"Me and Douglas, we're like two peas in a pod..............."
"Sister and brother............."
"Douglas.........?"
"Would you mind dreadfully....... if.................?"
"If I used you as a cushion."
"Thanks awfully old boy."
"Well, old girl..............I don't know.......only if you ask Mum for a biscuit........"
"................?....................."
Three times at the vets in the last three days................ Douglas is on a diet of delicate foods like scrambled egg and steamed chicken.
When Hugo discovered Douglas had vomited blood, we thought a trip to the vets was in order.
We still don't know what caused it all............ no doubt something he ate on a walk.
While the vet was having a thoughtful feel of his tummy, she commented that he is very muscly............. I explained that we have Dachshund races on the beach with Ellie and Douglas, and Douglas is a very competitive little dog.
Anyway, Douglas is on the mend, and enjoying his special diet.................and what does every Miniature wire-haired Dachshund need in his miniature life, when he's feeling a little under the weather?
A Miniature hot water bottle of course.
Can you see something small and furry, dwarfed in size by the builder's Nike rucksack?
"Gotcha Douglas!
I see your furry little face looking all inquisitive................ and no, you may not come in and browse amongst the rubble.
What was that Douglas? I didn't quite catch what you muttered under your breath......."
This is Ellie sunbathing on the stairs.
Ellie loves sunbathing, and she loves sleeping, so here she is combining both.
We've started to eat our lunch, sitting on the stairs, there is a long window through which we can look out on to the garden, and it's the only place in the house which is clutter free, and we can suspend disbelief and pretend we're not in the middle of major up-heavel.
The dogs always join us........... not because we're eating food you understand, just because they love us so much..................
More often than not, rather than staring out of the window at the garden, we enjoy being entertained by the two little doggies................
Douglas thinks that if he sits and stares at Ellie, she will wake up, and he'll have her full attention.
Subtlety doesn't have much effect on Ellie.
I imagine Douglas will have to use a more forceful tactic.
"Biscuits".
"Ellie....... biscuits, biscuits, biscuits.......... biscuits".
"Hmmphhh!"
"Oh look Ellie, there's loads of carrots falling from the sky".
"Ellie did you hear me? I said there are hundreds of crunchy, yummy carrots falling from the sky".
"Well really...........I don't know....... I just don't know".
"Maybe Ellie didn't hear me say carrots and biscuits".
"Ellie.............CARROTS, BISCUITS, CARROTS, BISCUITS.............BISCUITS, BISCUITS, BISCUITS!"
"Shut up Douglas, I heard you the first time".
This is Douglas in training for being the star of Crufts.
"Douglas....... sit!"
"Douglas sit and stand and trot to heel."
"Douglas, have you no shame?"
"Douglas...................
..I give up..........."
Hugo and I were glued to the sofa, watching Crufts on the t.v. last night. Ellie and Douglas showed a distinct lack of interest, bordering on sniffiness, to the primped and preened canines parading across the television screen.
We were completely baffled by their indifference......................
Did you know that one out of ten humans forget Mother's Day, but 100% of doggies never forget Mother's Day?
You didn't know that?
I have to admit, I did wonder what all that whispering was about in the kitchen, on Saturday night...........
And at one point, Douglas came into the living room, his tail between his legs, plonked himself on the sofa, gave a big sigh, and said "It's not FAIR, Ellie always gets her own way".
At the time I thought it better not to ask.
Sunday morning, Mother's Day.
Of course I wasn't not expecting anything.............. but you know how it is.......... one lives in hope.
Hugo comes in with a cup of tea, and not far behind him are two little dogs, walking side-by-side, both holding on to an envelope. They sit at the same time, and look up at me, wagging their tails............ no arguments about who gets to present the envelope.
I am delighted on opening the envelope, and say to Ellie and Douglas that it's wonderful to have such beautiful, thoughtful children.
And of course, the rest of the day they are very well-behaved....... in honour of Mother's Day.
Wouln't it be great if all this was true...............?
Sadly, it's a little fantasy I've just dreamed up, all except the card..........
Wouldn't it be great if the rest was true though..............
I hope all you well deserving Mums out there were given lots of love and attention..........
It must be ......... love........
..........Love........
..........Love.......
It must be love.
Either love.........
.........Or Douglas is whispering about this post to Ellie..........
I shall let you decide, this Valentine's day.
"Douglas........?"
"Douglas............., I've just had a nightmare about Cuddy".
"Was it about his teeth Ellie? Cuddy has pretty sharp teeth".
"No, it was worse than that............."
"It started fine.........."
"I was making friends with Cuddy........"
"We seemed to be getting along just fine. But then............."
"Cuddy started to grow".
"He became this giant puppy, with razor sharp teeth, and a bark that would split your eardrums..........."
".............And those paws! Huge stomping paws!"
"Well you know Ellie, when we last saw him he did seem to be almost growing before our eyes".
"Douglas............. you'll keep him in check when we next see him won't you.................. you being so brave and everything..........?"
"How big was he in your dream exactly Ellie? Ellie.....? Ellie are you still awake.....?"
Alan calls out for his big man, and he comes trotting.
Ellie and Douglas met Cuddy for the first time. The first non-human strangers Cuddy has met since leaving his Mum.
Cuddy wasn't too sure about Ellie and Douglas, he kept on hiding behind Alan's legs, peeking out timidly, and then boldly jumping out. Cuddy has perfected levitation, it's the most wonderful thing to see a tiny puppy jumping straight up in the air. He's working on his bark..............
Cuddy has no problem with being passed around from person to person.
He is just very sweet natured.
A real little charmer.
Cute as a button.
Quite frankly, adorable!
Ellie and Douglas were friendly enough.......... lots of tail wagging, and staring. Our dogs are tiny, but they towered over Cuddy.
Once they'd sniffed enough, they became more interested in seeing if there were any tasty morsels to be found on Susan and Alan's kitchen floor.
The big man has had enough for one day.
