Vignettes and Pets

[Bobby Chariot]

Had check up with our vet Eddie, the big chap is fit as can be, being nearly 12.
One or two teeth on their way out but that's always a problem with Greyhounds as their fast metabolism helps produce excess acids, giving them dental problems.
Weight loss has also reduced since we introduced more carbs/pasta into Buddy's diet & giving him a supplement.
Happy

 

[Oops...]

Sorry I have been missing in action lately but my eyes are up to it at the moment! However, I thought you might like to read a poem I wrote recently! It’s a message to any tyrants you may have or have had in your life. As you may know, I don’t particularly admire the Stefano method of bad language - nevertheless (to my shame) I do swear - just not in writing. By inventing a new Latin word iI think I might have found a way to swear without swearing though . Here it is...and I hope no-one is offended in any way

Zero Fux. (Ode to a Tyrant)

Zero fux are what I give about your good opinion
I don’t collect apologies or rent out my dominion
I have my own well-formed ideas brought home to roost in trucks
And give them greater precedence since I stopped giving fux
You can turn your sour mouth down ‘til it almost hits the floor
You can paint your wretched house brown since I don’t give fux no more
You can preach your testimonials on sins that you perceive
Then give your feet a wipe before you turn your back and leave
Every time you’re present sapping energy in flux
I will cringe and leave you to it since I don’t give any fux
Stop doling out your orders; how to be and how to live
Then I won’t have to demonstrate the fux that I don’t give
You can keep your lofty ideals and your high opinions too
I’m packing up the fux I give and sending them to you...

 

[Oops...]

Dorcas - The Dishwasher Dog

I’m Dorcas the spaniel - your knees may grow weak
At my lovely wide ears both held close to my cheek
I’m active, intelligent, loving and brave
And please rest assured I know how to behave
I was trained with a whistle, I Iearned every pitch
I respond on a sixpence in field or in ditch
I’m a Cocker and I give it welly and clout
When they open the doors and they let me play out
I’m alert and spontaneous with speckled brown paws
And my feathers could earn me a round of applause
I know I am gorgeous, a blind man could see
There are very few dogs as beguiling as me
Oh! Give me fresh air and a beautiful lake
And the great soaring leaps into water I make
I live in The Borders midst heather and flowers
Where Daddy and I go out walking for hours
My Daddy is really the love of my life
There are those who would envy him his lovely wife
She’s a painter you know, and I love her to bits
And I follow her into the woods where she sits
Amongst foxgloves and trees which give cool dappled shade
Where the tall grasses blow on their serried parade
When she finishes painting she’ll throw me my ball
And this is the time that I love most of all
I love my bright kitchen and if I’m alone
Whilst they go out to dine having left me a bone
I don’t mind too much if they both go away
Because now it’s the time I can come out to play
When the dishwasher‘s full - with the door left ajar
I break in and enter my square dining car
With my tail loudly thumping right there on the floor
I inhale the great scent of ‘Le Menu du Jour’
I get wildly excited, my tongue is so keen
To urgently lick all the bottom shelf clean
I know this is naughty but I’ll risk the flak
As I try to climb in to get right to the back
I’m just being helpful and saving them water
As befits a sustainable good-doggy daughter..

 

[AmaliaLana]

Hey guys, I'm just flying by to say I am ok.
Since I have to stay at the office until 16:30h I am so tired all the time and have not enough hours of the day to keep up with tattle. Also, the J. Depp and Amber thing took a toll on me mentally. And I just wanted it to be over, so I don't have to see any comment regarding it.
I am trying to come back soon, I miss you all and our banter. I am just.so.tired.
I hope you are all as well as you can be.

 

[Geranium]

Roo says thank you, Auntie Oops

 

[Namima]

My morning visitor. Peeping in at the scullery window. Although I am in a major coastal city, we have lots of protected wildlife that visit us on the daily - monkeys, mongoose, ducks, egyptian geese, storks. The monkeys love to peep in to see what's on the menu to swipe lol. The monkeys are able to push door handles down to open the doors - doors have to be locked ! The cats and dogs mostly just ignore the monkeys - although the monkeys love to interfere, very playfully, with Kaiser our German Shepherd. He loves it though !

