w00t - a puppy party

This evening's walk was full of excitement.

We went to Jet's place first to invite him to come on our walk. Kane loves going into other houses. Of course Jet just wanted to play.

On the way, we saw a Red Setter, but didn't say hello, and then we saw Jake on his way. Unfortunately, Jet was too eager and Therese decided to turn him back. We walked with Jake instead and collected Jack along the way.

At the oval, a black Labrador called Maggie had just arrived, to join in with Zulu the Labradoodle and Taz the red English Cocker Spaniel whom we hadn't seen for awhile, and Lil the oversized black Labrador and Kosi the undersized Blue Heeler. There were also two unaccompanied black Staffordshire Terriers.

Kane enjoyed meeting up with his friends and was even friendly with the Staffys. Jack, for a little Jack Russell Terrier, on the other hand, wouldn't let the strange dogs near me and kept on growling at them.

Just as we were leaving, the Belgian Shepherd sisters Sammy and Shayla turned up. We didn't stay as it was getting dark.

The container of Sasha's Blend arrived in the mail, so I included a teaspoon on his dinner (for arthritis). This is on top of the tablet for his epilepsy, which I hide in his food and the teaspoon of cod liver oil for his fur.

Sunday

Today was another great Kane Day.

This morning, we went for a walk to the shops. Sunday mornings are always busy there as the car park is used for a flea market. While we walked around the perimeter of the shopping complex, we saw from a distance, another German Shepherd who looked exactly like Kane, but they were in a hurry and couldn't stop to say hello.

From the shops we walked the long way home along the bike path and its grove of trees.

This evening, we went on a walk to the oval the long way around, visiting Tim and Toni's house first to say hello to Phrim. Phrim didn't want to pat Kane this time, but we showed her Kane's treat catching trick.

There were people at the oval, which we could see from a distance. When we reached the oval, there we no dogs. They were people flying their remote control model gliders. How disappointing!

We did meet up with old Dusty from across the road on our way home as he had also just finished his walk.

Super Kane Day

Today was a Super Kane Day and he enjoyed all the attention, with a day centred around him.

This morning, we walked to the shops and chatted with the neighbours who finally moved in today. They have two Dobermanns called Brandy and Scotch, but we will let them settle in first before they meet Kane.

At the shops, another little dog was tied to the other side of Kane's seat, but Kane ignored the little dog. After I came out of the shops, we walked around the outside as there are always lots of news to smell.

A few hours later, in the early afternoon, CQ came to visit. After a beer, we walked together to the markets. Our visit to the pet store was only very brief and we didn't see Splat the cat. The staff were very friendly again and gave Kane some treats. They even remembered his name, and this was his third visit.

At the markets, Kane was tied to a different spot, while CQ and I went to order some food.

We then sat on a seat in the piazza area to eat it. We met a scruffy looking dog with some wolfhound in him (or her). It was only a brief hello and tail wagging before Kane lost interest. We also met a Weimaraner who wasn't very friendly and bared her teeth.

After the markets we went to the giant hardware store across the road from the markets (I needed a storage container to hold Kane's dried bones - not the one in the photo, but a smaller one inside that).

On the way home we met up with Tessie the Border Collie who was in her front yard. Kane wanted to invite himself into her house! Tessie managed to accost CQ into playing stick fetching with her. We mentioned the play-date appointment with Jake at the oval at 3.45pm, so Tessie might join in.

After a short rest, we went to Jake's house to collect him on the way to the oval, but Sue was baking a cake and would show up soon. As we walked over, Kane was tired from our earlier adventures so we turned around and called on Jake's house to say we weren't going anymore.

It has been an exciting canine day.

Kane's Corner

Last weekend, I tidied up the deck area and made more room so that Kane can look outside towards the side gate.

I've told him to keep his corner tidy.

dang, missed another puppy party

Poor puppy. Even going on our walk at 6.30pm today was still not early enough.

We went to Jake's house first for a visit and Sue told me that they had just returned from a walk and there was a puppy party with up to eight doggies including Nell and Milco at the oval.

When we arrived at the oval, the puppy party had finished. Alas, we continued on our regular route.

