Claire.NU

Macro Day: Love

Claire — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:16:31 +0000

Love
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

Camera: Nikon D70s
Lens/Filters: Micro NIKKOR 60mm f2.8 D AF Filter(s)
Focal Length: 60mm
Exposure: 0.017 sec
Aperture: f/4.2
ISO Speed: 200
Post-Processing: Altered colour saturation, resized and tagged for web

Because I love her enough to give her my last Rolo…

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The Bit With The Life List…

Claire — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:37:48 +0000

On my 21st birthday, just a couple of months after this blog was born, I set myself a challenge of doing 100 things in 1001 days. Some months later, I forgot all about it and the list then sank without a trace in The Great Blog-Loss of 2008.

Some 4 years later, the list has been reincarnated; gone are the deadlines, the apathy and the pointless things I no longer have any interest in doing and in their places are new goals and a fresh enthusiasm.

I have been on this Earth for a quarter of Century, and now? I want to get a wiggle on and do things that I think are worth doing!

The list is in no particular order and is forever growing. Bold items are in progress, ~~Crossed-out~~ items are completed and link to a corresponding blog post to mark each achievement.

Welcome to my Life List.

Try haggis in Scotland
Drink Guinness in Ireland
Have a Girly Night with Vikki in Wales
Go to Disneyland in France
See the Gaudi buildings in Barcelona, Spain
See ‘Guernica’ by Picasso
Visit ancient monuments in Greece
Get inked
Buy an original sculpture or painting
Go to the Opera
Watch a Ballet
Do the ‘Time Warp’ at a Rocky Horror stage show – in full costume
Do a sponsored “run”
Go handbiking
Try out abseiling
Sponsor a retired racing Greyhound
~~Adopt a retired racing Greyhound~~
Have a short story published
Write a novel
Have a book published
Own a pet tortoise
Sell a piece of my artwork
Have my work featured in a public exhibition
Have a photo published
Finish my ear project
Swim 200 metres
Bet on a winning Trap at “The Dogs”
Bet on a Grand National winner
Teach
Meet one of Ziggy’s relatives
Photograph someone, professionally
Hire a PA
Finish my art/photography project
Read all (known surviving) Ancient Greek myths and legends
~~Do volunteer work~~
Finish my BA degree
Study for a Masters degree
Get a massage
Have a family barbecue in my new back-garden
Write/work outside in the garden during the Summer
Plant a ‘tub garden’ out the front
Do my physio three times a week, every week, for a year

The Bit With The Mayfly Project…

Claire — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:01:09 +0000

I recently came across The Mayfly Project.

The Project
At the end of every year since 2000, we invite readers to look back on the last twelve months of their lives and reflect on what has been important, defining or constant during that particular year, and then sum their year up in just 24 words.

We believe that embracing the constraint of summing up the last year in a handful of words helps to focus what has really mattered.

The Background
[...]
The best brief biography I’ve ever heard was for a mayfly:

“Born. Eat. Shag. Die.”

Because Ephemeroptera lives only for twenty-four hours, the summary of its life is refreshingly straightforward: To the point. The stuff that matters. Just the essentials.[...]

[T]here’s nothing quite like embracing the constraint of brevity (whether time or wordcount) when summing up the last year of your life to make you re-examine your priorities, or focus on what has affected you or was important to you over the last twelve months.

Due to popular demand, we’ve been running the Mayfly Project at the end of every year since then. [...] It seems that people have got a lot to say – or rather, that a lot of people have got not a lot to say: twenty-four words, to be precise, reflecting the mayfly’s short lifespan.
© Meg Pickard at Meish.org

I rather liked the project as in many ways, it mirrors my personal journal entries, post-therapy.

Every so often, I make a point of listing the key things that I have achieved (no matter how small), since my last entry. Then, list the things I hope to achieve in the future.

Nothing massive, I don’t want to take over the world; it’s just a gentle way of reminding myself to not let go of the things I’ve learnt through treatment, both about myself and others, and most importantly: to not forget the progress I’ve made since.

Before January draws to a close, here are my 24 words that sum-up the roller-coaster that was 2009.

2009:

Fought for my independence, felt free in London. K and I survived her breakdown. Therapy. Achieved Diploma. FINALLY moved into bungalow, adopted Ziggy. Love.

Macro Day: Pets

Claire — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:29:09 +0000

This week’s Macro Day Challenge: PETS

That Nose
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

Camera: Nikon D70s
Lens/Filters: Micro NIKKOR 60mm f2.8 D AF
Focal Length: 60mm
Exposure: 0.5 sec
Aperture: f/4
ISO Speed: 200
Post-Processing: Saturation edited, resized and tagged for web

This is something I want to/need to practice; manual focus, bad light and a constantly moving target make macros of doggy noses really difficult to shoot. The shot is not as perfect as I’d like, but I see it as a good starting point for shooting unpredictable subjects.

