Tag Archives: Bella

The end of the holiday

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After four weeks away we arrived home and have spent the last couple of weeks settling back into life at Kainui Road.

We have had a great time away and been spoilt along the way. People we met wanted to know about us and where we’re from. They marvel at how far we had to travel from New Zealand and want to know our story.

Italy is a generous country and we have experienced many acts of kindness along the way. Hotels we know have upgraded our rooms and restaurants and bars have given us extra treats along the way. Even on our last night we sat at an outside bar in Piazza Barberini drinking local chardonnay and Peroni beer. When it came time to order another chardonnay they had run out and were so embarrassed that a plate of pizza appeared on our table to say sorry. It was the best pizza we have eaten on this trip – but completely unnecessary.

Catching up with our friends is such a treat and it’s always hard to leave. We miss them terribly. Great meals and great times we will always remember. We returned home with bottles of wine, something liqueur and olive oil, all gifts from friends.

The girls were at the Dog Bach Kennels while we were away and apart from a couple of trips to the vet for upset tummies, have been in good health. The team there are excellent and we can’t recommend them highly enough.

The Dog Bach posts photos of their charges regularly and I’ve included a few with this post. Being able to see them while we’re away means so much. When we picked them up they largely ignored us (as they do) but when they got home they were excited to rediscover the house and garden – lots of zooming and a little bit of peeing.

Although it is the end of holiday Jean reminds me often that these days my life is just one big holiday anyway.

Last day in Rome
One bag of the four bags we checked through in Rome
Ellie makes friends
Bella makes friends
Bella on a rainy day
After a walk
Walking, walking, walking
Posing for a photo but easily distracted

Pillow fight

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Both girls love being on the pillow in the study – but when one gets there first (Bella) the other (Ellie) gets as close as possible hoping for the best.

Sentinel at the Gate

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Bella loves to bark at people passing our front gate. She sits and waits to hear someone approaching – then when they are level with the gate she lets loose – barking, barking barking.

Every morning and evening people on the way to and from work give her a “target rich environment” but in lockdown it’s different.

Here she is siting patiently, waiting for someone to walk past on Wednesday evening. But no one came.

Despatches from home

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Our girls have been in a kennel for over two weeks. For both of them this is a whole new experience. We were a bit concerned how they would react and whether they would settle in.

We have been missing them so we asked the team at Waglands Dogs’ Holiday Retreat – seriously that is the name – to send us some photos of the girls. They arrived today and it seems we had nothing to worry about.

We suspect they’ve just had a bath as they look a bit too clean and fluffy for over two weeks on holiday in the country.

For the uninitiated, it’s Ellie on the left and Bella on the right.

 

Let the fun begin

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Our guest room has taken on a new role – the packing room. It’s Sunday night so the bags are being filled with many things we won’t need and some that we will.

This afternoon we dropped the girls at their home for the next 4 weeks – Waglands Dogs’ Holiday Retreat. I kid you not, that’s what it’s called. When we left there were tears, a lot of barking and a very quiet drive home.

Tomorrow starts early at the airport at 7am and then we spend the next 34 hours travelling to Rome.

Cloud puppy

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Staring at the sky the other day (we have nothing much else to do folks) Jean noticed one cloud that looked familiar. Either that or we are missing the dogs more than we realise.


Meanwhile, on the other side of the world …

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While we are away in Italy our girls are being looked after by our dear friend Vicki who has moved in for 4 weeks. We receive regular updates and photos showing how much they are missing us. Or possibly not missing us …

Bella the puppy

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I was going through some old video footage and found this clip of Bella as a puppy. It’s funny how time erases the bad and only the good is remembered.

This is the first time Bella met Jean’s fluffy new slippers.

Winter is here – someone tell Bella

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Tonight the temperature dropped to around 5 degrees celsius. It was calm but cold – bone chilling cold.

This did nothing, however, to change Bella’s habit of sitting outside in the back yard, on one of the plinths beside the steps, surveying her domain, keeping an eye on the neighbours and keeping an eye on us in the kitchen.

It doesn’t matter what the weather is, how cold it gets or the time of day, when the mood takes her Bella sits, thinks and watches.

Dog shots

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For no reason and with no real narrative, some shots of Poppie and Bella doing their thing.

Four girls in a row

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Earlier in the year our girls had friends come and stay for a night or two. Here they all are sitting on our landing keeping an eye on proceedings below. From the left Poppie, Macey, Bella and Georgie.

 

 

The summer of 2016

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Sunset at our place 2This year, summer is the kind we always dream about. Hot sunny days and warm calm evenings that seem to stretch on forever – with the weather forecaster’s prediction of impending wind and rain being proved wrong time and again.

Tonight, as the sun dropped below the horizon, we were on our front verandah enjoying the view. The girls were waiting patiently to terrorise anyone who dared to pass the gate. What a great evening.

Doggie antics

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Bella on the couchA short movie showing Bella on the couch in the study yesterday afternoon. After filming she was off to make mischief elsewhere – pretty much what you would expect from a 3 year old.