Doggy play date

Brunch today with Hn, Mb and Mk. The excuse for brunch was the first play date between Hn's Groodle and Mb's Spoodle which is a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle.

This is a Spoodle

Dogs have play dates. I'm learning something every day. Luckily dogs don't require fancy foods or liquids when they date. Adults do. The dogs were completely satisfied with bowls of water. I needed scrambled eggs, turkish toast and a hot chocolate for my part in the date.

Hn's Groodle jumped at me. Mb's Spoodle did not. Mb is obviously a more effective doggy mother than Hn.

Grrrr

Lunch at Hn's. She has new dog. It's a Groodle. A cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.

This is a Groodle

Dogs seem to enjoy jumping all over me. I don't enjoy dogs jumping all over me. Hn's previous dog, a Golden Retriever, used to jump up at me. Hn told me the Groodle wouldn't jump at me. It did.

Grrrr.....

What's in a name?

My friend H has a new puppy; a groodle which is a mix of golden retriever and poodle.

I think she looks cute. The puppy's name is Maili. You have a choice regarding the meaning of the name depending on which origin you prefer. There are Irish, Polynesian and Hebrew origins. From Polynesian roots the meaning is gentle breeze. From Hebrew the meaning is sea of bitterness or rebelliousness. From Gaelic the meaning is pearl. The name is a variant of both Molly and Mary.

Rhino safari

(Retrospective post)

Whilst in Livingstone we went on a Rhino walking safari. This occurred in the Mosi Oa Tunya National Park which is Zambia's smallest National Park. The Park is home of a number of White Rhinos. These Rhinos aren't actually white in appearance. Their name is a translation error by early British explorers who were told by locals that they had come across Wide-mouthed Rhinos.

The safari is cleverly constructed. Led by 'Skinny' the local guide and kept safe by 'Stanley the protector' our small group walked single file - so as not to suggest to animals that we were in attack formation - as we followed Rhino tracks and droppings in our 'search' for the White Rhinos.

The heat was intense as the temperature passed into the 40s centigrade (+104 fahrenheit). After about an hour we eventually 'located' the White Rhinos. Later events suggested clearly that the location of the White Rhinos was known all along but the simulation made for a more exciting safari experience.

Our Safari transport (apart from by foot)

Safari formation

'Skinny' the National Park Guide

The White Rhinos

The White Rhinos

'Stanley the Protector'

More from the River Safaris

(Retrospective post)

More images from the River Safaris.

The river safaris

(Retrospective post)

A selection of images from the river safaris during our time on the Zambezi River.

Kirkman's Kamp

(Retrospective post)

We participated in four safaris during our stay and managed to sight most of the animal species that occupy the region. A selection of our sightings.

Wildebeest

Tortoise

Leopard cub up a tree

Giraffes

Giraffe and Zebras

Zebras

Lion

Giraffes

Elephants

More elephants

Buffalo

Lionesses

Leopard

Rhino

Sunset

The Monkey Reserve, Plettenberg Bay

(Retrospective post)