that looks bright and animated.

We are hoping Mummy can manage some time soon to paint those pots too.

Paws crossed…HA!

Ginger, Buddy & Shadow

Technorati Tags: Delhi,India,Gardening,Monsoon,Trees,Earth,Rain,Potted plants

HAPPY 15 August, 2011

2011-08-15T23:36:00.001+05:30

Celebrations in our colony…

Our favourite Newspaper came up with an absolutely brilliant idea!

Reprint of the 1st ever ‘TIMES’ of free India…15th August, 1947

Huh! Whatever is the world coming to??!!

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,India,Independence day,15 August 2011,The Times of India

Dearest Daddy…

2011-08-14T23:56:00.001+05:30

We Love you HEAPS

2011-08-06T23:29:00.001+05:30

‘I never admit or deny anything. It makes me more interesting’ - Anon

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Monochrome World,Life,India

SMALL CANDLES

2011-08-04T22:47:00.001+05:30

In moments of discouragement and defeat, there are always certain things to cling on to.

Little things usually: remembered laughter, the face of a sleeping child, the reminder of something deeply felt or dearly loved.

No man is so poor as not to have any of these small candles. When they are lighted, darkness goes away and a touch of wonder remains…

- A Tombstone inscription

Technorati Tags: Zen,Philosophy,Life,Love,India

HELLO HELLO FRIENDS….How have u been?

2011-08-03T23:15:00.001+05:30

Tell us this now…there aren’t any restrictions against being wordless on weekdays like we usually are on Wednesdays, are there now?

You see, we have made a decision.

We are going to be wordless or should we say ‘at least’ wordless on all days.

If you’ve noticed, we haven’t been around for centuries now. And we feel so terrible we aren’t even attempting to make any excuses.

Blogging has been an enriching experience not only because we get to see and learn so much but also because we’ve made so many lovely friends from all over the world. Even though we have never met and will, in all probability, never meet we feel we know you all so well.

We haven’t been blogging at all for quite some time now and we can’t even begin to tell you how much we have missed you all.

Even though we haven’t gone and visited you we want you all to know that we have been thinking about you everyday…..a lot.

Over the past year, You’d been with us as we laughed and cried. You shared your lives with us as we did ours…

Blogging is no longer just our thoughts spoken out loud…

Each day of the last month that passed by without us having posted even a single word made us increasingly restless.

There just had to be some way…if you love doing something so much you must just find a way…

And then we realised…we could JUST BE WORDLESS!

How utterly stupid of us!

Here we are forever with a camera clicking away pictures worth terra bites of disk space and we complain about not being able to post a blog!

Didn’t someone say ‘pictures speak a thousand words’ or something to that effect?

Besides, friends do not really need too many words to understand you, do they?

So then, it is decided. We are at least going wordless on days we can’t pen down too many words. But we promise we will try not to make a habit of this and actually write!

And we will also try and visit you all at least once a week. We really, really will.

And now, for today’s picture (s)…..

The TAJ MAHAL in Agra

Handcrafted Marble replicas available freely in Agra and Delhi

Hey!! Someone actually doesn’t like the original colour scheme!

What do you think of these suggested patterns??!!

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow. Indian Dog,Friendship,Life,Taj Mahal,Blogging

Shadow is ONE and Ginger is FIVE!!!

2011-07-08T23:33:00.002+05:30

How time flies!
Our little puppy boy is one already?
We do not exactly know when Shadow was born. Counting back from the day we found him, when his estimated age was about four months, his birthday ought to be around sometime now, that is the first week of July.
Now, is that just coincidence or is it destiny?
9th of July is Ginger’s birthday! And she thinks it would be just absolutely wonderful to share her birthday with Shadow.
So here we are, all set to wish SHADOW a very very HAPPY FIRST Birthday just as the clock strikes 12 tonight!
And of course, HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY to GINGER too!

Mummy promises to get back home as early as she can tomorrow so we can do something special.
We already went for a special walkie today, just in case she gets back home after dark and it is too late to go to this BIG park we so love.
Oh! We haven’t told you about our parks yet. Well, we haven’t told you about of lot of other stuff we have been dying to tell you.
Ok, there is this BIG park close by we really enjoy going to.
And today evening, we went there for an extra special walkie as a pre-birthday treat.
It was drizzling…the monsoon rains are here…the wind felt nice and cool and we had the entire park to ourselves.
Well, almost. There were a few strays around but we made it clear to them that we wanted an uninterrupted walk.

We LOVE the rain. Mummy usually wouldn’t let us get wet that often for the fear of us catching a bug or two. But I guess today she couldn’t resist the rain either.
We got all wet and muddy, chased a few storks, raced to our heart’s content and drove back home,hanging out of the window, enjoying the wind and the rain on our faces…
Dinner was a routine affair but we hear Mummy is baking us a cake and getting some special treats for Ginger and Shadow’s birthday tomorrow.
And maybe we will get to go on another special walk.

We feel so blessed Shadow is a part of our family today. He is such a wonderful boy.
We had assumed earlier that he would grow up thinking he was an yellow labradog. But it didn’t take very long for us to realise that he is very himself…a distinct personality even as a tiny little puppy.

(Shadow, on the street. His first picture)

(First Bath)

(First car ride)

(First Walk)

(Puppy Training)

(He is still rather silly sometimes!!)

Every day we marvel at the puppy he is, so self assured and yet so loving, giving and vulnerable.
Every day, we wake up to his gentle nibbling and pawing or his wet nose on our faces…he is almost always the first to be up….wondering if he will ever grow out of his puppy antics and wishing at the same time that he never will.

We treasure you, little Shadow. We love you heaps and bunches and secretly hope you’ll NEVER grow up!!
Have a very Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you too Ginger. You are the sweeetest girl imaginable...

Each day, we are amazed by your sensitivity, your caring ways, your wisdom and acceptance.
We think you are a very, very special girl and that we are fortunate you are a part of our family.

It is difficult to imagine that you are five already. But then, sometimes, it just feels like we have known you and you us, for eternity….

