The Adventures of (the) Hypo Dog(s)

Change

2007-10-28T11:00:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone,
We have decided to move from blogger to wordpress. This won't affect anyone who looks at this blog from www.hypodogs.com (in fact Mum just told me those people won't even see this!).

However... if you use a program to check which blogs have been updated our 'feed' (mmmm yummy) will have to be changed to:

RSS: http://hypodogs.wordpress.com/feed
Atom: http://hypodogs.wordpress.com/feed/atom

Thanks! Stay tuned for more adventures!

Request

2007-10-24T22:00:00.000+10:00

Hi all,

My Nana has been searching for some game rules for my nannan. If anydogs parent's have the game described below could you please leave a comment and a way for my Mum to get in touch with your humans! THANKS!!!!

The game is called 'Option' and is described as either "the family fun game" or "the double sided word game". It was produced by Parker Brothers in 1983.

Thanks you!

Mum is....

2007-10-20T20:53:00.000+10:00

Mum is annoyed today. She said that some vindictive lady has deleted all of our email accounts so she had to make us new ones. I don't know what vindictive means but it seems to be bad... and who would delete someone elses email? What sort of person would do that? No dog that I know would!

Mum is also upset today. Nana and Nana's friend had a stall at a fair today and Mum sent some cards for them to sell for her. The reason she is upset is that none of her beautiful cards sold! If I had money I'd buy them all to make her happy.

Mum is sore today. She wrote all about why on her blog so you can read that here. She has been hopping around the house and sometimes she scares me and Carbi with her thumping!

Mum is happy today... when I give her cuddles!

Jimney, D and me

2007-10-15T20:05:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone,

My Mum asked me to tell you about her blog. It's called Jimney, D and me. The Jimney part is my dad, D stands for diabetes and the me stands for my Mum. I don't know if you noticed but she doesn't put a capital letter for herself... why? She should write it ME!

Anyways, if you want to read a blog writen by a human - have a look at Jimney, D and me.

Aramis.

PS. She didn't want me to tell you this but she is getting upset at how many hits our blog get and hers doesn't get anywhere near as many - so PLEASE make her happy for me! When she's happy she gives us treats!

YEY!

2007-10-14T20:29:00.000+10:00

Mum's computer is working again!!! We haven't been up to much but I have some photos to share with you.

Shhh

2007-09-28T20:22:00.001+10:00

Don't tell Carbi that I'm telling you this... but I need you all to know what a big baby he is!

The other morning we were all happily sleeping... and all of a sudden we got woken up by a howl. Dad and Mum sat up and saw that Carbi was sleeping and he was howling in his sleep!! He was crying like a big cry baby!

He won't tell me what his dream was about. I think that he won't tell me because it he is a big baby and he was probably crying over something silly!

But shhh... remember not to tell him I told!

~Carbi doesn't look like this anymore but inside he is still a big baby!~

Sir Lance-a-lot and Kate

2007-09-16T16:48:00.000+10:00

If you find you have a few minutes spare, please go check out the blog that my friend, Sir Lance-a-lot, has started with help from his Mum!

Sir Lance-a-lot is Chino's dad... this is ChinoSo... check out the blog www.whydidtheinsulindie.com. Please.

I'm in love!

2007-09-11T14:24:00.000+10:00

Now some of you may remember that I have fallen in love before... but this time it's the real thing!!

I have introduced you to Shania before (here) but I didn't really know her until she came and visited me and Aramis two weeks ago. She is so beautiful. She is a chinese crested just like me - but she isn't a powderpuff.

I spent lots of time just kissing and cuddling her and letting her know she was special.We played together alot.But sometimes she'd get cranky at me and then I'd have to leave her alone for a while.

She has gone back to Sydney now... but I'll always love her!!

How mean are my humans?!

2007-09-11T13:50:00.000+10:00

Look what they force me to endure...

How mean is that!!!

And they have forced me to play with a new toy... a moose with a grunt in his middle and squeeks in each of his feet!

Return of the Public Relations Dog!

2007-07-29T12:29:00.000+10:00

Hi Everyone!
Sorry Carbi and I have been so slack in possting but we have been busy making this house our home, barking at the neighbours, working and keeping Mum and Dad in line.

The last two months Mum has been hogging the computer trying to get organised for a presentation that Aunty Lorraine, Phoenix, Mum and me were invited to give. It was at a Bark Busters conference and we had to tell them all about what Paws for Diabetics does. The reason it took so long is because the airlines were being mean and nasty about me flying in the cabin with Mum. I've done it before with Aunty Lorraine when she was my Mum but now they think that my Mum isn't qualified to have me on board and I'm a safety risk!! Me.... a Safety risk!!!

Anyway, so I ended up having to be stuffed in a crate and I had to travel in the hold of the areoplane with all the luggage!! AND they all called me a "PET" not a highly trained assistance animal... it was very undignified I tell you! (not that I have anything against being a pet... it's just that i'm not just a pet - mum said it's like when everyone calls her Ms Yarker and she corrects them and says it's MRS!).

So, we all traveled and met in Sydney, got in a car and went to a place called Wollongong. We finally found our accommodation (after Mum finally got the thing on the dash that was talking to us to work properly) and we had a restful evening.
The next day we got up and went in the car again. We drove to a big posh looking hotel and found the place where we were giving the presentation. Mum and Aunty Lorraine did all the talking and Phoenix and I got to sit around and look handsome/pretty.

After the presentation Bryan (I have met him before at an official lunch meeting) stood up and talked to the people in the room and told them to give us money because I look so handsome (I wasn't really listening but I'm sure that's what he must have said because everyone thinks that!). As we left he gave us over $800 that had been raised by the 40 people (approx) in the room.

We then went back in the car and drove to a shopping centre. I was happily walking along surveying the crowds when suddenly I spotted another dog! It was Gracie!!
Mum reminded me that we were going to see if Gracie, Phoenix and Shania could pass their tests to become fully accredited like me and I was going to have to do a refresher test. We all sat and ate lunch first and then we did our tests and passed.

After this we went back to the place we were staying. Aunty Lorraine and Mum spent time getting dressed and I had a sleep, then we went back to the posh place for dinner. It was dark and loud and there were flashing lights so Phoenix and I spent most of the time under the table sleeping. Then Mum stood up to talk to poeple and so I had to come out and do my public relations stuff. I shook lots of hands and waved at a few people and Mum told them all about us and the organisation and they talked to her about trainging dogs. Eventually we went home and we all got to sleep.

The next day we took Aunty Lorraine and Phoenix back to the airport and then drove to a train place.
We waited and all of a sudden I saw Uncle Dan!! We went for a drive and I started to recognise lots of places and then all of a sudden we were at Nannan's and Aunt M's!!!

After saying hello to Nannan we went into Aunt M's house to look at her computer (went Aunt M got home Mum said "I'm only back in the mountains for half an hour before you need help on your computer!!"). After fixing the computer Aunt M got home and we decided to head off before meeting them again for dinner. This was were it got fun!!

Nannan had caught a little white dwarf rabbit that had been visiting her garden for weeks. Mum and Uncle Dan were supposed to take it to Mum's sisters house for my cousin Laura. Mum put it in a box and then started to walk to the car... before I tell you anymore of the story I'd better inform you that I didn't have my lead on but was ignoring the bunny smells comming from the box. Anyways, so we were heading to the car and all of a sudden the bunny started weeing! It came out of the box in a stream all over Mum and her camera! She hurredly put the box on the ground and the rabbit pushed it's way out of the box and took off in a white blur with a black blur following it!! I couldn't help it!!! It's a dogs duty to chase rabbits isn't it??

Mum yelled at me and I reluctently left the chase and went back to her. We decided that the rabbit was a little too wild for a three year old to play with and so we went back to the car. Once again I recognised where we were and as soon as we stopped I jumped out of the car without waiting to be told I could which was another naughty thing but I was too excited to wait!! I ran to the door of the house and inside and got a big big hug from POP!!!! We were at my old home!!! It was so excited I went exploring outside to make sure that there was no new dog smells in MY backyard.

Nannan, Aunt M, Uncle Dan, Pop, Jules, Rodney, Tommy and Laura all came over for dinner. I was very tired so I went and had a sleep.

The next day we got up and went to pick up Uncle Dan. We drove to the beach on the central coast of NSW (we live on the central coast in Tassie) and Mum and Uncle Dan had ice cream.

We then went to Uncle Richard's and Aunty Kellie's and saw a new puppy called Cooper...

He was a funny looking puppy he had no fur and cired a lot. Mum ignored me a lot and cuddled the Cooper-puppy instead. Then Dom and Mia came and played as well.

~Mia and Me~

After they left Mum got the Cooper-puppy to sleep and then we left and went back to Pop's.

Early on Saturday morning, so early it was still dark, we got in the car again. We drove to the airport and Mum made me got back in the crate. I got loaded into the hold again like a piece of baggage and we took off. The landing this time was really bumpy and I bounced around in my prison. When I saw Mum again she had Dad with her and we all got in the car, said hello to Carbi and came home.

Driving

2007-07-03T12:27:00.001+10:00

We did lots more driving last weekend. Nothing really interesting to report though so I will just post some pictures!

Saturday:
Mum let us stick our heads out the windows when we were on this track with noone around.

This thing is called a nut but I don't know why. It belongs to Stanley.

We had to wait in the car while Mum and Jo climbed up onto a platform to take a photo of Stanley's Nut.
Sunday:
I don't think it's very nice for someone to be calling us 'cliff face'... my face does NOT look like a cliff.

This bridge hurt our feet to walk over.

These are the water falls we saw (we saw a few of them).

"Wow... what a great lake!"

2007-06-25T20:35:00.001+10:00

Yesterday we went for a big drive. We all got in Jo's car and drove, and drove, and drove.

We stopped quickly at a lookout and saw this:
Then we headed for a place called Liffy Falls were we had to walk to see water. While Mum was taking photos of the falls I decided to take a rest... in the water!!!
Aramis and I were wearing our warm water proof coats and had to wear our PFD coats over the top - we look silly when we do this and Aramis looks like he is preparing for christmas!!!

After we saw the water we got back in the car. We decided to go inland instead of to the coast and headed towards the Great Lake. Along the way we suddenly saw white stuff at the side of the road which grew!!!

There was no white stuff falling from the sky it was just on the road. Mum and Jo took some photos and Mum introduced Aramis and I to the snow. NOW I know what that white stuff is that all the dogs with blogs talk about!!! Mum took these photos of our pawprints.

Mum and Jo made little snowmen!

We kept driving and suddenly saw all this water - some of it is even frozen!!
I was sleeping on Mum's lap (I like the front seat!) and suddenly she said "oh sheep dogs!!". I sat up and looked out the windows but couldn't see them... Mum said that we had already passed them but I didn't believe her. I lay back down and then Mum said "horse dogs!". I wasn't about to fall for that again! I gave her a look and went to sleep. Unfortunately when we got home I looked at the photos from the trip and found these...

hmmm maybe she wasn't tricking this time!

Anyway... we drove and drove some more. We went down a big hill and Mum took more photos.
Eventually we made it home agian. Next week we will be going to the coast!!
Carbi xx

Everything

2007-06-23T17:43:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone!!!
I'm so so so sorry I haven't written for so long!!! We have been busy!

It was my 1st ever birthday on the 14th of June!!! I got to have a cheese platter and I had a cake with a candle on it and I got to have a bone and I got to have a big piece of cake!!! It was so good!!! The only bad part was that Mum misplaced her camera and had to use her old one... which would be fine except now she can't find the cord to get the pictures from that to the computer so she has to keep searching and I can post them when we can get them onto the computer.

Mum and Dad keep playing "where's Aramis?" and "where's Carbi?" with us. I'm much better at this game than Aramis... see...

Mum and Aramis's friend from Uni has come to live with us. Her name is Jo.
She is nice - even Aramis likes her!! She calls Aramis and me silly bananas. Mum said we are going on a car trip with her tomorrow. We are going to 'see where the wind takes us'. I hope it takes us somewhere with yummy food!! I'm going to make Mum take her camera with us (she found the good one after my birthday the silly banana!) and I'm going to write tomorrow night about our trip!!

Carbi xx

Part 3: Touring Tasmania

2007-05-07T19:15:00.000+10:00

Hey,
It's Aramis again.
All our furnature arrived safe and sound and Carbi, Dad and me made good use of the lounges!
After a few days travelling and unpacking we all decided to take a day off. Nana and Pop went to Penguin markets in the morning, while Mum and I worked on our uni assignment and Dad slept in. When Nana and Pop got home we went for a drive. We did want to go to a place called Cradle Mountain but it was raining and foggy and we wouldn't have been able to see anything so we just drove.

We ended up in a town called Beaconsfield. Some of you will have heard of this town. In the papers a few days ago they were talking about a mine collapse in Beaconsfield on the 25th of April, 2006. "Of the 17 people who were in the mine at the time, 14 escaped immediately following the collapse, one was killed, and the remaining two were found alive after five days nearly a kilometre below the surface. These two miners were rescued on Tuesday May 9, a full two weeks after being trapped." (taken from the Wikipedia article about it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaconsfield_mine_collapse)

Anyways, so we stopped to go to the toilet in Beaconsfield and saw that there was a museum, so we went it. It was pretty fun... there was lots of cool old stuff to play with and the humans could even make the old machines work. One was scarey tho... it was called something like the stamper and it made a very very very loud bang bang bang bang. Also, I didn't like some of the things I had to walk on... they were see through and my feet hurt to walk on it. We went up on to a platform and saw this...
This is where the two miners came out from underground when they were rescued.

