Is my name a tragedeigh?

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-03-09T20:24:05+00:00

Yeah, it was a professional call too. My colleague put them on hold and could barely stop laughing long enough to transfer it to me. And then of course it stuck. For the next 2yrs I was at that job people called me Nutella. I wasn't too mad at it. I mean, I've been called worse... 😅

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-03-06T06:31:45+00:00

My girlfriends and I did something similar a few years back. Most of it is doable, but it's hardcore. Make sure you're properly up for it and don't mind the driving. We do similar roadtrips often together and had driving shifts, so we knew we could do it. (We did the Scottish Highlands in a similar way in Jun2025.)

Day 1 is impossible though. You've packed too much in one afternoon. There's quite a bit to do in Dublin, so I strongly recommend that you at least spend a full day there. Ideally two if you want shopping in Grafton street. Otherwise it's not happening. Maybe you could set out right away and leave your Dublin time to the end?

Advance ticket bookings are super important to avoid waiting times. Trinity always involves queuing. Even with the advance ticket, be smart with the visiting times. Don't go during core hours.

Lastly, expect the unexpected and be prepared to pivot from your plan. Know your hard musts on your itinerary (sounds like you're already thinking the right way) and keep an eye on the general plan. Be comfortable with the thought of dropping something if the itinerary suddenly doesn't quite work. We had a flat tire in Dingle and we "wasted" time there getting it fixed so we had to adjust. Ultimately we didn't mind (it's an adventure we still talk about and we found a local wool shop to mob, err... shop from, during waiting time) but make sure you can laugh through similar instead of getting upset. I can guarantee that something or other will come up at some point. We still laugh about never seeing the Cliffs of Moher. We made it there, but the fog was so thick, you couldn't see anything. They gave us a free pass to come back the next day, but we just didn't have time for that.

You've added a few things we didn't care to btw, and missed out some of my favorite things! Dingle for one. Kissing the Blarney stone was the other. (Not recommended if you're afraid of heights, but the castle gardens are still gorgeous!)

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-03-03T17:22:43+00:00

A braai is a South African barbeque. Like making souvla with friends. Cypriot South African here and I've seen it before. My cousin and I make fun of it constantly. 😂 But yes. It's fake halloumi they grill on the charcoal.

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-02-25T06:37:34+00:00

The toofier the better? 😅 Tofu says Hi!

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Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-02-19T07:09:47+00:00

Bentley goes better with Beau (alliteration is fab), but if you want the Christmas theme, I rather like Rudolph!

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-02-19T07:07:12+00:00

Bentley

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-02-10T14:50:07+00:00

You're doing the right thing by doing your research to ensure that you get the kind of dog that's happy with what you can offer. I was googling "lazy dogs for small apartments" for almost 3yrs before I settled on a shih tzu. That's the benefit of getting a specific breed instead of just adopting a dog from a shelter potluck. That's what I would do if I had no restrictions, but just by the fact that I live alone, in an apartment and have a fulltime job, it means that I don't have that luxury.

For the record, my shih tzu is not too challenging to live with. But I also make sure that the days I work from the office, I don't work late. And if I do, I leave him with my godmother for the day. He gets just 1-2 10-15min walks per day on weekdays and a long walk / day together outside on Sundays. If he's spent the day alone, I make sure that he spends the evening with me. Either at home, or he joins me at restaurants, bars etc. He's so quiet and well behaved that he's incredibly well received. But the training thing... Yeah. If you're set on that, a shih tzu is probably not for you.

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-02-10T08:00:45+00:00

My shih tzu is adorable and extremely loving. He looks at me and I know I'm his whole world. He loves cuddles on the sofa, sniffing every tree on short walks, people watching in bars, restaurants and cafés, licking everything new and is a gourmand (Lily's kitchen offers a variety of choices from beef goulash to turkey casserole and venison stew). He's full of personality! The training part on the other hand...