With the days getting shorter and the sun setting earlier, I will have to leave work earlier from time to time to enable Kane to join in the puppy parties.

round and round with Lil and Kosi

I have discovered that Kane doesn't like the dark. I usually leave a lamp on in the bathroom and thought that Kane only sleeps there because he likes the tiles as they are cooler during hot weather. Lately, the weather has been cooler, but he was still sleeping on the tiles (and not his mat/bed). Last night I turned the lamp off and turned on an LED nightlight in the hallway. He went straight to that light to lay down.

I still need to distract Kane when I leave for work in the morning, with either a bone or a dried pig's ear (home-made or store bought).

We went on our walk a bit earlier today and met up with Jake who had just finished his walk. Jake's person Sue invited us in for a quick visit and Kane made himself right at home, so that she could show me her container of Sasha's Blend.

After the quick visit, we walked to the oval and came across Lil the chubby old black Labrador and Kosi the undersized Blue Healer. As Lil needed the exercise, we walked two laps of the oval with them before going home. Kane had no trouble keeping up. He really enjoys walking.

see Kane run

Kane's hearing is fine, except that directionally, he can't seem to identify the exact source of the sound. When I returned home from work today, I called out to him through the side gate while he was on the deck. After looking around, he finally saw me.

We went on our walk just before it turned dark this evening, and at the oval, we met up with the Belgian Shepherd sisters Sammy and Kayla. Kane also did a bit of running. While he mostly runs like an old dog, this evening I saw that he can put in the long strides with his back legs. It was a beautiful sight to see from an old dog.

On the walk home, Kane also walked at a fast pace and I had to keep up with him. Perhaps the cooler weather gives him more energy.

cold, wet and rainy

It rained for most of the day when I was at work. The rain eased in the early evening, so I took Kane for a walk at 6.30pm. As the ground was very wet and there was a chance the rain would resume, we only walked around the block.

Usually after it has rained, Kane spends more time smelling, presumably because any scents still remaining have been diluted.

During our walk, he did say hello to an old black Labrador cross who seemed really pleased to meet Kane.

The cooler weather seems to give Kane a greater appetite, although he would probably eat non-stop if given the opportunity. He normally waits for his dinner, but tonight he wanted to eat earlier and told me by sitting in the kitchen looking at the kitchen bench.

Meeting Milco

Today was another Kane Day. I meant to take him out on an early morning walk, but it rained on and off for much of the morning and early afternoon.

I did give Kane a canine massage though. Well, actually I gave him a thorough brush and then rubbed Lanolin cream into his fur to condition it. I also made some more liver jerky this afternoon.

We went for a late afternoon walk to the oval and met up with Bronte, who was there with Jack (not the Jack Russell Terrier) and another unknown black Labrador. Kane wasn't terribly interested in them, so we walked home, and met Bronte (another Bronte) the Golden Retriever. We called in on Jake along the way home.

Jake was on his way out for a walk, so we went back to the oval. We saw Milco on his walk and both Jake and Kane were terribly excited. Kane met Milco a few weekends ago at the shops. This time, Kane was really happy to see Milco who wanted to play.

meeting Milco the Beagle puppy

So it was a consecutive double walk! I don't know whether he enjoyed it twice as much though, as he did tire towards the end.

Jet and Therese were supposed to come over tonight, but weren't able to in the end.

Sunday

Poor puppy, I meant to take him somewhere this morning, but today ended up as a 'do nothing' day.

We did go for a walk later in the afternoon. It was to the shops and then a long way home, past a sports club, the local swimming pool, and through a few parks. We were out for about an hour.

We saw a cat. Well, I saw a cat, but Kane must have thought the cat was a statue.


The park and 'green' areas in our suburb are always brown

a good Saturday

Today was a good day, which I think Kane enjoyed, even though I left him on two occasions to go in to the city.

We walked to the shops early today. After I had finished at the supermarket, I sat down on the seat with Kane and gave him some home-made liver jerky. A random guy came up to me and we had this strange conversation:

Stranger "Is he your dog?"
Me "No, I'm just kidnapping him"
Stranger "Really?"
Me "No, he is my dog"
Stranger "Will he bite me if I pat him?"
Me "Only if you hit me"

He then shook my hand to act friendly, then patted Kane. Mind you, he commented what a great dog Kane is. When Kane and I left him, an elderly man patted Kane and also said what a lovely dog he is.

We then walked around the outside of the shops and came across a Dobermann. At first he growled as Kane towered over him, but when we reached the lower level, the Dobermann started wagging his tail, so Kane and him said hello. In the end, the Dobermann actually wanted to play.

