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Canine affection

Question:

All dogs love to be scratched, rubbed, etc, on their lower neck, around their chest area, between their two shoulders. This is the only place that they are unable to reach by themselves. You’ll find most will start to doze and will love you forever.

Answer:

Kellie Taylor, via e-mail.

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I destroyed his dream

Jeff, my boyfriend, was a very talented painter and was held in great esteem at our high school, where he had already won many awards. But it was the end of year arts festival competition that he wanted to win the most. The prize was $5000! More importantly, Jeff knew that winning would be the first step towards achieving his dream of one day being a respected and famous painter.

He started working on his entry months before the festival. He became obsessed with it. He would wake early to work on it, go to school, come straight home and shut himself in his room to work on it some more. At first I didn’t mind, after all I was always very proud of his talent and he knew that. But this was different. He had never been so obsessive about a painting before.

Soon I became tired of making excuses for his absences from parties and social events and I started to become angry that he preferred to spend hours in front of his painting instead of spending time with me. It quickly became a sore point between us. When I asked him to spend some time with me for a change, he would refuse and go back to his painting. I would complain and he would get angry. We fought about it for weeks.

Finally the painting was finished and Jeff took “the masterpiece” to school the next morning. That’s when I did it.

I went to the room where Jeff’s painting and others for the festival lay and waited until everyone left. Quickly I threw bright red paint on the surface, painting angry red streaks all over the beautiful eagle that Jeff had so lovingly and patiently worked on for months. Then I left.

I didn’t know how to feel. I felt guilty but gleeful. It served him right for ignoring me. That was until I saw Jeff’s face the next day. He was distraught and could barely speak. I tried comforting him, my guilt rising every time I looked at his shattered face. It’s only money, I said, there would be other competitions. It was then that he told me.

The winning prize was not only $5000 but also a fully funded scholarship to a prestigious arts school.

It took him a long time to recover from his disappointment and he stopped painting for months afterwards. To this day Jeff still doesn’t know the truth and I vow that he will never know that I was the one who destroyed his dream of becoming a famous painter.

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I sold my body to pay the bills

I am 29 years old. I have four children from my marriage, which ended six months ago when my husband decided he preferred the company of men. I always felt and stated that he was more like my best girlfriend than a husband and provider. Got to love those gut instincts!

As a high-profile couple within our small community, we made the decision to not divulge my husband’s homosexuality, to the point where he stayed in the marital home and just moved into the bungalow out the back of the house.

Our children are aged seven, five, three and six months. It was a struggle to keep the family financially afloat with my husband’s low income, even more so when he withdrew his paycheck from the household.

We made an agreement to share the parental role. He would stay at the home and take care of the children each weekend and I would go and stay with my sister’s family. After my share of the mortgage and repayments of my personal loans and credit cards, I wasn’t left much money for food or clothing. I just did not know what to do. I had exhausted all my resources and was facing bankruptcy. I felt like such a loser.

During one of the many weekends with my sister, I decided to go to the casino on my own. I felt very low and depressed — my self-esteem had taken the worst battering and I didn’t know how much longer I could go on like this.

I sat at one of the tables and watched a live band softly perform the afternoon away with beautiful jazz tunes and for the first time in a long while, I felt myself relax. It was then that a tall brunette woman sat down beside me and introduced herself as Jessica. She handed over a business card, which stated, “Quality Escorts For Discerning Business Men”.

She had beautiful and obviously expensive rings, earrings, and necklaces. I looked at her with envy. Jessica asked me what I did for a living and that’s when I relayed my sad and pathetic story. She looked at me with surprise, then told me I should work for her. I would make a pretty penny indeed, she said.

I have been told before that I am an attractive woman. My mother was a beautiful dark-skinned Italian woman and my father was Malaysian. I have been blessed with high cheekbones, olive skin and long, straight, dark brown hair.

I would almost have been offended if the offer wasn’t given so genuinely. Jessica said she only offered sophisticated and very attractive women jobs. I should think about it and give her a call.

Monday morning I was back home, faced with four children, a new influx of bills and the news that my ex-husband had met a male lover and the kids had met him. I rang Jessica and asked her when I could start working for her.

The following Friday night I made $800, then $600 Saturday afternoon and $1250 Saturday evening for a 15-hour escort service.

That was eight months ago. I still sell my “services” to pay the bills. It’s not so bad; the money is good and the clientele generous. I know my family would disown me if they found out, but a girl has to do what she has to do. I have decided to move to a different state when the children are old enough to work things out — by then I should have enough saved to buy a new life, a new identity.

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New puppy and older puppy

Question:

Hello,

We have just purchased a puppy who has just met his new one-year-old sister. They continue to fight and the puppy has become aggressive. How can we stop them fighting and stop the new puppy becoming so aggressive?

Thank you,

Laura, via e-mail.

Answer:

This is a very common scenario when puppies first come into contact with adult dogs. The puppy has not learned social skills or fully understood the whole “pecking order” thing (or has forgotten what his mother taught him). In most cases, the adult dog will tolerate a certain amount and then growl or snap to tell the puppy enough is enough. Remember that your puppy is learning all his manners and how to behave appropriately with other dogs. Socialisation is a good thing.

You only need to intervene if things are getting really violent or out of hand. It can be as simple as “sin binning” the puppy for five to 10 minutes if he gets out of control. I’d suggest that you see your vet so the dog’s behaviour can be assessed (he probably needs vaccinations or other vet treatment) and you can discuss these issues. Enrolling him in puppy preschool to mix with others and learn some obedience wouldn’t hurt either.

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Be positive!

