OUT OF OFFICE...

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAX's mom here...

We are off on our annual holiday and will not be blogging until the second week in December! We will miss our blogging friends during this time. Max and the pack will be well cared for with a dogsitter and an array of emergency numbers. Thank you all for your wonderful friendships and love which is so openly displayed. We love you all!!! Here are some pictures of our holiday destination along the SOUTH AFRICAN east coast. Take care and we will be back soon.....

With love

MAX's mom in

SOUTH AFRICA

AWARDS! ...and my shameful attire!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXDOG & MOM here today...

On Saturday we are going on holiday! At least the humans are...and they are off to the beach for a week by the seaside. The picture above is the view of Table Mountain (in Cape Town).

Our humans are however NOT going to Cape Town, but will be going to the sea along the EAST coast of SOUTH AFRICA. Unfortunately Mom will not be able to blog during that time, so we are trying to fill up with exciting blogposts before they leave!

We have some exciting news...

Yesterday we received the most awesome award from Petey!

Petey's wonderful and creative Mom has designed this award - an award which we think is a truly amazing one!

It's the "YOU'RE A BLESSING AWARD!" and is a brand new award in bloggie-land!

Thank you so much Petey for this award. It is very, very special!

"This award is to be bestoed upon five individuals with the hopes that they will cut and paste the badge above for their blogs, then honor five more and so on and so on... "

Although ALL our friends are special to us and have been such a blessing to us in the past few months, we have had to choose five special people. So we give this award to them with absolute thanks and gratitude for the extra special roles they have played on our life:

1. TO COCORUE

Our little flirtylicious COCO! Thank you for the delightful bantering which Max & you have - on the chat box - and on the blog! Thank you also for your constant message of hope and warmth. Thank you for sharing your friendship with us...you are a real blessing to us!

2. TESSA

For those who don't know, Tessa's mom battles a lot with her health yet still manages to blog. She has gone beyond this blog to email us with uplifting messages and guidance during our ordeals. We so appreciate them! Thank you - you are a blessing to us!

3. TWO SPECIAL WIRES

You are such a blessing to us in that you allow us to experience the altruistic aspects of life. We love your poetry, your vision and the manner in which you convey it! Thank you!

4. MANGO

Who can't love MANGO & DEXTER! Thank you for blessing us with your incredible sense of humour, your creativity and for ALWAYS putting a smile on our faces. Thank you for all the support you have given us on the sidelines too. We appreciate you immensely!

5. KONA - DOGS BY NATURE

Thank you for bringing Kona's story to us and for taking that special step to offer him a forever home. You have shown us the beauty of rescuing a dog and the joy for that dog in finding the freedom he deserves. You are an inspiration in so many ways...and a real blessing!

Whilst I can write books for each of our blogging friends, I am restricted to five. Thank you to all of you for the blessing you are to us in simply being our blogging friends!

We love you all and wish you all...

A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Oh dear! Oops! So you have seen my attire! Ouch!

Okay, I'll tell you...Mom has ridded me of the bandages! At first, I thought I felt

'f-r-e-e-d-o-m-!'


but not for long!

Unfortunately I started scratching when the bandages came off, so Mom thought she'd put PHANTOM & THUNDER's idea into practice. Hey guys, what have you done to me? Mom says that it works well! I must admit, it is quite comfortable and stops me from scratching. I am seeing the Vet on Friday...maybe he'll take my stitches out!?! Not sure about the T-SHIRT though!


Anyway, this new T-Shirt effort is quite calming and comforting.

See...I'm in the

TRADITIONAL MAX POSE!

TOFFEE thought he'd relax too!...


Until supper time!...

There is just one other thing which I want to show to my bloggie-friends.

Since we will be away for a week from Saturday, I thought we'd get a special sign for our house.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?

That's all for today! We'll TRY and get one more post in before the family goes on holiday.

Lots of licks

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

SOME CUDDLES! ...THEN LIFE GOES ON!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG here...

Hello there all my furry friends and their bipeds!

