A thorny affair

A stinking king with nasty thorns, was my rendezvous last night. Of course this stinking king like all of us, have a name. He is DURIAN the king of fruit.



My mom’s love of durians had made me a lover of the fruit king.


For my friends, who have never heard of durian and for those who thinks it stinks...YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING.


For durian lovers, the smell is fragrant. For those averse to it, the smell is repugnant. Ohhhhhhhhhh that smell. 'Quick open it'




There are many myths relating to the consumption of durian (it does not bother me but through my observation, human do funny things).

1st myth – Never drinks alcohol and eat durian. Durian is considered a “heaty” fruit, and alcohol is also "heaty." If you have to eat and drink, maybe beer is fine. Beer is considered to be “cooling”


2nd myth – Yin and Yang, King and Queen: By balancing the heatiness, the consumption of a “cooling” fruit must be considered – the mangosteen.

3rd myth – Eating too much durian, will cause sore throat. The customary thing to do is put a pinch of salt into the seed pod, add water and drink directly from the pod (the inside shell)

4th myth – After eating the fruit, the aromatic scent will linger on your fingers To remove the smell from your fingers, just wash your hand in running tap water over the thorny part of the durian shell (my godma aka Huskee’s mom will not wash her fingers in running water over the thorns ........shhhhhhh !!!! hopefully she finds this funny or I am in deep trouble).

All the myths don't bother me at all. Mom had a durian party last night with Helios' ma and pa and Tommy's ma and pa and Huskee's ma and pa.

Helios (haha) being Australian love the fruit


Nothing these days goes without me, not thinking of Herbie. Here is a clip of my dear friend enjoying his durian


Tommy wasn't too keen so I had his share. Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumy


Buuuurppp!!!!!

My dear friend Herbie is no longer with us.

Grieve not, Nor speak of me with tears

But laugh and talk of me

As if I were beside you.
From To Those I love, a poem by Isla Paschal Richardson

Mom found the above poem and she said this is what Herbie would like us to do.

Losing Herbie, while tragic, is but a beginning of a lifetime of memories.

The death itself was not sudden but mom, Auntie Sam and I never expected it so soon. We should have had many more dog years together.

There were never any fights between the two of us. If there was a disagreement, you were always waving your feathery tail to say it is alright

.

We share so many things alike, like EATING and SLEEPING and enjoy just being together

and we both always knew where the food is and you have taught me the art of ‘begging’

Oh Herbie, the park will never be the same without you and my living room will definitely not be the same without you too. Auntie Sam also wanted me to add – the kitchen is not the same without you Herbie.

Although Herbie is no longer physically with us but he is with us in spirit.

We will miss you terribly but you will alway be right here in our hearts.

Long live Herbie.

Rest in peace my dear friend (Your Uncle Bob will now take care of you)

Happy 4th Annipawsery

I am jumping for joy today because today is 4years since I came to my mom.

Where did I come from? Thousands of dogs are bought or adopted, so do I want to know where I came from? The answer is NO.

All I know is this person has given me so much love and attention that she is the only mom I know and I don’t really care where I came from or who brought me to this world.

19th September 2003, I was put on an airplane heading for Singapore. I was tiny and I was scared, stressed and cold. I have to admit, I slept most of the way.

I arrived to a hot morning in Singapore on 20th September and within 3hours, I was picked up my 2 people (mom and dad). Mom had second thoughts about taking me home (I heard her whispering to my dad “you know I don’t like barky dogs and this one here is REALLY barky). I was indeed the the most vocal among all the puppies.
4years has passed and I am happy we found each other.

I love you very much mom and Happy 4th Annipawsary.

Bye bye to redness and itch (on my paws)

Why are my paws red and itchy? Why can’t the humans allow me to chew them?


Don’t they know the redness and itch on my paws is an extremely frustrating experience?


The humans (vet included) said mine is a bacterial infection and the story goes to find a ‘cure’ to my frustrating experience because by this time, my paws look terrible.

