Nosy neighbours, painting by numbers and My day with Reggie…

Saturday…

It started out with that odd other worldly kind of morning, one that myself and Jesse seem to alternate with…living a long distance, yet very much together relationship isn’t for the faint hearted or those like myself of a nervous disposition…we are in each other’s company 24/7 via our umbilical cord phone link, we know each other’s little peculiarities, there’s absolutely no privacy, it’s a good job neither of us,Are into picking our noses or scratches bits we shouldnt😁, ….Jesse is often fond of recanting the tale of the first time I fell asleep while on video chat…..(See I snore, I won’t lie, I can’t hide it,it’s what I do, and I have been an expert snorer since early childhood, then it was funny, maybe cute) Now I sound like a Pneumatic drill in a small room with you without any ear protection…I was horrified, thought he would run off on me, Mr puss and Cumsy his dog hot on his heels, But no! , he just likes to tell folks at gatherings, me mortified and ashamed, him getting the laughs 😁. But living this life throws you curve balls, it is odd, strange and hard to put into words,. We are, and feel very much like any other couple, a pair, Married even….yet living hundreds of thousands of miles apart, linked always mentally,But with a huge gulf keeping us from each other physically, as I say it makes for some odd moments..hard to put into words really…

Some days I feel almost dazed, shell shocked, in a wakeful dream state, this was one of those aforementioned, .I had showered, and was quietly sipping my first caffeine infusion for the morning…trying badly to piece together my world, and failing at it dismally, ..Sun streamed through the living room window, a cool soft May morning breeze playfully blowing the net curtains, through a cracked open window,. Jesse was already working on his morning routine, keyboard tapping, email notifications, and the odd expletive😁, just breaking up the peaceful silence….As I took another Gulp of my hot brew, staring out of the window in my daydreaming world, I was bought back to earth by a sudden movement at the open window….my attention now fully drawn to that space, I noted a large wood pigeon, the size of chicken, just staring right back at me, …his curiosity causing his head to tilt side to side…a gleam in his black beady eye…

Not content with just looking at me from his side of the glass, like one nosy neighbour of the past ,he needed a closer look…., almost as if I was some kind of strange exhibit at yesteryear freak show.,. He cheekily poked his head through the gap in the window…looking at me first with one eye, head cocked, the sun gleaming on an iridescent purple patch of plumage, …it seems to me, he couldn’t believe what was there before him,. so turning his head he checks out the scene more closely with his other eye…his whole head by now in the window, not a care in the world, even balancing his beautiful plump dove grey body, on my narrow window ledge didn’t daunt my new friend….when he did slip at one point, he flew back up on top of the nearby house shaped bird feeder, where his patient mate sat waiting…they looked at each other, (I fancied I could almost hear him almost say, ” you,’ll never guess what I’ve just seen Petunia” ….Then as if to be sure, he flew back, his Podgy little body smacking loudly against my window in his ungainly attempt at an impromptu landing…this didn’t bother him, he flapped his wings wildly until a perfect balance was indeed achieved, he shuffled along the ledge as if some long ago trapeze artist…back to have another look, we sat there for some time, looking at each other, me not moving a muscle, him tilting his head to get the best view….I couldn’t believe his cheek until it dawned on me all at once….I hadn’t been out to feed them that morning 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁.

Monday ……

I had put off painting, the what I can only describe as an off white, with blue undertones, badly chipped living room window sill…I had a thousand excuses,the major one was it needed sanding down to remove the very chipped yellowing old white gloss,.this with no sand paper or sander, you could say the excuse was somewhat viable if not legitimate…., Only even after I had indeed purchased said mouse type Sander …I hid it in the dark bedroom cupboard away from view😁, ..(Electrical things bother me, plus I’m clumsy, accident prone at best, And when it arrived days previous, Jesse put a hand up to his eyes, shook his beautiful head and groaned to himself…..Implement of torture waving precariously on my left hand…I ask ” what? ” ….he looks up at me a resided look on his now worried face, ” oh nothing honey” …..But that was days ago, I now had that excuse no more, I had the new shiny tin of unopened white gloss ready, ….But in my defence I had packed up my paint brushes to move….soooooo what’s a girl to do? order some from Asda of couse….they were bringing my shop anyway…so may as well…..Brushes came with the milk, salads, fish, and oooops, (large bag of vegetable crisps) well I needed the extra energy right?, Have to keep my strength up!!!!!!😁,

