Friends who have birthed their own children tell me time has a habit of standing still when the baby first arrives home. Even the simplest tasks seem to lose their focus as hours pass admiring the newly arrived one. Having a new puppy has certain similarities. My partner and I examine each poo with critically informed interest. Discuss when to introduce each new set of challenges and just enjoy, delight in and play with Humph, our Newfoundland puppy. He is growing rapidy. He has a bright, open disposition and he has discovered Coca-cola - he is now tall enough to drink from a glass left on a chair seat! Tonight he will explore a new room. After sleeping most of the day, we are hoping this new stimulus will set him up for a good night's sleep. He is seriously cute - but hasn't the guile to recognise this yet - so is even more adorable. He has a friend in our beloved Dido, 10 and a half and on a slow defrost as far as having a puppy around!
Enough of the furry antics in our household. I am trying to get excited about Evelyn Waugh's Scoop! and failing. It may just be that his colonial 'voice' hasn't stood the test of time or it might simply be I have puppy-itis. I have a clearer sense of where I need to take the paper I am writing and I plan to write it tomorrow - whether my toes are being eaten or not! I tend to give a lot of time to thinking through my views and arguments. I am fortunate once my 'throughline' is clear, I can write reasonably quickly. My main focus is on identity in this piece. I will need to take a few days footnoting and adding quotes etc... Not to mention tidying it up. But 'twill be done.
Fortunately now Humph has his routines I can claim some time back. Or rather he has taught me what he needs and when and can now dismiss me to get on with other tasks. What's that old saying? Dogs have owners and cats have staff? Pups may be the exception.
We are addressing how we can become greener. We love our caravan and the freedom it gives us - but it needs a gas guzzler to tow it - and we have felt guilty about owning a 4x4 for ages. Although it is occasionally justified when the weather is bad, with global warming, the concept of becoming snowed in is increasingly apocraphyl. We are looking at a number of small cars and are contemplating relegating Edmund (caravan) to a writing space for me - or to be sold. Selling makes the most sense, but it is strange how many happy memories are tied up in the thing and that gets in the way of the logical and sensible. We know we can cut down our CO2 footprint by cutting journeys. I am also considering growing our own - a way to keep fit - and have organic veg' available. One of our dogs could easily be a JCB - he digs so much - so that should help! First things first we need to renovate the greenhouse and start to clear the big garden a bit - then I must research the fine art of composting.
Let's hope Humph will pull a wheelbarrow when he's older...
Wonderful to hear of Humphrey's antic's, enjoy them, like children they grow up all too quickly. Live for the moment everything else will slot into place.Enjoy. Gwen
Posted by: Gwen | 06/28/2008 at 05:20 PM