JANUARY 2003
Friday 31 January 2003
This Website just won ANOTHER award!!!!!!  (Awards won by this website are no longer on display)

Here's the letter I received informing me I'd won the award.

Dear Award Applicant,
Congratulations, you won!
Katstorm and Co. is proud to present you with our web site design award. Your web site was thoughtfully reviewed and found to meet all of the necessary requirements to merit receiving our award.
We enjoyed your site so much that as a bonus your website will also be advertised in our weekly newsletter.
Again, Congratulations, well done!
Sincerely,
Katherine Cook
CEO Katstorm and Co.
http://katstorm.com

Tonight we'll be seeing the Divas play.  PawlJ will be up there performing - how EXCITING!!!

Been spending lots of time trying to get my new awards page looking how I want it.  Also updating the other pages so the awards page is part of the family.

Thursday 30 January 2003  (back to top)
I'm in trouble for discussing Mistress Hellen's health matters in a public place.  The doctor says it's not a guinea pig allergy at all and so I'm in even more trouble for reporting incorrect details.  Not sure what it is but, oops, I can't say more!

HOW about this HEAT?????  We all had our own block (BIG) of ice this afternoon.  Roxy's was (still is) a cooler brick wrapped in an old teatowel.  He seemed to like it, first sitting on it and then realising he could use it as a step out of his house and into the shower recess. 
I chased my block of ice around the kitchen floor, licking and shoving until my tongue and nose lost contact with the rest of my body.  Lay and watched it melt, having the occasional slurp until I realised it was no ordinary block of ice.  Mistress Hellen had placed 3 doggie treats right in the middle!!!  YUMM!!! Cold Nibblies!!!

Ooo!  Have lots of other things to write about but am too hot to concentrate.

Wednesday 29 January 2003
New sayings!  "As happy as a guinea pig in a box of shredded newspaper" and "As unhappy as someone with a suspected guinea pig allergy".  No prizes for guessing the players in that act.  Seems these allergies take a while to set in after regular exposure to guinea pigs.  It's amusing to sit here and say "STOP SCRATCHING" to a human instead of hearing it said to me.

I hope she's not allergic to Roxy - he's quite a little character and it would be a shame to have to move him on to someone else.  Watch this space for further Scratching Reports.

The show went very well and Terry Terrier rang for a chat.  The Festive Season music drought has broken and there was a lot of choices to make.  I'd forgotten how stressful that could be, shuffling CDs, reading wads of 'creative' press releases and sorting out what I wanted to play.

What's that?  Sounded like "the antihistamines are my friends" said through a glass of water.

Tuesday 28 January 2003  (back to top)
Another mystery in life.  Why does MS Word, when converting word documents to HTML, create inelegant syntax?  Well, WRONG syntax really.  Everything looks OK, but close examination sees incorrect formats.  That question can be stored with the one 'Why does Netscape destroy the time consuming elegant layout of HTML code when a page is saved within Communicator?'

Monday 27 January 2003 - Australia Day HOLIDAY !!!!
Weather better today.  Spent a lot of time converting long tape playlists to html format.  One of the playlists kept converting to three characters only.  Very mystifying.  Fine tuning what they then end up looking like is time consuming. 
 

Sunday 26 January 2003 - HAPPY Australia Day Everyone!!!!
Today feels like someone has turned on a giant hair dryer and aimed it at us.  Spent most of the day on the bathroom floor - Ahhh, nice and cool.

Roxy has become the latest waste of time in the house.  Watched Mistress Hellen make cardboard tunnels for him today (without the aid of any sticky tape!).  I pointed out that he never moves from under the kitchen bench anyway.  Apparently this might change if he has something to play in.  Far be it from me to disagree <rolls eyes>

Saturday 25 January 2003
Spent lots of time doing web page things.  Re-arranged my first page, converted all the 'Streamer Never Sleeps' playlists into HTML format - for easier loading. 

David from Blue Pop visits to assist in the fine tuning of the Blue Pop web site.  Not ready for consumption yet - but soon.

Roxy has settled in well.  Now that Cario has gone home he can have unsupervised daily floor time.  This is supposed to mean that he runs around and has fun but he prefers to sit under the kitchen bench and do nothing.  He's less hysterical than when he first arrived which is a relief. 

Friday 24 January 2003  (back to top)
Today is Mister Darron's birthday.  Realise that we are still a sticky-tapeless house.  More rather dubious resourcefulness from Mistress Hellen - coloured rubber bands to keep the wrapping paper in place for his present. 

