Family reunion

M found an al fresco wine bar at a newly opened development along the river that has eateries downstairs and posh apartments upstairs. The wine bar welcomes dogs to the extent of setting out water bowls for them, and for food, you could order from the neighbouring restaurants, some of which we had eaten at before. Perfect place for getting all the dogs and their people together.

L and I had a rocky start getting there in the first place. We weren't going to drive, not if we're going to be drinking, so decided to take a taxi. Instead of using the automated booking where the cabby will not be informed of any special requirements such as two dogs, we decided to book through the operator, who will key in the dog information so that anyone who didn't want dogs in their cabs wouldn't pick up the call. We've had cabbies who responded, only to refuse to take us when they saw a dog. At that time, it was one dog. Now, its two. Not surprisingly, we couldn't get a cab. The two dogs addendum must have scared them all. The operator said there just wasn't any cabs in our area for a driver to respond. Which I knew was bullshyt because there's always a rank of cabs at the mall just two minutes away. After half an hour, L lost patience and used the automated booking system. Bingo! We got a cab in two minutes. I'm sorry this cabby responded without knowing that we have two dogs with us but I had run out of patience with the system and with trying to be honest. Anyway, the guy didn't mind the dogs.


It was a great night out. The children hadn't met Rupert and Colin before and were delighted with them. Rupert spent the whole night on one child's lap after another or was carried by them in turn. And these are the kids who have babysat Toby and Vivi and I thought they'd want to play with them.

G missed Rupert and I think the only thing that made him feel better was when, at the end of the evening, he saw Rupert curled up asleep on L's lap. His boy was happy, that was the main thing. C had a few babytalk moments with Rupert and I couldn't help hearing what he was calling him -- Roopy-Poopy. Very apt.


Every one along the stretch of eateries stared when we began to arrive. You see the occasional dog at a table now and then, but no group has ever met with five dogs before. What got worse was once the band of five got started, they began to bark at every single dog that went past. Vivi would start and then every one would chime in, even the normally quiet ones and Queeni would insist on the last parting bark. And everytime that happened, the whole street would be staring at us. The group with the badly behaved dogs.

Queeni and Rupert (to a certain extent) slept in this morning, and are knocked out again after lunch. Sleeping pups pee and poop less, right?