Flowers and Pets in Sheffield

Sheffield holds special memories of flowers and pets with my blogger friend and host, Liz Bishop. We met on the wide world of blogging  and  found that she was a Malaysian , now a British citizen.

As her guest, I enjoyed 5 days of her hospitality visiting parts of the Peak District and making new friends in Annie and John Stirling, Kathryn and Barry Newton. My dearest friendship was forged with her two canines, Syd and Axa, both from rescue homes that have found  a wonderful friend and owner in Liz, whose care and attention for them speaks volumes of a heavenly friendship.
Those  few days of the doggies greeting a sleepy-eyed me  each morning will forever be etched in my memory. How they rushed to get into my room, waggy tails like beating a souffle, is so heartening . I've never had such a wholesome and genuine greeting ever! Then, they settled down to lie by my suitcase while I lingered, still keeping my bed warm.

As Liz's passion and work is flower arranging, she brought me to two ngs ( National Garden Society) Open day in Handforth and Tytherington,  parts of Cheshire. We attended a flower demo in Oxton, Nottingham  and witnessed 6 different styles of flower arranging by a regional arranger. With Kathryn and Barry, Liz drove us for a day out to York. It was my first to the beautiful city. And a lunch date at Betty's Cafe and restaurant , among so many teas during this 5 week holiday in the UK, this was mandatory!

The days passed fleetingly and soon it was time to stay with my dear friend, Wanphen in Beccles, Suffolk. I bought some doggie treats for Syd and Axa for they lurve treats and they deserve every bit of them too! I see them on facebook and know they are well.

I'll be catching up with Liz in the  new year as she'll be guiding 18 ladies  for a visit to our lovely country, Malaysia on a 2 week holiday. Guess what, she and her friends will be showing the Gardening Society members in Singapore and KL their artistic skill in flower arranging. So, with many thanks for a wonderful stay, we promised to keep in touch . Waiting for June 2016 to come, quick!

In Liz's front garden

With Kathryn and Barry Newton in their garden

Country road , Peak District 

First time holding 2 leashes. Syd and Axa are good doggies, I  know they  would not do a mile dash with a newbie like me!

The lovely doggies  are content to relax .I shall  terribly miss their morning waggy tails welcome when I leave Sheffield.

There's no stopping Syd and Axa as they wolf down their meal. Nothing is ever left behind - you wouldn't have known it had food in it within the last minute!! Syd wins  paws down!!

  Gimme more, is their daily mantra!

Our morning walk - Syd is usually off the leash. Axa can be a little unpredictable, so Liz keeps her close by as many other canines do their walks like them. I got to see the different breeds with their owners. Well- behaved dogs:)

                    Hearing the quacking of ducks, Syd  too wanted to check them out himself!

After each walk, Liz washes the paws  of the doggies.

Syd decided to make it a threesome! He's adorable and would not miss out on any memorable moments. 
John Stirling was the Chairman and founder of The Freshfields Donkey Village in Peak District. Was really touched he gifted me a book on the play, The Really Useful Donkey Company when he and his wife, Annie  popped by to say goodbye the day before I left for Beccles.

Annie Stirling welcomed Liz and I with her fabulous scones and sandwiches and tea, of course!

Axa and Syd  are so companionable.  They do not let loneliness creep in 

ngs  Garden Open day in Handforth, around Cheshire. The lovely clematis trails strikingly  above my head.

Cakes and teas to complement a visit to ngs Garden Open day. It is a  real treat as volunteers happily see to our needs.

The sun's out . So too are families to grab the opportunity to support ngs Garden Open day.

Owner of Brooke Cottage, Barry Davy  gave up teaching Science to branch into garden design. We admired his great effort.

One  is truly tempted with all the spread of goodies.

A spacious garden and we were tempted to linger .

 The orchids got me thinking of the ways to weave my own magic when I get home.

The bright  red oblong perspex pieces added to the striking arrangement of a red themed floral arrangement.

Picking the lucky  raffle winners who would take home the arrangements.

Liz's ad on the side of her car. Just  pull it off and store it when not in use.

Betty's Cafe - Restaurant

With Annie Newton, York Castle

York Minster , cathedral of York

Delectable spread at Betty's

Compact and beautifully designed garden at Handforth. Owner has utilized every imaginable space to showcase his creativity.

Lovely colours

With Mr Cordingley, the owner of Hathaway Cottage on ngs Garden Open day.

Our dog Buffy.

It's been over a year since our faithful Robbie breathed his last. His docile, loveable character left a void.  Patiently, we looked for another pet dog to call our own.  The children  made enquiries for an Alsatian through several sources including vets.

One day in June there was an air of excitement when we made our way to a house to look into a litter of  pups. After all the search, imagine finding  Buffy was right under our noses; I mean in the same neighbourhood!

The owner/ breeder happily showed off the litter. What a light-hearted feeling it was to see the puppies, all so cuddlesome  and lively.

Out of the five in the litter, only two had not found owners. Buffy caught our attention. We played with her and when we left our hearts were there.Later in the evening, hubby and son  went back to claim her  with a deposit. She came to us  three weeks later after all the jabs had been given,

Meanwhile I swung into action. The kennel that belonged to dear Robbie needed a clean-up. I bought a can of paint from ACE hardware, scrubbed the kennel and when dry, two coats of fresh paint was an early welcome to Buffy. The door which had gone rusty was replaced by  a carpenter and days late, Buffy arrived in style - flanked by my daughter and son in a BMW! I greeted her and she was dribbling with saliva . She behaved admirably, didn't bark, ever so polite! Her tail wagged and she got more hugs. This is home, I said.