Over to zeRellies for the Birthday Dinner.  Missus Elizabeth's harmonica is a hit with the family, everyone has tootled on it.  I guess this will make the next round of birthdays very easy - harmonicas for everyone, plus pre-paid lessons.  They'll end up like the Von Trapp family - have to think of an appropriate name for a harmonica band.

Missus E and Mistress H recall that Mister Missus E and Mistress H's Father used to describe harmonica ('moothie') playing as "blaw blaw sook sook blaw".  (Translation for those of you who do not understand Scottish - moothie - mouth organ; blaw - blow; sook - suck)

Missus Elizabeth demonstrates her self taught harmonica talent.  I must say she's made considerable progress in 24 hours of harmonica ownership. Notice that the way to stand seems to be important - one must turn out the knees and flap arms like a birdie.  When confident of the tune, foot tapping or stamping is required.  We imagine what her first harmonica lesson will be like.

Thursday 23 January 2003
!!*NEWS*!! MISSUS ELIZABETH has bought....a HARMONICA!!!!! - she is going to take lessons!!!
She rang and played some over the phone for us.  A Natural, that's for sure.

Wednesday 22 January 2003  (back to top)
No new music left out for me for the show so I use older material.  Some great new finds that I've not noticed before.  2RRR's office is looking pretty spiffy lately - new furniture and all re-arranged. 
Later: Visit 2RRR in the afternoon and socialise.  DJ Leigh* is there <dance dance dance> (those of you wondering why there is an asterisk after her name - well, that's the way it's spelt!!!)

Collect the rest of the uncataloged older CDs from at least 6 months ago.  Hundreds of them - will be fun  getting them all sorted. 

Visited Dilys so we could all go for a walk.  Discovered Chelsea has been at the beach all day and is now out and about with one of her humans.  Oh...we go walking Chelsea-less.

Tuesday 21 January 2003
Have been spending time trying to revamp this site.  Seen it lately on other computers and it looks a bit like it needs a holiday in the sun.  Seems especially dull and lifeless in light of the web site I've been working on for Blue Pop.  (those of you who have no idea who Blue Pop are will be able to know more once the site is published)

Monday 20 January 2003
Michael and Courtney here to pick up Cario.  Roxy is staying on with us because we like him and his amusement value to Courtney has dropped considerably.  However that doesn't stop Mistress Hellen giving him a BATH before the visitors arrive. 

Takes about an hour to round up all the Cario accessories - that's with all three humans and myself ferreting things out from under furniture, in cupboards and generally thinking hard about what should leave with him.

Mistress H is very pleased to say to Courtney "he's YOUR kitten" when he uses the litter tray in a spectacular way. 

Sunday 19 January 2003
Weather Report: it's cooler than yesterday.
Have noticed that not much is getting done around here that doesn't directly relate to care of kitten or guinea pig.  Michael rings and announces the expected arrival of the holiday makers will be Monday afternoon. 

Getting used to hearing "you used to do that" in regard to the stupid things Cario gets up to.

Saturday 18 January 2003
It's just way too hot today. 
Mistress H off to work leaving the three of us confined to different sections of the house.  Roxy has the bathroom, Cario has the back room and laundry and I have the rest of the house.  I'm so pleased she hasn't left me exposed to Cario - who treats my ears and tail like giant toys - and has a fascination for walking on the computer keyboard. 

Later in the afternoon I visit the man next door.  We sit in the air conditioned cool of his house and I enjoy a snack and a drink.

Friday 17 January 2003
3:00am - Oh what a beautiful morning - pity we're all supposed to be asleep or resting.
Last night Cario decided he didn't want to stay the night in the back room.  Hurled himself against the door for ages after he'd been 'put to bed' until Mistress H gave in and let him into the main bit of the house.  (she said it was more for the sake of Roxy - who is stationed just next to the back room door, and is nervous at the best of times)

Instantly he was up on the bed, getting in the way, then down and into anything lying around snuffling, rummaging and generally not being quiet.  I offered to sit on him but Mistress H said it probably wouldn't help the situation.

Eventually after much tossing, turning, fitful dozing alternating with general wakefulness of EVERYONE (including Roxy) Cario is finally convinced to settle.  Gee, Golly Gosh and it's almost 4:30am!!!

Later - Afternoon: We were napping this afternoon, myself, Mistress H and Cario.  Mistress Hellen recovering from sleep deprivation overnight.  Impossible to exclude Cario from the happy scene so we endure.
Anyways, Cario wakes and did that thing that cats do when they wake - stretch out their front legs, open their paws and just run their claws down whatever they're near.  That in itself isn't noteworthy - what IS noteworthy is that the 'whatever they're near' just happened to be a bare section of Mistress H's back that was peeking out from under her T-shirt.  Frankly, I don't think that's a good way to be woken up.  Mistress H agreed wholeheartedly once she'd climbed down from on top of the wardrobe.