Kane always looks forward to me coming out of the shops






And here is a photo of Kane at home posing regally


Later this afternoon, Kane dropped a big hint about wanting to go on another walk. He did this by going to the door. We only walked around the block (not crossing any roads), including a visit to the house behind us, to say hello to Sofie the Great Dane.





Then we walked home the back way


After we turned the corner, Kane knows the way home, so I removed his collar and lead

a good Friday walk

I spent all day with Kane today, apart from when I made him stay outside while I cleaned the floors. He did have a big beef bone to occupy him.

Today has been a very cool day so we went on an earlier walk, inviting Jet and Therese to come along. Therese brought a ball with her, so Jet did a lot of running around while Kane tried to keep up chasing after Jet.

After some time at the oval, during which no other pooches turned up, we returned home the long way around and met Roody along the way.

It was a nice long leisurely one hour walk and roaming of the oval today.

the Thursday walk

I gave Kane a small kangaroo bone this morning and he demolished it quite quickly. It was only about 30 cm (1 foot) long. Kangaroo is a bit more gamey and leaner.

The weather has been cooling down and our unseasonal warm Autumn seems to be over.

We visited Jet's place first, but Therese was out. Then we visited Jake, but he was already out on his walk, but Kane did receive a lot of fussing from Nick.

We went on our walk at 6.30pm to the oval and came across Jake, Jack and Roody. If we had left earlier, we might have caught up with Nell and Saxon. We've never met Saxon, but everybody talks about him.

Kane remembers all his new friends. It takes me two meetings to begin to remember, hence the photos of every new dog we meet!

Jake and another puppy party

The weather is getting cooler again, so Kane is now back outside on the deck during the day when I am at work.

This evening, we went to Jake's house and walked with him to the oval. Poor Jake is in BIG trouble. He tried to escape again and had dug under his fence and gone deep this time.

When we arrived at the oval, Jack the Jack Russell Terrier was there, along with Roody the something Terrier and two NEW dogs - Hilda and Lotte who were Schnauzers.

Liselotte


Hildegarde (with Roody)


After some time, everybody left so we walked around the oval until Jake found a ball! Oh dear, so much for his punishment.

Jake

Then we saw that Sammy and Kayla the Belgian Shepherds had arrived, so the puppy party had resumed a bit. Jake had not met Kayla yet, so tail wagging all round again.

Kane loves meeting new dogs. The more new friends he makes, the more he has to remember who they are!

Puppy Party

When Kane and I go for our walks, I don't know which of us has more fun!

This evening we went to Macquarie oval (Jet's people had visitors and Jake's people weren't home - we checked along the way).

At the oval, we saw Jack the Jack Russell Terrier. Then two Belgian Shepherd puppies turned up - Sammy whom we had met previously and Kayla who was recently adopted (just last Saturday) from the same litter. It was great fun. Then Nell turned up.

It was a great party! The weather was cooler this evening so we caught the early dog walking shift.

Jet boy

Poor puppy, I left him inside this morning when I went to work. I returned a minute later as I had forgotten my cap. Kane was lying by the front door.

Thankfully, when I returned after work, he had moved and wandered over from the hall way to greet me. I was worried that he stayed by the door waiting all day.

This evening, we went to Jet's house and then walked together with Therese, her daughter and Jet to Macquarie oval. Along the way, Kane and I went to Jake's house to see if he was ready to come for a walk, but his family were having dinner at the early hour of 7pm.

At the oval, Kane was content to smell the news on the ground while Therese played ball with Jet and did some training with him (to let him know she is the pack leader). Kane loves company, but probably not so much at home.

I've also moved the door chime from the kitchen so that it is beside the front door. Poor puppy, he knows that when the chime sings, someone is at the door, but is content to look at the chime in the kitchen. This way, he will go to the door instead.

I bumped into Tessie on the way home. She is a lovely dog.

the bestest Kane Day ever

Today was another Kane Day, and it was the best ever.

Early this morning we went to Therese's house before walking together to the nearby food markets. We saw Tessie the Border Collie on the way and Kane said hello to her. Tessie was one of the first dogs in the neighbourhood I befriended some years ago. I finally found out last week that one of her humans is called Cassie!