Brushes now here(tick),paint(tick)Sanding down without even an incident(tick)Veggie crisps(huge fat gorgeous luscious tick)……I had run out of excuses, time to paint ……Moving the curtains to a safe distance, ( who am I kidding), securing the tin of paint, from knocks and spills😁, …paint opened, whisked with an ancient fork😁😁😁😁😁, well it worked!!!!…..I began the tentative job at hand,.I mean I have painted on numerous occasions, but normally I’m the one mostly painted…..But I worked long careful strokes, slowly covering the area, taking into account something the master of the affro, wizard of the paint wand, celebrity of deep calmness, Bob Ross(yes I know he does landscapes, happy trees, and little fluffy clouds) but this was my world and I had heard the long ago word from the paint God…., paint long back and forth strokes with oil paint….not zig zags or side to side,. Forthwith channelling fluffy white snow scenes, I soon covered the area, with no drips, no runs, and more importantly none upon me😁, I left it to dry, Windows open, I hate the smell of gloss paint😒, my head already aching, nose stuffy, but I sat back, with some deep satisfaction at doing a good job, making me smile, I didn’t only do the first coat well, the second was actually better( I know your all shocked right?!!!!!) Its maybe only a small achievement, but it was all mine….I did it and was proud of my somewhat professional finish….

I sat later upon big red( my comfy sofa) a large mug of sweet, hot chocolate goodness in one hand to celebrate, eyes closing, deep in thought…I heard what I thought to be a tapping upon my window, First thought, it’s that blooming pigeon back for more food, . Closing my eyes again I lay back against the firm cushions, relaxing away the day…….Rap Rap Rap! This time more insistent, louder, ……it broke through my quiet revelry, my oasis of still….I looked up and there I saw my next door neighbour through the window….she’s a lovely friendly young girl….now looking slightly troubled, somewhat anxious, she at once apologised for disturbing me, …..I Smile as friendly as I can, the niceties of being around fellow humans a long off thing….And I’m not so sure If i actually smiled or grimaced, ……but I do my best to put my young neighbour at her ease….She garbled out a nervy jumbled sentence, something about Reggie their puppy….And no one to mind him the next day…..it was to be a long day….from 5:30am onwards…..oh boy, ..but find myself agreeing anyhow, but to what though😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

If you have ever had a puppy or young dog, you know all too well it’s something akin to sitting a hyper two year old on a chair for hours, feeding them every preservative or E number know to man kind….then letting them loose….I’ve been fortunate or is that unfortunate to have had countless experiences of raising puppies….(I survived Justttttt!!!!!!!)…. I agreed to watch Reggie for the day…who wouldn’t,? because despite it all I miss having dogs about me, puppies are just so bloody adorable, yes they pee, they poop everywhere, including in your best shoes😁, they chew every sodding thing in the surrounding area…including your fingers…..they yip loud, yap louder…..but when those huge eyes look into mine…..I’m overtaken by maternal instinct, I’m ready to defend the little(Sod) dear with my life, I melt……So I agree to rise at the crack of dawn, I’m going to have to put on real adulting clothes and take care of Reggie pup…. It seemed such a good idea at the time folks!🙄.

I actually wake up at the unearthly time of 4:30am Tuesday Morning…it’s light out, (just), Normally this is would be the time I’m going to sleep, but here I am, I would like to say wide awake but that’s doubtful….but I’m trying hard to do some kind of poor imitation of it anyhow……I make my coffee strong enough to strip off the paint I had so carefully applied the day previous, ….head pounding, I know the best thing is to keep moving, if I don’t without a doubt I’m going to lay back down and just Sleep….but that’s out of the question…, I wash, dress and down more scalding coffee,(no thought, that within minutes I’m going to have one bundle of fireball energy on my hands and I’m going to have to either leave him trashing my living room like a heavy metal Group in a hotel room or hold it..forever!!!!…..it’s early I can’t think at all!!!!!!!😁,

