Bushland at Heathmont (Dad would have loved it!) 23.9.2017

 Whilst our lastborn and family have been away on holidays I have been going over to walk the dog along the Dandenong Creek trail near their home. As I have already covered a lot of the nearby  area from previous walks I decided this time to both extend the area I covered and also to cover some of the nearby bush reserves too.

 While walking through Dexter’s Reserve along its footworn narrow tracks, the thought came to me that my father would have loved it there, even though he was never a city person! That said once (when he was thinking of retiring from the Green Grocery Round,)  he did briefly contemplate doing an Uncle Ted. That is selling the farm (In Uncle Ted’s case, it was an Orchard,) and buying a house In Panton Hill, close to the shops etc. I think Mum would have liked that with a newer house and more modern facilities, but I think one of my cousins talked him out of that reminding him of the open land still around him compared to suburban closeness.

 Whatever the reason, it never happened and they remained there and Dad, for as long as he could, lived out his retirement there and often taking long walks with the dog, children or Grandchildren up along the creek and along bush tracks and enjoying the bush and sights there. The memory of those walks came back to me as I was walking along the bush tracks through the small but seemingly large Dexter reserve. And the thought came to me that I loved it there too. Although very close to the heart of Melbourne, there, along the Dandenong Creek it seemed like one really was out in the bush in the middle of nowhere!

A tale of three Cats.

Next door to us, has two cats. A black one, and a Ginger one. And we have two dogs. A Grey one, and a Ginger one. The cats roam free, but our dogs are kept in our small backyard. It is so small that I regularly take the dogs out for a long walk on their leads so that they can get sufficient exercise. One day, upon returning from a walk, I went to go back to our unit between the two cars parked in our shared Carport, when suddenly the Ginger Cat came out from under their car and latched on to our Ginger Dog’s nose and Jaw. Frightening both him and me at the time, due to its unexpectedness as much as anything. Anyway, now Ginger Dog will not go anywhere near Ginger Cat. Even to the point of going around our car and squeezing up against the wall to avoid getting close to Ginger Cat.
The black cat however is a different story. Why? Because one time when Ginger Dog saw Black Cat, Black Cat ran. Ran with Ginger Dog right behind him, despite the fact that to this day, he still refuses to go anywhere near Ginger Cat. Now, Black Cat only has to see Ginger Dog and it is off and running away as fast as it can.
Now the house above us also has a cat. This is a black and white cat and it occupies a position between the other two, in that it allows the dogs to come up and sniff around it without either attacking them or running away from them, and usually the dogs quickly loose interest and go away quietly. The one day the Grey Dog didn’t and got both a bit nosey and pushy, then, and only then, did the Black and White Cat get stuck into him in self-defence. So the question now is, which cat best describes you at this time and what are you going to do about it?
Are you like the ginger cat, and always on the attack and attacking any and every one who comes within cooee of you? Thereby never making any friends, only enemies and others who go out of their way to avoid you?
Or are you like the Black cat and always running away from everyone and everything and never making any friends or achieving anything productive?
Or are you like the black and white cat, and quietly going about your business without bothering anyone, always willing to accept all others as equals, whilst also always ready to defend yourself in self-defence, but again, only when needed?
So again and in closing what colour cat are you today, and are you always going to remain that colour? TOWGP

Stupid Dog.

Took the “Boys” up to my mum’s and let them go for an unrestrained walk around the edge of the 40 Acres there. As we went around the property, we passed within a hundred metres or so from neighbours barking dogs, some sheep, some goats, all outside Mum’s property, and a horse on the property. On each occasion the two dogs showed a little interest in running after them but a word or two from me and they quickly lost inters in these diversions and stayed by me, although when we went near the horse, George just about jumped into my arms out of fear of this “big white horse”. Thus while Charlie was ranging far and wide, George was hanging real close to me when a little further on, we came across a mob of about 40 kangaroos in the same paddock.

Well, half went one way and the other half, the other, which bought them close to Charlie, who immediately set off after them and chased them for over 300 metres up and over the hill, before I lost sight of him. With me running after him and calling, well trying to call him back, which he finally did so! Much to my relief!

He probably will never know this, but it was (and is) a stupid thing for him to do. Not that he would ever catch one in the open, but if he cornered one and it turned on him, like some have done with much bigger dogs, it would make Mincemeat (almost literally) of him. Kangaroos might look harmless but when cornered or stirred up, can be quite aggressive and their claws have been known to rip man and beast, and especially dogs, to pieces very quickly indeed.

What about us? Are we not at times, equally stupid? Do we not sometimes, do something similar, and let ourselves get drawn away from our points of safety and start chasing after dangerous things? Things, that if we are not careful, and if someone more responsible doesn’t stop us, will cause us great harm.

