tdierikx

Using a neck strap tlc... but funnily enough my neck is't sore - probably because I was supporting the weight of the camera by holding it up a bit when I was walking about. My back and legs are a bit stiff this morning, and the wrist is niggly - but nothing an anti-inflam tablet won't fix... *grin* No Golden Tamarin or Crab-Eating Macaques there at all Katdogs... or there would definitely have been photos... I kept going back to the tigers to see if there was anything happening, but the lazy buggers slept right up the back of the enclosure most of the day... and when they finally did start moving about, they had attracted a crowd of people putting their kids up against the glass to make nasty slimy fingerprints everywhere - and the sun was in a position where it was causing a lot of nasty reflections on the glass. Interesting to note that this lens can get pics of the tigers sleeping right up the back of the enclosure, but the glare from the glass is a bit of an issue with shots at that distance (could probably be fixed easily enough with post processing though). It's really amazing how many iphone happy snappers will barge in front of you when you are lining up a shot - I had to delete a lot of back of head shots from the rude buggers popping up in front of the camera just as I pressed the button to take the shots. There were a few people who couldn't get their kids close enough to see a few times, and I let them in front of me - all I asked is that they didn't lift the kid into my field of view... most complied happily, and we all got to see what we wanted to see. It's definitely harder to get great focus handheld at full zoom with this lens. For a start, the weight alone makes it harder to hold up for any extended period, and you start to get a bit of arm tremble going on. Jostling for position and being barged about by iphone happy snappers and people with kids who think that it's their right to barge right up to the front of any exhibit doesn't help either. One thing that did impress was all the other people with decent camera gear who all happily shared or swapped positions so each could get their nice shots... I had a good position a few times and saw a couple of people having difficulty getting access, so I took a few shots then asked them if they'd like my spot for theirs - it's like being part of a special "club" when you have nice camera gear - others with similar seem to be a lot more accommodating and friendly - must be that they understand the joy of getting a nice shot I reckon. I had quite a few people approach me with their cameras asking if I could take a photo of their family against the absolutely stunning scenery - which I happily did... it's weird trying to line up pics with those live view little cameras, but they were all happy with the shots... lol! What the heck - I think I'll strap up this wrist and go again today... *grin* T.

I'm jealous of the photos you take of your gorgeous dogs, your platypus, and your bird shots Frodo's Mum... *grin* T.

I'm pretty happy with how these ones turned out... *grin* All pics handheld (hence the sore wrist), no cropping or editing - just resized for posting to the net. T.

I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them... T.

... one more lot coming...

... more coming...

Well - I can firmly attest that this thing is HEAVY! Walking around the Zoo from 9:30am to 4:00pm taking handheld pics has my right wrist telling me in no uncertain terms that it's not happy with me. My left shoulder isn't much happier either... On the upside though, the funky back and leg pain issue is behaving itself even though I must have walked at least 10km today. So in love with my physio's electrified needling right now. I've just been through all the pics, and have some to share... *grin* ... more coming...

Lovely!!! T.

Widget... you are due baby... time to show us your little bundles of joy... T.

She's actually much more approachable in the flesh, and can take constructive criticism well... and she truly does look after her charges well and is very fussy about who they are rehomed to. T.

Woohoo! Sunny day today! I'm off to the Zoo with my new toy... As for taking photos of ducks with a new lens - one doesn't usually have to go far to find one, and they are easy targets bacause they don't usually move much... lol! I got a couple of nice ones with cool reflections of the ducks' heads in the water too. T.

Don't you dare forget your camera when you go down to help with the babies Kirislin... Crossing fingers that Widget has an uneventful delivery, and that her babies are as adorable as we think they are going to be. Oh - and that Kirislin comes back to us with cute Iggy baby pics... T.

Thank YOU Camellia12... your wonderful donation to Candy's surgery was most appreciated... she actually has some prosthetic bits in the leg now, which should see her all better once it has healed up and rested for a while. Apparently her surgery was much more involved than just cruciate repair, but she should make a complete recovery. The vets are very happy with how she's coming along, and Aunty Margaret says she's a delightful foster who fits in just perfectly... T.

