Jake: Holiday Camp or Prison Camp?

WIth my departure imminent, the question is, shall I send Jake to the luxury Kennels, the one that advertises itself as a holiday camp for dogs, or the more basic kennels, whish is a bit like a prison camp (but much cheaper).

Should Jake have an indoor heated kennel, a walk three times a day and access to a swimming pool? Or should he be kept in a cage and allowed out into a concrete yard for ten minutes a day?

Jake is quite unfriendly and happy to be left alone so I had thought I would save the money and send him to prison for a month. But I can't bring myself to do it and he is off to Bunny Lodge.

It has been pointed out that it would be cheaper to re-home him and get a new dog when we get home. I wonder what Jo would think of that...

Things I am looking forward to in England

I am back in England on Saturday for the first time in 4 years. Here is a list of things I am looking forward to:

Greggs cheese pasties
Greggs belgian buns
Greggs cheese savoury sandwiches
Greggs chocolate cookies

Yum!

Birthquake

Apparently there has been s surge of births at the Christchurch Womens Hospital because of the earthquake. The continuing seismic activity is setting them off, or maybe it is the stress. I spoke to one of the farmers at work and she says that when her cows won't give birth she puts them in the trailer and drives them up and down a rought track until they do. If I had known that last year I would have sent Jo along when she was overdue.

Panic Buying

Christchurch is mostly calm and orderly but there are some concerns about shortages of essential items and I share those concerns. So on Thursday I braved New World to do some panic buying.

I headed straight for the wine section and scooped up 4 bottles of cheap wine. Over 70% of the regions alcoholic beverages have been destroyed and it wouldn't do to run out. They don't provide booze at the Welfare Centre either.

Now I am feeling much more relaxed about the situation.

Earthquake Survival Story

The huge earthquake to hit just north of Rolleston has been quite undramatic in the town. The house seemed to pitch and roll like a ship in a storm but I never thought it was going to fall down. A plant pot fell onto the floor just beside where Jake was sleeping but he didn't seem bothered by it. He didn't even move.

He has been looking a bit forlorn recently but that might be because everybody has left him.

There are quite dramatic pictures in the papers but there are only a few buildings with dramatic damage I think, although lots might end up being pulled over. There is lots of damage to roads and sewage, with some roads having been dragged sideways or suffering huge cracks. It will be quite expensive to fix.

So that's it. An understated natural disaster. That's the Kiwi way.