Post with Punjab in it lots

Been back from Kruger for a few days now, but dad ran off with the laptop to Mozambique, so here is your Kruger update!

And btw, the absolutely perfect Punji is helping me with this, his input is highly valued. He seems a bit upset too  :(

We literally saw EVERYTHING except wild dog while in the KNP. Saw the big five, including a fantastic leopard sighting. He was on the opposite side of the river from the perimeter fence at Sirheni, followed him the whole way along it. My other mother also saw one, but it ran off before we could ogle. Managed to see two cheetah too and a pair of mating lion. Was convinced for a few hectic seconds that the female was about to jump into the Landy through the very open window.

Now if that isn't a better wake up than an alarm at 6:30 in the morning I dunno what is.

Saw another pair, this time two young males stalking a buffalo herd, they sat right on the road in front of us for a while, as did the others, before disappearing back into the bush.

Now was was REALLY annoying was that I was in the back of the landyDiscovery with my brother and his friend, Ellie. Now we decided it'd be fair to switch around each day so everyone had a turn at the window, or in the middle.

Apparently the landies and the Discovery are different, not quite sure how.

Punji has some vital input at this point:  *lick*

Thing issue is, Ellie likes to sleep, to the point were it's bordering on narcolepsy. So therefore, whenever he was at the window, he fell asleep.

YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH PEOPLE!!

I wasn't a happy bunny.

Punjab seems a bit melancholy. He wants your hugs and kisses. Really, he thrives on them.

Seriously.

Took him and Sparky, the other dog for a walk today, cleverly deciding to depart for out hour's excursion at midday.

I tell you, carrying a fully grown Staffie who has decided he's too tired to walk isn't amusing. He very quickly got placed back on the floor, poor boy. Even Sparky, how normally races around the bush at 100kmph was barely managing a slow trot by the end, I really felt like an abusive human being, Punji was still panting half an hour after we got back. He went and hid under the side coffee  table indoors - double the shade!

Poor doggie.

My maid made me a mountain of pap today for lunch, she offered to do it whenever asked. It makes me happy.

I can never find fault with her again.

Also convinced my stepmom is about to have a stress related heart attack, went with her to work yesterday. Wasn't even time for us to have a chat, until after 5.30.

Oh! More dog related news! Punji and Sparks got into an argument, Sparks' ear got a little rip and he bled EVERYWHERE all day and night. He had a silly looking bandage all over his head, I will admit I laughed.

ALSO! Did you not the fuzzy brown bit of a coconut is inside a solid green bit? The green bit of our's is now highly decorated and pretty.

Feeling antisocial sat here on the computer, and punj wants a lie down. Also need to call my mother, so bye.

At least I updated!

Arrival

That journey was awful!! Left my house at 3.30pm on Monday and arrived at the other house at 3 am Wednesday L

Yay for a 7 hour stop over in Dubai. What made it worse was that I was travelling with two fifteen year old boys –the things they talk about in public! And loudly too, I got quite embarrassed tbh

Think what made the whole thing worse was the sleep deprivation, probably got a handful of hours worth during that time :/

I met the new-to-me kitten! She is LOUD. All the time it’s FEED ME! Especially when she has food already. If you look at the Little One, you’re obviously intending on feeding her.

And I’m going to have to amend the drawing of Missey, the one I did for my next instalment of the pet-related posts. She’s gotten fluffier! Not much bigger though, but all the fuzz makes it look like she has tiny fat legs. And a mane, she has one. :p

I was oddly unenthused by the mediocre welcome gained from the dogs, but apparently they were jut tired too, as they make up for it thoroughly a little later Wednesday morning, so all was good.  

We’ve had my older brother stay with us over the past few days, resulting in a very full, busy house. Going into Kruger for 6 nights from Sunday, which I’m realllly looking forward to, Love the kruger and the fact we’re going for so long is amazing!

Only been here a few days, so not got much to say, sorry.

Oh, and is it just me or has facebook been a bit dead the past few days?

It's July already?!?

How did that happen?! O.o

Currently lounging outside with a drink waiting for the braai fire to be cool enough for the meat to go on, watching the ponies in the back field.