As you can see, I still have my bandages on, but I am really much, much better! Mom took a peek at my scar and stitches and they are healing up nicely.
Quite frankly...I don't notice!

Anyway, on Sunday a lot of our humans gathered to help Mom clear out our late Granny's room at the old age home. It was a sad task for Mom, but we were all there to cheer her up. The bonus of all this is that two dear little girls came to visit us doggies. We got lots of pats from them and spent the whole afternoon with them. Here are some pictures of us all just sharing time together...

MAXDOG: "mowing" the lawn.

I love cuddles!!!

Now TAMMY gets in on the scene...

Thank you, Katie-Meg and Amy for visiting us and for all your lovely hugs and cuddles!!!

Now, since I have gravely neglected my 'TOUR GUIDE' duties over the past few weeks, I thought I'd show you some pictures.

This is the "V&A Waterfront"in Cape Town with the beautiful mountain in the background and it's legendary 'table cloth'...

This is a sunset picture - from the top of
TABLE MOUNTAIN, CAPE TOWN...

AND FINALLY...

Our new soccer stadium in CAPE TOWN - all lit up!!!

We are all excited for next year, the...

2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP, SOUTH AFRICA!

That's all for now.

Lots and lots of licks to you all!

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

AFTER THE RAIN...

GREETINGS FROM SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA!!!

MAXDOG here...

Hello there all my furry friends. I hope you are all well, happy and healthy!

We have had so much rain here, in JOHANNESBURG, over the past few days. It's been cold and miserable and everything is sopping wet. This morning, however, the sunshine has arrived. Sunshine always makes me feel frisky and alive!

...it brings the hope of a new day and a new beginning...

We have a honeysuckle bush in our garden and the birds and bees are having a feeding frenzy in it. Unfortunately Mom is too slow to get a pic' of the birds, but the bees obliged...

All this rain also gives us doggies far too much new energy!

We seem to get ourselves into lots of trouble sometimes...

TAMMY, in particular, loves to dig holes... and make mud pies!

This goes back a long way!

Check this picture out of her, when she was a puppy...

"TAMMY-PUPPY DIGS A HOLE AND LIES IN IT!"

Well last night when we were all sitting in the kitchen ...

This APPARITION arrived...


At first I didn't recognise her!...

Yep, it was TAMMY DOG!!!

More affectionately known as ZOG-DOG!

Silly girl busted herself!

This morning, Mom and I we went outside to find out where she practiced her artistic endeavours this time...

BUSTED!...

Clever girl had dug her hole underneath the agapantha plants - very well camoflaged!

CONGRATULATIONS TAMMY!

(MAXDOG is proud of you!!!)

Well, since we were out in the garden, we decided to look around ...

GUESS WHAT!?!

Do you remember, some time ago, Mom said that we would plant some 'sunflower' seeds - especially for the ARMY OF FOUR - for Christmas!?

Well, we did plant the seeds and they germinated and are now sporting their beautiful golden heads.

ZIM, AMMY, STORMY and DAVE...

here is your early Christmas present, specially from SOUTH AFRICA..

YOUR SUNFLOWER!

(We hope you don't mind if we share it with everyone else too!?!)

..and to EVERYONE out there...

Please just know how much we appreciate you!!!

Your love, prayers, constant uplifting comments have kept Mom's head above the water this past week. We have had many new visitors to our blog and we want to thank you very much for your visit! When things settle down here, we will get around to visiting you too...please be patient.

Next week is going to be particularly difficult as Mom prepares for our Granny's funeral. Don't worry though - I will snuggle my nose in her side constantly and tell her to blog only when we can.

I hope you know how much we love you all!

Lots of licks

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

PRAWN ERADICATION DELEGATED!

mmmWOOF!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG here...

Hey there all my furry buddies from across the globe!

How are you all? I am much, much improved and we have excellent news...

The results of all the tests for my tumour surgery are back and I am TOTALLY CLEAR!

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

The tumour is regarded as a Grade 1 tumour. This means that it was benign and that they got it all out! All the margins are clear and the MAXDOG can look forward to a happy and healthy few more years!

