PossumCorner

Few ideas, lots of sympathy. This describes Rheneas to a T when we took him home from RSPCA. He was under 12 months, maybe a Shetland Sheepdog cross, touch of Corgi or Pom or both, exact age unknown, hyperactive. The only explanation I've heard suggested for his behaviours or lack of them is that he grew up to near adult-hood in a glass case without other pups and minimal people contact. The world revolved around him, he could not "connect" to anything. He is now around 12-13 years and a different dog. He tries hard to please, listens and learns, The barking was the worst, we were his last-ditch chance through RSPCA he had been quickly returned twice. Barked all day, all night, all circumstances, nobody slept. And he refused any concept of house-training, that took so long to achieve. Unbelievable stress. We had magic done by the awesomely wonderful corner vets, near you I think Kirty. I had all the letters of complaint from neighbours, warnings from the Council, receipts for professional consultation, proof that we regularly attended obedience training, proof of company and enrichment, proof vision of road and neighbour's property blocked: everything legally required to take the step as the only alternative to pts. Brilliant: he still barks incessantly all these years later, can't control him, can't control himself. But he is happy and joyous and loves life and I swear still does not know that he is "not barking". We somehow completed his basic obedience certificates at Croydon: I will say that the best instructor I ever came across even quite lost temper with him, he was so ignoring, so determined to have his way, so hard to get through that glass barrier: said instructor stopped short of intended reaction and had to leave the class. Quelle embarrassing!! Flyball training absolutely totally saved the day, he was never brilliant, not reliable but had little moments of glory peppered with frequently losing the plot. He finally picked up the behaviour/reward idea that could be transferred to other areas and built on. The final result is that he is (to me) the best dog anyone could have and worth the time it took, but yes it took lots of time. It gets to me when I see a lone pup in a glass box in a pet-shop. That lake would be a fantastic outlet for Rocky - take care - when I lived near it after re-construction of the park it was a hefty fine for off-lead dogs while they established wetland birds, it's probably more relaxed now. We used to drive over to Seaford for their swims, but with no re-call it was always heart in mouth for Rheneas. Understand all your difficulties with him Kirty, can only say that with our fellow the outcome is worth the heartache.

Helen it is very sad news about Bella. I'm slow off the mark this year, I blame being busy settling these three rather nervous new people into the family: 1/52 - creamy alpaca Hermione. 2/52 - chestnut alpaca Bambi and Collingwood-supporter alpaca Tia Maria.

And I will optimistically try again. Theme again the local area, (central Vic), and weekend markets. Gapvic, who is Rabbit Lady. Would she like some of ours?

Although I fell off the train in the first quarter, it has been great seeing all the photos for the year. Congratulations to all who finished the project, the quality has been so consistent and great to follow everyone's work throughout.

Same here Donatella - and Drewe's customer service has been outstanding I thought. The "value" is more than just the product but the experience. Like English Ivy I "do" Avon. The number of (non)customers who say oh that's all a waste of money is large. The customer who orders what is a very high-priced item (to some) gets all the feel-good value out of the delivery, opening the parcel, knowing they've indulged in something out of the every-day, maybe not quite right for them but hope springs eternal - and they will re-order because that is a great feeling - not because the product did or did not live up to hopes and expectations. Okay not a perfect analogy but I think near enough. How so English Ivy? The snowman looks gorgeous to me, love it (if mine, I'd not swap it away for the Avon Snowman which is a different purpose sure, and $60.00 batteries not included). Just now I am a tad distraught because the delivery of customers orders I should have received on Monday - by courier, usually fairly reliable - has still not pitched up by normal delivery time this Thursday morning! Tracking support negligible! Unmitigated disaster for me not meeting promised delivery to my customers and then expecting them to take the next brochure/catalogue cheerfully. There are ups and downs in every direct selling business, and yes all work on minimum margins - we all do our level best but you can't please all the customers all the time. I still think part of the value of buying something sight-unseen by mail order is in the feel-good excitement or people wouldn't keep doing it - we would shop in person counting every cent and never taking a chance.

