Thank you all for your well wishes for Bertie. He is happily mending, still taking it easy in his basket by the radiator, but getting wigglier by the day.
I thought a while back how lovely it would be if I didn't have to go out and walk the dog every few hours, and I could just stay inside out of the wind and the rain and the cold. It turns out that is only good for a couple of days, then you start to feel like a pudding. I always tell the children that walking to school is good because it gets oxygenated blood pumping round the brain. It feels as if that is what I need. I need to be out there in a force ten gale, with horizontal rain lashing me, puffing up the slope by the stream, breaking into a run now and again. Then the indoor warmth and comfort feels earned. It's a contrast. If I have it all the time it's a bit stifling. Bert and I are going to break out soon and run up the street like mad things.
He has mostly been confined to the hall, to stop him from jumping up on the sofas, which the vet has Strictly Forbidden. There isn't much to do in the hall. Lie in your basket. Lie on the floor. Lie on the doormat. Pull the corner off the doormat. That's pretty much all the options. In the living room it's far more exciting. You can add lying on the cosy sheepskin sofa. Lying on the other sofa. Looking out the back window to see what's going on in the garden. Lying on the end of the sofa to look out of the window to see what's going on in the street. The list is endless.
I bought Elmet by Fiona Mozley the other day. Anyone read it? There's no time for reading at the moment though as NaNoWriMo comes to an end. I have written over 40,000 words now, but there are only two and a half days left, so I need to be typing at warp speed over the next three evenings. But Elmet is there waiting for me when the pressure is off, although it would be good to maintain some momentum. You may be asking why I am here, chatting to you, when I should be writing. Prevarication my friends, prevarication. I may even clean the bathroom. But it would be really good to get to 50,000 words by the end of Friday. I'll give it my best go.
In town the Christmas lights have been on for over a week now. They are even on at 2pm. Eco living hasn't reached this far out yet. Class hasn't either to be honest. Around here some people are optimistically compiling lists for F Christmas. Other people are hoping for a winter fishing trip. Bertie and I would just like to see the sky and smell the heady combination of woodsmoke and pig farm that you get round here when the wind is right. Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone.
I'm glad Bertie is doing better. Poor little guy. You'll be back out there with him very soon, I'm sure. I didn't think people decorated for Christmas so early over there; I was always told that was a weird American thing to do, haha. Having the lights on at 2 seems pointless, it's hard to see them. But it's nice to see people making a festive effort anyway. My neighbor across the street has filled her front yard with inflatable snow people, Santa Claus and other figures of Christmas. It looks like a poorly-attended demonstration, or maybe a religious ritual, because they're all standing far away from each other but all have their arms up to the sky. Strange-looking. I hope you get that walk outside soon and the wind just the way you like it.
ReplyDeleteLook at Bertie in his bed by the radiator; he's just so darn cute! I'm glad that he is recovered enough to chew the door mat, that must be a good sign. Good luck with the 50,000 words and here's to getting out in the wind and rain again, there's plenty of it about here at the moment. xx
ReplyDeleteYou realize, of course, that Bertie makes me want a brown doodle dog, don't you? Be sure to visit my blog today and see the funny photos of my daughter's Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise mix. She's hilarious. I really enjoy how you write, I do believe someday you will be a rich and famous writer and I will be able to say I knew you when. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteBertie’s been very obliging in that first photo. Glad he’s on the mend. You’ll get your wish today for outdoors in high wind and rain i think, at least you would here. Good luck with the writing. I know you can do it xx
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see that Bertie is on the mend. I hope that you do manage to reach your word target. I couldn't agree more with your last sentence. xx
ReplyDeleteDear C.J. Just keep going with the writing every spare moment you have and you will reach the required number before the end of the month. The bathroom can wait another day....... Loved the photo of Bertie. He looks so smug. Regards, Robyn
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Bertie is on the mend. We are in the same position of dog watching constantly to make sure Tivvy isn't rubbing, licking or generally interfering with operation wounds.
ReplyDeleteIt’s good that you appreciate walking and are missing it now. I feel Bertie may have done you a favour in this awful weather. Won’t be long until you are back out there. Enjoy it when it happens. Hope you got those words done in time . B x
ReplyDeleteGood to know Bertie is on the mend. Unlike you I dread getting dragged along by three dogs in the horrible weather, I suppose I may miss it eventually though. Hope you get back to your walks soon and finish your writing. Good luck!xxx
ReplyDeletePoor Bertie! I missed your last post so had to go back to see what happened - glad that he is on the mend. I was slightly shocked to see how much the tooth fairy dishes out these days - our tooth fairy was a bit useless, forgetting to call in and then having to seize the right moment replace the tooth with something you can spend without being discovered :) You wouldn't have missed the daily constitutional today if your weather has been anything like ours here - it was as if a giant bucket of water had been tipped over, although Flora didn't seem to notice. Hope the patient makes a quick recovery. Jane xx
ReplyDeleteI totally know what you mean about getting out there and getting some fresh air whatever the weather. There are some days when I wish I didn't have to drag myself out of bed for a dog walk but once out there I never ever wish I hadn't bothered. It sets me up for the day. I hope you managed to reach your word target!
ReplyDeleteGlad Bertie is on the mend.
ReplyDeleteWe had a rain "storm" over the Thanksgiving break here and I admit, I went for a nice long walk in the rain with my friend. We discussed the benefits of wearing leggings on these walks vs. jeans. It was straight rain, not sideways rain if you were wondering.
Bless his heart, glad he is mending. You so want them to be still but when they are you want them to be back to normal moving around and jumping on everything. It is never ending, no?
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