Hi all, just me (for those of you who remember me).
Sorry it has been a while since I have been on the forum - there seems little point when I am so far away here in Australia. I thought you would like a bit of an update on the family though.
Esther is now getting quite old - I have no idea how old she was when I adopted her, but her body shape is changing and she is starting to look like an old cat. Apart from the odd bit of senility showing (yawping at midnight etc), she is otherwise in the peak of health. She goes for a stroll in the mornings for about 15 minutes, catches a skink or two and then comes in and demands breakfast fifteen minutes later. She knocks on the back door and if ignored, starts to yell.
Smidgen (my Cheshire cat) is getting quite portly. He is now nine years old and the indoor life is not helping his weight problem. He does get plenty of exercise (of which more later) but he is too fond of his food is all.
Shadow, my darling boy is now 13 and showing it. He has always been a bit weak behind (labrador rottweiler cross - he had no chance really) and two Christmasses ago I thought I was going to have to put him down on Christmas Day as he woke and could not stand. I took him to the vet but by then he was back on his feet again so we gave him a bit longer. Meanwhile I went to the Dogs Home and chose a replacement - Sebastian. Since Seb arrived, Shadow has become a puppy once more and runs, plays fetch, comes on 4 km walks with us and generally seems pretty fit all things considered. I will be getting the vet to come visit us at home in the not too distant future (travelling and hour and a half seems unnecessary when we have a visiting one) so she can see him in his natural environment and assess his condition.
Seb and Smidgen seem to have bonded rather well, and they play together regularly. Smidge flops on his side under a chair then Seb gets down, pinches a toothful of fur and skin and drags him out again. The first time i saw this I was horrified, but apparently Smidgen enjoys it as when I call Seb off Smidge does his level best to entice him back to enjoy the game. Here is Seb enjoying the Spring sunshine, and Smidge is keeping his toes warm for him. Seb curls up in Smidgen's donut cushion to keep comfy in front of the fire, and Smidge spreads out on the dog bed - you get the picture. It works.