You won't regret it Doberkids, we moved to small acreage (surrounded by massive acreages) three years ago. The dogs have loved it, absolutely and totally. We lost Piper our rotti. to bone cancer six months ago, but still she had so much joy from room to run and play compared to suburban life, it was worth the move just seeing her enjoy life to the full while she was able. Have to agree about well-planned fences being a must - although our three had always been "inside dogs" and nothing changed there: when outside they were supervised and they were never left home alone outside of the house. Frodo and Rheneas adore their daily walks around the paddocks, plenty of rabbits to get excited about, they are too slow to catch any these days but live in hope. Frodo has pretty much lost sight and hearing with age, but has a much better enjoyment of life with plenty of room to run about without injury risk than in suburbia - this is something you can plan space for because you have space - another plus. However a minus is distance from a vet (depending how isolated you are). Livestock has never been a problem, the ponies told the dogs who was boss from Day One. So did the goats, chooks and guinea fowl. The three dogs deferred to all of the animals but again they were never turned loose without supervision until they were solid and reliable around them. Setting up for failure is not good. Important to protect the dogs from injury as well as the livestock from being terrorised, especially sheep. A friend's dog "got out" and killed three of neighbour's sheep nearby recently. The farmer was generous enough to not take action further than saying "no third chance": if it is seen straying again that will be the end. Fair enough. And not the dog's fault, inadequate fencing is again setting up for failure, most farmers would have shot the dog without hesitation. Hope it works out as well for you and yours, definitely a best move from my viewpoint.

Gave me a real fright - just went out to do last thing check on chook-pens as there have been foxes around the last few nights. Looked up a saw a massive scary red glow on the horizon, heart sank, thought must be bushfire in the box forest towards Bendigo. Then realised it was an enormous red glow from the moon rising. The Moon is one of those really really huge red ones, just a day after full-moon so a good shape, and I guess the sky glow is through dust from the harvesting that's going on early in bone dry paddocks, no rain for ages. So it might not be the same everywhere, but worth a look out the door just in case.

Sympathy for Dash's owner, such a very sad loss. Not sure about the water treatment, snakes love water, frogs are their staple food, before mice even. The snake might side-step but think mmmmm nice wet spot to come back to. I haven't seen the big brown one camping under the quail pen for a few weeks, I'm hoping the guinea fowl posturing around have made it uncomfortable enough to move on. It's been a pain/nightmare managing the dogs because Frodo is now close to blind and deaf, but gallops around like a yearling pup. Both he and Rheneas have been struck at in the paddock by snakes and are both afraid and respectful which is good, but Frodo is losing the plot of being aware of his surroundings to keep safe. This snake (touch-wood) has never looked aggressive, just annoyed-nervous and wants to be left in peace. Last encounter I was leading a pony and stuck between the laneway fence and chookpen, snake was all underfoot, pony was expanding to Clydesdale size and weight, snake was all around at speed of light looking for the escape route. The upside is that the mouse population has gone down to about zero which is great, and they are no longer taking quail eggs or attacking quail hatchlings at night. Perrin that is a super photo, you can see all the power of it. Edit to add. - just saw your reply Catcher - thanks for the shadecloth advice - I was briefly thinking of bird-netting around quail pen when I was a bit desperate, for sure opted against it for all the reasons.

Aside from Kirislin's info that they are worth, well, nothing really. It may well work beautifully on a Pentax DSLR. But it might also stuff the electronics, so not worth the risk. Quite a lot of their old film-camera lenses are superb with Pentax and Sony/Minolta modern cameras. You can usually donate them to a TAFE for photography courses, as they are generally required to start off with film cameras - the TAFEs will take old SLRs for student use.

Or there's Sagelight that Persephone put some of us onto a while ago. Cheap if not free: okay with RAW and good to mark time with until you get Photoshop and Lightroom. Perseph had some nice before/after links for some Sagelight work.

It's "Moon Shadow" for us old Cat Stevens fans. "Blue Moon" sung by mice for Babe fans. Bad Moon Rising for CCR. They are saying it will be a great photography eclipse, the moon will be extra deep red for some reason I forget, more than usual. Nikon is out of action - I'll make a brave attempt with the Sony and a cheapy 300.

Total eclipse - worth looking out for tomorrow evening if the sky is reasonably clear, with or without cameras.