I didn’t want to use a flash as the lens has to be really in close and it would completely startle/blind Ziggy. Perhaps I need to sacrifice on noise levels and go for a higher ISO?

Hmmm… This is new territory for me: I’m so used to shooting inanimate objects.

The Bit With Our Hound [Part II]…

Claire — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:25:40 +0000

This is Part II, you can see Part I here.

Why did you choose Ziggy?
As I mentioned before, Ziggy was the “first match” brought out to us; he had a near-identical brother that had been reserved by another lady the previous day (which explains why we have Ziggy in particular and not his brother). You can read about details of Ziggy’s story prior to his adoption over on Ziggy’s About Page.

Ziggy shook with adrenaline at being let out of his kennel and introduced to us. Quiet but curious, he readily came up to investigate us and have a good sniff, whilst we cooed and ahh-ed at his big brown eyes and pigeon-toed stance. During our hours spent at the kennels, we were allowed to take Ziggy for a little walk on our own in the surrounding grounds of the property. We took him for a gentle stroll, in his muzzle, out on the concourse. Immediately, we were struck by how gentle he was. He didn’t fuss or pull on the lead – here we were, perfect strangers and he was happy to stand, be petted and gently guided along. One of the staff had her Primary School-age daughter there, she stood in little, pink Wellington boots and was patting Ziggy and hand-feeding him biscuits. Having the opportunity to see him interact so well with children was a wonderful bonus.

My wheelchair fascinated him. When I was sitting still, Ziggy took no notice, but the moment I moved, he stopped in his tracks to silently stare and cock his head to one side. He watched the wheels intensely and sniffed and prodded at my feet with his nose.

Here’s a person, that smells like a person and sounds like a person, with paws at one end, like all the other people and yet – How’s it DO that?

You could see the confusion on his little face, he just couldn’t work it out. Is it floating? Is it a person? Is it something else? Is it scary? Does it smell good? Every time I moved, he was just mesmerised, his ears flicking up in alertness and puppy-like curiosity, waiting for something to happen, though he didn’t know what. It was adorable.

Inside the kennels, the movement of my chair had spooked some of the dogs that were known to dislike prams and buggies and had sent them off in a frenzy. Knowing that Ziggy was just a bit confused (and not frightened) and that he was so young and likely to be resilient enough to get used to it reassured us that Ziggy was the right dog for us. Kennel dogs (greyhounds especially) have a reputation for anxiety issues, but seeing Ziggy respond so calmly to a completely alien stimuli without the support of familiar “pack members” present, was a big relief. It was important to us that we homed a dog that would actually benefit from a Forever Home, as some hounds become so institutionalised by years of Kennel Life, that rehoming is simply a much too stressful and cruel process for them to endure.

Whilst out on the walk, I asked Ziggy if he thought he might like to come home with us and asked K if she thought this dog might be our Ziggy. Ziggy looked at me with his big, brown eyes and K replied that this was definitely our Ziggy – he was exactly the dog we wanted and she thought he looked quite like a Ziggy.

So, Ziggy he was.

What about the adoption process?
On our return, we told the kennel staff that we were confident that they had brought us out the right dog for us; we wanted this one. Ziggy was taken back to his kennel and our names were written on his sign. He was offically reserved. For Us.

This was our dog. From this point, up until we brought him home a week later, I was terrified. What if the staff made a mistake and accidentally gave our perfect, beloved little Ziggy to someone else in the meantime? What if they got the brothers mixed up? What if something went wrong and we couldn’t have our Ziggy? From that second on, that doggy was mine and I just wanted to bring him home into my warm and comfy home full of snuggly blankets, cuddly toys, belly rubs, fun games and yummy treats.

The RGT charity do the best they can and you really get a sense from the staff and the volunteer dog walkers that they care about the dogs and would love to see them find a Forever Home and take pride in caring for them until they do, but the harsh facts remain: there simply isn’t the time, money and resources to make Kennel Life very comfortable.

These dogs are bred to race, to earn money. If they’re past their racing prime or fail to chase in the first instance, they simply become a waste product, void of value. A litter of eight may only bring one winner, maybe two. That leaves at least six pups surplus to requirements, six drains on an owner/trainers resources. If they are fortunate, they may find themselves placed into an adoption scheme, as Ziggy was. But, what becomes abundantly clear very quickly is how over-subscribed the RGT Kennels are. There are 70 RGT branches across the UK, housing 30-50 dogs in each (sometime more), with more coming in to them every day. And that’s just one Greyhound adoption organisation. There are many, many others.

Ziggy spent years in tiny, cold and draughty kennels with no windows, no toys for learning and stimulation and only sawdust thrown down on concrete and shredded paper for warmth and comfort. There are so many dogs in the kennels that it simply not possible to ensure they each get even one walk a day, let alone any one-to-one attention and affection.