You always understand so well…

Extra birthday hugs to you both,

Buddy, Mummy and Daddy

Pee pee ess: Thank you so very much, Dear Friends for your kind words for our friend Krazie. We feel so much better knowing so many wishes lit up her path as she travelled across the bridge…

Technorati Tags: Birthday,Shadow,Ginger,Buddy,Indian Dog,Love,Life,Family,2011

Goodbye Krazie

2011-06-28T22:52:00.002+05:30

I explained it to St. Peter,
I'd rather stay here
Outside the pearly gate.
I won't be a nuisance,
I won't even bark, I'll be very patient and wait,
I'll be here, chewing on a celestial bone,
No matter how long you may be.
I'd miss you so much, if I went in alone,
It wouldn't be heaven for me.

- Unknown Author

My friend Krazie crossed over the bridge on 23rd of June.

I had to read the mail twice before the news sank in. How could she have died…she was so young…a year younger than me, in fact.

Buddy had met her fleetingly and Shadow never got to know her. But she was my best girl friend.

We had spent some really good times together while in Hyderabad

Left to right: Krazie,Me,Daddy,Buddy

My first encounter with the sea: Krazie & Me at Suryalanka Beach

Sharing a joke: Krazie,Daddy,Me & Uncle Harneet

Left to right: Mummy, Raja(A pup who owns a strawberry farm!) & Krazie

Of late, Krazie was having weight gain issues. She had developed arthritis, hypothyroidism and OSAS.

All these are rectifiable issues and we had hoped she would mend and go on to lead a long,healthy life.

But as fate would have it, she left us just too soon.

Our heart goes out to her fur-brother Mogli and her human-family. It is always the most difficult for the ones who are left behind…..

Left to right: Krazie, Mummy and Mogli

I will always remember you, my friend.

And I hope you are in a lovely place now, running free…young and healthy once again, and without pain…..

Love always,

Ginger

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Krazie,Life,Death,Love,Labrador Retriever

YOU JUST HAVE TO READ THIS POST

2011-06-24T23:43:00.001+05:30

This is terrible!

We haven’t been able to post AT ALL!!!

Can anyone suggest how you can go about getting a new and more efficient editor/secretary? We asked Daddy but he categorically refused to help us out which we think is very inconsiderate of him.

For now, we are stuck with Mummy whether we like it or not.

Now for the MOST important part of today’s post.

We have two very important announcements to make today….

Most of you know our friend Bocci from ‘BOCCI’S BEEFS’. Well, his mom Joan has been working on a very special book for quite some time now.

This book is about special doggies and the story of their lives.

Alright, alright!

We KNOW all doggies and kitties out there are special but we are talking about some extra special doggies. Say, for example, like our puppy brother Shadow.

We are talking about those very special doggies who have known a difficult life, be it living behind bars in a shelter or out on the streets, and who have now found their very own furever families.

Bocci thinks their stories should be told and we totally agree.

So, if you are a special ‘Rescue Doggy’ or know of one, please send in your story to Joan at http://boccibeefs.blogspot.com/p/your-rescue-stories.html

This may just be your quickest way to fame.

We are also asking you to help us spread the word about this very special book. If you could do a small post on this, that would be just wonderful.

We are sending in Shadow’s story and we really hope it will make it to the pages of this very special book.

Now for the second announcement.

Did you get it? Could you guess?

Yes! It is Buddy’s Second ‘GOTCHA DAY’!

When we look at him today, it is hard to believe that he came to live with us just two years back. I still remember the day very clearly…24th of June 2009. It was about 6:30 P.M. Buddy came home to us, looking very confused and scared to be in a new place. I didn’t know what to do, whether to be happy to have found a new brother or sad because now I was no longer an only fur-kid.

I took very long to decide, in fact about 4 months, that I rather like him. I think Buddy sensed it too, because suddenly,overnight, he seemed totally at home.

Today, he is easily my best friend and Shadow’s biggest role model.

Mummy absolutely adores him and I think I have to agree with her when she says he is the most obedient of us all.

We love you HEAPS, Buddy.

We know it must have been hard for you to come and live with us, adjust to a new family and a different life, but we know you have adopted us totally and completely now.

We are so glad you came to live with us.Each day, we feel thankful for your Good morning kiss, the wag in you tail, your warm hug and every little adorable thing you do.

We are so thankful you are a part of our lives.

Ginger

Technorati Tags: Buddy,Shadow,Ginger,Gotcha Day,Bocci,Family,Love,life

……………..

2011-06-15T23:01:00.001+05:30

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Shadow,Wordless Wednesday. Goa,Beach Holiday

Guess who’s here?..!!!

2011-06-12T18:40:00.001+05:30

You wouldn’t believe it, but the first glance I had of him was when he sauntered past while I was taking a nap! There he was, just a few centimetres away from my nose!

Mummy shrieked, ‘ Shadow, don’t you go after the lizard. It is just a puppy!’

What a silly girl she is!

One, she scared away the lizard. And two, I would never have seen him, leave alone going after him, had she not shouted.

Anyway, the little puppy lizard ran right up our bedroom wall and stayed there pretending he was a pat of the paintwork!

No amount of cajoling and pleading could convince him to get down.

Buddy came over to help me but gave up much too soon, convinced that it was a sheer waste of sleep time.

Ginger, of course, couldn’t care less.

Sometimes I feel my older brother and sister are really getting old! I mean, this is the first lizard we were meeting after ages. How can you not be excited?

Well, I must have dozed off because when I woke up it was past midnight and the lizard was gone.

What a waste!!

Paws crossed I’ll see him around soon.

Shadow

Technorati Tags: Shadow,Lizards,critters,Life,Indian Dog,India

YOOHOOO FRIENDS!

2011-06-09T23:12:00.001+05:30

Knock knock knock!…Are u guys there?

Well, we don’t really blame you if you’ve all left. Look at us…we are logging in after CENTURIES!

We have missed you all so much…

Alright. First things first.

We have GOOD NEWS

Ginger is feeling much, much better. She hasn’t passed anymore blood in her urine for the last 1 week and she no longer is straining. Buddy and I think she is even beginning to like our new home and neighbourhood. At least, she is being a lot like her usual self.

We were feeling terrible that she had gone and caught this bug.

Oh! I am getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you this properly.

Mummy got her urine tested and it told us she had quite a lot of things going wrong. She was passing blood, protein and triple phosphate stones in her urine. And her urine was highly alkaline, which meant it facilitated further formation of phosphate crystals.

We read and read and read everything that we could lay our paws on about ‘Triple phosphate crystals’.

