If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?
On socials I go by Ella, which is a pretty name I think. Can’t remember the moment I chose it…Just happened, I reckon.
But today I want to tell you how one of my dogs got his name.
Soooo, I’m living and working in Southern India, with a well-paid job and a super lifestyle…and then it all goes to hell in a handcart when I fall in love with a four-legged broken soul, called Tony.
I leave the job and he and I move out of my lux accommodation into a sweet little house in a village called Palavakkam. There’s no AC with generator back-up, just ceiling fans….the power cuts are notorious. But that’s another story. In fact there are lots of other stories.
Without paid employment, my once a week helping the Blue Cross of India stint became full time. Their ABC ( Animal Birth Control) programme was quite something.
The job entailed daily visiting a chosen area to collect up to twenty street dogs ( I think, can’t remember exactly how many, twenty plus, maybe) They would be taken back to the centre. Boys and girls separated, given a health check, a rabies shot and then the op) The boys recovered faster, but when they were all fit we took them back to exactly where we had found them, on another day. They had one ear clipped( just a little) so they could be identified on the street as having had the procedure.
This helped to keep the population of street dogs down. I was informed once upon a time they would be thrown live down wells. Today around the world horrible methods are still used.
One night after work the van dropped me at the end of my road and I walked to my house in tears. Nothing unusual there, the daily stress and distress needed to manifest somehow. It broke my heart to see so many animals in such bad shape, on a daily basis.
Dusk was falling but ahead of me I could see a tiny pup hanging out with a group of grown dogs. His coat was a mess and probably didn’t feel great but his spirit was alive and kicking.
I picked him up and asked around if anyone knew where he came from, if by any chance he did at all. A lady told me he had been ‘ thrown over the wall, by that house there’. To make sure I was doing everything correctly as far as the charity and my conscience were concerned I approached the gates of the property, to ask about the ownership of the pup- happily snoozing on my arms.
In no uncertain terms I was assured his welfare was not their concern.
I took him home ( lovely story to be told here, another day) My ‘big dog’ Tony took it on the chin and allowed the pup to enter.
Plan A was to take Pup to the Blue Cross centre to be cared for and hopefully rehomed. But if you know me you’ll know I wasn’t going to be able to part with him easily.
My ex workmate and friend Mary often came to visit. The pup would tug at the edges of her sari. She was kind, we laughed, he was naughty. But it was okay.
So, I had this dilemma. What to do about Pup?
I had tentative plans about returning to the UK. My work visa would run out eventually and although I know it could have ‘ been arranged ‘ ( many things can be arranged in India- no disrespect meant to the country or government workers, I hasten to add!) I didn’t really want to put anyone in that position, to do me that favour. A pity really, under different circumstances I would have been happy to stay there.
Sister Mary, Mary ( a native of Bangalore) had been a co-worker, an amazing loyal friend with a sense of humour I adored. She became everything to me and still is..good friend, sister, mother, daughter, everything.
When she knew I was troubled about the future of Pup, she said she would take him as her own. A visit was arranged and off we went to meet her family. It was then I thought, yes, she a devout catholic was Mary ….He would be Joseph..Joe.
Pup had a fabulous time, running around, connecting with everyone and being adorable….and then ..he ran to me, looked me straight in the face and said ‘ that was great, can we go home now?’! Joe was going nowhere without me.
I brought him to the UK, with Tony, in October 2005 and he lived a long and happy life.
After thought ..
Dr. Chinny who ran the Blue Cross of India in Chennai offered me a gig in the back end of beyond helping street dogs. I turned it down as I believed my family at some stage may need me and I couldn’t get back to the UK quickly. They never did….
The one I favour the most is already in existence. 70% Smooth Dark Chocolate made by Divine.
And what’s not to love about it? The company is co-owned by a Ghanian farmers cooperative and German family business, a Fair trade product, the ingredients are ethically sourced, without palm oil or soya, it’s good for you ( yes, in moderation, of course!) with antioxidants and minerals found purely in the cocoa bean, it has less sugar than milk chocolate, is naturally dairy free…..And it tastes great!
Word on the street is the Divine 70% Dark Chocolate with Mint Crisp is lush, but I’ve not tried it yet
I took one for the team today. Well, for my immediate neighbourhood, anyway. 4.40am and a young family of blackbirds were hungry. Their relentless protests were never going to cease until someone helped the parents sort it
It’s the rent we pay for living in this beautiful world ( however hard man tries to feck it up)!
So, clad in only summer nightwear attire and winter boots….(Yes, dressed in the dark syndrome) I ventured out with my box of tricks.
Dried mealworms went into a shallow dish of water ( to help things along with the little ones) Some cheap mixed seed which seems to thrive and grow amongst the gravel. Old ( but no green spots involved- that’s a killer- one spot of green means the whole batch is shot!) bread rolls I hated. Suet sprinkles, they’ll only eat at a push, a cut up apple, some grapes and a few piles of porridge oats. It took about ten minutes to sort the breakfast banquet and another ten for the madness of the dawn chorus to settle. But they did
I reckon by 5am peace was restored. I climbed back into bed and then the dog showed an interest in going out. Great!
Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?
A favourite series of books of mine were The Famous Five by English writer Enid Blyton ( 1897-1968) Her books were best sellers around the world since the 1930’s.
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can,
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this, if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
By W.H. Davies, pub 1911.
‘ Time keeps on slipping into the future’ is taken from the album Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band. Released in 1976.
List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?
These three books have stayed with me since first reading them a lifetime ago. They would make perfect companions to be reread, should the stranded on a desert island scenario ever occur.
The Prophet by Kalil Gibran ( 1883-1931) This Lebanese/American poet and writer had this work published in 1923. The twenty six philosophical essay/prose poems over twenty eight chapters tell of sprawling topics including life, love, freedom, humanity, pain and passion. A truly spiritual and inspirational read.
Experiments with the Truth, is the autobiography penned by the Indian and London educated lawyer known as Mahatma Gandhi ( 1869-1948). He writes of the successes and failures of non-violent resistance. Suffering hardships and imprisonment for his beliefs. Mr Gandhi who was assassinated in 1948. He never forgot the principles of truth.
A Thousand Years of Solitude was penned by Colombian writer and journalist Gabriel Garcia. Martinez ( (1927-2014). His book covers seven generations of a family as they wade through the inevitable repetition of history in Latin America. The magical realism woven in here with experiences of being a journalist makes this an ideal Tome to have with you on a desert island, as each page is crammed full of detail to absorb and think about for a long time to come afterwards. You may even feel the need to read it over and over to truly capture its essence.
Many many moons ago I visited Bhaktivedanta Manor, the Hare Krishna temple in Watford. On one wall was a black and white drawing of a person out in the natural world accompanied by various animals..creatures. At the heart of each inclusion in the picture was a small white light. I got it. I understood.
‘ Spiders – so needed and yet so misunderstood ‘~Donna Lynn Hope
IN THE BOOMER PIGEON HOLE? 
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