Kindness, acceptance, tolerance -- these may be the greatest lessons we can learn from animals.
Tales of enemies coming together -- even becoming companions -- are plenty, starting with the biblical ones about the wolf and the lamb and the leopard and the goat.
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatted calf together; and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 1:6…
As an Aussie/Kiwi ANZAC means much more than just the letters or the words they represent.
Australian New Zealand Army Corps.
To me those words represent a special breed.
On the 25th of April each year we commemorate one of the saddest days in Australia's and New Zealand's combined history.
The landing at the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
The objective was to capture the Dardanelles and Constantinople, opening the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea for the allied navies.
Consider, if you will, the sartorial importance of tail attire. To bare, or not to bare… that is the question. The answer might seem to be of little consequence, but for marsupials living in cities and suburbs some strategically placed fur can make all the difference.
That’s because naked tails make people nervous. I blame this bias on the Black Death.
Dog’s diary:
8am – Dog food! My favourite thing!
9:30am – A car ride! My favourite thing!
9:40am – A walk in the park! My favourite thing!
10:30am – Got rubbed and petted! My favourite thing!
12pm – Milk bones! My favourite thing!
1pm – Played in the yard! My favourite thing!
3pm – Wagged my tail! My favourite thing!
5pm – Dinner! My favourite thing!
7pm – Got to play ball! My favourite thing!
8pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favourite thing!
11pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing!
Cat’s Diary:
Day 989 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am. Bastards!
There was an assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
A is for apple, and B is for boat, 
(that used to be right, but now it won’t float)!
Alphabet
A is for arthritis, B‘s the bad back, C‘s the chest pains, perhaps car-di-ac?
D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight, can’t read that top line!
F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas which I’d rather not mention.
H - high blood pressure–I’d rather it low;
I for incisions with scars you can show.
J is for joints, out of socket, won’t mend,
K is for knees that crack when they bend.
L is for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory – I forget what comes next.
N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo – bones that don’t grow!
P for prescriptions, I have quite a few - just give me a pill and I’ll be good as new!
Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.
S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears,
T is for Tinnitus; bells in my ears!
U is for urinary; troubles with flow;
V for vertigo, that’s ‘dizzy,’ you know..
W for worry, now what’s going ’round?
X is for X ray, and what might be found.
Y is for another year I’m left here behind,
Z is for zest I still have — in my mind!
I’ve survived all the symptoms, my body is deployed,
and I’m keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed!
The zoo’s major exhibits are the Hippopotamus, Lion, Zebra, Giraffe, Meerkat, Ostrich and Rhinoceros.
The Lions Feeding Time is a very interesting event . . . .
Oh my - imagine the rush you get sitting in that seat!
You wonder why the lion was so tame, or how come the visitors were so calm, right?
Only the hood of the car is outside the glass cage with the lions. The rest of the car is on the inside.
A very interesting way of interacting with the lions!
If you want more information, check out the Zoo’s website here
From Poppy & her Little Elf
This time it came from Sandra Bell Kirchman of FansasyFic. Thank you Sandra!
Sandra has won many awards for her writing, and is a published author. She especially loves to write fantasy fiction, and writes in a way that is entertaining and fun. She certainly has a vivid imagination!
You can read some of her short fantasy fiction in the forum at her website FantasyFic. You wont be disappointed!
According to the rules, I have to choose five deserving recipients for the award and publish seven unknown facts about myself.
Here are the new Versatile Blogger winners I have chosen:
1. Piglet in Portugal
4. Smile Kidd0
If you haven’t visited any of these blogs before, check them out and be pleasantly surprised!
Now for seven things you don’t know about me!
1. Besides being passionate about animals, I am an enthusiastic photographer and I love pottering in my garden.
2. I was born in Scotland, and moved to England at the age of 10 when my mother re-married.
3. My mother married a soldier in the Army, so we moved around a lot. I was schooled in Germany for 2 years and also Singapore for a further 2 years. I hated changing schools, but loved living in different countries with such different cultures; it was an education in itself! I completed my education in England.
4. I emigrated to Australia at the age of 19 with my boyfriend (who later became my husband). I got homesick for my family and the UK, so after three years, we left Australia to return to the UK – a decision I came to regret. Life happened 
but I finally re-emigrated to Australia (yes, with the same man!), some twenty-odd years later!
5. Tell me a secret and I’ll take it to the grave.
6. If I was a lot younger, my wish would be to live on a large property where I could provide a sanctuary for unwanted domestic animals and also injured wildlife. Here in Australia we have a very high incidence of kangaroos, koalas, possums etc., being injured on our roads every single day. I would like to provide the medical attention they required and nurse them back to health, to be released back into the wild when and if they were ready. If they couldn’t be released for whatever reason, then they would always have a home with me – a Sanctuary.
7. I would like to write a book one day about my life. Whether it happens is another story!