The best thing that we came across was this study that says dogs may have triple phosphate crystals in their urine normally too. And unless there were symptoms of impaction and infection, these needn’t be operated upon.

Besides, once the infection settles down and the dog gets hydrated well, these stones disappear altogether.

We were worried about another aspect in Ginger’s case. Stress induced hypertension, which can also lead to haematuria and proteins in urine.

The only good thing was she was not running a very high temperature and wasn’t in pain.

It was such a relief when we found that the antibiotic she was on, seemed to work well because after the third dose, her urine started to clear up.

It was no longer high coloured, there wasn’t any blood and she had stopped straining.

And yes, THANKS HEAPS for all your suggestions.

Mummy could find a good brand of Cranberry capsules that also has D-Mannose. The latter is a naturally occurring component in cranberries, blueberries and apples that is said to promote urinary tract health. No harm in trying it out, what do you say?

We are getting her tests repeated this weekend and then we will finally know if everything is truly well.

The only good thing that came out of all this was that we got to go on extra walks!

Mummy would come home terribly late from work and just about manage to sit through dinner and play a little with us when it would almost be time to sleep (read Midnight!). And just when we thought we were going to wind up for the day, she would suggest a walk!

We were rather surprised at first. What had come over Mummy? I mean, she needed to get up really early again.

But then we got to know Ginger wasn’t supposed to have any residual urine in her bladder, which meant we just got to go out whether we wanted to or not.

However late into the night it may be!

Well, I am NOT complaining! Those midnight walks were rather fun! We could run around as much as we wanted to because we had the entire park to ourselves!

Now you know why we were away from the blogging world for so long.

Of course, added to all of these was the fact that Daddy hadn’t decided on a proper internet connection. The satellite net wasn’t co-operating at all all this while.

Now, for the second good news.

We got a BRAND NEW cable internet connection today!! And it definitely outruns the snail net we had earlier!

So, even though Mummy is almost falling asleep on the keyboard, we insisted we just NEEDED to update today.

We have missed you all so much and have been feeling terrible that we haven’t been able to catch up with you.

But we realise now that our bloggie pals are there not because of any compulsion. You come over to visit us because you WANT to and not because you have to. And it isn’t about returning favours…

We aren’t saying thanks. But we would like you all to know that we truly feel fortunate to have you in our lives. We want you to know that we treasure your comments, mails and suggestions and LOVE YOU HEAPS

Wags,

Shadow

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Urinary tract infection in dogs,D-mannose,Cranberry capsules,Triple phosphate stones,Life,Friendship

We are REALLY Worried…

2011-05-29T17:45:00.002+05:30

Ginger has developed an Urinary Tract Infection.
She seemed anxious and rather in a hurry to go out in the evening and then passed quite a lot of blood in her pee-pee.

We forgot to tell you earlier but she had haematuria, (that is blood in urine in medical jargon) immediately after we had reached Delhi. It wasn’t so surprising, considering we had travelled such a long distance and she, like always, drank very little water.

After a course of antibiotics and some urinary alkaliser, she was fine. The vet told us there was also the element of anxiety and it might be stress induced cystitis, which means inflammation of the bladder.

She had never shown any sign of pain, no fever and was eating , playing and sleeping well. So we weren’t very worried.

But yesterday she freaked Mummy out.

Recurrence of haematuria isn’t good. This might mean there is some resistant infection. After all, urinary tract infections aren’t easy to cure.
But the most worrisome thought is that there might be a stone somewhere.

The good news is that she isn’t showing the slightest sign of pain or fever and seems alright in general.

Yes, she does seem to be a little anxious these days because Mummy gets back from work later than she did earlier.

Guess this shifting business has been hardest on her. She is extremely emotional and very much the ‘thinker’.
Our home in Hyderabad has been ‘Home’ to her ever since she was just about 10 weeks old. She probably misses being there the most.

She otherwise seems well adjusted to our new life but I guess she feels uprooted.
I and Buddy aren’t all that bothered as long as we have the entire pack around us. We both are happy and have decided on our own snoozing corners.
But Ginger seems to be pondering over things sometimes….
And she doesn’t drink as much water as she should.

Please don’t worry too much.
She isn’t seriously sick. Mummy has put her on a new and higher antibiotic since last night. Today morning there were just two drops of blood, which is an improvement over yesterday.
She is not at all anxious today and seems quite content to snooze near Mummy.
We are planning to watch her progress for one more day before we take her to see a vet or get an x-ray. Mummy doesn’t want to make her anxious about other sick doggies around.

She has always been very sensitive that way and would pick up vibes very easily. She would get rather upset and restless whenever there is somebuddy sick or hurt around her. So, if there is that element of stress induced cystitis, it is much better that she stays home.

We will, anyway, go ahead and get her urine analysis done. She doesn’t need to go see a vet for that.
We will let you know how she fares. Paws crossed she’ll be all cured soon.
We feel really bad that this is happening. I mean, she has NEVER been sick, ever.

Touchwood.

And hey! before I forget…that speaking calendar is a farewell gift from Mummy’s friend in Hyderabad.
I think it is a very smart calendar because it has just the dates on it and NO YEAR. Which means we can use it year after year and it will tell you some really nice things everyday!

Isn’t that cool?

Nothing special about June 2nd! We were flipping through the pages and rather liked this quote and so thought of sharing it with you.
Glad you liked it

I need to go now. One thing’s really bothering me.
Mummy forgot to pack our lizards!!
I keep searching the walls and hoping they would appear but they just aren’t there.
There are still HEAPS of boxes to be opened and loads of stuff to be sorted. One entire room full.
Do you think there might be a chance they are in there? I looked in that room too, had to sneak in actually because Mummy wouldn’t let me go in there. Something about the dust.
But they weren’t there either.
I really hope they will reappear. I miss them….

Shadow

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Shadow,Urinary Tract Infection,Life,Dog Blog

Wordless on a Wednesday….

2011-05-25T23:09:00.001+05:30

Technorati Tags: Wordless Wednesday,Shadow. Life. Love. Happiness

GREETINGS FROM NEW DELHI

2011-05-23T23:43:00.001+05:30

HIYA Friends!

Hope you are all happy, healthy and wagging away…

We are sorry we are so terribly late in getting back to you but you can guess how things have been with all this shifting business.

We have been missing you all HEAPS and have been dying to get back to read about all that has been happening at your end.

