This horse flu thing isn't a joke any more. It doesn't kill horses unless they get a severe infection but it's very, very contagious so needs to be contained and until recently, we've been a flu free country so nobody vaccinates against it. The saga all began, when a Hong Kong stallion was released from quarantine too early and spread it through a major riding facility in Sydney's city centre. He then was transported up country and affected a few Warmblood mares but by then it was too late. Everyone with whom he had come in contact managed to spread the disease. It spread to Randwick Racecourse and the Spring Carnival was halted affecting not just the bookies, strappers, stable hands - many of whom are casual workers and are now laid off but also the affiliated industries . . . trucking, feed suppliers, caterers, ticket sales, fashion designers, milliners. It stuck to suppliers, vets, horsey handlers and spread to Hawkesbury Racecourse and a number of spring Gymkhanas - big this time of year.
Well even that didn't bother me too much but now I'm becoming a spoilt NIMBY. It's affecting my local Equine vet who has only 2 clean vets (they don't treat flu cases). The rest are 'dirty vets' and I'll bet my lovely Douggie or the spunky Chris Clark are dirty vets. Douggie has a body like Adonis and a Scottish accent to match. He's enough to make me swoon. He chats on and on whilst sticking his fingers in places that no man should ever have to go (on the horse . . lift your game!) Chris is the surfer type - easy on the eye and a smile that admonishes the sins of the world. You watch, I'll get that pretty little blonde from Noosa who's very charming but not at all droolworthy unless you're a young bloke - does nothing for me whatsoever.
Then there's the feed guys who delivered yesterday but said due to quarantine, they're not allowed on the premises so we had to lug bales of hay and sacks of HiGain Senior and Chaff up to the shed. Bastards. I'd have lent them a bottle of Dettol to deliver.
Then to add insult to injury . . .I hear that Il Diablo is bringing his dogs to the APEC meeting . . What the? Does he need a foot warmer now that the wifey poo has decided it's just too dangerous in Sydney with all those crocs in the sewers, sharks in the harbour and funnel webs between the sheets? Normal people have to wait 3 months before their pets are allowed out of quarantine.
Just goes to show, if youre an asshole you can get away with anything . . .
No way! I can't believe the shrub gets to bring is poochy-poo in with him, just like that. I've had mates who've emigrated to Oz who've given their pets away or had them put down because of the stringent Ozzie quarantine rules. Of course, you realise it's the Prime Minister of yours, don't you...
ReplyDeleteMaybe GW thinks Grandad is visiting you!
ReplyDeleteGM: Where is Grandad and his arsenal when you need him? He's all talk and no action the lazy pipe-smoking, tourist-shooting, puppychild-playing, floor-laying, doggy-driving geek!
ReplyDelete