There’s the long awaited knock, .I open the door, to a very flustered puppy mum, thanking me profusely, over and over, before I had even done anything…..(I’m confused, worried even, is there something I should be concerned about here?) in her some what over laden arms, are pillows, a large container of dog treats, puppy biscuits, assortment of chews, bowls, puppy milk, toys, in fact enough food for two puppies for at least the month, but last but least I’m handed a little black bag of something that doesn’t smell the freshest …..she smiles and proceeded to tell me Reggie is being fed fresh raw meat….(my minds instantly thinking this isn’t quite so fresh😝,….before anything else is said, in comes her partner, holding a wriggling bundle of chubby puppy…….I can already tell this is going to be fun,. his handed to me, his warm little body instantly calming, his turning his head, his long raspy tongue going ten to the dozen smothering my face in delightful puppy breath kisses, And it is a delight…memories of my own dogs as puppies flood to mind, I’m instantly taken back, and his parents are now leaving, calling back I love you to the squirming bundle, and it’s obvious they do,, now we are alone …..

I close the door behind them and put my young charge for the day on the floor, …he immediately does a puppy reconnaissance…..sniffing every last inch of the floor, I begin that age old thing all puppy parents do….watch! And hold my breath……where will he Pee first?……But his too busy running, dashing up and down, tail wagging furiously one end, nose to floor the other……I sit down instantly tired, just from watching him, my head moving back and forth like someone at a Wimbledon tennis championship, this goes on for thirty minutes….back n forth, up and down…..I pull out toy after toy like a manic magician…..fluffy pink pigs, pink rope toy, balls, and chew hides, my floor is smothered in anything a dog could want in no time,……well not this dog…watching this endless energy, I’m not sure whether to contact the national grid or start eating raw food myself……his energy is boundless, and mine has left the building just watching him at work…..

Within an hour, (yes a whole hour) Reggie finally finds his pillows, Flops somewhat exhausted on to the nearest and sleepsssss,!, His sweet little snorts, grunts and grumbling filling the air…And I follow his lead and catch a brief nap while the going is good…..the moment he wakes my years of training, have me up, shoes on, his lead on him and out the door….It’s cold outside still, in fact you can see your breath in the air, And there we are, walking up and down in long wet grass, Everything is interesting, new, wonderful to my puppy friend, except for peeing……we chase leaves, play with twigs, watch birds fly, walk around in circles, wrap your leash about the human legs countless times, anything but pee…..by now the large mugs of coffee are working and if this puppy doesn’t pee soon I’m gonna…..I stand legs crossed, just praying to the Pee gods(his not mine)…..it works finally!!!And he goes, I congratulate my little companion, fussing over this wonderful achievement, then run in the house, puppy running not far behind…….I get in the bathroom, sit,. close the door ajar behind me….when bang!!!!!, In charges sir,…All perfectly natural of course…..everyone wants to be watched by a puppy head cocked on one side right! ….🙄😁

The day was I would like to say fun packed…And to the most it was, never a dull moment, from finding his reflection in the heater glass and bravely keeping us safe from the beast within, to his back chatting when I told him chewing up my carpets was not permitted, indeed frowned upon, …I spent the day mainly running out at any moment’s notice, waiting on that elusive Pee, …for the first time in an age although I was tired, it was a good tired, a happy tired…Reggie Sat on my lap at every opportunity, his warm little body pressed close, I felt needed, amused, and enjoyed his company…Even Jesse said he knew from my voice I had loved every minute of my day with young Reg…..At 7 that evening he went back to his parents, they were most pleased to be reunited….to have their family complete….I at once felt bereft, the house silent, empty…..all that remained of mine and Reggies day, were bits of chew treat strewn across the carpet, a couple of toys I given him, lay like ghostly reminders of my tiny friend….later I could hear him barking as he played next door, he was happily back with his parents, as indeed it should be, but it was also a sad sound for me as I knew I would miss him, even miss his stinky botty burps and foul smelling food, that night as I went to the bathroom, I waited, fully expecting the door to fly open and him stood tail wagging, which of course it didn’t,, my house lay all at once silent, still and empty, I hated clearing away the toys later that night, it was a sad reminder of my own dogs, but for all that I had enjoyed my small friend for the day…take care my friends.💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🐕🐕🐕💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕💜💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🌹💛💛💛💛💜🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛 …….