Hello… It’s Me and Mister C…

Hi there, nothing much to report this week… It’s cold, foggy and we all need to stay home, as much as possible at present. Let’s give ourselves a BIG pat on the back, for nearly getting through Winter; while staying strong through this current Covid situation (is it ever going to end?). Our thoughts go out to all the people and families, directly affected by Covid at present…

Okay… still 2016; now the end of November and soon the New Year! A special event did occur during this time; our new doggy fur friend, was due to come home to meet our family. Flossy and I, went to pick up our new doggy together Saturday morning; the same day as Flossy’s piano concert. Our dear Godmother (hiya D.P.B!) came up for the occasion, and to also meet our new doggy friend. Mister C didn’t come with us this time; he was feeling tired that day, and was best for him to stay home with Dad (Widy was away seeing her biological Dad).

Mister C and I, had driven up to Renbury Farm a few weeks before, and met the little doggy. He was an older dog, very gentle and timid; a pure-bred Chihuahua (rare to have been a lost dog!), beige short-haired and very sweet faced. Mister C warmed to him so quickly; a little smile even appeared on the doggy’s face, which we both happily noticed. On the drive home, Mister C said, “Mummy, I want to call our new doggy, ‘Hey Duggee’ from my favourite TV show. I love this show, Mummy; and I love our new doggy!” On hearing this, my heart MELTED! It was such a busy time; but I knew in my heart, it was all worth the effort I was making. Let’s hope I could try and turn Husband around on the whole dog idea (he was a cat lover!) …

Flossy and I, were both super excited to pick up our little chap (not Husband sadly; he was worried a dog, would be too hard to look after and bark too much?) I recall it was a busy day; Flossy had to attend her piano concert later that afternoon. We were so lucky to have found such a lovely doggy as this one; however, we didn’t know he was an anxious dog (Chihuahua’s are renowned for idiosyncrasies). We were told by the Farm Vet; he had been a lost dog for some time- as he was so underweight and very un-kept. He had the ‘operation’ (de-sexing), was micro-chipped, washed and de-wormed, before we were able to take him home about three weeks later. ‘Duggie the Wonder Dog’ (as Mister C has affectionately called him) was in a sad way, when we picked him up from the Vet. He had a bad cough; was on abs for kennel cough, he had picked up from the pound area. He was also very underweight and still recovering from his operation (poor little guy- lots of gentle cuddles).

Unfortunately, there was much tension in the house that weekend. Husband did not want a dog as a pet right now; even though the kids and I, had put across our case before we picked up the doggy (Husband did agree-reluctantly?). His reasoning being the amount of work needed to look after a dog; let alone three young children to care for as well. Husband did comment, “I guess the huge news is, just before Flossy’s piano concert yesterday, the dog arrived! Wife and Flossy collected it somewhere near Campbelltown in the morning. As things stand, I did not want it, and I don’t want it! Worst nightmare for me; a nightmare would be a neighbour’s dog barking, but when it is my own house- sweet geezus!” Husband went on to comment, “I could never have made it more clear in the couple of months leading up to the purchase, that I did not want a dog. It’s hard enough and stressful enough having three kids. Having said all that, the kids seem to enjoy it except for the late-night constant barking!”… Oh, dear I thought; what had we done? Husband went to stay at his Mum’s for a couple of nights later in the week; so, I could try and sort out some of the barking issues…

The kids really wanted a pet dog; to spend time with and take for walks (so did I). My heart sank, when Duggie wouldn’t settle down, the first night he was home with us (thanks D.P.B for your help and care). He was obviously in some discomfort after his surgery; and was in a completely new environment in our home, with new smells and such… A long story short; we put up with about a week of the barking, and anxiety issues with poor Duggie. I rang Renbury Farm; they gave me a few ideas; but it didn’t help. I took Duggie back to the vet in our local area, for a review, and to have the stitches removed. The vet suggested to try another type of food, to temp him to eat, that might help settle the doggy down. The kids (and I) were really worried Duggie may have to go back to the Farm…

In the end, a colleague from work suggested (thanks heaps!), to buy a cheap portacot (I had recently thrown out the old one from when Mister C was a baby!) and put Duggie’s bedding in the cot to sleep. What more could I lose- but to try it? SO, I trudged down to K-mart and purchased a cheap cot; I have to say-what a miracle! No more barking at all (the occasional unsettledness- when it rained and stormed); the little doggy finally settled in his cot, outside our room from then on… Back in those first few days, I do recall Husband complained to friends about Duggie. Husband mentioned, he had allowed ‘extra leeway’; because the dog was already much older (approximately eight years as said by the Vet); so, would not last too much longer! A friend sent Husband a link, about evidence pointing to the Chihuahua breed being the longest lived of all dogs! Yes! (it is true-Husband!) Chihuahua’s can live up to twenty-five years old! … We can laugh about it all nowadays; Duggie is the sweetest little doggy ever; and is well and truly a part of our family now! I can proudly write this many years later- Husband even likes to pat Duggie and take him for walks too (phew to that!) …

Each day became less tense with Duggie in the house. We all got along much better; while enjoyed taking Duggie for nice walks, when he was fully recovered and had put some good weight back on. Mister C was still as funny as usual, getting up to his silly antics and telling stories. Husband commented, “On the weekend, Mister C and I discovered an old episode of the ‘Incredible Hulk’ (like the series I watched, while living in England in the late 1970’s, when I was five years old); the ‘Hulk’ threw a large dirt covered branch, that looked like a leg of lamb, at a helicopter-smashing the rotor! We both laughed at the sound it made; while I laughed at the idea of it being a ‘leg of lamb’. At bed time, Mister C gave me a hug and with a big smile; he told me in his own words, the ‘Hulk’ threw a leg of lamb at the helicopter; we giggled at that and my heart melted!”…

A Word from Mister C…

Dad had just lit our fire box; smoke was starting to come up and out the long tall chimney, at the side of our house. Mister C was outside on the swing; he saw the smoke in the air. “Oh, Wow! Where is all that fire smoke going, Daddy?” Mister C asked; looking up at the sky curiously. Dad looked up too and said, “Oh, I don’t know my son; the smoke just goes up and evaporates up there.” … “Oh!” Mister C said; “I bet it’s going all the way up to the Gods in the clouds?!”…

Stay tuned…

It’s now 2017- yay! I look forward to working at the local hospital, as a fully-fledged registered nurse (on casual work terms) to help care for Opa and support family. I purchase a new-ish car; we looked forward to a calmer and quieter year; while spend a lot of quality time with Opa over his final weeks (too much sadness there). We take time out, to spend some quality time together as a family; while Mister C calls Opa on his toy phone in heaven every night…