Pottery & Poetry & Life
Continuing the story of Lydia and Me
We’re camped.
The weather is wonderful, company convivial, fish and chips last night were fabulous, and I’m sure tonight’s barbecue will be even better.
I know Lydia wouldn’t have been able to relax here but she’s in good hands, and we are too.
Continuing the story of Lydia and Me
I needed a rest today; Lydia did too.
It’s raining.
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.
The power comes back on.
Continuing the story of Lydia and Me
Wonderful weather!
I do love the sunshine and warm weather, but it’s also good to appreciate other weathers too.
This morning, walking Lydia, there was a warmish wind and a few spots of summer rain. I love summer rain, the way it brings out all the earthy scents from the ground.
We had a longer walk than we’ve been having when it’s been hot.
I continue to ask Lydia to “sit” and “wait” before she gets out of the car. I think she doesn’t understand why she needs to do this – why would she? – but she’s starting to resist less. I rub her neck and ears and talk to her while we’re waiting, and think this helps. It’s all about rushing less and being more in the moment.
She has really taken to the “sit” and “wait” routine before we leave the house now, and I give her lots of praise as well as treats. When she makes a soft, gurgly noise from the back of her throat, I think I must be doing something right. She just sounds happy.
I did what I do to reassure her when we had cars passing by on two occasions. She didn’t lunge or bark but they weren’t particularly close either.
A man with two dogs who I am familiar with walked by on the other side of a drainage dyke. I don’t think she saw the dogs because of the height of the grass growing on the banks either side, but she did see the man and started to lunge. I did what I do, and she settled. I gave her some “rub-a-dub-dub” massages and we did a few repeats of the “watch” routine before we continued on.
Earlier, before we’d set off for our walk, she barked at a window cleaner working next door. I called out “here” and she did! Progress. Step by step, day by day. Progress.
Progress for me too. I am so enjoying writing this blog and engaging with interactions around the publishing of it.
I had a good sleep again last night. It may have been aided by the cheeky little gin and tonic I had, sitting outside in the not-so-warm weather. I also read a little – an autobiography which has a very sad central theme with many aspects that are essentially and vibrantly life affirming around that. Good to be reading again, as well as writing.
Train your dog; train your mind – positive reinforcement for humans and canines – now available in paperback: https://amzn.eu/d/eQ2sWjU.
The Kindle version is currently for sale at £2.99 on a Kindle Countdown deal https://amzn.eu/d/99yW3Qk.
Continuing the story of Lydia and me
Keeping things simple is key for me just now. I can’t cope with complicated nor do I want to.
What better way, then, than to enjoy the company of friends, as I have done this weekend.
Yesterday I visited a friend – a fellow Ceramic Artist – at the Dovecot Gallery, near Doncaster, where she was exhibiting. It was a summer show in a garden setting, full of colour and creativity.
Today a friend and I visited a friend of hers. We sat together for about four hours, talking. Just talking. It was lovely to have a three-way conversation, each of us bringing in thoughts and ideas from our lives and experience.
My Ceramic Artist friend is a year or two older than me, so in her early 70’s. She started out in her career with clay just a few years ago. Rarely have I come across anyone more passionate about what they do.
My friend’s friend is about 10 years younger than us. Unlike me, she doesn’t enjoy good physical health, but she doesn’t let that stop her expressing herself through her art. She is a talented Textile Artist as well as a dog lover and owner of four canine companions.
While I aim in this blog to be positive about pushing through into a position of mental health recovery that I’ve been working towards most of my life, at the moment I’m struggling to get my brain to function.
Despite enjoying the company of friends, despite the wonderful weather, despite the woodland walk I had with Lydia this morning, I’ve hit a wall.
At least though, now, I know it won’t last, that I just need to rest – which I will – and tomorrow will be another day.
Looking across at Lydia, as I write, she is looking back at me. I’ll give her some more “rub-a-dub-dub” massages later, to help soothe her vagus nerve and I’ll keep doing what I need to do to help soothe mine too.
Train your dog; train your mind – positive reinforcement for humans and canines – now available in paperback: https://amzn.eu/d/eQ2sWjU.
The Kindle version is currently for sale at £0.99 on a Kindle Countdown deal https://amzn.eu/d/99yW3Qk.
Glad About 
You must be logged in to post a comment.