by Kate on August 30, 2010
An alarm call at 7.00 a.m. plus an excitable text from my monkey loving daughter who was just going to bed heralded the beginning of our visit to Singapore Zoo and breakfast with the orangutans!!
We arrived by taxi and were immediately shown to the restaurant and invited to help ourselves to breakfast – and what a breakfast it was. Everything from prettily prepared fruits to cereals, toast, cheeses and many dishes full of the contents of an English breakfast – the choice was ours!!
Liz chose the fruit and I had toast and cheese – not very adventurous but it was a very humid day and the thought of a big breakfast was not a pleasant one – it didn’t stop Mark and Lisa though – they had a big plateful!!!
We had been told that the elephants would be fed just before the orangutans came out – so we went across the courtyard to watch this…
They were really friendly and were quite happy to be fed by any of the early risers attending that morning..
Then it was back to the restaurant for more coffee and the orangutans!!
The whole family were brought out at the side of the restaurant and while they were feeding a commentary was taking place – telling us about their diet, their natural habitat and their lifestyle at Singapore Zoo.
It was absolutely fascinating,
and they seemed quite happy to be up close and personal with us humans…
even the babies…
But, of course Mum was watching….
Those eyes followed us everywhere…
Hmmm – quite a scary moment – but it had to be done!!!
It was soon over but I really recommend this visit to anyone visiting Singapore – this is an amazing Zoo with something for everyone – shows, information on every animal, plant and bird with Zoo staff who were happy to explain anything.
I have many more photos of the zoo but thought the breakfast with the orangutans deserved a post all to itself – so there will be more animals soon.
by Kate on August 23, 2010
I don’t know why I am surprised…. every weekend is the same at the moment.
It is either spent repairing the things that the puppy has destroyed, or puppy proofing my home a little more in an attempt to stop the destruction caused by the chewing and scratching of my six month Whippet.
Last weekend my son and daughter in law came to stay and, bless them they spent their weekend repairing chewed flexes (fortunately switched off when Alfie chewed through them) or putting hooks high up on the ceiling of my garage to stop him reaching them.
The garage has always been fascinating to this little pup – he likes to investigate in there and usually this culminates in him chewing at the walls until he can get some mortar from between the brickwork, or worse, pulling at the flex of my freezer. None of it is good for him (or me).
Last week was no exception – if he couldn’t reach things like the mop bucket because it was hanging from the ceiling he would look for other things to do – like pull at the wood pile – ready chopped for the chimnea, it was puppy mayhem!
The garage is at the end of my carport and there has always been an up and over door to it but I have never used it – until now…
It took three of us to move the hot tub the few inches it needed to bring the door down….. sorted you would think but no, it was filthy and after it was washed off – I discovered it was a nasty red colour… it just had to go.
I sorted through the collection of old pots of paint and then spent my weekend painting garage door in between dog walks and short trips in the car to try to stop his puppy affliction of car sickness and aversion to cars in general.
The result is amazing – it doesn’t look half bad at all..
And Alfie just had to have a sniff – of course… note the paint spot on his nose!
In between charging around his ‘safe areas’ namely the kitchen and the garden… playing with his toys..
Scratching at the tray in his crate until it broke into little pieces…
I have two more on order and a friend who is constructing a metal one.
I have swept the kitchen floor more times than I care to think of, clearing it of the stuffing from his toys…
And I am now getting ready to start another week at work …. at least I’ll be sitting down!!!!!
by Kate on August 8, 2010
Or the Malacca tour to be precise!
The alarm went off at 5.30 a.m. but only because the hotel one is not easy to set and we got it wrong!
I wasn’t feeling too good, I had been bitten by something small, insect shaped and hopefully now deceased. My leg was swollen and throbbing and my temperature was going up and down. My doctor had prescribed anti-biotics before I left (just in case) and I had started to take them – but I was feeling quite woozy.
We decided to get breakfast before we left so went over to MacDonald’s at 7.00 a.m. then got ready to meet Mark and Lisa for ‘The Malacca Tour’.
We got on the bus at the hotel and were given forms to fill in for the Malaysian and Singapore borders.
It wasn’t too far to the 1 kilometre bridge that separates the countries but we had to get out of the bus twice – once to leave Singapore and get our passports stamped accordingly then back on the bus and off again for Malaysian passport control.
The difference between the two countries was apparent immediately, buildings, streets and cars were unkempt and it was obvious that the two countries are worlds apart.
Our guide got on the bus in Malaysia – he introduced himself as ‘J.D’ and he kept up a running commentary as we travelled along.
