It is so nice to have our doggy back again. She is not a very huggy doggy, ( her choice) more a tickle my tummy doggy. H does not like close up face to face stuff. I hate creepy tickles. Hugs can be just the job depending upon who is dishing them out.
Upon waking up… after flexing… After my regular, and secretly wicked early thoughts , my mind switches to what the weather is up to, and the implications of that for our doggy walk.
Today, the skies were bright and fresh energy was beginning to flow through my veins once again. I hadn’t done the walk from Cholsey layby for a while, so that was our destination. The main reasons for avoiding this had been the uneven ground and the surrounding crops. H likes to disappear in growing crops.
However, the crops are now cropped, and the tracks are baked concrete hard. Baked into a submissive and more even surface.
It can be a quite boring track, at the start, hedge on one side and a massive open field on the other. This latter is now full of prickly stiff stalks, which H did not seem to appreciate under her delicate paws.
The olive rich Thames lay waiting for us, its surface waters almost imperceptibly disturbed by the kiss of weightless insects as they skimmed the limpid shallows. Occasional water craft slid past announced by the jarring jangle of human voices or rippling splashes, breaking the peace.
I sat awhile on the bench, amongst the scorched cow parsley, and taller reeds, as H snuffled and paddled. And eventually sat beside me.
She is a bit fluffy at the moment. Also, she has nicely resettled into our routines. We quite often have to do a little search around the house to find out where she is. She has her preferences!
I enjoyed a chat with a couple of other local dog walkers – usual topic – lack of rain etc.
T has not bothered to get up all day. I returned home to find him in bed where he still lies.
I turned my attention to the ensuite shower support which, being fickle, had neglected its relationship with the wall again – on the day we left for Crete. Or, Greece, I should say- havent got as far as Crete yet.
It needs to hug the wall more tightly. With the use of my new mouldable waterproof glue, which sets in about 3 weeks, and another dose of superglue, I reintroduced the wall and the shower to each other. Cemented their relationship, I suppose you might say. It almost became a menage a trois.
Whilst out, I had received a text from Ali telling me Lena has Covid but Timur does not. This causes them problems and uncertainty within the household because George is due to go on a PGL holiday soon and the other 3 are off to Paris. Never mind the fact Dave’s parents are supposed to be visiting. I might yet regret the hug I exchanged with Lena two days ago. So that is Devon Dave and Lena, both with Covid- it seems to be undergoing another mini wave. Lena has already had it, when in Ukraine.
She must miss her hugs from her husband and wider family. Hugs and touch are supposed to be very good / vital for mental health. I suppose it depends who is doing the hugging. Timur is very huggable and affectionate. I like hugs – from certain people.
Azogires has been featured a lot lately in Palaiochora social media sites. Local residents and other supporters are up in arms and protesting. TV stations have been involved. Lucky has been fairly quiet but seems to be becoming increasingly vociferous. The reason? For a few weeks now, some company or other has closed the road to Achladiakes – the ‘main’ and only road that cuts through Azogires – and is blasting rocks on the mountain side near Alpha Rooms. These large and weighty fallen bits of mountain have blocked, not only the road, but also, the stream by the waterfall. There is noise and dust, general disturbance and considerable upset and strife between locals, visitors and the deaf contractors. The legality and safety aspects are bring questioned. I find it sad. Never mind where the river might flow / flood when the rains begin.
Azogires is like Πάζινος, in the north of the island, α place that hasn’t changed in about 50 years. It is Greece as I remember it when I first went there in 1967. The Alpha Cafe is steeped in the past, as is the cafe in Παζινος. The latter having blue walls, garish lighting, basic tables and an ancient fridge with a few random bottles lined up, like battle-weary soldiers, And , if you are lucky, a bowed lady, dressed in black, might eventually notice you want something.
Azogires has been dragged slightly further into the 21C. But apart from all the destruction, noise and concerns about the stream once the rains start, local businesses have been affected. It’s now a dead end.
Rant over. I noticed Steffi, our German friend also had a contribution to make.
Thought for the Day
A few left over/ just received wedding pics
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