Today was hilarious! Went into Liverpool with my friend, and met a drunk, redheaded Irishman called Patrick! How stereotypical can you get?! Needless to say, I had to control the giggles :)
Also finally got round to buying some massage oils, which I'll hopefully test out later. Also went into a very,very full, epic vinyl shop that reminded me soooo much of my stepmom, just couldn't remember what she had/didn't have :/ Sorry, but no amazing presents for you as a consequence.


One the subject of Bristol's vet school, mentioned in the last post, I adored it! It was everything I expected and more, definitely made up for the let down that was Liverpool. Can really see myself going there, as with all the others really, not sure how I could choose!
Well, I do have my favourites, but not saying incase any university people see this and remember it and get iffy due to the fact they aren't on top. If you are a university person, which ever one is yours, if my favourite, just as you're reading this.

Last week I was at the amazing course that is Vetsim, held at Nottingham university. I not only held (part of) a 11ft reticulated python, but also an adorable, cuddly little skunk. I'm told they make good pets :)
Also got to fly a kestrel, and hold several larger and HEAVY birds of prey. There was also a three week old baby snowy owl, that consisted of 100% unadulterated Fuff. With a capital F (as you see).
Also thanks to this course, I'm now a qualified marine mammal medic, so if you're on the beach with a stranded cetacean, or wounded seal while I'm there, you have to listen to me. Even if I'm mean.
Why you ask?
I have power!
Well, the membership card somewhere in the post does anyway.

Now, the reason for this blog's existence is so that who ever is not on the same side of the world as I am, knows what I'm up to. Now as I'm initiating the location switch tomorrow, thought I'd get that point out there, and post the link on FB for everyone who wants to, to access.
Will also hopefully up the number of people watching. HINT!

Also theoretically means family on the destination side have a bit more of a clue what happens, as by the time I call them, I tend to have forgotten. D:

Now let's hope I remember to update!

Open Days

Well, dear, beloved, treasured etc readers, as mentioned before, when I'm all big and grown up, I'm going to be a vet. This means University. Which is scary.
Just so you know.
In March I went to an open day type thing in Edinburgh, which wasn't a proper open day. It was Edinburgh just showing off their snazzy, very,very shiny new vet school.
It was REALLY Shiny. So needless to say, I was impressed, so much so that it confirmed the passionate  ambition of my 10 year old self, that was to attend this esteemed institution.

Yesterday I went to Nottingham, where I did an ultrasound on a rather hairy dog. Yes, me, an ultrasound. I saw it's heart move and it's aorta (or the vena cava?)  because I put the gel covered sticky thing in the right place. I felt AWESOME. I have power. Fear it.
They also let us loose with curvy needles and fishing twine. As implied, it did not go well. All in all, it as an epic day, and I really liked the campus and the course, not just because they let us play with the toys.Nottingham is renowned  for having a highly practical course; in which students are handling animals and famliarising themselves with basic procedures from the start. This is a major selling point, and most definitely the reason for Nottingham's popularity, despite the relative newness of the vet school.

And then, today, there was Liverpool.
Which, despite having a reputation as one of the best Vet schools in the country, didn't thrill me. At all.
The hospitals out at the Leahurst campus were nice and all that, but they just lacked the 'wow' factor. Then there was the faculty buildings in the middle of Liverpool, where you spend, pretty much, the entire first three years. It is not only grimy and in desperate need of refurbishment, but they admit that there are now too many vet students for it to contain. While they are trying to introduce a new curriculum, it's entirely possible they will not be able to by the time I start, meaning that I'd have to go through an antiquated course with little 'hands-on' experience until the fourth year.
It wasn't only the vet school that looked like it needed a bit of a scrub and update, but all the student union buildings and several others as well.
In fact, even though Liverpool was always going to be a fall back, I'm so un-awed by it, I'm doubting whether I'll apply at all.

Next week is Bristol! Really looking forward to it :)

Now I do promise I will finish the series of posts on my pets. Really.

I also promise to (at some point) do a post on Schistosomus Refluxus calves. Like my Penrose Drain post it will contain lots of highly scientific diagrams.

I love the smell of leather

Especially when it's just been polished. Sat on the stoep and polished my riding boots until I forgot how many times I'd done it. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy doing it.