Then after looking at everything we went home again.

Last Wednesday, Nana and Pop left and they haven't come back since. Mum says that they had to go home aren't coming back soon, but I think they have just gone on holidays... and the longest they have ever been gone for is about two weeks so I'm sure they'll come back soon. Carbi is very sad he doesn't have his Pop to cuddle and even I'm a bit sad they aren't here.

The other day Mum decided that we should go for a drive. It was rainy and cold but we all needed to get out of the house. So we got in the car and went on a drive through Riana, South Riana, Gunns Plains, somewhere else I think, and then home again. It was a good drive. There was lots of cow dogs to look at. The only bad part was that Mum was getting a migraine and Dad's level was high so Carbi and I were whining and upset for a while until Mum had a tablet and Dad had some insulin! It was only when that all worked that we could enjoy looking at the cow dogs.

I think that's pretty much everything we have done up until now. I hope you enjoyed reading about our recent adventures. We are all busy looking for jobs now. Dad has an interview tomorrow and Mum has one on Thursday. Please cross your paws that they get the jobs cause otherwise Carbi and I won't get any treats!!!

Licks!
Aramis xx

Part 2: The House

2007-05-06T18:34:00.000+10:00

Hi!
It's Carbi here! Aramis is tired from the big post yesterday so I'm writing today's post. Anyway... so we got to our house and had no furnature. The furnature was arriving a few days after us. The first thing Mum did was unpack the computer.

We were meant to have the modem for the broadband waiting for us but it wasn't here. Mum rang up Telstra and was really cranky after she did cause they said that the lady she had talked to first was wrong and that she had to wait for a week until the modem came.

This was the bed we were sleeping on. It was two camp stretchers pushed together.

I had a cuddle with Dad the morning after we got here.
It was very cold. I didn't like how cold it was when we got here. Pop and Dad put a door in the wall for me and Aramis to use.

I didn't like it at first because it is different to my old door but now I use it all the time.

This is our loungroom before our furnature came.

When the men came with our furnature Mum and Dad made us stay out the front so that we wouldn't get out and run away exploring our new street. Then the men had to come into the front yard and so Mum and Pop made us stay in a little fenced in bit by the side of the house! It wasn't fair!! Pop came and sat with us so that we were happier but it didn't reallly help.

When we were allowed back into the house there was furnature and boxes everywhere!! Everyone worked hard to get everything organised and I supervised. See...

In the mornings Aramis and I woke Pop up by climbing on him.
Stayed tuned for part 3: Touring Tasmania
Licks,
Carbi xx

We're Baaaack!!! (Part 1... the trip)

2007-05-05T11:32:00.000+10:00

Hey Everyone,
Sorry we didn't post for so long but with our trip to get to our new house, Telstra (phone company) stuffing up the broadband connection and Mum and Dad looking for jobs I haven't been able to get onto blogger to post - but this will be a long post to make up for it ok?

So... On the 21st of April we set off on our trip from our old house. Carbi and I were squished into the back of the car, on top of all the stuff we needed on the trip and in the new house until our furniture arrived. Nana and Pop drove in Pop's car.

We drove to Mittagong and stopped at a park there. Carbi and I wanted to play with the ducks but Mum, Dad, Nana and Pop wouldn't let us!!

We then got into the car again and went to Yass for Lunch. The grass around Yass needed lots of rain... it almost looked grey! There were lots of cow dogs and horse dogs and sheep to look at.

After Yass we got in the car again (can you see the trend yet?), and drove to Gundagai were we saw a dog sitting on a tuckerbox.

It wasn't really that interesting (see Carbi is yawning), but then we went for a walk around and found the dog toilet which WAS interesting!

If you want to know why there is a statue of a dog here... read this poem (you will have to click on the photo to make it bigger to read). It's a bit rude... just warning you!
After thoroughly checking out the doggy toilet we got back in the car again! Before we drove anywhere Dad spotted a kitten and Mum got out to check it was ok. It ran away and she said that there was a house nearby and that it might live there. Carbi and I were yelling at her to catch it for our dinner!!!

~This is the stuff we got to look at most of our trip... not much there!!~

We finally got to the place we were spending the night. It was a town called Holbrook. We stayed in a cabin and we could hear these big thuds against the house every so often. Nana and Pop looked and said it was big moths. In the morning, Mum took me outside to go to the toilet and we had to walk for a while because all the trees were occupied! Look what was around them...

We drove from Holbrook to Woodonga to do a home visit at a mans house. He has applied for a Paws for Diabetics dog and we had to check his house was safe. His house was in Victoria so we went there and then came back to NSW to have lunch with Nana and Pop. We then went back into Victoria and drove to Seymour where we had a break at a park. The park had this man in it. I don't know what has happened to him but he was stuck like this.

We drove more after this ... past more of this....
And into Melbourne... the capital of Victoria. We stayed in a motel in the middle of the city.

The next morning we went on a tram. Mum and Dad had to carry Carbi and me onto the tram cause it was an old tram and the steps were high.

We went to a park and then Carbi and I turned into Giants!!!

~See how big we are and how small that house is! Fe Fi Fo Fum....~

After we turned back to normal size, we went to a cafe and had lunch.

~"Please can I have some food??"~

The cafe had bowls of water for puppies to drink out of. After lunch we got back on the tram and went to an old Gaol. It's called Richmond Gaol. We had our pictures taken in the cells.

After this we got in the car again and drove to pick up another car! The other car was a blue Morris Minor called Daphne and Nana and Pop had gotten it to Melbourne on the back of a truck. We are borrowing it for a while. After that we all drove back to the city and to a funny place Mum called a Wharf. There was a big building there that Mum said was a boat. This is the building/boat.

We drove into the building/boat and parked the car. Mum got our stuff out and we went to meet Dad and Carbi who had driven onto the boat in our other car. We went upstairs and found our room. Mum and Dad watched TV for a while and we went to sleep.

~This is us on the building/boat... it was cold and windy outside~

In the morning Mum and Dad kept telling us that we could go to the toilet in this room...
I haven't gone to the toilet inside for a VERY long time and I wasn't about to start. However, Mum calls me a camel and I can hold on... but Carbi has only just learnt not to go inside and is not very good at holding on yet. By the morning he was very sad. He REALLY needed to go to the toilet but couldn't go inside no matter what Mum and Dad said.

See how sad he was. He was shaking and crying. In the end they let the people who didn't have cars off the building/boat first so Dad took Carbi and walked off to get to a toilet for Carbi. This meant that Mum and I took our car, Pop drove Daphne and Nana drove Pop's car. When we drove off the building/boat we were somewhere different!!! I don't know what happened but we were in Tasmania!! I didn't know that buildings could move!! There was lots of water under this building so maybe that's why we could move!? That or it was magic... I actually think that it was magic but I wonder what everyone else thinks.

We drove into a shed and Mum had to get out and let a man look in the back of our car. I wasn't allowed to get out because there was a dog there working. They look in the cars for fruit. Mum said that they don't want fruit fly to come to Tasmania so they make sure no one brings it in. Nana got a fine because she forgot that she had a tomato and an avocado in the esky and they saw them there.

Then we drove to McDonalds and Nana, Pop, Mum and Dad all had food. Mum and Dad didnt buy anything for us even though we had both been so good and not gone to the toilet inside! They said that it was because it was breakfast time, but I don't understand why that meant we couldn't eat anything!

After eating we drove to our new house!!! Carbi and I ran around exploring everything. I'll show you more photos of the house later but this is one of me, Carbi and a headless Dad in the loungeroom before our furniture came! I have been working on the post almost all day so I'm off to bed now and i'll post about the rest of our adventure tomorrow!
Night.
Aramis xx

Going... going.... gone

2007-04-20T09:18:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone,

We are leaving to move to our new house tomorrow! It is taking us four whole days to get there! We get to sleep at a caravan park, a hotel and on a boat!!! Almost everything is packed and Mum said that I have to be quick so she can pack up the computer.

Last Sunday we had a party here and my cousins, Aunties, Uncles and Nannan came to say goodbye to us. Mum took lots of photos, but not many of Carbi and me this time!

This is Dad and Laura
Mum and Mia

Pop, Mia and Laura
Jack and Carbi
Laura wearing Dads shoes, sunglasses and hat

On Monday I did two assessments at uni. They were pretty easy. Mum called me a freeloader because she said I was to do the talking in one of the assessments but I didn't. I don't understand why she thinks I'm a freeloader... it's hard work lying still and being quiet in class!!

On Wednesday, Mum and I had our last day at uni. We still have uni work to do, but we don't have to go to uni for it. I learnt how to measure a step to put in a ramp... if any of the doggies that read this want me to work out a ramp for them just let me know!

This is my uni class... Mum doesn't like the photo of her!!I have to go now, Mum's getting cranky cause she needs to pack the computer up and she also didn't want me to put that photo there so I'd better publish before she notices!!

BYE!!
Aramis xx

Mr Tough Guy?

2007-04-12T22:01:00.000+10:00

Carbi always tries to pretend that he is 'Mr Tough Guy'... but look at how we found him sleeping when he thought noone was looking!

Silly Hooman

2007-04-08T21:04:00.000+10:00

Look what my Mum did to me today!!!

Silly Hooman!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

When it rains...

2007-04-07T23:00:00.000+10:00

Hi again,
Mum sometimes says "when it rains, your poor" or something like that. I don't really understand it because it's a silly human saying, but I think it applys in this situation - where I didn't blog for ages and have now done four posts in one day!

Ages and ages ago I told you that Carbi and I graduated from brown class to green class at training. Here is a picture of me with my certificate and ribbon.

I also wanted to tell you about us being famous again! Carbi and Dad are in the March-June 2007 edition of Paws and Claws. This is the article...

Eight years ago when James Yarker was 14 years old, he was diagnosed with having Type 1 insulin dependent diabetes. Over the years he has experienced countless hypoglycaemic episodes (or hypos), most of which occur when he is asleep and require medical intervention. Experiencing hypos during the night presents a serious risk because he has no way of sensing an impending hypo; there is a chance of falling into a coma. James says this has always been a major concern for him and his family.

“A few years ago when I was driving my car I experienced a hypo without any warning signals,” he said. “I lost consciousness at the wheel, crossed over to the wrong side of the highway and crashed into an oncoming car. “ James explains. “I decided then that there had to be a better way of detecting and treating hypos that would keep me and those around me safe.” This is where seven month-old chinese crested powder-puff Carbi arrived.

He is a dog in training provided by Paws for Diabetics Inc. for diabetes hypo alert. Paws for Diabetics Inc. is a charitable, nonprofit organisation of dedicated volunteers involved in the training and placement of diabetic alert dogs. These dogs are the latest tool in diabetes management, giving their owners warning well in advance of an impending hypoglycaemic episode which allows for prompt treatment and prevention. A hypoglycaemic attack left untreated can lead to coma and even death, so these dogs are real life-savers! Diabetes hypo alert dogs are especially useful for people living alone, or parents who worry about their children having a hypo, especially at night. These dogs are trained to wake the diabetic before they become unconscious whilst asleep. If the diabetic person will not wake, they are trained to alert someone else in the house.

“I also suffer from other medical conditions that can make it hard to control my blood sugar levels, so Carbi is invaluable,” James said. Carbi comes from a bloodline of naturally alerting dogs, beginning when he was just 8 weeks old and continually improving by alerting James by biting his fingers and growling, and not leaving James’ side until James has had eats something to help raise his blood sugar.

Paws for Diabetics Inc. places dogs with recipients who meet the criteria. The recipients are then given extensive training on handling and caring for an assistance dog. Carbi has the same access rights as a guide dog, receiving similar training as guide dogs and also rely on donations to fund this training. Currently Carbi attends work with James at UnitingCare Springwood. “As work can sometimes get very hectic and I can lose track of time, having Carbi at work allows me to relax as I know that he will let me know before I experience I hypo,” James explains. Further information can be obtained by accessing the Paws for Diabetics Inc. website, www.pfd.org.au, or calling (07) 46843414. Donations can be sent to The Treasurer, Paws for Diabetics, 14 Boatwright Ave. Lugarno NSW 2210. Membership costs are $10.00 per annum, or $15.00 per family. Membership forms are available from the website. For more information about the adventures of Carbi and his brother Aramis, please visit : www.hypodogs.com.

AND we are all on the cover of the Diabetes Australia - Victoria membership magazine Diabetes Today. This is the article...

Super pooches saving lives

James Yarker was involved in a near fatal car crash as a result of a hypoglycaemic attack. His wife Liz embarked upon a search to find someone to help James to ensure that this kind of accident would not happen again.

After a lot of research and hours searching on the internet, Liz eventually met Lorraine Roulston at Paws for Diabetics Inc (PFD), a charitable non-profit organisation of volunteers who train dogs to alert their diabetic owner when they are having a ‘hypo’.