Mom (god bless her) tried everything she can think of (including advice from her friends).
She went to the pet shop and bought medicated shampoo and some soothing balm. That helped a little but I was allergic to the particular brand of medicated shampoo so that didn’t help much.


Someone suggested calamine lotion. This was a wee drying to my skin so it was alternated by rubbing hydrocortisone cream and aloe Vera.

Some of my friends (whom I shall not name) have Neem oil added to their shampoo. YES my experience with the Neem oil begins (Ohhhhh, let me tell you that Neem oil smells Soooooooooo bad).


To boost me up internally, I am given royal jelly and flaxseed oil too.



Two months back, my skin condition got from bad to worse so the vet had a visit from me. After consultation, we came home with the following – mild shampoo, chlorhexidine
which is an antiseptic solution


and steroid tablets

Mom didn’t like the idea of the steroid tablets and strict instruction was given to Auntie Sam “give Scuba the tablet for today and tomorrow, then stop". She said steroids are often given to stop the itch without really addressing the underlying cause and the itching will return. Worst, long term use of steroids can result in many health problems.

Do you think all of them work? NO (maybe I didn’t complete the tablets)

By this time, my mom is pulling her hair out trying desperately to find something to ease my itch and redness.

Finally she discovered something when she was in China and voila after application of her discovery, I am not chewing that much and my redness is disappearing.

Mom came up with this brilliant idea - Chinese tea. She said something triggers the idea and ever since then, Auntie Sam has been making tea for my paws.

Where did she buy the tea? Well, she was in Shanghai last week and she bought back her ‘Tea Pawfect Concoction’. The pawfect concotion is made up of green and osmanthus oolong tea.
Mom said with its potent antibacterial qualities, green and oolong have some unique powers in dealing with a range of common skin complaints. These include relieving the swelling and itchiness to the treatment of more prolonged skin conditions such as Eczema. Not surprisingly, many scientists, are slowly unveiling just how beneficial the green tea can be on this unpleasant skin disorder.
Thanks to my tea cleansing and regular brushing, I have said goodbye to red itchy paws






Thank goodness my mom didn’t brush it aside and assume this chewing business is behavioral.

Well I hope whoever is suffering out there, can now have something new and natural to try.

Life of a miniature bull terrier in Sunny Singapore

I was born in Australia and now living in Sunny Singapore.

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

I am turning 4 this Monday

So what is the significance of 4 to me?

Click to play Make your own Smilebox

4 means;
- 4 years old as I was born 25th June 2003
- 4th astrological sign of the zodiac for I am a Cancerian
- 4 legs to walk on
- 4 meals a day (I hope)
- 4 gras (yummy, wonder when can I have that French delicacy again)
- 4mage (and not forgetting the French cheese as well)
- 4get & 4give easily (learn from me)
- 4go & 4sake my toys (when friends come visit)
- 4iegn Godfather
- 4iegn nanny (that’s Auntie Sam)
- 4ever loving my mom
- 4tunate dog I am (loads of friends)
- 4bidden to chew my paws
- 4 is the only number for which the number of letters in its name is equal to the number of itself in the English language (HA after all I am English)
- 4 is the first “composite” number i.e. the first number that can be created from multiplying numbers other than itself (am I not intellectual?)

Well some things never change with 4
- 4 directions: north, east, south and west
- 4 Elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth
- 4 Seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter
- 4 sides to a square

So strong is that numero 4 that Auntie S & Uncle CL (Herbie & Helios’ parents), Auntie W and Uncle M (Tommy’s parents), Auntie G (Jack & Joey’s mom) and mom went to watch The Fantastic Four last Saturday.
4tunately, we were left on our own and we did have a ball.

4ever yours, Scuba

TAG - I am starting one

After reading Boo Boo's blog and seeing the picture of ‘brotherly love’, I can’t help but to think of starting (yet) another TAG.

I have always been tagged (The last two were by Herbie and Johann) so here is my chance to get back.