Guess life gets in the way of blogging and we have to deal with it. We just hope you haven’t forgotten all about us.

Anyway, just in case you have, here’s us!

My brother Buddy

My sister Ginger

And me, Shadow

Yes, it IS me.

Mummy says I am still my very original puppy self, but she just has to agree that I look so much more mature and grown.

Don’t you agree?

We are settling down in our new home and have decided that we rather like it.

We weren’t quite so sure when we had arrived though. One empty house to another didn’t seem all that interesting. Ginger even insisted on leaving immediately. She does that when we go somewhere she doesn’t like.

She would pull Mummy by her skirt or her wrist and head for the door. You can’t get more persistent than that, can you now?

But Mummy explained that we were going to stay here and we will soon set things right and all will seem well again.

Soon, our stuff arrived. We don’t yet know whether we should be glad that most of our stuff arrived intact or be sad that some got damaged.

Like my yellow bean bag. We found a small hole when we opened the packing and beans spilled out. Mummy has repaired it and I can use it but a hole is still a hole.

One of our corals broke and we feel rather sad about it. Where from will we get a replacement for it in the middle of Delhi, thousands of kilometres from the sea?

And then, there are a few earthenware pots that got damaged.

Sigh!

But almost everything else is safe. We were most worried about stuff like the refrigerator, the TV and the air-conditioner but thankfully they are all working fine.

We are trying our best to adjust to our new life.

Some things seemed very weird at first. Like the receding garden. We weren’t quite sure how we came to live so high up in the air. And why there were always so many people, cars and dogs in our garden down there.

We asked them to stop trespassing and leave us alone but nobody seemed to take any notice. And then we found out that the garden down there belongs to everyone around and we need to share it with everyone, including our neighbours, a Saint Bernard and a German Shepherd!!!

And of course there are advantages of living high up in the air. You can sit out there on the balcony and enjoy the raindrops falling on your face occasionally without getting totally wet.

That is what we did all evening yesterday. The rain came for the first time today since we had arrived and we have been wishing hard for it to come. Past few days had seen temperatures sky-rocketing and the rain felt wonderful.

And guess what?

Mummy didn’t need to get all freaked out about us getting muddy in the garden and we got to wet our paws on the balcony!

We haven’t yet finished arranging everything and one of the rooms is till stuffed with cardboard boxes, but the ‘empty house’ is slowly turning into ‘Home’. It will take some time, I guess.

Mummy hardly seems to have any time at all these days. She’s just joined a new job and she can’t possibly ask for leave immediately. And when she is not at work, she is either out looking at furniture to buy ( we don’t have a sofa yet which upsets Ginger very much, she loved the old couch the best!) or tidying up things or cooking or doing an umpteen number of things she seems to be doing these days.

The only time we get to be with her properly is on our walks when she has to concentrate on us exclusively and when she sleeps. Thank Dogness for that, at least.

Now you know why we have been ‘MIA’ for so long. And then, of course there is the matter of the internet.

Our satellite net has decided to be rather cranky these days. Sometimes it makes us wait for 4325678 years before it actually refreshes a page and sometimes it would download in a jiffy!

How on earth is somedoggy supposed to blog at this rate? Forget updating our blog, we aren’t even getting to read anyone’s blog and this erratic net is just another reason.

We do not understand why Daddy is taking so long deciding on which cable net we are getting. All he has been doing is talk to 1000000 different net companies everyday about their offers.

Well, he needs to hurry up and get one fast.

We are hoping to be able to tell you all about our journey from Hyderabad soon. It was long and tiring but we had a really great time driving through so many different places.

It was a real learning experience, especially for me and I feel so much wiser now.

We will definitely try and get back to reading your blogs and sharing our story soon but if you find us disappearing in between, please do not worry. It is all just this shifting and settling down business.

We are certain that once we get a hang of our new life here, we will get back to our old ways.

Huh! That sounds good to me.

what do you think?

Wags,

Shadow

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,New Delhi,Shifting,Home,Life,Family

Adieu Hyderabad…

2011-05-03T23:18:00.001+05:30

Dear Friends,

This is to tell you all that we are leaving for Delhi early tomorrow morning.

Did you notice our counter right at the bottom of our blog-page? We are leaving days ahead of when we actually expected to!!

YAAAYYY!!

Everything has been just too hectic and tiring, especially with the soaring temperatures.

Did you know, there are just three seasons in Southern India - Hot, Hotter and Hottest!

Ha!

We are at the ‘Hotter’ part right now!

We haven’t been able to keep up with any of your blogs and mails. But we promise to get back to each and everyone of you. In the meanwhile, we will just have to make do with blog reading, at the most.

All our stuff have been packed and shipped. Paws crossed they all arrive safe. There are just too many precious emotions attached with them.

The insurance guy has promised to make good any possible damage but what he doesn’t understand is he cannot return those letters, photographs, cards, books and stuff collected over the years.

The house feels weird! There’s just NOTHING around! But it is fun, in a way.

And guess what?

Our woof echoes back!!

I just hope Buddy and Shadow doesn’t get too harassed by the long journey ahead.

Shadow was absolutely alright during our recent trip to Goa. He even takes short naps with all four paws punching the air!!

The only problem is, he just refuses to eat anything at all the whole day.

Buddy is, as usual, his very excited self. He refuses to sit down for anything longer than 30 seconds!! Mummy tried giving him some soothing medicine during the trip to Goa but it just seemed to have no effect on him!

But he keeps eating WHATEVER is offered, even in the speeding car! So,except for getting very tired from standing, he does fairly OK.

Don’t worry about me. I just need a lap to sleep on and I’m all set!

Food? Well, I don’t feel like eating much, but I do take a bite on and off.

We have booked hotels at two places for our night halts. How nice that people never say ‘NO’ to us as we move higher up in our country.

What exactly is this problem with Dogs and Southern parts of India?

All this while, while we were here in Hyderabad, planning a holiday has been filled with such trepidations and struggles. We have always had to plead, beg, cajole, request and send written assurances about our worthiness to stay in a hotel before we were allowed to stay in one.

And here Mummy just had to ring up these nice hotels and they already have rooms booked for us, and with a complimentary breakfast too!!

Isn’t that great?

Thank You all so very much for your wishes. We love you heaps

See you in Delhi!!