In August 2006, Lorraine introduced a Chinese Crested Powderpuff called Carbi (short for carbohydrate) to James, who has had type 1 diabetes since he was 14 years old.
Liz says Carbi is a lifesaver. "He had already saved James from two night time hypos by growling and biting his fingers to wake him up.

“It wasn’t long before we knew when James was having a hypo, because Carbi would sit and glare at James and just growl.”

Lorraine, who also has diabetes, says these ‘hypo’ dogs are the latest tool in management as they give their owners advance warning of an impending hypo.

“All dogs have the potential to be hypo-alert dogs, especially if they are young or closely attached to the person with diabetes. We usually use pure-bred puppies that are toy-sized as they are generally easier to take with you and are quick learners.”

Lorraine’s mission to find out more about hypo-alerting dogs began after her Japanese Chin, Saki, woke her up one night by scratching and whining at her. Lorraine was going into a ‘hypo’. “At first I thought it was a coincidence or that Saki must be psychic, but when my diabetes suddenly because unstable and I started having more frequent ‘hypos’, I began to see the pattern in Saki’s behaviour.”

While there is currently no scientific research to prove the exact reason why dogs can detect a hypo, Lorraine says it has to do with a chemical alteration in the body that results in a change of scent which the dogs can pick up and consequently react to.

Not all breeds of dogs have the temperament required to complete the public access test which enables the dog to become an accredited assistance dog like the seeing eye dogs. An owner may have to train several dogs before finding the right dog for the work that is required.

Lorraine says hypo-alert dogs help to increase the independence, safety and mobility of people with diabetes, and also their carers. For Liz Yarker, having Carbi has meant that she can now leave James at home without fear of him having a hypo. She can rest well knowing that Carbi is there to keep him alert.

You can check out Carbi’s online blog at www.hypodogs.com.

If you would like to know more about training your dog or receiving a puppy to be trained, please contact Paws for Diabetics Inc. by calling (07) 4684 3414 or visit www.pfd.org.au.

Goodnight from your famous friend!
Licks
Aramis xx

Aramis - unofficial diabetes educator!

2007-04-07T21:23:00.000+10:00

I have decided that as part of my Public Relations work for Paws for Diabetics Inc I should also become an unofficial diabetes educator and tell you all about diabetes. This post is going to be about blood glucose level checks. Diabetics have to check their blood glucose level and then have food or insulin if needed. To do this they need to use a thing called a glucometre (metre).

The meter comes in a case that has spots to hold the finger pricker (pricker), testing strips (strips), needle, spare needles for the pricker, and other stuff.

To check your level, you need to take the pricker and a strip (shown here in the blue stuff!).

You take the strip out of the packet, and put it into the metre. You prick your finger with the little needle inside the pricker (to do this you only put it on your finger and press a button and the needle shoots out and pricks your finger). Then you get a bit of blood and put it on the end of the strip. Then the machine counts down and shows your blood glucose level (BGL). I got Mum to check her level to take the next picture (she isn't diabetic by the way).

Hopefully, the metre will say that your level is somewhere around 6. If it doesn't you need to eat (if lower) and have insulin (if higher). Dad has an insulin pump that he uses to give himself insulin. This means that he has one needle every three days, as opposed to four or more needles each day.

This is an insulin pump. It attaches to Dad using that tube. It pumps insulin into Dad all the time (very little bits) and then when needed Dad puts the level from the metre into the pump and it gives him extra insulin to get his level down.

I hope this wasn't too confusing... stay tuned for my next lesson on hypos!

Aramis - unofficial diabetes educator

Demarco's Drawing

2007-04-07T21:08:00.000+10:00

A few posts ago I introduced my new friend Demarco to you. Demarco has agreed to help us out by writing and drawing some things for our blog.

Demarco sent me this picture he did a while ago...

This picture shows what having diabetes means to Demarco. As you can see there are pictures of needles, lollies, fruit, Doctor's, Hypos and finger pricks. For any doggies out there who don't know about what diabetics need to do... make sure you read my next post!!

Babysitting and packing

2007-04-07T20:32:00.000+10:00

Hi all,
Firstly, Thanks for all your good wishes for Carbi. He didn't end up having his operation. He was sick the night before and so Mum and Dad had to cancel the op, and today, his tooth fell out all on it's own! So no operation for him!

My Aunty Jules has been sick. She had to go into hospital last Saturday... which meant that my cousins came to stay. This is Tommy, he is six.

And this is Laura, she is two.

They look cute and innocent don't they?? Well, they're not!! They told me to go away when they came near me and then they tried to pat me when I didn't want them too! I wasn't allowed on the lounge if they were, and we missed training because they were here. They have gone home now, Aunty Jules came out of hospital on Thursday.

We have started to pack for our move to our new house in Tasmania. As you can see, I have been supervising the whole process.

We leave in exactly two weeks! We get to go on a big boat which looks like this:

And then we will be at our house which looks like this!

It's exciting to be packing but sad because it means we are going a long way away from Nana and Pop, and Uncle Dan, and all our other friends!!

Mum and I are still studying hard for our Masters, but we have decided to go part time for a while and will finish at the end of next year now.

Bye for now!
Aramis

Phoenix

2007-03-23T01:33:00.000+11:00

Hi Everyone,

It's Carbi here! Sorry I haven't posted for ages - Aramis has taken over - but HE doesn't go to work with Dad and Me.

I have to have a tooth out tomorrow... but I don't want to talk about that today!

On Sunday morning, when Dad and I came home I found out that Aunty Lorraine and Phoenix were back!! We had lots of fun playing and talking... as you can see from these photos....

They went home on Wednesday... I was so sad when they went.

Got to sleep before my operation tomorrow.
Night
Carbi xx.

Tick Tock

2007-03-23T01:09:00.000+11:00

For the last few days there was something above my eye. It was annoying me. I tried to stop it by rubbing my head against the carpet. That didn’t help. It did make Mum realise something was annoying me but she just cleaned stuff from the corners of my eye. Once or twice she tried to move the thing that was annoying me but it hurt and it didn’t come off easily and she just thought it was ‘sleep’ (that’s what she calls that annoying stuff that grows in your eyes).

Today we were in the car waiting for Dad to get back from the chemist and Mum decided to get the thing off my eye no matter what! She pulled it off and then went to put it on the floor. Then, all at the same time, she looked at it, noticed it had legs, it bit her and she dropped it! “Arrgh, it’s a tick!” she yelled. Then began the hunt. Mum had to drive the car out of the underground car park and search the floor for the tick. She actually found it!! Then she had to find something to put it in. She found an old plastic packet and put it in there. She then reversed back into the carpark to meet Dad. THEN while we were still waiting for Dad she picked up the container to look at the tick. The container then moved and flung the tick back into the car somewhere!!! Mum yelled at me to get in the back because she thought that it had gone towards the front and she didn’t want it to attach onto us!! Then she drove back into the light again and commenced searching. She searched the seat, then the floor, and then finally the dash mat, and GUESS WHAT??!!! SHE FOUND IT AGAIN!!! This time she found an empty film container and got it into that and put the lid on tight!

The tick was about this big…

She reversed back just in time to pick up dad.

Then we drove to the vets and asked them what kind of tick it was. They said it was an immature tick and I would be ok! We also booked Carbi in for his operation to get a tooth out tomorrow – it was two teeth but one of them fell out on it’s own!!

I know have a bald patch above my eye... see...

What do you get if....

2007-03-22T17:15:00.000+11:00

you cross a Shetland Sheepdog with a Chinese Crested?

A Shetland Crested?? A Creltie?? A Chinese Sheepdog?? A Shelted?

How many legs does one dog have???

4.... or is it 6?

Demarco

2007-03-12T18:39:00.000+11:00

Hi guys,
I have a new friend. His name is Demarco. I haven't met him yet but my mum and his mum have talked on the phone and I sent Demarco an email yesterday! He is 6 years old and he has type 1 diabetes. He is very smart and he wrote a letter to his pancreas - I asked him if I could let you all read it and he said yes - so he is nice and kind too!!

Here it is....

Dear Pancreas,
You and I were good friends before my second birthday. You helped me grow from a little tiny baby into a big boy who could walk. My mum had planned a Bob the Builder Cake for the 23 November, my 2nd birthday. For some reason though, every time I thought of that cake I didn’t want it as much as I used to.
On the 1st November, you stopped being my friend. Mum stopped talking about the Bob the Builder cake. I didn’t know I had a pancreas. I didn’t know what you did, or where you lived. I thought you were going to help me grow into a big man.
Now that I am 6, I know what islet cells are, and I know my body destroyed them by accident. It was a pretty big accident though, Pancreas, I looked at a picture on my Mum’s computer. You look like a bean! A trouble-making bean…
I have learnt lots about you now and why you stopped working. Just like when a car runs out of petrol. I have 4 needles a day now to replace the insulin you can’t make anymore. My mum’s eyes looked so sad (even though she is always happy) whenever she had to give me my medicine, so now I have decided to do it myself. What I just wanted to ask was, I know the doctors’ are helping, I know JDRF are working super hard and I know everyone wants a cure. If one day, please, you could just wake up again, and let a couple of islet cells escape, maybe then you will remember what to do and how to work again.
If you can’t do it though, I understand. I know how it feels to be different from the other kids. You must be feeling the same way, living so close to the liver and the stomach. I hope they don’t tease you. One good thing is that, even though you stopped working, I got to go in a plane and see Parliament House and see John Howard! Not many kids without Type 1 Diabetes could say that. I’m not angry I have Type 1 Diabetes, and I’m not angry at you. I am really patient and have learnt how to wait for scientists to help you work again. I want to be a zoo keeper when I grow up. I have heard that Diabetics can go blind after a long time with no cure…if I went blind, I couldn’t feed the lions or they would eat me!
I believe in you, Pancreas.
Your owner,
Demarco

Demarco also agreed to write or draw special stuff for me to show you regularly!!

Licks,
Aramis

Introducing Oscar and Devo....

2007-03-11T23:35:00.000+11:00

I meant to do this a while ago but Mum's been 'hogging' the computer. Just after our big meeting Aunty Lorraine flew to Perth to help Oscar and Devo start their new lives as diabetic alert assistance dogs - so they are now part of the Paws for Diabetics Inc family (I'm getting a lot of new brothers and sisters - it's very hard to remember all of them!!).

OK... So I'll start with Devo. Devo is short for Devoted. He now lives with Kim. Kim is 11 and is taking Devo to school and to scouts with him. Devo has already alerted Kim to lots of hypos.

Next is Ocsar

Oscar is living with Corey. Corey is also 11. Some people in Australia might have heard about all the trouble with Corey taking his dog to school with him. The principal said that he couldn't go, they are talking about it all now and will tell us what is happening when they have worked it out. Corey is staying at home with Oscar at the moment but hopefully will be going to school with him soon!!

One last thing before I go to bed.... I went to a meeting with Mum (we were on the phone) and someone there said that they didn't like my Aunty Lorraine's face - but I think she is beautiful (she was my mum after all!!!).

A Current Affair

2007-03-08T23:28:00.000+11:00

For those dogs who are not in Australia but are interested in the A Current Affair segment about Paws for Diabetics Inc. you can click here and then click on the Diabetic Dog Ban link.

Licks,
Aramis xx

Busy Busy Busy

2007-03-08T11:18:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone,
Sorry we haven't posted for sooooo long!! We have been busy!

The dogs that invaded our house were here for a very important meeting. Something called an AGM for Paws for Diabetics Inc. Phoenix came with my other Mum who I have now decided to call Aunty Lorraine because it seems that I'm staying here forever now and I want to call MTLH Mum. It's too hard to say Mum that lives here all the time and now I don't think I really have another Mum - just an Aunty - if that makes sense. Anyways, Phoenix is the one with the mohawk. She is a chinese crested (like Carbi) but she is hairless (and Carbi is a powderpuff).

The two big dogs are Lulu and Gracie and they are Boxers. The other hairless puppy was Shania.

Anyway, we had a meeting and then they made us all sit on the lounge together and take this photo.

The puppies in the photos (the ones behind the wire) were here for two days and then we took them to the airport and left them there to fly to Perth. They have been placed with two boys... I'll post about them both soon.

Mum and I have been busy doing stuff since then as she is now the secretary and I help her with everything she does.

We started Uni again on Monday - I'm studying for a Masters in Occupational Therapy so if there are any dogs out there that need my help I'll be qualified by the end of the year (I think i'll have to share Mum's certificate saying that but that's ok)

The boys in Perth have gotten lots of publicity and they have been in newspapers (one of the stories is here) and last night they were the first paws for diabetics people to be on TV!!! They were on channel 7 in Perth. Since then they have gotten calls from channel 9 and 10. Channel 9 wants to put them on A Current Affair tonight in the Eastern states as well so if you are from Australia - watch it!! Carbi and I had to have a bath this morning because the new people might want to see a fully trained dog (ME!) and so we have to look good if that happens!!

I have to go now, Mum has to use the computer and I'm 'hogging' it apparently. Isn't that a silly term - especially since I'm not a pig!!

Licks,
Aramis

HELP

2007-02-25T00:36:00.000+11:00

We have been invaded!!!

