ducatirose
Stafford, UNITED KINGDOM
Hi, I was born in the sun in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.It’s a stunningly beautiful place. The people are wonderfully warm and friendly – always smiling! – even if they have nothing and a whole heap of problems… there is a marvelous feeling of positivity and joy which levels me whenever I go “home”.It is a truly fantastic country the “highlands” are very similar to Scottish Highlands with lochs and pine tree forests. Bulawayo has the most incredible sculptural rock formations where huge boulders balance precariously on top of a tiny boulder which balances on another huge boulder and so on rising meters up to the sky. You just watch for a while to see if a small breath of wind, or a bird sitting on the top, will topple the whole lot over! …They’ve been there for centuries so you’d be waiting a long time! You also find the “Africa” people think of … vast game reserves with all the menagerie of animals you expect to see on a Safari. There is also the “Smoke that Thunders” – Zim falls – which are in my opinion one of the “wonders of the world” that everyone should see at least once in their life time – just like pyramids and so on.I am not a political animal but I have to say this wonderful country just doesn’t deserve what it’s been going through over the last couple of decades. As with many things it is the minority who ruin the reputation of the majority. In this case it has never been so true!I have always been a bit of a loner and a bit of a weirdo; preferring the company of animals to people…until I fell in love with motorbikes and found the “biker” culture which appealed to me … “live life and be free!” – I have never fitted in before and it was a relief to finally find people who understood me! – I think differently from a lot of people or maybe I should say I have always expressed my weirdo and “koo-koo” ideas! … I suppose you could say I’m a non-conformist; I always have done my own thing!When I came back to the UK from Morocco a couple of years ago I remember feeling like i’d come from technicolour into grey and white !! What inspires me are colours, textures and the sun! I love images which make you see things differently. Something ugly becomes beautiful – that sort of thing – I have always taken and printed my arty (!) photos with an old Pentax camera – I did a couple of modules in photography and art/design at Uni; these allowed me to get the skills I needed to finally get my ideas into print – very liberating I have to say!. This Christmas Santa gave me a digital camera, and oh what fun! I take it everywhere with me now and am rather snap happy! I am still learning how to use the thing – I’m not very “techified” but am persevering and learning new stuff all the time.The last year has been without a doubt the worst year of my life. I wanted to foster a dog so I had someone to care for because I felt I was slowly losing my mind as well as everything else!I fostered a 3 year old staffie called Diesel – who was as f"^*ed up as me! – he came bouncing into my life and rescued me in 2 days. Being a slow learner; he patiently taught me the power of positive thinking and laughter – and within a week I rescued him back!Diesel has been in Kennels for over 2 years, desperate for a home and someone to love. He was abused as a puppy – is head shy, afraid of the dark and loud noises or people shouting. Diesel was very insecure and unhappy doggy for a long time; Pet Welfare saved his life and their knowledge of doggy psychology/ behaviour they have worked selflessly with this cute little man.I can tell you Diesel is now very happy. Slowly but surely he is re-gaining confidence and re-living his lost “puppyhood!” Most importantly he now has a home for life with his foster mummy – I adopted him! I feel so proud to be able to say Diesel is my doggy!The total unconditional love and support of my angels – both two and four legged – who have floated into my life at just the right moments this year – has motivated and inspired me to share our experiences, with the hope we can help someone who may be feeling like we did.I am writing an ebook which will be available soon – free – on Diesel’s Diary.com. Please spread the word for us. A percentage of any profits from the “hard” copy of the book redbubble stuff like cards etc will go to Pet Welfare who saved Diesel’s life and the Guide Dogs for the Blind who have been inspirational to me all my life.Thanks for looking, we appreciate any constructive crits and any thoughts or comments that will help us create something worth reading!Diesel and I send you love, hugs and waggy tails! xxx
