5, 4, 3, 2, One

 

So one week to go! The last week before I fly on Sunday 11th, is going to be a bit manic, it’s a week of two halves, the first half, when I will be finishing off the dog sit, the second half at home. The day before I go, I will be me helping at the TRHA Autumn show, and in the evening, an  av voir moment at Burattas’s a local pub, that I helped get known about, by having them added to the Good Pub Guide years ago. It’s a popular venue in the village, and well deserved. I am going with my neighbours and a couple of friends. 

Sunday 28th August

So the first full day of my dog sit in a nearby village, well a dog, cat and three chickens, and a few horses in a nearby field. ( I am not looking after the horses) It’s a super house with a swimming pool, lovely garden and a really nice family. Bonnie the dog, a Manchester Terrier is very animated and during a walk at Henley yesterday, caught and despatched a mouse in seconds. Today we did a a walk with a friend, her dog and son around Waltham St Lawrence. Meanwhile Bonnie mugged me at six thirty, clearly wanting her breakfast. After which we walked around the garden, planes circling above us, on their final approach to Heathrow. The days of no planes and lockdown, seems an age away. The cat Simba then needs feeding,  but generally does his own thing. Bonnie does chase Simba about from time to time. The chickens supply me three eggs daily, they have a run and a fox proof pen and hut that I put them in, in the evening. It can be a bit of a job to get them in there.

The walk around Waltham St Lawrence went well, no rodents were harmed during the walk. The two dogs largely ignored each other, which to timid Bonnie was best. We had a drink in the pub, The Bell and a couple of dishes of skinny chips. Back home I listened to the Belgium F1 race, while Bonnie slept. I have been feeding a couple of other cats in the village for a fellow pet carer. I did some watering for the owner, she has some pots that were looking a bit dry. Back at our house, my hand made water jump for the dog assault course seems watertight, it’s coming together nicely.  I have finally signed and sent off the house contract, so I just need to landlords bank details to pay him for the first months rent. 

Monday 29th August 

The photo below shows the chickens out in the open, the left hand side of their hut in the enclosed bit is where I have to get them in the evening.

 

Overhead there are swallows in the air catching insects to feed their young in their nests built under the eaves of the house. We don’t see swallows at home. I remember years ago seeing them in their hundreds lined up on electric wires, waiting to fly back home in the autumn. It’s amazing how many things like that are no longer around us. This morning we did a walk round this house, I used  our Reading OS map to plan the route. We went to Waltham St Lawrence and I ended up seeing paths and countryside that I had not visited for years. It reminds me on Serifos, I ought to do a good walk each day, maybe in the mornings.  This afternoon we had a visitor, the lady who was going to look after Bonnie and will do so over the Xmas holiday. I   helped her with her iPad. After which we did a lovely walk with Bonnie. A sanguine point. As we went into a field we all saw some deer. If Bonnie had not been on a lead she would have taken off, we could have lost her. 

Tuesday 30th August 

So a walk with Bonnie and a friend and her dog around nearby Dinton pastures. The other dog Sunny is usually a bit moody with other dogs, but within seconds he wanted to push his face into Bonnies. Love at first sight! It was really funny to see, Bonnie wasn’t so sure, but they walked nicely together and tomorrow evening I will pick them both up and we will go to Charvil lakes. After this I went with Bonnie to our house and planted several plants I got to fill in the gaps in the garden. In the afternoon, I picked up another friend, and we had the and cake outside in the garden. It was nice to catch up with her news, as she has been away on holiday recently. I also cleaned up the upstairs bit of the chicken coop and put in fresh straw and got another three eggs. I finally get the landlords bank details and he should now have his September rent. There is a rent end document that I now need to sign, but it’s not clear where it has to be signed. It also doesn’t have the last day of June as the last date! At the end of the day, walking around the garden with Bonnie at my side, putting the chickens to bed and checking all is well. Simba the cat was in the garden stalking something I suspect. I have picked up the dog  tunnel, paper plates, cups and serviettes, so nearly ready for Thursday.