At the markets, we went to the pet store where I bought a new brush along with some more Science Diet tins. We saw Splat the cat, but he decided to stay out of reach this time. The staff at the store enjoyed having both Kane and Jet visiting.

Afterwards, Therese and I had a coffee at the organic place next door while Kane and Jet enjoyed watching the world go by and the attention of friendly passers by. We left after 10am before it became too warm. The fun didn't end there. We went to Macquarie oval on the way home and Jet enjoyed his running around while Kane was content to watch (and wonder at the silliness of a puppy). We passed Jack the Jack Russell Terrier's house and Kane and him said hello. It was funny as he was behind a railing and kept on running to Kane (all excited) and then Jet (growling).

A fun two hours of the morning.

Late this afternoon, Kane and I walked to the shops for a quick visit, then we walked back the long way (Kane's decision) along the bicycle path and the grove of trees. We said hello to Rani the Spoodle whose person held her up over the fence so she looked down on Kane without getting nervous.

The kid who works part time at the chicken shop at the markets had just finished work so was walking the same route. I had a chat to him as we walked (one of his bosses gives me great discounts) while Kane smelled the news.

Just as we arrived home, Dusty the old brown Kelpie from across the road came over to say hello. Dusty was another neighbourhood dog who I befriended years ago. I still don't know what his person's name is, but I know the person's elderly mother is called Maisy.





Such an exciting day we had.

a party at Kane's house!

Today was another very warm day again.

Kane and I walked to the shops mid-morning. He had good company at his seat where I leave him when I go inside. There was a family of classical buskers - a father and two children while the mother sat on the seat. Unlike another lady the other weekend, she did not have a problem sharing the space with Kane.

On the way to and from the shops, we stopped by the building site (block of apartments opposite the road) to see some landscaping being done. Last night, there was a high mound of soil. This morning, the dirt had been spread and some people were planting shrubs. Kane went up to say hello to the people, but did not offer to help them dig holes!

This evening, Therese came over with Jet. When they came to the door, Kane barked. The third bark that I have heard! Mind you, it was after I just about carried him to the front door. I have to remind Kane to take his guarding duties more seriously!

Jet so wanted to play, but while Kane likes Jet, he eventually became impatient. I gave both Kane and Jet each a smoked pig's ear. Kane chewed on his while Jet played with his. Eventually, Jet surrendered his ear to Kane, who also ate it.

Kane eats Jet's pig's ear while Jet looks on.




After all the evening's excitement, while Theresa and I drank wine and beer respectively, Kane didn't need another walk

walking in the dark

I should really walk Kane early in the morning, but prefer the walk to be a leisurely stroll not constrained by the rushing to get ready for work.

Kane spent another night out on the deck as it was cooler outside, and he spent the day indoor when I left for work.

We didn't go on this evening's walk until it became dark as it took some time for the weather to cool down. Our walk was also a blokey activity as we walked to the shops for beer!

We saw Maggie the Labradoodle on the way and Kane wanted to say hello, but Maggie doesn't like other dogs. Her redeeming feature is that she loves people and is really cuddly.

why is summer still here?

We are having a warm week. Last night I left Kane outside on the deck as it was much cooler, and he had a big bone for company.

This morning, I left Kane indoors when I left for work. He attempted to bring his big bone inside, but I told him no. Then I thought better of it and brought it in for him on old newspapers on the kitchen floor.

When I returned home, he had not touched it. Poor puppy, I think I confused him. He's very good when I tell him not to bring things inside, by saying "outside" and pointing to the door.

Anyway, we didn't go on our walk until the sun fully set tonight, given the temperature. We walked a new route this time - across a park, to Klaudia's house (but she wasn't home), and a new way home.

We saw another dog walking a person. I asked her if her dog was friendly, and she said no. What is it about certain people and their mean dogs?

Anyway, if I had that much fur, I wouldn't like hot weather either.

some people shouldn't have dogs

Today was another warm day, so I left Kane indoors again.

Emily came over this evening, and we went for a walk after she arrived. We walked to the oval, but nobody was there. They must have gone earlier or decided not to go this evening.

On the way back, as we headed back on to the road home, we saw a Golden Retriever. I thought the people would be friendly, so let Kane walk up to them.

There were three people with their dog, and one of them told me to put Kane on a lead. I explained to her that Kane is a very old dog, but she insisted and said that her puppy was scared of dogs.

