Cranky

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Willow

Only a few minutes ago MTLH sat down with me and told me something. If I could have blocked my ears I would have, but since i couldn't I had to hear something very sad.

My sister Willow is dead. She tried to play with a snake and the snake bit her.

I can't write any more, I'm too sad.

Card Class

Today I went with MTLH, Nana and Nana's friend to a card making class. I know, I know, card making really isn't a boy thing to do, but since everyone else was doing it, I joined in!

Don't I look enthusiastic?

Lemme outta here!

This morning I woke up and there was a noise outside. It was a noise I had never heard before and also a noise I knew meant something was up!

I jumped out of bed and went to the door. I whined and barked to be let out and when Dad finally dragged himself out of bed Aramis and I ran outside to investigate the noise!

We found that there were men trying to get into the back yard!!! They were breaking down the fence!! We barked and barked to tell them to get away from our fence and to warn Mum and Dad and Nana but they didn't seem to care. In fact, they told us off and made us come inside and then forced us to stay there!

Mum tried to tell me that Nana said they could do it to borrow our cement mixer and that they were going to fix it back up but I didn't believe her!

We went outside agian later and nothing was different... it was like it had all never happened.


There has been a lot of talk in this house lately about fires. We woke up this morning and the air looked foggy but it smelt funny. It has been like that all day and Nana said that she heard on the news that the fire is going to head down the mountains towards our house tomorrow - but it won't get here tomorrow - or at least that's what they said on the news. Mum said that we might not have dog lessons tomorrow as the fire is meant to be in that part of the mountains tomorrow.

I hope it doesn't come anywhere near us (or anyone else!)

Carbi xx

How much is that doggy in the window??

Today after much barking at the neighbours who were playing with the fence, Nana, MTLH and I went to the shops. We walked a lot and we shopped a bit. Nana said that going out with me was as bad as driving a morrie. MTLH explained that it is because everyone looks at me and when Nana and MTLH used to drive in their morris minor often people would look at the car.
We were walking through the Plaza today and all of a sudden we came across a window that had dogs jumping up on it - but they were frozen in place! I wanted to find out what was wrong with them and MTLH was nice and walked me back to look at them.

I still don't know what was wrong with them. They had been flattened and frozen up against the window - I made sure I didn't touch the window! They looked like this... only flat and puppies!

People laughed at me when they walked past and I heard one person say "He is looking at the stickers!" whatever that meant. I think it's very rude to laugh at people you don't know and it's no laughing matters that those poor puppies have to stand up against that window all the time and not move and be FLAT!

Last night I had a dream....

After watching all the China photos I dreamt that Carbi and I went to visit Aunty Lou in China.
We went to the Great Wall of China (no rabbits to be seen).



Carbi and I went for a run while Aunty Lou had a rest.


Then we went to Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where we looked at the guards.


After that we went to the Forbidden City, also in Beijing. I sniffed the guards shoes cause they smelt good.
Carbi climbed the great Buddah in Leishan.

Carbi drew on the photo

and then walked up all these steps at Emei Shan



Finally we vistited the Cafe in Shanghai where Aunty Lou has her pictures hanging on the wall (go to Loud Creations to see more of her pics). There was a nice comfy lounge that Carbi had a rest on.

Then we came home.

1000

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a few days. I have been busy keeping my eye on the two strange people that are here. They seem to live here and it looks like they are staying. They sleep in the 'closed room'. That's the room that was closed since I got here - until they got back! I don't think they are too scary although the one called 'Pop' seems to like me to talk to him all the time and the one called 'Nana' has an unhealthy compulsion to shake my paw.

I have also been busy helping MTLH do her uni assignments and I even went to uni with her for a whole day. I learnt all about brain injury and what I need to do to help people with it when I become an Occupational Therapist. MTLH had to get a new student card for next year and she asked if I could have one too. The lady just looked at her like she was crazy... and I think she is too, because I heard someone behind us in the line say that it cost them thousands of dollars to get it!

This post is called 1000 because of three reasons. Tonight everyone came here and we watched thousands of photos of China and Western Australia and South Australia... and I mean 1000's. I also had to shake hands 1000 times (this time I may be exaggerating). It seems that everyone in the family has the same hand shaking obsession - thankfully I know how to shake hands or else they might not want me to be part of the family.