I found the thought of Ziggy being there a minute longer than he had to very difficult. If we’d have had a bigger home, I’d have adopted more than one. If I could, I’d bring another home tomorrow. Leaving him there that day, I felt a whole bundle of things: complete excitement at the thought that we had found the newest member of our family, impatience that we couldn’t drive him home there and then and sadness that in choosing one, we’d left all of the others behind.

The next stage was the home visit. A RGT volunteer visits your house to inspect that your home is safe and suitable for a greyhound, checks you have sufficiently-fenced garden (Greys have been known to clear a 6ft fence from standing), asks questions about your housing (to check that you have landlord permission for a dog), your routine and work and gives advice on feeding, exercise and answers any questions. Only after passing a home check can you adopt your dog.

We had our visit a few days later and the lady was really lovely. She’d adopted two hounds herself and had lots of funny anecdotes and advice to share. My Step-Dad and Uncle had worked for days in the lashing November rain to put up a brand new hound-safe fence in time for our home check, without which, we wouldn’t have passed. We had read over the book and pamphlets given to us at the kennels and had purchased the recommended raised food stand, and some toys, food and bedding in advance. She checked all of this over and gave a resounding nod of approval.

Two days later, we went back to the kennels to collect our dog.

What about the paperwork?
We arrived as early as possible on Adoption Day and went through the paperwork that signed Ziggy officially over to us and stated that we’d passed the checks and were not going to hurt him. We also registered for his insurance (you’re given 4 weeks of complimentary insurance when you adopt), collected his veterinary paperwork and gave the “recommended donation” of £100. When you adopt a Greyhound, the dog comes to you with a brand new leather sighthound collar and lead, a plastic box muzzle, has been neutered and vaccinated, and has had a full vet-check and dental. The donation goes towards these costs.

Ziggy chose a blue muzzle, we clipped on his house collar with his shiny new name tag (and his shiny NEW NAME) on it and we had his walking collar sized and fitted. K went to ask questions about meal portions, whilst I did the boring bit of filling forms in block capitals.

Finally, we were ready to take our boy home.

To Be Continued…

The Bit With The Cuteness…

Claire — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:06:01 +0000

The follow-up to Part I is on its way, but this was just too cute not to share.

Look Mum, No Ears!
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

Camera: Nikon CoolPix P6000
Focal Length: 28mm
Exposure: 0.009 sec
Aperture: f/2.9
ISO Speed: 100
Post-Processing: Resized and tagged for web

I can’t tell you how much Ziggy is enjoying this weather. Snow is this hound’s best friend – after Mummy-K, of course!

The Bit With Our Hound [Part I]…

Claire — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:01:36 +0000

Why A Greyhound?
Before we adopted Ziggy, every time someone asked what kind of dog we’d like, our response was met with a WTF-face and a “You want a Greyhound?” in the same voice you might say “You want a 3ft, Plague-carrying rat?”

I’d like to explain.

I began seriously researching getting a dog a couple of years ago. Through my research, we came to realise that we wanted to adopt a kennel dog, as opposed to buying a pedigree-puppy from a Kennel Club breeder. But aside from knowing what “Battersea Dogs Home” was, I knew jack about adopting a dog – and so asked Google.

I typed in something like “adopting a dog” and was smacked around the back of the head with site after site offering Greyhounds. As well as knowing jack about dog adoption, it turns out I also knew jack about Greyhounds, apart from the fact that they raced at local tracks in my area and looked kind of funny. Less like a dog and more like a giraffe-like deer with a dog’s head photoshopped on at one end.

What followed was a journey that turned almost into an obsession as I absorbed more and more information about the breed: the racing and their retirement. I joined forums and Flickr groups, bought books and read blogs. The more I read about their temperament and looked at the photos, the more I fell completely and totally in love. The “45MPH Couch Potatoes” as they’re known were unique, gentle and beautiful, if a little quirky. They sounded the perfect dog for our family; serene and intelligent and (contrary to popular belief) they don’t need a 5 mile run everyday. And I wanted to give one a home. NOW.

K took months of persuading, she just couldn’t get past their extreme aesthetic – until I explained to her that (in this country) a racer’s career lasts 4-5 years maximum and then, the dog is (at best) sold on to live out its years rotting in a draughty kennel, or (at worst) terminated Gulp!, unless of course, someone chooses to adopt them as a pet.

Her little heart broke into pieces.

She just thought that all of the dogs that were raced were people’s family pets and that dogs homes/kennels were like on the Dogs’ Trust TV ads where little geriatric terriers perch on sofas and abandoned puppies play in a garden and pose for their monthly newsletter photo.

How did you get a Greyhound?