After I put the lead on, Kane went up to the lady for a pat but she turned away. Then they walked their dog away. So much for for putting the lead back on Kane.

Anyway, after we were some distance away from them, I took the lead off. From the oval onwards, Kane has never required a lead.

Obviously, these people don't live around here. Most of the people who walk their dogs in the neighbourhood like having their dogs meeting other dogs.

Technically, after the oval, which is an off-leash area, I should put the leash back on Kane. We've never had a problem before with giving Kane his freedom to follow his own routine.

I was alarmed that these people expressed concern about their dog being scared of other dogs. Well, the reason their dog might be scared is because they haven't socialised their dog properly. They are their own worse enemy.

They seemed not to like dogs, so I wonder why they have one in the first place.

Poor Kane. He just wants to make friends.

another doggie party

Today was a warm day so I left Kane inside when I left for work. When the temperature is above 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 degrees Fahrenheit, I leave Kane inside the house as it is cooler inside.

This evening, we had a play date with Jake, so we went to his house first. Needless to say, Kane knows the way to Jake's house. On arrival, he invited himself inside! Both Kane and Jake walked together to Macquarie oval. Jack was there, along with a new dog called Roody (short for Rooster, possibly a Maltese Terrier). Unfortunately, it started to rain so we all had to leave, stopping at Jack's house first.

Jack loves Kane, but Kane will only tolerate playing with a small dog for a short amount of time. Roody and Jake are in the foreground


Tonight, we opened a new packet of dog biscuits, which Kane just loves. Unlike other brands, he gobbled up his new kibble pretty quickly, after he had his wet canned food for dinner.

I made oven-dried liver treats tonight (until they are dry and crunchy). They last a long time and I also share them with other doggies.

a doggie party

This evening's walk was very exciting and we were out for an hour.

We went to visit Jet the German Shepherd two doors up. Unfortunately, Jet wasn't able to come along on a walk as he had an ear infection and taking ear drops for a week. Therese mentioned that he was scratching his ears and they were bleeding and she had to take him to the emergency vet yesterday. Poor puppy.

We then went to visit Jake the Kelpie. Jake wasn't able to come on a walk either as Nick had already taken him on one earlier. Luckily, Nick let Jake out the front door so Jake and Kane were able to play for a short time.

Then we continued to Macquarie oval and had the best time. We came across Jack the Jack Russell Terrier and his person Doug heading the same way and we joined Ripley the Dobermann and Vinnie the Kelpie cross with their person Colleen.

A new dog called Bonnie (a Collie) turned up so she and Kane said hello, then Bronte the Golden Retriever whom we had met at a house auction a few weeks ago, and finally, Ollie the Poodle and Kaylie the something Terrier joined us.

It was a great canine party. It was a shame that us humans there didn't have one of our own with drinks and snacks!

bath time

Kane had a bath today. Kane enjoys being washed. It wasn't a proper bath, more like a shower. It's funny how I need to lift him into the bath, but afterwards, he is able to get out all by himself! Afterwards, I massaged lanolin cream into his fur to moisturise it.

the rest of Sunday

Poor puppy, he wanted to go on more adventures today. After a well earned afternoon rest, Kane was keen to go on his usual evening walk, but visitors came and we went out to dinner. I'll have to take him on another adventure tomorrow.

the bestest day, and it's not even midday yet

Today is another Kane Day.

Early this morning, Kane and I walked to the shops. There was a local market on - Jamison Trash and Treasure, but dogs were not allowed in. I went into the shops for canned dog food and tied Kane to the usual seat. There was a lady who ranted and raved and asked me to tie Kane somewhere else (she pointed at bollards, but they are not practical; the sign posts are too close to the road). In any case, I pointed out other empty seats to her and stood my ground. Anyway, there were other friendly ladies who patted him, including one who sat with him on the seat.

After I finished shopping, we walked around the outside of the shops again. Then on the way home, I decided we should visit the Belconnen fresh food markets. It was a bit further than the distance home.

We had a lot of fun at the markets. I took Kane into the pet store there and we looked around inside. I asked them for some water for Kane first.

Kane saw Splat, the resident cat. At one point Splat wandered over really close to Kane to smell his fur. Kane smelled all the packets of dog biscuits there. The staff gave him treats and he went up to other customers who gave him pats. There were two fluffy little puppies there and Kane said hello to one, who was terribly excited. The staff being so kind, compelled me into investing in a new stainless steel non-slip bowl for Kane's dog biscuits, some Science Diet Light tins, and some doggie treats.

