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It’s A Dog’s Life
As we enter the New Year, Teddy has been telling his human translator, Helen Stockton about his reflections over changes that have happened during the last year and how he is contemplating life for 2022
Now that Christmas is over and we’ve emerged, blinking into a new year with smaller bank balances and larger waistlines, it’s time for a paws, or four, for reflection. New Year is an opportunity for change and reinvention. This time last year, I was a single dog, lounging around in my bed, unopposed, playing with toys at my leisure, and nibbling treats in a casual fashion. The arrival of my apprentice, Bear, meant some rapid changes. I have learnt to hold my ground and my mattress, share my toys, and get in quick with the treats before she makes short work of the lot.
And she’s changed quite a bit too. When she first came, she was a tiny thing with a squeaky noise at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. Fortunately for all of us, she has learnt where it is socially acceptable to leave her little deposits although the squeak has developed into a rather shrill bark, and, in spite of progress in other areas, deployment of her razor-sharp little fangs is still an area for development. She has chewed through so many things that it would be beyond the scope of this column to list them. The latest to fall victim was the name tag on my special Christmas collar. This was a fetching red plastic and shaped like a Christmas tree. Not only did Bear eat the tag but I was actually wearing the collar at the time. Unbelievable!
‘Them Indoors’ are presently undergoing a bit of reinvention themselves. ‘Him Indoors’ retired last autumn so is discovering life beyond work, which apparently, is rather agreeable. ‘Her Indoors’ is younger so she’s still doing a bit out in her office, but is aiming for less time working and rather more time away in the motorhome, which suits me fine. There has been some talk of moving house, but I’ve checked, and our house seems perfectly static to me so I don’t know what that’s all about. I’m sure things will reveal themselves in the fulness of time, they usually do. Anyway, I feel like I’ve done enough in the major reinvention department, although the notion of becoming a cool Uncle Teds, rather than the comfortable slippers type, is rather appealing. I suspect the apprentice would only chew the
slippers and dark glasses would make it more difficult to see what she’s up to. Anyway, change doesn’t have to be big things. I am never going to wake up and find I’ve become a German Shepherd overnight. Small changes can be just as effective and are easier to manage, so now could be a good time to take stock and make some minor adjustments. Happy New Year! l
