A Busy Week

We took my two granddaughters-from-away home yesterday and as always I felt sad to drop them off. The week passed so quickly.

At 7 and 9, they’re a bit past buckets and spades and just wanted to play in the sea. As with the week before, the water was rough and I was worried, but they enjoyed it. Swimming in the pool was much less nerve racking and they had a lot of fun in there.

I took them to Jimmy’s Farm (somewhere I’ve been reluctant to visit as it’s a working farm and farms make me sad for obvious reasons). My other grandchildren have told me it’s good and they were right. The girls had a great time. There was plenty to do as well as being able to feed some of the animals.

Bouncy Pillow

Den Building

We decided to try Walton Pier for a change from Clacton Pier. It’s more geared to younger children, but they had fun on several rides (as did I), had a walk along the pier and played in the arcade.

They spent Friday evening at my daughter’s house with all their cousins while I went to see one of my daughters in law playing Queenie in Blackadder. The drama group did three episodes of Blackadder II and it was brilliant.

The house feels very quiet today with just one granddaughter and one sleepy dog.

Breezy and Nerve Racking

There are advantages to there not being a heat wave and ferocious sunshine in the holidays. I’ve hardly had to use any sun screen at all so far! So I haven’t been worrying about sunburn.

The small hardy souls have braved the sea a few times, but the wind hasn’t seemed to drop for the past week so there are always waves. Sometimes big ones – but they love going out then swimming in with the waves behind them which is something I used to love to do – and still do. But it’s nerve racking watching them.

Brrr - warmer than it looks

I don’t know why, but the sea always seems warmer when it’s rough.

Sunnier but still rough

We went to the Colne Valley Railway. We hadn’t been for several years and I thought with them being older now that they’d be disappointed (they asked to go), but they had a lovely time. We went on a steam day, but they liked riding on the little mini train more than on the steam train.

Colne Valley Railway

We stopped going once there were four as going back and forth over the railway bridge used to be nerve racking with toddlers and buggies. When I saw the bridge, it seemed much smaller than I remembered – it was twice as big in my memory. And now it’s possible to cross the line without going over the bridge – but of course they wanted to go over it! We did cross the line once, but even that I found nerve racking.

The bridge from the mini train

Tomorrow we’re going to the pool so there won’t be any waves to worry about, but slippery pool floors…. Nerve racking. 

I even worry when we go crabbing that one of them might accidentally throw themselves in or scrape their legs on the wall as they climb down to the ledge. How many times did I hurl myself in by mistake? None! Where do I get my daft ideas from? I have no idea.

Crabbing

I’m sure my nerves never used to be so racked when I was a parent of small children and they certainly weren’t when I was a child. I didn’t worry about getting dragged out to sea or slipping over at the pool or falling down the steps of the old railway bridge and they shouldn’t either. That’s my job. 

The hardest thing of all is not letting my racked nerves show and pretending I'm as fearless as they are.

And another thing – I always thought it was nerve wracking, but from Googling, I think it may be nerve racking. As if my nerves aren’t racked enough! 

But I am enjoying the school holidays, doing things I did as a child and as a young mum and reviving memories while making new ones. It's worth a few racked nerves.

Anonymous Who?

Every day I am getting several “Anonymous” comments on various posts which is why I’ve set up moderated comments. These comments bear no relation to the posts they purport to comment on.

I wonder if it is because my poor old blog has become neglected in recent months.

The summer holidays have started and I’ve drawn up a plan! Nothing set in stone, but I’ve written the tide times on there and pencilled in a few things. I don’t want to get to the end and realise there were things we could have done and never got round to.

Some of them are off camping for a few days and my lovely granddaughters who live away are coming to stay next week. I’ve been looking forward to the holidays for ages.

One thing that will get done every day is a dog walk (or swim) before we do anything else.

Early Morning Swim

Dusty loves the beach hut taps. He sprawls out underneath and has a shower as well as a drink.

The beach hut tap

I was quite pleased with this Key Lime Pie I made which has no dairy or eggs. In the photo the middle is still frozen – it looks better once defrosted, but it went too quickly to get another photo… and I forgot anyway. It seems to be one of those things that everyone likes which is unusual. Even trifles don't disappear as quickly as this pie!

