A girl can dream…..

A weekend in Sydney

Today I am in beautiful sunny Sydney, away from the freezing cold weather of Melbourne , taking in the sights of this gorgeous city with my brother and sister.

This has become something of a tradition for us now, once a year the three of us get away for a fun filled weekend. It’s a great chance to catch up and enjoy each other’s company while exploring new places.

We visited Darling harbour and the gorgeous Chinese garden. We saw Alphie the giant inflatable turtle whose presence in the harbour marks the beginning of the Undersea Art Exhibition held at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Artist BJ Harvey hopes that his thought provoking creation will spark conversation and debate about the health and longevity of our reefs. Alphie’s arrival marks the beginning of the Undersea Art Exhibition held at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium.

Tonight we are off to the infamous Star casino.

Happy Friday everyone 😀😀😀

Nobody’s Dog

Yesterday I came across this very sad poem on the Starting Over Dog Resuce Facebook page, and I thought I would share it as a timely reminder now that summer is on its way out, and we have been getting the rain and the thunder and lightening.

If there is one thing that absolutely terrifies dogs that is thunder. Fortunately not all dogs are scared of thunder, but most are. This fear has caused many dogs to dig out of their back yards and venture out into the sometimes dangerous, sometimes cruel world.

If your dog is not microchipped and he does not have a nametag your chances of being reunited with him are quite slim.

Why would anyone want to take such a risk?

Dexter is an inside dog but even an inside dog can occasionally get out. It doesn’t take much, a gate that was not closed properly, a hole that had not been refilled.

Fortunately my Dexter is microchipped, is your dog?

NOBODY’S DOG

Today is the death day of nobody’s dog
Nothing will mark it but a note in the log
I’m faceless and nameless and no tears will fall
For I know in your world I have no worth at all

To you, my sweet someone, I’m a friend and a dear
We ran the wind daily and you held me so near
But the gate was left open – I chanced a walk on my own
I’d have cowered in fear if only I’d known

I know how you cried on the night that I strayed
I know how you searched, I know how you prayed
But I went to a pound far far from our home
Where I crouched in despair in my kennel alone

I know that you phoned for I heard your dear voice
And I hoped you would hear me so I barked myself hoarse
Although I’m a Lab cross with stockings all white
On their form I’m a Staff cross – the description’s not right

So they said I’m not here and I sank to my bed
My kennel cough’s worse and I can’t raise my head
The rescue came yesterday but they hadn’t a place
For an un-neutered cross breed with his mucus-streaked face

If only you’d come to search for me here
You would have known me at once, you would have sensed I was near
You would have sorted my ills, you would have carried me home
And I promise our God no more would I roam

Now my eyes plead for mercy for my seven days are done
And I am waiting with dread for the final vet run
No arms will caress me as they inject me to death
No words will comfort me as I take my last breath

When the body man comes, it is fitting I’m found
In a bin bag in the freezer in the depths of the pound
Thrown away like the rubbish – no respect and no shame
Denied even the time to find you again

My loyalty and devotion they did cruelly betray
Without microchip or nametag, I am just a dispensable stray
Once waggy-tailed, once proud, beloved and free
Oh Dad look with pain at what mankind’s done to me!

Author Unknown

The Human Cargo

Today I went to the Italian Film Festival and watched the documentary The Human Cargo it was a sad and very confronting piece of history shown through the eyes of people who actually experienced it.

The story was not known to me I’m ashamed to say, despite the fact that I was living in neighbouring Greece at the time, but in 1991 20,000 Albanian people desperate to flee Albania which was struggling with economic, social and political upheaval and start a new life for themselves in Italy seized the opportunity and boarded a Cuban vessel that had docked in Durres to unload sugar and after clamouring on board forced the Captain to take them to Italy where they hoped to start new lives.

I can’t comprehend how Reckless some of these people were. Many left behind family, children even, and without a moments hesitation or thought climbed on board. They had no luggage, no knowledge of where this would lead, or what they would have to endure only the hope of starting a new life in Italy spurring them on.

We heard one passenger explain how as he got to the boat he spotted his parents and sister already aboard the vessel and how he had started to cry. They were going to leave him behind, he was only 10years old at the time. How desperate must these people have been? I cannot even fathom this, to leave your children behind. Never.

Out of the 20,000 people that docked in Bari 16,500 were sent back, but not before they had to endure, thirst, hunger, loss of dignity, imprisonment, fear. It was truly heartbreaking. 1,500 people escaped into the population, many of them ending up fleeing to other countries.

I guess it just reinforced what I already know and that is how fortunate I am to live in such an amazing country, Australia really is the lucky country.

Escape

Escape for me is surrounding myself with animals, their calm demeanor and unconditional love that knows no boundaries is like a balm to my frazzled nerves.

Instantly I can feel the days tension easing away.

Today I’m out walking in the rain along with my new friend Indie that I have written about many times before, something about the way she bounded up to greet me her bottom wiggling in that odd way thanks to her cleft leg. Her face smiling up at me, that big tongue washing over me taking away my sadness my disappointment .

So the rain comes down and we continue to walk in silence , every now and then Indie will stop and look up at me as though she can read my thoughts, I will bend over and rub the top of her head in reassurance, tell her what a good girl she is she will grin through her overbite and then continue walking .

This is our customary walk every Friday at 4pm it is the perfect way to end yet another busy week .

When I am with my animals or any animals for that matter ( Indie is not mine I’m just lucky enough to be able to take her for a walk once a week as help for an old client ) I feel free. They do not expect anything more from me than they give in return which is love and giving love well that’s easy. What’s not easy is fighting with loved ones over the same things day in day out, what’s not easy is realizing that your child will not meet his potential because he just refuses to see how important school is, what’s not easy is trying to juggle everything on your plate and still keep everyone happy.

The rain has started to subside and my walk with Indie is almost over. Escape is only a temporary luxury I’m afraid.