What does it really mean to be kind?

I LOVE good news and especially when it concerns Auckland City Council and the DOG RANGERS!!  I received a letter in the post yesterday ..... it’s only taken them a month .... to say that after careful consideration they have decided to waive my fine!!  Justice prevails - I am jumping up and down with glee - no need to include a collection bowl on my daily rambles!!  Apparently that particular warden no longer works for Animal Control Services Limited.

To say I’m thrilled is putting it mildly .... if I could turn somersaults I would but I’d probably put my back out and that would bring an end to the hound’s and my rambles. I don’t think Julia and Carol would be very happy if I had to curtail them.

Early morning yesterday

Early morning sun turns the clouds pink

We’re all receiving letters from Auckland City Council about our submissions for the proposed changes to the Dog Laws. The hearings will only take place in 4 to 5 months time because of the vast number of submissions they’ve received .... over 10 000 of them. Not only are the Dog Control Laws changing but the Council, in it’s wisdom, is proposing to increase our annual Dog Registration Fees too ... substantially! Once again we’ve all been submitting objections to the proposed increases as registration fees are payable annually in July.

The long trench she dug in the sand yesterday

It’s quite something ...this activism ... it’s forced me to become a lot more familiar with Auckland City Council’s website than what I might otherwise have been.


My plea to the rain gods has obviously been heard. Whilst there are still lots of clouds around Mr. Sun has been making an appearance through them. Weatherwatch are forecasting grim weather for the

Suzanne and Bella sitting with Carol and Chocolat

weekend but a day or 2 of sunshine makes the world of difference to the hound and I.


Autumn is definitely upon us. I’ve had to unearth my Fagan gloves from the closet for these early mornings ... logs and balls and water make for wet and cold hands and I don’t like my appendages being cold ... thank goodness I only have fingers and toes to worry about!

Last night's gorgeous sunset

She found a very LARGE log this morning

The hound, on the other hand, couldn’t care less. The only time she ever shows disdain for the colder weather is when she’s washed down with the hosepipe at the end of our ramble. How can she possibly be bothered by the cold water in the hosepipe when she swims in the sea each and every day regardless of the weather!

.... and got that manic look in her eyes again!

Even Indy got splashed.

Indy’s a lot wiser - he doesn’t venture too far into the waves when it’s cold - he’d much rather check for left-overs in the sand.


It's been a sad week for Carol, not having Sebastian to walk down to the beach, but I think it's been helping walking down to the beach with my hound. Chocolat's doesn't really mind WHO walks her down to the beach as long as she gets

there! On a Monday to Thursday the hound's quite tired by the time we come back up to fetch Carol - she's had a work-out with Indy on the sand and in the waves. On Fridays though, Julia doesn't work, so we walk a little later. Carol had full-on Chocolat to deal with this morning ... extension leads aren't long enough when the waves are calling!

Seaweed got thrown everywhere!

Once again I've been blown away by the kindness and compassion of the people who inhabit this little world I live in. As Julia, Carol and I headed up to the boardwalk after my hound had finished fetching umpteen balls from the waves, we saw Morgan, one of the girls from the Village Co-op walking towards us with a tray of coffees. She'd seen us on the beach and knew we'd be heading up for our daily fix .. so had pre-empted us and bought coffee across .. no charge. 

Chocolat, Me, Carol, Indy, Julia and Morgan

She hadn't seen Carol since Sebastian's passing so it was hugs and tears all round. The gang at the Village Co-Op are such a special bunch ... they take random acts of kindness to a new level.

"Kindness is more than deeds.  It's an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch ... it's anything that lifts another person." C. Neil Strait 


Every act of kindness, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, has a ripple effect ... it touches other peoples lives, it puts my world to right and it leaves a smile in my heart.