In those immortal words, uttered by a two legger in a loin cloth – no not Dan in his undies, but George of the Jungle, who I might add played in the 10 leopard skin for the Jungle 15 – and said many a time, 'Watch out for that tree.”

Never one to heed anyone's advice, the boss and I were cruising the beach esplanade one night, when out of a tree popped a dreaded possum. The cheek of it; it is bad enough these marauders harass me in my secluded bush hideaway – but back home in suburbia?
I was soon trying to climb out the car window. The boss pulls over, and gets out to inspect the dastardly beast, but it runs up the next tree, waits a moment, then down he comes, and sprints to the next tree. Well the boss comes back to the car and through the window, says to me, 'Diesel my boy, being the smart Labrador you are, you should know what's going to happen next.”
'Yep, I'm on to it,” I thought as I went and waited between the next two trees in line. Well what do you know, down the tree the pesky varmint comes, hits the ground, runs directly under me (narrowly missing the crown jewels), and headed at a speed out onto the mudflats. How bloody dumb is that. This is my playing field, my home turf. Stupid animal, yahoo, out we go! It was reminiscent of the scenes on the rugby field in the weekend, me doing the big beefy bro Nonu impersonation, nailing the hapless Aussie runner into the pitch.
After much side stepping I finally catch up with the mobile nipple warmer, and what do you know, the varmint wraps himself around my handsome head.
Then it occurs to me that usually the boss has perforated the pests before they fall out of the tree. Not so tonight! This one's in full fighting form. So what is a dog to do, but tear him to shreds and render him utterly useless for warming anyone's nipples?
Now sometime later, covered in mud and fur, I head back to the boss, who is patiently waiting under a tree.
The moral of this story: George my man, bugger the tree; watch what is running down it.
After this escapade, a meaty treat from Johnny, the Aussie Butchers shop in Gate Pa was in order to stock up on supplies. For all you good folks, this is what you should be doing. Get in for your supplies for the barbecue as daylight saving starts this weekend. Make sure you check out his great specials this week.

'Braised leg of veal'

with paprika sauce

Ingredients
1.5kg veal, boned and tied by the butcher
2Tsp paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 ½ Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp flour
½ cup dry white wine
½ cup dry sherry
1 cup chicken stock
12 whole black peppercorns
8 fresh parsley sprigs
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried thyme
½ cup sour cream

Method
Preheat oven to 180C. Pat veal dry with paper towels and rub with 2tsp paprika, salt and pepper. Melt butter with 4Tbsp oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add veal and brown on all sides. Transfer veal to a platter and pour off all but 2Tbsp fat. Stir in onion, carrot and 1 ½ Tbsp paprika. Reduce heat to low and cook until onion softens, about eight minutes. Add flour and stir for two minutes. Add wine and sherry and bring to a boil. Mix in stock, peppercorns, parsley, bay leaf and thyme. Return veal to pot, cover with foil then lid. Transfer to oven and cook until thermometer inserted in meat reaches 60C for medium rare, about one hour. Transfer veal to platter, cover and keep warm. Place Dutch oven over medium high heat and boil pan juices until reduced by ¾ cup, scraping up and browned bits, then strain. Return sauce to dish, off heat, and stir in sour cream. Cut veal into slices and serve with sauce.
That's all from me for another week people, but I would just like to add: how come the boys in black can perform like they did against dingo's boys one week, for all the other matches they have played this season, where they dished up tripe, to be forgotten? Sorry Head Master, it does not wash with me, as Red said to me a long time ago, you have to perform all the time if you want to walk the walk and get paid for it.
I am going back to watching college sport, as seeing them all running around enjoying themselves is something I can relate too.
Take it easy out there my puppies.