Afterwards, I left him tied to a seat in the piazza area of the markets while I went in and returned out from a different entrance/exit to sneak up on him.

It was such an exciting outing, and all before midday!

a balloon

Today was a fun day for Kane.

This morning we went on our regular Saturday walk to the shops, when I usually buy supplies. A new coffee shop had opened and helium balloons were being given away, so I asked for one and tied it to Kane's collar. He looked so cute.

Anyway, after I had finished shopping, we walked around the outside of the shops with Kane's balloon floating above. We met a cute Beagle puppy called Milco, who was white and tan in colour. He was so cuddly. He loved meeting Kane. Unfortunately, Kane only barely tolerates young pups!

On the walk home, the balloon popped.

I went out in the afternoon to go to the football and left Kane inside, and returned a couple of hours later.

This evening, we went on our regular walk to Macquarie oval. There was a new dog there, and Kane being the friendly and kind canine that he is, went over to say hello. The other dog was a bit nervous and snappy, so I led Kane away to walk home. Poor puppy (I call Kane puppy even though he is an old man dog), he only wanted to make friends.

the J-dogs

I was a little late returning home this evening, so we went on a walk immediately before it got dark.

We walked past Jake's house but nobody was home. Amazingly, when we walked past Jack's house, Jake was there.

Jake was very naughty and had escaped his yard, so was spending time in the 'lock up' with Jack. Kane enjoyed saying hello to Jake and Jack. Jack's person Doug was unwell, so they weren't going for a walk.

It was cooler this evening and Kane walked at a quite a brisk pace. I think he enjoyed the walk.

poor puppy

I returned home tonight around 10.15pm.

Poor puppy. He seemed glad to see me back home. I'll have to make it up to Kane with some exciting walks over the coming weekend.

long walk to freedom

It was cloudy and cool when I returned home from work, so I took Kane on a walk to the shops.

Today was only Tuesday and Kane was sniffing away as if he hasn't been on the route for weeks (when he last walked it two days ago, on Sunday).

The seat was free, so I left Kane there while I went in to the shops to procure his food for the next two days (I am away for work tomorrow, returning late on Thursday night - so can't get to the markets for his usual food until Friday). Emily will stay with Kane again - Kane is always nuzzling her for cuddles.

Kane is always excited to see me coming out of the shops.


Then he stands up ready to be untied - this is when I also give him a small treat.


On the way home, we took the long way back along the bicycle path with its grove of trees.


Thankfully, Kane skipped every second tree.


Kane is now on a diet. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have been giving him too much good food. He loves eating crunchy things.

walking Jake

This evening we went to see Jake. Nick was feeling unwell so I offered to take Jake along on our walk. Kane adores Jake. Unlike Kane, who walks with me, Jake walked ahead straining his leash.

We walked past the Jack Russell Terrier Jack's place and thankfully his person Doug came down to the oval with a ball for Jake. Jake was obsessed with catching the ball while Kane just wanted to play with him. Meanwhile, Jack wanted to play with Kane, but he was too little.

saying goodbye to an old friend

Today was a sad day. I took Kane to attend the funeral of his old human companion Doug, who passed away last week.

Doug loved Kane very much and his daughter Liz's eulogy is a tribute to a remarkable man

My father was a remarkable person and a self made man. I am honoured to be standing before you today to pay tribute to him, and to relate some of the many qualities he had that made him the strong, independent and unique individual that he was.

Doug touched many lives, and those who knew him well, held him in enormous respect and deep love. It is gratifying to know that there are so many people who feel that strong sense of kinship with our dad, and with our family.

Dad was a unique individual who grew up in an era and in a family that set great store by the traditional values of honesty, integrity and self-reliance. Dad’s life spanned most of the twentieth century and he saw great changes during the 91 years of his life. He was born at the beginning of World War I and saw his own father go off to fight for his country in the Great War.

When dad graduated from Summer Hill High School in 1931, the Great Depression was sweeping the country, and there were no jobs to be had in his hometown of Sydney. This was the first of many challenges that would eventually make dad into the ultimate survivor. He headed west at age 17 and worked odd jobs in country towns until he found relatively long term employment, first as baker and later as a projectionist in a theatre. This episode of employment stability was short lived when World War II and the RAAF came calling.

