Chynna Dawg

In the end, we couldn't wait until Saturday to get Chynna from the breeder's. So P and I took Friday afternoon off work, rented a car, and drove a six-hour round trip journey to pick up our new puppy.

On the way home, she sat in my lap on a soft fleece blanket. Unfortunately, the breeder ignored my request not to feed her and due to the 'stop-start' traffic on the motorway, our little friend heaved four times! I couldn't manage to open the plastic bag in time so had to catch the first one with my hand ha ha. Puppies have no clue about the value of jewelry and she had no qualms about regurgitating her food on my very expensive diamond rings. :-)

P and I were both apprehensive about her first night home but we needn't have worried. We didn't sleep well at all but it was all in our heads. After crying for less than 30 seconds (which we ignored), she settled in with her snuggle puppy (a soft toy with a battery-operated beating heart and heart pad to simulate a litter mate) and slept soundly. I woke her up at 2.30am for a pee break, but realized the following morning when the breeder emailed that she could have held it the whole night! Thanks for telling me, NOT!!!

We took 11-week-old Chynna to the vet yesterday for her puppy check up and she was given the all clear. She weighed in at 2.55 kg. She will go back in a month to have her weight monitored and for another worming session.

Last night was good as well (and fingers crossed that this is how it will be moving forward!) and she slept until 4.30am when I took her out for a potty break. We then both went back to bed and laid in until 6.45am.

Chynna is a gorgeous little creature with a sweet face and cute personality. She already knows her name and commands like 'come', 'in your basket' and 'go pee pee'. We are working on 'sit' and 'down' as well as doing some leash work.

We have decided that she is a pie, a cutie pie. And I'm sure that when you all see these photos of her, you will think so too!

Chynna and her sister Daisy from last year's litter

Napping on her handmade Cath Kidston mat

Being carried to the vet's in her bag
Chilling in her crate

Zzzzzz...playing all day is hard work!

All About the Dog

I haven't written on the blog for a while as after losing our beloved dog Winnie last month, I felt that my joy for life itself had been squeezed out of my heart. I just didn't have it in me to 'talk' too much about what I was going through. I guess both P and I just needed to retreat into our metaphoric 'den' and lick our wounds.

Winnie was a special little monkey and I will always love her deeply. I am trying to remember the fun times and laughter she brought into our home and that we also gave her a wonderful life while she was with us.

However, I now have some news which I think you all may like to hear.

First though, I want to thank everyone who sent me a personal note after you all heard the news about Winnie. Your words brought me great comfort during a very difficult time. I grieved terribly for weeks afterwards and it still hurts when I think about her.

What life has shown me is that when you lose someone that you love, the pain never truly goes away. You just learn to live with it. I still can't talk about Lainey, my beautiful friend who died from cancer three years ago, without my voice breaking or being close to tears. But I accept that that is the price you pay when you love someone or in this instance, my dog.

What we found after Winnie left us was that the house was so empty and quiet. The silence made the beating of our shattered hearts seem even louder, but we also didn't want to replace Winnie, for in all honestly, she was one of a kind.

We thought long and hard about getting another dog. But even in our grief we realized that we, as a family unit, were incomplete without one. So I decided to look online for litters of Miniature Dachshunds (I have always found them adorable). A breeder in Wales had four long-haired girls so we arranged to drive down at the weekend to look at them. In particular, I was interested in the cream-coloured puppy. They are quite unusual and especially beautiful.

However, even on the day we made the appointment, both P and I still had our doubts about whether we should do this. I haven't had a puppy in years and have forgotten how to look after one. Also, was it too soon after Winnie? We talked about it a lot but that evening, I made a joke that if we did get the cream puppy, that I would call her Chynna, after Chynna Phillips (who is also blond) from the band Wilson Phillips (now you can tell how old I am!).

I was still waking up at 3am and crying for a few hours and that night was no different. P stayed up and comforted me so he got no sleep either. The next morning, he took the train to work as he was just too tired to do the normal 16-mile round trip cycle. As soon as he got to the office, he called me up in a state of high excitement and said, "Guess what?!! On the tube coming in today, I saw a cream long-haired Miniature Dachshund! It's a sign!"