Wags,

Ginger

Technorati Tags: Delhi,India,Shifting,Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Road Trip,Hyderabad to Delhi

A New Chapter in World Peace ?

2011-05-02T15:43:00.001+05:30

Whatever anyone says, whatever justifications they put forward for this man’s actions, we have just one thing to say - ‘We are relieved to hear this news’.

Redemption, justice - whatever one calls it, we believe this one man’s death was necessary. We are not sure how much the terror scene will change, but yes, all those who lost their lives because of this man certainly deserve this feeling of closure.

Be it in India, America, Pakistan, Afghanistan or elsewhere, thousands of lives have changed as a direct action of this one man’s distorted views on religion and religious beliefs.

We in India know terrorism so well.

The havoc wrecked in our beautiful Kashmir Valley- the Switzerland of the East which is so near yet so unreachable, is just a little drop in the vast, vast ocean of unspeakable mayhem, distrust and racism that this single man’s ideals have created in our country.

We pray his death will change things.

We pray that those who lost their loved ones find peace at last.

We pray for the souls of all those soldiers and security personnel who gave up their lives fighting an insane war started by this man.

How unfortunate a soul you are, Osama, that the world rejoices at your death….

Technorati Tags: Osama Bin Laden,India,Terrorism,Islam,Kashmir,USA,Pakistan,Afghanistan

FINAL DAYS here…

2011-04-28T02:29:00.002+05:30

Daddy is back, yes. In fact, he landed three quarters of an hour earlier than he was expected to. We were only just getting ready to go pick him up when we recieved a phone call from his cell.

At first we were horrified.
‘Oh No! His flight is delayed,’ we thought. And then we thought he was calling from high up in the sky! Wow!
But then both our speculations were proved wrong when we heard him saying ‘ Guess what! I’ve landed!’

What! Already? We were only just getting ready to go pick him up.
Aren’t pilots booked for speeding? We wonder!

Anyway, we hurried as best as we could and were almost there when the airport police stopped us.

‘Where are you going?’

Well, since the sign said ‘Arrivals’ and it was a one way street we couldn’t go anywhere else even if we wanted to, could we?
What a moron!

‘Do you have a licence?’

Now, we were being perfectly good citizens, minding our own business, driving on the right side of the road (which, in India, is the left, by the way) and well under speed limits. That moronic police-man had no business to stop us in the first place.
Besides, he was airport security and NOT traffic police and therefore had absolutely no authority to ask for Mummy’s licence.

‘What is wrong, officer? Why do you want to see my licence?’

‘Dogs are not allowed in the airport’

!!!!!

‘Don’t be ridiculous. They might be going to catch a flight, for all you know’.

‘They might create some problem in the airport’.

!!!!!!!

‘Well, it is our airport. We pay taxes so the Government can build and maintain it. We can go in and out of it as many times as we like as long as we have a valid reason.
Besides, it is our car and we pay for the gas with our own hard-earned money and we will go wherever we like in it. And you can’t just hold us up like that’.

And finally, that moronic, Dog-hating, (Drunk??) police-man moved away and let us go.
As if waiting for 4000years wasn’t enough, he had to delay us for 40 more hours!
But then, once we met Daddy, all was well again.
And life is back to normal.

Well, as normal as it can get living amidst cardboard boxes! Most of our stuff are disappearing too.

(What! Our Beloved Couch too??!)

NO! Not our couch, please?

(This is serious. We have NOWHERE nice to lie on anymore. Not even a table to sleep under!)

(Under the clothes drier!!)

(Under Mummy’s legs?)

Can you spot us all?

It is time. Just about 3 more days to go and we will be finally off to Delhi. There are still heaps of things to do but we can hardly wait to get going. This house with all this mess doesn’t seem like home anymore.

Mummy says we will like our new home. It is nice and big and airy and has plenty of running space for all three of us. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Well Mummy, we think you should learn to apparate like they do in Harry Potter’s world so we can be there in a second instead of having to drive 1650 kilometres in three days!

For now, we are trying to adjust as best as we can to this messy life. Literally!
After all, sleeping on a mattress on the ground isn’t as bad as we'd thought!

Technorati Tags: Shifting,Delhi,Life,India

HAPPY HAPPY EASTER To YOU ALL

2011-04-24T01:57:00.001+05:30

Thank You for being our Friend

Thank you for being there for us even when we haven’t been around much

Thank you for bringing us such joy

Thank you for being a part of our lives.

Dear Friends,

The wish is old, the wish is true. Happy Easter to you

Technorati Tags: Easter Sunday,Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Friendship

And now DADDY’s GONE!

2011-04-23T16:30:00.001+05:30

It has been 4000 years now since he had gone off to Delhi. From what Mummy tells us, looks like he is scheduled to return tomorrow, provided everything he’s gone to do goes off smoothly. Paws crossed.

We are not liking this one bit.

Buddy has decided to be rather cranky and remains under the bed most of the time. Guess, he misses his playtime with Daddy.

Shadow on the other paw, insists on waiting for Daddy out in the verandah.Silly Boy! You can’t possibly wait there in this heat for over 4000 years.

I explained it to him that it is much better to be near Mummy, like I do. That way she won’t feel very lonely and we can also be sure she won’t go away somewhere, leaving us all alone.

I think he got my point because he has taken to following Mummy just about every time she moves even to the other end of the room! Guess he is living up to his name!!!

On top of everything, Mummy has gone and lost her voice. She tells us the BIG BAD WOLF ( of Little Red Riding hood fame) got it. But I know better.

She has got allergic laryngitis from all the packing and stress and travelling. It is good in a way that Daddy isn’t here. She is bound to keep silent and rest her throat. And since nobody seems to understand what she says over the phone, she really can’t talk to anyone!

She sounds better today, though. I mean, she sounds like a faulty speaker system which is a definite improvement on what she sounded like yesterday - a frog with laryngitis!!

Anyway, Mummy is trying her level best to cheer us up in her own way.

But we have decided to be seriously glum, just in case she thinks we can be taken for granted and makes it a habit of disappearing ever so frequently.

Ginger

Technorati Tags: Daddy,Delhi,Shifting,India,Life,Family

MUMMY IS BACK!!!

