Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)

Welcome. Come on in for a cup of tea or coffee. You are very welcome and I have most beverages. I’m afraid you’ll find us somewhat sad this morning as yesterday we said goodbye to our gorgeous cocker spaniel Bundy.

© irene waters 2018

From the time Bundy came to us as a rescue dog six years ago he has given us a lot of joy. The main reason we looked for a rescue dog was because we felt our old German Shepherd Zac would be revitalised by having a companion. He was and the two got on well together. But he became much more than that to us. We used to laugh at his possessiveness of his white cockatoo. No way would he relinquish it without much growling. It was like a security blanket to him. He arrived with it and despite much head shaking with it in his mouth it remained white and in perfect condition. He was a birder with a soft mouth. He once caught a bird whilst we were out walking but it suffered no damage and happily flew off.

© irene waters 2018

He immediately adopted Roger and became his shadow. It took us many months to stop his anxiety if Roger left whilst we were out. For Bundy, unless Roger was by his side he was miserable. He didn’t acknowledge me as being part of the circle for a couple of years.

© irene waters 2018

Roger loved him back just as much and the bond between them grew. He was a bloody minded dog and impossible to budge if he didn’t want to go. We had to cross the road at exactly the same spot each day. He wouldn’t go further. When we moved we had to have coffee before the park instead of after because he walked in that direction from that spot and nothing would change him.

© irene waters 2018

Whilst I was doing my Masters and  sadly did not have the time to give to Roger, Bundy filled that gap. He kept him company when I was at the Uni during the day and at night on the evenings I was out. When I went to conferences Bundy was always there. Always loving.

© irene waters 2018

At 15 years old, he’d had a good innings. The time had come to show him how much we loved him by letting him go. Roger sat on the lounge most of the morning with Bundy’s head on his lap. When the vet came he told him to stay and he gave him a sedative so he wouldn’t be distressed by a needle going into his back leg. Bundy gently went to sleep on the lap of the one he loved and who loved him back. We will miss him dreadfully. He was our joy boy.  R.I.P Bundy.

If we were having coffee I’d apologise for talking about our last day with him and perhaps giving too much detail but when death comes so peacefully it can be a beautiful thing despite the pain that the hole in your heart gives you.

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that our weather has been beautiful one minute and raining the next.  The raining days have been good because it has given me a lot of time to go through some paperwork. I want to get down to the minimum amount of stuff possible so that should we decide to leave in less than a year (Roger still hasn’t got used to living in a community situation) I don’t have nearly as much to pack.

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that I don’t feel much like talking – I did have things I was going to tell you but to tell you the truth just at the moment none seem that important. So that is about it for my week. Have you read any good books or seen any films that should be seen? Looking forward to seeing how your week has been. Thank you for dropping in for coffee, it is lovely to see you. Thanks to  eclecticali  who is our host of the weekend coffee share.