Galahad

Yes, I have.... There are mixed opinions on here - but I can only speak as I find & I found them excellent.... I was able to check my animals every couple of days on their great 'picture website' & my two dogs & one cat were in very good condition when I picked them up in May.... I found the communication & the care exceptional.... Hope that helps....

Mmmm - yes E.W.... I saw that....& I do understand 'the rant syndrome' - sometimes you just gotta rant.... But the poster - in his short posting history - allowed his own bad experience colour his view of the whole of Australia & its occupants to the extent that he is now on a plane back to England - or even there already.... Well I hope honestly that things work out in the way he hopes they will - but somehow I think we carry our attitude with us from hemisphere to hemisphere & that colours our experience....it's not just about what happens to us - it's how we get over what happens to us.... When I was going through a horrible divorce, many many years ago, there was a great plaque on the wall of the solicitors office - which in spite of my unhappiness at the time, made me smile.... Say it wth candour, Say what you think. Say it when sober Or say it with drink Say it with flowers Or even a mink, But never ever Say it with ink.... :nah:

'.....BTW: I am not bitter......' Sheesh - I'd hate to meet you on a day you were feeling bitter then ! '.....- this country is horrible .....- most (but by no means all) Australians are horrible and lazy....' I have just returned & am staying with a friend (an Australian) for the weekend before going to my 'new home' & have watched her two university-student daughters barely lift their eyes from their studies because of dead-lines/exams (all self-motivated study) & the younger daughter happily hand over the use of her fairly new & respectable little car for my unlimited use while I go to organise things financial & buying my own car etc.... Both (stunning looking) girls have boyfriends who have not been around because the girls put their studies at the top of the priority list....& the older girl works a part-time job as well.... Such laziness. Such horribleness..... In my previous 20 years working here I only met humour, kindness & generosity.... Yes, of course there are obstreperous 'nasty people' everywhere but they do not define a country !! I think it's sad when hatred or bitterness blinds you to beauty....where-ever you live....

Candygirl - sorry to hear of your stressful day.....hope it turns out OK..... :hug::hug: Such gorgeous pics. everyone..... I'm in 'transit' at the moment with my 'big' computer not yet 'shipped' & only my laptop....& my 'back-up-memory sticks' SOMEWHERE in my 30 kilo suitcase..... Have had a lovely weekend relaxing at my friend's house overlooking the water in Brisbane, but hopefully tomorrow or the next day will go down to my 'new home' & THEN just watch this space !!!!! And then a quick turn-a-round for the drive to Sydney to pick up my furry family.....WOOO-HOOO !!!! Meanwhile I am being 'looked after' by the big soppy Great Dane in this family....such a huge bundle of love..... :yes:

.....A pity I can't post what I'd really like to say...... But-but-but-but......Wendee - that's a first !!!!! :laugh: And for once I fully agree with you !!!! :yes: Un-bulu-bulu-believable that people would do that ! :shocked: M2M, here's to your rapid & full recovery...... :hug:

It's clear that prices vary enormously - whichever hemisphere you are in..... I paid considerably more than Rupert for a hygienist clean & slightly more for a crown......from a very good private practice all the way down here in South Devon...a long way from Central London... Having been reassured that it's OK to recommend a GOOD service/practice etc. I have no hesitation in recommending 'Face Value' in Albert Street, Brisbane..... Fabulous & friendly, approachable & compassionate in an emergency.... To be honest I don't begrudge any money spent on my teeth, keeping them clean, healthy & 'there'.... I mean honestly, that there are professionals who make a career of doing things in people's mouths is beyond commendable..... :yes:

Whatever happens, whenever & to whom - this is the biggest can of worms to be opened for many a long year.....

Hi Foo, I've tried to reply but getting the response that your settings don't allow PMs..... Can you check your settings ? Or contact an administrator.....

I went to an absolutely wonderful dentist in central Brisbane & never for an instant felt ripped off.... I received world class treatment, friendliness & never feared going to the denist at any time.....I can honestly say all the proceedures I had there were painless....including an extraction, a root filling, various 'normal fillings' & a crown. My particular dentist was a Glaswegian with a wicked sense of humour...... Am I allowed to recommend on here ? I will have no hesitation in re-booking my dental care with them & did not find them in any way extortionate.... All treatment was pre-priced & therefore I could choose what to have done & when.... Initially I went in for an 'emergency' with raging toothache & was so impressed with the service & standard that I continued at an affordable (to me) pace thereafter.... The result was, that when I came back to the UK for three years, friends were impressed with my (still complete!) smile & good-looking teeth.... I'll happily recommend this practice via PM.....

This is something I thought I'd never find myself saying - but that's a very pretty rat Piglet1..... :laugh: And Love Shoes - that's cute ! :biglaugh:

And.....purr-fecting 'the look'....

Fifteen days in - fifteen days to go.....

Lovely Tink - the dogs & the machine....yes it probably still works - they usually do ! I'm really happy by the way - with the way mine are going in Quarantine....they're getting lots of 'walkies' & cuddles & I'm seeing photos every couple of days..... It's horrible to go through, but it's great to 'see' them...... Purdy looked very stressed at first (the dogs have each other) but she's alone.....but she's definitely got the "I'm-a-goin'-to-make-you-pay-fur-this" look in place now....

.....And a lovely old Singer 127K methinks, Tink...... I've spent the best part of 3 years restoring several of those after an old dealer sold me a whole load of mixed machines..... What he hadn't told me is that some of them had lived in his garden for 2 years ! Managed to rescue all of them bar one - which I used as parts for the others..... Sorry - I digress - lovely dogs !!!!! :laugh:

.....Well that makes a mockery of the protection given by the 'compulsory Kennel Cough vaccine' doesn't it ? I'm sure dogs - like humans - recover more quickly if they are not stressed..... So much for the benefits of longer quarantine !