2011-04-17T14:26:00.002+05:30

Looking all tired and haggard and worn out, but yes, she is finally back. We were almost beginning to think she had forgotten us.
Well, we did talk over the phone with her everyday but it is not the same thing, is it now?
Ok, she talked and we tried to lick her through the receiver but this is so much better. We get to maul her for being away for so long.
But wait! What is this? Do we detect Labrador perfume on her? And also two mixed breeds. And is that a puppy? What has she been up to all this while?
Well, this was to be expected. After all, in Delhi almost every other house is owned by a doggy. And she has been running about house - hunting.
We shall ponder over this matter of her affiliations later. For now, we are just so glad that she is back and also want to concentrate on the treats she got for us.

Large chewy bones! Yummmzzz!

We are sorry we do not have any pictures but maybe you can make do with these ones here.

No, that is not the house mummy found for us in Delhi. It is the place we stayed in, in Goa. Really lovely, don’t you think?
It has a story too.
Oh! We mustn't jumble up things. But we have so much to tell you starting right from our holiday in Goa to our shifting to Delhi plans, we are just too full of words.
We can’t wait to tell you everything. But right now, there are many matters that need our attention and we will feel much better once we get them settled.
So the story has to wait.
Have a lovely, lovely Sunday

Technorati Tags: India,Delhi,Goa,Shifting,Life,Family

Wish Mummy luck, Please?

2011-04-11T02:50:00.001+05:30

Hi Friends,

This is just a quick little postie to let you all know that We might disappear again!

Mummy is off to Delhi in a few hours from now. Not for very long, she promises to be back by Thursday or at the max, Friday.

We thought of asking Daddy to help us post, but that might not be a very good idea.

We aren’t about to give up our blog to discussions on gadgets and gizmos, racing cars, aliens and games that involves shooting masked terrorists in the deserts of some unknown land!

And we haven’t even taken into account all the werewolf and vampire movies!

Anyway, Mummy is carrying the satellite net and has promised to try and help us post long-distance. But we aren’t very hopeful.

Look what happened when we had gone off to Goa. We were holidaying and happy and carefree and still couldn’t manage blog time.

And now she is off with loads of baggage. And we do not just mean it literally.

She is pretty tense about heaps of stuff that needs to be done.

Please wish her luck so she can get everything done as soon as possible and come back home.

We hate to see her go. So does she, we know. She has been rather upset since the evening and we have been cuddling her.

But then, these things just need to be done.

We leave you with this lovely picture. We love it so much because it makes us feel the cool breeze, smell the smells of the sea and hear the waves….

Technorati Tags: Delhi,Mummy,Shifting,Goa,Sea,Beach Holiday,Life

A KILOGRAM OF RAW CHICKEN LIVER!!

2011-04-09T14:03:00.001+05:30

We have this arrangement with a chicken centre nearby. Every Sunday, we get our specially readied chicken that lasts us for the week. Less meat, more bones, no skin is what we prefer so that we do not have to worry about weight gain issues.

Because we get boiled chicken for breakfast, having to eat kibble for dinner doesn’t seem so bad.

While in Goa, most of our chicken meals got substituted by sea-fish.

Oh No! Don’t think we are complaining. In fact, we LOVED it. Oftentimes, we would lick our plates clean even before Mummy could get back from washing her hands!

But ever since we had come back, things have been..err..not quite conducive.

The long drive back tired us out so that we just didn’t feel like going shopping for edibles and stuff. We were making do with whatever was left over in the fridge - eggs, cheese and potatoes- and ordering pizza.

So what happened yesterday wasn’t entirely Buddy’s fault.

We were out with Daddy to get our chicken, bread and whatever else humans need for a decent living.

We found some fresh chicken liver so we picked 2 kilograms of those too along with our usual stuff, feeling rather good that we would, at last have a nice home-cooked meal.

Buddy was unusually quiet. Usually he is very fidgety in the car, jumping up and down and sticking his head out over the driver’s shoulder.

‘The long trip must have made him more confidant about car-rides,’ Daddy said.

‘Sit down Shadow. Look what a good boy Buddy is, sitting quietly’.

It was only when we saw that sheepish and at the same time satisfied look on Buddy’s face did we realise something was amiss.

You will not believe it, but he had wolfed down an ENTIRE KILOGRAM of raw chicken liver!!

ARRRGHHH!!!!

At first Daddy couldn’t believe it. He looked underneath the seats, just in case. There were two separate packets of one kilo each. He found one intact but the other had been torn open.

It had never ever happened earlier.

We almost always go pick up our chicken and sometimes all sorts of yummy cooked stuff too. Even buckets of KFC which is rather irresistible, we think.

Poor boy! He must have really been missing his chicken.

He couldn’t have been that hungry, he’d had his dinner the night before. Though not a very satisfactory one, it was still dinner.

But a WHOLE kilogram of chicken liver? That too raw?

I cannot even begin to imagine how. I wouldn’t as much as lick any packet unless it contains cooked food.

Shadow sniffs at the meat packets and tentatively licks them, but generally seems rather disinterested unless the food is on his plate.

Well, Buddy seemed rather content about the whole affair and went about with a smug look on his face the rest of the day.

He had Mummy rather worried though. She kept looking for tell-tale signs of a tummy upset but of course, there weren’t any!

And by evening, he was all ready for his share of pizza!

And yes, he is back to being his usual jumping, fidgety self in the car.

Sigh!

Ginger

Technorati Tags: Buddy,Greed,Chicken liver,Life,Labrador Retriever

A SEASIDE SUNSET

2011-04-08T01:00:00.001+05:30

The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out.

~Annie Dillard

Hiiii Everyone!

Finally, we are back home!

Yes, we were supposed to return 3 days ago but we ended up overstaying and came back only just yesterday!

Goa always has that effect on you. It is such a lovely place you just don’t want to leave.

The night before we were supposed to return, we all got very depressed that our vacation was ending. Just one more day is what we kept wishing for. And then we realised we can just simply stay back.

Everything was in place - the resort was available for a few more days, Mum and Dad didn’t have to report back to work because, as you know, we are all leaving for Delhi anyway. There couldn’t have been better excuses to overstay.

We are glad we did because it was on the last day of our stay that we got some perfect sunset pictures. All throughout our stay we spent our evenings on one beach or the other, hoping for that perfect sunset.

But it was elusive. Even during the evenings the air was thick with humidity and combined with the already soaring temperatures, it made the sunset a hazy, orange affair. It was very enjoyable but never made a good photograph.