Mom is really happy! As for me...well I'm still recovering!

Eish, but I must say...these "KONGS" are challenging and are keeping me so busy. I don't have time for anything else! My bandage is holding and I am still very comfortable.

TOFFEE, however has decided that it is time to usurp my crown. He's all high and mighty, but I help him with his problem by playing with him a lot! He thinks he's top dog, but I know better!

We are having a really cold snap in the weather here in JOHANNESBURG. It has been raining for a couple of days and this means that some particular crickets are propagating:

"PARKTOWN PRAWNS"

(Is what they are called)

As you know, TOFFEE is the great PARKTOWN PRAWN KILLER-DOG!

He won't allow any of them in the house and is extremely skilled at eradicating them...

(I just hope this video is going to work...!)

I am happy to delegate that job to him!

Whilst TOFFEE the PARKTOWN PRAWN KILLER-DOG is busy...

I take over his bed!!!

HAVE A HAPPY, PEACEFUL AND RESTFUL WEEKEND!

Lots of licks

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

MOOD LIFT!

mmmWOOF!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG here...

Hey all my furry buddies!

Firstly this picture below is specially dedicated to the

"NOT-SO-LITTLE-MAN"

and his special pooch-friend, CLIVE!

"Hey Murray...my little therapy doggie is helping me too!"

Yesterday when I got home from the Vet, Mom told me that all my buddies in cyberspace were saying that I was a STUFFIE who was falling apart!

Well, I am NOT! Definitely NOT!

(Any Stuffie-surgeons out there - don't get any ideas!)

I am a Golden Retriever...who bounces back in hard times!

When I heard what you were all saying, I decided to scratch that stent off and get myself a decent bandage! My Vet obliged me.

I want to suggest to Doggie-Mommies out there that when us doggies have operations and want to scratch, then perhaps they can consider 'bandaging!"

My mom had seen somewhere how the lovely doggie-buddies from "Tellington Touch" would wrap 'aggressive' dogs up to calm them down. Now remember, I am NOT an aggresive dog!!!

I simply didn't want to have my friends think I am a stuffie!

This bandage (under Vet's approval and bandaged by the nurse) worked wonders! She did it in a half figure 8 around my front leg and over the surgery site. I had a wonderful night's sleep! I am comfortable and content! The bandage makes me feel secure and keeps my wound site intact....

Woof! It works really well!!!

Anyway, here I am - back with my pack - and yes, I have them all waiting on me and catering for my every need! (I gave some of your suggestions to my Mom and she also allowed me on the bed for a short while...pssst...thanks guys!) Mom even bought me a KONG!

Are there any doggies out there who can give me some tips on how to get those tempting treats out of there??? Suggestions will be much appreciated!

The KONG keeps me busy for hours and I become totally unaware of my surgery site!

...and as for my gorgeous girlfriend, Tammy...

She's by my side again...looking upon me with absolute adoration!

The MAXDOG and his Mom are very comfortable today!

Lots of licks to all my cyber-buddies

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

WELCOME HOME MAXDOG!!!

Dear Friends

I can't say enough "Thank you's" for the tidal wave of love, support, encouragement, prayers, warm wishes, uplifting comments which are so openly displayed by you, my dear friends, in this cyber-world, towards my entire family and our beloved MAXDOG. In the small hours of the night, when I battle to sleep, I read your comments and find serenity. Thank you too to PETEY for updating the friends yesterday. Your guys are really special!

I am totally overwhelmed by your love!

As you can see...Max is home! Sore yes, but Im trying my best to be with him and help him through this healing process.

The 'stent' (white cotton wool area) will be removed on Friday and his stitches will come out in two weeks time. Thankfully he doesn't have to wear a collar as he seems comfortable not to lick.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing, professional, and wonderful staff, nurses and Veterinary specialists at

RANDRIDGE SPECIALIST VETERINARY CENTRE

Thank you particularly to Dr Miller, Dr Naude and Dr Steenkamp.

