Wednesday 8 February 2017

Novel Blogging, Newsletters and Dogs

If you like a good read, then Mandy Brittany (a name I know many will recognise) is sharing two novels free via two blogs. One is a magical comedy called Phototime and the other is a mystery thriller called The Cold and I know from her short stories that she’s very good at both.

As I said, the novels are free to read, but Mandy is hoping to raise money for Cancer Research and there is a link on the blog to the Just Giving site. Whether you wish to donate or not, the books are there to be read. You can start reading The Cold here and Phototime here.

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I subscribe to a few of my favourite writers’ newsletters and as a subscriber I was lucky enough to win a beautifully illustrated little book of poems by Robert Burns. It really is lovely and I have Rosemary Gemmell to thank for it.  Rosemary’s is one of my favourite newsletters and you can subscribe via her blog here.

Rosemary’s blog is well worth a visit anyway.

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You’d think after all that leash walking Dusty had to do while he was recovering from his leg operations, that I’d have managed to train him to walk nicely wouldn’t you? He’s so quick to learn and has been the easiest dog I’ve ever had to train.

And he’s incredibly helpful, bringing me my dog-walking shoes when we’re going for a walk and pulling the duvet back for me to get into bed. He even gets my clothes for me in the mornings and it’s hard to be grateful when they’ve been dragged all round the floor and thrown up in the air, but I do try.

I’ve tried all sorts of different head harnesses and body harnesses to get him to walk nicely. I’ve tried treats, but for a food obsessed dog, he’s just not interested once we leave the house. I’ve tried toys and balls and doing the stopping and changing direction thing. Nothing works. So I’ve given up and resigned myself to having a dog that is almost rubbing his chest on the ground because he’s pulling so much.

I steel myself against the tuts and dirty looks I get from those lucky enough to have dogs trotting along beautifully at their sides. Oh and did I mention he also shrieks as we walk along which draws even more disapproval.  But something amazing has happened…

I pass an elderly couple with their two dogs when I walk to the fields. They always smile and laugh and say “We can hear you coming a mile away! He’s so keen! It's lovely!” And I see a man with a hearty laugh and a small dog and he says, “It makes my day seeing you! I love the noise he makes. He’s so eager to get off the lead, so full of energy. I love him!”

So if we brighten the day for a few people, then I’ll put up with the embarrassment!


It was Dusty’s best friend Poppy’s 6th birthday last week. She’s much more of a cat person than a dog person and would rather play with cats than dogs, but she makes an exception for Dusty. 


27 comments:

  1. What a fabulous post! Informative, and a lovely update about Dusty.
    Isn't it heartwarming when you meet lovely people who make your heart sing... :-)

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    1. Aw thank you, Maria. Yes indeed, I used to dread the dog-walk embarrassment, but I focus on the people who are lovely and ignore the rest :-)

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  2. I can see a tiny park from my office window so see lots of dogs being walked – I prefer seeing the ones which seem happy to be out than the ones which are practically dragged along.

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    1. Very true, Patsy - he's certainly very happy!

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  3. Oh thank you so much for mentioning my newsletter, Teresa - I really appreciate that and I'm so pleased you like the dinky wee book of poems! Dusty sounds a wonderful character and you couldn't ask for a nicer compliment for him, with his funny noises and exuberance.

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    1. Thank you for the chance to win the book, Rosemary. I always look forward to receiving your newsletter.

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  4. Thank you so much for mentioning my novel-blogging, Teresa, very much appreciated.

    Congratulations on your poetry book win! I love that Dusty brings you your dog walking shoes and pulls back the duvet. Holly is just like Dusty when walking, and I often feel embarrassed. How lovely that the couple, and the man were so lovely. Happy 6th birthday, Popply X

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    1. You're very welcome, Mandy. I'm really pleased to hear Holly is like Dusty - sometimes I feel so alone out there!! Tee hee :-)

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  5. What am I like with extra letters at the moment - Sorry Poppy!

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    1. Poppy thinks it's nice to have a new nickname - I call her Pops and Popsy - I think Popply is rather nice :-)

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  6. I often think I should get a dog (even though they terrify me) so it will force me to get outside and I'm sure it's a great way to meet people too.