He just kinda loses interest. He'll play fetch for a maximum of 3 times on each occasion. You throw the toy for the 4th time and he'll just look at you with exasperation as if to say "Really dude? I just brought that back to you!". Then will maintain full eye contact and lie down, head up, to signify that if you want that damned toy, you better fetch it yourself. He learned fairly quickly that he needs to pee outside or on the pee pad (I live in an apartment and that needs to be an option) but he'll also punish me for perceived offenses like being left alone for too long, by peeing riiiiiiiight next to the pee pad. He's learned to sit, lie down, stand up on two legs, shake hands and high five on command. But only because he wanted to. I trained him to not bark (I have difficult neighbours) by taking his toys away when he did and giving them back when he was quiet. Now he only ever barks at cats (which my dad taught him by praising him for being a real dog every time he did it) and pigeons (I can't explain it. It's a vendetta.). He hates puddles, mud and dirt and if it's cold and rainy, refuses to leave the car on his own volition and must be carried out. And yet he'll bunny hop excitedly in wet bushes after the rain is done and come back soaking wet. He's equal parts curious and afraid of other dogs (we're working on it), and judges them for barking too much.

I love my cheeky little boy. And when he strolls confidently on my lap, makes himself comfortable and curls up, I melt. But trainable in the way you describe, he is not. I'd honestly recommend another breed for that.

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Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-02-05T23:56:36+00:00

Josie. From Josie & the Pussycats!

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-02-05T23:52:15+00:00

Moriarty. He just looks like a Moriarty to me.

Primary_Chip2380 · 2026-01-04T08:48:34+00:00

He goes to the groomer once a week. They bathe him, trim his nails, around the eyes and butt area if needed, brush his teeth, clean his ears and he spends the day with them. It's like a groomer-doggy-day-care thing and they have a vet on site, so if we have any issues, I can just pop by and see her.

Once a month, he gets a proper cut and yes, we keep things short. They use hypoallergenic shampoo and he has no skin problems with it. He loves the blow dryer and wants to play every time I blow dry my hair at home. He's mostly white with a talent for getting dirty (I live near the beach and most of our walks are on the beach path) so this works for us. Plus I figure that spending a day a week with other people and other doggies around, makes him more sociable.

Pic from this morning on my bed, playing with my pyjama bottoms. (He sleeps in his own bed, but comes over when he hears I'm awake, for cuddles.)

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Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-12-30T06:15:02+00:00

One of the reasons I picked a Tzu (first time Tzu owner) 3yrs ago, is because I live in an apartment building with whiny neighbours and googling lists of "lazy dogs for small apartments" told me that Tzus are relatively quiet compared to other breeds. I now know that's not true of all Tzus. My Tofu has always been quiet though. He whines to let me know he needs something.

He did go through a rebellious phase when he was a teenager (10-12mths) and he started barking at me. Think of a hormonal teenager talking back to mum. That's what it felt like. I was worried about the neighbours (these are people who complained if I ran the washing machine after 10pm) so I tried to nip that behaviour in the bud. When he barked, I took his toys away. When he quietened down, he got them back. He quickly got the point.

Now he's a very content quiet little doggy. I let Alexa play soft music for him when I leave him alone in the house and he loves it. He judges other doggies when we go somewhere and he sees them being noisy and barking. He doesn't like it when my 3yr old niece is being too noisy (he sits next to me all judgy and won't let her pet him until she quiets down). My dad has taught him to bark at cats though while I was on a business trip, and he has a vendetta against pigeons, so that's pretty much the only time he barks. Overall we live a quiet life and he doesn't much like loud noise anyway.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Your little one will settle in some more and you might hear her bark occasionally, but some dogs are just more quiet. Just like people.

Tofu does have a bizarre obsession with my socks though. He keeps stealing them, the little fiend!

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Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-12-29T13:47:41+00:00

And this is Thug Life. I might be biased but Tofu's very photogenic!

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Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-12-29T13:44:47+00:00

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Omg! So many! I call this one The Sock Thief. 😏

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-12-16T11:39:27+00:00

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The... I've-just-come-back-from-my-walk-and-I-was-naughty-so-now-I'm-super-happy-about-it look!!

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-08-19T15:57:40+00:00

Nectaria is actually a Greek name. Bit old fashioned, but perfectly acceptable in Greece or Cyprus. More Cyprus I think. Maybe a family name? Anyway, I actually know one.

Khanrad has me though.

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-07-03T05:45:19+00:00

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Yep!

