6. June and July. Survival,
Updated: Sep 9
So, we all survived the holiday. Sadie and Jim were able to bond while I was away, which was wonderful. She still leaves the kitchen when he comes in through the back door, then comes back again, but it seems to be fear of whoever is wearing the cap. Jim wears a baseball-style cap, which Sadie does not like; obviously, it triggers some bad memory.
I survived too, though having to drive in the first heatwave was not fun. Because of accidents on the motorway, we were diverted across Saddleworth Moor, and a two-hour-and-a-half journey turned into a four-and-a-half-hour epic. Still, it was a lovely week with the family. When we arrived home, Sadie was ecstatic. She greeted Sammy first who was clearly quite miffed to find Sadie still here and ignored her. Bizzy was thoroughly sniffed—just in case she had been up to something while she was away. I was last, but I was smothered once I sat down, much to Sammy’s annoyance, as he tried to push into his rightful place on my knee! Sadie followed me around and was very helpful with the unpacking. I threw the washing on the floor—as you do—ready for sorting and washing. Sadie re-sorted it so that the knickers, socks and bra were all in one pile back on the bed with my PJs. She does like to help.
June and July were difficult months with the dogs. With such hot weather, we had to get up very early to take Sammy and Bizzy, and sometimes collect Bertie, my granddog, to go to the field or just have a quick walk around the village. We did have a few days with no walks, as it was simply too hot, even some early mornings. The dogs were not impressed, but I suspect that Sadie was secretly delighted that we stayed home.
Sadie does not do well in the heat. She is the picture of health now: her short, straggly coat is thick, shiny, and soft, her colours have changed beautifully. The cream is now white, and the dull beige has become a light red, with lovely deep red (ok its ginger) tones in places. Very stylish, really.
Anything new, or anything in the wrong place, is scary for Sadie. We have a portable air cooler, which used to belong to my rescued chinchillas—the last one passed away aged 20—and a portable air conditioner, because our little bungalow is so well insulated that it heats up and then never cools down. Both machines were terrifying to Sadie at first, so we started with the cooler first at the far end of the room. Eventually, she got used to it over a few days. Now it sits in front of the settee where the dogs lie, and Sadie is first in the queue for the cool breeze. Apparently, scary monsters are acceptable if they provide air conditioning.
Toileting is still a problem. If we are outside all day, she plays in the garden and uses the garden. We have had several 24-hour periods when she was clean, but if we are in the house, she uses the pads. If we move the pads, she pees where they were. As we still cannot take her out by the collar—she panics if you try to move her that way, if we try to coax- she gets very worried—we now keep saying “wee wee” when she goes in the house, and we are trying teaching her the word “garden” when she is in the garden, then hopefully we can put the two together, not working yet, hopefully soon. She is always clean at night, clever girl.
But she has made progress—huge leaps, really. She has become much more adept at stealing things. Anything goes, she only really distroys toys and paper, in fact I often give her a piece of paper which she can spend ages ripping up ( she doesn't eat it, so stop right there!) which I then have to pick up but hey ho! its something to do as she gets bored easy, despite, toys, puzzles etc.. She still grumbles at people she does not know, but she comes round slowly, usually within about 20 minutes, if they talk to her but do not put their hands out. Sadie likes introductions on her own terms, thank you very much. Sadie follows me around as does Sammy, I'm forever having to climb over dogs, toys and of course the washing.
I’m getting quite into this writing lark now — someone may have to prise the pen from my hand before I start demanding a shed, a computer and a dramatic author photo., oops forgot I'm in my shed (woman cave), on my computer, just need the photo, anyone know a good photographer?
Sadie reading the instructions, Sammy relaxing in the shade
she's just pinched.
Bizzy shading under the hedge Sadie in her cave
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