 

[Oops...]

When we were deep into Covid last year and I was just trying to get used to the fear and the isolation I wrote this having cooked myself a really nice meal...I re-read it again for the first time today and thought you might like to as well...I’d previously come across an article on Guardian Angels at the time and rather liked the idea of having one all to myself...probably like you have an imaginary friend as a child I expect...

Angel at my Table

I asked myself to dinner and placed silver on my table
And made a fuss of everything as only I am able
I only had to cook for one since I have isolated
Yet my table (set for two) was pleasing - beautifully curated
It really used to matter how my dining table looked
And it really used to matter how my well planned food was cooked
It really used to matter that the candlesticks would gleam
And conversations flowed through courses and the space between
It really used to matter what I wore and what I said
Yet tonight I’m in my bedclothes since I’ll soon be off to bed
My hair unwashed, my face scrubbed clean, all artifice has gone
Yet there’s comfort in the trouble taken for this meal for one
The candles flicker peacefully and cast their shadows round the room
The news on TV silent now to crush the errant words of doom
No planes, no cars, no traffic; all is just serene and calm
As I sit here I’m imagining a brushing on my arm
The faintest whisper in my ear like muffled sheepskin on a drum
I think I hear the kindest words - “That’s lovely Oops, my dear - well done”...

 

[happyforest]

Happy birthday, dearest @Milking Keynes!

The venue looks GORGEOUS!! I'm sighing at the cello music (my favorite instrument ever!), and at the beautiful company.

@Oops... your wonderful house is quite literally my dream house. Love the stonework, the floors, colours, everything. You have impeccable taste. Truly.

 

[Milking Keynes]

Hellllooooooo - echo - echo...

All is quiet on The Western Front...Just having a tumbleweed moment.

Are you in there dears? X

(I saw a film once of Sarah Fergusson in the food hall in Harrods and there was a biscuit tin with the Queen Mother’s head on it and in front of the cameras she knocked on the lid and said “Are you in there dear?’’).

She’s back! Good morning, @Oops! Ha - I love that Sarah Ferguson story. I think the Lilibet thing is dreadful. Reminds me of my psycho-narc older sister who modelled her engagement ring on my mothers ring - a unique design - then went on to never speak to her again for the next twenty years. Hijack something deeply personal from the very person you are hurting.

 

[fedup90210]

@Miscanthus @Milking Keynes @MissMidnight - We may have to convene on Feng Shui again girls! It’s all up in the air Or is it better for now to stay here do you think? Maybe better here? Xxx

Stay here! (Can I stay? Am I cool enough? )

 

[Bobby Chariot]

The big fellow loves a bit of sunshine, he's been losing a bit of weight recently, despite eating like the proverbial horse, just old age though & the inability to absorb foods like anyone would when younger.
Got an appointment with the Vet next week anyway, for a wee check-up.

 

[Milking Keynes]

Hello, my lovely Vignettes like The Roxettes...

Just had to come here to say that the Leaving Cert results are out today and my Anna got 577 points that is more than enough to get her in to Architecture at UCD. She got 6H2 and 2 H1s - a H2 is a low A, ie 85%+ and a H1 is a high A ie 90%+.

All of you here know that she had a breakdown at the start of the school year and it was a very upsetting time for the family. I wanted to let you know because you have been the most supportive group and I have been absolutely blessed to have you onside this last year. I know @Namima in particular understood the stresses as her boy took the Matriculation Exams in South Africa during Covid. If you were here now - I’d give you a big hug. We thought the year would be written off academically but she managed to pull it out of the bag.

You all also know that I have posted her art on this thread and delighted to say she got a H1 in Art - never before in the history of the school has it been given.

After a year of worry, this is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you guys - I will never forget your kindness and support.

 

[Oops...]

