August Bank Holiday –

– so, of course, it’s raining hard.  Very showery this afternoon, starting with a sharp hailstorm and since then it’s been sunny, windy and wet at intervals.  I was in the kitchen when the hail started and went to check Tilly was in – she was in her basket in the porch, so I brought her in to lie on her sofa and went back to whatever I’d been doing.

Later, I went back along the passageway and was startled to see a big wet patch by the wall.  First I blamed Tilly, though was surprised – but it looked too splashy at the edges … so I went down on my hands and knees and sniffed it.  Yes, i know.  I must remind you that I’m more than half dog myself, so it comes naturally.  Anyway, it was just water.  So I thought I must have spilled some when I was taking the bucket to empty, having washed the kitchen floor.  But I thought about it, and I didn’t.  Anyway, I’d have noticed. I’m not that unobservant.  Well, I am, but I knew I hadn’t.  So finally, I realised that it had rained so far that the guttering had overflowed and the water had come in under the tiles.  It does happen occasionally and we’ve never managed to completely weather-proof the house.  I remember once a terrific thunderstorm and Chester (my late and still-missed setter) was afraid, but okay if he was touching me, and I was trying to hurry back and forth for towels, whilst not pushing him away.

Anyway, the weather forecast is better for next week, so I hope that Al and co have some good days out.  I’m glad they decided against camping.

12 comments on “August Bank Holiday –

  1. Mike and Ann

    What sort of setter was Chester? We had two English Setters in a row – Humphrey and Windsor. Best natured (and most bone headed) dogs in the world. And very good with children.

    Reply
  2. Mike and Ann

    What sort of setter was Chester? We had two English Setters in a row – Humphrey and Windsor. Best natured (and most bone headed) dogs in the world. And very good with children.

    Reply
  3. Z

    There wouldn’t have been much chance of it, Dave.

    No rain in the Great Yarmouth area, however, apparently, according to Eddie 2-Sox and our friend Geoff.

    Chester was a cross between an Irish setter and a bearded collie. Nature as you describe, and he adored children. A child could poke him in the eye and pull his tail and he’d lovingly come back for more. I first held him when he was 3 weeks old and I held him as he died 13 years later, and I still miss him dreadfully.

    Reply
  4. Christopher

    I could say almost exactly the same of our late and much-lamented golden retriever, Bellamy. She’s buried with her broken feeding bowl, collar and a badger glove puppet she used to trail about everywhere, under a big slab of sandstone beside the cypress trees.

    Reply
  5. Z

    The Sage made Chester an oak coffin – very simple and plain, but even I thought that was a bit extreme. But those last couple of days, I think he needed to keep his hands busy.

    Seven years in November, and it could still be last week. There are just one or two that become a part of you, aren’t there? I still miss Huckleberry after 35 years.

    Reply
  6. 63mago

    I can still remember a dog my father had when I was five and six years old. The dog never did harm to me although I surely teased and irritated him. It must have been a very patient dog. A grey shepherd.

    Reply
  7. Roses

    We had labradors when I was growing up. My mother tells the story of Mady, the matriarch of the pack who was taking a nap next to my playpen. My mother in the kitchen heard her whimpering and when she looked, apparently I was having a good chew on her ear. My mother had to rescue the dog from being mauled – by me.

    Reply
  8. Alienne

    My grandparents had a lovely dalmation, Ajax (after one of my granddad’s ships). He had a really sweet nature – he put up with all of the grandchildren turning up and trying to ride him. He would stand there patiently and then just sit down so we fell off. I still miss him.

    Reply

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