Pet Therapy-session 1

This afternoon my trusty Coolie x Kelpie sidekick Zali and I visited the Nursing home I've been working at casually for the past few months. I'd spoken with a number of residents about how interested they would be to meet any animals, particularly dogs because I can help in that regard. So I checked with the heads of the establishment and they offered encouragement for the benefit of the residents so it was decided.

I had left it too late to get a professional groomer to give her a good wash and blow dry so instead I took to her with a bar of dog soap from the lemongrass man at the local markets. Her toenails were clipped and she had a good towel dry (she loves the towel part-my word, she can make some good groans of satisfaction).

I wasn't sure how she would go with all the new sights and smells and people but she has a fabulous temperament, very tolerant of all kinds of people, other dogs and even gives the chickens a healthy range if they threaten to peck her over a scrap. 

We went into the Dementia ward first and had got a good response with interest and semi-intelligible conversation from some that were difficult to get a sentence out of. The way I see it, if I am ever cursed with the disease of Dementia I would appreciate contact with animals over human contact. The times their companionship has guarded against failing mental health would be countless and their happy presence is reassuring without the need for words.

We wound our way through the home visiting different rooms along the way, one lady in particular who I've spoken with at length about our shared love of animals. She was ever so grateful for the visit. She amongst others were equally glad to have a cuddle and Zali handled it really quite well. Towards the end her eagerness to continue the pathways of smell she could sense was becoming overwhelming so sitting still and being petted became the second priority but she dutifully obeyed and sat. 

By the end of the visit she was all patted out and keen to get home and chill out next to her human. She's only 3 years old but seems to have the wisdom of a much older animal. Personalities like this make me wonder if perhaps the Buddhist principle of reincarnation has some weight to it after all.

South Coast Weekend Getaway

Last Friday I was on afternoon shift and when Vaughan and I left each other's company he vowed if he had a productive evening of math study we would be off camping the next morning. During my shift I was offered a couple of weekend shifts and had to make the call, full of anticipation, of whether or not the study had been done. Thankfully for me, it had! Unfortunately the girls had to find someone else to cover the shifts... So the next morning we packed up and we were off!

We travelled south through Oberon, through the mountainous Abercrombie country towards Goulburn where plans to catch up with a cousin of mine were cut short. From there we wound our way through the Southern highlands to Braidwood, a heritage town I can't recall ever going through before. A gorgeous little stop with c.1890-1900 buildings along the Main Street and a Catholic cathedral with a sizeable bell tower out the front. From there we left along the poplar lined road towards the Kings Hwy which led us straight easy to Batemans Bay. The scenery changed so rapidly from here, gently undulating dry farmland with classically English trees to the hills descending to the coast, of semi-temperate rainforest, trees up to about 40 metres tall in places.

From here it was a short half hour north to Kioloa where I remember coming as a kid. What I didn't remember from childhood was the lack of phone reception, an added extra. Probably because I wasn't caught up in the virtual world at that time. We set up camp, 30 metres at most from the edge of the beach and stopped. Fish and chips on the beach for dinner and the dog met the ocean for her first time.

Such a perfect spot. Stopping, with no distractions, to enjoy each other's company was the best part. We spent the night watching the stars then listening to possums, which Zali wasn't too sure about. She was fine once she was in the tent sleeping on our feet though, a special occasion. 

Crystal clear water and an ambient air temperature meant perfect weather for a dip that morning, despite the looming blanket of cloud threatening to drizzle. Zali was confused at how I could get waist deep in the ocean, diving into the waves crashing towards us without drowning. She stopped barking at each oncoming wave when she was concentrating on how to reach me. I waded back to the ankle depth waves for her a few times though, to allay her worries. The water was perfect, so clear and blue. And the sunrise magical, just what was needed to refresh the soul after a few long weeks at work. After savouring the morning we packed up and jumped back in the car, journey up the east coast this time-Ulladulla, Nowra, Wollongong (where I hadn't time to stop and see uni friends), to work our way through the suburbs on the edge of the coast towards the Royal National Park. It's amazing to think we have such a glorious semi-temperate rainforest just on the edges of NSW's capital city, Sydney. The drive was soothing, winding through the hills, seemingly taller because of the trees than the actual rise and fall of the landscape. Must go back and go for a weekend hike sometime. We entered the south eastern suburbs of Sydney and as we all started to get tired, our mental strength faded and we argued but this is one of the unavoidable facts of life. Not everything is roses and I want to include it because life is never perfect. We got through the other side though. Listening, not hearing but actually listening is an important, no vital skill to use in even your most low moods. Listening to your other half and trying to understand, even when it is hard is so important and I believe, even at this early stage in life, is part of the secret to living a happy and wholesome life. 

We made it home about 5 hours later after a detour to my parents for a BBQ, for which I am grateful for not having to cook. This was the end of our trip and we climbed into bed ready for work for me and uni for him tomorrow, back to it, to do our best in a different regard.