Congrats on the win, and even more so on having the get up and go to enter. Lovely jumping shots too. I cry for what has happened to the ag shows, Gruflife I know what you are saying re advertising, same everywhere, the same few tireder people organising their shows every year, can't do everything, or afford much. One of our local shows recently: no spectators, just competitors, unbelievable. No cattle or cakes or flowers or vegies shown, no-one to organise it. Just sad. And limited horse classes, no show-jumping. A poultry exhibitor said only 30 entries, used to be hundreds. All people want if they are going as spectators is side-shows, but they're not the spectators needed anyway. And the bigger sideshows that would be a draw for a crowd at least - they want a guarantee of 2000 tickets sold or they won't attend. So it's great that some of the ag shows are hanging on and doing well, but so many of them are finding it difficult.

Rest peacefully Casper. I am so sorry White Shepherd mom. We share your grief.

Perrin this is the saddest news, I am so sorry that you have lost Georgia. Much too soon, it's not fair. Thinking of you.

Thank you so much people for the words of sympathy and understanding. Still cry every day but it is only two months. The new apricot trees are blossoming around her resting place. Good girl Piper.

Nice Perseph - 'cheap' Tamrons are lovely lenses, not second-rate. A tripod or monopod is still the best friend. (I know, I know, nobody likes using them). Hey where the heck were you in one day to get outback kangaroos, formal blossom parks and gardens, and mountain sunsets???

Oh no Leopuppy, I am so sorry. I remember very well admiring Leo at Croydon (when Frodo was starting in flyball). Good days not forgotten. Rest in Peace Leo.

Rest in Peace my darling girl, love you always. Sadly missed, Piper could not battle an awful bone cancer, she was in my arms at the vets and given her wings on Monday. There are no words to say how much she was loved, how empty the house without her. Thanks to Croydon Obedience Club, and all the help from patient instructors to make our time together so much fun in the early days twelve-plus years ago. Thanks to the Ridgeback Club for the happy lure coursing days that Piper loved so much. Frodo and Piper were inseparable from the day we brought them home from the RSPCA, it will be difficult for him to adjust, I guess we cope because we have to cope. And plant her favourite shade and snack apricot trees in memory of a loving dog taken from us too soon. Piper. 2001-2014. Rest in Peace our dear friend.

And that would be without question the best most useful sentence in the whole thread. Libraries are free. The book is a classic, has changed the (photographic) life of several dolers. Because it makes the matrix understandable, lightbulb stuff.

Interesting. His work is terrific but if half of being a successful photographer is good marketing, he is also right up there. I think it sounds good value mainly if the marketing side has the same emphasis as the techy/arty side of things.

I'd say grab that deal if looking for something in that price range just now. I have the Sony A55, around four years old, and they are good to use with a good result. I am (or used to be) a Nikon bore, but have found the Sony does just about everything just as well in normal day to day use. Action, landscape, portrait. Lovely older Minolta lenses still fit them well, there is some quality used Minolta glass around very affordable. (Using sports pre-set will often stuff the image quality no matter what camera - increases the ISO so you get high noise/grain).

People do unpleasant, self-indulgent, self-important, sensation-seeking, totally inappropriate things in all walks of life. Photography does lend itself a bit, because it is an opportunity to do so without warning to a "captive audience" whether it's at a club meeting or on a forum. I think camera clubs in general condone a lot of fringe "stuff" because it's an arty-farty atmosphere in some respects and all members have to be catered for. And difficult enough to keep membership numbers healthy without a nanny approach. Gapvic this visitor has so overstepped the mark it is appalling. I hope the committee have the guts to take it well further and inform other clubs and have him ruled off. It's not a matter of being offended, but recognition of what is plain wrong on so many levels. His "no apologies" words are a chip on the shoulder admission that he knows it is wrong. There are wonderful, sensitive photographers doing the important very emotional work he has shown. It is a backwards step that one among them is so ready to break trust and devalue this in a public display.

www.rentalens.com.au a few people had used way back, but now that website seems to have a glitch. Don't have a phone No. Otherwise there's always Michaels on Elizabeth Street. Or try Camera House in Croydon, better to call there in person than telephone usually, they were helpful.

Tks all, especially Steve, just what I was after. So today they had about a dozen quail eggs (each). Happy faces. Except Frodo, he doesn't do egg shell, not even tiny ones, had to break his for him. He's now qualifies to be among the frail aged, so I hope upping his egg quota gives him an extra lease, and I'll work on the devious egg-shell feeding.