Terry went down to the local dog grooming shop yesterday to enquire about their rates for bathing a Newfoundland dog. £40 quid!! I woke up this morning, determined to do the job. I mean, how hard can it be? Wendell loves his bath but Hudson has not had the full on, suds job since he was 4 months old. Armed with an armful of old towels, treats and a waterproof toy, Terry and I trooped upstairs, calling Hudson to follow. Not a chance! After much persuasion, we arrived in the bathroom. Half an hour later we just had to concede defeat. He was not getting into that bath for anybody. All the cuddling, persuading and cajoling would not work. He is impossible to lift and lay on the floor as if glued to it. Not even the sight of Wendell jumping joyfully into the water could persuade him; yet he will splash in the sea for ages, even in this weather. £40 quid now seems cheap at the price. They are more than welcome to do the impossible.
Wet Feet
We prepared for a day on the beach, this morning and exited the house. Pandemonium ensued with both dogs feeling argumentative and after much barking and jumping about, we decided to leave one dog at home and Wendell drew the short straw. We had a lovely time with Hudson but have had to return home early in order for Terry to give Wendell his turn. It may have been sunny but there was a biting wind. I don’t know how Hudson can bear to be in the freezing sea.
Cheese on toast and a mug of coffee and I feel lovely and warm again. Hudson is completely worn out and is snoring happily.
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Turner’s paintings at The Turner Contemporary
Turner’s paintings at The Turner Contemporary
How fortunate we are, here in Margate, to have the chance to view these paintings, close up.
JMW-Turner-View-of-Minster,-Isle-of-Thanet-1784
JMW-Turner-A-Street-in-Margate,-Looking-Down-to-the-Harbour-1784
JMW-Turner–Crossing-the-Brook-1815-courtesy-Tate,-London-2011-Oil-on-canvas
JMW-Turner-Minster-Church,-Isle-of-Thanet–1784_compressed
JMW-Turner-Self-Portrait-circa-1790-watercolour-on-paper-Image-courtesy-National-Portrait-Gallery
JMW-Turner-St-John’s-Church,-Margate,–1784-Pen-and-ink-and-watercolour-on-paper
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Just when you think things could get no worse.
Terry signed off JSA 3 weeks ago and signed up for pension credits. Easy peasie, you might think. The department of works and pensions has taken all this time to close Terry’s account and it will still not be finalised for another 4 working days. Meanwhile, the pension credit people’s hands are tied until the account is finalised and then we have to wait another 10 working days. “Get a crisis loan”, they say blithely. Terry was on the phone for over two hours, this morning and the upshot is we can have a loan of £136.28 to tide us over until after the sixth of October. Tide us over!!!! 2 Dogs, 2 cats, 2 humans to feed, plus gas, electricity, sundries and other living expenses….means hard times are ahead. Obviously, the pets come first, so a really unhealthy diet of cheap frozen sausages and chips is forecast for the foreseeable future. I would scream and shout if I thought it would help but really, it is just a time to duck down behind the parapet and get on as best we can. Maybe we shall have a better year, after this dreadful one we are living through.
The phone may get cut off and if it does, I shall lose my internet connection. Hey ho, on we go.
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Talk about a cuckoo!
Hudson, our cuckoo in the nest, is growing so fast, people comment on it in the street. At 5 1/2 months, he is too heavy and strong for me to push him off the sofa. Only bribery or the dreaded pointed finger works. Wendell has learned how to dodge Hudson when he is in full charge mode, which is just as well, for he would be crushed underfoot, otherwise. Here are a few photos, showing Hudson’s progress.
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BLINK
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Amazing Cat
Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
This beautiful specimen is a Manul, otherwise known as Pallas’s Cat.It is one of the first two modern cats to evolve and it hasn’t changed since.The main reason for its survival throughout the ages has been its isolation. In the wild it lives on the Asian steppes at substantial heights – up to 13,000 feet. Based in India, Pakistan, western China and Mongolia as well as Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, it has even been discovered recently in the wilds of the Sayan region of Siberia. The pupils of the Manul are round, not slit-like. Proportionally too, the legs are smaller than cats we know and they can’t run anywhere near as quickly.
Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
Image Credit Flickr User gsbrown99
Image Credit Flickr User muzina_shanghai
Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
Image Credit Tambako the Jaguar
Image Credit Flickr User MacJewell
Image Credit Flickr User Paulo B Chaves
Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
Image Credit Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
Image Credit Flickr User silvain de munck
Image Credit Flickr User law-keven
Image Credit Flickr User normalityrelief
Image Credit Flickr User jinterwas
Image Credit Flickr User law_keven
Image Credit Flickr User sander van der wel
Image Credit Flickr User muzina_shanghai
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Margate Carnival
We traipsed down the road, this afternoon with two over excited dogs, ready to watch the carnival. Wendell was sent home after ten minutes for aggressive behaviour and Hudson immediately calmed down. He met quite a few dogs and thoroughly enjoyed himself.
There was a band playing in the Bandstand and a good crowd gathered to hear them play. Everyone seemed to be having fun.
The carnival went on for ages and then the batteries in my camera packed up, so we came home, to a very frustrated Wendell. I was sad not to get photos of the fair and mini circus but there is always next year.
I apologise for the quality of my snaps; I am rubbish with a camera.
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Royal Victoria Park
I was looking at a beautiful photo one of my friends had posted, of her local park and was filled with a sense of nostalgia. I was born in the city of Bath and spent the first 35 years of my life there. Bath has many parks and gardens but the finest is Royal Victoria Park which was only a quarter of a mile from my childhood home.
My first memory was running off to the park when I was about 3 years old and was found sitting in the duck pond, having a wonderful time. My parents were hysterical with worry but it was just an adventure to me.
The bandstand in the park hosted a brass band every Sunday and we all trooped down there to listen to the music, when I was a small child. The music coupled with the heady scent of rose bushes was a powerful combination and I swear if I hear a brass band today, I can smell rose scent in the air.
The Temple to Minerva, in the Botanical Gardens, provided refuge for me when things at home were too ragged. I could sit in there, reading a book, even if it was raining. I could become calm again. I think I have always loved plants for this reason.
When I got married and had my two sons, Vicky Park took on a whole new role for me, providing places to play hide and seek, look for tadpoles and generally have fun.
I played golf and tennis at the park with my brother and sisters and kite festivals, music festivals and hot air balloon events were all part of the magic. I shall always have a special place in my heart for the place.
Just before I left Bath, there was a lot of vandalism in the park Terry and I spoke to the head gardener and he was despairing at the wanton destruction of the fantastic flower beds.
These days, Victoria Park is once again a shining jewel in Bath’s crown.
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