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    1. It really is a good way to meet people, but you end up knowing the names of their dogs and not them. My friend used to be scared of dogs and ended up with three - and very happy they all were too :-)

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  7. It's such a lovely picture, Teresa, Dusty fetching your clothes and shoes and pulling back the duvet. He's wonderful, so full of character. I'm so glad his enthusiasm is appreciated and enjoyed when you're out walking. And his friend, Poppy, sounds so sweet with her preference for cats. Going over now to see Mandy's lovely-sounding novels - many thanks for the link. xxx

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    1. He gave me my slippers yesterday, Joanna and they were very soggy, but I felt I had to wear them or it would have seemed ungrateful xx

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  8. One (or two) happy smiles always make my day. Teresa. Don't you find it can change the way you see everything when someone is pleasant, smiles and actually laughs? As for pulling dogs, Keano used to pull the first few yards until he was sure we were actually going, and then he'd amble along. Flossie plods by side but I was giving up on Charlie who, although would calm down eventually, twisted himself into such paroxysms of delight every time the lead appeared he pulled me down the road. I have found a nice harness for him now, the sort that slips over his head like the neck of a jumper. I am totally amazed at how good he is when wearing it. Neither of mine would do what Dusty does with bedclothes and my clothes - that is so lovely! Flossie does jump on Dave's lap if he sneezes, just to make sure he is all right though. (Golden Retrievers really are not lap dogs!) Lovely post, I say let Dusty continue to enjoy his exuberant walks and you continue to enjoy the comments of people like that lovely couple and gentleman who know that life is to be lived! xx

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    1. Yes, a smile makes a world of difference. I've tried about five different harnesses for Dusty and my favourite is his Ruffwear one (he used to wear one of those for hydrotherapy) and although it doesn't stop him pulling, it does look very smart! Aw lovely Flossie, it really seems that she is a lap dog xx

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  9. My son's dog used to pull terribly but they found that the longer they let out the lead, the less he pulled. Sadly Kimber had to be put down at the end of last year. Lovely post Teresa.

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    1. I'm so sorry about Kimber, Maggie. It's strange though as I've noticed a lady walking a springer on a very long lead and although he pulls, he doesn't seem as bad. I might give that a try, thank you!

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  10. Duggu is a large dog and I'm quite a short, plump person. I think we're providing the entire road with entertainment as we go for our daily walk.

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    1. Bless you, Maria. Dusty is the smallest dog I've ever had and the strongest. I think he was meant to be a husky pulling a sleigh! Well at least we make people smile don't we :-)

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  11. Dusty is the sort of dog who will always make people smile, Teresa. He's so sweet.

    I'm signed up to a few author newsletters, it's a good way of keeping track of any new books coming out.

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    1. Thank you, Carol - he can be quite sweet.
      Newsletters from authors and emails from friends are things I always like to see in my inbox!

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  12. Bonnie is a lab/collie cross. She's so easy to train (will wait at stiles and go through after me and walks behind on narrow path) but she will not walk nicely on the lead. We resorted to a halty a few years ago which stops her pulling me over!

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    1. Bonnie sounds very well mannered! I've tried the halti head collar and the body harness and neither worked. Well the head collar might if he hadn't practically turned himself inside out trying to claw it off! I would be very embarrassed to admit just how many different head collars and harnesses I've tried!

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  13. Hello Teresa. My name is Teri Holtz and I used to be known as Menopausaloldbag when I was blogging years ago! I always followed your blog and love your short stories. My MIL brought a People's Friend magazine over this weekend and I immediately thought of you and like and behold you have a terrific short story in there. Hope you are doing well. Love your comments on your dog and naughty walking. I have a Parsons Jack Russell who is just as naughty on the lead. But she is adorable and loves people and other dogs. Are you still blogging? All the best Teri, aka MOB.

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    1. I can't tell you how good it is to hear from you, Teri! I remember your blog well - it was one of my favourites - and over the past few years I've visited it now and then to see if you were back. Thank you for your lovely comment. I have always had a soft spot for Jack Russells and yours sounds lovely. Yes I'm still blogging, not as often as I used to, but now and then. I really am pleased to hear from you - are you going to start blogging again?

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  14. Looks interesting, Emily, thank you for the link.

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