News Hounds Ady & Flo

‘ARK ARK' I don't know if this is a sound I make warning the mobile compost machine – namely Flo – away from my food bowl, or what we should be constructing to get all of us away from the big wet!

But I, like most of you, are pretty much over it, and if the boss and I hear some meteorologist say once more that it is a once in a 100 year occurrence, we will head for the hills, which seems like a good idea anyway as I have only been around three years and have already had to put up with two floods and a hail storm, and am struggling to comprehend the entire weather prediction thing.

No worries though, it's now a new year and who knows what is going to happen?

At least it is better being wet than having to put up with what the good folk and animals in Christchurch are having to put up with.

I do not want to sound flippant, but it gives a new meaning to a ‘whole lot of shakin going on'.

The resilience of you good folk is admirable and we are all thinking of you – and stick with it.

While the rest of the world was playing out nativity scenes, Flo opted for a re-enactment of a famous Aussie murder mystery. Here she is pictured with baby Azaria. Guess who played the part of the dingo!

Now it's time for new year resolutions; another waste of time as 99 per cent do not stick with them anyway, but to go with the Flo, so to speak, I decided to make one, and that was to…

Hunt more, run more, and retrieve more feathered game – that is, if the boss made a resolution to improve his aim, as last year I told him, ‘if you want me to retrieve these varmints, please get them out of the sky first'.

I have to admit it is good having my mate Flo back around and I can tell you we are going to have some fun and adventure this year – so pin your ears back and I hope we can give you a few laughs with our exploits.

Cheers all, and be strong, have fun, and be safe.
-Ady.

Howdy sunsetters.

I've been away on swashbuckling adventures, mostly in the rain, but that hasn't stopped my typically enthusiastic Labrador attitude of enjoying everything; including remembering all my lessons on good behaviour from Wendy the dog trainer.

Hey if you are going to chase sticks at the beach all day, does it matter that it's raining?

Not to me, I chased sticks till the tide went out, then demanded more.

Between stick chasing and swimming antics, the boss took me on a couple of seafaring voyages and we saw a whole lot of the coastline – though mostly through grey rain clouds. It was a good time for me to leave town, after my near disgrace at the family Christmas lunch. It involved a chocolate mud cake and a tantalising easy pull of the table cloth.
Anyway, moving right along…

I like the idea of fishing. Getting dinner on the end of a string, you just pull it in when you're hungry.

Mrs Boss landed two big-eye tuna. I couldn't believe it. My eyes were as big and round as the tuna's as she nonchalantly hauled them aboard the boat.

The boss was a bit miffed; all he could manage was an albacore that got away and then a scummy old skippie which he used for bait, despite my better idea: feed it to the dog!
When the rain got too much for us, we hightailed to the bush cabin and I met the crazed neighbour Huff, who showed me the dos and don'ts of bush living, which according to Huff, is mostly don'ts.

We gave a couple of pesky possums the curry up too.
My friend Ruger came out a couple of times and when the boss let him off, Ruger snapped angrily and the possums were dead before they hit the ground.

Of course, I would have nailed them, if Ruger hadn't.
I am enjoying my job as ‘tidy up person' for Ruger, retrieving the furry varmints and helping the boss turn them into compost.

It was good to get back home though, and even better to catch up with Ady.

Especially when I found her bowl was half full of Ziwipeak, which I helped her out with. Shame about the broken bowl, sorry Uncle Tony.

- Flo.

Training by Wendy Graydon,
The Dog Trainer. 0210 700 111
Sustenance: www.ziwipeak.com
We do all our own stunts.