Later - Evening: Cario much better behaved tonight.  Has settled reasonably quickly possibly because he wasn't fed until about 10 minutes before his bedtime.

Thursday 16 January 2003  (back to top)
Went to the celebration dinner for Kirsty's 20th birthday.  Caught up with Shadow and popped in next door for a chat with Ruby - she's a Poodle cross Maltese Terrier.  Very lovely colouring, sort of like vanilla caramel swirly icecream. 

I must say that after my paw in mouth with Roy's breeding (see earlier diary entry when I said he was a staffie cross and he's actually PURE BRED) I was very careful to ask Ruby her breed line.  This led to a philosophical conversation about what compels me to report the breed mix of my friends.  After all, I don't report what breeding lines the humans have.  Since I forgot to ask after Shadow's heritage, I shall leave it out. 

After the tummy upset of yesterday, Cario has regained his appetite.  Roxy is becoming less nervous and has been allowed to go free range in the kitchen with supervision.

Wednesday 15 January 2003
Oh Dear, seems Cario has a tummy problem, judging by the amount of vomit on the back room floor when Mistress H arrived home today.  Fortunately - not MY problem.  I wasn't left in charge of him and wasn't even able to get into the back room all day.  Since he hasn't eaten his breakfast, nor drunk his teeny allotment of milk, it's a mystery as to how he managed to produce SO MUCH of the stuff.  Hasn't slowed down his sense of adventure though.

Later: Watched as Cario sat on MY Command and Observation Post 1 and bravely told the birds outside that he was brave and strong and they should go away. 

Now this is a sight to behold.  As I type, this very minute, Mistress Hellen is sitting quietly - with a kitten on her shoulder.  Cario progressed from sitting at her feet, to next to her, onto her lap, climbed up her front - expecting to see him sitting on top of her head any minute.

Oh, No - he's abandoned her shoulder and he's coming this way, he's jumped up on theapapd fd a apsdp p8 wp9870q efwe f ds s;f 5544444444444444444454444444444444444444444444444445 

He's now getting the "Not on Tables" lecture!!!  * pause * Closely followed by the "The Sofa is NOT a Scratching Post" lecture.  * pause * What's this?  The "Venetian Blind Cords are not a Toy" lecture?

Ah goodie, they've left the room.  I think Mistress H is going to offer him some of that dry food stuff - because he STILL hasn't eaten anything.

Tuesday 14 January 2003
This afternoon Michael, Courtney, Roxy and Cario arrive with appropriate amounts of accessories and piffle. Roxy in his cage is put on kitchen floor, Cario is produced from the kitty box and everyone goes "Ooooo Ahhhh".  I am told by Mistress Hellen that I'm not to annoy, harass or in any way cause stress to either of these creatures.  Oh yea, like I'd get away with smiling at the world with Guinea Pig hair between my teeth.

Roxy, affectionately known as the furry housebrick, doesn't appear to notice the change in home environment and is installed on top of the freezer.  Mostly for his own good, because Cario (who has only been with Michael and Courtney for 2 days) has never SEEN Roxy before.  When the cage was plonked on the kitchen floor upon arrival, Cario caused much stressing to little Roxy by pacing around the cage, apparently just wanting to know what this blob of fur was.

After Roxy was removed from the floor, Cario went and made himself at home on Command and Observation Post 1.  WHAT A CHEEK!!!!!
 

Monday 13 January 2003  (back to top)
Baxter the Beagle has gone home after his stay with Michael and Courtney.  We didn't have the time to go and see him but Michael reports he's just as destructive as ever.  This time at least the water bed was safely behind a door that now stays shut.

MEANWHILE - Michael has bought a cat for Courtney.  Courtney already has a Guinea Pig.  Michael and Courtney are going away holidaying for a few days.  GUESS who has offered to look after this livestock while they are gone??? 

Sunday 12 January 2003
We've been sharing our walks with Chelsea and Dilys.  Chelsea's humans are away at present and Dilys is the substitute human.  When we were out and about, Chelsea grossed out the humans by eating a big bit of another dog's poo.  I told her you don't do that when humans are watching.  In fact, if you want to be thought of as a civilised canine - don't do it at all!!!!

After the walk tried to teach Chelsea about GLASS.  She must learn that when something yummy is crawling on the glass, first determine which side of the glass it is on before hurling yourself at it.  Saves a lot of nose squashes.  She's young - she'll learn.