Since then, she’s followed me on my research journey and has become as smitten with the breed as I have; a sentiment that cemented when we went to visit a branch of The Retired Greyhound Trust kennels. The RGT rehomes Greyhounds that have retired from their racing career (due to age and/or injury) and hounds that never got to begin their career in the first place (pups and young dogs that fail to make the grade in training and on the test track).

Seven weeks ago today, we met our dog. Ours. The hound perfect for us. Credit for this goes completely to those that work at the RGT Kennels. That particular branch has almost FIFTY dogs and yet they know each as an individual; likes, dislikes, personality, temperament, history, who’s related to whom, where they raced, where they’re from, everything. Off of the top of their heads. They’re very honest and even tell you the not-so-good news, the things that would potentially put you off; the ones that have behavioural problems, the ones not good with children or other animals, the ones that are known to be boisterous, disobedient and a handful.

I telephoned to enquire first and it’s like a match-making service. They ask you about your life, your family, your work, your routine and your accommodation and also what you want from a dog: the type you’re after and the sort of things you’d like to do with a dog as part of your family. Then, when you visit in person, they’ve made a list of about three “matches” and introduce them to you, with the most “ideal dog for you”, first.

Ziggy was our “first match” and we fell in love there and then. He was just what we’d wanted: a very young, active Dog (we’d decided against getting a Bitch) with a gentle temperament and a black coat. For some reason, the black ones are always last to find homes as most people prefer the other colours. We actually preferred the look of the black dogs and it turns out that (according to the kennel keepers experience) the black ones tend to be calmer.

We were there for hours. One of the employees had brought her 8 week old pups into work with her (as they were not old enough yet to be left home alone). Chloe the JRT/Chihuahua-Cross (a “Jackhuahua”, a “Chi-Russell”?) and Daisy the Jack Russell Terrier snuggled their way on to my lap and melted my heart, which had frozen in the miserable November weather.

Daisy was a typical Jacky in every sense: full of beans and eager to be let down on the floor to play and explore. The Chihuahua in Chloe made her much more fluffy and partial to snuggles than her mate and so I had a warm little buddy that was content to chew my scarf and be cuddly company for most of the visit.

Aside from being absolutely adorable, the puppies confirmed to me what I’d suspected: Claires in Chairs aren’t cut out for iddy-biddy puppies. On the floor, the littl’uns barely rivalled the size of my front castors and I was completely petrified that I might accidentally squish a speedy little bundle of pup under my wheels. Also, being so far down, they were totally out of my reach and with them being so fast, I was totally out of my depth. Tiny, nippy little terriers were not made for the likes of me. I needed something much bigger that took life at a slower pace.

I needed a Greyhound.

To Be Continued…

This is Part I, you can see Part II here.

The Bit With Christmas Wishes…

Claire — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:43:21 +0000

Everyone at the Little Downstairs House, especially Ziggy, would like to wish everyone a fandangly Christmas full of squee.

This year has been full of extremes; good, bad, down-right bloody awful and yet in some ways, the best I’ve ever had.

I love my dog, my little downstairs house and the little hodge-podge family K and I have created more than I could possibly begin to describe, I can’t wait to share our adventures with you in 2010.

Much love. X

Ziggy the Greyhound in the Snow
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

Camera: Nikon Coolpix P6000
Focal Length: 24 mm
Exposure: 0.008 sec
Aperture: f/6.2
ISO Speed: 100
Post-Processing: White Balance correction

The Bit Where We Came Home Early…

Claire — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:48:08 +0000

And caught Ziggy in the act. Apparently, it’s not what it looks like. I’m not convinced.

Also, should I be worried that he has a better cleavage than I do?

Ziggy the Sexy Reindeer
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

Camera: Apple iPhone (Original)
Aperture: f/2.8
Post-Processing: Digital DoF & various filters

The Bit Where There Was Ziggy…

Claire — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:18:58 +0000

If you’ve been following me on Twitter, you may have noticed that there’s been a lot of kerfuffle over a certain Greyhound. Yes, that’s right, we’re officially Greyhound-approved Doggy-Mummies. How Exciting!

I give you the latest addition to our family:

Ziggy The Greyhound
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

This is Ziggy.

We brought him home yesterday after adopting him from the Retired Greyhound Trust.

He is an Irish-bred Greyhound that was intended to race (both his ears are tattooed and he racing name was “Moss Ted”). However, he and his near-identical litter brother failed to chase and so never made the grade. He is 2 years old and the precise details of his bloodline can be seen on Ziggy’s Greyhound Data page.

Ziggy The Greyhound
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

He is a black dog with a white chest, white toes and a white tip to his tail. He loves Weetabix, following K like a shadow and his favourite toy is his “Boofle”.

Ziggy and Boofle
Click the image to view the full-size versions at Flickr.

You can keep up to date with The Adventures of Ziggy over on Flickr – I’ll be adding photos with Ziggy’s commentary throughout the coming weeks.

And yes, he plays guitar.