Although I knew how rare it is to see a dog on the tube (I take it every day and have only seen one in 13 months of living here) and even rarer to see the exact breed and colour we had chosen, inside, I pooh poohed his idea. I humoured him by saying, "Oh really, that's great!" but if I am honest, I thought that it was just a coincidence.

I didn't give it anymore thought as I was quite busy at work that day. Later in the afternoon, my boss asked me to go to the bank to get some documents certified for her. I don't often do stuff like that and have probably stepped inside that branch less than half a dozen times. I took her papers there, sat down and waited for someone to come and serve me.

A few minutes later, this very pretty woman came up and asked for my documents. I glanced at her name tag and felt a jolt through my entire being. Her first name was.....Chyna (spelt with one N). In my 39 years and living over 10 of those years outside the Small Island, I have never, and I mean NEVER, met anyone with that name before. In fact, Chynna Phillips is the only Chynna I know of.

After Chyna finished certifying the papers, I rushed back to my desk and called P. I told him what had happened and said, "Is it a sign?!!!!!"

Whatever it was that happened that day, it definitely cemented our belief that we were doing the right thing. Although we were nervous when we drove down to Wales the following Saturday, we also felt that whatever was meant to be, would be.

Of course, we completely fell into our puppy's paws when we saw her. We spent an hour with the breeder, her lovely human family, and her equally lovely pets. The four puppies (along with their mum, dad and a sister from a previous litter) were all gorgeous, enthusiastic and sweet. Two were a beautiful red, the same colour as Winnie. But I knew that if we took one of them, we would always think it was Winnie whenever we caught a glimpse of the puppy out of the corner of our eye. I just didn't want to have my hopes up for a millisecond, then be crushed all over again.

The dogs were all wonderful but we knew almost as soon as we got there that Chynna was the one for us. We will pick her up and bring her home in exactly one week.

We have been devouring dog books like crazy in order to prepare for Chynna's arrival. P and I are quietly excited, if that makes sense. It is a new beginning for us and we have no doubts that it will bring along its challanges too. Patience has never been my strong point but I guess I'll have to cultivate it now!

We feel it is a privilege that we have been given the opportunity to share our lives with this precious canine. I will post some more stories as time and our experiences together unfold. In the mean time, I will leave you with a few snaps of this lovely little creature:

Chynna at nine weeks old

With her snuggle puppy, a toy that eases separation anxiety

Playing in the garden with her sisters

The whole family efficiently hoovering up coco pops that the breeder had spilt! Good team work.

Home Sweet Home!

P and I are halfway through a two-week vacation on our Small Island and it has been wonderful so far.

Although I said I wouldn't shop, that has been virtually impossible. Our luggages are already full and we still have one week to go! My stepmum took us to a sale earlier in the week and we left S$500 poorer but half a suitcase fuller.

On top of that, we have been absolutely spoilt by my dad, but in particular, by my stepmum. P got two Puma jerseys and I got a gorgeous matching diamond earring and pendant set made out of round and baguette diamonds that go very well with my wedding ring. Now can you guys see why I like coming home? Ha ha.

We have spent most of our time having lunch and dinners with friends and family. I have not had such delicious food for over a year (since I left the Small Island in March 2008) nor laughed this loud and this hard.

The Small Island has changed so much over the last twelve months and the construction of new buildings marches relentlessly on. The condo next to my apartment is now 22 storeys high. A year ago, the foundations were just being put in.

Along with Yeller Fever, we have visited the new dam located at the marina area. Simply amazing.

Yesterday, P, YF and I went to listen to the Canadian Dad's band practising at his school. P and I will be back in Brrringland for their next performance so this was the next best thing. As they played their rock tunes, YF jived across the music room and the moment was magical. I felt such a surge of love for him, P with me in my favourite country, listening to wonderful music and my funny friend who has stood by me all these years doing a little dance. As he boogied past me, I took YF's hand and gave it a squeeze and a kiss.

I love this place and everything about it.

We also have a very busy schedule for the upcoming week and I look forward to more good times with great friends.