First it was my other Mum and this....

Then it was these two.....

And this....

And then, just when I thought it couldn't get worse, it's these as well....

I'll write more later - at the moment I have to go make sure that noone takes my Mum away from me!!

Aramis xx

PS - three of the dogs went home - but the rest are still here!!

We're Back!!!

2007-02-17T00:57:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone,
Did you miss us?? We weren't here for a while because we were sick. Carbi generously shared whatever he had with me... but we are all better now and have been for a few days. The other reason we didn't post was because MTLH and Nana used up all their MB allowance for their broadband and made it too slow to be able to do ANYTHING!!!

We don't really have anything to tell you about anyway. MTLH organised getting badges for some of the people in Paws for Diabetics and she also got me one as well. Mine says "Public Relations Dog". MTLH wanted to get one for Carbi that said "Spoilt Brat" but she didn't.

MTLH and Dad have been packing some more of our stuff up today and she put me into a box because I'm going with Mum and Dad too. I just sat there and looked at her. Carbi also got put into the box (after I got out) but he got scared and tried to jump out!

MTLH did an interview with someone from the Victorian branch of Diabetes Australia. We are going to be the cover story of their member magazine!!! So MTLH took more photos of us - this is one of them.

Good night!
Aramis

Sick as a dog!

2007-02-10T22:31:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone!

Carbi had to go to the vets twice in two days!!! We went yesterday as he has had sore teeth again... it seems that he likes his baby teeth and he had kept another two as well as his adult teeth which means that he needs to have another operation to take two more teeth out! This time he won't have the snip snip operation as well tho because he already had that.

Then last night Carbi and Dad went to work and MTLH and I stayed home. We went to bed at around 2am after working on writing lots of letters to government people about Paws for Diabetics Inc. At 4am Dad rang me and MTLH and said that Carbi was sick. Something about runny poo and red stuff in it. MTLH left me at home and came back with Carbi. We stayed awake for the rest of the night keeping an eye on him to make sure he didn't get sicker and have to go to the doctor. Dad rang again at 6.30am and said that MTLH had taken his car keys home with all of Carbi's stuff. So MTLH left me at home again and came back alone. Dad came home a few minutes later. This time Dad stayed up and waited for the vets to open to get Carbi another appointment. MTLH and I got a few hours sleep before we had to get up and go to the vets with Carbi. Carbi has medicine to take which is good because MTLH puts it in some peanut butter and I get some peanut butter too!

Anyway, so we came home and were here for a little while and then Dad's teeth started hurting. He had some pain killers and put some hot things on his mouth and it didn't get any better so MTLH started ringing dentists for him. It's Saturday. Noone was open. She managed to get an appointment for him tomorrow morning. Dad then went to bed and has been there with Carbi and looking after him and I've been looking after Carbi.

I stole this picture off my Aunty Lou's blog (Carbi and I are doing that a bit lately!).

This is a scan of my cousin Cooper. He is still in my Aunty Kellie's tummy. He has been their for 29 weeks now. Isn't he cute?!!

Licks
Aramis xx

Dancing Dog

2007-02-09T18:54:00.000+11:00

Look how well this dog has his human trained to dance with him!!!

I'm going to train Daddy to dance like that!

Thanks to Aunty Lou for having this on her blog - she wants to teach her rabbits to dance like that!

Promoted!!

2007-02-06T20:53:00.000+11:00

I was going to tell you about this last week but I talked it over with MTLH and we decided that I should tell you this week. Carbi and I went up a class at training!!! The man who tested me and MTLH said that I could almost go straight up to the top class except that that's not allowed!!

Apart from going to our first full lesson as green class members at training tonight, today was boring. Instead of dragging us around, MTLH sat in front of the computer - making calls, writing and faxing letters and emailing people trying to find someone to help us. No luck yet but hopefully SOMEONE will be nice soon!

I'm tired after training tonight so I'm going to go. Carbi and James are going to be in another magazine soon - this is the photo MTLH took for it.

Night.
Aramis xx

Can anyone help us?

2007-02-05T20:16:00.000+11:00

Hi all,
We have spent most of today out in the heat trying to find a printing company that will heavily discount or even donate the printing of some things we need to promote Paws for Diabetics. Unfortunately so far we have had no luck and PFD doesn't have much money at the moment as we are still only new!!!! MTLH asked me to ask you if anyone out there knows someone that might be able to help? We have been invited to a Diabetic Fun Day on the Central Coast at the beginning of April and need to have some things to hand out. We sent the files to my Uncle Jack today cause he works for a printing company but he has already said his company can't help. If anyone knows anyone (in Australia!) could you please email me: aramisyarker at optusnet dot com dot au. Thanks!!! You might be able to save us from melting in the heat!!!
Licks
Aramis xx

Birthday

2007-02-04T18:08:00.000+11:00

This morning I got woken up by MTLH singing Happy Birthday to me. While this is nice, I don't know that she should sing that often!!!

We got up and waited for Dad to wake up then I got to open my presents!!! I wasn't sure what I was meant to do with the nice bag in the middle of the room and since I'm polite and don't look in other peoples bags I hid under the desk and MTLH had to get everything out for me.

I got:
Schmackos

Raw hide bones
A ball on a rope

A snake (not one that can bite tho)

A Giraffe (see I said I wouldn't get an elephant!!! but I got a giraffe!!)
And a Santa Paws ball.

We hung around home eating rawhide bones - which I had to SHARE with Carbi! MTLH read me the emails my other Mum and my sisters sent - I had 4 emails!! I spent some time telling Olivia (my sister who lives with my other Mum) what I got and she wanted to know if I was going to have cake and funny hats. Unfortunately no cake but happiliy no funny hats either!!

We then we out. We went and picked up Uncle Dan and went shopping. MTLH helped me pick out a valentines day present for my lovely girlfriend. We went for a run in an empty carpark.

Carbi spilt Dad's coffee on himself and Dad - don't worry, it wasn't hot. This is what Dad's shirt looked like:

Carbi now has more brown patches than he did. Dad picked out some bones for Carbi and I to have when we got home. We got chicken necks, lamb necks and brisket bones.

When we got home Dad got out a chicken neck for each of us, but they are either mutant chickens or they are really lamb ones because look at the size of them!!!

Carbi decided that both of them should be his and he pulled a clump of hair out of me!!! Which I don't think that that's fair because we only got bones cause it's my birthday!! This is me not sure if it's safe to eat it.

I then made MTLH and Dad be my body guards and had a good chew.

Also today, we had our 2000th visitor to the blog!!!

So there are celebrations all around. Carbi has some news to tell you too but he can do that himself later!

Licks
Aramis xx

Another Secret

2007-02-02T15:05:00.000+11:00

There is another secret and I promise I don't know anything about this one!!! It's my birthday on Sunday, I will be 2!!! MTLH went to Pet Barn to get us the flea stuff we have every month and come back out with a bag... and she wouldn't let me see what was in it!!!! She got cranky when I tried. Yesterday the same thing happened at the local shops!!! I'm guessing it's my presents... I wonder what they are.

One thing I do know is that I'm not getting an elephant because that wouldn't fit in a bag and MTLH wouldn't be able to carry it even if it did!

Licks,
Aramis xx

I'm Sorry!!!

2007-02-01T19:32:00.000+11:00

I'm sorry everyone! I lied to you all!! I knew all along what the secret was but I wasn't able to tell you because it was a secret from Aunty Lou and she reads my blog and we couldn't let her know.

Before I tell you what the secret was I'll tell you that it isn't that purple aliens are coming to visit.

I'm also want to say that we didn't go to Villawood agian today and we aren't going to the coast again.

We aren't going to the coast because Nana isn't here! She went to CHINA!!!! That's the secret!!! Nana went to China for Aunty Lou's exhibition and Aunty Lou didn't know until she turned up at the door to her appartment!! Nana talked to Uncle Phil and organised it but Aunty Lou just thought that Nana and Pop were gettting flowers delivered!! Nana turned up with some fake flowers in her hands.

So... the little purple bit was cut out of this....

and this is what Nana would have looked like when Aunty Lou opened the door - although she would have been wearing warmer clothes!!!

I hope everyone forgives me for lying!
Licks,
Aramis xx

Away again

2007-01-31T08:04:00.000+11:00

Hi,
We might be going to the coast again this weekend. Nana and Pop are thinking of going to see Uncle Richard and Aunty Kellie and we might all go with them. Carbi has taken some time off work and so has Dad so we could all go and play on the beach.

On another note, I have worked out the secret. I think that purple aliens are coming to visit. What do you think? Could I have worked it out??

Licks,
Aramis xx

PS I keep forgetting to tell you all - MTLH helped me upload lots of pictures into our photo album so have a look! There are 12 more folders of photos there!!!!

Bits and Pieces

2007-01-30T13:19:00.000+11:00

My Aunty Lou is having an exhibition of her paintings in a revolving restaurant in China. She is a good artist and most of our walls here are covered with stuff she has drawn or painted.

I don't know if anyone who reads this (apart from Aunty Lou) is in China, but if you are, you should go to it! I want to, but Carbi and I can only visit when we are dreaming because if we go we aren't allowed back into Australia.

I heard MTLH and Nana talking about going to Villawood Refugee Detention Centre again on Thursday. I didn't like it last time because it's like a prison but I got lots of pats, and everyone was nice so I'm looking forward to it - a bit!

Something secret is being planned in our house. I'm not sure what it is... but I know it involves this...I'll let you know when I work out what is going on!!!

Licks,
Aramis xx

Parties

2007-01-29T16:25:00.000+11:00

On Saturday night we got to go out to a fancy restaurant for our Uncle Andrew's 21st birthday party. Aramis and I sat under the table and behaved really good. Mum forgot to take her camera so we don't have any pictures of that - BUT we went around to their house last night and Mum got pictures there.

This is Uncle Andrew and his cake

This is my face when I thought I'd be able to have some cake (we didn't get any)

This is Aramis's face

This is Dad trying to look scary

This is Sarah playing with me (Sarah is Uncle Andrew's girlfriend)

This is Dad teasing me

One little day can change your life!

2007-01-26T22:08:00.000+11:00

So, on Wednesday we came home and then MTLH started packing again. When everything was packed we went to bed and got up VERY early in the morning. This time only MTLH and I went in the car which meant that I got the pick of the seats - well not the drivers seat, but that's only because my feet don't reach the pedals!! We drove for over two hours and arrived at a shopping centre. MTLH and I walked to a cafe and went in and sat down. We talked to a few people and I had to decide whether to send them to live in China with Aunty Lou. Oh, MTLH just read what I had written and said that it's not with Aunty Lou. Aunty Lou lives in Shanghai and we want people to live in Qiqihar, but I think that its ok... China's not that big is it??

Anyway, we had a break at lunch time and MTLH and I were going to go back to Uncle Dan's house and have lunch but MTLH had to talk to a reporter (more about that another time) and one of the people that is going to China rang and then we needed to buy Uncle Dan's christmas/birthday present because we think that Dad packed his christmas present because we can't find it! Finally we went back to the cafe just in time for the next interview.

Finally, we were all done for the day. So we jumped in the car and drove to Uncle Dan's house - via the place with the yellow M that gives you chicken nuggets because I had been so good. When we got there, I had a good sniff around and could smell Uncle Dan, a girl dog (Roxie) and some people. Uncle Dan and Roxie were the only ones there so I assumed that Uncle Dan was the only person that lived there.

Roxie - I don't think I've ever met a cuter dog! I liked her the moment I laid eyes on her. I even let her share my chicken nuggets even though I was the one that had been so good! Roxie is my girlfriend now. This is her photo:

Notice that we have very similar markings on our faces... that shows that it was meant to be. This is a photo of us together:

And a video that shows how much she likes me!!

Unfortunatly, I found out that Uncle Dan's cousins live in the house we were in and I met them when they came home. I do really like Lala, but Cal's a man so I'm not so sure about him... but they could be my new parents-in-law so I'd better get to know them.

This morning I had to go with MTLH to see a lady about a dog. MTLH said that and she thought it was funny-ish - I don't know why. Anyway, we went to a BIG park and MTLH said I was doing some PFD PR work so I had to be really good. I met a lady, a boy and two little girls. One of them was four and she has diabetes like Dad does and they are thinking about getting a dog to help her. Also, there is a Diabetes Fun Day that the lady is organising and they want me to go and do even more PR work.

I wasn't really sure what Public Relations was all about, however, it feels like just a lot of hand shaking! These people today seemed to have the same strange obsession with shaking hands that Nana did when she first came to live here. They seemed to like me and when they were going the boy asked if I could wave, MTLH said 'no, but I'm going to teach him', so maybe PR just involves shaking hands and waving at people.

After the park we went to the shops again and then back to Roxie's house. Roxie and I played all afternoon and then it was time for MTLH and I to leave. On the way home we stopped off quickly at Uncle Dan's Aunty's house and I met another dog - I didn't get properly introduced because we then had to go.

We drove all the way home and I am so tired, but so, so happy! Isn't it amazing to think that yesterday morning I didn't even know Roxie??? I hope we can continue our relationship long distance!!

Another animal

2007-01-26T20:17:00.000+11:00

The other day I told you about the animals we saw on the trip... there was one I forgot to mention.
To refresh your memories we saw:

Cow-dogs

Horse-dogs

and goat-dogs.