Key Lime Pie

Hope you are enjoying the summer!

Gathering Thoughts

I just popped in to keep the blog going because I’ve seen what happens when neglected blogs get taken over and sometimes it ain’t pretty.

Tinks has settled in.

It took less than two weeks and it’s as if she’s always been here. The only downside is that she is an efficient hunter (maybe she had to fend for herself in the past – who knows?). Tinks now has an extra noisy bell on her collar. She’s a bit embarrassed I think, but it’s for the greater good.

Harley never catches anything. She chased a frog the other day, but didn’t attempt to catch him so I hid him away in the shade as he would have had no idea he was being followed by a pacifist cat so would have been terrified, poor thing. 

Every afternoon I go for a walk before I pick the kids up from school. My walk often takes me through the cemetery. Yesterday I decided to sit for a while in the shade of a tree and gather my thoughts, but by the time I got to the school, my thoughts had scattered all over the place again.

Growing Family

Tinks

My son and daughter in law have just adopted Tinks. She is from the same rescue that Harley came from and is about the same age or a little older. Harley will be four this year.

She seemed like a perfect match for us. Friendly, likes children, loves (absolutely adores) dogs and has lived with another cat before.

She spent the first 24 hours in a “safe” room away from the rest of the house, but was allowed to wander round the whole house to get used to the smells and sounds while Harley and Dusty were out of the way.

Dusty in the woods

We should have waited 24 hours before introducing Harley and Tinks, but they met face to face through the patio door. Harley’s tail puffed up, but I think that was just surprise on her part to see a strange cat in her house. They seemed so eager to meet that we allowed them a brief encounter and waited for the hisses and growls.

Harley just wanted to be friends, but Tinks had a little growl and a hiss. They met several times after that and within 5 days they are getting along fine. Not cuddling each other or anything like that, but respectful and relaxed together.

Harley

With Dusty it is a little more difficult. He has always chased cats out of the garden because there are a couple round here who come into our garden with the sole purpose of beating Harley up.

Tinks is not in the least little bit afraid of him. She’s come right up to him and rubbed noses, but occasionally he’ll lunge, so when they are together he has a lead on – just in case. I’ve put a baby gate up on the office door and they spend a lot of time close together but with the gate as a barrier. She is desperate to be near him and he is desperate to play with her.

Making friends

Meanwhile, Harley is throwing herself at Dusty, batting his ears and yelling, “Chase ME! Chase ME!”

I am sure with patience and time and lots of positive reinforcement (they get to eats lots of chicken when they are close together) they will be good friends.

And just as the weather hots up, we have to have all the windows and doors closed so Tinks can’t get out! Phew! Hopefully it won’t be too long before she can go outside to sprawl in the garden with Harley.

Getting My Goat!

Sadly I haven't got a goat - although I would love to have one or a few. I took the photo at an animal rescue centre. Look at that beautiful expressive face, "Stop taking photos and give me more FOOD!"

There are several explanations for the origins of getting your goat. One is that in days gone by, a goat was placed with a racehorse the night before a race as a calming influence and rivals might nick the goat to upset the horse.

The title of this post came to mind because at the time I started writing it, a lot of things were getting my goat and turning me into a grumpy old mare (see what I did there?).

I wrote a lengthy rant about all the goaty things and deleted it. Life’s too short to dwell on the goat getters.

Some upheaval during the past few weeks has resulted in a very tidy house and multiple trips to the tip. I even found a couple of books I’d bought a few years ago for research and never got round to reading. Happiness!

I’ve rediscovered my baking mojo too and have been making lots of cakes every weekend – including Heavenly Nutty Chocolate Cups which aren’t cakes and don’t need to be baked. They are extremely popular with everyone. The kids are always asking when I’m going to make more and they are vegan which pleases my oldest grandson (and me!). And I ring the changes by sometimes using different nuts – I like to use peanuts and cashews.

At the moment school seems to be getting the resident little person’s goat and Harley thought if she went to sleep on her school shirt she would save her. Unfortunately her cunning plan didn’t work – it was a shirt put aside because it has been outgrown.

They’re all more than ready for the Easter holidays and a break from school – and so am I.

Happy Spring!

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.

** 

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.

**

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 6^th 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.