Dad entered the European theatre of operations in 1942, after training in Canada as a wireless operator and an aircraft gunner. He was assigned to the 460 Squadron as a sergeant where he flew Lancasters in bombing runs over Germany. This was in many ways a turning point in his life as he faced imminent death on every mission and learned the value of working as a team with his mates to complete each mission and survive. Dad’s squadron was led by the Lancaster bomber, G-George, so it was a great coincidence, when years later this trusty old plane came to live at the War Memorial in Canberra.

Much of the rest of dad’s life was defined by his experiences in WWII. To us as a family, the most important event of WWII was that he met, and fell in love with a beautiful young English WAAF, who he affectionately called, Nellie Eccles, as Eccles was her hometown. Doug and Ellen met at a RAAF dance in April 1943 and won the competition for the spot dance that seemed to be an auspicious omen for their future. They were married three months later, and remained devoted to each other for more than six decades.

To know our dad it is easiest to focus on what he loved.

He loved our mum most of all. After the war was over he brought mum and his new daughter, (me) to Australia. He was very cognizant of the sacrifice our mum made in leaving her own family behind to come to Australia and he made a pledge to love and support her in the best possible way, which he did for the 62 years of their marriage.

He loved his children, Peter, Margie and me, and our partners Nora, Luke and Bill. He loved his job as a pioneer in establishing the Department of Civil Aviation in Australia, first in Kempsey where, in 1949, he converted a dirt landing strip into a commercial aerodrome. Next he moved to Canberra as the Technical Manager of the Canberra aerodrome that consisted at the time of one corrugated metal hangar and a rudimentary control tower. He remained there for over 30 years. Dad worked long hours at his job and was always on call to fix malfunctioning navigation equipment on mountain tops around the region at all hours of the night, but he always had time to care for his family and spent endless hours helping kids with maths homework, taking us on holidays and teaching us about the world around us. Dad was proud of us in our successes but was always there to help and support us in the downtimes.

He loved his grandchildren, Tony, Nicole and Marcus in America and Georgia, Zoe and Michael here in Australia. He always liked news of his American family and loved it when they came to visit or when he went over there. He loved watching Georgia, Zoe and Michael grow up and being able to get baby Zoe to sleep when no one else could.

He loved animals. First he loved the horses of his youth, getting up in the early hours of the morning while still in high school to train racehorses at Canterbury Racecourse. Then came his dogs, Prince, a German shepherd who he had to leave behind when he went off to war. Then Timmy, a blue cattle dog who adopted our family when we first moved to Queanbeyan and guarded each and every family member for the next seventeen years. Then came the succession of German shepherds, Omar, Willy, Ben and Kane, each one living to a great old age in the love and care of dad. We have Kane with us here today and are very grateful to Daniel for taking over where dad left off and giving Kane the kind of loving care dad would have given him in his golden years.

Dad loved building things. He built three houses, the first one was in Kempsey, then came our home in Queanbeyan and later our beach house at Rosedale on the south coast. Dad also had an exquisite understanding of the nature of wood and designed and built many pieces of fine furniture for our home. Dad learned electronic engineering during his days in the RAAF and was able to apply those skills to amazing projects at home. I was quite convinced that there was nothing he could not do. He built our first TV set before TV was even being broadcast in Australia, getting the parts brought in from overseas as hand luggage by his pilot friends. He had to wait for the first broadcasts from Sydney to see if he had got the design right, picking up the signals from the top of Mt Ainslie, where he had surreptitiously strung a huge aerial on top of a DCA tower as a repeater so that the signal could be amplified sufficiently to reach our roof top antenna at home. He was delighted to see that it worked perfectly, except that the picture was upside down. That was fixed in short order and our house became the wonder of the neighborhood, the only one with a TV for about two years. He built our stereo system and any other electrical gadgets we needed. He also loved his cars, from an A model Ford in Kempsey, followed by a spectacular 1938 Pontiac with a radio in it that was an unheard of luxury in those days. Then came the Zephyr, the Ford Fairlane with enormous fins and an EH Holden. He loved working on them – building any part he couldn’t get or that cost too much to buy.