My other favourite smells are wood smoke, cigarette smoke, the smell after the first summer rain, where everything is all fresh and clean as well as the smell of my dad's workshop. Although I imagine most autoelectricians'/mechanic's workshops smell the same, his is special.

This blog doesn't actually have a point, but I forgot to do one on friday.
Taxis cost a lot, just so you know.

*thinks of something to say*

OH! I ordered a Poets of the Fall hoodie and it should be here sometime this week, can't take that long to ship things from Finland right? I love this band so much it isn't funny, my best friend and I were planning to drive up there, to Finland to go and see them at some point. Considering relationship with said friend, that is no longer a plan. Although I have other friends, so it's okay.

I WILL see them live :)
One day.

That smilie face looks a bit odd, to me anyway.
Ermmm....
The week after next I'm getting my Marine Mammal Medic qualification, so will go be able to rescue whales from the Thames and things. They'll actually ring me and ask for help. How snazzy is that? Really amped for it. The idea of mucking about in the sea this far North doesn't thrill me on the other hand, but I suppose I'll survive, won't I?

Running out of general rambles here, or at least interesting ones.

EDIT: Will people please tell me when I make spelling mistakes? This has sat out there on the internet for however long and no one mentioned that this wasn't 100% correct. Rather annoying to tell you the truth.

Penrose Drains (with diagram)

A lot  has happened since my last post, well, I think it has.
When was my last post?
What was it about?
O.o

Well Saturday I did my volunteer work with the kitties at a RSPCA  cattery :) Which was great, as always. I LOVE cats, really. They're so fluffeh and sweet! Will do a blog on all 5 of mine soon - with illustrations!
The next day there was a fete type thing at the cattery, were I was nominated to sell the dog food >.<
Yes, dog food, at a cattery. No cat food. At all.
Maybe a couple boxes.

So, in summary, I spent my weekend cuddling unwanted felines and eyeing up the St John's Ambulance.

Now, onto the main feature of today's blog:
Blog day will normally be friday, but not this friday as I'm at a party. YAYYYYY!
*dances*

That wasn't the main feature.
This is:
When I'm all grown up, I want to be a vet. Due to how competitive getting into vet school is, and all the requirements you need to get in, I am currently doing work experience at a rather cute, small, country practice.

Today a lop came in with a large  lump. This lump was actually a pus filled abscess, which had already been lanced once. The vet re-opened the first cut, and made a second. This made sense, more really, really smelly pinky fluid could drain out of two holes, than could drain out of one.
Then, it got weird.
The Vet took a piece of (sterilised) rubber tube, and threaded it through the holes, before tying both ends together in a knot. At this point, I will admit, I was like WTF?!
Apparently this is called a Penrose Drain.
Now, for the promised diagram:

and finally after all of that, it's tied in a pretty knot.
It's not really pretty. Looks a bit gross to be honest. The drain (from what I gathered) gives the fluid something to run down, aiding drainage, as well as inhibiting healing, so the wounds will stay open for longer.
It's something I found rather awesome, so thought I'd share.


Now, sensitive audience, it doesn't look as gruesome in real life as my diagram makes it appear. Seriously.

Also, apologies for the lack of a lump in the illustration, I felt it would make my bunny less aesthetically pleasing.

I also sat my AS level unit 2 Physics exam on monday. Just in case you were wondering how I found it, it was pure, unadulterated evil. It was put together by some manic, sadistic demon.

I'm off, to go find fodder.
Wishing you many felicitations :)

My Babies, part I

Think it's time to tell you about all my children, there are a lot of them at the moment with makes me happy. I was originally going to have a loooong post about all of them, but not only do i want to keep you in suspense, but also think you'd get bored.
 I'd also, more importantly, get bored writing it.

Firstly, there are the chickens. They're newest and there are four of them, they all came from a yucky battery farm and looked a bit worse for wear at first. We only meant to get three, but they had some at the adoptiony place that didn't have home, so we got extra!
This caused an issue though, as I, using my immense powers of intellect, had decided to name the birdies after the PowerPuff girls, but the extra one presented a dilemma. In the end it was christened Henri. Just because.