Saturday, August 13, 2011

A poem remembered.





Excitement . Just before lunch a van draws up outside the gates . The whistling workmans come to give the warning triangles on the speed bump their once a year makeover. He paints one side before lunch , then carefully lays out traffic cones to protect his work . First stage completed he drives off to the village green where he gets out , sprawls on the grass, and enjoys an hour and a halfs nap in the shade. Suitably refreshed he returns , removes the cones , paints the other side of the speed bump, lays out the cones again and then drives thirty yards back to the green for the second half of his nap . An hour and a half later , paint dry, cones collected, he finally goes . Efficiency , Tarn-et-Garonne style. From time to time Wilf, who finds the whistling irritating, deigns to bark at him .

Six thirty at night . A group of a dozen or so red shirted pilgrims wander along the lane . They see 'the font' working in the garden and ask if they can fill up their water bottles . Nice , ordinary folk from Munich taking three weeks to walk as much of the route towards Santiago di Compostela as they can . Due to the unexpected guests Wilf gets his insulin injection from 'the font ' later than usual . I feed him earlier than usual . Our well practised family routine thrown twenty minutes out of kilter . Result ? A really bad night for the family fellows diabetes .

This morning Angus is feeling decidedly sleep deprived but Wilfs tail is wagging . He's happy . Dogs seem to have read, and remembered , that ever grateful Emerson line that goes : " For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night , For health and food , for love and friends , For everything thy goodness sends ". The irrepresible gratitude of our four legged companions . Today , Angus and Wilf will be having an extended post lunch siesta .


18 comments:

  1. I wish I could find a job where I could work for a little bit, have an hour and a half nap, come back and work for a bit and then have another nap.

    Knowing that you and the font weren't on schedule with Wilf's medication and food must've made you feel bad when you saw the reaction he had. I hope he's doing better now.

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  2. So sorry to hear about the bad night. One of my favourite times of the day is when I go down to the kitchen first thing in the morning and see Bertie still lying on his cushion, but with his tail wagging furiously as I give his chin a wee tickle.
    Enjoy the siesta!
    Gail.

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  3. Hopefully the siesta follwed an extended lunch as well!

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  4. There is something about snoozing, in the shade of the afternoon sun, with your dog contentedly beside you that is priceless. Enjoy your siesta.

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  5. Wilfie you look a little bit punk rock in these photos. We hope you all get to catch up on your zzzzs.

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  6. Wilf - I may repeat myself but you are soooooooooo cute! Have a great siesta - some of my best times are sleeping with Foxiie in my arms... he smells so nice. Love from Southern Italy Susanne, Daisy and Foxiie

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  7. It's a good thing there weren't 2 speed bumps to touch up, the workman may have needed to spend the night!

    I hope you've caught up on your rest today Angus, and all is well today.

    PS: I saw a patient yesterday who was born and raised in the South of France in the 'area of Saint Michel' --???--Of course I wondered if that was near you.

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  8. Wish I could find a job like that LOL Diane

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  9. I think two hour and a half naps in a day sounds pretty darned nice! Heck, I'm lucky if I get two fifteen minute breaks in a day, much less a nap. France is looking better and better all the time!

    I think your extended siesta is well-deserved! Enjoy it, both of you.

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  10. Sweet dreams Wilf & Angus zzzzzz.....

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  11. The late and much loved actor Jack Lemon in discussing old age said something like, Old age is when you find yourself saying, I'll feel better in the morning. It sounds as if Wilf would agree with that. I know I do!

    Jo

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  12. nothing dampens his spirit and his love of life itself! wilf you are the little lao tzu of france profonde and of our hearts!!
    i want to get rid of my type a work ethic. i want to move to france. (i would die of a stress induced heart attack within a week no doubt!)
    love and hugs,
    tammy j

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  13. Wilf is a poem incarnate I will always remember. Sweet dreams under the sun and shade.

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  14. Has Wilf changed his coiffeur? He seems to have gone a bit punky in the middle two photos.

    Hope you have a better night tonight.

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  15. Looks like Mr. Wilf stuck his paw in the light socket! The funky-do look is just so becoming on the little angel!

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  16. Sounds like the village green might be a great place to sack out for the siesta.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

    We like Wilf's punk hair do

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  17. That photo of Wilf, nose in the air...LOVE. He is such a happy little one :) And like everyone else, we just adore his hair 'do.

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