Yeah, just uphill a bit, past Tamar St (I think that is the cross street, has Albert Hall on the corner with Cimitiere St.)

There are a couple meets in Brighton—I might make a trip out of it—visit Spice House Friday, Salamanca Market Saturday, nice meal somewhere, breakfast Sunday then the meet.

LOT of driving so lots of $$$ to get to Hobart—get my money’s worth.

Looking at lots smoking YouTubes right now, can see need to stock up on some spices—mustard seed, juniper berries, cloves, coriander, pepper!

Maybe winter next year and I might be in Perth, WA.

Jovial Monk wrote on Apr 13^th, 2024 at 3:45pm:


I meant Perth between Launceston and Hobart   

Saw this on waking up—oh well, I guess as long as the head is warm:

First lure coursing fun run today.

Comments on Socks “Grown a bit” and “more mature” etc. Maybe a more honest comment: bringing Socks to the meet to discuss the club, new structure of the fun run days etc and “Socks is a lurcher and very vocal!” Yup, LOTS of dogs around and she knows she will be able to run!

Her first run—average.

Second run—wow! Very clever anticipation where the lure would shoot to next, very fast running and she grabbed hold of the lure before it even stopped at the end of the course! Very nice indeed.

Another dog owner looked at Socks and said she was in great condition, can see the ribs when Socks holds her body the right way. I told her, yeah, she was putting on some weight so I put her on a bit of a diet because Socks lives for running and can’t run as far/fast if overweight.

Weather was nice, sunny, not much wind 18–20°C.

A fun run to be held near Hobart next month. Reckon I will drive to Hobart Fri morning, get to Hobart, visit the Spice House—could go crazy in there spending $$$ but will try and restrain myself. Sat visit Salamanca Market, something I have been wanting to do for ages. Lunch/dinner, to the pet-friendly accommodation and to the fun run in the morning.

Poor Socks will have to be in the car by herself for quite a while. Temperatures will be fine for that, likely to be 12–15°C max temps but still a long time. I will of course look up dog parks near where we will be and we can do a loooong walk along the river

An alternative is to book her in the boarding kennel for a week while I do a bit of a road trip to/around Hobart—this would be pretty cruel to Socks who has this massive separation anxiety. Have to work things out—can always split the visit to Salamanca market over two weeks—two fun runs near Hobart next month.


Separation anxiety.

You have never heard a dog make a noise until you have heard Socks wail because I have left her at home! LOUD like

LOUD!

I needed to change my rego from SA to Tas and have a road safety test done. Socks would just be in the way—can’t leave her in the car to attend the Tas rego office because the car had to be dropped off at the garage for the road safety testing. Massive screams as I drove off.

On the ferry Geelong–Devonport I HAD to leave Socks in one of the kennels—massive whine as I headed for the accommodation decks.

There is a liar who posts here tho currently must be on a holiday. That scumbag talked of “rescuing” i.e. STEALING Socks. Obviously “Lisa Jones” was wildly jealous that I had adopted what turned into a beautiful, sweet natured dog.

If the liar HAD managed to steal Socks the screaming and whining Socks would have uttered would have seen the liar “Lisa Jones” eject Socks from his car right on the highway no doubt.

The very stupid Goober tried to pretend recently that I had been unfair to Socks by not taking up “Lisa Jones’” offer to take Socks to Sydney.” Christ! I had to explain to the high school dropout that Larry had not “offered” to take Socks but had threatened to STEAL Socks from me!

Socks is perfectly happy here as are the greyhounds, whippets, terriers etc I see around town and at the fun run days.


People as stupid as Goober or even more stupid (e.g. “Jasin” aka Jaye) are driving intelligent members from OzPol.

Bam has left, CarlD hasn’t visited or posted for two weeks and DNA doesn’t post much anymore. If he goes who with any intelligence and knowledge will be left? Not many.

Finally Socks seems to be asserting herself.

Friday afternoon at the dog park, all people and dogs we had not met before. One of the dogs was a German Shepherd/Golden Retriever cross—big dog,long white straight fur.

We all meeted and greeted etc, all was well.

Another guy and his two dogs, kelpie crosses, and some balls and frisbees for playing Fetch! One of the balls was plastic, any whistle it may have had long gone. Now, Socks LOVES plastic balls, loves to chew them, “play soccer” with them etc. So she was happily chewing etc the plastic ball. The big white dog wanted a turn.

So the dog approached Socks to try and take ownership of the ball. Ha! I heard what I had never heard from Socks before: a growl! FINALLY my dog was standing up for herself, asserting herself! Typically it was “resource guarding” that did it. Not a vicious growl or long or loud. Just Socks saying “Mine!” and the big Shepherd cross backed off! As I said before, well socialised dogs.

Possibly Socks got more confidence after her last interaction with the German Shepherd that is one of her playmates there.

Eventually got hold of the ball and returned it to the guy. After that Socks played with the other dogs a bit. She doesn’t really do “Fetch” but did sort of chase after tennis balls and frisbees. LOL! I bent down to pick up a frisbee to throw it. Suddenly Pounce! Slide! Socks who had been like 20 metres or more away got to the frisbee before I did and the frisbee was right at my feet! LOL!

Be back to that town Monday to get food supplies for the week and to give Socks a nice run hopefully with some playmates.


Yes, Socks ate three firelighters yesterday. These were a kind I had not come across before. The usual kind is white, smooth and smells disgusting, this kind was brown and came in squares, a bit like chocolate bars. The smell was different, not as strong or disgusting.

I used some to get a fire going in the Saxon woodburner, leaving some out of the packet. Socks must have thought they were food! (Dogs are always if not hungry more than willing to eat.)

First I knew there was a brown lump on the edge of her bed and I thought she had broken a cardinal rule about not pooping in the house. A second look showed me what had happened.

I assume she bolted them, as dogs do bolt their food, but soon regretted and reversed her act. Was a bit anxious—was there another firelighter square in her tummy? Had her tummy digested any of the constituents.

Socks was not really happy last night but is back to her normal sweet self today. Phew!

Obviously I will not buy that kind of firelighter again!