Creature Comforts

Joey Jones15 Comments

What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?

So, if the definition of a strategy is a plan, I don’t think I have one, as such.

Well, that’s not actually true, I have lots of strategies to make sure Patch has a comfortable, safe, and happy life. We prefer to go out between showers ( but hey, if it’s chucking it down and we have to go out, we go out, dressed for it)

I plan for him to have a good run around before I feed him. Not a good idea to do otherwise.

Err, I plan his bathtime if he has had fun wading in stagnant water. I do my best to avoid this, but it happens sometimes. Not nice, not healthy, but have you ever tried to stop my dog doing something he wants to do? You’re a braver soul than me, if you have!

Patch will always have a clean, dry, and perfectly comfortable place to rest  inside or outside morning, noon, and night.

His favourite snacks are always in his cupboard.

What else? Oh, planning the car journey down to The Sheppy in Cornwall. I will drive, he will snooze, and then when he begins to stir, I know it’s time to take a break.

Seems I have plenty of strategies going on for the well-being of my companion. My life? I just wing it! And ..as planned, I would like to thank Mae, a fellow blogger and new buddy, for reminding me how apt that expression is for life.

Winging it. Perfect!

Into the Future

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What are you most excited about for the future?

‘Let us not worry about the future.

Let us only do the right thing today,

At this moment, here and now.

Let the future take care of itself.

Sri Chinomy 1931~2007

What excites me for the future is starting each day with a walk on the beach with my faithful companion 🐾🐾

Holibobs… revisited

Joey Jones17 Comments

Yay! We had a safe drive down to Cornwall yesterday. A tad arduous, but hey, we got here in one piece.

The Patches was so excited to see our hosts as was I. So good to spend time with the oldest of friends.

It’s a bit of a blustery start to the day. The relief is immense. There’s only so much heatwave a UK citizen can take.

So , we’re settled into The Sheppy ( Shepherds Hut) and we slept like babies. So are good to go now. To the beach it is!

I’m going to post a very short video in a minute or two. You’ll need the volume up high if you want to listen to the moment we were welcomed to the day by a very jolly little bird. What a delight. Edit; Mmm, can’t load the vid. Will come back later to check that out. Pity, it was lovely.

I’ll revise this page and add some more pics later.

Till then have yourself a good day lovely peeps.

Oh, one last thing for now. Should you be  a wannabe burglar and think to yourself ‘ she’s away from home, I’ll go and check out her crib’ think again. My neighbours on all sides and their dogs are badass. It would take a very brave and extremely stupid person to even try and get close. 😂

The Sound of Silence

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What is your favorite genre of music?

After a lifetime of being a full-on music fan, suddenly, I find that absolute quiet does it for me.

Years of going to see bands, especially when I loved in London, was an absolute thing. ‘Time Out’ was  a weekly publication that became invaluable. It listed everything that was happening around the city. It was an exciting time.

Genre-wise, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly my most favourite, as I find the lines blur depending on my mood.

But if I had the choice of only one artist/band to listen to for the rest of my life, it has to be Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

A Shepherds Hut for Us

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Describe your most memorable vacation.

Having been lucky enough to have visited some truly amazing places across the world, there is one place I keep going back to, and that’s Cornwall.

This far southwest of England coastline  is over 400 miles long. A wonderful mix of quaint fishing villages, rugged terrain, and sandy beaches. Touched by the English Chamnel to the south and the Atlantic and Celtic Sea to the west and north.

It’s here with Patch we’ll stay with friends of old. Genourously given a Shepherd’s Hut of our own to retreat to for times of rest.

Beach walks and swims for the dog, a little exploring,  delightful lunches out and about and lazy chilled evenings in the garden as the sun goes down. Bliss.

Every day’s a school day

Joey Jones2 Comments

On what subject(s) are you an authority?

As this is a daily writing prompt and not an assignment, I shall start off changing the word authority for passion.

Somewhere, I have two certificates( in an old box, collecting dust). I  worked hard for : Advanced Canine and Feline Nutrition and Animal Assisted Therapy…and I shall keep on learning about dogs, about anything and everything. I’m wired with a curious mind.

So, if you have dogs and stand still long enough, the chances I will feel the urge to chat with you about them. It is the emotional health of dogs and all animals, really that concern me the most…but I’m not sure everyone is aware, so I’ll just listen for clues

There are many dog-related classes you can attend, experts to guide you with this and that.. but I have yet to come across anyone talking about the animal’s mental health, their feelings. You may mock, but they are sentient beings.

What’s love got to do with it?

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What’s your definition of romantic?

Romantic? Small gestures of affection.

There was a time in history known as the Romantic Era. Generally thought to be roughly from 1780-1850. But obviously, lines do blur along  cultural timelines.

It is the Post Romantic  landscape that must have been a wonderful time to be a Creative. Especially as there was a strong reaction to the Industrial Revolution bringing about emotions, which could be perfrctly expressed through the arts.

Although there were plenty of jobs and people flocked from the rural areas to the cities, it was soul destroying to witness. The poets, designers, philosophers, and dreamers saw only soot and smokestack. A spiritual unravelling.

Think Arts & Crafts, Pre Raphelites, Gothic Revival, Realism, Modernist.

What a wonderful rich tapestry to be a thread in.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Joey Jones10 Comments

How do you express your gratitude?

Early this morning, I whispered ‘thank you’ into the ether. A cool breeze had crossed my face and at my side lay my dog peacefully. This heatwave we had was a lovely surprise, quite exciting, but I hated seeing my boy suffer.

Yesterday, I gave thanks to St Anthony. The patron saint of lost/stolen items. My keys had gone AWOL. I asked him for help and voila, there they were. That makes people smile, but hey!

The day before that alone in my car, I sang to the Parking Faries and managed to pull into a space not far from where I wanted. I then thanked them out loud 😆

Worldwide, Harvest Festivals are observed by diverse customs and traditions. All giving thanks. It was by far my most favourite of assemblies at school. It naturally resonated with me as a child.

Gratitude can be expressed in many ways, in whatever may be appropriate at the time. As long as it is done in an authentic manner and the gesture heart felt.

A powerful tool is gratitude.

Last but not least- thank you for reading this far x

Worried? Moi?

Joey Jones8 Comments

What are you most worried about for the future?

Goodness me, WordPress! How long have you got? To answer this daily prompt would take hours and continue over many pages.

Unstable world leaders! How’s that for a start? The planet is set to implode, and there aren’t enough selfless  grown-ups in the room to stop it.

Do Putin, Trump, Netanyahu, and the like give a damn about the 2.2 billion people worldwide  without access to clean drinking water? No, they don’t give it a second thought. They are too busy lining their pockets, ego-tripping, and  slaughtering children.