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.
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.
I woke this morning to the sound of heavy shredding. Contractors next door were clearing the house of ivy and putting it through a machine. I could almost hear the walls of the house breathe a sigh of relief, as they were exposed to fresh air and sunshine for the first time in years.
Ivy can look attractive – I have set some to grow up and around the front wall and railings of our house – but it needs to be cut back heavily and regularly, otherwise it just takes over.
With my cold still working its way through, I took Lydia for a shorter walk this morning than we usually do, then headed back to bed.
She didn’t seem to mind the shorter walk – she’s such a treasure – and came up to join me in the bedroom, so we’ve both just snoozed and rested on what is, outside, a grey damp day. Fortunate then, to be warm and comfortable at home with nothing much to do other than boil up some chicken bones to make stock for soup that Trev is going to be making later.
Today I pile on warm clothes push toes into boots hands into gloves fix helmet on head put pressure on one pedal after another with grey treads turning on icy tarmac in reflective waistcoat I propel myself down the hill looking like a wasp on wheels
Feet freeze into tennis balls wind works its way in between folds finding skin it’s an easy ride but I’m glad to arrive at work this morning
Evening comes and I do it all over again this time lungs stretch and scream at the incline that challenges me to stop but thoughts of home and rest are the pull
Pushing, pushing, pushing keeps the wheels turning until I arrive at the gate maybe a bit late hair wet with sweat pedals finally still pushing finished for today
She shows no interest in or inclination to go out in it.
We’re normally both all-weather girls, but today I have no interest in or inclination to go out in it either.
I leave the back door open so that she can go outside if she needs to, and go back to bed.
On checking my phone mid-afternoon, I see that it’s still showing the “connect charger” message.
There is no light on the extension board and no light comes on when I press the wall switch. We have a power cut.
My phone charge is low so I turn it off, in case of emergency.
Thankfully, I can boil some water on the gas hob so make myself a cup of tea.
This is a ‘down day’ but not a ‘down day’.
The depression that I’ve been working through most of my life has gone, as has most of the more recent anxiety.
I’m tired – of course I am – but I’m neither ‘down’ nor ‘out’. I’m OK. We’re OK.
When I look over at Lydia, she is gently licking her paws and doing what she needs to do to look after herself, like I do.
For now, that means doing very little, and that’s enough.
Later we do go out for a walk, between showers.
When I give Lydia her tea, feeding her by hand as I always do, she waits a full two minutes in the “stay” position before I reward her with a raw chicken drumstick.
As always, I remind anyone and everyone to take veterinary advice on any aspect of dog feeding and nutrition. I only know what works for me and Lydia. All dogs are different, just like all people are different.
Glad About 
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