An Island Off an Island

Hi Friends,

Ruby here to wish you all a merry Christmas. Things are feeling quite celebratory here at ‘Wainui’, Dad has made the pudding and the cake; presents are secreted away; and the tree is groaning under the weight of decades of decoration collecting, many of which dance provocatively when the doors to the deck are open, and a breeze enters the room. It is of course the dancing decorations which have bought me undone and yes, my holiday season is off to a rocky start!

It started last week when the tree went up and, in a moment of inspiration, M&D decided to place it in a different spot, just inside the doors onto the deck. This necessitated moving my chair, not that I am complaining, the view from my new position is excellent and includes a panoramic perspective of said tree. I suspect you can guess where this is going! In a moment of weakness when M&D were otherwise engaged, I slipped off my chair and sampled a rather large felt ornament that had been calling to me for a couple of days.

M&D didn’t notice the theft until I regurgitated half of it in the early hours of Saturday morning. Sadly the other half remained inside my tummy and by Sunday morning I was feeling less than well. By now regular readers know the drill. I was bundled into the car and driven to the Animal Emergency Service at Moonah where I spent the day. Mum got to be there too, quilting quietly in the waiting room and making lots of new friends, many of whom had pups who had similarly eaten something while ‘home alone’. Having been here more than once I felt quite at home, and was a model patient.

In the end it was agreed that I should stay overnight before being transferred via pup limousine to my own vet, Tasmanian Veterinary Hospital in Kingston, where I was monitored before being discharged in the late afternoon. I used the opportunity for a catch up with my friends there, especially Sheridan. Oh, in case you’re wondering M went home on Sunday night, she didn’t have to sleep in the waiting room at Moonah.

Back on Bruny now and very weary. I have to have four small meals a day ( can’t complain about that) and be watched carefully. I had enough strength this morning to shred a cardboard box in preparation for doing the same to wrapping paper on Thursday morning.

Thank you to everyone who looked after me at Moonah and Kingston, you are the best.

Love to you all. May you have a great Christmas and a bright and shining 2026

Rubes (& her M&D)