MUST split this page in the next few days.  Just getting too long.
 

Friday 10 January 2003
Shamila visited!!!!!  She will be returning to England tomorrow - her time here has gone so quickly.  We never did get on over to where she's staying to see Kai the Golden Retriever.  Oh Well, maybe next time.

I played her some of my new favourite music and also some of the Christmas Show I did with Terry Terrier.  (a big thank you to Terry for providing that recording of the show)

We told her all about WARD "C" and showed her the photograph, played the music and extolled its healing qualities (see earlier diary entries!).

Speaking of WARD "C" I have received a great email from Doctor Apollo, quoted below!!!

Hello hello our favourite Space Beagle! 
<big pats, ear scratches & cuddles>

Dear, dear Streamer, you are a global treasure of the highest calibre!  Just browsing your excellent website (as we periodically do, must have our bare minimum weekly diary fix) and immediately reported your January 1 playlist to The Wise Ones.  Airplay in the first half hour of the New Year ... HAS to be the first WARD "C" radio transmission of Y2K + 3 ... you absolute champion! 

May your bones be plentiful and may they all be meaty and juicy (unless you happen to be one of these new-age tofu consuming canines, in which case I retract the previous affirmation utterly) and your kennel ectoparasite-free throughout 2003.  Until next time, 

<parting scratches & stroking>

Thursday 9 January 2002  (back to top)
Visited zeRellies and stayed with them while Missus E and Mistress H went off to the shops for a few items.  A great adventure for both of them since neither are TRUE SHOPPERS.

While they were gone I visited Roy down the road, who is a cross staffie bull terrier something.  He's very funny - one of his habits is wandering around with his favourite food bowl in his mouth.  We ran around and behaved like we didn't have a brain cell between us - lots of fun, I recommend it as something to do when the weather is mild (as it was this evening).

Work on the web page again at night.  This diary page is getting too long again, time for a split (soon).

Wednesday 8 January 2003
Quoting from my Guestbook....

Date: 08/01/2003
Name: me again
Email Address: None
Referred By: Too Complicated to Explain Right Now
Comments: come on................. is that all that happened till the 6th?..... 

There, that's that out of the way.

Now, where was I. 

Mistress Hellen had a day off work today so we set out and visited Neeve at a house she's minding for a few days.  She and Mistress H lounged in and around the pool while I and the resident dog laid around on the tiled floor.  It is such a hot day!!!! 
Resident dog is blind (and very old) and I kept having to scramble out of the way when he went walkabout.  I just didn't catch his name and I didn't want to ask again.  Asked Mistress H on the way home and she didn't catch the name either.  Ooops.

Very enjoyable day except for the heat and the drive home in the big storm.

Tuesday 7 January 2003
Been playing with my web pages - want to make it easier to view my playlists.  Finding out just how frustrating TABLES can be.  Haven't managed to produce anything pleasing yet - but I will, I'm SURE (eventually). 

Still haven't typed up last week's playlist.  I will do it tomorrow.  Think I'll also spend a bit of time figuring out what I've been doing with my time - apart from going in circles with my planned web page changes.

Monday 6 January 2003  (back to top)
Seems I've had a busy week although I can't think of what I've done.  I haven't even typed out the play list for last week's show. 

Now what did I get up to? 

We've been practicing our tap dancing again after a bit of a break.  Out of condition, that's what we both are.  Sore legs, feet and paws all around - and that was without any treading-on-each-other incidents.

The computer had a seizure again the other day.  This time it was a different problem and there didn't seem much hope for it.  Very worrying few hours until it was coaxed back into life again.  Plans are afoot to replace.  As much as it is loved - it is very old (in computer years) and too many things are "a bit dodgy" (quoting Mistress H).

Wednesday 1 January 2003 * NEW YEAR's DAY *
Don't know where the last few days have gone.  Have completely lost my usual routine, which I'm sure I'll find eventually.

Last night we visited zeRellies for a while before heading home so Mistress Hellen could rest up.  She eventually gave in, declaring that resting while the world was partying hard was impossible.  Set off early for 2RRR and arrived just in time for MIDNIGHT!!! 

Phil was there doing a 3 hour show - a great show I must say.  He's done great things since arriving at 2RRR.  After he'd finished the show he went off to also record a new long tape for the station.  He gets my nose nuzzle of appreciation!!!

Terry Terrier came along to be on the show again.  After the show I put on the new tape recorded on Boxing Day. 

Later: Spent most of the day pootling around quietly and enjoying myself.

The Beagle Diary
A fascinating (perhaps) insight into Streamer's life with and without Mistress Hellen.  The diary is updated frequently.