Categories: uncategorized
Date: 29 July 2008 19:31:34
Another profitable day, though with little to show for it... and certainly little of my "plan for today" achieved. But I managed to get two more important letters in the post and four things photographed and advertised on wightbay (The local version of ebay :D ). I sorted out the fridge ready for cleaning and I tackled (in small doses) the start of Smudgelet's bedroom - a massive task indeed. It involved moving loads of furniture and loads of junk and then getting depressed at how unsuccessful I was being and giving up in despair. Goodness knows where the boy is going to sleep when he comes home. But a plan is coming to fruition, all I need is the energy to follow it through.
The one thing on my list which I did manage, however, was a bit of energetic dog walking. It was the dog that was energetic, I hasten to add, although I did myself proud by walking not one but three dogs. When I took the last one back, the RSPCA woman said the dog looked shattered. She'd only done two laps! I'd done eight! It was blisteringly hot, of course, so probably an excellent workout. And I made two new friends amongst the other dog walkers which was rather nice.
Dogs of the day: I can't believe I forgot to take my camera! Dog number one was Lady - a barrel-shaped old lady for a barrel-shaped old lady, I reckon. She was the most beautiful colour, a sort of goldeny milk-chocolate brown; a labrador who was as broad as she was long and to whom I was told most strictly I was to give no treats! She was lovely, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed walking her - though she made it perfectly clear that two circuits of the walk were quite enough.
Toby was the adventure. I must take him out when Smudgelet's with him. We had to do several shouts of "Overtaking!" as we caught up with dog after dog on the walking route. When you overtake the other walker has to take their dog off the track as the dogs aren't allowed to meet. I reckon he had something of the collie in him, and possibly something of an alsatian. He was great fun, full of life and determined to be fussed. We jogged at great speed round the track several times and went into the enclosure for a really good play. My inexperience with dogs became very clear when it came to be time for me to put the lead back on, mind! Toby, will you COME HERE PLEASE!!!!!!!
I managed to persuade them to let me take a third dog round for a short walk, even though time was running out. This dog, another collie cross, was called.... wait for it.... Smudge! She was gorgeous - I could have taken that one home with me. I was told she was very nervous with people and that I shouldn't try to make a fuss of her or even stroke her or pat her. Hmmm.. obviously nobody had told Smudge that. She made eye contact, lovingly, all the way and kept stopping and nuzzling me for a bit of love. It was only when we got back to the "dog waiting area" that she assumed her former disinterested look as though it had been a real ordeal to spend that twenty minutes in my company. Tomorrow, I think, the camera comes with me and I ask to walk my namesake again.
So what now? Bath, I think, with my book. And then I have some child-free DVDs to watch while I do the ironing. Now which shall it be? Miss Potter? 1st Ladies' Detective Agency? or Becoming Jane? All three perhaps. Oh, the luxury of temporary childlessness.
(Poor Smudgelet is apparently missing me dreadfully. Ho hum. He'll cope. I know he's having a good time, though, but he likes to pile on the guilt. Shame it doesn't work, isn't it? ;o) He reckons ten days is the longest he's ever been off the Island. I told him that was utter rubbish, which totally took the wind out of his sails. Especially considering he was born and raised on the mainland for the first four years of his life - though I didn't mention that bit. But we always try to make our mainland trips worth the ferry crossing so our holidays are invariably extended at each end with visits to relatives etc. We're invariably away for a fortnight in the summer, and once it was four weeks as we travelled around a bit! )