Author: 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'

I often look back but always move forward, opening to the possibilities that life filled with wealth - in all its forms - can bring

Day 28

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Writing 2026

Lydia and I did a new circuit this morning, continuing on a route that we normally turn back on.

When we encountered another dog I was able to pull her into an area to one side, made up of hay bales. Although she did see the dog as it passed, and did some barking and lunging, she also managed to sit when I said “sit” which I did firmly. I promptly rewarded her for this and made it clear how well she’d done, which of course she had.

It was raining a bit but didn’t feel too cold.

Back home I put the shoulder bag that her harness and leads are attached to by the radiator to dry out. A short time later I spotted her gorging herself on the contents of the treat bag! Oh well, we all have to help ourselves a bit sometimes.

As this now brings me to the last day of my latest 28-day cycle of writing a post a day, I’ll have a break for a couple of weeks. In the meantime I’ll post a previously published post each day as I usually do.

A Woman, a Dog & a Blog: Writing into Life https://amzn.eu/d/fZQtr0K

Rules, Rhymes, Recovery, Recipe, Random: Glad About Life https://amzn.eu/d/6XnH3He

Day 27

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Writing 2026

Lydia and I went to one of our quiet walking places today. There was a bit of blue sky and the sun came out.

Having slept quite well last night and with the cough resulting from my cold improving, I do feel quite a bit better, so much so that I dug up a bush in the back garden. Well, it is three bushes actually, grown together. There is another clump that I’m hoping to dig up tomorrow. The foliage has been eaten by some sort of insect, I think. There are another two bushes/clumps that have similar damage but not as much, so I’m leaving them and the position that they are in works well with the overall garden design. A bit more sweeping and tidying is needed but generally there’s not too much to do, especially at this time of year.

I’ve also done some meditating today, as well as just enjoying being with Lydia. She’s had her tea so is quite settled for a bit more rest and relaxation. Me too (although I haven’t had my tea yet!).

Day 26

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Writing 2026

Lydia and I went to a spot that we haven’t walked in for a while.

There were people with guns further down the track. I don’t know what they were shooting, but she was curious. It may have been rabbits but that’s just a guess.

Anyway, we had a good walk, got muddy, and when we got back to the car she wouldn’t go into her crate as usual.

After failing to persuade her, and securing her precariously – if that makes any sense at all – with my bag that her leads are attached to hooked around the top of a car seat, I set off. She was looking about her and not barking at everything- only when people were a bit close – so I’m taking that as a sign that she’s becoming more confident.

After another restful day – with cough symptoms still lingering – I went out to buy a few things before having a shower and am now back in bed. Lydia is on her bed at the foot of mine.

Day 25

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Writing 2026

Lydia and I had a slightly longer walk again today, even though it was raining a bit.

We both got quite wet and muddy but I did feel better for it and I hope she did too.

Other than that and having our breakfasts, we’ve both rested for most of the day, although I did load and unload the dishwasher a couple of times, and tidied up the kitchen a bit. It didn’t need much.

Day 24

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Writing 2026

We had a slightly longer walk again, Lydia and I, and a quiet one apart from when a man on a motorized scooter passed by with his dog running ahead of him.

I spotted them in time to be able to take Lydia to a reasonable distance and he made sure that the dog didn’t come our way, which I appreciated.

Lydia did bark and lunge a bit but also sat when I asked her to, which I promptly rewarded.

I’ve had another day of rest with my cold, unable to meet up with friends for lunch and I’ll miss the Buddhist class tonight.

I do think the resting is paying off though, while still not recovered I do feel a bit better.

Day 23

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Writing 2026

Lydia and I had a longer walk today than yesterday, showing signs that my cold is getting better, and resting up is helping.

Gone are the days when I was working and had to push on, often leading to further complications such as coughs and chest infections.

I’ve rested up most of the rest of the day and then made tea for Trev and I, including pasta with a stir-in sauce and toasted red peppers. It was tasty and made a change.

Lydia has been my constant companion throughout the day. She didn’t even want to go outside after she’d had her breakfast like she usually does, although she did have a bit of outside time this afternoon, barking at whatever she thought she needed to bark at.

Day 22

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Writing 2026

It was a short walk for Lydia and me this morning as I have a cold coming on and it is a very grey rainy day here.

Lydia didn’t seem to mind, though she resisted when I tried to put on her raincoat before we left the house. Luckily, the rain held off a bit for a while.

Back to bed now, both of us having had our breakfasts and I’ve had a few cups of tea.

‘Feed a cold and starve the flu’ is a saying I’ve heard. I also think it’s good just to keep warm and drink plenty of fluids which is what I’ve been doing.

Day 21

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Writing 2026

After a short walk this morning- it was grey and raining and I gave Lydia a ‘rub-a-dub-dub’ with a towel before she went back into her crate, in the car – I did some shopping, at Aldi.

It was busy – very busy – but I got a parking space, and did my shopping, dropping it off at the front door when I got home before taking Lydia round the back way as usual.

I now have the beginnings of a casserole on the go, and food in the fridge.

Lydia is fast asleep on the carpet. I’ve been resting too although deep sleep eludes me at the moment. Still, I’ve done what I need to do for now and can relax a bit.

Day 20

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Writing 2026

The sheep at the neighbouring smallholding were out to watch me and Lydia as we returned from our woodland walk this morning.

One of the sheep is being trained by a young girl who lives at the smallholding, and I often see the sheep following her round, like a dog. It is very sweet.

The scents and sounds in the wood bring out all Lydia’s hunting instincts and she’s still making attempts to remove the K9 bridle every so often. I’m getting firmer in my ‘No!’ and ‘Stop it!’ responses because I don’t want her to hurt herself and I want us to both be able to enjoy our walks. I think we are continuing to ‘get there’ as she did settle down and also did some lovely loose-lead heel work which I promptly rewarded. We were out for about an hour and a half altogether which I hope helped her to walk off some of her frustration.

We’ve now both had our breakfasts and she’s lying down looking very relaxed, with some gentle music playing.

I don’t have a need or any plans to do much today and I’m going to enjoy doing very little. I’ll be more productive tomorrow but rest for the rest of today.

Day 19

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Writing 2026

I took Lydia with me to the Buddhist Centre, having first been for a walk in the morning.

She was fine in her crate in the car while I worked for an hour – sweeping up leaves around the accommodation blocks – and then I took her out to stretch her legs and sniff around. She seemed to like it, and spontaneously sat when a man walked by – not a hint of a bark at all.

I worked for about another hour, took her out for another short walk and then we headed for home.

I felt so much better after my afternoon exertions than before and worked up an appetite for a lovely – and quite spicy – lamb curry this evening.

We’re both quite tired now – ready for a bit of relaxation followed by ‘sleepy time’.