The one I forgot was this...

Mum called it a Sheep. It isn't a sheep-dog because that's what Mum and Dad call me since I had my haircut and Aramis is a sheepdog.

Boring!

2007-01-23T20:44:00.000+11:00

Today we worked... and it was boring!!! I don't know how people do it all day every day!

MTLH and Dad are now watching NCIS so I'm using the computer while it is free. Texas... to answer your question, I don't have a favourite character on NCIS, I use the time while Dad and MTLH is watching to catch up on my blog and emails and comments.

Today MTLH had to do interviews all day. Dad, Carbi and I all went with her and sat around doing nothing all day. The best part of the day was when we got to go for a run and when Dad brought us chicken nuggets for dinner cause we were so good all day!

Tomorrow we head home and then it's off agian on Thursday for MTLH and I.

Goodnight
Aramis xx

I can't sleep!!

2007-01-22T23:27:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone,
I know we said that we wouldn't be posting but I can't sleep because it's noisy here. I was asleep until the neighbours came home...

Anyways, I was awake and so I got out Mum's laptop to play a game and then discovered that I can connect wirelessly to the internet here!!!! I was so excited! Quietly excited cause I didn't want Mum to wake up and use it instead.

Today has been a long day, and guess what?? Mum remembered the camera - but not the memory card!! So she has got a cheap camera that she put a weird round memory card in and that I can't see photos on when they are taken. Mum also said that we have to take the photos somewhere to be "developed". I'm not sure why I can't just stick that weird round memory card into the computer like I do the other one we have... maybe we don't have the right slot for it or something? Anyway, since I don't have my own photos I will use ones I find in google!!

This morning we drove for ages. I had a big sleep and when I woke up I looked out the window
and saw some of these...

I wanted to bark at them but there were lots of them and they were bigger than me so I didn't make a noise. Doesn't it look vicious?? Mum called them cow-dogs.

Then we saw some of these...

Mum called these ones horse-dogs

And last but not least, we saw some....

goat-dogs.

Then we got to the caravan and all had a sleep. In the afternoon we woke up and went to the beach.

We were walking along the edge of the water and then all of a sudden a wave came. Dad and I managed to run away from it but Mum got wet and Aramis got a bit wet cause he ran a bit away. THEN Aramis started to panic cause he wanted to get out of the water right away! But cause he was trying and there was water and wet sand he fell over and got covered in sand and water. He had sand all over his face and all down one side. I laughed and laughed - because it didn't happen to me!! You know what's even funnier than that?? Aramis had to have a shower to get some of the sand out!!!

Well... I'm feeling tired now, it's quiet again and I have a hard day tomorrow - I have to help Mum interview people to go and teach english in China.

I'll post again tomorrow if I'm not to tired.

Night
Carbi xx

We're all going on a Summer Holiday

2007-01-21T20:19:00.001+11:00

It's not a long holiday... but it is a holiday.

MTLH has to go to Nowra (on the South Coast of NSW) for work and Dad, Carbi and I are going with her. We are going to get to go to the beach and have lots of fun. We are leaving when Carbi and Dad get home from work in the morning and then coming back on Wednesday. Then MTLH has to go to the Central Coast for work and I'm going with her. Dad and Carbi have to stay home and go to work.

We'll post when we can!

Aramis xx

Dogs MTLH loved

2007-01-20T22:37:00.000+11:00

It's been really hot today. We went out to look at a car - MTLH pretends to want to buy stuff and they pay her for it... not really sure why. Anyway, it was hot and still is and I can't think. MTLH has been putting Nana and Pop's photos onto the computer for her and I saw this photo....
She got really excited about seeing it. This dog is Harry (and the man with him is Pop - well MTLH says that's Pop, I'm not sure if I should believe her). Harry was a Labrador. He was the first dog that MTLH ever loved. He lived with Nana and Pop before MTLH was even born. MTLH and Aunty Lou used to ride him around the backyard like a horse - he was THAT big. MTLH said that all her friends were scared of him because of how big he was but that he wouldn't hurt a fly.

The next puppy that MTLH loved was Cara.

She was Nannan's dog. She was a cocker spaniel and she stopped Nannan's house from being robbed one day when someone went to climb over the back fence.

Next in our line up is Gizmo the Labrador.

This photo is one of Aunty Lou, Gizmo and MTLH. Gizmo was the first of three puppy's that MTLH had that went to Guide Dog University after they had grown up. Gizmo didn't make it as a guide dog and had a short career as a pets as therapy dog before he went to live with a family as a pet dog.

The second guide dog puppy was Connor the golden retriever
This is Connor as a baby - he looks too big to be a baby to me. Then again, this is him all grown up...

MTLH said that she loved Connor so much and she still misses him but that he is a pets as therapy dog.

Next up was Ulah, another golden retriever...

Ulah was a bit of a naughty puppy MTLH says and she went straight to being a pet dog when she failed the Guide Dog U exams.

Then there was Carbi

and then ME!!!

PS. MTLH said that the man in the photo with Harry was Pop...

I don't think that this man...

And this man....

Are the same person. Do you?

Here I come to save the day....

2007-01-18T12:00:00.000+11:00

This morning MTLH started to prepare food for dinner. She has to cook rice and let it cool so she put a big pot of water on the stove and turned it on to boil. She then went and sat in the air conditioned loungeroom to wait for it to boil.

I could smell something funny so I barked and barked and ran into the kitchen and back to MTLH telling her to get up and HURRY!!

MTLH came in and could see black stuff coming out from around the bottom of the pot and so she picked it up and then yelled to Dad that there was a FIRE!!!

Dad ran in and blew it out! He was able to do this because I told them early and it wasn't big!! MTLH said that something had fallen into the element and caught on fire.

I got lots of loving after that!!

Aramis.

Bad day (but some good)

2007-01-16T23:53:00.000+11:00

Today has been a bit of a bad day... it all started at 10.30 last night actually...
Dad went to work and left me at home!!! I had a little cut on my foot and he didn't want me to step in anything yucky (we work in a nursing home). I cried and cried and cried. I didn't like Mum because she held me and stopped me from going with Dad. I talked to Pop for a while but he had to go to bed so I went to my bed and cried and howled until about 2am! Then I was tired so I went to sleep.

This morning I got up when Pop did and was talking to him. Then he went out to the car and didn't tell me to wait at the door. I ran out the door and ran away. Pop yelled at me but I ran next door to where our car is normally parked but it wasn't there so I couldn't go and find him. Then Mum tricked me by running away from me and making me chase her and somehow I ended up inside.

Dad came home soon after that and we all had another snooze because we didn't get much sleep last night (for some strange reason).

When we got up we had a play and then Mum made us both have a bath.

The good stuff that happened today was that training started again and we all got to go. I was really good!

I'm tired now.
Night
Carbi xx

Head over heels

2007-01-15T17:48:00.000+11:00

Reading my friends blogs I realised that everyone seems to be in love. Charlie likes Freda, Lillie likes Tanner, everyone loves Miss Sunshade...

I thought that I would tell you about my new love. My Mum loves Lano and Woodley (comedians - there's another love) and one of their songs expresses my feeling perfectly so this following video is a tribute to the love of my life.

Head Over Heels

(Lane/Webb/Woodley)

I never had much faith in romance, I never met a lover who

could make my heart go whoopdy-doo

Until one day BAM suddenly

I fell head over heels in love with me.

Did you know that there are some plants

That are into self-pollination, I've got a Col infatuation

Self-pollinising's the only way to be

I'm Head over heels in love with me.

Chorus

There is something in the way i walk,

The way i talk is so alluring

There is something in my cheeky smile,

And my profile that's so enduring

I'm not the only one who takes this stance i think that you will find

That most girls will lose their minds

Whenever they're in my vicinity

They fall head over heels in love with me

Chorus

There is something in the way i walk,

The way i talk is so alluring

There is something in my cheeky smile,

And my profile that's so enduring

Whenever i see a mirror i do glance

And i say man oh man, Colly I'm you biggest fan

I worship you as a deity, I'm head over heels in love

You're all head over heels in love

Everyone's head over heels in love..... with me

All Growd Up?

2007-01-14T03:04:00.000+11:00

MTLH finally got to take a photo of Carbi that she was trying to get. It shows just how much Carbi has grown... and he is still growing!

~12th of August, 2006~

~13th January, 2007~

New 'Family' Members

2007-01-14T02:48:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone,

I just want to introduce you to my new 'sisters'. They are part of my Paws for Diabetics (PFD) family! If you haven't alredy... please check out the PFD site so you know how important me, Carbi and the rest of the PFD family are!!!

Firstly we have Phoenix.

She is living with my other Mum. She was really small when she was born but thanks to her breeder she lived and now has a really important job!

Second we have Shania.

Phoenix and Shania are both hairless chinese cresteds and are real sisters as well as PFD sisters! Shania now lives with Gail and will be a big help to her by detecting Gail's hypos!

Now everyone cross their fingers that they start alerting really soon so that their new mum's get to feel safer!!! Some doggies take longer to start alerting than others. Carbi started only two days after he came to live with MTLH and Dad.

Aramis xx

G.P.

2007-01-12T14:40:00.000+11:00

This morning we discovered that our brother G.P. (the Guinea Pig) had died.

Yesterday was really hot, after a few cold days, and Mum and Dad think it was too much for his little body to take.

RIP GP

Wentworth Falls Lake

2007-01-12T09:57:00.000+11:00

It's been hot here the last few days. We went to the lake to try and cool down a bit.

We sat in the shade while Dad and Mum had their picnic lunch and Aramis and I had a picnic of peanut butter smackos (our favourite!).

Then Dad and I went for a walk - I heard him say to Mum that it was a training exercise and I wasn't sure what that meant... I found out that it meant that I wasn't able to have fun and I had to walk next to Dad and ignore everything but him.

Anyway, when we came back from the walk Aramis was sitting under the tree all by himself and I couldn't see Mum anywhere. Dad could see her and I could hear her talking to him but I couldn't see her. Then suddenly she just dropped out of the sky!!! I have to admit... I was scared!

After that Mum and Dad said it was time to 'feed the ducks'. I thought maybe ducks was a new name for me and I was getting food. Then they started throwing bread into the water to these strange dogs. I don't know why they were feeding those things... I don't know what they are, only that they are called 'ducks' and that they float on water. I think that they must be another breed of dog... duck dogs. I tried to get the bread but they were throwing it too far out.

I'm going to bed now because I've been at work all night.
Night
Carbi xx

The News

2007-01-11T23:20:00.000+11:00

MTLH told me something the other day when I was excited about being able to show Fei around if she came to visit NSW. The something got me worried. Carbi was excited about it but I'm not.

MTLH said that we are moving. I hope that she means me as well. I don't want ANOTHER new home! Although... I guess another new home WITH MTLH and Dad and Carbi wouldn't be too bad.

Anyways... she said we are moving to Tasmania. This is Australia (this was the best map I could find... Yamba is marked on there but I don't even know where that is! :-) )

We live in New South Wales at the moment and we have to go to Tasmania (which is right down the bottom!). First we have to drive 900 kms and then we have to go on a boat overnight to get there. MTLH just told me that some people out there don't know what kms are so I googled to find out how many miles that is and this is what I got... 900 kilometers = 559.234073 miles.

This is our new house...

They aren't moving for a few months... which means I have a few months to be really good and make sure that they take me with them!

I really like the backyard here too... it's big and fun for Carbi and I too play in. MTLH took this video of 'her boys' (as she calls us) playing out the back.

Anyway, I'm off to be good...
Aramis xx

Us?

2007-01-06T23:19:00.000+11:00

MTLH decided to play around with this website and made these pics of me, Carbi and Dad.

Doesn't Carbi look cool??

But he's not so cool in this one

Do you like my beard?

This photo of Dad was taken when he had been really sick - he is a bit fatter now!!! :)

Sight (acutally) seeing

2007-01-06T14:12:00.000+11:00

Some of you might remember reading about the time MTLH and Dad took us to the Three Sisters (Sight (not) seeing) and this was all we could see:

Yesterday, Nana had some friends come over and we went to the Three Sisters while Dad and Carbi slept. Nana met these friends while visiting Villawood as they were locked up. They are now both free and so came to visit. Aunt M also came over.

We drove to Katoomba, picking up Judy (Nana's friend) in Hazelbrook. MTLH was driving and she drove along cliff drive to show the visitors the view over the valley. We got to the Three Sisters and actually got to see them this time.

There was also a big black man there who was trying to talk to me but I didn't want to talk to him. Mum took a video of him playing his didgeridoo. She was silly and forgot that she can't turn her camera sideways, so you will have to turn your head to look at it. She said I have to tell you that the man is Aboriginal - the first people to live in Australia.

After the Three Sisters we went to Scenic World. Aunt M, MTLH and I went on the Scenisender, while everyone else went on the Scenic Railway. The Scenic Railway is the steepest railway in the southern hemisphere, and MTLH didn't want to scare me by going on it.

