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Paddy Power
The above photographs are of a particularly fine looking Spanador (Labrador/Spaniel) called Paddy. Apparently, had things turned out differently, I may never have found my home here. What a sobering thought! This then is the story of Paddy… Some time before my existence was known about, by either the Boss or any of her fast expanding family, the Boss took in a young stray. This young stray, apparently found lost and alone, close to the Boss’s office, caused her colleagues to drool and coo over him. To cut a shaggy dog story short, he spent a couple of weeks at the Dog Warden’s Quarters, during which time he remained unclaimed. Hearing this,…
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Lamenting Lambert
Perusing my old files, I came across this little verse that I had been inspired to write and send to the Council Parking Officer, back in 1998. Our local car park had changed its policy over the Christmas period and was now offering a free half hour of parking, with every minute over that being chargeable. Having not seen the small print saying one had to take a ticket regardless of whether paying or not, I found that my five minute stop attracted a fine of £30.00. Despite the fact that the car park attendant saw me pull up and read the sign from a distance, he did not think…
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Material Girl
The deceptively large fabric shop, in Shepherds Bush, is bursting with colour and contrast. A typical London building, the shop spans three floors and is as deep as it is narrow. Its walls are lined with rolls of fabric that spill out onto the floor, in a rainbow of colours, meeting the toes of awe inspired customers as they tread, carefully, across the boards. Why am I here? More importantly, why am I here on a gloriously sunny, English summer’s day, instead of relaxing in my Hampshire garden among the flowerpots and wheel barrows? Therein lies a tale. I had planned my day quite well at breakfast. I would take…
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A Mother’s Guilt
The car stopped, the child who had been sitting patiently on the back seat, strapped in and apparently oblivious to our bright chatter as we drove into the school car park, undid his seat belt, opened the car door and leapt out in one fluid movement, before we could turn around. By the time we had jumped out onto the tarmac, he had legged it.
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Another Embarrassing Moment
I thought I was Queen of the embarrassing moment. Let’s face it, I have had more than a few. There was the unforgettable time I needed to renew my passport photo for instance. It was busy in Boots the Chemist’s. The queues for the checkout were long but I ignored them and went straight to the photo booth that was strategically placed opposite the longest queue of all. The black curtain that would shield me from prying eyes was fastened to one side. I tweaked it and it swished to behind me, so that only my legs would be visible. I settled myself down on the little stool and pushed…
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Flossie – Growing Pains
Goodness, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror the other day and who is this large, fluffy dog standing staring at me? Surely I cannot have grown this much? Parks, fields, woods and now the beach. I have been to them all. This rather fetching photograph of me was taken on a recent walk to a local beach and, though I say so myself, I do think it makes me look cute. The windswept look is so very ‘now’. I have also expanded my group of four legged friends since last we spoke. To date I have met a grand old lady called Daffodil, a border collie, who…
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New Header for Summer
This small corner of our large, partly unruly, garden, just encapsulates my love of colour and contrast so here it is on my blog. My life is one of organised chaos. Had my husband not piled those garden chairs up and placed them just so, they would surely have been scattered about the place, possibly upturned, legs pointing to the skies, like a series of struggling beetles. Even with his ‘tidy minded’ help, I love the fact that everything appears to be jostling for space and that the gate you see dividing the back garden from the front is not really a gate but a hastily erected contraption of wire…
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No More Ribbons
Something from the archives of my hard disk – a nostalgic snapshot of childhood (Tidbits) January 1962: I’m five years old and eager to begin the first day, of the first term, of the rest of my school life. Frost white pavements stretch for miles. My shoes tap out an excited rhythm on their blank pages. A warm gloved hand in mine – mother’s hand. Nearly there, nearly over the bridge that crosses the railway tracks where today, I do not stand to watch the last of the old steam trains chug through on their way to nowhere. Today I fly past, wings on my heels. My breath bursts forth…
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Works of Art, Tooth Fairies and Fluffy Ducks
The Boss has been talking about me all week. It seems I possess hidden talents. Well, if that is what the Boss thinks, who am I to argue? It started with a new game I have made up. The idea is to rush up the stairs to my favourite bedroom, belonging to the young human they call ‘Zoe’, and find something interesting. I manage this with ease most mornings though am always a little put out when Zoe spots me before I can make my getaway as she almost always removes my find and sends me packing. Assuming my mission has been successful and I have found something interesting, I…
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We all recognise eccentricity in others but rarely in ourselves…
“I’ll be going out shortly and leaving the chef on his own for an hour but don’t worry, he can manage,” she promises and with a flurry of brightly coloured skirts, and hair that seems to have grown even bigger as she speaks, flies back to the kitchen.