But on the last evening of our stay, the sky cleared up. We were in Colva, one of the southern beaches in Goa.

The air was cooler, the tides seemed stronger and the sun set on the horizon making a perfect picture.

It was a beautiful evening.

We went for a long walk along the shore, chased crabs, played chase and after one last swim in the sea, came back and packed our bags.

No more regrets this time that the vacation had ended. We have had a truly lovely time and collected memories for a life time…

We are linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY. Please do go over there if you want to sky watch!

Technorati Tags: Goa,Incredible India,Sunset,Sea,Beach,Holiday. Family,Life,Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Photography,Colva Beach

A DREAM END To A DREAM Vacation!

2011-04-03T14:43:00.001+05:30

YoooHOOOO!

What more could one ask for?

Watch Cricket World cup finals by the sea and you get to keep the cup too!

After 28 long years, the World Cup finally is ours!

There was just one question ever since the matches started in India- the cup has come home to India, but will we get to keep it?

It was a perfect win - the Indian Captain at 91 not out hitting the final ball for a six and a win the country had been waiting for, for over 2 decades.

We had been meaning to post for a while now. If not write about all the beautiful things and places we have discovered and explored, at least just a few pictures.

But we get just too tired at the end of each day. More often than not, we doze off with the lights on. We, who cannot sleep unless it is pawfectly dark!!

But yesterday was different. Except for a visit to a nearby beach, we were mostly home for most parts of the afternoon and evening.

After all, it is not everyday that your country plays for the Cricket World Cup!

The beaches and roads were almost deserted and we found everyone around in the open roadside cafes, glued to their TV sets chewing on their nails!

It was good to see many enthusiastic foreign tourists supporting India too, with our national colours tattooed and painted on their lively faces!

Guess the craze, anticipation and euphoria is all pervading.

Finally, it was all worthwhile.

As our TV sets erupted when M.S. Dhoni hit the winning six of the innings, the world around us burst out in joy with fireworks lighting up the moonless night sky!!

For us, it will be a fantastic memory. The perfect end to a dream vacation by the sea.

Yes, we are here in Goa for just one more day.

The last few days passed by just too soon. We explored, we ate, and we played to our hearts content, but somehow it just doesn’t seem enough.

Goa is a lovely place and one could easily spend over a month holidaying here and not get tired. Wish we could turn back the clock and start all over again….

We shall start writing about all our discoveries one by one, but till then here are a few pictures we know you will love.

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,India,Cricket World Cup 2011,Goa,Beach Holiday,Dhoni,Photography

We are going ….

2011-03-23T01:25:00.001+05:30

We are terribly sorry we haven’t been able to visit any of you of late or reply to your mails.
The last couple of days have been extremely busy. We just finish ticking off one list when a new longer list crops up from nowhere!!

We are trying to get most of our ‘Shift to Delhi’ related issues sorted before we start for Goa.
After all, Goa is supposed to be a sabbatical and we don’t want to spend our time there thinking and planning about what needs to be done when we are back in Hyderabad!

We just want to cut down our ‘To Do’ list to a minimum so we can relax, explore, take photographs, eat and just enjoy the sea….

Oh! We forgot to tell you!
We did find a really nice sounding place to stay in Goa.

The lady Mummy talked to informed us ‘No swimming in the Pool’ and ‘Damages must be made good in cash’.

We really do not understand what pool she was talking about.
The sea? But she can’t stop us from swimming in the sea, it doesn’t belong to her.
Was she, by any chance, talking about the swimming pool in the resort? But who cares about a tiny swimming pool when you have the WHOLE sea to yourself?
Silly woman!

And what is this thing about damages? Why should she think Mummy and Daddy would damage something? Mummy does sometimes bang things when she is angry but they are pretty well trained and not inclined to ‘Damage property’!

We think the lady in question will learn to trust us better after she meets us all.
The most important thing is that she said ‘Yes’ in spite of all her apprehensions.

It is supposedly a studio apartment close to the sea and we hope to go for our morning walks in the beach! Mummy is rather excited that she will have a nice little kitchenette to try out all her yummy sea food recipes!!
Hope this place lives up to our huge expectations!!!

Our car got a make-over today. Brand new tubeless tyres which are far safer than the ones with tubes and a huge lying-down space at the back.
Yes, the rear-seats have been removed and a comfortable new mattress installed so we can sleep if we want to.

It will be a long drive, nearly 14 hours. We mean to start very early on the morning of 25th, say around 3 AM, so that we can be in Goa by evening.
But then, we have also kept the option of making a halt midway if the journey gets too tiring.

We are a little worried about Shadow. Though he is very tough and smart, he is still just a puppy. This is going to be his first real long trip and we are worried he might tire.

We will be carrying our satellite net connection and are hopeful we shall be able to sit by the sea and blog by moonlight!

But just in case the net fails us and finding an alternative gets too cumbersome, we want you to know that we might disappear for about a week because we are going on a BEACH HOLIDAY!

YOO HOOO…!

We promise to come back with heaps of new stories to tell. Please be safe and keep wagging till we see you again…

Wags,

Buddy, Ginger and Shadow

EXCUSE ME…

2011-03-19T23:39:00.001+05:30

I don’t mean to be offensive but I am just so fed up of people referring to me as ‘Just a street dog’.
Doesn’t vilification amount to misbehaviour, racism and abuse?
I think it does.
Period.

CHUCKLE..Chuckle…CHUKLE….!!!

2011-03-18T22:33:00.001+05:30

HONESTLY!! These guys are cracking me up!

Technorati Tags: Shadow,Indian Dog,Asterix and Obelix,Asterix in Britain,Humour,Comics

HELP OUR JAPANESE FRIENDS, PLEASE?

2011-03-18T00:57:00.003+05:30

A peaceful nation - so proudly independent, so content, so magnificently brilliant, ravaged by nature. And all we can do is watch.
Watch and read.

Everyday, the events are unfolding on television channels, the internet, the newspapers. Comparisons of the impending Nuclear Disaster being made to the Nuclear Holocaust of 1945, reporters with a stiff,crisp matter of fact manner only goes to show how little we understand about the calamity that has befallen Japan.

A very endearing story is doing the rounds- that of a little Dog refusing to leave his injured friend in spite of all the devastation and imminent danger around him. (Click Here)
Again, an animal sets an example in this world of humans.

