Last of the Summer Wine

[Julie]

Last of the summer wine 

Autumn flows into our golden times

We put our best foot forward and writes in rhymes

The countryside is mellow, it heals each day

On hills or meadows, the village clock chimes!

Julie

October 2026

[Julie]

Just had to add this pic Vlada, she's the "lady" and looks so much like your cat.  Mum had Ginger for a long time and I had several of her kittens.  Your black and white looks like the one I used to look after from next door, also from one of mums cats, most probably from Ginger.  She definitely ruled the roost at mum's house.  My name called him Salt, his brother ...a black cat was called Vinegar.

here's Vinegar in our garden, he used to love the garden and as he grew older visited us in our house and took a liking to the green chair we had...leather with claw marks...yes he loved to jump on it and sleep and as he had 3 legs and no tail right from a kitten he wasn't quite as agile as a cat with 4 legs.  

Ahhh yes I've hear of a Maltipoo as our friend got a phone app to check out his pup and came across that breed.  

They've got strict on the puppy farms so many have been closed down which is a good thing as I don't believe in farming the pups.  One of the ladies we follow on Youtube has a rescue dog, she was used for breeding, but is now a healthy and fit dog who loves travelling the canals.

The Narrowboat Pirate ~ Youtube - This is Heidi's channel Vlada

The pup we looked after loves games, and the one she invented was the Miss Raspberry Game, she loved that one.  Miss Raspberry is a squeaky toy in the shape of a raspberry and we play tug, she loves that game.  She also loves balls but chews off all the felt on them.  When she first came to visit after her vaccinations she liked having a chew the wooden leg on the old table, now when she goes outside it's collecting sticks.  

It's fascinating how the puppy watches bits of TV, the Kellogs cockerel on the ad she always seems to notice and we found a puppy video for her to see if she'd enjoy that.  

Fur baby is a term our friend uses and as I'm not a gran it's cool to nurse the pup and be a kinda mum again!

[Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ..aka Reɪvən ღ]

That one in this picture looks like a wee Maltipoo thats a cross Maltese/Poodle or Morkie, cross Maltese/Yorkshire terrier there are so many mixed breeds today and yet they still sell for huge prices and they create puppy mills in the process sadly.. and when the Dame breeder female has done her job producing litter after litter until she's barren all from a cage, never seeing the outside world in some cases, they then dump her at a rescue centre or some even cruelly euthanise her because she's not used to humans in a normal home stay life manner.. shocking aye..

I was horrified when I read about these situations and vowed I'd never purchase a dog from a puppy farm breeder, yet in Khalo's case she wasn't a breeder, she had both parents and it was a planned litter before getting her female spayed so I didn't feel so bad with his purchase. And I felt better I was doing a good job taking on a already turned down purchase from leaving him as a rejected puppy with a syndrome, ..when he's a normal dog just needing some love & a place in good home.. Yes he's a funny boy, very intelligent one and he even talks to the pigeon & the doves and wonders why they don't want anything to do with him.. he couldn't give too hoots about the ducks, but goes nuts at any noises across the fence like some ones' going to jump over any minute and assult me..

Yes we have some fun times too, with his toys and he loves a good ball game, and if I'm busy he throws the ball to himself for a bit.. but when I want to play he wont give it to me, so we have to play chase me around the lawn a bit then you can have it... He's a hoot and yet he gives me a reason to get up in the morning, both him and my cats they have great inner clocks.. for all their routines including treat times and dinner times.. and even toilet times, I literally cant go without having eyes staring at me taking a pee... but I wouldn't have it any other way.. I've always had pets my whole life. And they are surprisingly great at character reading of prospective female company LOL..

These are the fur babies:-

My cat Orik he is a rescue 10yrs old..

This is Humati she is 6yrs old,... she is a rescue also [left behind on a sharemilker farm change over and found on a rubbish tip eating mice & rats, she was riddled with fleas and had badly sunburnt ears] she's become the boss of the household.. and she is not afraid of dogs, in fact she had 3 large farm dogs bailed up in the barn one day I got told.. she stalks & chases Khalo if she is in a bad mood.. he knows how to back away now and let her have her way & looks for me for security from her if he feels she has him baled up....

