Pop goes the cornballs

Our Master and she-who-must-be-obeyed has a craving for popcorn a day or two back, and made so much that they could not eat it all (and they were stuffing their faces big time).

So it was time to make popcorn balls. We love them. Bug and round, we can push them all over the place until bits fall off, and then we pounce on them, pretending they are moths and insects.

They taste better too!

Brrr, this is summer?

Could have fooled us, calling this summertime, right now ... It is wet, windy and cold, and frankly there is no better place than a woolly slipper, in front of the telly. It's a whodunit tonight. The cold better go away before the summer Games start next month, or there will be lots of very cross humans in London.

We are back!

Maybe it was the Queen's Jubilee Concert?  Maybe it was just time. But we are back. We've been chilling together for quite a few moons, but here we are, large as life. There is mischief to be had, we reckon.

And there is a big athletics event coming up soon in London, we hear. You know, the one with the five rings, and medals, and a big opening ceremony.

We are told you are not supposed to even mention its real name or you could get barked at by one of their Rotweiller lawyers! Even though we Jack Russell's are pretty brave, even we are not that dumb!

How long before the party starts?

Today our master has a birthday. Yessiree, he will heave his frame out of bed this morning and be a whole year older. He should be so lucky, for we of the canine species have to endure 7 birthdays for every single one the old hefty one has. It wasn't so bad when we were ankle-biting puppies - being 7 and then a teenager before our human companions can even talk properly is quite cool. So wife of our master has prepared a feast, and the table was all set before they went to bed last night. She is a great cook, our mistress, so we can look forward to lots of little titbits. We are hanging out on the table just to be sure WE are not forgotten today. Pity we can't reach the old vino flagon.

Work is an overrated activity

Picture by Brenda Rudolph of Oz

Our great and mighty master (that's him blowing up a storm on the blue pool noodle) needs to learn that all work and no play make Zack and Daisy very stressed out little doggies. Maybe this picture shows us he might just have some fun-potential. Our master (who we sometimes call 'his imenseness' because he is a bit on the larger side of life) has been reading stuff by Bob Sutton and Jim Maloney. We're not quite sure who this Jim guy is - he could be a baseball player, or United States Representative (that's like an MP we think), a missionary, or even a Boston fish peddler, according to Google. But one of those Jim's said that 'work is an overrated activity'. Yup.

Anyway, back to work and fun. You know what our master is doing there in the pool? He sees pool noodles, and then sees friends wearing clothes at the poolside. He thinks of elephants from back in the home country. He impersonates them by blowing water all over people. And we all bark hysterically - except that poor man from Cyprus who wondered gloomily what all the fun was about. He was probably working.

Good we don't do chewing gum

Changi Airport, Singapore

We are spending a few comfortable hours in Changi Airport, Singapore, on our way home to Merry England, or Mud Island as we have heard a few whinging Africans call it. So it rains a little in the UK. Well, prehaps more than a little. And so it gets dark early in winter time - haven't humans ever heard of daylight bulbs for the lights?

This airport is very tidy. We are having to hide in our master's backpack because we think that they would have a Chinese hissy-fit here if they saw two important looking Jack Russells (well, we are important - we are Zack and Daisy) investigating the lovely flower beds and indoor trees they have here.

Did you know that chewing gum and bubble gum are actually banned here. Yes, banned. You can go to prison for walking through customs chewing the old Wrigleys! Well maybe not prison unless you are a repeat offender - but the fine is pretty steep. Yikes. Imagine forgetting to swallow the old gumball in your mouth and landing up with a $1000 US fine, and then get some community work on top of that. No wonder Singapore is tidy. We wonder what they do to little doggies like us, who often can't find a public convenience tree in a secluded spot?

Marmite vs Vegemite

Toast Mountain Climbing - Daisy Reaches The Summit

We thought we might end up being toast ourselves, because we were a bit rude to He Who Must be Obeyed in our last posting.

But he's a good sport, and saw the funny side of it. Here in Australia they eat Vegemite which is a spread made from yeast and the carcasses of dead Australians. Their website says it has been proudly made Down Under since 1923.

They reckon it is better than Marmite, but we know better. It isn't. Marmite on toast is like a delicious savoury bite of heaven. Vegemite is bitter and has the subtle background flavour of grilled inner tubes.

Marmite, they reckon, has been made since 1680, Bruce! They did not call it Marmite then, but even so, the first Marmite factory was started in 1902. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Sheila!

Yessiree! Our master needs to shed some weight

Oh, we know which side of the bread is buttered ... and give our great and powerful master half a chance, he will probably eat it before we can say 'cat at nine o'clock'.  He is swanning around eastern Australia this week, and this time he rememebered to bring us along. We have almost forgiven him for not taking us to the USA a couple of weeks ago. He wouldn't take us swimming in the sea on Sunday afternoon - muttered something about big sharks and what great shark-bait little doggies can make. Anyway, his lordship got a bit too much sun and came back looking pink and uncomfortable.

We found this Special K stuff in the apartment, and placed it strategically where he would see it. Seemed to have worked, because he chose it over the Cocoa Pops. Did you know that all the honey almond Special K made recently has been recalled. Wonder why?

Did you hear about the Listener Clubs for the Spotlight radio programmes? Sounds like they are really taking off. Have a look here for more details.

G'day little doggies

Picture credit

Boy oh Boy are we excited.

We are going somewhere we have not been before. Queensland, Down Under! Thats Australia, mate! And what's more, we are getting to go on a brand new Airbus A380, the doubledecker bus of the skies. Beaches, crows to chase, hot weather, warm rain ... what a change from miserable old England for a week or so.

And our owner thinks of everything for us - he got us a ride in this miniature (our sized) model of the Airbus in preparation. We hear there is an onboard doggy parlour and heated kennels on the A380.

Are we famous?

We (that is Zack and Daisy, the terrific Jack Russells who what write this dogblog) had nothing to do with this bus advertising. We would not have even thought of it ourselves, but obviously we have our fans.

Maybe you can keep an eye out for this serious bit of hero worship on a bus near you, and report any sightings. This one was seen in West Sussex, but who knows how far it has spread.

We are flattered of course, because we are just humble little terriers. We just need a warm and dry place, some rats and birds to chase, and lots of attention, to be happy. Mind you, our globe trotting is raising our profiles - watch out Simon Cowell.

Actually we don't mind Simon, because he really loves doggies like us. Good on you, Simon.