Mexican swine Flu

Swine flu is a respiratory disease that infects pigs. Although it doesn’t usually contaminate humans, the new swine flu virus is contagious and can be passed around from person to person. It spreads like a normal cold or flu - when someone coughs or sneezes. 

The symptoms of swine flu include sore throat, fever, coughing, runny nose, headache, body ache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. The symptoms are generally the same as those of typical flu but may cause more severe health problems. 

How to prevent the spread of germs:

- wash your hands frequently

- clean surfaces of desks, tables, counters etc. regularly

- always use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough

For more info check your local health care advise centre.

Shaheen Jafargholi

I couldn't help it... this little dude is amazing!!! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYDM3MIzEHo

a stroll in the Lee Valley Park

Slawek and I live very close to the Lee Valley Regional Park and visit it quite often to get a breath of fresh air. The park covers huge areas of green open space, heritage sites, nature reserves, recreational facilities, sport centres and country parks. 

There are so many things to do there... you can enjoy many sport and recreational facilities such as the Athletic Centre and Leisure Complex... you can go skiing in the Ice Centre, play golf, use swimming pools... you can horse ride, fish, cycle, bird watch, camp there, play football and explore the countryside... 

Slawek and I took Angie and went for a long stroll in this enormous park that stretches almost 42 km (26 miles) along the grassy banks of the River Lee, from Hertfordshire, through Essex, to the Thames at East India Dock Basin. Of course, we didn’t make it on foot from start till the end... but maybe one day... who knows...:)

Among many other things, Walthamstow Marsh Nature Preserve and Coppermill Fields are my favourite. They stretch along the River Lee and its elongated lowlands and grasslands and their plant, animal and insect life is very unique in Creeping Marchwort. There is a great network of paths and trails and you can see many small herds of old breed farm animals grazing on growing grasses and herbage.

Thanks to the Lee Valley Boat Centre, you can cruise to London on one of the narrow boats (we would love to try this one day... it must be real fun) or you can have a quiet and relaxing trip up the river in an electric pleasure craft... you can enjoy a great day out sailing, canoeing or rowing as well as windsurfing, climbing, caving or rafting...

There are also many cycle routes leading through the countryside areas, urban green spaces and along riverside trails. Rivers and banks of lakes will guide you to various eye-catching meadows and pathways... and you will be able to cycle for over 48 km (30 miles) without seeing a car :))

Angie

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself..." (Josh Billings)

Angie at 6,5 months old

Slawek and I started looking for a puppy in August last year and finally found a good breeder that was located right outside Milton Keynes, over 75 miles from London. I went there to see the litter... the puppies were not even 5 weeks old back then... I was able to see both parents of the puppies and they were both beautiful... the dam (the mother) was very dark and small, the sire (the father) was huge and stunning... they both had lovely temperaments and good hip scores... Nicola, the breeder, was definitely experienced with bringing up and taking care of puppies... there was nothing I didn’t like about her, her approach to breeding or the place itself... 

The moment I saw the litter, my eyes were drawn towards one tiny puppy... I knew that she was THE ONE... all of the puppies were really cute but she was exceptional for some reason... she was very approachable and seemed good-natured... her small eyes were looking at me... her tiny black nose was touching my hand... she was trying to climb up on my knees with her small paws... and was making quiet, squeaky sounds... I just knew that this was a dog I wanted to take home with me...

Two weeks later I went to Milton Keynes again with a friend of mine, checked the puppy up and made sure she was ok, had a chat with Nicola – the breeder, signed the contract, placed the puppy in a car and took her to London – to her new home... The journey back home was better than I had expected... she calmly set in a box and even slept for a while... only some 2-3 km from home she got car sick and started throwing up a little bit...

We finally got home and after Angie sniffed the living room for a moment or two, I took her straight to the bathroom... that’s when she had her first puppy bath as she stank really, really badly... (I must say here that I am forever thankful to Michael for not throwing us out of his car that day...:)) 

Once in the bath, she was a little bit surprised but she wasn’t scared at all... I wrapped her in a huge, black towel I bought especially for her and sat in an armchair with her on my laps... when her coat got dry, I let her out to explore the house... 

playing with a ball is still her favourite activity :)

she was so small and tiny... 

the armchair was soooo big...

7 weeks old

She was only 7 weeks old when she was separated from her mother and siblings... I thought she would be very sad and miserable during the first few days... that she would cry constantly looking for them around the house... that she would not eat or drink... but she was perfectly fine! She started playing with a ball, running after me and nibbling subtly on my fingers... she seemed happy and was perfectly fine in these completely new to her surroundings... I think that she was so absorbed and fascinated with a new situation, new objects, new people, new circumstances and new smells that she forgot about everything she had left behind... at least for a while...

Angie hated being on the lead at first... 

now her collar and lead are the most important things 

that she never forgets when it's time to go out for a walk :)

in a park

10 weeks old

We put Angie’s bed in the kitchen, close to the garden door. Since she had not been vaccinated yet, we knew she would have to pee and make her business on a paper somewhere in the house or in the garden... in addition, we did not want her to get used to sleeping with us in our bedroom upstairs and decided to try and get her into the habit of sleeping in the kitchen... downstairs... alone... It was hard for me to leave her all by herself in a complete darkness for a few hours... the first 3 nights were difficult... poor little thing cried really badly, jumped on the kitchen door trying to smash it and break through... I was very tempted to take her upstairs and let her sleep with us... if only for one night... Now, I must admit, I am kind of happy that I didn’t... after those rough few nights, Angie stopped crying and banging on the door and got used to being left alone downstairs and sleeping in the kitchen...

Once we took her to a vet and got her vaccinated and microchipped, Angie quickly learned how to show us she needed to go out and started doing her business outside...

3,5 months old

with Slawek

what's up, doc? :))

3,5 months old

4 months old

in a park - 4 months old

At 5 months, Angie was familiar with many commands: sit, down, stay, leave it, off, on, get it and come (although she sometimes has problems obeying the last one, little stubborn rebel...) I have tought her few tricks as well... she knows how to roll over on her back, shake a paw and even gives high fives :))

training in a park - 5 months

this yellow ball was her favourite... 

was... because Saffi tore it to pieces the other day...:)

waiting for a command...

5 months old

with me :)

Although she has been a very adorable little dog, she wouldn’t be a proper puppy if she wasn’t naughty at all, right? Well... there are times when she can be very, very naughty... evenings usually bring a wild side of her... she can be a Devil Incarnate sometimes... she has torn off half of the kitchen floor... she has eaten 2 doormats, 4 plants and a kitchen drawer’s handle... she has chewed a cable connecting a tv set to a DVD device (a quite expensive one...) and two speakers’ cables... she has tried to take a fence apart and has destroyed several kitchen towels and sponges...

What can I say...? Angie may be out of control at times... and she may wind me up, drive me crazy and make my blood boil... but that’s the beauty of being a puppy, isn’t it? :)))

5,5 months old

It doesn't really matter to me whether she's naughty or well-behaved... I love her to pieces anyway...

6 months old

6 months old

As one writer once said, "dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace"...

I believe that a dog is your friend, your best buddy, your partner, your guardian and defender... and you are the most important person to him, you are his love, you are his whole life... The dog will always be yours... loyal, devoted, faithful... he will be yours till the last breath that comes out from his lungs, till the last beat of his heart... Why? Because the dog "doesn't care if you are rich or poor, big or small, young or old... He doesn't care if you are not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, not the best-looking person... To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born..." (Louis Sabin)

She’s a real cutie. I love her to pieces!!!