[Julie]

I've been looking at pictures of different breeds because as you know I mentioned I don't know much about dogs as I've never really shared my home with a dog.  My parents always had cats and perhaps as a result I've always had cats in the house up to the last few years.

I looked up Schnoodle and Staffordshire Bull terrier as you'd mentioned those breeds...perhaps we can can have cute puppy discussion Vlada.

I've even bought this year's christmas cards with cute puppies on!

Your Khalo sounds a character and after having our friend's 6mth old for a few days I know about the anxiety thing.  I think she was missing him, especially for the first couple of days, she was so much  relaxed and quieter when "her dad" came back to pick her up.  Think it helped having his slippers and sliders around so she could pick up on his scent.

Oh yes the telepathy works, or a certain look and the bag of treats available.... she loves the little salmon ones and she's only got to see you reach for the bag and she will look at you and sit very still like she's waiting to be rewarded by something tasty.  Ahh yes no problem in the car, but when our friend is at the busy city train station that''s another matter as she likes to greet everyone but I think she gets overwhelmed.

[Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ..aka Reɪvən ღ]

Oh she's a sweetie, yes her fur will grow & tangle really fast, faster than a Schnauzers cos it has the poodle curl & an undercoat in it, I can see her fur is way different to Khalo's kinda frizzy..

Yes before I got Khalo I had a Miniature Staffordshire Bull Terrier for 15yrs her name was Lacuna gees I still miss her heaps, think I always will, as even mentioning her name my heart sinks... but I love Khalo he's a good boy, he was so cute as a baby and a quick learner, he just wanted to please me.. I so was the alpha from day one, he talked to me like a human when I was checking him out before purchase, he still does...he argues with me too lol...

my sister cant believe how well behaved he is compared to her dog LOL, she's got one like this one you have but its a Schnoodle and its black,....sweet dog but has no ears or discipline or even recall.. shocking he just loves Khalo but you cant stop him, he's all over the place like he's got ADHD nor can she call him back.... where as Khalo responds instantly.. just goes to show if you don't put the time into them from young they can walk all over you and turn out to be bad dogs no no matter how cute they look..

I told her its the training you didn't give yours.. just a small dig.. but Lacuna was the best dog I've ever had in my life, she was so well trained I didn't have to speak to her, I used telepathy and hand signals she picked it up really good, she was my real shadow bless her soul, everyone who met her wanted a dog like her,.. she passed away from Cancer. I wanted to get another after she passed but the cost of these dogs went up so high over the years I had her I couldn't afford to pay NZ$3,000 for one.. thats how greedy people have become here for specific breed dogs.

I thought about a rescue but they had no small dogs available and I had to have a small breed cos I took Khalo to work with me for the first 6mths, and I couldn't do that with a larger dog, plus cos he suffered terribly from separation anxiety that's the reason I got him, he had been purchased before I got him and returned to the breeder due to the person being unable to handle his anxiety, obviously they were dumb dog owners.. so it was meant to be, .. I crate trained him from a puppy, so now I can leave him without barking the house down at least.. he still suffers from separation anxiety, I don't know how to get him out of it when it comes to going in the car shopping.. he loves the driving part and is no problem in the back seat even on long distance, but I cant leave him to go into a shop without him barking like crazy and freaking out.. and here people who are dog lovers flutter around the car thinking he's in trouble and he's not, he's just silly and thinks his alpha pack leader has abandoned him lol.. I really think the person who got him before me set this anxiety issue into full swing by not training and just leaving thinking the pup would be ok left for hours while they went to work all alone in a strange house, now its in his brain its hard to get it out. Don't get me wrong he's a lovely dog, so loyal and he dosn't bite or snap or lick faces or steal food kids have or anything like that, his only vice is this seperation anxiety.. and he's become a great watch dog in the house for me. so I live with it and just tackle it when I need to..

[Julie]

Khalo' ...Hi ! 

Our neighbours used to have two Schnauzers Vlada.  we've had to be so alert with our puppy friend.  She's travelling back home today, so she's been with us since last Thursday.  Her hair grows so fast, so has had a mini clip and a full one so far.    What I try and do when she's visiting is get her used to a detangling brush, especially after having a bath, which she had yesterday.  

Thanks for the tips, I remember having to trim one of my cats claws as she got older and didn't want to go outside so much, it wasn't an easy task and remember with one particular long claw taking her to the vets to have it clipped.

