Okay – this is supposed to be the week in review which should start in January but as I first saw this during the week I think its fair enough to include it. You won’t have met our puppy Monty before. Marley, our last cocker, died and Roger was bereft. He immediately started looking for a new cocker friend. I said “okay but I can’t take another rescue dog and have another one die in a matter of years. Not when I’m facing mother and you both going.” He agreed and we got a puppy and that is another story. Monty is now a delightful dog of 15months. Come the fireworks on New Years Eve he was terrified. For some reason he went to a place he’d never gone before. The subtitleist got what was said wrong but what an appropriate subtitle.
The first week of the New Year is always a strange time as businesses are closed, the tourists descend on mass and we feel a bit as though we too are on holiday. The tourists have brought Covid 19 with them and for the first time we are feeling really vulnerable. Australia’s new cases are now exceeding the USA and our hospital system is crumbling. Our Prime Minister, a PR man not a leader, is waiting to get the popular sentiment and acting on that rather than leading and staying ahead of the game. He is busily adjusting how we report new infections (in the effort to get less cases), and pull himself out of the mire of failed leadership by not taking a national approach from the outset. The vaccine administration has been a real fiasco and Scott Morrison should be shouldering the blame that we have so many refusing the vaccine that believe in conspiracy theories, collusion between pollies and big pharmaceuticals and that the virus is hyped up – no-one is dying. His vaccine roll out has been a shambles as is the booster. I have been trying to get a booster but the earliest appointment is in 6 weeks time. Then you hear the official line – blame the people for not getting them. Anyway enough of Covid. You are all dealing with it in your own way. Some will have had the vaccine, some won’t have and some will have had Covid itself, something I am trying desperately to avoid. I hope you all keep safe.
This week we have worked on a goal that I hadn’t mentioned. Get rid of all our surplus garbage. I am a horder. Roger is a project person so his garage has all kinds of bits and pieces just in case they come in handy. We have realised we have reached a point where there aren’t going to be any more major projects and so a lot of the stuff could go. We have cleared the garage.
As for my other goals I am struggling to get my head around two impromptu 3 min speeches which must include humour that can be chosen by someone else from a list of 12. I am presenting them next Thursday and I am starting to panic but as I am deadline driven I am sure by Tuesday or Wednesday I will have thought of something.
My biggest joy of the week is that I have returned to blogging. Thank you everyone who has visited me. For those that knew me you have given me a warm fuzzy feeling at the welcome back you have given me and the caring messages you have sent. I cannot even start to express how much that means to me. For people I am meeting for the first time I look forward to getting to know you better. Look forward to seeing you all during the next week.
Every day, twice a day, rain (as it is at the moment), hail and shine (which luckily it is most of the time) I take my two dogs for a walk. Today to end I am going to share a part of our walk. Monty (cocker spaniel) has met up with his favourite friend Misty (German Shepherd). They play and roll and wrestle and chase and then when they are hot they have a dip. Today they were joined by Misty’s second best friend Juno.
Have a great week everyone. Would love to know if the first week of 2022 lived up to your expectations.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Great start to 2022! Love the garage – an appropriate metaphor. xxxxx
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Absolutely. I am now looking in wonder at the empty shelves. Might be coffee in the garage in the future.
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It’s so nice to see you back. I totally agree with you about Scott Morrison and Covid. He’s pathetic. We had no Covid in Tassie for all of last year except the odd case from interstate who went straight to quarantine. Now after three weeks of being open to all we have thousands of cases. It hasn’t even done businesses any good being open. Many small businesses are having to close because of staff shortages due to illness or isolating. I’ve been double vaxxed but won’t be eligible for a booster till probably March or April. Shops are starting to run out of things. I’m angry and I’m nervous.
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We have the same here with the businesses. We were doing fine until our borders opened and then wham. It is everywhere and our health system simply can’t cope and our vulnerable suffer. Like you I am angry and nervous.
Lovely to see you by the way.
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Were the subtitles on the TV just a fortunate accident or was this planned? Great pic.
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An accident I didn’t pick up until I put the photos on the computer. The funny thing is she didn’t say that in the movie – the word she said was funnier which made it even more funny to me.
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OMG. Love it. Sometimes the subtitles are more fun to watch than the movie. Especially if you know the language they are translating from well enough to know the flubs.
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We have them on all the time as Roger is a bit deaf. Normally I ignore them but the news is great for flubs.
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I’m glad you are back. I always enjoy your posts.
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Thanks Dawn.
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Love your new dog, Irene. If he is scared of fireworks (and maybe thunder) there are some calming coats you can purchase for him to wear – this type of coat worked amazingly on our terrier, who freaked out with every thunderstorm! It sounds like your government and ours are of the same ilk. You get new pronouncements almost every day, some of them contradictory, so you don’t know what to believe. I think the whole thing has been a years-long trend of over-reaction. And now everyone has become Chicken Littles. Do keep your husband away from people, though, since he is undoubtedly immunocompromised. And enjoy your summer. It’s colder than the North Pole here right now!
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We inherited a calming coat for one of our rescue dogs. He never needed it but you have reminded me to get it out next time we are expecting or get fireworks. So far he hasn’t worried about thunder. I ended up getting his crate out that he hasn’t been in since he was really young and covering it with a doona to deaden the sound. He settled in there quite happily so I have now kept his crate out so he can go in whenever he is frightened.
Keep warm Noelle. We haven’t had a hot summer but it is hard in this warmth to imagine how severe your cold is. Take care.
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Well, this is unusual for NC. So far our winter has been extremely mild. I was in Utah for December to help out with our new granddaughter and it was really cold there, but this past week here has been colder. Go figure!
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Seems to be happening everywhere
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I’m so happy to see you back. I know I’ll be chatting with you in the near future. My first week was a lot brighter seeing you back on your blog. 😀 😀
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You’ve put a smile on my face from ear to ear. Thank you Cee. talk soon
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Monty is adorable! Irene, I think both of us were making similar decisions 15 months ago. Todd’s cognition continues to decline and we lost our last German Short-haired Pointer. I didn’t want any more dogs at all. But he continued to mourn and needed another GSP. I knew he couldn’t handle it, but who am I to tell him to give up living? So, I went into puppy-ness knowing it would be a wild ride. And it is. Mause would love to play with Monty and bark at the fireworks for her. She can now leap the entire couch. Oh, she’s “fun” that wild one. What a relatable post — the courage to let go of doodads and stuff. May it lighten your load and make space in your life for unexpected joys. I’m so happy to have you back online!
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Monty would just love to play with Mause. His favourite friend is a german shepherd and they chase and wrestle. Muffin is a grumpy old lady when it comes to play so he really enjoys having a young dog to tumble with. Sorry Todd is in decline. That must be really tough but I read you have been reclassified and I hope that helps to make things a little easier for you. It would be about time.Look forward to catching up further when you return from your break. Sometimes you have to just stop and take time to smell the flowers.
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We learn to savor each flower, too, Irene! I’d happily ship Mause to Monty for a couple of years, lol.
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And vice versa
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