That’ll be just A in Milan, now, I guess

When your friend is doubled over in excruciating pain, kicking him/her in the stomach doesn’t really help

I love my dogs, I really do. They are fun, they are loving, they are, in nearly all respects, wonderful. There is one (there are probably more but for this post, there is really only one) problem. Every day, the place looks like a park. And, by that, I mean that, given their hair, they collect the park and bring it home, dropping it at home during the next 24 hours so that home looks like the park – mud everywhere (in the form of huge amounts of dust), dried leaves, twigs that got stuck, etc.

To give you an example, a couple of days ago, V went to the shops and I swept up. I did a good job but, when he came back he did it again.

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Weird thoughts go through my head from time to time. Particularly just before I go to sleep or if I wake too early in the morning and try to get back to sleep.

Last night, at one of these times, I cannot remember which, I suddenly started thinking about ‘should of’. There, I told you they were weird thoughts!

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After a slightly heavy post yesterday I thought it was time to lighten up a bit and also post something about one of the differences between here and there.

I was struck by this, taking Rufus and Dino out for walk yesterday, late afternoon.

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Christmas is a time for reflection and for remembering things past. This one was no different. At various times over the period I remembered the Christmases we had in the past. The mountains of presents; shopping for the veg on Christmas Eve at ‘Wiggy’s’ shop in Kington; having the open fire to sit around; and the people with whom we have shared our Christmases, including my sister (one time, I think).

However, it was also time to think of deeper things; things more hidden or, rather, not previously analysed.

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Just to wish everyone a very, very Happy Christmas.

I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions anymore. Not least because they were always something stupid that faded quickly such as ‘I will start jogging” - which I did do once. Started and finished in January! I mean, getting up half an hour earlier in, what was obviously, the coldest time of the year. Not a really clever thing to do. Personally, I think, New Year’s Resolutions should be made about May or June.

And others that I have tried to follow - lose weight; give up smoking; cut back on drinking; be nicer; make substantial savings; etc., etc.

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It came unexpectedly. There you were, making your plans for the future. Sure, you had built up credit over a period of time and, maybe, taken out a loan or two based on a future that you had assumed would occur. You thought that growth would never end. You thought that, at the very minimum, things would stay, more or less, the same. That life would continue as it was or get better.

The future was bright and shiny.

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I don’t know whether I’ve mentioned it before but our canteen at work is pretty good. And it only costs me 7 cents for a starter and main course. And we get freshly-made pizzas on Friday as long as you order them on Thursday.

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I just thought I would mention that Dino is becoming a really lovely dog. OK, so he has a little way to go before becoming perfect but he’s definitely working on it and, in the last few days in particular, I have noticed a change in him. He is becoming more affectionate and, dare I say it, just a little bit quieter – not so manic as puppies are.

He’s still a little demanding though but, as he’s only almost 10 months old, I can forgive him that.