~This is where the tracks for the scenic railway disappear - the train goes down there!!~

~This is the train for the scenic railway~

~Nana took this photo on the way down on the scenic railway~

The scenisender is the steepest Cable Car in the southern hemisphere but is less scary than the railway.~This is what I went on~

~Here is a photo of me looking int0 the valley - see I wasn't scared at all!~

It was really fun. MTLH took a video of me on it (this time she did it the right way) so you can all see how high we were and what a beautiful view there was.

~When the scenisender got to the bottom of the valley we went for a walk~

After we got back to the top of the valley we went to a Cafe in Katoomba and everyone ate while I lay under the table being quiet. Then we came home.

Present!

2007-01-04T18:41:00.000+11:00

I got a new present yesterday! Nana, Dad, Mum, Aramis and I all drove down to Penrith to get it (and Nana's new computer). I waited in the car with Dad while Mum went into the store and got it.

It looks like this:

When we got home Mum set it up in the lounge room for me.

First she pulled out the inside bit:

Then she zipped up one side:

And then the other:

And then I discovered that my new present was a special little house just for me! Mum and Dad can zip up the door to lock Aramis out and let me play with my toys all by myself.

Aramis says that it is because I'm being naughty at work and Dad is going to put me in it to keep me out of the way... but I know from reading my friend Joey's blog that you don't get presents if you are naughty, so Aramis MUST be wrong!

Happy New Year!!!

2007-01-01T11:51:00.000+11:00

We had a big night last night! We went and picked up Uncle Dan and I even sat in the back of the car with him! Nannan and Em also came over and we had a BBQ. MTLH cooked the BBQ. She also hurt her foot and has been hopping and hobbling around every since! The stuff that MTLH was cooking smelt nice (tofu kebabs) but Uncle Dan's sausages smelt REALLY GOOD! Unfortunately I didn't get to eat any.

Dad had to go to work and MTLH and Uncle Dan watched some movies. I slept on the bed.
At 11.45pm they went upstairs to watch the fireworks on the TV with Nana and Pop. MTLH told me that they were going upstairs and about half an hour later I finally woke up enough to go up too. Unfortunately the fireworks were over but I got a pat from everyone and shook hands with them to wish them a happy new year! I did a search and found some photos of the fireworks - so now I've seen them :-)

2006 was a big year for me and Carbi.
Me:
I had three different homes this year.
I flew inside a plane - with all the people - and was the first Paws for Diabetics dog to do so.
I came to live with MTLH and Dad and Carbi

Carbi
Carbi was born - you cant get bigger than that
Carbi came to live with MTLH and Dad at the age of 8 weeks

Carbi got a job!
Carbi was in the local newspaper and a national magazine
Carbi got the privilege of getting me as a big brother!
And last but not least... Carbi had his operation

Basically, 2006 had some bad parts and lots of good parts.

I would like to wish everyone a 2007 that has more good parts than bad parts!

Aramis xx

Sleeping

2006-12-31T10:46:00.000+11:00

MTLH took this photo of Carbi and Dad. I thought you might like to see it.

I don't think that Carbi and Dad love each other... do you?

PS. To any Australian readers, can you believe that it is New Years Eve and Dad and Carbi are snuggled up under a quilt???

Post Op

2006-12-29T23:49:00.000+11:00

Firstly I'd like to say thanks to everyone who wished me well with my operation! I'm a bit sore but my mouth actually feels better because there is enough room in there now for all my teeth!

On Wednesday night they wouldn't let me eat or drink after 8pm!!! I was starving! It was so upsetting.

I woke up at around 4am on Thursday morning and I was so sad because I was hungry and thirsty. I cried and cried and cried. I threw myself around the bed trying to get comfy. Mum was getting a bit fed up with me!

At about 8am Thursday morning Mum took me to the doctors I was excited to be there, especially as there was lots of bowls of water around - but Mum wouldn't let me drink any - I think she enjoys torturing me! She helped me get in a cage in a part of the doctors I went when I was really little and really sick (read that story here). Then they closed the door and as Mum walked away I heard her warning the nurses that I would cry (I'm a bit of a cry baby ... especially when I'm hungry and thirsty and tired and away from my dad!). I won't go into what happened next too much, but let me just say that I have recently learnt to howl when I'm sad.

When Mum and Dad came to pick me up again I heard Mum ask the nurse (a different one to the one she was talking to in the morning) if I had cried. The nurse said "YES!!!", a little too enthusiastically if you ask me! Mum and Dad took me home and made a big fuss of me. I didn't hurt too much as my doctor had given me some pain killers!

Today I was feeling better and Mum and Dad had to go shopping so we all went. On the way home it stormed! There was so much rain falling on the windscreen that we had to stop for a while. There were balls of ice falling as well.

Nana was at home and took these photos of our backyard.

Luckily GP, the guinea pig's cage was facing away from the water cause otherwise he would have gotten very wet as lots of dirt was washed into the open part of his cage. When Pop came home he went to have a look at how much dirt had been moved around the backyard and he put his foot into a hole and fell over. He did the same thing on boxing day two years ago and snapped a ligament. This time though he only twisted it. He spent the rest of the evening on the lounge with his foot up. I tried to make him feel better but he didn't like it when I tried to jump on it to make it better.

Goodnight!
Carbi xx

Operation

2006-12-28T15:19:00.000+11:00

Carbi has gone to have his operation today. He has to have the snip snip operation and teeth out.

Dad rang the doctors and they said that he is awake but groggy. They also said that some of his teeth were hard to get out (but they came out) and he will need to only eat soft food for about a week. That means he won't get to eat any of his christmas treats!

Aramis

Christmas Parties

2006-12-28T13:51:00.000+11:00

After opening our presents on Christmas day, Dad and Carbi had a snooze. Then at around 11.30 we went around to Dad's Aunty and Uncle's house to have Christmas lunch. MTLH didn't take her camera so I don't have any pics to show you.

They have a dog who is about twice as big as I am and we were allowed to play until Doogle (their dog) got a bit to excited and 'attacked' me. It didn't hurt but it scared me a bit so he had to go out the back and we got to play with the ball out the front.

We had lots of fun but Carbi was really tired when we got home.

The next day we had another party to go to. This one was at MTLH's sisters house. Mum got up early and made two very nice smelling lemon merangue pies. Then we all went to Jules's house. There were lots of people there.

There was: Me, Carbi, MTLH, Dad, Nana, Pop, Nannan, Aunt M, Tony, Uncle Richard, Aunty Kellie (who is allergic to me!), Uncle Jack, Aunty Chris, Amy, Dominique, Mia, Aunty Jules, Rodney, Tommy and Laura. And two of the ladies also had babies in their tummies!! Nana rang Aunty Lou and everyone talked to her as she couldn't come from China to be there.

~Aunty Kel talking to Aunty Lou~

~Dad and Nannan both holding 'babies'!~

The party was ok, but I didn't like there being so many people around. Laura loves playing with me but I'm a bit scared that she might pull my fur so I ran away from her. Everyone was laughing because we were both running in circles around the BBQ. Laura was very happy because she got her first pairs of underware from Nana and Pop! She tried to put all 7 pairs over her nappy she was that excited!

Carbi and I had both thought that we had avoided the wearing of silly hats - we were wrong!!

The day was extra special because Mum's neice got to meet her new baby sister for the first time (Amy lives with her mum and the new baby is her dads). Amy has just turned 16 and is the oldest of MTLH's neices - she is only 9 years (and 1 day) younger than MTLH. Which means that Amy is closer in age to her Aunty than her sister - isn't that strange!!

~Amy and Mia~

After a few hours I had had enough and so I sat near the gate hoping MTLH and Dad would get the hint and take me home!

Eventually they did and we went home!
Aramis xx

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

2006-12-25T07:55:00.000+11:00

This morning we woke up when Dad and Carbi got home from work and we went upstairs to see if Santa had come in the night. MTLH helped us take our stockings down from the fire and they looked heavy.

We pulled everything out of them and then we ate some of our new treats! We got peanut butter flavoured smackos that taste really good.

We also got a ball with a bell inside but the treats were more interesting!

But best of all was the scratch that I got from Dad.

~"If I smile nicely will you give me more treats? (Stop flashing that thing at me!!!)"~

It's all about me!

2006-12-24T21:12:00.000+11:00

Ok everyone... it's time to stop panicing about hair eaters. All that happened was that Mum and Dad gave me a haircut. Aramis was asleep and didn't realise they had done it. I didn't tell him because it was funny for him to be scared!

Anyway, I was looking at all the photos of when I was a baby and found two videos taken on my second day living in this house.

We all went out to lunch today because Mum and Dad were celebrating the fact that they got engaged two years ago today (whatever that means). We went to a restaurant and Aramis and I sat under the table and watched the world go by.

Mum and Dad keep telling us that Santa is coming tomorrow. We have a tree in the loungeroom

and two stockings hanging on the fire that they say Santa will be filling with toys and goodies.
I helped wrap up all the presents that you can see under the tree.

We have all our cards on the blinds - these are all ones for us!

They keep telling Aramis that he isn't alowed to bark at any noises he might hear tonight because he might scare away Santa. I'll be at work. I heard Dad say to his Mum that Santa won't come if she doesn't go to sleep!! I don't go to sleep because I go to work!!! Do you think he will still come???

Strange Men

2006-12-24T13:24:00.000+11:00

The other day some strange men came to our house. They came inside downstairs into OUR room. Aramis and I tried to protect the house but Mum and Dad just locked us upstairs. Mum took this video of me protecting the house.

She also took photos of me and Aramis keeping an eye on the strange men, and the van that the strange men came in.

~"Please let me out there Mum"~

They tried to tell us that the men were here to put a new thing under the house to make the water hot as there had been no hot water for them to have a bath or shower for a few days (we had to make a special trip to Aunty Maura's house for them to have a shower). That news made us bark even more trying to tell them to go away... if there is no warm water Mum and Dad might not make us have baths ever again.

Unfortunately they put it in anyway and now we have hot water.

Carbi xx

This is what happens when you take a nap!

2006-12-24T12:39:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I said that I would tell you about the strange thing that happened while I had a nap yesterday evening but that I wanted to have photos to go with it. So, as soon as MTLH got up I made her take photos.

It all started at around 8pm. Carbi and I were playing and having fun. Dad was playing with us too and took these photos.

Then we got a bit tired and Carbi had to go to work later that evening so we had a sleep. I had a nice dream of being in a field full of people who were there just to pat me if I wanted them to, and there were trees growing my favourite treats.

Then, Dad opened the back door to go outside and woke me up. I staggered to my feet to join him and found that there was a new puppy in my house!!

I gave the new dog a good sniff and realise that it smelt like Carbi then it turned around and told me off just like Carbi does. So I guessed it was still Carbi but something had come and eated all his hair off!! He looks a bit funny! He looks taller and skinnier! Nana and Pop think he looks really handsome but I think he looks weird.

The only problem with this is that I'm a bit worried about sleeping now... you never know what might happen, and next time the hair eater might get me and I'm too handsome to loose all my fur!!!

SNAKE!!!

2006-12-23T22:48:00.000+11:00

Now, it's not what you think - before you all get as scared as I did make sure you read ALL the post!

Today we had a bit of a quiet day. MTLH was trying to copy some stuff to CDs and most of them didn't work. We also went to Uncle Dan's house for a few minutes to give him the present from Aunty Lou that she had sent here, and for him to give MTLH her present. MTLH feels really bad because she put Uncle Dan's present in a "safe place" and now can't find it!

Anyway, we came home after that and MTLH kept trying to copy the CD's. Something very strange happened while I was having a nap but I'll tell you about that tomorrow when I have photos to go with it!

Then, just a few minutes ago, MTLH went upstairs and picked up a snake! It didn't make any sudden movements but I kept an eye on it from a safe distance, ready to attack if it hurt MTLH. She carried it downstairs and put it on the floor. Then she grabbed the tail of the snake and put it into a hole in the wall.

That must of hurt it because it got really really angry and started to roar. I thought snakes were quiet and didn't make noise... but I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

Then MTLH went near it's head and started moving it around the floor. So I barked at the snake and said "Oi! Get away from my MTLH". I thought MTLH would be happy I was trying to protect her, but she told me to be quiet. So I gave the snake another warning bark and watched for a while.

It was then that I realised that I had made a silly mistake! It wasn't a snake! It was a sucky, cleaning thing. I'm sure you've all seen them before, and I had too. However, MTLH said this one is a duck one (it sounded more like ducted, but I think MTLH may have made a mistake), the hose gets put into the wall and then the dirt get sucked into the wall and down the pipe into a bag under the house.

After I realised this I barked at it again because it was stealing all the tasty crumbs that MIGHT be on the floor. I felt a bit silly being scared of the sucky thing so after MTLH had packed it away I made her give me a pat!

Goodnight!
Aramis xx
PS - Remember to come back tomorrow to find out what happened today while I was asleep!

Special Christmas Card

2006-12-22T22:49:00.000+11:00

As you all know, Carbi and I have been getting lots of Christmas cards. Thanks to all those who sent them to us!

A few days ago we got a special Christmas card. This was one that we didn't know we were going to get and which came from China. It was from Manny, my cousin.