We visited a pewter factory – one of Malaysia’s exports – it was just a small place but we were shown how the metal is melted and made – there was a gift shop too. It was interesting to see but there was nothing I really wanted to buy. mark had been telling us about the poverty here – so it was good to see some industry.
We got back on the coach and carried on our way for 2 hours until stopping for lunch at an hotel in the centre of Malacca.
And, what a lunch – beautifully set out in huge tureens were starters and mains with a whole one side of the room devoted to puddings, sweets and fruit.
I had sliced Malaysian chicken and beef stuffed with spinach then braised. It was gorgeous and served with beautifully prepared vegetables, followed by a tiny fruit tart and a little apple crumble with vanilla sauce….. delicious.
After lunch JD took us to a Buddhist Temple, while we looked around he told us the story of the Buddha
Then we were let loose in Jonker Street – where the shops are:
It was a fascinating place – the festival of Qing Ming was due to take place in just a few days time. This is when the people visit their ancestors graves and clean them up. They then leave gifts of houses, cars, mobile phones, shoes, household effects and money to keep their ancestors wealthy in the after life..
All these gifts are made of paper and there are replicas of everything you can think of.. These are taken to the ancestor’s graves and burnt!
The street here was quite narrow but very busy ..
Then we were taken to the Fortress which would have been demolished if Stamford Raffles hadn’t intervened:
It was a long way up
And I really couldn’t face the walk so I sat beside the cannon and let the others climb all those steps.
Liz bought two paintings
And they waved to me sitting with the cannon!!!!
Next – more shops and sightseeing -
What really friendly people they are…
When they are awake!!!
I bought a few souvenirs, fridge magnets for my aunt and a light box for me..
Isn’t it pretty?
Then we went back to the hotel for a drink and waited for the bus to take us back to Singapore…
More hours spent on the bumpiest bus ever and passport and customs control later – we arrived back at the The Meritus Mandarin hotel where Mark and Lisa left us. Liz and I showered and went went out for dinner to a little Italian Trattoria – I think the pills were starting to work because I really enjoyed that meal.
Then it was home for an early night – it was our zoo trip and breakfast with the monkeys the next day.
So – it’s been a while since I posted here but in the mayhem of my life I’ve managed a small visit here while the puppy is asleep!!!
It’s been almost three months since I fetched Alfie from the breeder, who, by the way, i wouldn’t recommend….
The little bundle of fur has grown a great deal since his arrival…
Ah… wasn’t he sweet!!
He has also become an excitable ball of destruction in many ways.. he can remove artex from walls, something many builders have said was impossible…. dig up carpets, particularly in the hall – and that one was replaced after Hippie dug it up two years ago… the timer buttons for my cooker now reside in a pretty little glass jar because he removed them so regularly.
He has spent one day in hospital after eating a whole biro, chewing it into little shards before swallowing it, demolished any toy within minutes when unsuspecting friends supply them, and grown enough to reach the worktops!!! This the time the supersoaker water pistol comes into play and I am afraid ‘puppy power’ goes out of the window…. he is learning..
His dog guard for my car has finally been fitted – despite the problems with the first one that just did not fit. Thank you Halfords and particularly Joe for all your help in supplying and fitting one that works – fitted to the headrests on the back seats – it hold him back completely!!!!
However, he gets horribly travel sick and despite all my good intentions, if its a long trip he has to be sedated and travel in his crate on the back seat to get to our destination….. he can’t even get to the vets in the village without being sick!
But, with an enormous amount of patience he is coming through – and even ‘left’ a treat on his paw four 5 seconds this morning, he sits on command and waits to cross a road….. it is all coming but it takes time!!
We have long walks – sometimes with my daughter..
While ‘our’ big girl gets jealous….
and sometimes, just the two of us, but we meet amazing people with their pooches and that is great!
He has also eaten most of these Livingstone Daisies in my garden that looked so lovely when the sun shone..
But he tells me he is sorry?
And that he loves me…..
And of course I believe him (!?)
I have also, despite the odds, finished making a ‘hug me tight’ for my friend’s expected grandchild – the pattern was one my mum made for my elder sister and obviously my brother and then me – so called because the knitted garment just wraps around the babe and ties at the sides with no awkward sleeve issues.. I like it – and so would Alfie if he could get his paws on it…. No way!!
Oooh and at last i have found the perfect shower curtain to suit my bathroom….. Hooray for Ebay!!
Sorry Cortes – I know its boring girlie stuff but sometimes it just has to be done!!!
