My beloved Odin

My beloved companion Odin was put to sleep on 5 October at 7:50pm after a very short illness.

I have not been able to write a homage to him and then all of a sudden on 20 October 2010, about the time he would go for his morning constitutional , this poem by AA Milne came to mind.

He had such an attitude even when he was very young; we bought him home on 6 March 2004 and this photo sums up his attitude to life ...

(23 March 2004)

Now I am Six by A A Milne

When I was One,

I had just begun.

(6 Jan 2005 - 1st birthday)

When I was Two,

I was nearly new.

(10 February 2006 - Look mum don't I look lovely!)

When I was Three

I was hardly me.

(30 March 2007)

When I was Four,

I was not much more.

(21 July 2008 - ohh grapes, one of my favourite things, along with water, mud, walkies, apples and any food group really!)

When I was Five,

I was just alive.

(4 October 2009 - my first trip to the seaside)

But now I am Six,

I'm as clever as clever,

So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

(6 january 2010 - ahhh snow I like to eat snowflakes and catch snowballs ...)

(... and running really really fast!)

In June I moved continents and so did Odin - and here he is in his new home telling me all about it as usual.  Its a shameI didn't get a photo of him swimming in the Nile with Ali holding the lead.  Odin was swimming and swimming yet not going anywhere - his face was just priceless!

I do have a photo of Odin taken on his last day but I prefer to remember him like this ...

(9 August 2010 at home in Luxor, Egypt)

When not to get your Egyptian yearly residency visa

I accompanied some friends of mine into Luxor yesterday and among other things they needed to renew their visa.

This couple originally arrived in Egypt in July and three months later went to apply for a full residency visa, When they arrived at the passport office window they were told that they were late. The entry visa that you get at the airport on arrival is a stay of four weeks and valid for three months. So as they had been there for three months they were definitely late! It was necessary for them to pay taxes for each month they were late (however if you accept your fate it is highly possible that these taxes are waived!). The passports were left until after lunch and their visa was duly stamped for renewal the following year in October.

Now this is the story of what happened to me during Ramadan this year and a warning for those who are likely to have to get their visa during Ramadan next year.

I arrived in Egypt on 16 June and so on 6 September I duly went along to the passport office to get a full year residency visa (I thought I was early – but I was going to Middle Egypt the following week so decided to get my renewal early; I should have waited).

The cashier told me that I was late and needed to pay taxes; and the yearly visa charge. I quietly accepted my fate but was still charged the full amount. The person that was dealing with me was in a really really foul Ramadan mood (it ended on 11 September!! – like I said I should have waited!!).

Anyway I left my passport and returned the following day to collect it. The visa had been stamped for renewal - June 2011. So although I had paid my taxes for being late and the full visa amount instead of the visa being dated September 2011 it was backdated to the day before my original date of entry :(

Rainbow Bridge

I can say it no better than The Rainbow Bridge Poem

“Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…”

Author Unknown

Sadness in Luxor

A tribute to Harvey

Many people, especially those who do not have animals, may think it strange that I am dedicating a blog post to a Dog.

Some say that you are owned by a cat but you own a dog but it is rather they are your friend, your partner, your defender, Your Dog! You are his life, his love, his leader! He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart! You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

I did not know you well but you were a loving and kind soul. As devoted to your sister as she was to you – frequently licking each others ears. As your dad frequently commented “you had the cleanest ears in Luxor!”.

There are many things I will miss and to name just a few, to see your nose pocking through your balcony’s balustrade to ‘talk’ to me, and the image of you carrying a shoe to say hello will stay with me forever, especially when it was one of my shoes. This is a habit that my little one has also adopted.

When you and your sister protected the newcomer ‘Odin’ it thrilled my heart that he had been accepted into the pack as I know he is a jumped up little upstart who could easily have been rudely put in his place which is what he badly needs. But true to your very kind nature you readily accepted him and me into your family.

Harvey means – battle worthy and in your last few days you had a huge battle, one that unfortunately you did not win.

As with Kayla, your dear sister, we will all miss you greatly but we will remember you with laughter and love and hold you close to our hearts.

RIP Harvey, sleep well.

Fun in Luxor

I had a visit from my upstairs neighbours cat the other evening.

His name is Gizmo and he was looking for chitchats.

He went into the kitchen, then my own dog came in fromn the garden.  When Gizmo saw Odin he jumped up onto the worktop and became a big arch with a fluffy tail.  As you can imagine they have yet to make friends.  It was quite hilarious.

I have beem remiss in my postings, just to say that we are one week into Ramadam and its hot, hot, hot.  However, the electricity is low which means that the air conditioning, if it works, goes in the wrong direction.

For a while I have wanted to share some photographs of my latest craft session that occured before I left the UK.  It was for a local training event held by the fabulous Natalie O'shea - check out her awsome web site.

 

This is some paper I made using the resist technique which was later used in a card.

 

Another resist technique paper, the Friend stamp from Stampin' Up! Vintage Vogue set and raspberry razzle ribbon.

Using the Stampin' Up! bird punch and some sentiment stamps.

This is my personal favourite,  the leaves were printed through the negative of the bird punch mentioned above.  The main feature is the Whimsical Wings Hostess (level 2) stamp set.

All the items used are available from Stampin' Up!

I hope you enjoyed these.

In less than a month Odin has become a member of the Luxor Massive. Lassie, my next door neighbour's dog snarled, growled and woofed at Odin the other day and Harvey and Kayla came to his defense. Something similar happened today and Uncle Les told Lassie that Odin was part of the 'pack' and that she needed to accept him too. We do need to give Lassie some latitude as she is expecting ... and its hot and she is lovely and hopefully one of her puppies will be adopted by me and Odin!