I can't tell you how grateful we are that you have given life back to Max. Please accept our sincere thanks!!!

I will try and keep all our cyber-friends posted in the days to come. Please would you allow me to 'blog when and where I can' as I am grieving at the moment and have funeral arrangements to make for my precious mother.

With lots and lots of love and thanks from both me and...

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

GOOD NEWS!!!...PLEASE SEE PETEY'S BLOG

TWENTY FOUR HOURS

I saw the dawn
on a lonely morn’...
A trickle of sunlight
on the dewy lawn.

Had not the hand of God
given all His brightness
to grow this day?

And in the eve’
I came to believe;
that the ‘settle of dark’
was there – the world’s taints
to deceive.

Caryl Moll
6th June 2001

Dear Friends

I won't be blogging for a while as my mother passed away this morning.

With love

Caryl (Max's mom) in South Africa

MAX'S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD

(...with love and grateful thanks to all our cyber-friends. We are overwhelmed in gratitude by your concern for us and love so openly displayed. We can't thank you enough! )

BUT

Max, in a strange way, has a message for us all...

Yesterday evening...

As the breath of evening exhaled over our city, the clouds started gathering and pooled their offerings. Soon the wind picked up and the leaves in the large tree in our park began a rustling song. Large heavy raindrops started falling and tiny circles were shaping their pretty patterns on the surface of the water in our swimming pool.

I looked down at Max. He was all stretched out in the doorway to our study, his nose on his front paws in his traditional ”Max position”. His eyes were focussed on the happenings outside and the building of the thunderstorm.

I peered across my husband’s shoulder at the computer screen and cradled the mug of hot tea in my hands. We were both marvelling at the multitude of messages streaming in from across the globe – some from folks who we have never met in cyberspace. The screen itself seemed a painting of well-wishes and hope for our beautiful Max and me. I was trying to digest it all, whilst battling the emotional lump in my throat which won’t seem to go away.

Suddenly the biggest bolt of lightning coupled with its crash of thunder shattered my thoughts. The bolt must have hit a tree somewhere really close and we saw a flash of white light. My cup of tea seemed to empty itself upwards – in slow motion – while I watched helplessly. It was one of those frightening split seconds where everything becomes transfixed in time.

My first thought was the animals and true to form the three others came running to my side. But Max? As I looked at down at him again, he had merely turned his head towards me, still rooted in his relaxed position on the floor as if to say: “How cool was that Mom?!”

I stood quivering in my slippers – the reality of our human vulnerability and mortality hitting me at once. The realisation that something greater than ourselves is always present, which is so totally beyond my understanding. Max seemed to be conveying this message:

“Yes, Mom, I am fine! Just live in the moment!”

It seems that Max has shifted from Tour Guide to my personal guide.
It is this thought that I think we can all hold on to

...afterall neither good, nor bad events are ever guaranteed!

So today, please would you do Max favour:

DON'T WORRY!

LIVE IN THE MOMENT!

And let's LEARN from our animals!

Dear Murray, Clive and all you special people...

I know your hands of healing are with me...

and YES!!! WE HAVE AN APPOINTENT FOR MONDAY!
With love
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

A FRUSTRATING DELAY...

Dear Friends

This is just a short, frustrated note to tell you that I was phoned by the Vet this morning, at 12 mid-day, to tell me that they have decided not to operate on Max today, but to refer him to a specialist. They explained that they have examined him from head to toe and have only found the one lump, but they are concerned about his excessive panting. They recommend further tests to be done prior to removing the tumour. We will most probably only be able to get an appointment with the specialist next week sometime.

I'm sorry I can't tell you more, but things seem to happen so slowly around here.

We would also like to say thank you - to you all - for the tidal wave of support and encouragement we are receiving from across the world. It's so incredibly humbling and quite overwhelming. Thank you so much.

With love

Max's mom in SOUTH AFRICA

NO WORDS TO ADEQUATELY EXPESS MYSELF!

Hey there everyone!

MAX'S MOM here...