Led by Miss Geranium we all float into the dining room in our floaty, floating frocks. We are all visions of beauty as we delicately sip our Elderflower cordial graciously provided by @fedup90210. It’s more delicious than nectar and we need to make sure we pace ourselves for later. Jamie has cooked everyone their most favourite food in the world to celebrate this auspicious occasion. The dogs are joining us for lunch and are getting along together famously. Teddy Bear and Gem have made sure their bowls are alongside each other. Roo and Casper are having the most amazing conversation about telepathy and why humans can’t do it...Roo and Casper are so proud of their precious gifts. Oops feels compelled to go into the kitchen to find the dog treats but can’t quite understand why...Roo winks knowingly at Casper and then admires his mama’s dress for the third or fourth time today. Sofie has left her hacking jacket outside in the garden along with the belt and has come today in the most beautiful floaty white frock. She looks soooo pretty. Miss Canthus sits next to HappyForest who regales her with some wonderful tales of America, her husband and her puppy who wait for her safely back at home. Dear Fedup pours a little jug full of cordial and leaves it in Oops’s fridge for later. Oops notices this and waves a huge thank you.

To be continued...

 

[Oops...]

She’s back! Good morning, @Oops! Ha - I love that Sarah Ferguson story. I think the Lilibet thing is dreadful. Reminds me of my psycho-narc older sister who modelled her engagement ring on my mothers ring - a unique design - then went on to never speak to her again for the next twenty years. Hijack something deeply personal from the very person you are hurting.

Oh that sounds too awful! I think just SO many of us have suffered at the hands of Narcissists and never understood it when it was happening. It can have a dehumanising effect that might sometimes last a lifetime. There is a lovely woman called Melanie Tonia Evans in Australia who specialises in treatment. She is a great friend of my friend in NZ who is also a much respected therapist.

I think the Lilibet thing might be a calculated step too far. It’s another signalling device which predictably has not been well received but there is a powerful argument they will use to say they did it as a mark of respect. They didn’t. When she runs for President and fails she may vanish into oblivion. I could imagine she will ultimately embarrass Harry by running off with a younger, penniless man in the future. Just for now the pity card is the only card she sees as viable. Its a bit embarrassing but when you are ‘under the spell’ and have had all the love bombing at the beginning you get drawn in. Then you become wrapped up in narcissism and coercion and you just can’t see it. He is fragile and damaged so the perfect target. He’s been sold a version of someone who doesn’t actually exist. She’s manufactured by her own imagination. There is a woman called Lystra in The Real Housewives of Cheshire who is a completely pneumatic, manufactured version of a human. To the extent where all you can do is cringe and thank Upstairs you are not them...Those production teams have a lot to answer for by trying to normalise distortion.

 

[Oops...]

Geranium’s Girl

I’m sure we all (just like we oughta’)
Send birthday greetings to your daughter
And may the time you spend today
Help you to brush your blues away
The sun’s been out the air is warm
Just like it was when she was born
Mercurial and so much fun
That’s Gemini and that’s your Hun...
So give your girl a massive hug
And let her jolly birthday jug
Brim over and make sure she knows
A mother’s love just overflows

 

[Namima]

Ladies look at this beauty !!! Isn't he just gorgeous

 

[Bobby Chariot]

Yes - Nova Scotia I think. I wish more people would consider rescues too. I have always rescued older dogs because people tend to overlook them. My little fellah (photo further up thread) is the light of my life. I don’t think I could have done this last year or so without him tbh.
How many dogs do you have? I had another look at Buddy this morning - he’s lovely. I wrote one of my poems about an ex racing hound - just to highlight the problems they have when their racing career is over. I might put it up for you. Last Christmas on another thread we had a Pantomime featuring all our cats and dogs and horses, rabbits and hamsters...in song and verse. It was called Fur Babies in the Woods. It was a bit of fun. The Greyhound got the girl!


Just the 1 dog just now, all our previous dogs have been ex-racing Greyhounds, we fell in love with them years ago.
Big, gentle things that they are.
The 1st Grey we got was 10 years old & was stuck in a shelter for a good length of time, the shelter put an article in a newspaper trying to get him a home, we saw the ad and went and got him
Although our 1st ever dog, many years ago was a Rottweiler who's owner couldn't keep him any longer.

