Skip to main content

Calmer times

So after an emotional week of getting used to there being only one set of paws following us around and greeting us at the door, we are now able to appreciate the calm that has descended on the house. Much as we miss Freya with her ways, we have come to appreciate just how much less stressful it is when we don't have to worry about how she will react to whatever new threat she has got hung up on.

Bertie has taken to the change incredibly well. I'm not sure whether he is missing her and is just is very good at hiding it, but he has been working his hardest to be the best dog in the world. He has been loving having lots of long walks (in the daylight!), meeting new people and being allowed to do things that have previously been out of bounds. On Thursday we went to a friend's house and walked with their 2 dogs which, apart from a few tussles at one point when they were being washed off, went without a hitch. He had a ball charging around with them, and once they realised Freya wasn't involved they accepted him and it was a great walk. We were even able to stay for a cup of tea afterwards without having to lock the dogs in the van for safe keeping. Today Kerrie came for lunch with Gracie.
Previously this meant we had to shut our two in the study because the dynamics just didn't work with the 3 of them, but this time Bertie and Gracie had a big game outside first, then came in and after lots of cuddles Gracie ended up asleep on Bertie's bed with him next to us while we chatted - again, no drama at all.

The kids have also been enjoying this calmer environment. On Friday we went to our first bonfire night in 3 years, obviously we have spent the last couple of years sitting in the boot cupboard in our utility room with Freya as she shivered and shook her way through any loud noises. We've just booked a couple of nights in a dog friendly cottage in Somerset before Christmas. We plan on long walks on the beach and lost of visiting family - with Bertie in tow. Obviously that's me and the girls - Glenn is taking his bike of course!

Upshot of all of this is that while we miss her, we don't miss her. It's sad but we are feeling the benefits. Even I, who was her biggest protector, can safely say that I'm relishing the change. All this said I'm still feeling very bruised, can't look at a photo of her and certainly wouldn't entertain the idea of a replacement for a long time yet. Another upside is that it has brought us closer together as a family. I think seeing me so upset has helped the kids to see (even if it's only temporarily) that I have feelings too and they seem less inclined to ride roughshod over them day in day out. Abi has been particularly protective of me this week - nice to have your kids look out for you once in while when you do it every day for them.

In between all of this work is frantically busy as I try and wind up and close out. Having booked a week off in December to make sure there is a hard stop, I now have 5 weeks left to get everything sorted. The good news is that my master plan of an interim replacement is all in place and, assuming they can agree on commercials, will be up and running in the new year. I've met my new team and they all seem very positive about the changes and me coming on board. I also met my PA (yippee, I have help again!!), and some of the Finance team - so far so good. I'm looking forward to it.

So despite everything there's a lot of positivity. We may have lost Freya but we know we did our best and against what others experience, we are so lucky to have all we do.  Rather than dwelling on we've lost, I'm grateful for all we have.

Completely sparko after 2 long walks, games with Gracie
and all the chicken roast leftovers!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Busy, busy, busy

Full English brunch for these two! Life is VERY busy and I don't feel like we have stopped for weeks (or is that months?) It seems like the 'to-do' list is endless and while I know we don't have to do it all at once, I have taken on the unenviable task of trying to get the Muppet to finish all the work he promised / we have paid for and that has been like pushing a mountain of water up a very steep hill. We've got to the point where I think we have got all of what we are likely to get and the rest we'd rather finish ourselves anyway. The electric gates are clearly a work of his imagination based on the gates / the electric cables he spec'd and the cheapo motor mechanism - there is no way they'll work so we have decided to not bother and source proper gates that do the job and look better as well. Knowing that we are almost at a point where we sever the ties feels very liberating. Looking back this last 6 months has been incredibly stressful and just didn...
Post a Comment
Read more

More frustrations!

An old one to remind myself how cute they were! Sunday evening, back to school after half term and the normal shouting match ensues as we ask where all Abi's kit is and she shrugs and says "it's not my fault..." There are a number of aspects that drive us nuts here - first that her immediate response is denial and abdication of all responsibility, the second that she genuinely doesn't care and the third that it still doesn't help is with where her (mostly new) sports kit is! While this is going on we have Izzy sorting her kit out while weeping quietly because she has decided (18 months after we said goodbye to him) that she misses Scooby! We decided it was just easier to suggest everyone gets an early night and packed them off to their rooms - there really isn't an answer for some of this I think! This week has been a mix of school testing - the kids went of to St Gabriel's for their tests on Wednesday, Abi riding, Izzy doing her gym practice and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lockdown - month 3

Bertie hoping to be allowed to move into Abi's shed As we pass the mark of 2 months in lockdown it has become all very normal - in fact as I walked Bertie yesterday I was resentful of the cars whizzing past me when it's been so peaceful for so long. We have now moved from 'Stay at Home' to 'Stay Alert' (England anyway, the wee Krankie up North refuses to do anything remotely aligned to the rest of the UK on principal). Apparently the majority of the country finds the new message very confusing - " what does it mean?" they ask themselves. This is what the media would have us believe anyway, because what else is there to do in lockdown but shit stir and create confusion when there is no need. We have definitely now  moved past the point of being in this together and gone back to the normal blame game. So much for solidarity. Friday also marked the end of the first half of term, although half term has never felt so much like school, or more accurate...
Post a Comment
Read more