I ask you to please bare with me and forgive me, in advance, but

today is a 'SWEET-BITTER' day for me...

(the 'Bitter' part I will explain later)

so let's begin with the "Sweet"...

I would like to say a really big

THANK YOU

to all my blogging friends for the support and encouragement you have given me over the many months of blogging and also with the voting process for the

AWESOME BLOG AWARD!

We are truly humbled and extremely honoured to receive this award from

DOGS WITH BLOGS

and would also like to congratulate

HUSKEE & HERSHEY

on their similar award!

It has been (and is) a great privilege to have been involved in this process and also to be involved with Doggie-blogs in general. We are continually amazed at the friendship and culture of the doggie community. So THANK YOU to Mango for nominating us and also to ALL our friends for every part you played! You are ALL special, special people and we are extremely grateful to have you all in our lives!!!

---xXx---

Now for the 'bitter' part of this post...

It is the most incredible privilege to be able to spend a part of our lives with a beloved animal. It is that much more dramatic when that animal is one which has worked its way into the small corners of our identity - The place, where you and your pet, have formed a partnership where both your identities are inter-twined. Not many folk experience this in their lifetimes - some have been granted this special gift! You might have gathered that Max & I have one of these special partnerships.

When that little pup arrived in my life, 10 years ago, I knew that one day I would have to face the challenge of seperation.

Today I am scared!

My vet diagnosed Max's first MAST CELL TUMOUR this morning.

The tumour is about 1.5cm big and is located near his right foreleg's armpit.
MAX will be going in for his surgery tomorrow morning and they are also likely to remove a large area of tissue around the site.

Quite frankly, I am petrified!

I know many folk have experienced this kind of news before and I realise both the positive and the negative ramifications of the knowledge available, but it still cuts deep!

"This is my dog
Nothing he lacks
My faithful companion...
this is my MAX!"


MAX'S MOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

MOM'S TUESDAY TALE - THE "APPLE PUZZLE"

Hello there to all my blogging friends from across the world!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

Thank you for all your positive comments last week relating to the idea of

"MOM'S TUESDAY TALE"

I have decided to implement this idea as a permanent fixture, so it's my turn today to take over MAX's blog...thank you, MAX!

---xXx---

THE APPLE PUZZLE

When my children were still small, they would delight in receiving a special "apple puzzle" gift in their school lunch-boxes. It brought such fun into their day as they showed all their little friends.

Today I would like to show you how to make the "apple puzzle"

...for that special little person in your life...

---xXx---

You need: AN APPLE (of course) and a SHARP KNIFE:

(Please be careful with the sharp knife if you teach your children this !)

1. Cut the apple through it's middle from the top-downward, but stop half-way through the process, like this picture. (below)

2. Then turn the apple over and make another similar incision BUT this time at right-angles to the first incision (as below)


3. Turn the apple on its side and cut from the end of the first incision to the end of the second incision. Repeat this on the other side of the apple. (as below)

4. Make sure that the incisions all meet in the middle of the apple and then genty pull the apple apart. (As below)

Finally....Drum roll.....

YOUR APPLE PUZZLE REVEALS ITSELF!

Present this "special gift" to your child, grand-child, friend, partner or whoever else and watch as they try and make sense of it all.

If however, you decide to give it to your pooch, don't expect him to even think about it!!!

Please let me know how your "APPLE PUZZLE" gifts were received.

With love and have a happy week!

MAX'S MOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

A SWIMMING LESSON FOR JEANNIE

mmmWOOF!

GREETINGS FROM SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXDOG here...

Well, this weekend was sunny and hot and certainly "pool" weather!

Our little friend, "JEANNIE" came to visit us again.

This time she came to get some "big dog" guidance, as well as an introduction to our swimming pool and its delights. I, the MAXDOG took over the reigns (with a little help from the humans) to show her how it is done!...

"Hey JEANNIE, this is an important STEP and the first thing you must learn is.....

HOW TO GET OUT OF THE SWIMMING POOL!

Look carefully; I am in deeper water and you are on the shallowest step!

