Milkshake: Positive vibes and Prayers for Cider

Hello All, it's been a while ... 5 years to be exact. Sorry, we've been silent but we have been too busy enjoying life in London. I've been told I'm an old lady now but sometimes I sure don't feel like it, especially when I smell and see water!

Water!! I'm jumped in during high tide once 😱 Not doing that again!

 We saw real snow for the first time this year 😍

We've moved to a couple of different homes since arriving on the big scary jet plane, but we've always been by the river, which I luuuurve! Now, we get to walk along the river every single day, and run in this big big park where there are deers, hares and squirrels and all sorts. I chased a deer just last week (he was fast), though Mommy was not pleased at all. I tend to have selective hearing when I'm in the zone. Oops.

 

Happy Cider boy 

We're allowed on all types of public transport here.

 

This is the big big park where there are many things to chase. I love it!

Anyhoo, this post is not about me but about my little brother Cider. He's not so little, as in young anymore now, and has grown into a well socialised dog over here. He loves meeting four-legged friends (whilst I'm less tolerant) and is just one happy chappy, until recently. He's been really poorly during the past month, it started when we came back from boarding (Mommy abandons us every now and then) and he kept throwing up, then he stopped eating and lost a lot of weight (I could lose a few pounds, but I blame it on middle-age). Mommy took him to a new vet (since we just moved) and after a couple of visits, they decided to keep him ... he didn't get to come home for one whole night! He had needles stuck into him and carried around a bag of fluids. They said he had pancreatitis. He came home the evening after with lots of pills and seem to get a little better over the next few days. But that didn't last long. This time he got his belly shaved and the vet saw through his belly into his stomach and said it didn't look right, so we drove a long way to see another very fancy vet. That was 3 days ago, and I haven't seen him since. Fancy vet won't let him come home (I think she's mean, she wanted to stroke my head but I didn't let her). They still don't know what's wrong with him but words like Cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease have been thrown around. Mommy said he was going to come home today, but apparently he's not allowed anymore. His kidney markers (whatever that is) has been spiking since he's been at the fancy vet, and vet is worried that he will have kidney failure, which is not a good thing as then he will never be coming home. Worst thing is they still don't have a diagnosis and everyday there's something new wrong with him. It's making my mommies very sad and worried.

Being carried as he was weak. 

Cider posing in the sunset. He's a skeleton now 

(as skinny as when he first arrived 7 years ago!)

I miss him ... I know I bully him sometimes but that's my way of showing sisterly love. He's a darn silly boy and it's not the same without him here. When Mommy and Mommy #2 leaves home, I'm all alone now and it's a little scary. Yesterday I left a puddle of drool on the floor next to the front door. Oops.

Happy Days

Can you please all send positive vibes and prayers for Cider boy? I'm sure he can't wait to come home ... he doesn't like it when he's too far away from me either. Mommy said she will spoil Cider rotten when he comes home (that should include me too hehe) ... so please make him come back soon, and be healthy and silly again. Thank you to the whole universe and all the supernatural beings out there. Yours humbly, Milkshake. (P.S. please excuse any typos as I don't have opposable thumbs).

 

Come home soon. I miss you. 💖

Cider: We're in heaven - a place called London!!

Hello from a place called London!! I have hijacked Milkshake's blog now that I've learnt how to read & write in England - they are so proper over here!!

The flight was long & I was all alone. I thought Mommy & Milkshake had abandoned me, so I think I peed in my crate a little. I was also so hungry I turned my bedding upside down looking for food and found 3 bully sticks!! It was dark & noisy for a long long time, and then there were a lot of humans speaking the same language that Mommy uses to speak to us (though I don't understand half of what she says), and then I found Milkshake - oh I was so happy!! She was happy to see me too but she didn't like all the strange humans fussy about.

And then the best thing happened (well second best thing) - Mommy found us, and she had treats!!! (That was the best thing). She took us to a flat that was filled with cardboard boxes, we even had to sleep on cardboard boxes!! It was a bit cramped but the new humans were nice, I got a lot of belly rubs & I got to run off leash in a park everyday :)

 Shortly afterwards we had to move again, hopefully this will be the last time - the new place is amaaaaazing!! Milkshake & I love running up and down the living room and then skidding down the corridor, it's so much fun!

We have our own mini park too, but I prefer going to the big park down the road as I love meeting new doggie friends - there are so many to play with and so much space!! I love hiking in Hong Kong, but here I get to run & run everyday, and tackle Milkshake on the field - Freedom! Oh, and there are things called squirrels which I can chase - Mommy says wait until I see a "fox"! I can't wait!

We prefer the cooler weather here too, I don't suffer as much from the heat but I still like to enjoy my spot of morning sunbathing.

 I can be quite lazy, but Mommy is very lazy sometimes - I have to wait for her to wake up in the morning. If I stare at her long enough maybe she will get out of bed ... or I might fall back asleep ...

I love having visitors as I get good belly rubs (whilst Milkshake hides under the table):

Mommy says Donny & Sami's mommy is coming to visit soon - Milkshake cannot wait!! She's so excited. In the meantime, we say goodnight to our HK friends. We miss our hiking buddies but we won't be coming back anytime soon ;)

Milkshake: Sad News

Mommy told us some sad news last week, my cousin Kiya passed away. She was apparently very sick but nobody knew until it was too late. Mommy said she was a very brave girl & didn't want her mummy to worry so she bore her pain in quiet dignity.

Although I've never met Kiya, she will always be remembered as the sweetest & most huggable doggie (after me) that Mommy has known. Goodbye brave soul.

 

Mommy came home & showered us with affection (although she does that everyday) and told me that I MUST tell her if I ever felt unwell. I don't think she needs to worry ... if my bout of tick fever was anything to go by, she will definitely know if I'm not 100%. I'm the first to admit that I'm a wuss!