So, sometimes at least, it does pay to listen to those who do know better than us. It is far better to learn some things from the experiences of others, rather than from our own experiences, especially if we have to literally pay with our own blood. What say you? Walter

Maintaining Your Strength.

Whenever we (The Girls or me) take their two dogs for a walk around our neighborhood, the two of them take off like Bulls at a gate and pull on their leads and take a bit of controlling. If it is a short walk it is not too bad, but on a long walk, although they start out pulling like crazy for most of the Journey, they then they suddenly run out of puff and want to lay down on the job, or in George’s case be carried. If you give them a little rest, they recuperate quickly and you are able to continue on and get home again. Often by this time they have regained enough of their former enthusiasm to be again pulling and straining at their leashes.

What about you? Does that sometimes sum up your enthusiasm and energy? You start out well but quickly became tired and want to rest, and then simply charge off again, resulting in a lot of stop, starting all the time with little consistency and constancy?

Do you need to pace yourself a little better or a little more? In my youth, I used to start of strong and continue to the finish, but these days, it is not so, and I am finding out the hard way that I have to pace myself better at the start, if I want to still be going at the finish.

I have learnt that I may not be able to do as much as I used to, be I can still do a lot and make a worthwhile contribution, as long as I remember to pace myself properly.

How about you? Is age and weakening strength catching up with you too? Well that is no reason to stop or even despair. You too can long continue to make worthwhile contributions to the world, if you are prepared to learn your new weaknesses and strengths and pace yourself accordingly. On this occasion it really is all up to you. Over and out: Walter

Longer term Motivation.

In my item, “Motivation”, I mentioned how I had been re-motivated by something as simple as going for a walk with my daughters’ dogs.

I guess in many ways this is no real new revelation and is one long promoted by Doctors and others interested in physical health.

But my question is, “How do we motivate ourselves to take exercise regularly? “

I guess the only really successful way to do this, is like in so many other areas in our lives, in that we have to make ourselves accountable to others.

If we just say, I will get up every morning and go for a 15 minute walk, it won’t last long despite all our good intentions and efforts, but if we know that we are meeting two or three others to do the same thing, we will be better at keeping up our exercise regime.

Likewise if we pay big money to join a Gym, we will make every effort to get our money’s worth out of it.

During the 12 months after our time overseas finished, I was out of work and so joined my wife in doing a letter-box drop of Pamphlets twice a week to between 1 and 2,000 houses each time. The pay was lousy and as soon as I could, I found better work, but it did keep us fit and out walking, for 2 or 3 hours, twice a week, rain or shine, hot or cold, windy or calm. It was not a great job pay wise, but it was a way that we got plenty of exercise, whether we felt like it or not.

How about you? Do you really need to get out and exercise and know it? Yet can’t seem to motivate your self to do so? Then find a way. Make some Plans: Ask some friends to go with you; Join a Gym; ; join a local sporting club; find a job where you have to exercise in some form or another, even if like in letter- boxing, the pay is lousy. Don’t just suit there thinking about it! Do something, and do it soon.

If you really do need to get out and exercise regularly, find a plan that works for you, and go out and do it. Make a start now. It really is for your own good, so get out there. Walter

Motivation.

Recently I wasn’t feeling all that bright and wondered what I should do. Should I take some medication; or maybe some vitamins; or perhaps go back to bed; either that or watch TV all day; and a host of other similar unhelpful things to fill in the time, as well as being no-brainers to do. As well as all this I also had plenty to do in the garden but couldn’t find the motivation to start.

Not liking any of the available options, I decided to go for a walk instead and take our daughters dogs with me.

What a great idea! I came back fully revitalized, although somewhat tired having gone further than originally intended and from having to hold them back in their enthusiasm, most of the time.

What about you? Are you feeling a little down or depressed? Well take a tip from me, and find someone, dogs or people, or even just get out there by yourself if necessary, and just walk around your neighbourhood and enjoy the day and the scenery. Don’t turn to unnatural and unhelpful aides but get outside and enjoy the natural things of this life.

I am not saying to ignore medical help if it is properly recommended and required, but if you yourself feel that you need self medication, then find some motivation and get out their and enjoy the Fresh air and natural beauty that God has provided for all of us. Over to you: Walter

The Power Of Two… Small Dogs!

Recently, not feeling like doing anything else, I decided to go for a walk. Not wanting to do so alone, I took our daughters two dogs with me on their leashes. Well to say that they were keen to go is an understatement of the highest order. They where quite literally tugging at their leashes, literally pulling me along.

It is really quite amazing when you consider that they probably don’t weigh more than 20 Kgs between them, yet here they were, pulling my 80 plus kgs along with no trouble at all and in fact I had to really struggle to keep myself down to just a fast walk.