You need to use this step to get out of the pool!"
Okay,....this is how you swim!!!

What has Mom got there?

Okay, I know...

TOFFEE is there on the other side of the pool. He has jumped onto the pink board and is waiting for me to "rescue" him....

It's a game we often play.
Here goes...

A NOTE FROM MOM:
(Toffee is very accustomed to this game. He climbs on the board willingly and when Max reaches the edged paving of the pool, he hops off. It's a game they play often...with a little help from us. AND.....Yes, at times he has fallen into the water!!!

Toffee however knows how to swim and also knows to swim to the step and climb out safely.)

Well, we thought we'd try this trick with JEANNIE too.

Here she is discovering her "sea-legs"...

She's a little uncertain about this...understandably!


But with me, the MAXDOG, around, she's a little more confident...


Okay, maybe not....

(Sometimes MAX thinks he should remove the pink board from the water too.)

Well, I really enjoyed having JEANNIE around. Mom doesn't always allow me to swim - because my skin gets irritated. However occasionally, when the humans are around to dry me off, I get to have this special swimming treat.

JEANNIE also loved exploring our water feature...

...and the best part was the game at the end...

Well JEANNIE, I hope you enjoyed your swimming lesson...

AND

I hope you come back soon!

Lotsalicks

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG'S SUNDAY TOUR

mmmWOOF!
GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXDOG here...

Hello there every furry body! Today is Sunday and should be a day of relaxation, so I thought I'd put on my "MAX THE TOUR GUIDE" hat and take you all on a whirlwind tour of a small part of SOUTH AFRICA. I know that some of you are experiencing icy/snowy weather in the Northern hemisphere, so I thought I'd bring some sunshine into your Sunday...

Today we will be paying a "cyber-visit" to the LOWVELD of South Africa. This is the far north/eastern part of South Africa - a hot, tropical area - set along the northern escarpment. This is the place with which my Mom is very familiar , since it is where she spent her childhood.

---xXx---

Okay here we go.....

After collecting you all (my special visitors!) from our main international airport, in Johannesburg, we have travelled in our bus for 4 hours in a northerly direction. We have left the city behind us and have stopped to look at the view of the lowveld from a lookout point along the escarpment...

The buildings in the forground are a roadside lodge where you can stay if you so desire. But we have lots to see and I want to take you to look at the waterfall close by - Debegeni waterfall in Magoebaskloof. You may swim here if you wish, but mind the rocks...they are really slippery!




We leave our waterfall behind and drive a short distance. There are tea plantations all around us. Yes, South Africa does produce a range of tea types. This is the SAPEKOE tea estate...

Well, we have to stop here - for tea of course - and I know of the perfect little tea garden with a magnificent view...

After tea, we travel into the start of the lowveld (meaning low lying area), where we see our first signs of it's tropical paradise - Banana plantations!!! The blue bags are there to cover the bananas and protect them from insects...

Look at the view across the banana plantations towards the Northern Drakensberg mountains.

Well, I just have to take you past my Mom's old farm (next picture). This is where she spent a lot of her childhood... The old farm house is somewhere amidst the dense bush.

...and I have to take you to see the famous Baobab tree - near the old farm. This tree is the LARGEST BAOBAB TREE in the world. It is thousands of years old and has a circumference of 47 m around the base of its trunk. The tree has two hollow chambers inside - one a bar and the other a cellar - so we can stop here for a rest as well as to cool off from the seering heat.

Then we are off....

After another 2 hours drive we enter the

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK.

Here you can view all our wild animals in their natural setting. It is a really big park - about as big as Israel, so I think we should spend a couple of days here to take it all in...

After our visit to the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, we make our way back up the eastern escarpment to experience the treasures of Mpumalanga...

There are MANY waterfalls to visit! Here is one...

If you like we can stop at PILGRIMS REST - a tiny little town and national monument. It was the first place where gold was discovered in this area. The whole town has been preserved as a tourist site. It is quaint and beautiful. You may pan for gold there too in the little stream adjacent to the town. No visit to this town is complete without stopping for a drink on the varandah of the Pilgrims Rest hotel. You can also send a postcard home from here - I dont think there are any internet cafes.

