Squiggy. Mid-stroke. Sound asleep one minute, on top of me the next. He likes a good scritch scrotch, twice a day for about 5 mins. He’s got soo much fur. He’s a dribbler. Droplets pool on his whiskers. He doesn’t like his paws being touched 😬 His best friend is called Charlie.
My parents were quite well to do. They had a neat garden and a nice drive so it was a surprise to me (later on in life) that they decided to park an old black rover car in the front garden and leave it there for years going rusty on public display. People walked past it everyday and Mrs King, the next door neighbour, had a few things to say about it. For us kids though, it became the best den in the world. A haven of fun for everyone allowed in. A haven of desire for everyone else. I got to choose. There was an aroma from the brown leather seats, crumbling, weathered and picked apart by small curious hands that is probably my favourite smell of all time. Rich, deep, complex and simple. Primal, cosy, oily, just right.
Don’t you just love Jeff Bridges? He’s been old to me ever since I was a kid. He’s truthful when he acts, with a great screen presence. He made me laugh so much tonight. He turned up as a Texan law man from the 1800s (RIPD). He was totally hilarious and looked younger than ever. 🍿
I love this wall. I love this light. I love all the birds. I love their songs. I love the green grass. I love the cream cat. I love how I’m standing in space. I love my feet balancing on the ground. I love my body. I love how it spins when I dance to Phantom of the Opera.
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I spend almost every second of every day with this man. Simon. What a gorgeous hunk of a human being you are. Life is kinder and funnier with you in it.
While school was fun, home was even more so. By this time my house was full of animals. Four cats and three dogs after our original dog and cat got pregnant at the same time. I don’t know what mum was thinking. What a challenge for her. I loved the kittens and played endlessly with them. I found my soul sister in a little Siamese cat called Amy. We were best friends for her relatively short life. I could often be found skipping and singing round the house holding a long piece of string with a possé of cats and dogs chasing after me. They were good times. I was lucky to have so many animals siblings. It was wonderful.
Squiggy Catto getting down with the vibes.
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Brookfield Primary School was a new fresh school and looked like a gigantic bungalow. There was an old oak in the playing field where children collected acorns and made bird’s nests out of mown grass.
I was nearing 7, an honest girl who’d learnt to keep quiet in certain situations. Once a teacher sternly questioned the class about someone putting paper towels down the toilet (me) and asked for the child who did it to admit to it. Well obviously that wasn’t going to happen and I learnt how to be cunning.
The most melodic of gardens.
Some moments outside in this secluded garden where birds feel safe and flowers grow. Nothing much happens here. This is my recharge. The breeze is fresh and caresses my neck. I’m enjoying breathing in the scents of the flowers. I love this wall. A piece of art.
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Day 11. Had a bit of lumber pain recently. Those showgirl moves taking their toll. But then it disappeared. Like a growing pain. My body strength has increased and my balance too. It feels wonderful to twirl like I’ve never twirled before. Not even getting that dizzy. 🤪
My final year at infant school introduced me to how mean girls could be. Now with Michael Bingley in my class, we would sometimes play PE outside. No games kits back then, just vest and pants. I didn’t have a vest on one particular day so Mrs Beaver made me do it just in my pants. I felt awkward going outside like that but how could I express that to an adult? It would be so easy to say ’no’ now, but back it was a key I did not have.
I became obsessed with marshmallows after seeing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, 1972 (with Michael Crawford - of Phantom fame - playing the White Rabbit). There’s a scene where Alice finds a pink sweet which says ‘Eat me’ on it. Watching that scene again as an adult, I find the sweet scarily garish and something I would never eat, but back then it was the most delicious looking thing ever and in my child’s mind akin to a soft, yummy marshmallow which had to be devoured. And so began the period of my eyes lighting up over Flumps and any other super soft, squishy marshmallow I could get my little hands on.
Just listened to The Music of the Night and the love I have for this song remains. It truly builds in power and imagination. What an amazing storyline. The lyrics are quite exhilarating. I would stay with the Phantom in his opera house if he sang to me like that. 🎶
I remember vividly listening to Phantom of the Opera at home as a child. Dad would crank up the volume. He always had classical music on but these melodies stood out more than others. I dove into a depth of feeling so palpible it made me fly into melancholic sadness sometimes. Michael Crawford sung so sweetly and passionately. I’m going to have a new listen, with 39 year old ears. Thanks dad. You introduced me to beautiful things. 🎶
There’s a fair few cat toys at this house-sit. In a pile. It wasn’t until flies started circling I realised one of the mice wasn’t a toy 😬
I’m watching an awesome series with Tim Roth - Lie To Me - I’m enthralled by the clues, twists and turns. Great actors. Great concept. Great fun. 🎥
I’m a full time housesitter and look after people’s pets when they’re away. I usually only look after cats but I’ve looked after dogs in the past and sometimes I think about looking after dogs again, especially when they look so cute and cuddly in their profile pics.
This is how I begin my thoughts on dog-sitting.
Idyllic dog-sitting fantasy: Running free through a flower meadow with a well behaved, relaxed dog running alongside, smiling up at me. They play and bounce around happily with another dog friend. The sun shines down on the delightful scene of love and joy. I laugh. Doggie comes when I ask. I trust doggie implicitly. Doggie sleeps soundly at night waiting patiently for me to wake up and greets me with loving cuddles, sweet licks and tail wags.
Oh dear (he still seems happy at least).
Cheeeeeaaat Daaaaaaay!