All this power from such a small and unexpected source lead me to thinking about how much un-harnessed power there is around us that we just lose because we don’t know how to harness it or don’t even think about using it.

Now I’m not talking about harnessing the dogs up to a sled or anything like that, but how about you? How much wasted energy and effort is there in what you usually do, that can be harnessed for good. Either for your own good, or the good of others?

Today I had no one else to ask, so I asked the dogs to walk with me. And they enjoyed it as much as I did and I probably walked further with the company than I would have done alone. Is there someone else you can “Walk” with, what ever activity you are doing and thus harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of others? Think on it and harness your own and others power for the good of all. Walter

Dogs On The Loose.

Whenever we (The Girls or me) take our two dogs for a walk around our neighborhood here we always take them on their leads. However when we take them up to Mum’s place, and I take them for a walk around the paddocks, they are always off their leads.

Unlike on the streets around our house, the farm is relatively safe for them to run loose without and harm. (Although Mum’s cat Oscar doesn’t appreciate their presence; and quickly and usually quietly, disappears when we arrive.)

Anyway up at the farm with little mischief to get up to, they are let loose to enjoy themselves and have a little freedom. How about you? Are you getting sufficient freedom to recharge your batteries and empower you to face the restrictions of life, like the ‘Leashes” do to our dogs on their normal walks? Have you a place where you can be free? Even if only for a little while each week?

It is so very true that we do need restrictions and rules in our lives but we also need some free time too! Are you getting yours? Walter

Dogs on a Leash.

Whenever we (The Girls or I) take our two dogs for a walk around our neighborhood, the two of them take off like Bulls at a gate and pull on their leads and take a bit of controlling. They also have a bit of a habit of wanting to chase cars too, especially the noisy ones. Now they are not too happy about the leads as they restrict their movements and desires. Hence not only do they continually pull on the leads but Charlie will often chew at George’s lead if he gets the chance.

Now, not only is it illegal to let them run without leads on the street, we also have to do it to control them and direct them, and also to prevent them from getting up to mischief, or even being hit by a car or truck. No matter how we have tried to teach them otherwise we have failed hence around here they have to remain on their leashes.

What about you? Are you finding your life and particularly your work situation too restrictive, with what you believe to be too many and too restrictive rules and regulations? Just remember those rules and regulations are there for your protection and sometimes you have to be forcibly reminded of them, like the sudden tug on the dog’s leash when they misbehave, not to harm or frustrate you as you might first think, but to protect you from harm.

Remember too, some of these restrictions are not only logical but also have legal repercussions for you and your employers if you ignore them. Again remember they are there for your protection and also because many, although simple and logical, have been simply ignored in the past to the detriment and cost of others. So although you may think them simple, obey them anyhow.

Although we all claim to be careful all the time, I also know that there are times when the excitement of the event tempts me too take short cuts or simply to ignore the rules, often to my, or even worse, someone else’s detriment.

So even though it frustrates you, remember those “Leashes” are there to protect and guide you, not to harm you. And even if you do know them off by heart, you, if you are anything like me, still need to be constantly reminded to use and obey them. For your own good, as well as for their good of others!

So will you allow the ”Leashes” to guide, direct and protect you? Or will you be like Charlie and chew at the leash, any leash, out of your frustration? What say you? The Leash is, metaphorically speaking in your hands. What are you going to do? Walter

Inspiration.

I don’t know if you know this but I started my blog writing by accident. Originally, these articles simply started out as short notes to my mother, of the weekly family events around us, and written down for her, as she is deaf and conversations outside of normal events are a little difficult.

Then one day I wrote a little story about the activities of one of our daughters’ dog. It was an interesting story but didn’t have a proper ending, so I applied a little moral to the story, and not only Mum, but many others liked the story, and so I started writing more and eventually started putting them onto a blog site for others to enjoy.

At first, I had plenty of inspiration and they flowed freely and I had to restrict myself to only publishing one a day. Recently however I have been struggling to supply one a day. I say was struggling, as until just last week, I only had 5 in hand: two for Christmas, one for Anzac day and two others. And it looked like I had run out of fresh ideas.

That particular day, when I sat down to write, there was nothing that inspired me enough to write about it, so I decided to go for a walk instead and took our daughters dogs with me. What a lovely idea!

Not only did they and I enjoy the walk, but I came back with the ideas for six new stories, (including this one.)

How about you? Where does your inspiration and motivation come from? Are you just getting tired and stale and need some new inspiration? Then get out and do something different for a little while, before returning to your original task.

As with my walk around the neighbourhood, it doesn’t have to be anything radical or dangerous. Just different from what you are currently doing.

I am not saying that you should completely or even temporary, cease what you are doing, just to allow yourself a little break, every now and then, to do something that will encourage, refresh and inspire you to continue on in your current calling. What say you? Walter