PILGRIMS REST....

We leave PILGRIMS REST and make our way to the SUDWALA CAVES. They are quite amazing geological structures complete with stalagtites and stalagmites. This is one of the main formations inside the caves...

Near the caves are the "Three Rondavels" and the "Blyde River Canyon"...

Near the Canyon are the "Potholes" . These are geological structures which have been shaped by the river's strong whirling currents. If you look carefully you can see fish in the water...

We can stop over again here and enjoy the hospitality of one of the many "Bed & Breakfast" establishments or hotel facilities in the area.

Then if you are keen, I can take you on one of the many hikes in the area...

Our whirlwind cyber-tour is at an end for today. The sun is setting and it really is time for a sundowner. Enjoy the sunset...

Hope you enjoyed my Sunday Tour!

Lotsalicks

MAXDOG - YOUR TOURGUIDE

DOGGIE STRIKE

Hello there to all my unpresentable furry friends!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

MAXDOG here...

In support of the current strike action, initiated by

MARTHA & BAILEY

I have sorted TOFFEE out and have taken back my blog!

This is my photo of solidarity against all actions of the 'flashy beast'!!!

Calling all Canines to unite in this worthy effort to tell our humans of our frustrations at always having to endure their photographic pursuits!

Lots of licks

MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

TOFFEE'S TRICK

Hello there to all our furry friends!

TOFFEE here...

I justed wanted to show all the sceptics out there that I can also jump like MAXDOG!

LITTLE DOGS RULE!!!

Lots of licks

TOFFEE

SEE-SAW GAMES

Hello there to every furry buddy!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

TOFFEE here today...

I think it is time I shared something with everyone about the

"REAL" MAXDOG....

Yes, the truth is long overdue!!!

(I think!)

You see, he is not as nice as you all think him to be - especially with me! Come on, I have a right to rule this house and have some of Mom's attention! But you see, the MAXDOG is a selfish character! Yes, he is! ... especially when it comes to anything to do with 'stuffies' or playing!

Did you see him with the collection yesterday!? You have to admit - that the number of stuffies he has access to is

OUTRAGEOUS!!!

...and he doesn't want to share those with ANYONE! Us other dogs in this house have nothing to call our own! It's a sad world here in the MAX household, I say!!!

Anyway this morning I convinced Mom that I was looking really cute and I got her to start playing with me on the bed. And would believe it, she played with me with an old cloth belt?

But who am I to complain about what she uses...Play is play!

We were having such fun playing "CHASE" and "TUG"!!!

Just MOM and I!

I got to believe that I was the new "AIR BUD"!

Well, trust MAX to come and spoil the fun!!!

He gets Mom's attention by moaning and then gives her that "dreamy-eyed" look.

It always works!

She reacts to him far too fast!

(I think!)

Yep, the selfish MAXDOG took over!!!...while I, the TOFFEE, could only watch!

Yep, the game and ALL the attention suddenly switched to him!

Then Mom got that worried look on her face...something about the belt being bad for his teeth!

Why is it such an issue anyway?

Afterall I had been playing with the belt and there was no problem!

But Mom succumbed and offered him "his" Giraffe instead...

It worked, because I know that MAX thinks that ALL stuffies belong to him....!

(so unfair!!!)

Suddenly our game 'on the bed' became

MAX'S FETCH GAME

...in the passage!

(Yes, you are correct...the game didn't involve me at all!!!)

Doesn't "HE" look absolutely pathetic!!!?

Eish! What is a little doggie like me supposed to do about this situation?

How is a little CUTE Maltese doggie like me suppose to deal with this big and selfish MAXDOG?

Do tell me!

Lots of licks

TOFFEE

MAX IS MISSING! (IN STUFFIE-LAND)

OR NOT?!

(A big apology to my earlier readers for giving them a fright! Big "sorry!")