The new super-dooper kennel....

Hey pups,

As you all may have seen on Charlie's bloggy - we had to get a new kennel built, cause the wind blew down our tent - that mum thought was "such a great idea" - NOT !!!!

Anyway, here are some pics of my take on it all -

What do you mean we can't sleep inside anymore ??? (Suitable gruffness ensues !)


Okay - I guess I better go see what is going on.....



Hmmm - this looks "interesting".....



What SHD - you actually think you are gonna build that ? Hahahahaha - notice my laughing face


Just in case you needed a closeup of me laughing hysterically at SHD....



Okay, seems we are making some progress....



Hurry up SHD - are you finished yet ???


Make sure the roof is on good - I don't want any leakies....




Me.....ahhhhh......doing what I do best - "supervising"



Charlie....I will take the right, you can have the left.....


Nope, let me try the left and you can have the right....


Nah, that still doesn't feel quite right - how bout you bugga off Charlie - and I will have BOTH beds :-)


Me and SHD - thanks SHD for making us such a great kennel - I love you.....




The finished product - and it only took one bottle of Scotch and a few beers to get it done :-)

All that is missing is the "DWB" sign that needs to go above the door.

We have done alittle exploring of the property - but the gardener didn't come mow the grass til today, so it was too long for us to wander much - it tickled our tummies !

Mum and SHD started to unpack the big red container today - and then this afternoon we all had a snooze downstairs - except SHD, who was busy doing "stuff".

I think we will be okay here once we settle in - mum and SHD caught both Charlie & I asleep in our new kennel this afternoon - and they were very pleased, as Charlie can be abit of a "doofus" sometimes, and they weren't sure that he would go in there.

Oh BTW, a few pups have asked why we are now Mexicans. Basically, when you move from Sydney to Melbourne - you go "south of the border", and everyone says that you are now a Mexican. I don't really know what that all means, but mum says that means her and SHD get to drink lots of Corona beer, so that makes it all good :-)

Well, it is mum's barkday tomorrow - so Charlie & I have to work on a pressie for her tonight - I have no idea what we are going to do for her, but Charlie will think of something - he is pretty handy like that. Maybe a walking stick - she is SO old now !!!

Til next time,

Lots of love,
Opy
the gruffpuppy who thinks everything just might turn out okay.

WE MADE IT........

Well, we made it to the new kennel without incident. It was a long way, and we drove all the way through the night. Mum and SHD were so proud of us - we handled the drive much better than they expected.

We are still all pretty tired today - but with a few nights rest, we will be good as new.

I didn't vomit once on the trip - not once, not even dribbly jowls ! Okay, so I did have a few anti-vomit tablets, but I was pretty proud of myself. I also had one Xanax tablet - and I managed to get some sleepies in the van, mum even caught me snoring a couple of times !!!

Charlie ended up having 3 Xanax tablets, and he fought them every step of the way. His head was all droopy, and his eyelids were real heavy - but he wouldn't go to sleep. He got some rest though - so that is the main thing.

We only stopped twice for pee breaks on the way down. Mum and SHD said that whilst ever we were resting/sleeping that we would just keep driving.

Charlie is not too sure about the new kennel. I am okay though - as all our stuff is here, and as long as it all looks the same as before, I am fine. I think it will take Charlie a while to adjust though - the big doofus !!!

We have spent alot of time inside since we arrived - it has been nice, and it is really nice to all be back together again.

I will post some pictures as soon as we find the camera's - we, well Mum and SHD, were gonna start unpacking the container today - but mum gave SHD the day off, and she unpacked the kitchen and some boxes. Maybe tomorrow.....

Thanks for everypup's well-wishes for moving, it was (and still is) a huge thing for all of us - and I hope we will all be fine once we settle in.

Love
Opy
the gruffpuppy who is now officially a "Mexican"

Moving Update....

Well, dad's gone :-( and we are stuck at home now with mumma. Dad will be back on Thursday though to pick us all up and we are on our way to Melbourne for good.

It has been an eventful few days - mum got REALLY gruff yesterday as the big truck that was coming to pick up our 40foot shipping container that had all our stuffs in it - was meant to be coming at 7am. Because it was coming so early - mum and dad worked really hard on Thursday night to get it all packed and ready to go - plus they had worked at dad's job all day Thursday - so to get home and do another 5 hours was a big effort. It was not without drama - there were tears, and hissy fits - but they got it all packed, and fell into bed. Then they got up at 6.30am to wait for the container dude......waiting.....waiting....waiting.....

Can anypup guess what time they showed up ? I will tell you - as you couldn't possibly guess -
freaking 5pm !!!!!!! Mum was SO VERY GRUFF !!!!!

Anyway, dad left this morning - and mum cleaned for 8 whole hours !!!! Big effort on her part - considering that her day usually consists of laying on the lounge, snoozing, and watching TV ! She got the other spare bedroom done, the main bathroom, the main bedroom, and the ensuite - plus she got down and scrubbed all the tiles in the hallway - so that part of the house is all done. Tomorrow she tackles the study and the cinema room - and maybe the dreaded oven. Monday is the kitchen, and Tuesday is the lounge room and the laundry - plus grandpa is coming over to finish up the outside work. Wednesday is hopefully just finishing up - and Thursday the carpet man is coming to clean the carpets - and dad is flying up in the afternoon - yipee, we miss him already !!!