In it he wrote:

Dear Carbi and Aramis,
Merry Christmas and happy chanukah!!
Lou's art students at the Shanghai International Jewish School made these cards for an art project for Chanukah - Their hand prints make Menorahs.
Wishing you, dad and MTLH a Merry Christmas. I saw you have dogs all over the world sending you cards, and thought I should join in - unfortunately there is no "Mannys Who Blog" group for me... can I be included in your list?
Merry Christmas,
love xxx Manny
PS Marcel, Francis, Lou and Phil say hi!

I felt really bad when I got this special card because I hadn't sent Manny a card and he didn't get any. So, I thought I'd let all my friends know about him and ask them very nicely to spare a few minutes to go over to his blog and say Merry Christmas!

Please help me feel better - and make Manny's day at the same time - now that IS a bargain!

Aramis xx

I've been xmas tagged

2006-12-22T22:00:00.000+11:00

I got tagged by Fei quite a while ago but Carbi has been hogging the computer bragging about his article. I'll have you know I'm in the photo too - and at least you can see my face!! But no, because it's about HIM he keeps going on and on about it. He's always telling me to do things for him because he's too famous to do things now. AND if I have to hear "More peeled grapes, slave" one more time I'm going to howl!

So... with that in mind... I will fulfil my tagging duties!
The rules:

1. The player with this game starts with “3 wishes he/she would love to get for Christmas” and also has a list of “3 wishes he/she definitely does not want for Christmas”

2. Then he/she tags 5 friends and list their names.

3. The ones who get tagged need to write on their blogs about their Christmas wishes, as well as state this rules clearly, then tag 5 more victims.

4. And the ones who tag need to leave a comment that says, “You’ve been Christmas tagged!” in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

I would love to get for Xmas:

1. Carbi to stop talking about the article

2. A days break from Carbi

3. Lots of pats and treats form MTLH

I DO NOT WANT:

1. To feed Carbi peeled grapes

2. To hear another word about the article

3. To be scared by visitors

I am going to tag:

Uncle Dan and Aunty Lou - I don't have 5 people to tag because I think they have all already been tagged

To all my fans....

2006-12-21T21:47:00.000+11:00

Here is my pawtograph. Feel free to print it out and show it off to all your friends!
Love Carbi xx

Here it is...

2006-12-20T17:15:00.000+11:00

I've obviously got a very well trained secretary casue she has typed up the article already... here it is...

Hypo hounds to the rescue

JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2007

By Gillian Nicholson

We all know about guide dogs for the blind and alert-dogs for the deaf, but now there’s a new breed of protection pup on the prowl – canines specially trained to help people with diabetes.

Lorraine Roulston came out of a deep sleep to find her tiny dog Saki sitting on her chest, whining and scratching her neck painfully. Dazed, she felt her neck and, touching sticky wetness, held her hand up in front of her face.

Through sleep-filled eyes she saw blood, then realised why Saki was scratching so relentlessly. “My dog saved my life,” Lorraine says. “She woke me up because I was going into a hypo. I got out of bed, but was so far gone I couldn’t walk. I then had to drag myself to the kitchen to get some lemonade.”

Later she joked to her family the pure-bred Japanese Chin must be psychic, but when her diabetes suddenly became unstable a couple of years ago, causing frequent and unpredictable hypos – and strange reactions from Saki – Lorraine began to see a pattern.

Seeing a news story claiming some dogs could detect an impending drop in blood glucose levels and alert their owners confirmed the suspicions of the former breeder and trainer form Wallangarra in northern NSW.

“Your scent changes when you’re about to go into a hypo. Saki could detect that scent even before I started to feel off,” she says.

“But I was relying on her too much. I had lost the confidence to go out because I didn’t want to leave her behind. So I set about finding out how to get my Saki recognised as a ‘hypo-alert’ dog so she could go out with me everywhere.”

Puppy Power

Lorraine’s quest led her to the Association of Australian Assistance Dogs (NQ), a charitable organisation that trains and provides dogs to help people with disabilities achieve greater independence.

It also led her to a friendship with Barbara Katon, a Sydney dog breeder with type 1 diabetes who had experienced similar alerting behaviour from her canine companion. In 2005, the two dog lovers set up Paws for Diabetics Inc (PFD), a charitable, non-profit organisation of volunteers who train and place the helpful animals with those who need them. And as a member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI), PFD follows the association’s guidelines in their training and accreditation.

“These dogs really are lifesavers,” says Lorraine, whose dog Saki became Australia’s first hypo-alert dog. “We call them the latest tool in diabetes management as they give their owners warning well in advance of an impending hypoglycaemic episode.

“All dogs have the potential to be hypo-alert dogs, especially if they’re young. IF a dog is closely attached to someone special, they can be trained to react when something is wrong. Training the owners is the most important thing, so that they will recognise the dog’s alerting behaviour and then learn how to reinforce it to benefit them,” Lorraine explains.

“Hypo-alert dogs aren’t for everyone and we can’t guarantee that every dog will work out. There will be failures. But when it does work out, people say that it’s truly an answer to their prayers.”

Hypo-alert puppies

Purebred puppies are selecteed, many of them toy size. “Toys are quick to learn and easy to take to places because of their size,” Lorraine explains. Puppies are placed free of charge with suitable applicatnts, then trained until they’re 18 months old. An administration fee of $250 goes towards the cost of the puppies. Before they are fully accredited as hypo-alert dogs, they must pass rigorous tests. Then they can be taken to public places, such as restaurants and hospitals, and on buses and trains.

Carbi is our hero

Carbi has only been in the Yarker household for a short time, but he’s earnt his rawhide bones by giving his owners peace of mind.

For the Yarkers, married for just one year, their hypo-alert puppy is definitely heaven sent. “We have only had Carbi for four weeks and he has already saved James from night-time hypos twice, growling and biting his fingers to wake him up,” says Liz, 24.

“James often has night-time hypos, which he can’t detect while he’s asleep, so having a dog that will detect them for him obviously helps us to sleep knowing that James will wake up in the morning.”

James, 22, who often works night shifts at a Blue Mountains nursing home, was diagnosed with type 1 when he was 14. But his diabetes is part of the more broad-ranging and rare condition, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy which, in James’s case, has caused Addison’s disease (a hormonal disorder) plus other health problems.

“It’s hard for James to manage his diabetes because of all the other complications he has,” Liz explains. “He’s on an insulin pump now, but it’s still difficult to get his levels right.”

Although Carbi (short for carbohydrate), a Chinese Crested Powderpuff, cannot be fully accredited until he is 18 months old, Liz says he’s already changed their lives.

“One day he grabbed James’s jeans and dragged him into the kitchen, then when James stopped drinking the lemonade Carbi started growling again. It’s such a wait off my mind to have Carbi. Never before could I leave James at home alone while he was sleeping. Now I can go to uni without worrying,” Liz says.

The Yarkers are so thrilled with Carbi they’ve set up a family BLOG – staring their fluffy puppy.

“I really want to spread the word about these potentially lifesaving dogs as I know there are lots of families out there with the same worries we have.”

For more information

Many dogs can be trained to become hypo-alert dogs. If you would like to know more about training your dog, or receiving a puppy to be trained, please contact

Paws for Diabetics Inc. www.pfd.org.au

Also, you’ll love reading Carbi’s BLOG www.hypodog.blogspot.com

I'm Famous!!

2006-12-20T15:07:00.000+11:00

Guess what everyone???

I'M FAMOUS!!

This morning Mum, Dad, Aramis and I all got in the car and drove to Springwood. Dad parked the car and Mum jumped out and went to a shop. She came back with a magazine called Diabetic Living, opened it up and guess what I saw??

I saw a photo of Mum, Dad, Aramis and ME!!! Mum read the article out while Dad drove home and it was all about me!!!

I've got my secretary on typing duty - she is going to type out the whole article - but it may take a while. I would do it but I'm too famous to waste my time on typing it!!

Carbi

2006-12-17T23:36:00.000+11:00

Carbi and I try to make MTLH and Dad think that we don't like each other. We fight like this all the time (just playing but they don't have to know that).

I thought we were doing a good job at pretending we don't like being brothers... but then MTLH showed me these pictures she has taken of us.

I think we'll have to make sure that we don't sleep at the same time so that we can stop MTLH getting more photos of us!

All Growd up

2006-12-16T22:51:00.000+11:00

I don't know what they are slipping into my food but I just keep growing and growing!!

Me at 8 weeks - 9th August, 2006

Me on the 12th of October, 2006

Me on the 1st of December, 2006

Anyone else see a trend here?

Home Visit

2006-12-16T22:29:00.000+11:00

Today MTLH and I had to do important PFD work. We had to go visit Gracie and her Mum and HER Mum to make sure that the house was safe to send a puppy to. We were sure it would be as they already have dogs but you can never be to sure when it's about a puppy!

We had a good time. I explored the house throughly to make sure it was ok. It was like in those cop TV shows when one of the cops keeps the criminal occupied while the other one snoops. And I got to be the snoop while MTLH talked!

We stayed for a long time and I talked a bit to Gracie, but she is a bit big for me to feel comfortable!

~Gracie~

MTLH then had to go to the material shop so she could buy some stuff to make a coat for Gracie to wear when she is working.

Carbi and Dad have just left for work and MTLH has given Carbi another nickname (as well as punk, crabby and dill). She was saying good bye to Carbi and she said "Bye Carb" and then started calling him soda and saying "bye carb soda". I don't get it, but she thought it was pretty funny.

Aramis xx

Carbohydrate

2006-12-15T22:59:00.000+11:00

Today I was happily in the loungeroom chewing on a new toy I had found in the backyard. Then Mum came up the stairs...

"Carbohydrate!" she yelled. It was then that I knew I was doing something wrong. She only calls me by my full name if I've been naughty. "You can NOT bring things you find in the compost heap into the house! AND you shouldn't eat the stuff from the compost at all!".

Seriously, someone should write a book of rules for us dogs. They'd make a fortune!

Sleeping

2006-12-15T22:50:00.000+11:00

Mum took some photos of me sleeping today. She told Dad that she took them as evidence.

She came to check on me and Dad and found me in my bed like this....

Dad had put his bag down in my bed!! Mum moved it and I could get comfortable.

She told Dad that she was glad that he had his bag in the bedroom (it has all his stuff for his diabetes in it and he had a habit of leaving it upstairs which annoys Mum) but that he needs to not put it in MY bed!

More Shopping

2006-12-15T19:54:00.000+11:00

Guess what MTLH did today... she decided to go shopping. She knew that the shops would be crowded before Christmas but she still went and made me go.

It was busy and there were lots of people walking past me all the time. Kids wanted to pat me. Adults looked at me. One rude boy yelled out that I wasn't allowed in the shops - poor thing probably doesn't realise that he doesn't know everything!!

The worst thing that happened though was that one boy was walking towards me and then stopped suddenly. His Mum kept walking past and didn't realise he had stopped. The boy looked at me and hid behind a sign. Then... as his mum walked away... he looked at me and SCREAMED!! I don't know what HE was scared of... you should have seen the set of teeth on him... not to mention his set of lungs!

I helped MTLH buy Carbi's christmas present and mine as well. Now... when's Christmas???

Aramis xx

Vets

2006-12-15T00:21:00.000+11:00

I'm a bit cranky at MTLH at the moment. She took me to the vets!! AND... I wasn't sick!!

Carbi was so excited to be there - he went to puppy preschool there and thought that he would see lots of puppies but we didn't see any!

When Victoria, Carbi's doctor, called us into the room we all went in. Carbi went on the table first because he has to have an operation and MTLH and Dad wanted the vet to look at his teeth. Four of his baby teeth haven't fallen out and so they will need to be pulled out. He is going to get this done when he gets desexed. He doesn't know what that means, but I do. I didn't tell him what it was because I didn't think he should know soon - so please don't tell him k?

Anyways, then it was my turn. MTLH helped me onto the table and the vet looked at me. MTLH said that I needed a vacination but then the vet had to leave.

We waited and waited and waited... for almost an HOUR!!!

Then the vet came back in and said that there had been an emergency and she was sorry. A puppy was very sick and was having trouble breathing... from a reaction to something.

I then got my vaccinations which stung but I was good because all I could think of was the poor puppy. Then the vet had to run out again and so we waited more. When she got back we got my card signed to show I had had my vaccination and then we left.

All up we where there for an hour and a half!!! Carbi is lucky - because we were waiting so long MTLH forgot to organise Carbi's operation and so he has more time before it happens.

Aramis xx

Rules for Christmas

2006-12-14T23:32:00.000+11:00

I got the following rules sent to me in an email and I thought that everyone else might benefit from reading them!

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know:
a. Don't pee on the tree
b. Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree
c. Mind your tail when you are near the tree
d. If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open
e. Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part:

a. Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans
b. Don't eat off the buffet table
c. Beg for goodies subtly
d. Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa
e. Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important:
a. Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. (4a is particularly important)
b. Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house
c. Toler ate children
d. Turn on your charm big time

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night.

DO NOT BITE HIM!!

Old Blog, New address

2006-12-13T18:14:00.000+11:00

We now have our own domain name. Uncle Dan helped us set it up after he had done his. This way if anything happens to blogger or our blog we will still have the address so that everyone can still find us!!

If you have a link to us on your site or blog could you please change it to www.hypodogs.com. Thank you!!!