What shall I tag and what will it be !!!!!. Shall I be naughty or shall I be nice. How about:
‘Being 2gether – that’s friendship’

Rule for this tag:
1) Picture of you and another dog (or another animal)
2) A funny caption to go with the picture
3) Tag others


The grass is greener on this side except for the yellow flowers (can someone remove the grass that is tickling my nose.....Ahhhhhh Chooooooooooo)


Shall we dance? …… I don’t think so


Yin and Yang (Both elements are in movement rather than held in absolute stasis)



Look at that derrier. Ohhhhhh nice!!!!! Let me check it out



Don’t stop. Give me more. Love those smooches (Miss Sunshade, close your eyes on this one)


Hide and seek – who is gonna close the lid?


Don’t you dare disturb my godsister whilst she is sleeping. Acutally we are twins (in colour)


Down and out but where is the referee? I want fairness in this wrestling match.

The essence of a strong jaw


Pep talk for the young and innocent


Food – smells good and taste delicious. What did you just had?

One for the road
.


I would like to tag:
1) Huskee - my Little Big Brother
2) Herbie and Helios - The 2 GRrrrrrs
3) Jack and Joey - My famous piranhas
4) Miss Sunshade - The love of my life
5) Maggie the Airegirl - Who love my tummy
6) Ike the Boston terrier - Who love 'balls'
7) Sam I am - The lovely Weimaramer
8) Opy the Original Gruffpuppy - who is responsible for my tag action
9) Jay the Silkie Terrier - whom I haven't seen since Christmas
10) Girl Girl the Hamster - The baby of all


Happy tagging guys

Sleeping on my back (Tagged by Herbie)

(For my friends who wished to leave a comment on my last post and couldn't, I do apologise profusely coz my mom disabled something and I only realised it when one of my dear friends told me so..... ) :-P

Sometime in May, I was tagged by Herbie. What do I have to do? Well I have to post pictures of myself sleeping belly up.

Not a problem (thanks Herbie) this is my favourite position.

Me after a hard play


In my cosy bed (which is shared by many friends when they come over)




With the oriental printed cushions from Shanghai Tang


I know I am late into this tagging game and I don’t really care so I am going to tag
Rafv the Siberian Husky
Onion the Celebrity Bull Terrier
Marvin the Scottish Cool K9

Welcome to Singapore

On April 09th, I posted that my godpapa was visiting me. He arrived last weekend and immediately wanted to see me.

We both have so much fun together. Mom said he spoils me too much and, why shouldn’t I be treated this way?

We both had been going out together (you know doing the boys things and I believe my mom is soooooooooo very jealous of me).

For the many friends and their owners who know me, I normally ‘trance’ at the park and my middle name is ‘STATUE’. For some strange reason, I feel alive with him around and this bout of energy just came from nowhere.

Like last Sunday, he took me to the park and I had so much fun. It was like a bull terrier gathering cos Badger and Toro were there. It was quite a sight and people around were so amazed to see us play..






Yes, we are fearless and energetic and are not for the fainthearted but we have the ability to amuse you with our clownish antics and are friendly toward people and other dogs so I don’t see why the humans make so much fuss about the bull terriers.

See I love humans and dogs

And here is me running with other dogs

Now back to my godpa’s visit……
The highlight of my time with him – SLEEPING. Being a heavy boy of 23+kgs, not many human will carry me and let me sleep on their lap (plus a couple of kisses and hugs here and there while being - on his lap) Ohhhhhh!!!!! he is the sweetest person.



The other thing I love about him is, he does not agree with my mom’s training (I won’t even go there to tell you what she does to me when I am ‘naughty’). He said to her “Yes, this breed requires a firm hand and patience. With positive training, they will learn although sometimes, they get a little stubborn”.

He keeps telling mom that she should from now practice PAWSITIVE training with me ………Phew!!!! I can’t imagine him see how Auntie G punish Jack & Joey or Auntie S with Herbie and Helios.

We are pawfect for each other and I love him so very much.

Wonder if mom will let me go to Boston with him??????