When I used to work nightshift in a computer room, I and another workmate used to sometimes bring our Rotties to work. We also used to rollerblade around the computer room... *grin* I used to take a pet rat to work when I was younger - nobody knew until she stuck her head up out of my pocket one day... and then everyone wanted a cuddle... T.

The groomer members from Pets Australia have spread Buddy's story far and wide... and were very helpful to Cazstaff when it all happened too. I'm tipping one of them to win the Buddy award at Groomquest... *grin* T.

A heart dog will grab a hold of your soul - that's the only way I can describe that bond you have with them... and your soul breaks when they leave you... My Woosie left me in 2004, and I still can't talk about her out loud without losing it... I'm even choking up and have tears flowing now just typing her name. I miss her so much that it actually hurts even 9 years later. Harper is my latest heart dog - she is big, naughty, and a complete PITA most of the time - but I wouldn't trade her for the world... she's only 11 months old and is just going through the turd stage... *grin* I've had quite a few dogs over the years, and LOTS of fosters, and I've loved them all to death - but you just KNOW when there's that special one... T.

None of the vets I've had desex my dogs have charged consult fees on top of the surgery cost - that includes the pre-op check and any post op checks/followups. The dogs all had fluids, proper monitoring during surgery, pain relief post surgery, and any AB's needed post-op - some were dropped off the evening prior to surgery and stayed overnight for no extra cost. The most expensive was $265 for an adult female Lab, who had a reaction to the internal sutures and needed 2 post op consults to drain off fluid from the site at no extra cost. I tend to remove stitches myself unless I'm suss about the way they are healing. Actually, most vets I've used haven't charged consult fees for any followup visit for an already diagnosed issue - and also reduced X-ray costs for followups of those, especially if the dog doesn't require sedation for the x-ray. Case in point my male Rotti that had an issue with a bone in his foot - he would happily sit with his paw up on the x-ray table for his fave vets. I've also been very fortunate to have vets that will do massively reduced costs for rescue fosters - no consult fees, and almost cost price for any meds/surgeries needed. It helps that I don't take advantage by going to the vet for every little thing too - sometimes the rescue rates have extended to my own dogs too, even though I do tell them that they aren't fosters and am happy to pay regular rates for them. I also pay on the spot for any visits. T.

Weekend deliveries are good... *grin* T.

The lovely lillypilly would like the wonderful people who organised to get this beautiful girl to us to know how she's doing... Candy has had her surgery to fix her bad back leg, and is now lapping up lots of attention from her wonderful foster carer "Aunty Margaret". Aunty Margaret reports that Candy is a dream foster - and is coping very well with her surgery and having to be on a no-exercise routine for the next few weeks. She is loving her regular short walks to the yard for a tinkle and a lie in the sun under Aunty Margaret's loving eye - tummy rubs are the best apparently! Candy would like to thank Frenzied1, Camelia, and the lovely Therese who transported her to us... and anyone else that she can't remember that may have had a hand in this stage of her journey to her new and fantastic life as a pampered pet. Here are some pics of Candy post surgery... I don't think she's suffering any, do you? Hugs to everyone for all the great stuff you do behind the scenes - without you, dogs like Candy might not always get that special second chance they so deserve. T.

I'll see if I can get nice close-ups of the meerkats for you Frodo's Mum... they are cute cheeky buggers... T.

I've met this person in the flesh, and she's really quite a lovely lady... maybe if people have an issue with what she's saying, they could approach her and do so in a friendly manner... seriously, she won't bite... T.

Dane Bouris is the son of Mark Bouris - the boss guy that does the firing on Celebrity Apprentice - his daddy is yummo... and rich! http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/dog-day-in-court-for-rising-star-dane-bouris/story-fni0cvc9-1226684581601 He can afford the fines... so not really all that much in the way of punishment that will make him think twice about allowing his dog loose in public... *sigh* T.

You aren't fostering this dog through Pound Rounds are you? T.

I could shoot RAW and JPG... best of both worlds then, yes? *grin* T.

I'm referring to this pic Anne... I certainly wouldn't be all that happy with that amount of blood leakage from a sutured wound - especially not after 24 hours or more since the surgery. T.