Keep Smiling!!!
China Town – Take the MRT from Somerset to Dhobi Ghaut Interchange, then change lines and its two stations on– first Clarke Quay and then Chinatown!
Very busy and bustling with people.
We checked out a huge store – Lisa called at an Emporium, it was full of very expensive things,way out of our price range!
So we moved on to the street of shop-houses, very old buildings that have, so far, escaped demolition, but it won’t be too long I fear..
We had a look at many of the shop houses but it was so crowded it was hard to see what was there..
A gap in the crowd!!
I found a shop where they were selling hand made chinese painted scrolls with names on painted in Chinese characters – they were really special and I thought they would be lovely presents for my children’s homes.
The man who was painting them to order was fascinating – he sat me down and introduced his art.
His name was Yip Shu Shan, and originally he came from Hong Kong.
I chose my scrolls and painting style plus the symbol that I wanted to give ‘Happiness’ for my daughter and her partner and ‘Love’ for my son and his wife.
They were beautifully made and took time to dry…
Fortunately my friends found me – they loved the art work so much that Mark had one made for his Mum – it was very pretty too!
Afterwards we looked around more of the shops
Look at these fans!!!
Then we tried the China Town hawker stalls for dinner… its very different there, touristy and not like we have been used to…. they close a whole road and put tables down the centre of it.
I didn’t think the food was as nice– quite oily but looking around it was a place where the locals don’t normally dine! It was full of tourists, just like me!!!
Well an early night was in order so we went back to the hotel to get ready for an early start the next morning…Malaysia here we come!!!!
Hmmm I woke up this morning to a challenge from Grannymar , she had 7 questions for me:
and in her words “So now it is my turn to be wicked… questions, questions…”
So in between the madness of the small pup – who is getting bigger by the minute and getting ready to go to a wedding, here are my answers:
1: Do you like to be challenged?
Obviously, I couldn’t resist this one!
I think I prefer to say ‘I like a challenge’ – sometimes being challenged can be quite wearing.
2: What is your favourite time of day?
Oh, easy – the morning especially on a sunny day like today. My first cup of tea looking out at the garden and trying to ignore the demands of the animals.
3: Are you punctual?
Always – tardiness in others irritates me !
4: The world is your oyster – where would you like to visit?
Its been a bit of a year so far travel-wise …. I think I’d like to go back to Singapore and see some more!!
5: Favourite taste?
I have many but I’ll go for ripe strawberries with a sprinkling of vanilla sugar……mmmmmm
6: Who would you like to meet from past history?
My Grandmother on my Mum’s side – I heard so much about her and never ever met her… so Harriet Jane it is!
7: What mark would you like to leave on the world?
I would just like some people to remember me – for my peaceful ways, and maybe adopt them.
So, that’s me….. I’m not going to pass it on but you can leave your answers to these questions here if you like and Grannymar, this means you too!!
Now I need to go and get my face on for ‘a bit of a do’!!!
Have a lovely weekend!
Ah, another memory of Singapore…. I really must finish writing about that trip!
I’ve had a lovely week-end!! The weather was lovely and my son and daughter-in-law came to visit.
Originally the visit was to find out if my daughter-in-law is still showing signs of allergy around Alfie, because the last time they came was his first weekend in my home, and, bless her she couldn’t stop sneezing. This could cause a problem with me visiting them so, working on the principle that having lived in my home for 3 weeks and being brushed, washed and cared for, might make a difference, she decided to give it a go.
They came up on Friday evening and I cooked a meal for them, there didn’t seem to be a problem at all and Alfie just loved having visitors!
On Saturday morning my son and his wife wanted to go into town shopping. They invited me, but, as I hate shopping with a passion and my daughter had invited me and Alfie around to her house, they dropped us off there. Alfie still can’t go out on the streets and as the dog guard for my car hasn’t arrived yet and he is very bouncy, I dare not drive with him loose in the car.
We spent the morning in my daughter’s garden in the sunshine – Alfie was overjoyed to see Hippie and after a big play was quite happy to lay down and snooze with her.
Tor’i’s partner made lunch and we just lazed around – it was lovely.
My son arrived to pick me up and we came back home. He’d already said he would mow the lawn for me as I was having problems pushing the mower, but when they saw the last bit of the garden still waiting to be finished Keiron and Emma decided to finish it for me.
The garden area needed digging over and the shrubs that were still in pots from my previous garden needed planting.
So the lawn was cut
And the plants were given new homes
where, hopefully they will be able to grow properly.