Question:

Never, never call your dog and then reprimand him when he comes. He will associate punishment with the command to come to you and will hesitate to obey or refuse completely.

Answer:

Even if he doesn’t come immediately, reward him with lots of praise when he does come. Eventually, he will learn that this command means a positive outcome.

Sandy, via e-mail.

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Hair products

Question:

I have dry and damaged hair. Can you please prescribe a good shampoo, conditioner and treatment to use on my hair to make it feel softer and look healthier?

Tina, via e-mail.

Answer:

There are so many great shampoos and conditioners on the market. One of my favourite brands is the Kerastase range by L’Oreal. Visit a hair salon that stocks the brand and ask them for a consultation — maybe even get them to give you a conditioning treatment using the recommended products.

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Dark circles

Question:

No matter how much sleep I get I always seem to have dark circles under my eyes. I’ve heard this can be caused by dehydration but I drink quite a lot of water. What else could be causing this?

Leanne, via e-mail.

Answer:

Unfortunately, for some this is hereditary. There are a number of things you can do on a regular basis that will help to soften the darkness. Start by pressing grated cucumber wrapped in gauze over your eyes each evening before bed. Then apply an eye cream that contains vitamin K, which helps to fade dark under-eye shadows. Get hold of a great concealer that is very light in texture and has a pink tone.

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Great Christmas reading for children 2004

Santa Kid by James Patterson (Headline $29.95) Best selling thriller writer James Patterson turns his hand to writing for...
Wings

Wings

Santa Kid by James Patterson (Headline $29.95) Best selling thriller writer James Patterson turns his hand to writing for children with delightful results. The story of how greedy Vernon Ransom stole Christmas one year by roaring into town and buying the North Pole is a charmer with a warm, positive message and divine illustrations by the award winning Michael Garland. Wings by Carol Chataway & Declan Lee (Lothian $26.95) Very beautiful, unusual story about Saffy, whose parents leave in search of the rare Moon Moth. Saffy is grumpy that she has to stay with her boring old, thirty-something Aunt Joesa, until some very strange things begin to happen to Saffy and her life will never ever be the same. Pete the Sheep by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley (HarperCollins $24.95) From the same team that brought you the splendid Diary of a Wombat – one of my all-time favourites – comes this gorgeous Aussie tale about Shaun the shearer and Pete the sheep who has a special talent for finding out just what each sheep wants from their shearer. Original and hilarious. 30 Australian Ghost Stories For Children edited by Linsay Knight, illustrated by Gregory Rogers (Random House $19.95) This terrific collection of 30 eerie tales is all Australian and has everything, from the spooky to the sad, the silly and the funny. Contributors include Paul Jennings, Ruth Park, Emily Rodda, Andy Griffiths, Gretel Killeen and John Marsden. I Wish I had A Dinosaur by Ian Anggabrata with Mingga Anggawan, illustrations by Peter Sheehan (Scholastic $19.95) A gorgeous picture book, with the author, a six year old, wishing for a dinosaur. “Life would be so different with a dinosaur by your side. Then you would be braver, faster, stronger. You would climb higher, see further, sleep sounder.” I want one too! Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp by Philip Pullman, illustrated by Sophy Williams (Scholastic $29.95) It’s gone through hundreds of translations, been told in dozens of languages and for two centuries, been one of the best loved pantomimes. This is a re-telling of the fabled story with exquisite illustrations. A very beautiful book, worth collecting, even by grown-ups.

Wings

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Book reviews April 2005

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

by Lauren Willig (Bantam $29.95)

An American student, Eloise, comes to London to research a couple of historical spies and comes upon the trail of the most elusive agent of all, the Pink Carnation who saved England from Napoleonic invasion. A breezy historical romance, escapist and enjoyable.

My Beautiful Spy

by Colin Falconer (Bantam $29.95)

Set in the Balkans during WWII, there’s passion, politics and plenty of action in this adventure romance that centres on Nick, a British M16 agent posing as a British diplomat. Betrayal is rife and danger lurks everywhere. Nick falls for the beautiful, Jewish Daniela, but is she really a double agent working for him – or a traitor?.

Last Witness

by Jillian Hoffman (Michael Joseph $29.95)

Another gripping whodunit featuring courageous assistant state attorney, C.J. Townsend. Three years earlier Townsend saw serial killer Bantling safely put behind bars. She knew part of the technical evidence was faulty, but she also knew Bantling was guilty and ignored it. Now his case is coming up for re-appraisal after another series of murders in which the victims are linked to Bantling’s original trial.

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Clipping

Question:

My maremma has a really thick, long coat and I feel so sorry for her in the heat. Is it possible to clip her? I was told it should not be done.

Marlene, via e-mail.

Answer:

I get questions like this all the time from people who have been scared off clipping their pets by breeders or friends. The fact is, your beautiful sheepdog originated in Europe and that is why she has a thick coat. Dogs like this really suffer in Australian summers. As a vet I see a lot of heat exhaustion in these dogs, not to mention discomfort.

I would suggest that if your dog is not going to be a show specimen then it is fine (and responsible) to clip her for the summer. I have heard arguments regarding the coat acting as an insulator (which is certainly the case in winter), but all it does is trap the heat in summer. Dogs don’t sweat like we do; the only way they can lose heat is through their paws and by panting, so they really struggle.

Speak to your vet or visit a grooming salon and they can clip the body and keep the head, tail and feet furry. I’ve got a golden retriever whom I clip and not only does he look gorgeous, he is so much more comfy. Unless your dog is going to be in air conditioning 24/7, I’d say you are doing the right thing for your furry friend!

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