Artist Laurel Moore in Abu Dhabi

Hello bloggers!

How are you? Well, I won't keep going on about the weather and how hot it is now. I'll just quizz you on your answer to this question? If, I hang my washing outside in the garden on an airer, how long does it take to dry:

a) 15 mins b) 30 mins c) 1 hour d) 1 1/2 hours

I'll give you the answer at the end of my blog

Well, as you may remember from previous blogs, I did meet the tiniest of mice here, whom I think I called 'Johnnie'. Well, I had to name him, since he became a frequent house-guest, with his little suitcase.......Exactly the shape and size of the 'Mousetrap Game' mouse. Cute as a button. Anyway, whilst watching television Johnnie liked to wander out, looking for a bit of food. I caught him in a humane trap (a colander and some peanut butter - no need to kill God's little creatures) Of course he came back week 2 and I managed to repeat the same manoever the following week, this time letting him go much further away. He hasn't returned since......

Anyway; the other night I met a RAT in our garden. I just assumed from meeting Johnnie, that rats were also tiny. Not so! This big thing scuttled around the garden corner, flushed out by our two dogs, who didn't even notice! It had to be 5 inches in body, with an additional tail extension. When it saw me, blocking it's way, it casually hopped up inside a wicker garden chair.

Bonnie, our desert dog was amazing, suddenly, she started sniffing the air, moving in, all the time towards the chair - then sniffing the chair. Finally, her nose reached the exact resting place of the rat, nose against the wicker wall. I took her by the collar and brought her in, not wishing for a dog and rat showdown. But, what an impressive dog! Isn't she clever?

Well, I had some wonderful news recently. A music producer and engineer in America has been so impressed with my singing, that he wants me to send some samples 'across the pond' to see if he could pitch me to a music producer over there. What fun!! I'll let you know how it turns out...............

And just to end on a musical note, here's a little youtube of me doing some tenor sax improvisation, to the beautiful song 'Embraceable You'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWUEETAr-0 

Oh and by the way, the answer is b) My washing takes 30 minutes to dry!

One more thing, you may remember Karen Lecocq, gallery owner and kind lady who sent of 31 of her best American artists, for our Strays Of Abu Dhabi Art Auction. I gifted her my 'Deep Blue' contemporary painting, which she loved. It winged its way to California safely and here it is in the foyer of her house. Nice!

You can find her own art website here, showing all her naturally created multi-media pieces http://www.karenlecocq.com/

View me Jazz Singing and playing my Saxophone at my Tedx performance this April in Abu Dhabi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_YF_Qocfw  

My Art at www.moorethanart.com

For your Art enquires questions@moorethanart.com (All art sent with tracking and insurance via TNT in a postal tube).

Well there's so much bad news around at the moment, that it's so great to add a sprinkle of good!

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100601/NATIONAL/705319819/1010

The National announces today that the government of Abu Dhabi is to open an Animal Shelter here!! HURRAY!!

''.......The capital will get its first shelter for stray and feral cats and dogs, which until now have been euthanised or picked up and cared for by volunteer organisations.

The facility will be managed by the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in cooperation with the Center of Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, it was announced yesterday.

No details on the cost or timetable involved in building the new centre were revealed and there was no mention of whether animals brought there would be put down. Animals will be neutered or spayed and some of them offered to people looking for pets, the centre said.

The proposal for the shelter – which will also feature a quarantine station, surgery and treatment rooms – was drawn up after studying control programmes for feral and stray cats and dogs in major cities in the US, Canada and Europe''.............

I'm sure it is also thanks to Mr. Hamad Al Ghanem, Director of The Saluki Center of Arabia whom we had the pleasure of meeting about our  'Strays of Abu Dhabi' charity Art Auction. I've certainly never sat so close to a white falcon before! As it sat so beautifully on his arm!

"The show (third Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest) gives us the opportunity to highlight not only the incredible characteristics of the breed itself, but to further create public awareness in our proud Cultural Heritage, especially for the younger generations. Throughout the times and the changing generations, the traditional values and ethics of Arabian Bedouin are being forgotten and it is our duty to preserve and celebrate them for future generations.

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''The Arabian Saluki Centre, established in 2001 by Hamad Al Ghanem with the support of the Emirates Falconers' Club, commits itself to both the preservation of the pure breed Arabian Saluki and the traditional way of the Arabian Hunting as an essential part of Cultural Heritage. Arabian Salukis are one of the world's oldest breeds; history shows that they can be traced back almost 13,000 years. Originating from the Arabian Peninsula, these desert hounds, which are known for their exceptional stamina, intelligence and loyalty, were bred to assist man in chasing prey and catching it in the harsh desert climate. Arabian Salukis are highly prized by the Bedouins not only for the hunting purpose, but as a companion and a member of the family.''

You can see these amazing dogs on The Saluki Center link here: http://www.arabiansaluki.ae/

Bear in mind, these dogs are probably the fastest dogs on the planet!!

Suki, our rescue dog from Strays Of Abu Dhabi is a Saluki mix with a bit of greyhound thrown in. I think we should have called her 'Blur', for she can really run.............

View me Jazz Singing and playing my Saxophone at my Tedx performance this April in Abu Dhabi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_YF_Qocfw  

My Art at www.moorethanart.com

For your Art enquires questions@moorethanart.com (All art sent with tracking and insurance via TNT in a postal tube).