Photos of me with some animals
I won't go into a big soppy thing about animals but I do love them.
I won't go into a big soppy thing about animals but I do love them.
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In the Summer of 1977, (the year Elvis died sitting on the bog, when Britain was being whipped up into Silver Jubilee-fever but my sympathies were definitely with the Sex Pistols' anti-Monarchy song) I spent four days with a circus touring Scotland. The only memento I have of that trip is a treasured photo of me with a lion cub on my lap, and my friend, Robbie the Clown.
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Me and Cokey (1989), a cross-between an alsation, doberman and whippet. Cokey was originally a puppy I had given my then-girl-friend in 1987, but for various reasons, it was decided I should look after her in my home....which was great because Cokey was a very special dog. One night, I was returning home with her and as I opened the car door, Cokey leapt out on to the pavement. A gang of drunken yobbos were staggering down the street towards us and one of them shouted aggressively "That fucking dog should be on a fucking lead!"
To which I replied as I was getting into my wheelchair "YOU should be on a fucking lead!"
"You what?" He shouted, advancing menacingly towards me.
"I said, you should be on a fucking lead!"
I knew I was asking for trouble by challenging this drunken young thug like this, especially in front of his mates....but I have never allowed myself to be intimidated, especially by bullies, whether they be police, soldiers or hoodlums. Besides, no one talks about my dog like that.
Anyway, just as the moron took another step towards me, Cokey suddenly came to my defence and went for him and started to attack his ankles, growling, snarling and biting. Well, this was too much for the cowardly lager louts and they started jumping up and down, yelling "Hey, call the mutt off!", frantically lifting their feet trying to avoid the snapping teeth. Cokey was relentless and the boys had no option but to turn tail and ran as fast as they could down the street. Tina and I had often wondered if Cokey would automatically protect us if the situation arose where we needed it....Well, now we knew we could depend on her.
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Another dog we had at the same time, was a cross between a collie and an alsation. We called her "Gizmo" because we obtained her from a Chinaman, and Tina's daughter, Madeleine had just watched the movie "Gremlins". And Gizmo certainly lived up to her name - she was very naughty and mischievous but very intelligent. However, this is something I have often noticed...the naughtiest animals are usually the brightest ones. Bit like humans, really.
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My last dog was a Chow (or Chinese edible dog....I wonder if that is where the word "chow" for food originated from?). She was lovely, looking like a cross between a golden lion and woolly bear. She was a dog I had to rescue and her name was Leonie. When I first got her, she was in a terrible mess....with an infected womb (she had to have a hysterectomy), her fur was nearly all gone, she was bad-tempered and she only had one eye. Given all this, it's not surprising she would get a bit pissed off with humans. However, after a couple of months with me, giving her lots of tender loving care, her real self came through...a warm, affectionate playful friend. I think she was special because she was disabled like me. Sadly, I had to find her a new home because I was always travelling abroad and for long periods. The new people were marvellous with her and loved her to bits but she died of a heart attack two years after I gave her away. You know, she still visits me in my dreams.
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I think Leonie was extra-special because she was disabled like me.....we were kindred spirits. Sadly, I had to find her a new home because I was always travelling abroad and for long periods. The new people were marvellous with her and loved her to bits but she died of a heart attack two years after I gave her away. It's amazing, many years later and she still visits me in my dreams.
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One of my ambitions was to visit Australia and I finally managed it in 1999. Here are a couple of pictures of me with a koala....
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....and with a kangaroo.
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Australia has a fascination for me because of Aboriginal culture
and the connectedness to the primordial living landscape,
which is still a feeling, breathing Mother to the indigenous peoples. Gaia, in fact.
© 2003 jinghiz53@yahoo.com