Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Making martinis .




More storms . Shutters slamming , downpipes sputtering . In Scotland the downpipes were great cast iron things . More like cannons . Here, they're made of lighweight zinc . When it rains the water clunks and rattles its way through them . In the middle of a downpour 'the font' thinks they make a noise like water on a hot skillet . Angus thinks it's more like the sound of a cocktail shaker making martinis.

Wilf wanders upstairs . There was time when he was imperturbable. No longer. The sound of the gale unsettles him . His old arthritic legs beat a clump - clump - clump on the wooden staircase . I'm working at the desk in the drawing room . He doesn't like the drawing room . Too much furniture to navigate around . He ventures slowly between an armchair and a side table before settling . He lets out a loud ' humph ',half of satisfaction,half of irritation . My feet turned into his hearth . He's brought up a filthy old chew that's been hidden in the garden ; saved for a moment like this. Wet and soggy, the ends tinged black, seasoned with something seriously indecorous . He proudly lifts his head to show me his prize. He exudes a quiet , infectious , happiness that words can't quite grasp and which humans can only envy . Three minutes later he's snoring gently away .

As Epicurus said " Skilful pilots gain their reputation through storms and tempests ".

23 comments:

  1. weather damn awful here too...obvs because of last weeks hosepipe ban..keep warm and dry wilfee..summer must be here soon as the swallows are back in our rain filed skies..x

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  2. As the rainwater surges through my cast iron downpipe, I think of skilful pilot Wilf navigating his way carefully around the drawing room furniture.

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  3. I have decided to spend May in FP, at my crumbly old convent, with Merlin for company to escape this glum weather we are having in the UK. Not sure we will be actually escaping it at all!
    I'm so glad that Wilf during this weather continues in his 'cup half full' standpoint.
    Lovely boy, beautiful nose.
    Martinis all round and kisses for that nose.
    Teena & Merlin
    xx

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  4. One of those finely aged treats. Bliss. Hope the guttering holds up.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  5. We lost our best friend, yesterday, the beautiful Skye, our deaf rescue Bull Terrier, pictured left. It has broken our hearts. Hearing about Wilf's long-lost chew brings a smile to our faces. Thank you, Angus.

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    1. So sorry to hear your awful news. Thinking of you all.
      Sleep tight Skye xx

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    2. So, so sad after 16 years of shared adventures. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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    3. So sorry for the loss of Skye. You're in our thoughts...

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  6. Funny how bad weather can bring out those little moments of contentment and nostalgia inside!

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  7. Most certainly, Wilf is a skilful life pilot..DBH

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  8. A toast with a Martini to the skilful Wilf family - love and bacetti sul nasino Susanne, Daisy, Foxiie and Kiri - (powerpuppy)

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  9. That second picture is priceless!...lol Oh to be SO carefree in life. I think it requires the experience of many "Been there...Done that" circumstances to give the real understanding of what a simple joy is. A filthy old chew - set aside to ripen and mature! ...now that is a dog's (Pon's) lesson to man...Patience in the waiting. With time, good things will come. Rah! **(I wonder how many times Wilf may have gone and checked on the progress of that old chew...waiting for it to age to perfection!??) a {{hug}} for Wilf!

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  10. Oooh Wilfee, just in the middle of the road !
    I saw yesterday the first swallow of this year, flying over me, it is my gift for you, for this spring, Wilfee, with all my love.
    Enjoy this Wednesday sweet boy.

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  11. I'll have 2 olives in my martini please. Cheers!

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  12. this is a beautiful post. i heard it. i smelled it. i felt it.
    wilfee is a skillful pilot indeed!
    and to puppyfur... a member of this community...
    deeply heartfelt thoughts in your loss of skye. nothing harder.
    here's to sunnier days
    love,
    tammy j

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    1. Thanks, tammy j, your kindness is much appreciated. We miss our beautiful girl beyond measure. She really was someone. x

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  13. There is something incredibly satisfying to have a dog rest his head on one's feet.
    Some sort of heavenly connection.

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  14. Isn't it funny how we would never let anyone else bring something that dirty into the house but the dog!

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  15. Isn't it amazing what they find out in the garden. Our Tucker is famous for bringing in his old "ducks" that he forgot last autumn. As for the storms, our Tor (being the biggest of the lot) takes a great dislike for them. He hides in the basement...Willow is the only one champion of them all. She's afraid of nothing! Sweet Wilf looking cozy in his dog nest! Keep on going Wilf!

    With love from your Canadian pals,
    Dianna along with Tor, Willow and Tucker

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  16. Oh, Wilf, rain or shine, sharing a day with you makes any 24-hour period extremely special, indeed. God bless you and yours, sweet boy, and always, sweet dreams.

    Puppyfur: my heart goes out to you in the loss of your dear Skye! Take comfort in knowing you gave her the best possible life and she smiles down upon all of you tonight.

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  17. To Puppyfur: Nothing is more fun than a Bull Terrier so I know something of your loss. That he was a rescue is just the best.

    Wilfee, Stella hates the storms too and she likes to be very close to me while they are going on. Her head on my foot is one of her favorite ways to ride out the noisy weather.

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  18. The pictures of Wilf asleep in the middle of the road with his legs in the air always make me smile. Well, any picture of Wilf makes me smile.

    Puppyfur, I am so sorry. It is such a sad time. Our dogs just don't live nearly as long as they should.

    Louise

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  19. Wilf, Bart is not too fond of storms as he gets older, and has been staying close these past few days as rain pounds the roof and runs down our aluminum rain gutters.

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