December 29th These Are The Days In My 'Hood

With an increase in temperatures (finally) upon us, and a lighter workload due to the holiday week, walks with Minnie have been occurring in the morning as opposed to the usual after lunch walk. Being a holiday week, there are more people out and about and when I got home, I actually realised what an interesting neighbourhood we have.

First off around the corner there was the house that I used to think resembled a creepy ghost house. Windows were never opened, and no inhabitants were ever spotted The elderly resident must have passed away, as there are now young people there. Windows are still closed (and it is a very hot day), but there are now cars parked on the property and I received a friendly wave from a young man mowing the lawns.

Further down the road to the newly painted house - a lovely grey and very similar colour scheme to ours - but the house is younger by a good 60 years. I managed to pass on my appreciation as to how good the house looked to the lady of the house, who was cleaning her windows. In return I received an appreciative thank you and best wishes for the New Year.

We couldn't go past Monty's abode (Minnie's canine boyfriend) without having a chat to Margaret and Selwyn, and catching up on their news, whilst Minnie and Monty smelt each others bums and were happy to see each other and chew the fat over what had happened in their lives since they last met.

Down the road from there and a hello to the Sri Lankan family, who were out front working on a fishing net! Mum was nowhere to be seen and I have had a couple of chats with her. They have only been in residence for 12 months and have planted a lovely garden and the house has been painted and spruced up since they moved in.

On to the Park, and half way along the green walkway is where an awesome big fat Ginger cat lives. I haven't seen him for a while - and today his captive owner was out front. I found out big Ginge is actually 13 years old and his name is Aranui.  He resides in the house with 4 other cats, and she is worried as there appears to be kittens on the way. Note to self... Crazy Cat Lady owns Big Ginge, but is nice to talk to.

On to our street... two little kids freewheeling their bikes down the hill - which to them was really big and steep (try our driveway kids and you will think again!).  They were waiting for their family who were out walking, to catch up. When they did I saw they had 2 vicious pit bulls with them. Fortunately they were on leashes, otherwise they would have enjoyed Minnie for breakfast. Or Minnie could have turned into a dastardly Ninja Dog and had them for breakfast - after all she is Super Dog in disguise.

Home and up the driveway (puff puff)... only to be advised by She Whom Is Suspect in the head and is a neighbour that there must be tomcats on the loose in the neighbourhood, as her chicken, which has just recovered from escaping and being kidnapped by another neighbour, has now been attacked by a tomcat.  The chicken may be near death and this is a great tragedy, but I was advised it was nothing some Manuka Honey couldn't fix.

Forget These Are The Days Of Our Lives... This is These Are The Days In My 'Hood!