Re commentators on the Socials about dogs. I have never known such a self righteous bunch in my entire life, whatever side of whatever canine ‘debate’ they are on. Hence the unstoppable rise of dog fields. I just want to walk my dogs without angry/hypocritical/aggressive/passive aggressive/judgemental noises off thank you very much. I’ve done many years at the school gates and I can report that the parent wars are a minor skirmish compared to the battlefield around dogs. I know other dog owners feel the same way because recently in a Cardiff park, a terrier came running up to my dog barking like a maniac. It’s owner came hurrying up practically self combusting with humble apologies. My dog was on a lead because we were about to leave. The usual pattern is for dog owners whose dogs are on a lead to exert MAXIMUM SELF RIGHTEOUS ANGER and threaten police action if barking free dog is not immediately restrained by it’s TERRIBLE owner. It’s never the dog’s fault. It’s always the terrible human who should be in complete control of the sentient, free spirited animal at all time. I said ‘Don’t worry, it’s just normal dog behaviour’. The other owner looked shocked and then tearful and replied in wonder ‘Yes it is isn’t it?’.
I don’t want to present myself as the righteous one! I just felt for that poor woman with the barking dog. She was obviously a rule abiding people pleaser and if you enter the dog wars in that state you are going to be annihilated in short time.
I agree to a point about unnecessary telling off - the problem is that there is often no real way of telling whether the owner of a 'problem dog' has expended any time/effort/money/patience on training of any kind. Absolutely never the dog's fault, really quite frequently the owner's! 🤷🏻♀️
Always a pleasure, Sophia. Thrilled that my own meager collection of ghosts who FOLLOWED me to the train station once ( they a very old couple and awfully sweet) are in such good company. Have a gorgeous morning!
Brilliant read. So on point about dog owners too, I am one. Will think of this and Jacqueline’s best response if another’s dog annoys me at any point soon.
Brilliant as always. Also, I’d like to say thank you for your top tip about liver cake. I made a huge batch using my blender (mmmm… liver smoothie anyone?) and a delia smith Swiss roll tin. Not sure if Delia would approve but my golden retriever pup certainly did. He did more tricks and general obedient things for liver cake than any other treat, EVER. Thank you thank you thank you! Love from Holly & Teddy.
HOLLY this has completely thrilled me. I'm so glad. I'm going to make my next batch with self-raising flour though I think as the liver cake I made this weekend was essentially a pancake. And it can't be that bad for them, can it?!
One of our dogs, now departed, worked out that if she ran at a door jam she could release the cone of shame with a quick 'ping'. Took me ages to work out how she was doing it!
Also, I love that Kirsty and Ben have got married after so long. My husband and I were engaged after 6 months, married 11 weeks later and will, this year, celebrate 24 years! Sometimes you just know!
Dennis DID actually bump into various doors when he was in his, but accidentally. It was so heartbreaking! Then tbh he chewed off the clip a few mornings ago so it wouldn't have stayed on anyway. Down with cones.
As ever a brilliant read to start Tuesday! Should have bought Dennis the fleece jacket I recommended by Equafleece- works just like a recovery suit but less restricting and can be used on cold winter mornings in Crystal Palace Park!
I reminisced here recently about getting addicted Tetris. I didn't realise it was already nearly six years old by the time I got hooked in 1992. Agree that the movie is terrific.
Re ghosts: I am incredibly spooked by the thought of ghosts, I can’t even bear people telling ghost stories, I have to stick my fingers in my ears. For years I’ve been afraid to go to Chanctonbury Ring because of the rumours, until this year when it was unavoidable on our South Downs walk…..and…..it was quite underwhelming, the Devil didn’t come for me nor did I see faeries, phantom horses, a bearded old man, not even a Druid…..
That cat is hilarious and well done Dennis. That FB discussion re the park gives me faith in my fellow countrymen and the world; it may be burning but we know what’s really important. Genius re headphones; when this (third) pair dies I’m going back to wired ones. Lastly, I love that green herringbone on your sofa, very on trend with the tweed; I don’t watch Traitors but have been following CW’s outfits, which I’ve loved apart from the Yeti one.
We got my dog the equivalent of a baby onesie as the cone didn't work for her either. It worked great because we just had to undo the snaps and fold it over so she could go to the bathroom. I hope Dennis's recovery went well.
Wonderful! The cackling out loud (cat picture) always scares my other half. Thank you! I was in a foul mood ploughing through emails and diverted to your words as an admin antidote, I save your newsletter as a treat when I hit a tipping point - like a chocolate orange! So enjoyable.
Poor little Dennis.
Re commentators on the Socials about dogs. I have never known such a self righteous bunch in my entire life, whatever side of whatever canine ‘debate’ they are on. Hence the unstoppable rise of dog fields. I just want to walk my dogs without angry/hypocritical/aggressive/passive aggressive/judgemental noises off thank you very much. I’ve done many years at the school gates and I can report that the parent wars are a minor skirmish compared to the battlefield around dogs. I know other dog owners feel the same way because recently in a Cardiff park, a terrier came running up to my dog barking like a maniac. It’s owner came hurrying up practically self combusting with humble apologies. My dog was on a lead because we were about to leave. The usual pattern is for dog owners whose dogs are on a lead to exert MAXIMUM SELF RIGHTEOUS ANGER and threaten police action if barking free dog is not immediately restrained by it’s TERRIBLE owner. It’s never the dog’s fault. It’s always the terrible human who should be in complete control of the sentient, free spirited animal at all time. I said ‘Don’t worry, it’s just normal dog behaviour’. The other owner looked shocked and then tearful and replied in wonder ‘Yes it is isn’t it?’.