In his later years dad never gave up his creative efforts, he was still at it in his early 80’s, helping Margie and Luke build their house and spray painting all the inside walls. In his late 80’s he would sometimes complain of back pain, the cause of which was often that he had been up on the roof clearing the gutters or fixing the tiles.

Dad loved his retirement of 30 years and often said that in retrospect, he didn’t know how he had ever found time to go to work, as there was so much to do in retirement. He and mum traveled to America and England and took several cruises. Dad and mum loved going to Rosedale, especially going fishing in his boat or on the beach.

During his long life, dad rarely spoke of his time in the war, he said that he didn’t want to be remembered for inflicting pain and suffering on people he didn’t even know. But his experience in the war was a large influence over the rest of his life and while he was reticent to talk of it with his family, he wrote many stories about incidents involving his fellow flyers. His great sadness at the senseless suffering and loss of so many comrades and anonymous civilians came through loud and clear in his stories. Some of these stories were published in Australian magazines after the war. We share part of one of those stories in the booklet you have today.

Dad was devastated when our mum died in 2004 and since then it has been his dearest wish to join her. Today our sadness is tempered by the knowledge that he has been granted that wish and now will live eternally, reunited with his beloved Nellie Eccles.

Dad was comforted in these last years by the friendship and kindness of Bill, who he met here at the cemetery when they were both paying their respects to their late wives, and Bill expressed his admiration of dad’s dog Kane. Bill’s friendship has sustained dad over the last few years and given him a special kind of companionship.

Our dad was a very private man and didn’t have a large coterie of friends, but those he did have, were very dear to him and also dear to all of us. He and mum had a long and close friendship with Bill and Norma and our two families spent many wonderful times together over the years, going on picnics and holidays down the coast together. Today that friendship extends to the third generation with Bill and Norma’s children and grandchildren continuing the bond with our family.

Nanette is one of dad’s special friends, and is loved by all our family. She always went to great lengths to make sure dad’s every need was met in his later years. Nanette watched over mum in her last years and then became a source of loving strength when dad was left alone.

Next-door neighbors Kay and Terry were also special friends and we are very grateful to them both for being there everyday to help dad out. Dad and Kay had a secret code for communicating through the kitchen window. Every morning dad was supposed to open the Venetian blinds to let Kay know he was OK. He quite often forgot and Kay had to run next door to make sure dad was all right.

When dad was no longer able to stay in his home last November, he moved into George Forbes House where he was cared for by an outstanding staff. Their kindness and caring allowed him to spend his last months in comfort and dignity.

I like to think that dad passed on some of the wonderful aspects of his character to Peter, Margie and I. There is a strength and determination in each of us that I’m sure we owe in large part to our dad. I also see glimpses of these same characteristics in all six of his grandchildren.

Dad was an inspiration to all of us and we loved him very much. Even though his life was hard at times, he always made it look like “A Piece of Cake”.

Rest in Peace Doug. I am honoured to continue the care of your wonderful Kane.

After the funeral, we went to Kane's family home for his last visit. Everybody loves Kane including the Labradors Blondy and Lucky who just wanted him to play. Kane has a wonderful family, and I'm glad to now be a part of it.

Kane Day

Today was another Kane Day.

We had a midday walk to the shops with Jordan, who was visiting, as I forgot to put in my prescription at the pharmacy yesterday. We walked home the long way round along the bike path and the grove of trees. Kane was content to sniff most of the trees and there were lots of them (about 50).

This evening, we went to visit the German Shepherd puppy Jet who lives two doors up. Jet wasn't going for a walk so Theresa let us in and Jet and Kane played in their back yard. Kane couldn't match the energy of Jet, so after ten minutes he signalled that he wanted to leave by going to the door.

We walked to the oval and said hello to the Jack Russell Terrier Jack through his balcony along the way. Unfortunately, nobody was at the oval when we arrived.

Later tonight, a three-year old small Red Heeler (cattle dog) called Freja came over for quick visit. Kane was having his dinner and when he detected 'intruders', he barked (the second time I have heard him bark).

Freja will be staying over later this month when her people go away for Easter. She's a clever but naughty dog though, so I'm going to have to move treats out of reach from the kitchen bench.

Kane, the kitchen guard

Kane loves lying on the kitchen floor, so I have to keep stepping over him. Most of the time, he is facing the other way, to see what I am making or cooking. He is a lot like Keiser that way, except she liked to sit near my feet as I was cooking (as cats do).