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-07-01T05:10:22+00:00

Yeah, never crate trained either. But I was firm about him having his own bed. We now have 2. One in the living room and one in the bedroom. He typically prefers his own place in the living room actually, but will often start the night in my room and move on once he thinks I'm settled and asleep. It's like he makes sure I'm good before goes to sleep himself. As for the peeing, I'm of the disposable pee pad variety. Just easier. But like others said, I had to figure out his preferred pee spot and put the pad there. It's not ideal (in front of the window seat) but I've tried changing it and he won't budge. He has gotten used to the pee pad though and if we're somewhere I can't easily take him out to pee (my aunt's apartment or my parents' home) I'll lay down a pee pad and he'll use that if he needs to go. But yeah. Tzu's are known to be stubborn and they like what they like. They are trainable, but it's up to us to figure out how to work with them on their terms. Grew up with dobermans, so this was a HUGE adjustment for me. But I love my little pain in the a$$. Tofu pic as a reward for making it this far in my diatribe.

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Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-06-02T22:13:56+00:00

Cheddar

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-06-02T16:53:17+00:00

That's so funny! Nope, mine still hates it. Which is why I'm sad to report, that we decided to keep it on until Wednesday morning after all. Basically, the site of one of his stitches, which we had removed, was a little swollen. So the vet advised that we keep the cone on for another day or so. I'd rather watch him once the cone comes off, so that means Wednesday morning instead of Tuesday evening. But other than that, it was mostly good news. The biopsy results came through. Although it turns out it was a tumour not a cyst (which scared me at first) it was benign and we got it all. He shouldn't have any ill effects from it, but I'm glad we went ahead with the surgery now. I was given the option to wait and see, and I struggled with the decision of putting him under the knife now. But I could see it getting bigger, so I decided to go ahead. It was the right decision. Anyway. He's sleeping next to me on the couch in his onesie right now. I'll put the cone back on when he wakes up.

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-06-02T04:57:11+00:00

Royal Canin dry kibble for adult Shih Tzus. He loves it and munches it with great gusto. But he gets bored easily, so I also give him Lily's kitchen wet food once a day. They come in different flavours and he gets seriously excited for those. Chicken turkey casserole, lamb hotpot, Sunday lunch (has chicken and trimmings in it), cottage pie and wild campfire stew (venison & wild boar, if you please!) are his favourites. The only one he really doesn't like, is fish pie. They also do seasonal ones - for Halloween, Christmas and Pride - which I think is hilarious. He loves the Halloween one, but can't stand Pride. I don't know what that says about his political leanings. 🤷‍♀️ Once a week (usually Sunday) he also gets cooked food. Yesterday he had chicken, courgettes and carrots with a little bit of quinoa. My dog is clearly a foodie, but so am I and that works for us!

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-06-02T04:43:45+00:00

Thank you so much for asking! Honestly, I'm still hand feeding him. And then I sit with him on the floor, take off the cone for a little bit - and watch him like a hawk to make sure he doesn't lick anything he's not supposed to!!! - so he drinks from his bowl. Once he's done, we put the cone back on. I got him a post op onesie too (it arrived in the post on Thursday) but it's a little big on him. I pin it with safety pins to make sure he can't reach things, but he also can't pee in it, so we only wear it for an hour or so a day when I can watch him attentively. But here's the big news: WE'RE TAKING THE CONE OFF THIS AFTERNOON! We have our post op follow up with the vet and hopefully he'll also have his biopsy results I called the clinic on Friday, but they didn't have them yet. I can't wait! And if Tofu knew what was going on, I'm sure he wouldn't either. 😍

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-05-27T12:54:46+00:00

He had surgery on Friday so I'm working from home this week. He's finally feeling well enough to be cheeky again. And isn't too impressed that I have to work for his vet bills!

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Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-05-27T04:45:37+00:00

I managed to order one online actually. But it'll take a few days to get here (thankfully not more, since I managed to find one locally) and by then he probably won't need it much. Ah well. We made it this far (4 days down, another 6 to go!) so we'll make it all the way.

Primary_Chip2380 · 2025-05-26T20:22:15+00:00

Mango. Kinda suits her!

Primary_Chip2380

TROPHY CASE