Oh, My Days!

 Today: …put washing in machine first thing, hung it on washing line at 8.30 a.m which immediately caused rain to appear. Whilst polishing the dining room table, noticed that it had sustained some damage because SOMEONE had used it as a saw bench on Monday in order to cut the end off a piece of windowsill ledge that needed installing because SOMEONE ELSE has been jumping into the front window and scuffed all the paint off the windowsill with her scuffy little paw nails. Felt marginally miffed at damage to dining table AND windowsill, and immediately went online to look at new dining tables and to check resale prices of second hand cockapoos. Irritation assuaged, put Nell in car with intention of visiting Trentham Gardens for a long walk, which made rain pour even harder. Set off, regardless, because I am, if nothing else, a hopeful sort… …stopped off en route to buy some eggs from ‘Ben’s Eggs’ at Loggerheads. Ben keeps a little cabin of eggs on the side of the road with an honesty ...

My Mum is 84 today. I sent her a box of birthday goodies which she enjoyed very much, and this morning I FaceTimed her first thing with birthday felicitations before she went off a-gallivanting with Auntie Pollie, a mere stripling at not quite 82. (Auntie Pollie has recently informed me that her doctor has now banned her from chopping her own firewood. ‘I still do the kindling, though,’ she added, conspiratorially.) Anyway, this octogenarian birthday celebration got me thinking about my own next ‘big’ birthday which will occur in 20 months’ time. I shall be 60. I can’t quite compute the idea of reaching 60 on account of the fact I still feel the same as I did in my thirties (possible younger) and, touchwood, my health continues to fare well. This morning, Lord Malarkey and I took Nell for a walk around a country park which is very hilly bumpsadaisy , and therefore a good cardio workout. There I am, striding up the hills in a stiff breeze, leaving Lord Malarkey behind, who is 5 and a ha...

 Two home delivery parcels today. Firstly, a 10kg sack of dog food for Nell which will last her a good 10 weeks. Secondly, a part for Andy’s car which, hopefully, will sort out the recalcitrant driver’s side electric window which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. On the right of the photo is the car part. On the left of the photo is the box it arrived in. I mean, for goodness sake! What is WRONG with people? All that excess packaging for something that could have been sent in a padded envelope. Sheesh. The small box was even protected in the big box by a load of scrunched up paper. And there was me thinking we were trying to save the planet with a drive towards economy. I duly removed all the sticky tape and put the offending box in the recycling bin. I try to do my bit, although sometimes it feels like spitting in the wind. I am currently immersed in my New Favourite Thing which is studying herbal medicine. I’ve joined The Herbal Society and my welcome pack arrived today, inc...

  Today, we decided to let Nell off her lead when we took her for her walk, and to let her run loose! I know!! Scary or what??? Time to test her recall, to see if she would stay within our sight-line or run for the hills, never to be seen again.  There is a lovely country park about half an hour’s drive from us, which is actually the site of an old colliery. It is well furnished with a variety of paths and routes, full of wild life and varying terrains, and it is also well away from any roads. The perfect testing ground. It’s not too busy, either; mostly other dog walkers and horse riders.  At the park, we walked up a hill and took off Nell’s lead. She trotted alongside us for a while, sniffing and rootling in the undergrowth, then stopped and did a poo. As we walked along, I think she began to realise that she was off-lead and she began to explore further, and when we reached the top of the hill she went absolutely berserk, running in circles and enjoying the wind in her...

 It’s sad to hear that The Body Shop is closing down. As a teen and young adult, I loved this shop with its high ethical and animal welfare standards and exciting range of products. I was a big fan of the White Musk range and this stuff, too: The Dewberry range, especially the shampoo. Sadly, as often happens when you find a product you really love, the Dewberry range was discontinued many, many years ago. Ah well. I remained a sporadic customer, dropping in if I passed a branch, developing a liking for their pink grapefruit selection. I was sad when they sold out to L’Oreal, who have animal testing issues.  And then, yesterday, the sad news of the death of Steve Wright, a long-serving BBC radio presenter. This is how I remember him from my youth: I used to listen to his show when I was a teen, then young mum and housewife. He wasn’t my favourite BUT he was a mainstay, a reliable listening experience that would often raise a smile on a dull day. He played great music!  Li...

 It’s been a year and a day since Nell arrived to take up her position at Damson Cottage as Miss Malarkey. In that time, she has grown from this 3 kg handful: To this 9.3 kg lump of adult dog: Her inherited poodle gene means her fur has lightened from Rita Hayworth auburn to gingernut biscuit. It has also gone a bit curlier, but not too curly. Her black button nose is now a sort of rose-brown in colour. Her little slug tail is now a magnificent ostrich-style plume. She is a proper chunky solid dog. It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster, this first Year of Nell. No amount of reading books and websites, nor listening to the wisdom of others, can prepare you for having a dog invade your space of quiet calm and orderliness. My primary school reports of old make occasional mention of my bossy inclinations. Believe me, they are nothing compared to this bossy canine madam!  Anyhow, despite the chaos and challenges, the battles and curveballs, Nell is finally settling down. She is comin...

 This chap is Antony Blinken. He is the United States’ 71st Secretary of State and, as such, has been in the news of late, travelling hither and thither doing Very Important Stuff. Probably. He reminds me a little of the actor Billy Bob Thornton who gives me the shivers, and not in a nice way, either.  I don’t know what Mr Blinken is like as a human being, nor what the American citizens think about him, because quite frankly, I have enough mutterings to make about our own politicians without taking on board those from another country. I know that Joe Biden is the current U.S President and he is a chap who forgets things, is easily confused, falls asleep and falls over a lot. I just hope he doesn’t accidentally fall over/fall asleep on a red button, that’s all.  I digress. Every time I hear the name ‘Antony Blinken’ I can’t help but automatically think ‘Wynken, Blynken and Nod’ which people of a certain age (ahem) will know as a famous nursery poem by Eugene Field. Here it...

 Saturday lunch time, I met a friend for a spot of lunch at the local garden centre. It was a bit of a late lunch on account of the plasterer ‘phoning first thing and saying he could come out NOW rather than Sunday morning, if that was at all convenient. I said it was, he arrived NOW and the kitchen ceiling was repaired neatly and efficiently within a couple of hours. It’s dried out nicely. I’ll paint it over this week and the only clue that a ‘foot through the ceiling’ incident happened will be the £220 hole in the bank account. Ah well… Anyway, Nell and I waved cheerio to the plasterer and set off to meet our friend. The garden centre café works on a ‘choose from the menu, then take your table number and order from the counter’ system, where you can collect tea, coffee and cake immediately, and anything else ordered - sandwiches, jacket potatoes, soup etc - will be delivered to your table. My friend took charge of Nell whilst I went to order food.  The queue at the counter w...