Dozer turns 13!

Celebrating 13 years of Dozer – that’s 79 human years! Join me for a little trip down memory lane to see what my big, dopey, loveable fur ball has been up to this past year. If I’m still this active, adored and obsessed with snacks at his age, I’ll consider myself lucky!

Ahhh Dozer! What a year you’ve had. I want to say it was unlike any other – but honestly, I feel like every year is extraordinary! Not exactly heroic-dog extraordinary (eg. sniffing out survivors or tracking missing people in forests), but your talents lie in……shall we say, other areas we’ve come to value?😂

Let’s take a look at Dozer’s Best Of from the past 12 months!

Life of Dozer

Dozer’s comeback!

I didn’t do a birthday post for Dozer’s 12th birthday because he was recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with bi-lateral laryngeal paralysis which was inhibiting his ability to breath. He had a rough recovery, and I can’t lie, there was a time when I wasn’t sure he’d pull through. But he did!! Back on the beach with his friends, with a smile and even a few leaps and bounds! ☺️

I’ll always treasure that photo above, the first day I took him back to the beach 3 months after his operation, bundled up in a heavy duty life jacket for safety. He was so happy!

plAYSCHOOL!

This one’s going straight to the top of the highlights list because – PLAYSCHOOL!!! Truly, no greater honour.

His brief?

✅ Waddle on set and look cute – nailed it.
❌ Look at camera. Fail! His eyes were laser-locked on the food the entire time. 😂

PHOTOSHOOTS, PHOTOSHOOTS!

With Dozer featured so heavily in my second cookbook Tonight, there were so many photo shoots, and so many locations! At the office, home, photography studio, at the dog beach. I wanted to capture him at all the places he frequents in his life. What a natural he is in front of the camera these days!

And of course, the common theme – so much food. So, so much food! What torture it must be for him, as we take shot after shot after shot. 😂

And my favourite photo:

Which ended up on the cover of my favourite magazine……

COVER BOY!

The Big Issue is a social enterprise magazine that is sold by disadvantaged people in CBD areas of Australia, providing them with a means to earn an income and rebuild their lives. Of all the interviews that we did in the 12 months (and by “we”, I refer to my whole team as well as Dozer and I!), this is the one that won our hearts. (OK FINE! Dozer splashed on the cover may have helped 😂).

BOOK LAUNCH AND TOUR!

Launching a book is fun. Launching it with Dozer by my side is even MORE fun!!

Who wants to talk to me when they can pat Dozer??🥰

And when the book tour went interstate so I couldn’t take the real thing with me, we took the 2D version instead!

READER EVENTS

One of the most wonderful parts of making a cookbook is that you get to meet in real life. Something I never imagined having the opportunity to do 4 years ago before I made my first book.

These days, meeting readers is something that we try to make a regular thing – because both my team and I enjoy it so much!! And of course, for Sydney events, Dozer is the biggest drawcard. Here he is, stealing all the attention at two of the reader events we held last year – a dinner at Boronia Kitchen (my local!):

And more recently at a stunning long lunch at the Roundhouse Restaurant in the Crystalbrook Kingsley Hotel as part of the annual Newcastle Good Food Month celebrations.

fundraiser for sophie’s legacy

Of all the events we did though, the most special would have to be a fundraiser we did for Sophie’s Legacy. This is a charity set up by the parents of a young vet who took her own life, which has a goal of reducing the suicide rates in the profession. A horrifying statistic: suicide rates among veterinarians is 4x the national average.

Dozer and I hosted a fundraiser at our local Small Animal Special Hospital (in Ryde) where we raised money for Sophie’s Legacy. It was a small gesture to give back to the people who saved Dozer’s life a year ago.

It also made me aware that every time I go to the vet, it’s usually because Dozer is not well. So I’m worried and upset, and do I really remember to thank the vets and staff properly? Take a moment to drop a note of thanks to your veterinarian – drop an email, letter or card – for looking after our pets so well. You can’t begin to imagine how much it will mean to them. ❤️

plastered all over rtm!

And a big moment for Dozer in the past year – when we plastered a life size sticker of him on the window of RecipeTin Meals!! A nice reminder in case there was any uncertainty of who’s REALLY the boss around here…..😂

Dozer will be our poster boy for RTM, always. Forever. As long as RTM is associated with me, I will never let that change.

Taste testing duties

From the moment I started my website 11 years ago, Dozer proudly appointed himself Chief Taste Tester – and what a stellar job he’s done in that important role! Crowned Employee of the Month nearly every month, he’s praised for his unwavering commitment, enthusiasm with which he undertakes his duties and lightning-fast response time whenever anything edible emerges from the fridge, oven, or pantry (the garden, however, remains suspiciously beneath him 🤔).

These days, due to his medical condition, he is unable to eat flaky and crumbly things like croissants, biscuits and cakes (due to the risk of inhaling into his lungs). But, ever the dedicated professional, he still insists on doing his part. If he can’t taste the cake, he’ll happily sample the custard. Just dip cabanossi in it! Mmmm, meat and custard….

DOZER’S 13TH BIRTHDAY!

And here he is, on his 13th birthday at his second favourite place on earth – Bayview dog beach!

Looking through Dozer’s birthday photos, I realised it’s less a celebration for him and more for me – because let’s be honest, does he look thrilled in his party get-up this year? Absolutely not. 😂 He spent much of the time howling in protest!

Everybody knows I did it for myself, not him – a bit of celebration, but mostly for amusement. Watching him swim around Bayview with shiny foil trailing behind him and his little party hat bobbing around on this back… priceless! 🤣

Though actually, when I took his lifejacket off and saw how much water the foil was holding, I felt a bit bad, thinking of the drag it must’ve created as he was swimming!

In a nutshell…

Life for Dozer is as great as I could hope for it to be. I feel fortunate that he is still with me and most importantly, happy, comfortable and an appetite as ferocious as ever.

Honestly, the most stressful part of his life is still toy laundry day. I reckon that’s a pretty great position to be!

Happy birthday Dozer!

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY DOZER! Thank you for all the happiness and laughter you bring into my life. I feel so fortunate that you are still with me, and still in good form despite some bumps along the way and some creaky hinges.

I love you with all my heart, and I will treasure every day I have left with you, and look after you as best I can to make you as happy as you make me. ~ Nagi x