I love my dog.......but

Afternoon walk with dog (Off leash) down to the shoreline to see what the storm had done at the waters edge. Dog (See centre of poor picture below) goes out of sight while I'm doing a spot of beach combing. Dog is not required to be on a lead in this area, so I'm quite happy to let him run free.
Stopped to watch Sea Otters fooling around in the water a couple of hundred yards away and didn't notice that Dog had gone his own sweet way. Spent a short while replacing a few rocks in the home made beach stairway (It's a sort of a local thing, everyone who uses the path helps fix it) so I could easily return to the woods from whence we had arrived. I was so busy that I did not worry that Dog was nowhere to be seen. Usually, he never strays far from me, so I didn't concern myself overly with his absence.

A quarter hour later, having finished what I was doing, I set off up the steep slope home. Called dog repeatedly, worried somewhat if some of the more carnivorous local wildlife had invited him for an informal lunch. I couldn't hear or see anything of him, which was less than usual. Swore under my breath at the disobedient animal, then climbed the track and strode down the short lane to our house, hoping that the stupid animal was okay. Went to the back door and called him. No response. Called for Mrs S repeatedly. Neither responded. Turned the air a pale shade of cobalt with my language, shut the door and quickly retraced my steps.

Mrs S was coming up the other path from where we had been beach combing, obviously worried sick because dog had arrived home without me. We returned home, glad that everybody was fine. "When Dog came back on his own, I thought you'd fallen down the cliff." She said. "I waited. but it was getting dark."
"No, the damn animal buggered off without me." I responded, and gave her a hug for caring.

Dog has forfeited post walk biscuit for running off home without me and worrying Mrs S sick. I hope he understands why.

On the lighter side, it could have been worse, I could really have fallen and been unable to call for help. Even so I was carrying my phone to call for help if need be. We're out at the edge of civilisation here, and the downside of living here is that there are Bears and Cougars around, and even I would be an easy lunch for one of them had I really been hors de combat. As Mrs S remarked. "There's a lesson here."

Yeah, keep an eye on the dog, and don't let him prance off on his own to worry everyone else to death. I do love my brain dead mutt, but sometimes, just sometimes.........

A little stressed out

The past few days have been highly stressful. Although I believe the received wisdom is that moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do short of lose a close family member. How in the name of the Gods did we accumulate so much junk? I swear I'm almost vibrating with the nervous tension. Considering I used to do what is considered a high stress occupation, this is not funny at all. This is despite the kids moving out and going to live with their dad for a year or two and a comparative calm enfolding the general day to day domestics. The sensation of 'we're not coming back here again' is somewhat disconcerting to say the least.

Tell you the truth I'm glad to be getting out of soggy old England for a while. All this rain and the greyness of it all is getting really depressing.

Mrs S, the dog and I are taking ourselves out of the country on a long leave of absence to Canada on Tuesday. Flight AC897 from Heathrow is booked to waft us westwards to the far flung forests of British Columbia. I intend to spend my time travelling, writing, hunting, fishing and cooking. I'll blog when I can and let God take care of the rest.

We're having a farewell lunch with my Mother today, and I'm expecting the usual interrogation from my Brother who seems to want to find reasons for us not to go. I'm trying to be diplomatic around him, but his incessant "Have you done this?" and "Well what about that?" is really getting on my nerves because the answer is "Yes we have thought of this, and we've signed the paperwork on that. Give me a break will you?" It winds me up tighter than a spring. I love my close family, but sometimes they can be such a trial. This goes for Mother in Law who keeps calling when Mrs S and I are settling down for some quality time together.

Also today is a little throwing out party where we're trying to give away a lot of the household stuff we're not taking with us. We've laid on a mini barbeque and some booze for the neighbours this afternoon. All the good stuff we're giving away will be on a table and we're hoping for the best. Failing that the rest will all go when the house is cleared.

Just over fifty five hours left until take off. God speed the hours.

YEE-HAW!

Got a text message from Youngest. It read BOO YA! This means she has passed her driving test. I replied YEE-HAW!

This happy news means that there are now four drivers in the Sticker household. Self, Wife, Eldest and now Youngest has passed we’ve got the set. Only the dog will not have a full driving licence, but he’s just had his anti-rabies updated and none of us have, so he’s not been left out.

I knew she was good enough. Now all she’s got to do is earn enough to pay for her petrol, as the old man (me) is going to tell her that as a grown up she can now go out driving on her own, but how far she goes and where she goes is down to her. Today my colours are bright and I shall smile at life.

Won’t get her off a parking ticket if she errs, but she knows this and I am very proud of her.