BEAUTY

She was beautiful. And she had a beautiful name. Riss. Riss was a German Shepherd and she was my boyfriend’s dog. I have known her ever since I met N and that was like four years ago. In four years, she had taught me what “unconditional love” is all about! Riss was already on her old age when I met her. She was suffering from hip displacement which she had when she was still a puppy. The vet said that she would not be able to survive to old age due to this incapacity. But she must have taken it so well that she reached sixteen years or 103 years in dog’s life. So there were no long walks in the parks or beaches, as other young dogs do. She was all 24/7 stationed in our previous flat and in our present house. She was a bit lonely and that was also the reason why N decided to take a companion for her. And that’s when CC the kitten arrived.

The first time that they met each other, Riss immediately took a liking to CC. But then CC being herself just hissed and scratched her. It took awhile for them to bond to each other. But Riss was very patient and caring and loving. Ultimately they became like mother and daughter. She taught CC many different things, like opening the cupboard, jumping up on the top shelf to get the catfood, drop it and then both of them would be sitting there ripping the bag up and helping themselves. Riss was named after German word “riss” meaning to tear or rip. But then, she has not really ripped anything except the food. By the way, she eats everything except mushrooms and lemons. She loves vegetables, fruits and whatever food you gave her. N said that when Riss was still a pup, she was very active and smart. She learned how to open doors even with the knobs and handles, bolt and locks. When she grew up to be a very big dog, she was very careful not to do the wrong thing. She put up a lot with N’s moods, and just being there all the time for him especially when his x boyfriend left him. She was always there for him. And so their bond was really very strong. She died of old age September of last year. During her last days on earth, she was suffering from weak bladder and arthritis due to her hip displacement. She could barely stand and she just stayed the whole day on her favourite donna.

This time, CC was there for her, as well…. It was a terrible day for all of us Riss has a very beautiful spirit and nature. A week after her death, we bought a big yellow cymbedium orchid and we called it Riss after her honor. Her spirit lives on forever in our hearts and minds....

CHARM

I consider myself very lucky to live in Melbourne – “the most liveable city in the world!” Indeed, I’m happy and proud! I remember when I was here for barely three months and living on my own in Caulfield, my old landlord who was a migrant from Italy said that this place for him is heaven, or whatever the word means (like - nirvana, paradise) …. Such that in conversations he asks his friends that if they want to send a letter to heaven, where would they address it to? answer: Melbourne postcode 3000! Well that is quite a statement! I still have to find my unique way of expressing my love to this place. It could be about my passion for flowers – it just peaked to the max! I am stunned by the variety and the quality of the blooms. It could be about Melbourne’s natural beauty that continuously turns me on. I would say Melbourne is a “big park full of beautiful flowers, trees, birds and people”. I could dare someone to show me an ugly spot, for there is none! I could endlessly sit on a café in Soutbank or in South Yarra for a cup of coffee while watching these native birds happily playing around you – oblivious to events and people around. It is pure magic ! I could find beauty everywhere and anywhere on a street corner, a lamppost, a stone on a street, a wild flower growing on a rooftop, a rising multi colored balloon early in the morning, fruit and flower stalls on Saturday market, a glass of champagne, flowers everywhere. This is like a dreamworld. But these are common experiences of the locals. I have yet to find my very unique way of articulating it. For now, I call it home. The following describes Melbourne very aptly….read on…. “There is much to love about Melbourne. Just ask the locals. This sophisticated world city in the south-east corner of mainland Australia inspires a deep passion in those lucky enough to live here. They love its vibrant energy, staggering choice of restaurants, funky boutiques, café-filled laneways, cool bars, unbeatable galleries, luscious parks and village-like inner suburbs, each with its own special character. Melbourne, a relatively modern city which is less than 200 years old, never sits still. New futuristic designs add to the fascinating mix of architecture and ensure the skyline is constantly changing. Melbourne is very much about lifestyle. It is no huge surprise to residents that their city has been named in an international poll as the world’s most liveable city. Melburnians embrace three things in particular: sport (Australian Rules football is almost a religion); fashion (the look is chic with a dash of quirky); and festivals (the calendar is packed year round). They even embrace their notoriously changeable weather. A standing joke in Australia is that Melbourne can experience four seasons in a day. But, really, it’s just another example of how they have it all! Sometimes, the best part of visiting a new city is when you unexpectedly depart from the tourist trail and glimpse the city’s “real” side. While the big attractions can be great fun, often it’s the more subtle “insider” experiences that leave you feeling really satisfied.

