It's been raining for almost a week

Kramer does not like rain. When he has to go out for his ablutions he treads tippy toe on the wet grass and "goes" under a wheel barrow. I think he also "holds on" as long as he can - and then it is quite a rush.

Since he did pee in the house some months ago after he came back from kennels with an infection he's maintained his good standard in the house - but sometimes it does become urgent for him and he runs back and forth and pushes us to make us take notice of him.

We are getting a new lounge suite -beautiful black leather - and of course he will not be allowed on it - we are wondering if we will give him one of the old (current) footstools to use. He likes being up close and personal - and at the same height as us, so it is a possibility.

Somehow he is always in our considerations.

Kramer and the Lord Mayor

There has been much foreshore development along Wynnum Manly - and on Sunday the Manly end was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman.

The Lord Mayor used to have dachshunds so he told us as he patted Kramer on the head. Kramer loves public events as everyone wants to pat him. "Isn't he cute" is the mantra, and he quite happily snuggles up to anyone who says nice things to him.

Kramer didn't want to walk - "What? Get my feet wet?" - but how does a dog get exercise if he is carried everywhere? And he gets heavy after a while.

So we "forced" him to walk. With the rain he got wet paws (how Kramer hates that!) and a wet "undercarriage" and sulked for the rest of the day.

Kramer and the dogwash.

The weather has been cold for sometime and every occasion we want to bath Kramer, it is bitterly cold, so he's been a bit neglected re his bath time.

Today we took him to a "Dog Wash" at the local produce stall. The girls are there every Saturday morning and there is a row of seats. When one arrives one picks up a number and everyone waits in turn. As it happened today, there was no one waiting. Kramer does not every enjoy his bath - he tolerates it! They did dry him a little with the hair dryer/blower, but he was a bit damp underneath when he arrived in the centre of town. It was a bit cool, and he stood shaking like a leaf.

We bought a new towel for him, and towelled him off a bit more, and the shakes stopped.

When he arrived back home shortly afterwards he went straight to his cushion and has been dozing there every since. He smells nice - and we know he is clean but he gives us a look as if to say he is really miffed about it all.

He'll forget by tomorrow.

Kramer missed me

I've been away for five days - a visit to family in Adelaide. Kramer was in the car when we went to the airport, and he was surprisingly there to greet me when I returned. And he's been a bit sooky - wanting to sit on my lap all the time. I don't mind for a while, but it does tend to get too much. He won't move. He hugs my lap - but at times i just have to put him on his cushion or "the mat" as we call it.

Sooky Kramer

Is it the cold weather? Perhaps his arthritis? In any case Kramer has become a bit sooky of late. He'd rather sit on our lap - and he seems to want to do it 24/7. He must be close to us.

Typical dachy though. They just love their people.

For the most part we don't mind, but there are times when it isn't convenient, especially as he nuzzles into our hands and insists we pat him. Constantly. It gets a bit much.

And when you try to remove him - he just "digs in". As if he could say "I'M NOT MOVING" and it takes a good bit of effort to remove him.

He's such a good happy fellow though!