Apparently I'm also not allowed to grow old or die. I don't know what that means so I just gave her my doey eyed look and I got a bully stick! hah ... score!

Cider follows me everywhere, sits where I sit, lies where I lie. I think he might have separation anxiety when away from me. I understand that I pretty irresistible and my butt smells good, but his stickiness can be annoying, especially when he's practically sitting on me!

 

"Time to get up Mommy!"

 "Is this cattle class? I need some leg room"

We have a lot of toys at home. My favourite is the Octopussy - I like to hold his whole head in my mouth & shake him silly. Sometimes I share my toys with Cider, as of course, they are ALL mine. He likes to fetch the pink shoe & sneakily steals the bone when I'm not watching ... I have to keep a close eye on that boy.

Lemondrop came over to "lounge" for a few afternoons a couple of weeks ago. He was looking rather round & had lost his "lean, mean, running machine" physique. I teased him about it, called him "chubby cakes" and said he had also become a "piggy" like Cider. He didn't seem to be bothered at all ... if it involved any sort of food, he was more than happy to be a "piggy" ... he said he would redefine "piggy"!

The best day of the week is when Mommy takes us out hiking, rain or shine. We bumped into Mommy v last weekend when hiking - I ran after her to tell her she was going the wrong way, but Mommy w called me back. I was only trying to help! Mommy is always surprised when I know it's hiking day, but I know ... like I know when it's the day for my ear drops & I wait in dreaded anticipation. Sometimes I think I'm too smart for my own good as Mommy seemed to have forgotten this morning until she saw my cowering expression which reminded her! Darn!

Milkshake: 2012

Oh I don't know where to start, there has been so many changes in 2012. It started off really sad. I didn't understand what was going on but I knew something was not right - I'm very sensitive like that. Soon there were many changes. Cider and I went to live with mommy w, and Lemondrop went to live with mommy v.

 

It took me some time to get used to the new routine, but now I'm happy. Cider and I play and wrestle a lot. The boy is crazy but I always have the upper hand. I like to pin him down.

We still get get to hike every weekend, my favourite time as I love the countryside. I get to run and run to my heart's content.

I even get to chase monkeys, but they always seem to be able to get away.

I wanted to try surfing, I've seen this other dog do it before online. It can't be that difficult.

We are always exhausted after a good hike. Mommy w says that's when she's the happiest.

Back at home, I'm eating a lot better and faster now. I also enjoy these bully sticks that Mommy w buys for us from some place called America.

I miss Lemondrop though. He comes to stay sometimes. 

I make sure I let him know who's boss in this home, but he will always be my big brother.

Cider still isn't too thrilled when Lemondrop comes to stay. He "no eye see".

 

Cider is getting to be greedy. Mommy w says if he's not careful, he will become a piggy. Cider's response: "I like the sound of that!"

Mommy w says it's Christmas time soon, which means it's the time to make me look silly I think.

 

We are happy doggies. We love our mommy, even though Mommy w keeps saying she will abandon Cider as he's so naughty sometimes (he chewed up one of mommy's boots recently, she was so mad!!). Cider is so clueless he doesn't know better, he's such a boy. Mommy w tells us she loves us too, all the time. Look at our faces, who wouldn't love us??

Well, that's the re-cap of the year. The 3 of us wish everybody a fantastic 2013, with lots of bully sticks and hikes = happy happy happy :)

Milkshake: We Go Diving!

Oh, I love weekends, we always get to do fun things. Today we got to go diving with Mommy v! Look, we're all so happy ... adventure!


Cider has never been on a boat before ... he waited to board the boat in anticipation.


Mommy w says Lemon Drop has shifty eyes. I don't know what that means, I just think he looks like he's going to be up to something naughty!


Mommy said we were allowed to go on the boat as there were not many people, but there was one very very annoying little girl who just kept talking & talking and shouting "Lemon Drop!" all the time in her highest pitch. Both Cider & I kept away from her.


It was so hot that we couldn't wait to go swimming (but we had to wait for all the divers to get out first).


Lemon drop jumped in after mommy w, but he was just really after the yellow ball!


Mommy v threw me in the water as I was too scared to jump from the boat, it was really high up! Luckily Mommy w was waiting for me:


And I swam happily with Mommy w:


The day ended all too soon, and it was time to go home ...


We were all admiring the lovely sunset:


Cider: "I can't wait for the next weekend!"

Milkshake: It's a Boy!

I have an announcement to make ... it's a boy!! I have a new baby brother and his name is Cider. Mommy w says he's named after a drink (as is the tradition in our family) and a book called "Cider with Rosie".

He has a squashed nose and is kind of ugly if you ask me but I guess most babies are. He looks happy to go home with mommy, little does he know what's waiting for him at home (me & and Lemondrop!):


He was kind of scrawny:


And had soft baby paws, which don't last very long in our family!:


What's with his "tail"?? We're going to get laughed at by all the other dogs in our 'hood!


He can be quite adorable looking sometimes, usually when he's not doing his dance thing (prancing around like a spring deer to get me to play with him), but he snores like a pig, which is so unattractive and also disturbs my beauty sleep:



He's still rather clueless, though most boys are, and he'll have to get a lot fitter if he wants to keep up with me.


Do all babies make funny faces?

(photo courtesy of Caroline Bewley)

Lemondrop is still deciding whether he likes Cider. Well, if he wants to get into Lemondrop's good books, he should start by not stealing his favourite yellow ball!


I think Cider will fit into the family quite nicely, he's just got to learn his place. Lemondrop, Milkshake and Cider .... in that order! (and not like another book I know, "The Cider House Rules")