dogs
Louis didn’t like going to the groomer, would eat anything, with or without a designer label and made it quite clear early on that he wasn’t wearing a waterproof coat to the park.
Do you own a dog? A quick scroll through Instagram shows the explosion in dog ownership. It also highlights how important dogs are to their owners. Once you ‘owned a dog’ now you’re a dog parents. Dogs were once ‘pets’ now they are members of the family. Dogs are being targeted by high end marketing. There’s a plethora of perfumes, prebiotics, pupcups, massages and other spa treatments, icecream ( roast chicken flavour) and ‘super foods’ being created by vets. These treats are now available in luxury establishments, such as Hôtel de Paris (Monaco) and Le Château de la Messardière (Saint-Tropaz. Matching outfits are also popular, with matching nail polish, too.
At the end of 2023, the Xerpi Institute reported sales of pet products had reached 5.8 billion euros in France, which is a 48% increase in a decade. And before you think this is just a French things, a quick scroll online reveals so many dogs dressed in designer brands, eating above mentioned treats and enjoying designer beds, toys and snacks. Dogs being taken out in backpacks and prams (I recently read more dog strollers were bought this year in Korea than baby strollers) into cafes and restaurants where their meal is ordered from a separate menu. Then off to the spa from a few treatments. I hope the dogs enjoy them!
blue and white china
Double happiness ginger jar from an antique market in Guangzhou. Although images of Mao were everywhere in the markets there were other beautiful finds, too, ginger jars, woven fabrics, wooden ornaments and other china pieces, such as teapots and cups.
Some English, some Chinese, some very old, some a lot newer.
Three ginger jars, a lovely gift from my cousin.
I grew up surrounded by pieces of blue and white china, mostly English, and I also collected a few pieces myself. Then we began traveling in Asia before finally moving to China and I had plenty of opportunities to buy both antique and more recently made pieces of blue and white china. Our driver quickly realised I was interested in both old and new pieces and took me to fascinating antique markets and small scale manufacturers. I also collected Japanese and Korean pieces.
This collection, in the upstairs bathroom, from many different places is about to get a lot bigger as I have many beautiful plates I inherited from my Mother.
So, I couldn’t resist when I saw these miniature ginger jar Christmas decorations. They are so lovely! Last year I made blue and white baubles. Blue and white decorations are becoming a bit of a theme. I have also just inherited my Mother’s collection of blue and white china but have had no time to sort it. There are no small children coming here for Christmas so I haven’t decorated a tree but like to display decorations around the house.
Ginger jar Christmas ornaments
ev ownership and charging arrangements
I’ve had a couple of interesting discussions with people about EV cars since I wrote about them a week ago. Then I read an article (ABC News, Dec 17th James Purtill) outlining the new problem for EV owners living in strata titled apartments. Strata owners are increasingly banning EVs from recharging in apartment basements due to the risk of battery fires. Strata owners have have wide-ranging powers to ban EVs and EV charging within their buildings.
The risk of batteries igniting and the subsequent damage to surrounding vehicles and the concrete structure is becoming a problem. The Australian Codes Board and EV fire safety experts insist these batteries are no more likely to ignite than petrol or diesel vehicles. At the same time, state fire authorities says buildings with charging facilities should be given the same hazard warnings as chemical plants and firework factories.
Fire and Rescue NSW recommend EV charging points only be available in open air. If EVs ignite they burn hotter than other battery fires and are impossible to put out. If a lithium battery ignites, internal cells decompose, liberating the heat, which causes more cells to decompose. These fires cannot be extinguished by water or oxygen starvation (foam). Another article referred to ‘catastrophic’ fires caused by end-of-life lithium batteries wrongly dumped into landfill sites. Fires in rubbish trucks are now regularly reported. More work to be done.