If you don't have a link to us on your site or blog, why not??!!!

Aramis and Carbi xx

Bumper crop

2006-12-11T18:12:00.000+11:00

We got seven christmas cards in the mail today. SEVEN. That's right, you heard me... 7!!

Before today the most we have recieved on one day is 4! We are getting so many interesting cards.

My other Mum wanted to know if they were all from my girlfriends. I don't have a girlfriend... but there were some nice looking girls on the cards!

Business

2006-12-11T12:30:00.000+11:00

Sorry I didn't post yesterday but I had a big and important meeting to attend and I was tired when I got home.

We left early in the morning and drove for about an hour and a half. I had a snooze so I could conserve my energy.

We arrived at a house that I had been to before. It is a house with lots of dogs with noses that are different to mine - they are called Pugs. I had been here before for a different big and important meeting. Last time we had a meeting I looked like this:

Now I am bigger and not a baby I was allowed to attend the big and important meeting and do big and important things. Life isn't all fun and games you know.

I am so big and important that I got to sit on Dad's lap and sleep! It was SO good!

Aunty Lou

2006-12-08T22:34:00.000+11:00

Guess what????

Aramis and I got to talk to Aunty Lou for real (not just in a dream)! Dad woke up the other afternoon (he does night shift with me at the home with old people) and Mum told him to bring me into the study to talk to Aunty Lou. I thought that she must have come over and I hadn't heard her. I sniffed everywhere but couldn't smell her.

Mum lifted me up and pointed to the computer and I could see a lady moving. It was the lady from all the photos Nana and Pop made us look at! It was Aunty Lou!!!!

I could hear her talking as well. Mum said she could see us because of the computer has an eye called a web cam and it shows Aunty Lou what happens in our study - or at least I think that's what she said. This is what the eye looks like. I think our computer may be an alien.

Aunty Lou said I should come and visit. She told me to dig a REALLY big hole in the backyard and if I dig it deep enough I will come out in China.

Anyone want to come over and help me???

Cards Cards and More Cards

2006-12-08T21:56:00.000+11:00

We keep getting lots of mail in the letterbox for Aramis and me. I love smelling and taste testing each card as it arrives.

Mummy helps us open them...
and once we have looked at them we get her to put them in the blinds with all the rest.

Sometimes she even lets me eat the envelopes after the cards have been taken out - ok ok I'll tell the truth, sometimes I steal them and eat them without her knowing.

Exploring

2006-12-08T21:21:00.000+11:00

I went outside to play yesterday... and I found a nice dark place to be a 'splorer.

I found leave and cobwebs and not much else.

I came inside looking like this....

I have two mums

2006-12-08T20:26:00.000+11:00

I had a comment on my last post asking why I have two Mums so I thought I'd explain it to all of you.

When I was little I flew from Sydney to go to my new home. This was in a town on the NSW/Queensland border. I had lots of sisters and brothers and I was meant to learn how to tell my new Mum when her BSL went low (see About Paws for Diabetics). However, my sister Saki was already doing that so I didn't.

I then went to live with another lady who needed me to tell her about her BSL going low. I tried a few times but she didn't realise and then she got allergic to me so I went back home to Saki, my mum and everyone else. Also, we got a new baby sister, Willow, and I liked her alot. We spent alot of time playing together.

~ Me, Mum and Willow ~

Sadly Saki passed away in ???? this year. Willow started to alert my Mum but I thought that since I was older it should be my job and I put her off alerting. So Mum had to make the hard decision to let me live in another house because even though I thought it was my job, I didn't know what to do.

So once again I got to go in an areoplane to go to my new house with my new Dad, MTLH (mum-that-lives-here) and Carbi. I had been to their house for a holiday with Mum and Willow before and liked it because they had guinea pigs to play with!

~ MTLH, Dad, Aramis and Carbi ~

So... that's why I have two Mums. My Mum and the Mum-that-lives-here.

Mail

2006-12-07T20:42:00.000+11:00

MTLH brought the mail in today and there was a parcel for me. She read who it was from and got excited and showed me it. I sniffed all over it and it smelt good... it was a smell that I could remember.... but what was it??

Carbi had a sniff and thought it smelt nice but didn't know what the smell was. MTLH helped me open it and pulled out....

MY TEDDY!!!!

It was mine and Willow's favourite toy and MTLH said that Willow has all the toys she could wish for where she has gone so my other Mum sent it to me.

That's what the smell was! Mum and Willow and Jewel and Olivia and my old home!!!!

I LOVE MY TEDDY!!!!

Oh oh! Party!

2006-12-02T23:44:00.000+11:00

Today was MTLH's birthday. We woke up early came gave MTLH her presents and then went back to sleep again. When we woke up MTLH and I went to the shops and picked up Uncle Dan.

All was good until I discovered the following equation:

Birthday = Party = PEOPLE!

At around 6pm people started arriving.

First came Sarah - Carbi barked at her. She seemed ok but I didn't take any chances cause you never know.

Next Aunt M and Nannan came. Aunt M is ok, but MTLH calls Nannan the "crazy old biddy" and she seems to like it. Everyone knows you have to be careful around crazy people!

Aunty Jules came next. She doesn't like me. I don't like her.

After that another Sarah came. MTLH called her octopus but i'm not sure why. People called after sea creatures also shouldn't be trusted.

Then came Sarah's husband David. He had a deep voice and wanted to talk to me. I didn't like him.

All the time they were here I made sure I stayed near MTLH and I watched them carefully! The best thing about the party was MTLH giving me and Carbi the sausages that had fallen on the floor. After everyone left MTLH realised she had forgotten that she had sparklers so we played with them.

I'm going to sleep now... it's been a long and stressful evening!

Aramis xx

PS - the photo thingy is being strange so i'll add them later! :)

Christmas Card Exchange

2006-12-02T01:32:00.000+11:00

We keep meaning to tell everyone that we are getting lots of Christmas cards from all over the world. Aunty Jules came over today and wanted to know why there were so many cards with dogs on them. She laughed when Nana said they were all from dogs. I don't know why it was funny.

Anyways... so after much arguing with blogger (and having to get MTLH to help me) I have made a list of all the people we get cards from. It's on the side, see--->

Either Carbi and I will try and keep it up to date. If you are lucky enough to have your card come on a Friday your name will be at the top all weekend!

Keep those cards coming! I love getting mail. Please check out all the fantasic people that are sending us cards!

What happened to the door?

2006-12-02T00:18:00.000+11:00

Last week Pop took the screen door from the kitchen and we have only had the wooden door there. Today he came home from being away. He came in with the door. I don't know why he had to take it to the new castle with him. Maybe they needed a new door for the new castle... but why did he bring it home again then?

I looked at it when he had put it back up cause everyone had made a big fuss about it being back. It didn't look exactly the same - it had funny thing in the corner.

Mum, Dad and Nana all tried to show us how the funny thing worked. It was a hole that was covered in a flap and it's made specially for dogs to go through.
We got lots of treats if we walked through the hole - then they stopped holding up the flap! That was a bit scary, but I learnt pretty quick that if I wanted a treat I could push the flap with my paw and then my head and then walk through.

Aramis didn't know how to, although Mum said that his old home had one - without a flap. He would only walk through if the flap was open a little.

It's Mum's birthday tomorrow (today actually cause it's after midnight!) everyone keeps saying she is a quarter of a century and that sounds old to me!

Cranky

2006-11-30T23:21:00.000+11:00

Mum was cranky at me the other day. I was playing outside with Aramis. When I came inside she got cranky but was laughing alot as well. See if you can guess why she was cranky....

~The pile of SOME of the leaves that came off me~

~I was sleepy after I had been brushed~

This morning I tried to tell Dad that he was low. Mum was asleep. Dad ignored me (he said it was just because he wasn't thinking- because he was low). Eventually Mum woke up and got Dad some drink. He appologised to me lots but I wouldn't talk to him cause I was cranky! I did what I had to - why couldn't he keep up his side of the deal????

Where's the New Castle?

2006-11-30T22:52:00.000+11:00

On Tuesday Nana, Mum, Dad, Aramis and me all went on a looooooong car trip. They SAID we were going to see a new castle but when we stopped all we saw was Pop - which was nice, but I get to see him all the time! There were signs everywhere that were written wrong - they all said Newcastle - no space!

We went out for lunch with Pop and Aramis and I slept on the floor. The man in the cafe wanted to keep me.

On the way home we stopped and saw Uncle Jack, Aunty Chris, Dom and the new squeaky baby, Mia.
There were two dogs for us to play with but then it started raining so we went inside but our two new friends stayed outside. Inside there was a chair. It had something that smelt like fun under it, but we couldn't get to it. Mum took a photo...

and a video of Aramis trying to get to it....

After a while, we went to Aunty Kel's and Uncle Rich's. We stayed forever and eventually we got in the car and drove a looooooong way home again!

Christmas Card

2006-11-30T22:32:00.000+11:00

This is a photo of me having a rest after printing all our christmas cards. After my nap we put them all in envelopes and today Mum got stamps and sent them all off!

So, if you are on the DWB christmas card list, start looking out for our cards!!!

Playing possum

2006-11-26T03:06:00.000+11:00

A few minutes ago I went outside. While out there I went for an explore. Suddenly, a creature ran past me. I ran after it in hot persuit. It ran up a tree.

Dogs can't climb trees.

MTLH said it was a possum.

Fires - written by MTLH

2006-11-24T17:16:00.000+11:00

MTLH wants to give everyone an update on the fires and so I thought I'd let her tell you herself. Here she is....

Hi!
Thanks to everyone who has been asking if we are safe! Just thought I'd let you all know what is happening at the moment.

As you can see from the map, the main fire is in Blackheath. This fire started on the 13th of November, 2006. This fire is bad for us if there are north-westerly winds, which there were on Wednesday. Our house backs onto a valley which is about two away from the Grose Valley, which is where the Blackheath fire is. On Wednesday there were NW winds which reached 100kms an hour. This sparked a few spot fires, which are quite close to our house (circled in red below!).

At the moment, the fire fighters are still trying to stop the fires, they are using water bombing helicopters as the fire is in inaccessible areas. At the moment we are safe, but if the winds change anything could happen. There is hot weather predicted again for tomorrow so we are crossing our fingers and waiting. Sometimes fires will burn in this area for ages without moving, at other times, like on Wednesday, they can move 1km in 5 mins.

If you want to know what is happening you can find emergency information, photos and weather for the area on the Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service's website.

Liz

Photos taken from the back of our house on Wednesday
- they are darker than it actually was... but it was still dark!

Prison

2006-11-24T15:30:00.000+11:00

A few days ago I heard MTLH talking to some guy on the phone about getting me into a place. She had to ring him and then he rang her back and said that it was ok.

Yesterday 4 people turned up here at around 11am. We all got in the van and started driving. We drove for about an hour, stopping once to pick up someone else, and another time to get petrol. Finally we got to where we were going. We got out of the car and I started to worry about where MTLH was making me go. There were big double fences with sharp wire on top and big gates with locks. It looked like a prison. I didn't want to see criminals.

We walked into a big waiting room and some man came and talked to MTLH and me. He said he used to be a police dog handler. "Oh no!" I thought "a policeman! We must be in jail!"

I waited nervously and then MTLH and I had to tell them why we were there. Then we went through a metal detector, like at the airport. Everyone had to get a tag on their wrist and a stamp on their hand. I think the man who did it forgot to use any ink because I couldn't see anything on MTLH's hand after he had stamped it. I didn't get a tag or a stamp - and I like stamps! We waited for Nana and then went through a big door, through another locked gate, and then we were in a big open area - surrounded by the big fences.

At first there was only the people who had come in our car there so it was ok... but then people started being let out of another locked gate. I didn't want to talk to criminals... I'm a good dog! I didn't let any of them pat me in case I caught their badness. MTLH took me for a walk and explained that they weren't criminals. We were in a detention centre for asylum seekers who have not broken any laws - they have have had to leave their own countries for many different reasons and have fled to Australia seeking protection. Instead of finding a compassionate government, they have been locked up in this horrible place. Their only crime was not being lucky enough to be born here.

After that I started to actually look and listen to people. Some of the people I met have been in there for two years, waiting for their visas. MTLH said that some people have had to wait for up to six years!! She also said that they even used to make children live inside the fences! They were all really nice and loved shaking my paw and patting me. When it came time to leave, I didn't want to. Everyone wanted to keep me there but MTLH wouldn't let them.

To get out everyone had to show their tags to three different people. We went into a strange blue coloured room that made my white fur glow! The person must have actually used magic ink as this room made the stamps glow on everyone's hands. All up on the way out, we had to go through four locked doors and gates.

When we left, it was so nice to be out of the horrible fences - and I had only been there for a few hours!!

All of the pictures used in this post are of the Detention Centre. I couldn't get MTLH to take any of me cause you can't take your cameras in.

Below are two pictures drawn by kids while in detention.

100

2006-11-22T13:13:00.000+11:00

This is our 100th post. I wanted to have a celebration but I have a headache, and we are a bit sad.

Last night Dad and I tired to help Aramis feel better by us all drowning our sorrows...

It didn't really work, we just fell asleep.

Now, I think about it, I think we should have been drinking something a bit stonger than water!