So, tonight we are just chilling in the loungeroom. Mum felt guilty cause she didn't spend much time with us - so we were allowed in early tonight, and we are gonna stay in for ages !!!! Charlie is lying on the floor - but I, Opy, have commandeered the best spot in the house at the moment - the middle of mum's blow up bed - she has to fit herself around me, as I ain't moving for anything :-)

Will try and post again soon buddies - and thanks for all the moving wishes - we are all "over it", but hopefully things will get better soon.

Don't forget the Xmas Card Exchange, and the DWB Calander.

Love you all lots !

Opy
the comfortable gruffpuppy.

Hey everyone,

The polls are now open....

Head on over to the Bone Zone and vote for "Awesome Blog Award" and "Photo of the Month". Voting closes Saturday October 27th.

Don't forget the Xmas Card Exchange & the DWB Calander as well.

If anyone has problems registering for the Bone Zone - and they would like to vote - please email me - we have had some trouble with spammers lately, so are trying to sort it all out. opy@gruffpuppy.com.au
(how much more spam will I get now that I have put my email addy here :)

Love
Opy
the gruffpuppy in a hurry

Reminiscing.....Calendars....Xmas Card Exchange

Hey Pups,

Reporter Opy here, giving you all a reminder of some important haps....

First up....

Mum and SHD were taking a stroll down the DWB's memory lane last night, and we wanted to share these wonderful DWB inspired video's from Pappy with everyone. Since we have so many new members now, maybe some of you haven't seen them - and they are definately Oscar award winners. Enjoy !!!!

DWB Christmas

DWB Anniversary

Secondly....

An update on the DWB calendar for 2008. We have had the following submissions -

Kingsley
Marvin
Dory
Maggie & Mitch
Puggy Boo Boo & Playful Bond
Amber Mae
Suki & Joey
Herbie & Helios
Akira & Shiro
GirlGirl
Sweepy
Eva & Tasha
T-Man

They are all great photo's - I wanted to post one to give you all a sneaky peak, but mum wouldn't let me - she said everyone has to wait til the calendar comes out. BIG MEANIE !!!!

Anyway pups - there is plenty of room left in the calendar, so please submit a photo - all you gotta do is click here.

Thirdly,

The Xmas Card Exchange is coming along nicely. We have about a gagillion Region A pups, and about a million Region C pups - but still not many Region B pups :-( We may have to amalgamate Region B with one of the other regions if we don't get some more pups joining in - we will see what happens. Mum will run it by all the Region B folks before any decision is made. It's going to be lots of fun - last year me and Charlie got so many cards - it was very special.

My reporting has now come to an end....I have more packing to supervise, so I will sign off now.

Lots of love,

Opy
the gruffpuppy who loves to keep everypup in "the loop"

Such a shame......

Bit of an "off topic" post here from me, but mum has been shaking her head all day today - in between packing/cleaning/sleeping and eating. I finally asked her (in my best Tanner voice) "Wassssssupppppppp mumma" ?

I knew I shouldn't have asked, because she sat me down and said "Opy, I am going to tell you alittle story". I should have bailed out then, but felt obliged to sit and (pretend) to listen.

Many years ago mum was an athlete, before she got fat. She was a very good athlete, before she got fat. When she was 16 she represented Australia in the Long Jump on a trip to the US & Canada - she was the youngest on team and competed up there with the best of them. She also qualifyed for the Commonwealth Games when she was 17. Her career came to a grinding holt around this same time with stress fractures to her ankles and shins - plus she was doing her final year at High School, and kinda longed for a "normal life" - without the training and strict regime.

However, she still enjoyed watching Track & Field and had many "hero's".

Carl Lewis was the first, and more recently, Marion Jones.

Both magnificent athletes - both drug cheats - Carl Lewis allegedly, Marion Jones by her own admission.

Mum feels very bummed about this.

Are all athletes at this level taking "something" ?

What about all the young kids who look up to these athletes ?

What about all the money elite athletes make - do they give it all back ?

Are they only "sorry" because they got caught ?

Is this what sport is about these days ? Winning at every cost ? Does "natural ability" mean nothing ?

Is it all about money ?

"Forgive you - Marion Jones" ? No, mum won't forgive you - but she does feel sorry that you didn't believe in yourself enough to trust your own ability to have been a wonderful athlete, that could have done it all on her own - without the use of drugs.

So, that's the story mum told me - initially I "zoned out", but it was pretty interesting what she was saying, and it seemed to mean alot to her that I listen (plus the story wasn't too long !).

Please resume your normal blog reading........

Love
Opy
the thoughtful gruffpuppy

God Speed Herbie....you were such a brave, strong boy.....

Love
Opy
the tearful gruffpuppy

I love my, love my, love my Calendar doggies......

Hey pups,

It's calendar time again - visit here to find out all about it :-)

Last year we raised $500 for Doggie Rescue - hopefully we can match it, or exceed it, this year.

Love
Opy
the tired gruffpuppy