Splash

Saturday:

We don't know our older neighbours on one side very well and at first thought they were a bit grumpy, but they seem nice now. We haven't spoken to them much but the husband suggested a couple of times (when he saw me home with the kids on school holidays) that we were welcome to use his swimming pool if we wanted. I really didn't feel like we knew them well enough, it was too awkward, although of course I thanked him and said we might. But then he asked us to feed his dog while the humans were away this weekend, and that made it seem fair for us to use the pool and also not having them there helped! We went over this afternoon, played with Casper, and had a swim in the pool - with Casper! He shed a lot of hair, both in the pool and out of it, poor thing looked so hot. He is an elderly golden Labrador.

I fed him in the evening, and as I'd been warned he inhaled his dinner in about 12 seconds. And looked around for more. It was the right amount of food for him, but I did feel a bit sorry for him that someone so motivated by food (as all Labradors are) only got to eat for 12 seconds a day. He should learn to savour it!

I've been thinking seriously about the "what am I going to do with my life" question, and one option I'm considering is becoming a librarian. There is a one year course that I can do either in the city (might be tricky to fit within school hours, especially with all the travelling) or online. And even while studying (especially online) I could look for work, my previous qualifications and work experience (not in libraries) might help. I want to work part time. I love books, there would be some desk work but not all day, quiet and indoors, contact with people but I wouldn't have to sell anything. The TAFE course has an information session on Wednesday that I plan to go to, and I'll also go talk to my local librarians.

As with any job or study, it will affect the time I have to write (particularly with my RSI that restricts daily computer use) but I can't stay home forever. I need to think about the direction to take my writing too... do I work on the sequel to my existing book that hasn't yet found a publisher (need to spend time there) or start on a new idea that is percolating?

My, what big teeth you have

Monday:

Today on my walk with Thor we saw the most enormous Rottweiler. Seriously, it looked like it should have been sitting on a trapdoor at Hogwarts guarding the philosopher's stone. The guy walking it also had a little whippet - or maybe it was a full size greyhound and just looked small beside the Rottweiler. (My computer keeps capitalising that, but why? It doesn't capitalise poodle. Or spaniel. Maybe they are so big and scary they command a capital letter!)

So I'm not particularly scared of any kind of dog but it was really straining at the leash to investigate my terrified little puppy. The owner very nicely gave us a wide berth, practically going onto the road to give us all the footpath and the grassy median strip. So that was lovely of him. But it made me wonder why he gave us several metres of space. Was it just politeness, or necessity?

We had a long walk today, nearly an hour, to make up for not going out it the morning. It was still below freezing when the kids left for school so I decided a hot cup of tea sounded more fun than a walk. I was pretty tired after the afternoon stroll, Thor still keeps me going at a brisk pace. But I felt like I'd had a bit of a work out, even if it was only walking.

I don't think I'll talk about cranky tiredness or food choices today.

Cavoodles!

Monday:

We've gone and bought a cavoodle! We won't get her for a while because she was only born on Monday. I was doing some research and there were long waiting lists for all the kinds of dogs we liked so I put my name down for this newborn puppy, from a breeder about an hour away. I have seen a photo of four sausage-like bodies snuggled up to their mother, no idea which one is ours. We get to meet her in about 3 weeks and bring her home another month after that. So long to wait! But at least the gate should be done.

A cavoodle looks like this:

Or this:

Aren't they just the cutest dogs ever? There are a few colours but ours will be champagne, like the ones in the photos. (photo credit oakhurstcottage)

Plenty of time to buy bedding etc and move all Lego pieces behind closed doors. Now we have to agree on a name! My daughter and I each have our own ideas...

Edit: Wow, in the less-than two hours between the breeder saying they had two puppies left and me asking for the female, she had been sold! So we've got the boy. I hope. I sent reply email within about 5 minutes this time so they'd better not have sold him too! Have to rethink names now.