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")

Milkshake: Our first camping trip at Tung Lung Chau

Mommy W took out her big bags and then went off. I sulked and sulked, and sulked even more when Mommy V took out her big bags too. But her big bags didn't look like the usual ones when she goes away. She said we were going "camping" but I don't know what that word was so I sulked all night.

In the morning, I refused to let Mommy V out of the door unless she brought me along, and she did! Yay!


We went on a ferry and Lemondrop was his excited usual self.



The island had a quaint village and after a short walk we got to the camp site. The tents were quickly set up next to the woods.





Then we went exploring. There was a path that led down from the hill to the sea. Since it was a hot day I went for a dip right away. Lemondrop got a good scrub from Mommy V as he rolled around in human poop (yet again). Serves him right!



But it was such a nice day to be out that Lemondrop was happy soon enough.


Then more people started coming to the tent site and I got a bit nervous, so I sat behind the chair while the humans had tea.



Thankfully Mommy V and the other nice humans decided to go for a hike.



It was a beautiful day and I was happy to be out and about.



Look at the great views!



We made a stop at the big rock at the top of the hill for a rest. The rock is enormous!



I sure needed a break - I haven't hiked in such hot weather for a while...



Lemondrop also enjoyed the views....



... the views of human food! He tried to nab a sandwich but was unsuccessful.



The trail then led down a steep rock. I was a bit scared but Mommy V told me to be brave.




So off I went...




Around the next clearing we came to a rocky area with the waves crashing spectacularly on the rocks. It was a special place, and there were some humans with funny-looking strings on them.




It seems that they were trying to climb the rocks?! They must be mad. Lemondrop got bored quickly as he was under "house arrest".



Mommy V told me that I had to take a picture with another human, who looked really nice, but I don't know her. She said the lady was a very famous singer. I wasn't too comfortable with strangers.



We headed back to camp soon after. After watching the humans climb all day, Lemondrop is now a pro at rock-climbing!



The humans had a BBQ dinner, and it was soon time for bed. It was my first time in a tent but I liked it. I curled up and fell asleep almost right away.



zzz...




The next morning, Lemondrop got all excited to see Mommy V once she sat up. I thought that was a bit silly as we literally slept right next to her.

What's our adventure for today?




We went up another hill and through a small wooded area.



When we got to the cliff top, I was very much at peace.



Then we headed to the ancient fort which Tung Lung Chau was famous for. I had a look around.



There was also a museum about the uniqueness of Tung Lung Chau.



There were pictures to explain why the fort was built (to combat piracy), and when it was abandoned (a long, long time ago).



I don't think Lemondrop was too bothered about the history. He was happy to be in the shade for a while.


Time to head home!



Bye-bye Tung Lung Chau! Till the next time...