Feel for you D-D....& Ozzy..... Onwards & upwards now though......he will recover..... I'm expeciting a very indignant Purdy in the back of my car when I pick her up.....over 700 klms of loud indignation !

Have posted pics on the current 'Length of Quarantine' thread too....sorry if it's 'overkill' but I am missing my girls sooooo much ! It's just such a relief to know they are running about in the sun.....if only for a limited time in a limited space..... Well - the doggy-girls anyway.... Purdy will be purrr-fecting her 'it's pay-back-time' look..... 1 full week down - 3 to go - not like I'm counting or anything......... :yes:

".....I treat dogs like dogs (discipline, exercise and love), so they are stable and can be controlled in public, so they are social. The kinds of dogs that sleep on beds are often the ones that don't go for daily off lead dog walks, and are often the first ones to attack other dogs, thinking they are protecting their owners......" Mmmmm....don't know where to start with this ! So many assumptions & generalisations ! I'm a lost cause anyway because I can't wait to have my feet pinned under Abby's weight at the bottom of my bed again & to see both my dogs with their feet in the air & Purdy on Abby's head, purring away.... ! Or to take my sociable girls on long (off leash) walks again.... Re. cost/motive.....of transporting pets.....yep, I'm really selfish & want my 'family' with me......& I've transported two ways now....once with quarantine & once (to the UK) without..... I don't think we've done England any harm..... I could have put a deposit on a small house with what I've spent on their international travel..... Would I do it again ? Yes, in a heartbeat. I think people who do it, initially look at the cost & utter an expletive or six & then book their precious cargo in with the shipper they think will offer the very best care....people like Petair.... So - ultimately, even though it comes as a shock - they are happy to pay whatever it costs.... Like another poster - the reduced quarantine would have saved me approximately $2000 - but will come in too late for me & mine..... If & when AQIS considers it safe & appropriate to reduce, they'll do it. If not, they won't. End of. I will welcome the reduction & I'm sure the improved vaccinations & preventions will be taken into consideration - as they are coming the other way. Can't wait to pick up my 'vicious brutes' on the 18th of May..... :yes: My 'Frequent Flyers'....

Wow - what stunning dogs Jasperyogi - beautiful....... Yesterday (Sunday morning) I nipped out as I didn't have any bread or milk (am keeping a very lean larder as my 'fridge left with its new owner yesterday!) & I popped into a little cafe in Victoria Square, here in Paignton - called 'The Pond' (newly opened) & had a great cup of coffee & a toasted tea-cake.... But the best thing was - at the table next to mine was a family with a little dog...... I complimented the cafe owner on their willingness to have dogs inside.....she said that they kept the 'front' tables as 'dog friendly' tables - and of course outside tables....... I wish I had known before - often when we had done 'walkies' in Victoria Park it would have been wonderful to have a coffee on a chilly morning..... Heaps of praise for the owners & let's have more cafes like this...... 10 stars ..... :yes: Counting down to the day I pick up my girls from Eastern Creek - I fly at the end of the month - feel lost without them.....

Yes - I know what you mean Parley....it's always sad when a great champion retires - but a tennis player chooses 'when' to go themselves - when things start hurting too much.... I was afraid that wonderful mare would be asked to race ONE too many times & break down - and am SO relieved she wasn't made to 're-prove' anything.... She has nothing to prove..... And I agree about Roger Federer - will they be putting him out to stud, do y' think ? :laugh:

Hi P-P..... Only bedding as far as I'm aware....I wouldn't know about a toy...... Just bedding to line the bottom of the crates, to give them something which is familiar.... You won't see it again as it will be destroyed - so not your/their 'bestie-blanket'.....

Just about the most wonderful word in the English language is 'LANDED'...... My three girls have LANDED in Sydney about an hour ago..... Picture is of 'lunch & walkies' at Stonehenge.........on the way to Heathrow - or rather to James Cargo/Livestock Services in Slough (just outside the airport perimeter) who are the UK agents for Dogtainers..... My arrangements were really a 'return flight' as we came over to the UK with Dogtainers & still had two of the crates - & I cannot speak highly enough of JCLS & in particular of the wonderful Lindsey who was ALWAYS on the end of a phone with an immediate answer if needed..... They handled everything superbly down to the most minute detail.....& liaised with my vet when required... Just before I left, a guy came into reception to ask 'which bag for which pet'.... He was referring to the three Sainsbury's carrier bags full of old scrappy blankets for their journey along with an old T-shirt per pet...... For all intents & purposes, it probably would not have mattered 'which pet got which' but I knew 'whose' each one 'belonged to' & I thought it was a lovely touch - that it 'mattered' to him - when he dispatches animals to all four corners of the globe all day every day..... The house is horrible without them but I'm so busy packing the last bits that I'm glad I'm not 'upsetting the girls' as I do this..... 'Mmmm - this isn't our usual park playground - you not telling us something ?'

Congratulations ! That's wonderful news....so pleased for you..... :jiggy:

".....She tore a quadricep in the Ascot win. But she still won regardless...." A win is a win is a win.... "....Pity she didn't go back to Ascot again just to win again in more convincing style...." And damage herself more ? Brave, giving, fabulous mare...... Thank-What-ever-it-is-you-thank that they've retired her..... Enough is enough is enough !

"....Unfortunately they are all trotted out regularly....." And on the subject of theories trotted out regularly.... ? "...perhaps a part of the coping mechanism ?....." Mmm - now, let me see....... Is there anyone who springs to mind ? :dull::dull::dull::dull::dull::dull::dull::dull: