Naughty but Good

Lots of news and arrivals from me, Alfa.  Where I should begin….still lot of instruments are coming for repair and service to DR TOOT, and mummy and daddy seem to be very very busy !

On Tuesday, a new face arrived from Japan at DR TOOT… not instrument this time.  A young boy has started staying with us !  His name is Asuka (sounds like my name J ) and is going to a university here.  He told us that he has to study very hard…Good luck, Asuka !

Then, the next day, a new shipment arrived from Japan.  Daddy went to airport to pick up a big parcel.  Amazing thing is that two flutes have already been sold – one of them will leave tomorrow to Kaikohe (far north), and another one will leave for North Shore.  The lady in Kaikohe loves us and gave us a big cuddle by email – Grazie J

Also, a gorgeous silver (oh, just like me !?) Selmer Paris Mark Vl alto saxophone has arrived at DR TOOT !  Mummy and daddy are so excited to see this world famous saxophone.  Zara told me that this is the third one we have had in stock.  The saxophone will have a major operation soon by DR TOOT J

I went to the Howick Vets for my second vaccination.  I was a good girl, I think J Mummy, daddy and Zara think that I’ve been naughty…yeah, I have been on a kitchen bench and sink, or running on a dining table and attacking flowers on the table…..mewmewmewmmmmmmeow.  Also, I must admit that I am eating Zara’s food, mewmewmewmmmmmeow J

Always time for the important things in life

Good evening to another amazing week at DR TOOT J

Wow…It’s pretty crazy around here. Many sales and repairs happened this week. We are again like last year, getting in many last minute repairs in before formal lessons begin. For daddy it’s not a problem. All repairs are still going out on time and everybody seems to be very happy.

On Sunday last week an alto came in for a major service. Daddy got it done by Wednesday. When the people picked it up they also picked up a pre-loved Yamaha YAS62 Professional alto sax and a YCL 651 Professional clarinet. Fantastic as this made it possible to buy more cat food for Alfa. She is my loving and beautiful sister, but boy does she know how to eat! On Tuesday one of our previous customers bought a Yamaha semi professional clarinet. A few months ago she came in and bought a professional clarinet and semi professional flute for her son. I think this time, it was her time!

A regular follower of our blogs,(mainly mine), brought in her lovely Noblet Oboe for DR.TOOT’ (my daddy), magic touch. She picked it up on Friday and was very happy. This made daddy very happy too. It is so nice when people take the time and thought to say nice things. I am trying to do this towards Alfa, but it’s not always easy. She has so much energy and has taken some of my lime light. Still…..I know that it is really me they all come to see.

Mummy tells me that more instruments are arriving in from Japan this week. Flutes, clarinets and alto saxophones. This on top of what my daddy has to do will keep him very busy. It doesn’t matter how busy he is….he always has time for me….I love my daddy J

New noises in my life

Since I’ve been living at DR TOOT, I’ve heard lots of noise (sound) – saxophones, clarinets, flutes, trumpets, trombone…etc.  I am not scared of any sound and my daddy and mummy were impressed J

All instruments from schools have gone back to schools, but daddy seems to be still very busy.  Some instruments have arrived for servicing and repairs.  Daddy has been working very hard, and I don’t want to disturb him.  So, I have to be a good girl J

Like Zara said last week, Zara and I have been getting alone each other.  We play together…I want to go outside with her, but I am still little…so, I am not allowed to go out…...yet.  I can go out in the backyard with mummy or daddy with a leash.  I have to wait till I’m bigger !

I chew, I hide and I disappear…mewmewmewmew.  Daddy calls me “Little Houdini", and mummy calls me "Little Angel" - she means "Criss Angel".  Sometim they cannot find me….mewmewmewmewmew. 

Daddy also has gone back teaching, and some lucky students saw me J  They think that I am so cute….grazie, grazie, grazie J

A lot to learn

Greetings to my fellow watchers. It’s Zara here and I’m back in the driving seat! Ok…so you all saw  how cute Alfa is last week. So what! I still have beauty and brains and I am still in charge…..Come back Rico.

Everyday I tell Alfa many stories of Rico and I. I know that I teased Rico, but I loved him dearly. Alfa and I are getting along much better and now, I let her sleep in my basket bed with me. Just like Rico, she feels better close to me and safe. In the mornings, we run around chasing each other and having so much fun. She is still so very young and I am very careful not to hurt her. Because she is still so young, she has to have a leash on her when she is outside. I am free to do and go as I please…..but Alfa does look kind of funny with this girly leash around her…well that’s enough about Alfa.

This week we said goodbye to Kiyo. She is from Japan and worked with daddy (DR.TOOT), cleaning instruments and working hard in the workshop. Tuesday was her last day with us and it was sad to see her go. For the first time, I was able to inspect her room and see what was there. After all, it’s my house and I have the right!

Many last minute private repairs came in to be serviced just in time for the beginning of school. Mummy and daddy are still able to do our 2-3 day turn around, so everybody is happy. Repaired school instruments have been picked up or delivered, leaving the workshop with a lot fewer instruments. Speaking of fewer instruments….one of our instruments, a Yamaha trombone, went down south to a very happy customer. There is never a dull moment here at DR.TOOT’s.

My name is AFLA :-)

On Thursday, 19 January 2012, I became a family member of DR TOOT.  I had a different name…but since I’ve arrived at DR TOOT, people call me “Alfa”.  My new daddy, DR TOOT, told me “Alpha” means “the first/beginning”, then my new mummy has changed it to “Alfa” (of course, it’s an Italian way !).  Later, they realized that “Alfa……Romeo !??”  Ummmm, it was a bit late to change. 

There is another cat here…her name is Zara.  Oh, she was scary at the beginning.  Even now, she is still a bit scary…J  She has told me about Rico, and I feel lots of love from mummy and daddy……from Zara too J  I was born on 11/11/11.  People think that I am such a special cat J  I had a few sisters, but they were all black or dark grey colour.  Only I have silver colour with patterns - I think I am special J

On Saturday, mummy and daddy took me to the Howick Vets for my first vaccination.  Then, finally they have found out that I am actually a GIRL J  They were told that I was a boy when I was adapted.  Ummmm, a bit confusion….I have a boy’s name !  Ummmm, it is too late to change…oh, dear J  I quite like the name anyway, and mummy and daddy think that I am just like boy – eat a lot, run fast and poo well….ppppuuuuurrrrr !!! 

Rico is never far away...

Hello everybody. Zara here again…..This is not easy doing the blogs all the time. But things are about to change, but more on this later.

Last week started with the usual rust in getting the school instruments ready for the new school year. Apart from the school repairs, we receive instruments from our own students and private ones. We received flutes, saxophones, trombones etc. There is a hum of energy in the air with daddy repairing and mummy very busy in the office.

On Tuesday, daddy went to the airport to collect the largest saxophone DR TOOT has ever imported. It is a Yanagisawa B6 used Baritone Sax that we imported directly from Japan. Wow it is huge and makes a lovely deep sound. When daddy played it, I was a little scared.

Well, our pre-loved instruments have gone overseas !  A Keilwerth alto sax “Shadow” has gone to Japan (where came from…ummm, travelled a lot) and a Yanagisawa silver Elimona alto sax has gone to USA.  A gentleman emailed us from Colorado everyday, and the saxophone is on the way to him now.  Our best seller saxophone YAS32 didn’t stay at DR TOOT for a long again – a Canadian family who lives in North Shore came to see us and walked away with the saxophone J

I have some news…. On Thursday early evening, when I was asleep on mummy’s and daddy’s bed, mummy and daddy went out for a little drive. I didn’t ask where they were going. When they came back, they arrived with a silver coloured fur ball that made loud purring noises. Yes! You guessed it. It was our new addition to the family. His name is Alfa. I think Rico would approve. He is a tabby….silver and every bit as cute as Rico was. I think cuter, and he understood right from the beginning that I was the boss. A very smart kitten J 

He runs around like a wind up toy and is very funny. He makes my mummy very happy which makes me very happy.

I spend a moment everyday on Rico’s resting spot. People don’t realise that we cats feel and talk to those that have left us. I know in my heart that Rico is happy for us and doesn’t want us to be sad. I miss Rico, but Alfa is keeping us all too busy to worry too much. Next week….it’s Alfa’s turn.. you will see his picture  

New Beginning

Hello everyone from the office of DR.TOOT.  Mummy and daddy have allowed me again to share my thoughts and views about life and what’s happening at DR.TOOT.

On Wednesday, 11 January 2012, Rico’s ashes are back to home.  Then, daddy and mummy buried it with his collar and name tag the next day.  He is sleeping near the magnolia tree “Little Gem”.  I visit him everyday.  Mummy and daddy also see him everyday from the living room. 

We received very sincere cards from Howick Vet, Manukau After Hours and Pet Farewells.  Also, some people sent us some kind messages…Mummy and daddy would like to say thank you to all of you.  I miss my little brother, Rico and I feel still lonely….but I am now having all attention and care from mummy and daddy – that’s not a bad thing J

Life here is busy as always.  Repairs are always coming in from all parts of NZ. Daddy is busy working on many school instruments getting them ready for when school starts in 2 weeks time.  It’s so busy here. Very exciting but there seems to be little time for them to play with me. When Rico was here, we used to play and run around the place a lot. You know…you never really appreciate someone, until that someone is gone.  I was pretty hard at times on Rico and I shouldn’t have been. We should all watch what we say about our family and friends.  I go to where his ashes are buried and say sorry everyday. From now on, I will always look for the good in everyone and be more positive

A few instruments arrived on Monday. Two alto saxophones,  two clarinets and one lovely flute. You can see these on our website and they will be listed on TradeMe. Tomorrow or Tuesday, our first Baritone Saxophone will arrive. It’s a Yanagisawa B6 Baritone Sax. Daddy tells me that it is large and produces a low deep sound…..so exciting!!!

The sun seems to have finally arrived for summer and I am enjoying laying in the sunshine getting an even tan.  Good night all and enjoy the good weather at long last.


PS:  @Rico Point...dreaming of Rico...