I don’t want to present myself as the righteous one! I just felt for that poor woman with the barking dog. She was obviously a rule abiding people pleaser and if you enter the dog wars in that state you are going to be annihilated in short time.
I hate to think how many dogs have been sent to the shelter or put to sleep because their owners have been unnecessarily told off too many times.
I agree to a point about unnecessary telling off - the problem is that there is often no real way of telling whether the owner of a 'problem dog' has expended any time/effort/money/patience on training of any kind. Absolutely never the dog's fault, really quite frequently the owner's! 🤷🏻♀️
That’s not how it came across at all to me anyway.
Sounds quite like a terrier I know... Although actually that's probably libellous as he's (thankfully) not too much of a barker. Only at the postman.
Scritches to Dennis 🥰
Always a pleasure, Sophia. Thrilled that my own meager collection of ghosts who FOLLOWED me to the train station once ( they a very old couple and awfully sweet) are in such good company. Have a gorgeous morning!
HUH? That sounds like a great story?!
They were only with me in New Zealand though. I guess they don’t like planes!!
No maybe not. I love this though!
Brilliant read. So on point about dog owners too, I am one. Will think of this and Jacqueline’s best response if another’s dog annoys me at any point soon.
I laughed at how reproachful Dennis looks!
I know, don't, I still feel guilty!
I’m fascinated to discover that the French call the cone an ‘Elizabethan collar’!
And another vote for wired headphones, though I use the genuinely old-fashioned kind that cover your entire ear.
YES I'm often quite jealous when I see people wearing those.
For a moment I forgot I’d also written about the headphones, and struggled to work out how you could be saying this about the cones!
Brilliant as always. Also, I’d like to say thank you for your top tip about liver cake. I made a huge batch using my blender (mmmm… liver smoothie anyone?) and a delia smith Swiss roll tin. Not sure if Delia would approve but my golden retriever pup certainly did. He did more tricks and general obedient things for liver cake than any other treat, EVER. Thank you thank you thank you! Love from Holly & Teddy.
HOLLY this has completely thrilled me. I'm so glad. I'm going to make my next batch with self-raising flour though I think as the liver cake I made this weekend was essentially a pancake. And it can't be that bad for them, can it?!
One of our dogs, now departed, worked out that if she ran at a door jam she could release the cone of shame with a quick 'ping'. Took me ages to work out how she was doing it!
Also, I love that Kirsty and Ben have got married after so long. My husband and I were engaged after 6 months, married 11 weeks later and will, this year, celebrate 24 years! Sometimes you just know!
Dennis DID actually bump into various doors when he was in his, but accidentally. It was so heartbreaking! Then tbh he chewed off the clip a few mornings ago so it wouldn't have stayed on anyway. Down with cones.
As ever a brilliant read to start Tuesday! Should have bought Dennis the fleece jacket I recommended by Equafleece- works just like a recovery suit but less restricting and can be used on cold winter mornings in Crystal Palace Park!
Ah do not know about them, thank you!
www.equafleece.co.uk
My schnauzer loves hers once it’s on!
Lovely, fun read!
I reminisced here recently about getting addicted Tetris. I didn't realise it was already nearly six years old by the time I got hooked in 1992. Agree that the movie is terrific.
Happy 40th birthday to you for next month!
Ah thank you, and wasn't it?! So clever of them to make it essentially a thriller.
so that's where 'Adele's house" is! Ours is better
I hadn't actually thought of that!
Re ghosts: I am incredibly spooked by the thought of ghosts, I can’t even bear people telling ghost stories, I have to stick my fingers in my ears. For years I’ve been afraid to go to Chanctonbury Ring because of the rumours, until this year when it was unavoidable on our South Downs walk…..and…..it was quite underwhelming, the Devil didn’t come for me nor did I see faeries, phantom horses, a bearded old man, not even a Druid…..
Well Jo I'm sorry to say that makes you dead common
I most definitely am 😂😂
That cat is hilarious and well done Dennis. That FB discussion re the park gives me faith in my fellow countrymen and the world; it may be burning but we know what’s really important. Genius re headphones; when this (third) pair dies I’m going back to wired ones. Lastly, I love that green herringbone on your sofa, very on trend with the tweed; I don’t watch Traitors but have been following CW’s outfits, which I’ve loved apart from the Yeti one.
Ah it's relatively new and from a company called the British Blanket Company. Largely to hide muddy pawprints...!
Good plan
Rupert the Bear inspo. Hilarious.
😬😬😬
We got my dog the equivalent of a baby onesie as the cone didn't work for her either. It worked great because we just had to undo the snaps and fold it over so she could go to the bathroom. I hope Dennis's recovery went well.
Wonderful! The cackling out loud (cat picture) always scares my other half. Thank you! I was in a foul mood ploughing through emails and diverted to your words as an admin antidote, I save your newsletter as a treat when I hit a tipping point - like a chocolate orange! So enjoyable.