ATTITUDE

This is CC, our beloved baby cat. My partner N got her when she was still a baby from a friend who saves cats from the streets of Melbourne. The mother cat whose lineage we don't know, had three kittens at that time. In short CC is a moggie. At first, N liked the tortoiseshell kitten. The kitten which was later on called CC has grayish with snow white underlay. What distinguishes her from the others was her possessive attitude - a personality... and the diamond mark in betwen her eyes - She definitely got the look ! But CC chosed N and took his attention away by meowing and meowing until N said "oh poor little pussy... do u like to come with me?" .... So there goes the pretty story of our furry cat who was later on lovingly called CC after CC Babcock from the movie Beaches (Bette Midler). She is a bit of a Feral cat, and yet very smart. She could be loving and purring away like a princess. But definitely she's full of attitude. We have a dog before named Riss and she took CC as her baby too. (Now this reminds you of the movie Beaches, two people from completely different worlds, different sides of the coin but became close friends for life. Now what we got is a dog and a cat. They got along very well like best of friends and they even slept together like mother and daughter. Whenever we gave Riss her bath, CC usually stood by and watched her on the tub, like a child to a mother. But dare not CC go in the tub. She would just scamper away like lightning. So CC was raised by a German Shepherd named Riss (she passed away of old age last year and I'm gonna write something special about her later). Funny, she is acting like a dog sometimes. Now that Riss is gone, she normally sits on the doorway waiting for us to arrive, just like a loyal guard dog. Yes, she is a not only a cat with attitude, she is also a cat with an identity crisis ! On her own, she loves just lazing away in the garden especially at summertime...watching the birds, butterflies and flowers. Instinctively, she is a wonderful cat who just loves beautiful things and stuff. No, not for food... just enjoying them. One time, she caught a baby bird and brought the poor birdie inside the house... at first she was playing hide and seek with the birdie like an older sister .... but later on, I was just wondering what happened to the poor little bird. And oh, she is definitely raised well by two gay guys. Just observe how fat she has become. She only eats Pedigree. What a cat....Now that Riss is gone, she lovingly chooses to be in between N's legs when she goes to sleep at night. No wonder we don't get enough sleep sometimes! But she is our baby.... cat ! She got the attitude, the dramatics (that she definitely got from moi), the pride and the preening habits normal to cats, but very very dazzling in CC's character! And yes, I caught her one time, running on the hallway like a horse, funny cat!

FUN

This is one of the famous landmark of Melbourne. The Luna Park. Home to various fun and entertainment rides including ghost trains, ferris wheel, gravaton, spin around, and the big dipper. The pirate ship is one of the famous rides - which i would not go in even if I get paid a thousand dollars...because it really takes the guts out of your bare skin (well, that's how i see people after getting out of it)... N, my husband tried all of them in the past, and he said he just loves it.... well, he's such a child (at heart)! FYI, several got killed in the big dipper sometime two years ago according to my hubby, so this was dismantled. Anyway, if you want to have fun, a big laugh, and a big big scream eeeeeeeeeeeiiiiii... or simply letting go of it all .... you definitely have to go to the Luna Park! And after that, it is always a good idea to go around St Kilda Anyway, if you want to have fun, a big laugh, and a big big scream eeeeeeeeeeeiiiiii... or simply letting go of it all .... you definitely have to go to the Luna Park! And after that, it is always a good idea to go around St Kilda beach or a leisurely walk in Ackland Street, fabulous you !!!