Oh and look at the other side – my friend made me this hanging basket and it is ‘blooming lovely’
On Saturday night I was taken out to a Thai restaurant where I was introduced to the sort of food Keiron and Emma love after their recent holiday in Thailand – it was delicious.
Then Sunday was a tidy up day in my garden and…. here’s the big one….
Emma became a ‘puppy whisperer’!
Not only was she coping well with his fur but Alfie took to her so well she was able to teach him tricks. He could already sit to order but she had him lying down and rolling over – he loves her…
And I think the feeling is mutual!!!
Keiron had a lovely time with Alfie – teaching him how to play rough…. it’s a boy thing!
And he took lots of photos too – don’t forget to send them young man.
So now the garden is finished – I need to get some bedding plants and do a lot of watering but it is now manageable.
Alfie and I were both dog tired last night – so it was an early night….. but a really nice weekend to set me up for another week at work!!
Ooops look at the time….. Gotta go!
Well there were only two actually.
Last Friday in the penultimate (I hope) part of my garden makeover, the conifers in my garden that back onto the street had a five foot haircut! they had grown so tall it was dark in my kitchen and my satellite dish could find a satellite!!!
But now – there is light – the trees are still there – necessary only because the street beyond is four feet higher than my garden and they do provide some privacy.
It look forever to clean up afterwards but all branches have now been removed – I’ll need some new solar lights though as there were a couple of breakages!
Next it will be the patch of soil, put in to add extra drainage
Its the overgrown bit behind Hippie in this chilling out pic! It needs to be dug over – then some plants that are still in pots from the patio garden that I used to have will be transplanted – hopefully in the coming weeks.
Alfie loved the activity and the sunshine yesterday..
He’s learned to sit on command this week plus we are still trying to walk with a lead but that’s a much longer job - he has another week of staying in after his second injection on Tuesday – then it will be ‘Walkies’ daily and a whole new world for him!
My daughter visited after work and bought him a present..
Bless him – i don’t think he knew what to make of it but it made sure he didn’t get sunburnt!
His favourite toys at the moment are small plastic bottles – they keep him busy for hours and he just couldn’t wait for my daughter to finish hers..
Yes Alfie it is the ‘Real Thing!’
No more gardening this weekend though – I twisted my knee clearing up and though it was okay yesterday, it started to hurt during the night so I’ve strapped it up and am taking it easy today!
Alfie met Hippie the other day … Hippie is a big wimp since she was beaten up by another Greyhound so I did wonder how it would go as Alfie can be very excitable!!
It started well – Hipppie’s hackles were up and she was very nervous – but I kept giving her chicken when she was calm around Alfie, and things started to get better.
Of course Hippie could see the chicken on the worktop – little Alfie was oblivious!!
He had his blue bone!
They went outside for a play and I was pleasantly surprised at how well they got along.
Then Hippie rushed for her place on the settee – I had delusions of keeping Alfie off that particular piece of furniture but I had no chance on this day.
His new best friend was lying there and he wanted to join her..
Hippie just ignored him….. but Alfie needed a snuggle…
In fact he likes all sorts of snuggles..
In his 40 winks bed..
Any patch of sunlight….
Can you see him?
Ah – there he is..
Then a quick roustabout in a box…
Before my daughter came round after work! And then the best snuggle for Alfie…
My daughter loves to cuddle him – says you can’t do this with Hippie …. well you could but she’d crush you!
Aren’t kids wonderful?… When they’re asleep!!!!
Just as a change from Singapore and my holiday last week in Tenerife to spend my birthday near to my brother and his family, I would like to introduce you to this young man..
I flew back on Saturday and on Sunday morning I fetched him to his new home… this photo was taken in the first five minutes of arriving back here!
Alfie is 14 weeks old and gorgeous!
He is a Whippet with a little bit of Bedlington Terrier in there somewhere!
He started off cowering when he was being touched and had runny eyes, itchy ears and a tummy problem.
He also had a strange smell about him so first of all – a bath was needed…
and a cuddle of course..
He was introduced to his crate which he is quite happy with, thank goodness
And 3 days on after a visit to the vet for ear and eye treatment plus first vaccination – he is feeling a little better..
He had some presents that squeaked – they scared him at first but this morning he felt much better about them..
Chasing them round the kitchen and the garden – no photos there I’m afraid – he’s far too quick for me!!!!
So…… I will finish the Singapore story and add my Tenerife Tale but at the moment a smaller waggy tail is taking over my home and I might have to do some dog blogging again!!!!!