Thanks for sharing photos of Khalo Vlada

This little dog looks rather like the one we were looking after Vlada....I found the picture online

[Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ..aka Reɪvən ღ]

My dogs name is 'Khalo'  said Kay-lo ..he's a miniature Schnauzer.. yeah and a warning another thing puppies are into chewing apart from shoes, slippers and jandals etc is underwear, lol yeah my sister has a snoodle and it managed to get into the laundry basket and chewed all her underwear and even her husbands & the kids.. she stopped putting her in the laundry without lifting the basket up high after that, a expensive lesson..

The other thing with cockapoo's you have to get them clipped every 6-8weeks, as their coat matts very quickly otherwise. I clip Khalo myself cos its not cheap here to get done, he stands still well enough for me to do it,... until I get to clipping his ears & feet and doing his nails and he's not keen on that so I had to purchase one of those clipping slings, and I hang him from the cloths line in it to do them, I get like two feet done and then he tries to bite me, I asked the vet is there anything else I can try to stop him biting without putting a muzzle on him, cos I don't like those things it puts more fear into the dog I recon... he said a medical collar maybe and they were not expensive or they could clip them but at a cost.. everything costs money and a lot of it these days, but I then went n got myself one of those sanding type nail clipping machines instead and he doesn't mind that, in fact it puts him to sleep so its meditative.. but its time consuming.

Khalo clipped in Summer

Khalo unclipped in winter

[Julie]

Yes shoes, or in her case our friend's slippers and sliders!  What's your dog's name Vlada

I'm new to puppies, it's a huge learning curve at the moment.  She's pretty smart, but seems to be happiest having her walk and playing tug.  She puts her front paws on our knees with her favourite toy of the moment in her mouth.  She likes to win the tug of war, then starts the game again, so we throw the squeaky Miss Raspberry and she brings its back.  

We've been scratching our heads a bit over her barking at things we don't notice and this morning the phone rang and she seemed upset afterwards and although we reassured her, and distracted her she continued to look scared so thought it best to get her into her comfort zone with a walk.  She's being picked up later on so hopefully we'll find out if she's been scared/upset by phones ringing before.

[Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ..aka Reɪvən ღ]

We don't get Eastenders here anymore IDK why we used to,years back.. but yes those good belly laugh comedy like shows I love, laughter is such good medicine for the soul.. Better keep your shoes off the floor and watch the table & chair legs with a 6mth old pup they normally love a good chew.. but yes puppies can make you laugh and lift your soul too, that's why I love my dog so much he's so much fun and he's so loving and loyal.. and he's smart too, I've taught him how to talk English.. I get him to say "I want yum yums" when he wants a treat, he dosn't get it unless he talks.. smart cookie he is.. I'm so pleased I have animals around me they really are great companionship..

[Julie]

Hi, Yes I also enjoyed all the shows from way back, there used to be some good TV.  So glad you shared what you love, those shows were hilarious, what we call now good old fashion fun with lots of belly laughs and joy.  Also in agreement about Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Easteneders.  Here's to good fun and belly laughs!

We're looking after a 6mth old puppy at the moment, oh my it's fun and exhausting at the same time.  Her name's Maggie and she's a cockapoo apricot colour and she's not long had her first clip, she's so cute....

[Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ..aka Reɪvən ღ]

I loved that programme,even the scenery was awesome... I watch all the re-runs on TV years back now, totally hilarious British humor I love it!!, ...its about time they did them all over again, they were so funny, the others I watched were Dad's Army, Benny Hill, Steptoe & Son, The Two Ronnies, George & Mildred, Are You Being Served, Monty Python, & Monty Pythons flying circus, Black Adder, Absolutely Fabulious, Father Ted, Some Mothers Do Hav Em, The Young Ones, Keeping Up Appearance's, Vicor of Dibley, French & Saunders, Mrs Brown.. Mr Bean.. Only Fools n Horses, Men behaving Badly, there were heaps more I cant think now,.. they'll all come rushing to me when I don't think about them.. we got them all here back in the 90's..now we have total crop repeats of Coronation Street & Emmerdale farm..in coro all they do is talk gossip about each other and go to the pub every day..or in Emerdale they are plotting to get hold of land,& killing each other.lol I know thats funny too but they arnt even comedies...