It's been four weeks since that day for our new member of the family.  Bond first and train later, was the advice we got . Buffy goes for short walks in the morning . She looks forward to her two meals of  Royal Canin, a bone to chew weekly, the odd treats  and  the frolic and tickles!

The story so far.  - she's growing fast. There's an increase of two inches in height and weighs in at 18 kg.

Trainer showing us the litter.  Can you spot Buffy ? 

A hug, please?

Ready for a command

Well by the side of the trainer

Cutesy

Resting after the mini demo

New home - a hand me down from Robbie. Still good after previous three pet dogs.

On the driveway

Son putting Buffy to the paces

All of four months

 

Stalking my Dog

Let it be known I'm the grandaddy of the house. I've heard many tales spun, not least one of a certain German Shepherd, Czarina who lived to be 12 years old. Poor Suzie the dashchund, something  happened to her. Then, there was Ninja, also a German Shepherd. Well, wish me luck. Wish me more years. Thanks to my Scottish ancestry, I'm 13 and pushing on. But did my dear doc openly tell me sir, not to push our luck?  

They say let sleeping dogs lie. Whatever! This is my spot and where I like to lie. I own this spot. Much to the chagrin of me missus  (fierce one!!) and the others (hardly fierce!), they hop over me to get out of the kitchen into the terrace. Call me BodyGuard. 

Tip toeing around as I think I smell a rat. Heard the missus say she spied a small rat in the kitchen. but that's not my problem. Let the cats that come to pee and poo here take care of that.

Who cometh?  I recognise those legs but no one is opening the gate. Truth be told, my legs can still run and fast. Only a tad slower these days. Nobody knows FREEDOM like I do. Can't an old boy have some fresh air and scenery?? 

It's a bit of a maze here - heliconias, hydrangeas, tunerias, erythrina purpuras and pinks, and the newly grown passion fruit, all under the canopy of the erythrina glauca which has  garden -hump roots. Never let obstacles in your path deter one, I say.

Where's the goodies??  It's me feeling hopeless. See my tail hanging straight like a stick? Seems like  looking for a needle in a haystack!!  The gardener has just been and piled mountains of cut grass. Drat! Can't find the food scraps hidden well under.

It's the itch. 10 rounds under the phyllanthus is just so  heavenly.

This my daily workout  and it's only half way round my world ! In fact, just behind me at the wall ledge, I used to have free food from the neighbour who kindly kept some helpings of dhall. All 'forbidden fruit'  stopped abruptly when my sir came to know about it. 

Handsome wins hands down! She loves me and blows kisses all the way from Suffolk!

My name is Robbie

Just being my own herbalist today -  dunno the name  of the grass but it sure soothes my tummy :)

Hey friends, since I shot to a brief period of cyber fame in the  Blog4ft competition and got myself some fans, I'm still the same guy, handsome to the tip of my nose though that right hip does make me look like a laggard. Anyway, whatever the weather, I hold my head up high and try to look my best. Age is just a number and I'm not counting . Hey, am I all of eleven already??

Despite that hippy letdown, my good doc says I'm fit as a fiddle short of giving me a cert. Thank goodness my visit to his clinic is only once a year 'coz my mister, R says I am a disgrace! Yelping at strangers especially my own kind just won't do!!

For this  long overdue update, follow me round where I live.

One thing never changes with me . The missus always jokes about the centre of the garden being a landmine. I avoid it like the plague!! How my ears ache  hearing her  tell her friends this habit of mine. Can you blame me ? It's poo mine and when  the business is done, who wants to know? Not ME! Just skirt round the garden, take the  longest route to get from A to B. Meaning I do not take short cuts . Not even to make a dash for a treat . That way, my paws are ever pristine  clean. 

 Miss S loves me like crazy. She allows me to sit around when she bakes during weekends. I know I can't sniff a rat out but cakes...   

This is also where I like to be especially at lunchtime during weekends. The household gang gather  at the kopi tiam table wolfing down their steamy noodles. I hang around, drooling and hoping to get tiny offers. But  the missus (again!) says feeding off the table will see a steak disappear next time! Why does she say these things of me?? ARGH ! WOOF! ARGHH ! - I protest!

Who goes there? Just a peep over the neighbour's at the chainlink fence. Nothing much goes on  - the adults seem to go about their own way. Every Sunday, the good old doc holds a hand pump spraying his plants. Occasionally an old cat sits by the pots and stares at me - common sense says leave the old hag alone! Some might recall the neighbour slipping portions of dhall and rice  over the fence.It was a strict no -no  with my mister and missus. The lanky lady has obliged. *Sigh* my diet is as predictable as ever -  Royal Canin -for Seniors. 

 I can't wait to have the gang at brekkie in the kitchen. I'm used to shouts of 'Hurry up, it's late !' That's when my 'soulmates' are together, having their quick bite before going to work. I answer to every name called : Robert, Rob, Robs, Acha baby ( who else but from the mister himself!!).  Nothing like being patted  left right and centre and a good rub of the ears. Then, they turn their backs on me, jump into the car. Vvrromm...  Am left with the sparrows  taking dips in my bowl of water.

My usual  snooze in the backyard. I like it here. I play peekaboo- snoozing, half waking but I sure know what's happening. There's  Ana doing her housework,  my missus is pottering  among her veggie plot. Birds twitter  especially the sunbirds, oh  their shrill calls just seem endless.  The doorbell rings but who cares. Sometimes there's a kinda explosion in the air - it's only another neighbour yelling her head off at a maid.   

Bliss. The cool marble right next to my body. I could sleep like Rip Van Winkle . It's not often that I get to be inside the house. The missus (again!) says my tail whips around and knocks things to smithereens. I hardly keep still and go slipping and sliding. That sets everyone flinging their hands like jugglers. Guess it's my fault - am fidgety to my own detriment.