After the last man in my life decided to quit with the parting shot “if you want total devotion, constant bloody attention, and more cuddles get a dog” I realised I should give it serious thought because the phone doesn’t ring all that much in my rural part of England.
I thought about getting that dog for a couple of weeks. All of two “shall I or shall I not” weeks. What would I do if George Clooney telephoned and invited me on the off chance to Lake Maggiore for a long stay what would I do with it?
And I then thought a bit longer……….
The only really reliable man in my life lives thousands of miles away and only visits once a year. And he’s definitely too old
to walk a dog. And even though I love the white beard and flowing locks and the red suit it is NOT enough. Sorry Father Christmas. I do want love and devotion and cuddles right now and dare I say the “c” word – companionship - with no arguments or cross words or demands to wash shirts and socks or food in an instant.My big son clinched it when he said that my heavy duty torch kept by the bed to deter burglars could kill someone if I hit them hard enough and then I’d be locked up. And then he would be left trying to plug the leaks in the roof and he hadn’t got the time. He was working too hard at university. He thought it was better to get a guard dog preferably the most vicious nasty thing I could lay my hands on legally and let it prowl around the house at night.
So I got a black Labrador and a burglar alarm.
She’s called Molly (after my late aunt) and is now my new best friend and my shadow.
She came when she was four months old. Torn away from her mother and brothers and sisters which made me feel like Cruella de Vile as I picked her up and took her away forever.
We always had dogs at the house when I was a child but my parents always did the training and caring and stuff. Now it was down to me. It was a middle age steep learning curve.
And I am going to share it all with you.
