From last, birds showing off

I did mention ducks, didn't I?

and we all know about peacocks!

Lor, love a . . .

The latest addition to the menagerie is two ducks, supposedly guaranteed to lay daily. An overstatement, since not a single egg has yet come our way. However they are camping out at the back of the house at present while awaiting the preparation of a pond at the farm so maybe they are just expressing their displeasure. They do seem happy enough though and have invaded the house a time or two. Jasper amused us by going out with us and barking at them, but on noticing we had gone back inside he became rather quiet and did a quick backwards move while trying to retain a tough guy image.

Ducks do seem to be quite sweet (and indeed tasty, if they don't start laying soon!) but it is known that there are a few of criminal tendencies; these are quite prepared to use their young as a distraction while getting on with their nefarious activities whilst unseen by all; except an alert cameraman.
However it is actually well known that the greatest failure they have is the overweening pride that leads them so often to show off, because after all, it is quite unusual for a duck to have the opportunity to express his self pride by going into show business.

More probs

I have recently been deeply affected by one of those peculiarly Philippine technical problems. Although I have broadband to the city house suddenly I had neither a telephone line nor the internet. Five and a half days later once again I was online, after spending what seemed like hours on my handphone to PLDT everyday. The technical problems was diagnosed by PLDT as somebody having stolen a fair length of the cable carrying my services. As I say this is a bit Philippine!

There is still no sign of my belongings, somewhere on the high seas, and the lack of a printer or scanner is wearying so that I am probably going to be forced into alternative methods. Crude but reasonably effective, and I have always been fond of the simple solution; if it works I am not bothered by lack of elegance. I wear belt and braces and happily admit to a liking for Heath Robinson. But I don't really type like this.

Changes

Although I have been a cat person for many years (in spite of having Rosie, my lovely Old English Sheepdog, many years ago) it seems that I am transforming into a doggie guy. Of course the main reason is that we need dog protection for the city house and the farm but we are slowly moving, and for no very good reason, moving from mere mongrels to canines with style.

Looking just at the house we have of course my earlier main man, Cat, smallish but once her fur stands up she can easily cause a quick retreat by those she does not recognise. Her sons and daughter are likely to becomes similar as they grow I assume. However at present they are three little beauties DK (short for Devil Killer), Princess and the well named Foreigner, being so very white as to be known immediately as not really a Philippine national, although in fact he is. But what a sweetheart he is. And then of course we have the new guy, the Akita, named Muggins. At first he did have a habit of hiding underneath tables and chairs but then he decided that if he really wanted to be boss dog, something that Akitas are quite keen to be, then he had to at least lift up his head and take a look around. Of course there is also Sam, who always makes me think of Jumble, William's dog in Richmal Crompton's wonderful books that I read as a child before moving on to the Jennings books. Which may be why Alistair is rather fond of him?
But let's cast our minds back to the cat days, when Alistair could not sleep without his cat on the bed, and I was trying to ensure that mine could keep his blog uptodate on his laptop. I have to admit she has not been at her best in doing so but, what the hell, most blogs are not read by anyone anyway and are only run for the for the pleasure of the writer. (or is that just me?).
But at the end of the day I am still left with my total favourite, Jasper, who has a habit of requesting a ride, whether in the Paj or on my shoulder. No matter, he is the one for me.

Movements

I came across this delightful method of walking through the city on verdant turf the other day, but since I am rather more of a lazy character I feel that I would probably be better suited to using the biker's variant (although naturally too wimpy to actually be a biker). However there is very little doubt of the realities of life and hence, particularly since the houses near completion at a somewhat slower rate than my bank account depletes, there has to be some adjustment!

So I guess that in fact I am bound to remain on the treadmill for a while longer. Never mind the break from work as we oversaw the houses being built has been been a pleasant change!

Loos my mind

Having found a rare roach in the toilet I then found that the loo was to remain a major feature in my life at the moment. With all the major surgery that my bowel's have had it seems that my stomach is fairly easily upset. Last night I awoke to find that an urgent trip to the loo was essential, since the diarrhoea was not actually waiting for me to make that move. Being a superhero, with one bound I was on the loo and debating whether I had eaten something that disagreed with me, or perhaps an excess of my fiery sauces had laid this unpleasantness in my path.

In either event there was a major need for bog roll particularly since Asian rolls appear to have much less sheets than are found in the western rolls. This is, of course, a problem easily surmounted with a modicum of thought, or by utilisation of the world's most efficient butt cleaner; which I recommend to all. So a few moments were spent in contemplation and then, quick wash and polish of certain body areas. Since naturally one must remain total cleanliness at all times as a member of the British abroad.
And then the horror of the resulting loo, but did I receive assistance? Ha I was merely told that I should gird my loins, think of England, and do my duty as a British gentleman. Oh the horror, but there was no escape and nothing to do but get stuck in and repair the damage probably arising from an excess of eating and drinking.

More Cock

At 5:30 am, when going for my morning constitutional, I was sorry to see a cockroach on its back. Not that I would have preferred to see it the right way up, since I dislike the creatures. Earlier in my life, especially in Nigeria and the Gulf, I had been used to them. Indeed entering the kitchen at night in Maiduguri I merely thought how they were clearing up spills and crumbs and paid no more mind to them. Although never considering them as pet material, unlike some I knew, nevertheless coexistance was never a problem.

But my preferences changed and a roach began to be considered as something else. Led by considerations of green living and the example of royalty I felt for a time that a spliff was to be ardently desired, leading of course to a more reasonable roach. I was astounded in Nigeria (when based in New Marte) that a sack of grass was merely ten Niara from the local market. Since that time of course I have regularly lived in countries with severe penalties for drugs and even if locals indulged I remained aloof and stuck with alcohol; although occasionally wishing that like Charles I could safely indulge in an additional pleasure.
Somehow when I gave up these new roaches I gained a severe dislike of the initial roaches that I knew, and my current preference is undoubtedly for a more attractive looking visitor.