Doggy Olympics

For some time i've been training in secret and learning how to dive and swim. i've been practicing by swimming in Sydney Harbour and learning to fight off sharks, fish, plastic bags, seagulls, and fellow swimmers - some of whom are drunk and hurl abuse at me.

Here you can see me in full flight diving into the Harbour to fetch Doggy News ("Man Bites Dog" is the headline) on Easter Saturday. And the same thing from a different angle plus me returning from my swim. The Boss usually gets me to wait on the edge and counts "1, 2, 3, dive". Sometimes, i'm so impatient and just can't wait until "dive", so i dive in after 1 or 2. The Boss throws the toy in the water and it skips over the surface and floats. i swim out to get it and swallow lots of salty water. But i'm so excited, i don't really care. I return the toy to the Boss or sometimes, Japanese toursits if they're nearby and shake and get them all wet. Sometimes they laugh, other times they're really angry. I nose it at them and want them to throw it again and again and again.

One of the best bits of fun is a little further around from Mrs Macquarie's Chair and past the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool is a walkbridge that crosses a rocky outcrop. The bridge is quite high and because the water levels are tidal, sometimes you can see the rocks below - and other times the water nearly touches the bottom of the walkbridge. Diving off the walkbridge is the best.

It took some time for me to develop the courage to do it. But with a bit of coaxing from The Boss and the understanding that I'll do anything for a ball or toy, i dived in and got it. Here you can see me crouched and ready to dive in. It's sort of a belly-flop really, as i try and keep my head above water as much as possible. And the other thing that is really good, is that if Rusty Crowe is home, i bet he can see me and audition me for co-staring in one of his movies.

After my swim and walk, when i get home there are two things i like to do. 1) drink lots of water because i've usually swallowed lots of salt water when swmming. And 2) is sleep. Swimming really tires me out and i like to have a huge sleep when i get back home. Sometimes, The Boss even lets me sleep in the sun on the outside table. This is absolute heaven. When are the next Doggy Olympics?

Grief and loss

Loss can occur suddenly, without rhyme or reason and can cause a huge shock to the system. It's hard to know what to do and you feel numb and exhausted. Some feel the need to talk; others feel the need to be silent. Some throw themselves into work; others take time to smell the roses.

As a dog the only real losses that i've suffered come from loosing a ball. Like when i was swimming in Sydney Harbour the other day - off Mrs Macquarie's Chair with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House in view. It was a magical day. The sun was shining, the tide was up so that i could dive in without hitting the rocks, and i was playing with one of my favourite balls.

And then it sank. Submerged into the water without a trace. No bubbles, Nothing.

i kept swimming around in circles, like a shark, trying to round the ball up, But, alas, it was not to be found. I started to panic a little, thinking that i had done something wrong, that it was my fault. i was angry with myself.

A lady commented to the Boss: “That’s unusual behaviour for a dog.”

“Yeah, he’s suffering some anxiety from loosing his ball. It just sunk,” He said,

The Boss called me over and pulled me out of the water. i shook myself dry and then he hugged me…. the best hug ever. The Boss went and found a surrogate ball – a used water bottle – but it was not the same. The wind caught it and it didn’t fly in the air anywhere near as well. And i had difficulty concentrating. i was stating to get tired, too.

We both knew it wasn’t right. So we gave up and started our walk back home.

And then i ran into Dennis. Dennis is the cute-ist male Silky Terrier that i know. He’s always happy, no matter what dog or bi-ped he sees. And when we saw each other, he wagged his tail like there was no tomorrow and it took my mind off what had just happened and i was OK again.

My boss suffered some loss today - the loss of a work colleague. No doubt He’s feeling like i did when i lost the ball. i get to spend tonight inside for a change. The Boss gets to hug me and hold me and pet me and i get to lick the salt from His face.

We both feel for each other and our loss.