February 13. Day 44. A free ride

 If they created class year books for dogs, Winkle would probably be voted the girl most likely to sign up for a reality television program. She loves the limelight that one and has a unique ability to make sure she is always the one in the sun.
She's the ultimate good-time girl.
She's also a bit of a cruiser.
Today she showed her true colours once again.
We were in the lagoon. She swam up and swam around.
And then Winkle being Winkle climbed on my back and lay there.
She walked all over me and like a small child played silly buggers on my back.
She's such a cutie. Rumple, who would be voted the most reliable, just watched. They are yin and yang. They balance me completely.

February 12. Day 43. Flying high

 By very early this morning it was clear it was going to be stinking hot.
By the afternoon a sea breeze had picked up and while it did offer some respite it was a bit like a fan forced oven by the time it came inside.
So we found a spot in the shade and pulled up sun lounges. I had a book which I read a bit.
Anyone who saw the types of things I read at the beach would be forgiven for questioning whether I faked my qualifications. Serious reading is for work. For the beach, the trashier the better.
 The book today was one of the detective novels James Patterson pumps out before breakfast. I find them delightfully readable but today mostly I just chilled and watched the birds above. There were lots of them. Lorikeets, kookaburras, corellas, cockatoos, galahs - and all those without moving my position on the sun lounge. The dogs didn't even seem to mind, possibly because it was still too hot to give a rats or possibly because they were lying in my shadow under the sun lounge. That's enough to block out any distraction. Then as the worst of the sun's heat passed we hit the beach. It was glorious. This people is what I call a holiday.

February 11. Day 42. Morning has broken

The advantage of staying this close to the beach is that you don't have t lift your head off the pillow to see what the beach conditions are like.
It looked bloody beautiful as the sun rose.
I went to the loo. The dogs eyed me carefully trying to ascertain whether I would give in to the call of the pillow..
The voice of Lazy Susan wickedly suggested that it would still be beautiful on the beach in two hours.
The voice of Sensible Susan countered that it would be hotter and more populated in two hours. Also there is only a small window in which you can take sunrise photos.
A compromise was reached ... I would go back to bed after hitting the beach. Seemed fair. It was well worth the effort. It always is but that doesn't mean I won't have the fight next time and the time after. Victory is sweet, even if you are only defeating your own evil twin. Actually, defeating your own evil twin is especially sweet.

February 10. Day 41. Surf's Up

I talk a whole lot about how much I love my dogs.
Some days they like to show me the feeling is mutual.
Today I was heading down to the beach to take photos of Dan and Peter surfing. This could have taken me to the no dog area of the beach. So I had a plan. Charles and the dogs could head off first so as not to upset them.
Then when they were safely out of eye shot I'd follow.
By the time I'd reached the steps to the beach the dogs were there waiting. As soon as Charles let them off the leash they ran back to get me.
That's devotion for you.
So we all went back to the beach.
And the surfers were just out the front in a position where I could watch both the dogs at play and the boys in the surf. It was pretty much perfect really

February 9. Day 40. Riding high

I used to throw myself out of planes for thrills. Sky diving, abseiling, bridge jumping, bungy jumping ... at one time or another I've done it all..
These days, I find joy in much simpler (and less dangerous things).
I love spending time at the beach, I love watching my dogs frolic, I want to spend time with friends and play stupid card games.
I love food. I love a chat. I love a nap.
Today I got to do most of the things I love with people I really enjoy spending time with.
Good food, good company, the beach, the dogs.
Why would you want anything else ... except a Lotto win so I can live at the beach and enjoy this forever.

February 8. Day 39. Shell shocked

When I stayed two doors up just before Christmas,  I saw the turtle team. A mumma turtle had laid eggs on the beach the previous night. They were counting and documenting them. Today I saw the fruits of their labour. The hatchlings made their way from the dunes to the water.
Oh my goodness, this is too much. Way too cute.
I was a little bit late to the party. I'd seen people gathering up the beach but hadn't paid much attention. I'd been playing with my dogs and  introducing them to puppy Winona. They already know Noni's big brother Roly and Noni and Roly's human parents are their vets so it's only fair they meet Noni. After the play date, we headed up the beach and everyone else went home. See that lead around Oliver's neck? It went home too. So when we reached the turtle hatchlings I had no way of holding them back. Winkle I picked up. Rumple I secured between my legs. There are easier ways of watching the turtles and taking photos but it was so worth it and so unexpected.

February 7. Day 38. Love me. Love my dog

 You know that thing about how people come to look like their pets? I happen to believe it's not true. However whether it is the nature of what we select or the nurture of how we treat our animals I do think they come to reflect us.
At the beach today I met scoot - he was bounding up the beach and launching himself after balls. His owner Jade seemed similarly energetic.
Meanwhile, Rumple was meandering up the beach and going and introducing himself to people. He was in no hurry and really wanted to get to know people. Gee that doesn't remind me of anyone ... going and chatting to strangers.
Winkle was just enjoying being on the beach. She loves a swim but makes sure she doesn't get out of her depth and avoids the
dumping surf. These are plays straight out of the Susan playbook. But while we are there another dog bounds into the surf and fights her way through the breakers to carry a ball above her head. We don't do this. Too much like hard work, which is not our style.