Our first shows :)

Bella and I have finally hit the show ring!
We almost didn't make it as Bella had only just recovered from a nasty injury to her foot which had needed stitches, but we ended up entering our first show together on Sunday the 27th of May. On the Saturday, I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to handle a friend's Saluki, Layla, which was really exciting. She was so different to Bella!
 Layla won Intermediate of Breed, Bella won Junior Bitch and Reserve Challenge. I had a lot of fun, I think Bella did too, but her highlight was playing mad games with Arya the Borzoi (her favourite playmate). It was really lovely to hang out with so many friends and their dogs, I'm really looking forward to doing it again. Our next show is on the 23rd of June. :)

New Saluki friends Layla and Saffie

Me with Layla




Bella and Arya playing


Bella waiting warm and snug for her turn in the ring


With her ribbons


If you're interested in sighthounds (Salukis, Borzoi, Greyhounds, Whippets, Afghans etc.) you might be interested in visiting my forum. It's still very small, I'd love it to grow into a fun and friendly community of people who love sighthounds. Simply Sighthounds Forum

Visit to Perth

I had a great week in Perth, it was nice to spend time in a different state. I thought the city of Perth was fantastic, it was really nice to look at as it was surrounded by the Swan River, and it was much better for shopping than Adelaide. My favourite part of the shopping areas would have to be Ye London Court. :)




I really enjoyed Perth Zoo, I spent most of the time watching and photographing the zoo's many orangutans, including Puan, the mother of my old friend Pusung. She's estimated to be 55 years old, so she really is a grand old lady. Several of her daughters, Puteri, Punya and Pulang are still living at Perth Zoo, her granddaughter Temara was the first zoo-born orangutan to be released into the wild, and her great grandson, Semeru joined Temara late last year in the Sumatran rainforest. I think Puan is looking amazing for her age!




Here is Puan's daughter Puteri, and Puteri's baby girl Teliti








I found Perth's orangutan set up very interesting, each of the eight enclosures housed either a single orangutan, or two, usually mother and child. The enclosures weren't huge but had climbing equipment and places where the orangutans could hide and rest whilst being high off the ground. The orangutans spent most of the time I was there up on the climbing frames and platforms, rather than on the ground as I often see zoo orangutans.

Much as I enjoyed Perth, and catching up with my dad and stepmum, I was so happy to see Bella again when I got home, I missed her a LOT!


Nyaru on his mother, Negara

A brief glimpse of Sekara and her new infant, Sungai

Hello!

I've started this blog to post about anything interesting I might be up to, rather than using my two other blogs. Expect to see lots of posts about apes, Salukis and other interesting things.

I visited Monarto Zoo to see the chimpanzees for the first time since January on Thursday. They are so amazing to watch and I love photographing them. There was a bit of displaying from the alpha male Tsotsi during the day, but mostly everyone was pretty chilled out.

 Very soon I will be going on holiday to Perth for about a week, visiting my dad. I'm really looking forward to it but I think I'm going to miss Bella A LOT! She will be staying with a very good friend, Dimity, and her lovely Greyhound boy, Elvis, whom Bella adores. I think I will miss Bella more than she's going to miss me! While in Perth, I'm hoping to visit Perth Zoo so there may be some photos added to the blog in a week or so of the beautiful animals there. We're also going to the theatre to see the musical 'Mary Poppins', which I am super excited about- the film is one of my favourites and I LOVE musicals. :D


 One of my favourite photos from my recent visit to Monarto Zoo was this one of Zombi's (the eldest female)hands and feet. I took it while she was relaxing indoors.I also love this one of the beautiful Galatea, who is my favourite chimp.