Tag: walk

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 15

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Writing 2026

We were back with mild weather again this morning when Lydia and I had our woodland walk.

She tried a couple of times to remove the bridle and I persisted with a firm “No” each time. I also made her look me in the eye and we held eye contact so she knew I meant it. And for most of the time we had a good walk. I rewarded her for the positives, as usual.

I did a short meditation before taking her out and a longer one after breakfast, followed by the Liberating Prayer.

Though still struggling with some significant aspects of my mental health, I can feel a change happening internally, as if a lot of tension is being released. I know I’ll keep having to work at it, but it’s encouraging. I also slept well last night after going to bed early and being prepared to just lie there until I dropped off.

Later I planted up a hanging basket and trough with the plants I bought yesterday and they do look so much better than they did before, with a bit of winter colour and foliage. I also swept and tidied the front yard, put some boxes in the garage, did a tip run and I’ll be going to Qigong soon.

Trev has been to a couple of estate agents so we’re moving along.

Day 14

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Writing 2026

Waking to snow, I had a lie in until around 10.30 by which time the snow had started to melt so I was able to drive out to a quiet spot with Lydia.

We had a short walk as it was still cold and I was tired. On the way back I stopped at a garden centre to buy some plants and liners for the hanging basket and trough at the front of the house. I’ll plant them up another day. This is one of the few remaining things I need to do before the house goes up for sale. The front door needs a patch-up of paint but I’ll wait till its warmer to do that.

This afternoon, after a rest followed by prayers and meditation, I’ve changed the bed sheets, tidied the kitchen and loaded up the dishwasher.

It’s amazing what a difference it makes having clean bed sheets and the kitchen was an easy tidy today.

Day 11

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Writing 2026

Last night I went to bed around 6pm. I slept most of the time until around 8am, apart from getting up once to get a drink of water and another time to let Lydia out for a ‘peepie’. I do feel better for having had a good rest.

This morning, after meditating and reciting the Liberating Prayer*, I took Lydia out using the new K9 bridle I’ve bought for her. We did OK with it, and though she did try to take it off a couple of times, she wasn’t able to. So we had quite a good walk.

I used the carpet cleaner to clean the carpet in the bedroom we’ve been sorting and, with the addition of a couple of mats, it’s now done.

I went to a yoga class at 5pm and bought fish and chips for me and Trev on the way home.

Lydia enjoyed her tea as well – cooked chicken, some dried food and a raw chicken wing. I also gave her a dental stick.

After she’d finished that she started licking Trev’s feet for some reason. Rather her than me!!!

*Composed by the Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Rinpoche and recited at Kadampa Meditation centres throughout the world.

Day 8

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Writing 2026

With the central heating boiler still not fixed, and having slept fully clothed – including two pairs of socks – I decided to bring my dog walking boots in from the car this morning, before putting them on.

We do have a functioning gas fire so I warmed my boots, and my gloves, in front of that for a while.

It did the trick as my feet were toastie during the walk and only the ends of my little fingers were cold.

Lydia doesn’t seem to feel the cold through her paws or, if she does, she doesn’t let it bother her.

She only tried twice to get out of her new collar this morning and we had a good walk through the woods.

Struggling with some negative thoughts at the moment, I came across a suggestion in one of my social media feeds to thank the thought before letting it go.

I’m trying this, as well as referring to the guidance that came from the New Year’s Eve teaching at Manjushri Centre, choosing to go in the direction of positive; also choosing to meditate as a way of helping my mind to do this. Meditation helps me to find a better place, within.

Day 23

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Writing again

I wasn’t able to visit my friend M today as I usually do on a Tuesday as I didn’t want to take germs into the care home.

My cold isn’t yet fully developed but still lingering in the background.

I took Lydia out for a reasonable walk and since then have been taking it easy. I did put our Christmas tree up though, and made some roasted red pepper and sweet potato soup for our tea.

I’d boiled the bones and carcass from a chicken we’d had earlier in the week, making stock for the soup and providing some ‘Lydi juice’ for Lydia that she enjoyed after her tea. It had turned to jelly on cooling, so nourishing as well as flavoursome.