The last reason is that we have had our 1000th visitor to the blog!!!
I was trying to get a pic of the site meter saying 1000 but I missed it and got:

(and just so everyone knows, this computer and the laptop are both set up so visits from them don't count).

I investigated and found out some information about the person visiting:
1. They came from Uncle Dan's blog - so he is good for something.
2. They don't use a computer (they use a Mac)
3. They live in Australia
4. They live in Sydney
5. They visited at 12.42am on the 16th of November, 2006
6. And their ISP is Optus Internet.

If this sounds like you please let us know!!! (there is free dog food in it for you and if you have your own blog - we may even link to it - depending on the content of course! :-) )

Meeting the Grandparents.

This morning we woke up early, and got in the car. We drove a bit then sat in lots of traffic, with MTLH saying "next time I'm telling them to plan their arrival when it's not peak hour", so I figured someone was arriving and that we were going to see them. Since there was lots of traffic I thought that it was someone very important... Carbi thought it might be Santa but I told him we have to wait awhile to see him.

We drove into a big car park and there was still lots of people, but they all seemed to have big bags like I did when I went to Melbourne before I came to live with MTLH and Dad. We all got out of the car and walked to a big building - there were lots of aeroplanes flying overhead. MTLH and Dad looked at a big TV and then said we needed to go to C/D. So we walked to gate C/D.

We waited for a while and MTLH and I watched this...

Then, she saw someone. Carbi got all excited and started yelling NANA!!! She came out of a big door and had two big bags. She looked a bit scary. MTLH told Dad and 'Nana' to go outside and we kept waiting. A little while later a man came out who was also scary. We walked outside and Carbi got even more excited and yelled POP!!!

We all got in the car and drove to the shops as Nana and Pop hadn't eaten much. Carbi and I sat under the table. When we got back in the car I didn't want to sit in the back with the new scary people and so Dad had to move into the back with me as MTLH was driving.

Then Tommy and Laura and their Mum came over to see Nana and Pop.

I didn't think the day could get any worse!!! I hid most of the time they were here, although I let Laura brush my hair and while she painted I made sure that she didn't get paint everywhere, except her hands!

And I thought it was bad having Uncle Dan here (see Stranger DANger)!!!

Then we went to dog training. I finally worked out what MTLH means when she tells me to stand, although I sometimes forget and sit down instead.

Aramis xx

THEY'RE HOME!!!

This morning we woke up early, and got in the car. We drove a bit then sat in lots of traffic, with Mum saying "next time I'm telling them to plan their arrival when it's not peak hour", so I figured someone was arriving and that we were going to see them. Since there was lots of traffic I thought that it was someone very important... maybe even this Santa guy people are starting to talk about.

We drove into a big car park and there was still lots of people, but they all seemed to have big bags like Mum had when she went away. We all got out of the car and walked to a big building - there were lots of big noisy things in the air. Mum and Dad looked at a big TV and then said we needed to go to C/D. So we walked and I looked for a big round CD but I didn't see one. Mum and Dad stopped at a boring place with no CD's to be seen. We sat and waited and waited and waited and slept a bit and scratched and waited some more.


Then, I saw someone!! It was someone I knew! Someone I thought I would never see again! It was better than Santa! IT WAS NANA!!! She came out of a big door and had two big bags. I was so excited! I haven't seen her for ages and ages - five and a half weeks (just think about how long that is in dog years!). I was soooo excited! I tried to jump out of Dads arms so that I could kiss her and cuddle her! Mum told Dad and Nana to go outside so that I could talk to Nana properly while her and Aramis waited.

So we went outside and I talked to Nana and then Dad took me to the toilet. THEN as I was walking back to Nana I saw Mum come out of the building with a bag and behind her was someone else I knew!! Someone else I thought I'd never see again! IT WAS POP!!! It was so exciting!!!

We all got in the car and drove to the shops as Nana and Pop hadn't eaten much. Aramis and I sat under the table and I had a snooze after my excitement.


After a snack, we drove home. Then Tommy and Laura and their Mum came over to see Nana and Pop.

~Laura~

I didn't think the day could get any better!!! THEN WE WENT TO DOG LESSONS!!!! I was so tired that I couldn't listen to Dad properly though and after a while we just went for a walk around the oval instead.

I'm going to sleep well tonight!
Carbi xox

Hypo again!