It's Enough!

To drive a girl crazy.

Living here I mean.

In my previous entry, I mentioned that I do not like nor respect many of the women that I work with as they are neurotic and sensitive drama queens. Well, several events that have happened this week has illustrated my point brilliantly.

1. One of the more senior members of staff, let's call her Krakpot, is a real piece of work. Mean-spirited and brash, she clashes head on with everyone, be it her own team, her peers or her superiors. No one likes her and I myself have experienced her sharp tongue, which I choose to ignore. At the end of the day, my attitude is that work is work. I may not like you, but I will still do my best at the job because of my own personal pride, professionalism and ability.

I didn't see Krakpot for a few days this week so asked one of my colleagues where she was. I was not surprised when I found out that she suffered a breakdown and is on medical leave for a minimum of two weeks. The demands of the job were just too much for her. This manifested itself in her abrasive exterior to those around her and she finally cracked (no pun intended) under the pressure.

I have been extremely solicitious with regards to discussing this topic at work and at home too. OF COURSE I have not made any 'cuckoo' jokes or anything of that nature muah ha ha. But seriously, if someone can't handle the job, then they should find something else to do. Otherwise you just make yourself, but more importantly other people i.e. me, miserable!

2. One afternoon this week, I saw one of the other PAs crying at her desk. A couple of other colleagues were comforting her. I didn't ask what happened and honestly don't care but I mean, hello? Open plan office! Go cry in the bathroom or in the stairwell but please, put your ugly, blotchy face away. No one wants to see it. Work is hard enough as it is already. Silly cow.

3. Because of the constant dramatics of my peers, I deleted the lot of them off my social networking account about six weeks ago and have consciously kept a distance from them. A few days ago, my boss mentioned in passing that one of them recently said that I am bossy. I was shocked. I am the least bossy person I know! I'm a pussycat, just ask P. :-)

In case you didn't pick it up, that was a joke. Everyone tells me I'm bossy! To the point that one day when I was nagging at two of my male managers, one of them said, "Hey, we are not your husbands you know!" Ha ha ha.

So yes, living in Brrringland is enough to drive a girl round the bend, proven by the amount of nut jobs that many of the 'natives' seem to be.

Another one of my pet peeves is the scruffiness of the women here. So often on the train and tube, I will see girls with super scuffed boots (know what shoe polish is girls?), old beat up handbags (stop stuffing your gobs with crisps and with the money you save, get a new one) and dirty coats (dry cleaners or a washing machine? Use them). I know many people have the impression that Blundon is 'bright lights, big city'. It may be so, but it's inhabited by women who are 'big ars*s, small minds'.

Reflections on an Interesting Year

As the one-year anniversary of my move to Blundon draws near (16 March), I can't help but reflect on life over the last twelve months.

It definitely has not been easy. Not just starting out a new marriage, but having to adapt to a new country at the same time.

The frustrations have been many.

I have found people at work, but especially the women, to be very provincial and insecure. They may have travelled to other parts of the region or to the Land of the Free, but they have never lived out of their comfort zone. I was 16 when I first left the Small Island to further my studies on an exchange programme in sunny CA. Most of my colleagues haven't even moved out of the towns that they grew up in. They are thin-skinned and extremely ignorant.

It has taken me a long time to get used to it. Now I just feel sorry for them and keep my distance. Work is work, but they will never be my friends.

On the bright side, I have a fantastic boss who guides me in this new environment (although she has her moments as well!) and who encourages me to learn as much as I can. Although she is very tough at work, she is also extremely funny and has me in stitches most days. It could be worse.

I miss my friends and family back on our Small Island terribly. I have met some very nice people, but of course we don't share the history that I have with my close friends like Yeller Fever or the Canadian Mum and her family.

The good thing is that I do see my friends and cousins living here every so often, but it is still a trek to get to them. For example, my Princess Di Lookalike German Beauty only lives on the other side of Blundon. But it takes us two hours to get to her house on the train and the same when she and her husband and kids drive to us! The road here are appalling.