We, as Dog Bloggers are fortunate to experience an unique bond - the bond of love that we share for our furry friends. It transcends time, place and nationality.

Let us come together to do our bit for our friends in Japan.
Nothing is too small. Every bit matters.
Be it donating in kind or cash.
Even posting the collection badge in your blog will help. (It is on our side bar. Please go grab it)
You never know, you might just end up convincing many more to help, who might not have heard of this endeavour, but for your blog.

If clicking on the picture doesn’t take you to the BLOG HOP, try clicking here to go to PAWCURIOUS who is hosting this.

Our heart goes out to those frightened animals - confused, scared, homeless and unable to tell anyone who they are or where they come from.

We pray for them and also for those kind humans fighting against all odds to help them.

Paws crossed,

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

Technorati Tags: Japan,Tsunami,Nuclear Threat,India,Paws for Change,World Vets

SHOULD WE OR SHOULD WE NOT….That is the Question

2011-03-17T01:52:00.003+05:30

There!
That’s our moon tonight.
Looking bright and happy and as serene as ever. Is it really destined to create havoc in just 2 more days?

We are talking about the ‘Lunar Perigree’.

The Lunar Perigree or the Supermoon is a phenomenon when the moon reaches its absolute closest point to Earth.
On March 19^th 2011, the moon will be closest to Earth in almost 20 years at just 221,567 miles away.

The proximity of the moon’s gravitational pull presents the possiblity of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other disasters on our planet.
There were Supermoons in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005 with consequent extreme weather conditions. Although science say that the moon’s gravitation affects the earth, opinions are divided.
Many claim the rough weather conditions and Supermoons in the past were mere coincidences!!

Before you start wondering about our sudden interest in astronomy, let us tell you we have a very exciting reason for it.
We are planning a Beach Holiday…!!

I, Buddy, and Shadow have never been to the beach and we keep hearing about what a wonderful place a beach is and how exciting the sea is, from Ginger who has been to one.
Before we leave for Delhi, (which is about 1950 kilometres from the sea-shore) we plan to drive down to one.
Well, actually we want to make it to Goa.

Ahh! Goa
Goa - the Best Beach Holiday destination in India, is also one of our favourites. Located on the south western coast of India, it is easily the most beautiful ‘beach state’ in the country.

The challenge is to find a Pet friendly Hotel. It is difficult. There aren’t many nice and at the same time, reasonably priced places that will take in three dogs.

We feel rather offended at this discriminatory policy.
I mean, we are SUCH good Dogs. We are, almost always, much better behaved than most humans. And we do not mean human pups. We mean Grown-Ups!

Most hotels just say ‘We have a No pets Policy. We don’t want to scare away our guests in peak season!’, when you ring up and ask.

‘Scare away guests’ indeed!

Things need to change. There needs to be more awareness about the right and need of a dog (for that matter-cat, parrot,rabbit, hamster,pig) to go on vacation.
But of course, pet-pawrents need to be more responsible too, to be able to convince these hoteliers how well-behaved their furry freind is.

If only we could find someone to go and convince them. It often works when you talk up front. Mummy is sure she could have out-talked at least ONE amongst these reluctant ones!
But we stay 750kilometres away and we can’t possibly go just to make a booking.
We have our paws crossed something will work out and we will get to go on our holiday.

Actually, we were planning on driving down over this weekend. But considering the predictions of the Supermoon, we are wondering if we should.
Not that we expect something drastic to happen. But it will be a pity if we travel all the way there only to find the beaches shut down.

After all, it is the sea, the waves, the sand that we want to feel….

(The last three pictures are not of Goa

but of Suryalanka, in the South-Eastern coast.

Goa is much more beautiful!)

Wags,

Buddy

Technorati Tags: Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,Goa,Suryalanka Resort,Indian Dog,Photography,Beach,Holiday,Lunar perigree,Supermoon

Random Shots - STILL LIFE

2011-03-15T01:59:00.001+05:30

Technorati Tags: Photography,India,Still Life,Kitchen

POST BIRTHDAY GIFT!

2011-03-14T02:59:00.001+05:30

Yes!

Finally after 1000 years of Mummy’s birthday, our gift for her arrived yesterday.

We just do not understand how a courier company, claiming to have world class business can be so extraordinarily inefficient!

The entire novelty of a surprise gift was gone due to their inefficiency, because we needed to tell Mummy that we haven’t forgotten or neglected to get her gift but it just hasn’t reached us yet!

It wasn’t exactly an enviable situation. Mummy wanted to know what we had ordered for her and whether it was from Daddy’s list of gifts or Mummy’s own.

It was rather difficult trying to keep it a secret from her.

For your reference, here are the two lists we had the choice to choose from.

Daddy’s List:

1. Any one of these

2. A 52 inch 120 hertz refresh rate 3D LED TV

3. A Home Theatre PC

4. Anything off this shelf!

5. ASUS G53J Super Gaming Laptop and ‘Call of Duty- Black Ops’!

Mummy’s List:

Complete set of Asterix and Obelix Comics
Complete set of Asterix and Obelix Comics
Complete set of Asterix and Obelix Comics
Complete set of Asterix and Obelix Comics
Complete set of Asterix and Obelix Comics

It really was a tough choice but we had managed to reach an unanimous decision.

And judging by the look on her face, we think our choice was right.

What do you think?

Wags,

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow

Pee Ess: Do you notice a peculiar fish eye effect in our pictures lately? Well, that is because we are forced to use the crappy phone camera these days. The saddest story of our lives is that our beautiful, precious camera ( Panasonic DMC FZ8) is damaged!

Mummy was trying to make Shadow sit down for a photography session and his paw caught the shoulder strap, which SHOULD HAVE BEEN around Mummy’s neck and NOT dangling around!

We want to clarify this right away that it was absolutely and entirely Mummy’s fault and Shadow wasn’t in any way responsible. He is a bouncy little pup and Mummy should know better than to keep shoulder straps of precious cameras dangling about!

We tried to get it repaired but it isn’t worth the expense. So, till the time we get a new camera, we must make do with this very unsatisfactory one available to us at present.

Technorati Tags: Mummy's Birthday. Asterix and Obelix Complete Collection,DTDC,Gadgets,Ginger,Buddy,Shadow,India