This morning after getting home from work, doing the laundry, washing the dishes and playing with Aramis and me, Dad got ready for and got into bed. Then I realised something wasn't right!! I barked at him to tell him, but he didn't get up. I was lying on the floor eating my rawhide bone and didn't want to get up on the bed. So I barked some more. When he still didn't pay attention, I took my bone, got on the bed, put my bone in his lap and told him to eat it! That's what Mum does, she gives him nice food to eat and he gets better. He pretended to eat it and then went and got some drink! He doesn't think that I know he was only pretending but I'm not stupid!

Growing up

I got a new collar on Friday. It looks the same only a bit wider and bigger. I got it because my old collar was too tight. When Mum and Dad picked me up they gave me my first collar and it was too loose, even when it was made as small as it could be. My new collar has the same pattern as my old collar and they both match my lead!

I scanned them both so you could see how much my neck (and the rest of me) has grown.

The one on the right is my old one made as small as it could be - which is how it was when I first got it, and the one on the left is the one I'm wearing now.

Carbi

PS When I get the car keys I'll show you my old coat and my new coat as well! I need the keys as my new coat lives in the car.

WooHoo!

Uncle Dan left! He went home! He isn't here any more!!

Party at my house!!!

Aramis xx

PS He wasn't so bad in the end - but I still don't trust him completely!

NO NO NO NO NO

no no no no no no no no no!!!!!!

Uncle Dan is staying over again tonight! It's not fair! How's a dog supposed to sleep knowing that he is in the house!

He tried to attack me with a big, long, shiny, sucky thing that sucked up everything in it's path!! I managed to escape and he put it away in the cupboard so he can't get me with it now.

Opy and Charlie, I think I may need you to rescue me - I don't think I can put up with him being here for much longer!!

ALTHOUGH, if you rescue me, I won't see MTLH and I really like her. I don't know what to do!! Maybe if you can plan the rescue just incase he stays longer and I need it tomorrow! Thanks!

Stranger DANger update

Uncle Dan is mean! He stole my seat next to MTLH all night and then, when we were walking up the stairs, he kicked me in the head (He says it was an accident and I was too close to his natural step - but I doubt it!). It wasn't hard - he hardly touched me, but I think he wanted it be hard.

You know what else? He's so shady he won't show he face on his blog!

~Uncle Dan's blogger profile photo~

He's asleep now so I'm safe until the morning.... unless he isn't asleep and just pretending to be to lull me into a false sense of security!

I'll be sleeping with one eye open tonight.

Aramis

Dill?

Uncle Dan called me a Dill.

I AM NOT A PLANT UNCLE DAN!!!!~Dill~

Stranger DANger!

Uncle Dan is here at the moment. He is scary.

I don't think that it is a coincidence that the word Danger has DAN in it.

I'm watching him VERY closely!

I'll keep you up to date with what happens!

Aramis.

What's Crabby mean?

Last time I wrote I asked everyone to help me find out what a punk was, now I have a new problem.

Mum hasn't called me a punk for a few days, but she calls me crabby alot. I don't like it because it is very close to my name (Carbi, Crabby - say it out loud) and so I respond before I realise she is being mean and not calling me by my real name!

I've discovered that a Crab is:
A crustacean with a rounded thorax, a short abdomen tucked under its body, and, in most species, large front claws. www.reefed.edu.au/glossary/c.html. (Whatever that means!)

And I found this picture:
So that must be what crabby looks like - and once again I don't look like that!!!

PLEASE help me!!!

Carbi xx

PS Mum and Dad also call me Carburetor, which is a part in a car, and Carbohydrate, which is actually my full name and is also what Dad needs to eat when I tell him to!

New Coats

Carbi got his new coat on Tuesday... but he had grown lots since MTLH had measured him and didn't fit.

So MTLH took me to the shops and got some matching material to make a coat!

First she made a template out of stuff she called 'calico' and then she checked that it fit Carbi. Once she had made some changes she cut out the green stuff, sewed some blacked stuff around the edges and added some velcro and it was all done!

She took this photo to get an OK from someone and then this evening she sewed on the badge.

Then she decided to make a new coat for me... we are still waiting for final approval and then she will transfer my badges onto my new coat!

I was a very good boy and sat still many times when she tried on my coat and fiddled with it.