Wednesday 31st August  

So on our morning walk about the garden after Bonnie has had her breakfast, there is a tick box of things that have to be visited. Miss any off and she will plant her feet down and look at you, saying come on we haven’t been there yet. But as soon as she is back in the house, she will be fast asleep again, waiting for me to have my breakfast before we take her out for her walk. During the walk we met two ladies who knew Bonnie and her owner. I have had to leave her for a couple of hours today, I don’t like doing it as she loves company, I am a link between her and the travelling family. Because she is timid, I am careful when I play with her, but she is licking my ears now, playing with me and that gives me more confidence. I tried her with small bits of my breakfast fruit, it was all consumed. She is also playing tug with me and one of her toys. Very often when she sits next to me she will bury her head into a bit of me.

This morning the car was covered in dew from last night, a sign autumn is on its way. I had to leave Bonnie as I was looking after Walter for a few hours.Walter the cocker spaniel is a very different dog. Full of confidence and exuberance, the way most puppies are. He was rewarded by a walk to Charvil lakes which he loves. In the evening we went to Charville lakes this time with Sunny and his owner then a quick drink in the pub nearby, which has a river Ford by it.

Thursday 1st September 

The party day. So before it all starts, another walk with Sunny and his owner and then a visit to the house to put everything in the car. I am not taking Bonnie to the party , but she will have company. But before all that I was in for another anxiety driven bad nights sleep. Almost certainly overthinking tonight’s party. If you get anxiety you can imagine what’s going on in my head. If you don’t it’s hard to explain how a joyous event with your friends can cause you so much angst! Interestingly Bonnie decided she did not want to settle and sleep on her chair and barked after I put her to bed. Did she think I needed some company as I lay there tossing and turning? It could be. Dogs are much more aware of the surroundings and emotions in you than we realise. So she lay on the bed, right in the middle and left me to find my own space. I hope it doesn’t happen tonight! It’s not a habit her owner will be happy to have when she returns.On the admin side, Hazel is arranging Health cover like hers for me in Greece and has asked the policeman who handle resident permit requests for an appointment, we need to do this, he is on the island of Syros.

At lunchtime I walked with Bonnie to the nearby Bell, and we shared a sausage sandwich. On the way the heavens opened and we got a bit wet, but soon dried off. I left her at five to set things up, having tried to set things up in the garden to make sure it should all work. 

Friday 2nd September 

Before talking about the party, this morning while in the bathroom, Simba dropped in. Probably to remind me he wanted the breakfast. Luckily Bonnie slept ok in the kitchen. Anyway I thought cats did not like water but my feet were licked and Simba nearly got in the shower with me, but decided against doing so at the last minute!

So I left Bonnie and went to the St George’s field to set the dog agility course up. It mostly worked but was a bit windy. Gradually people came along and the cakes arrived. 

The cake for humans featured a map of Serifos with the major conurbations also indicated, with the port and where I am going to live. Carol had thought of doing a three D version, but this was perfect. I had sent her photos of all the dogs I know and around the edge of the cake there were little characters of them. Some of the owners got to eat their own dogs heads!  The dogs cake was shaped like a bone and it was also nice ( yes I had a taste) It was just so lovely seeing so many people with their dogs and children. One child hand made a card with Greek arches and a dog, with a greeting in Greek, he owned up to using Google Translate and why not! There was a mix of all ages and one person who came, told me she met people she had not seen for ages and it was such a lovely experience,  just good old chatting, sharing stories and laughs. But tinged with sadness, the idea of leaving the village, but also the people and dogs who were not there to share the day.

The assault course got more use by the children, which was good. As it got darker and the sunset hovered over the field, we got a few drops, then more persistent rain. We all went inside and everyone helped clear up. I have a bit of human and some dog cake left over. I got a lovely welcome when I got back with Bonnie and had a couple of glasses of wine. 

After taking Bonnie for a walk in the morning, I took all the agility stuff to our house, and then did some work for a friend. In the afternoon, I have been putting together all the photos I got of the party, sending emails and opening cards and gifts I got from my friends who came to the party last night. It will be a quieter night tonight, be nice to relax!   The party photos are here