In fact, the whole transport network is a mess. My trains are late on a regular basis, which means that when I can get on, I am squeezed like a sardine for the 30-minute journey into central Blundon. My hands are next to people's big behinds (all I can hope for is that they didn't have beans for breakfast) and I can see how much ear wax they have. As there is no space to read the morning paper, I look around and ponder why Brringlish men have a penchant for stupid hair cuts. One of their favourites is short sides and a longer top that they mold into a pointed row down the middle of their head. The modern day b(w)anker punk. They think they look cool, but in fact they just look trailer park.

Actually they don't just look it. Many of them ARE low-class trash. Just a couple of weeks ago when I was on my way home, I saw a young Indian guy ask a Brrringlish Idiot if the train went to Kingston. The BI said, "Don't ask me!" and refused to make eye contact with the Indian guy, who looked a bit taken aback. I told the Indian guy that yes, the train did stop there. I thought that perhaps the BI didn't know the train route...but his gormless self was still there when it stopped at Kingston! What the BI fails to realize is that it is tax-paying 'coloureds' like the Indian Guy and me who allow the likes of him to bum around, do sweet FA and live off the state. Stupid ars*.

As you can tell, I have a lot of respect for the Brrrringlish...NOT!

But before you think it is all doom and gloom, I must confess that there are a few positives to living here too.

One of them is that there are regular flights home to our Small Island. Okay, okay not just that.
P and I rent a lovely little house and go on holiday regularly. I got a pretty good bonus this year which I saved most of, while still buying myself two designer handbags and P a new watch.

When I was on our Small Island, I spent most of what I earned. It's simple mathematics, I made less money there and went out more. I have more holidays here (27 days a year) and only work seven hours a day. I get paid over time for if I work 20 minutes over my regular hours. Although the tax is higher, we are still much better off financially. Our plan is to save as much money as we can while we are living here, then retire back home. I know that I don't want to deal with this cold and damp when I'm 60.

One bad thing about the weather is that it does make you pile on the pounds. I don't eat much more than I did back home, but my stomach seems to have increased in size! I can just about get into my trousers, but doing them up is a whole other story ha ha.

Regardless, P and I are heading back to the Small Island for a holiday in less than three weeks. Big tummy or not, I am so looking forward to scoffing the local grub. The diet starts afterwards!

Snow Galore!

If I thought last night was snowy, check out these photos that I've just taken in the last half an hour. These are houses opposite ours:

Our house:

Needless to say, I'm snowed in at home hee hee. P and I just saw someone skiing down our street, surreal!

Winnie is not too enthusiastic about this weather as it's very cold on her little paws. Luckily, she does her business on command and was very quick this morning so thank god for small mercies! I love it though. At lunch time, I am going to the park by the river to take some photos. It is getting heavier as we speak and I am so going to enjoy this day off!!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!

Technology is a wonderful thing. A couple of weeks ago, a colleague read in the paper that we'd have another cold spell at the beginning of February. Taking heed of her warning, I immediately invested in a few pairs of wool and cashmere tights. I'm so glad I did because this is the scene outside our house as I type this:

Our street:

Our back yard:

I love the snow so I don't mind. In fact, I hope it snows so heavily tonight that all the trains will be cancelled and I don't have to go to work tomorrow. Please God, let the incompetency of these people benefit me for once!

My job is going alright and I am enjoying life in Brrringland a bit more now. I have met some nice people recently as well.

The great news is that P and I will be heading back to the Small Island for a short holiday over Easter and I JUST CANNOT WAIT! My dad has kindly sponsored my flight ticket (thanks Dad!). I am really looking forward to the warm sunshine, wearing my sexy clothes (if I can still fit into them ugh), chilling out during happy hour and shaking my boo-tay!

I have not gotten drunk since I moved here. Mostly because there are a lot of yobs out and about and I never feel completely at ease in this country. The other day, B-dawg asked me why I don't write much on the blog anymore. Basically, my life has changed a lot over the last year or so. P and I don't go out much so I just don't run into men in drag or meet other weird freaks like I used to!

But for two weeks in April, I'll be back home sweet home and I am going to let my hair down and PAR-TAY! Woo hooooooooooooo!