Yes - Nova Scotia I think. I wish more people would consider rescues too. I have always rescued older dogs because people tend to overlook them. My little fellah (photo further up thread) is the light of my life. I don’t think I could have done this last year or so without him tbh.
How many dogs do you have? I had another look at Buddy this morning - he’s lovely. I wrote one of my poems about an ex racing hound - just to highlight the problems they have when their racing career is over. I might put it up for you. Last Christmas on another thread we had a Pantomime featuring all our cats and dogs and horses, rabbits and hamsters...in song and verse. It was called Fur Babies in the Woods. It was a bit of fun. The Greyhound got the girl! (Ma Pastry).


Oh Monty!! Thank you @Miscanthus. I really hoped you would! (Obviously) I thought you would like Pooh . I don’t suppose you could put Chilli back up could you?


I’ve got to say that this is one of the most hauntingly beautiful photos. He’s just heart-meltingly lovely. There is something about a dog in repose that feels really moving.

We only have the one dog, Buddy, all our previous dogs have been Greyhounds too though, fell in love with them years ago.
Our first Grey was 10 years old when we got him, he was stuck in a shelter for a good length of time, the shelter put an article in a newspaper trying to get him a home & we went and got him.
That set the ball rolling

 

[Oops...]

They all came tumbling and bees came bumbling

 

[Miscanthus]

I went to an art /sculpture exhibition today (just to check they hadn't stuck my paintings in the bin ) and this cutey appeared and posed with the dog for me!

 

[Oops...]

On the theme of Guardian Angels from the other day - I also wrote this one at the time I wrote the first one...I only wrote the two but I loved the idea (particularly at that time) of having one...

To Last a Lifetime

I just bought a ‘Vauxhall Placenta’
From a man in a frock at my door
It’s a delicate shade of magenta
He said ‘Oops...you just couldn’t want more
There are two fluffy dice on the bonnet
The suspension cranks up and then down
Theres a chewed toy of Wallace and Grommit
On the dashboard I hand-painted brown
I’ll throw in this spray for the patches of rust
And this liquid to kill off the mould’
An inner voice told me to give him my trust
He seemed anxious to get this car sold
’You can get a new door from the scrapyard’ - he said
‘The old one fell off just last week
The exhaust pipe’s been fixed with elastic and bread
So you might want to give that a tweak’.
He told me so many were after this car
And I may have to join a long queue
And that was because of the mileage - you see
It had only done eight miles since new
He said it would last me a lifetime
Well - a lifetime was all I required
When I gave him the stash of my last bit of cash
I felt utterly pleased and inspired
There was something about this jalopy
And more to this magnetic man
It made me feel right to invest in this sight
My gut said - ‘Just go with the plan’

Armed to the teeth I went cleaning
At daybreak the very next day
I was full of intent to give meaning
To the woeful sight there on display
The elbow-grease tin was quite empty
And Magenta had started to gleam
It had taken some hours and plenty
Of huffing and puffing and steam
I sprayed all of the rust and the mould disappeared
And the damage seemed very much less than I feared
I paused for a light lunch of soup and some fruit
And then I decided to open the boot...

I gasped at the vision as sorely
I reached for a chair for support
The man in the frock lay before me
He was writing a scrolling report
I was shocked and confused as he sat there and mused
And he smiled at my panic and fears
‘Be not frightened - my dear - get a grip - I am here
I’ve been trying to get through for years
”Oh, my goodness!’ I cried as he patiently sighed
’You’re so beautiful - dazzlingly so...
There’s something about you - it feels like I know you
I really don’t want you to go!’
He hitched up his frock and climbed out of the boot
And shook off the remnants of old dust and soot
He took a long stretch and adjusted his rings
And then he turned round and he flapped both his wings
Well...That did it for me and I fainted
I was comatose there on the floor
The vision this being had painted
Meant I just couldn’t take any more
I couldn’t get up gentle reader
I’m afraid that I just wasn’t able
So gently he took me in both of his arms
And we floated indoors to my table

He filled up the kettle with water
And made me a nice cup of tea
He said he’d been with me for all of my life
And he knew me much better than me
His kind words were generously healing
And soon I fell into a sleep
My senses and heart had been reeling
And I think that I slept for a week
I look for him round every corner these days
And he’s only a whisper away
He sends me advice when I’m feeling unsure
And I know he will last me a lifetime - or more...