Friday, April 1, 2011

Chatting away.





The plane back from London full of cheerful French rugby fans wearing broad brimmed multi-coloured ' novelty ' sombreros and a group of eighty or so American school kids all sporting jackets that say ' New York European Tour 2011 '. At 36,000 feet over Le Mans the youngsters , en masse, burst into a rendition of Shenandoah . The French rugby fans look bemused. On balance the singing of spirituals on aircraft should not be encouraged. Winsome ditties possibly. Show tunes maybe, but sombre spirituals ? No.

Sitting happily looking out of the window a stewardess suddenly appears and asks me, 'Where do you live ?' " Near Toulouse " , I reply. ' Oh, I'd never have known. You speak such good English '. With that she was off , with her trolley, down the aisle. Bizarre. A lesson there about instant judgements. Perhaps it's a new British Airways, 'talk to the passengers', routine.


London , wet and humid. To Harrods for a soft toy for Wilf. A clock with a picture of a pug dressed as Chairman Mao and a fun Roy Lichtenstein art work among the things that catch my eye.


'The font' comes to collect me at the airport. Wilf starts out across the car park on his favourite, tyre christening, walk but after thirty metres it all proves to be too much for him. He sits down on the tarmac and refuses to move. Not panicked but unhappy. He's picked up and carried back to the safety and comforting smells of the car. That's where I find the two of them. Tail gate down, sitting, chatting merrily away, in the late afternoon sunshine. The new, shared, routines of life with an old blind dog. Wilfs attitude. " Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do ".

19 comments:

  1. Oh I thought you purchased the Mao pug clock. I was wondering how it would look in your farmhouse!

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  2. What trust and understanding between the three of you...

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  3. SHE always finds ear plugs a MUST on flights!

    Wilf just gets on with living, doesn't he...

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  4. love the art! hugs to Wilfie and happy weekend to you!
    xoxo

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  5. I agree about the song choice--Shenandoah didn't work here in Virginia either when for a time it appeared that it would become the state song only because it had the word "Shenandoah" in it--As you know, it refers to an Indian chief and not the valley...

    But I'm glad you had a safe trip, and I know Wilf is happy to have his 'seeing eye person' home too!! Enjoy your day!!

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  6. Wilfie, you have a puppy face - hard to believe you are blind - living in the dark. But all this wonderful smells around you - knowing that The Font and Ongoose are always close and they also think of your menu every day!!! Love the thought of a serious business man going to Harrods for a soft toy for Wilf's collection. So much about instant judgement - love from sunny Southern Italy from Susanne, Daisy and Foxiie - hope Kellie will show up some time this afternoon, get your folks to phone for a date with her mistress...

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  7. I just must have one of those mugs, they are too die for! Have alovely weekend. Sue x x x

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  8. I'm snickering over the idea of your English being complimented for so many reasons! *grin* Wouldn't some sort of accent give you away as not French?

    I've seen some of those dog prints somewhere. Some of them are really amusing!

    New routines can be a good thing, eh, Wilf? Next time, hold out for some ice cream while you wait!

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  9. Hello darling Wilf. You have great humans in your life. The wisdom today is spot on, for everyone.

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  10. he's so wise, "our" Wilf
    with lessons for us all
    happy weekend
    xoxo Susan & Missy D

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  11. Wilf, are channeling my Danny Quinn? Quinn will go walking but when he hits the grass of home, it is over on his side; can't take another step. He is picked up (which was the point of it all) and carried the rest of the way - all 12# of him :). Your attitude I need to say to myself every day. What a great, great dog!

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  12. Happy belated birthday darling boy!!Love A+A

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  13. Gallant effort on Wilf's part; but he is wise enough to know when some help is called for. Bon nuit; sweet dreams. DBH

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  14. I agree - the stewardess's comment was bizarre, to say the least!

    Wilf's attitude is such a great example to all of us.

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  15. Plane wides awe bizawwe these days Mommi says. I don't know, I've always just slept the whole way ..it's the best, that way i'm weady to sniff and explowe the new place when we land. wilf would agwee wif me I think. He is the smawtest doggie I know
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  16. I love the "When in doubt, sit it out" attitude Wilf has. My old blind Scottie did the same. When he couldn't figure out where he was, he would just park himself, middle of the street, didn't matter at all.

    Cheers,
    Jo and Stella

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  17. Glad the font is able to lift Wilf, although it suggests a loss of weight [on Wilf's part]. But at least Wilf gets to enjoy the outing and the car ride and the companionship.

    Shenandoah isn't actually a spiritual; it's just a folk song, albeit an odd choice for New Yorkers to sing on an international flight. Of course, any group sing on a non-chartered flight is de trop. Personally, mama wouldn't mind a little quiet spiritual or prayer in flight, being a believer in the old adage that 'Flight is the second greatest joy known to man; landing is the first.'

    Jed & Abby

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  18. It must have been so wonderful to be welcomed home by seeing two of the people you love the most sharing a delightful private moment.
    You know, I see my mum with a healthy, strong body reduced to being cared for like an infant because of a brain destroying disease(Alzheimer's). And then Wilf, , with a body weakened by disease abd blindness but possessing an active and vibrant mind. Crushing, just crushing.

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  19. I always love that punk rock hair of Wilf's!

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