When Guy died earlier in January, Larry plummeted into a life of quiet aloneness.  He stopped making guinea pig noises and would sit for hours totally still.  I guess considering he spend almost every day of his 5 years with his buddy Guy, losing him would have been earth shattering to the poor little dude.

P also had a lone guinea, Rusty, whose own friend died about a year ago.  So there seemed an easy solution and when TnT came over for dinner last Wednesday night they brought a little box with holes in it that contained Rusty.  Cliff put Rusty into Larry’s cage and they quickly introduced each other.

It has now been almost a week and both are very happy.  They eat together, sleep together and are both making all the proper guinea pig noises again.  Today is Australia Day 2010 and the boys are enjoying their daily feast of freshly picked grass, lettuce, carrot, cucumber and a bowl of rabbit mueslie!

Cliff and I have been living at the farm for the past 3 weeks while Sheldon & Caitlin are at their mothers.  Shimi absolutely loves the property and runs around the paddocks and quickly discovered the dam.  She has been going in for a swim several times a day and more when it is hot.  Sometimes she just stands in the water with a stupid look on her face but other times she swims laps backwards and forwards across the remaining muddy water.  She gets out wet, soggy, muddy and looking very pleased with herself.

Then, she sneaks back inside and sits on her bed - still wet, soggy, and sandy!

Guy

On Thursday, 7th January 2010, Guy passed away.

Guy joined our family (along with Larry) on 2nd February 2005. Guy had lived a charmed guinea pig life with our family being fed not only a yummy pellet and rabbit mix with grains and lucern but also a daily diet of fresh veges.  His favourite vege was Chinese Veges (Bok Choy) and he preferred it if you pulled apart the leaves.  He loved Cucumber, apple and carrot sliced and celery sticks immensely…..but, by far, his most favourite food was grass… and lots of it!

Guy leaves behind his guinea pig friend Larry.

Shimi at Avalon

Mahli and Shimi

We’ve had to wait until Shimi had her vaccinations to be able to take her anywhere because Parvo virus has been prevalent this year.  We headed down to the beach house on 28th December.  P&R, J&R, & TnT where already there.  Mitch, Sheldon & Caitlin came with us and Beth joined us for one day (before flying out to Canberra with Eila on New Years Day.  Eila turned 16 on New Year’s Eve.

So, Shimi saw the beach for the first time.  We knew she would LOVE it because she just loves water (of any kind) so much.  She loves the hose on, or the sprinklers, and sat on the black slide up at the farm with the kids wizzing down it this year.

Some dogs can’t dog paddle straight away but Shimi had no such trouble

Shimi loves water

and swam back and forth with

Cliff shows Shimi a shell

ease.  Having never been on a lead before we were amazed that she took to it quickly and just walked calmly at our side.  She was fussed over by everyone on the beach and said hello to every dog she saw.  She chased Mahli round and followed her up to Mahli’s favourite limestone caves.  Both dogs walked over the uncovered reef.

We took the pups for a walk twice a day and Shimi slept for hours afterwards exhausted, but very happy!

J&I, V&R and Luke, J & C came down to the beach house for New Years and V,R,L & C stayed over night.  Once they’d left we decided to stay another couple of nights before heading home.

Favourite reef bit

Mahli shows Shimi the caves

Shimi and Mahli Nov 2009

An angel when asleep!

Shimi is growing fast.  Mahli has decided she is not so bad and occasionally plays with her.  Shimi now has a size and weight advantage and sometimes decides to smother Mahli.