Tuesday, December 24, 2019

My Christmas Address to the Nation

Well another Christmas is upon us and it's time for me to step up to the mark, as the Boss's appointed successor, and deliver my festive reflections, as he did every year. And I've decided, perhaps surprisingly for a Border Terrier, to explore the concept of goodness.
          Now this is not something that Rolo would have featured in his blog. He was a dog whose natural inclination was towards naughtiness. If ever there was a choice to be made between the right and wrong thing to do, he always went for the latter. However, it's not that he was bad, just mischievous, unless of course you were a rabbit, or a pigeon, or a grass snake, then it was a different story. But put him with Juniors and he had a store of patience beyond that of many dogs, me included.
         And in spite of the Boss's best efforts, I am naturally a good fur. I don't mean this in a goody-two-shoes, obedience champion, kind of way. I just mean that I'm a people focused dog who wants companionship and fussing. I stick so close to 'Her Indoors' that after watching 'His Dark Materials' on the TV, she now refers to me as her daemon. I can be naughty, like having a little chew on her Christmas present from 'Him Indoors' left under the tree, but I don't like a raised voice in my direction and I need lots of loving, so I tend to stick with what makes 'Them Indoors' happy.
          Goodness is understated and under-reported. You only have to check out Twitter and the BT Posse to see lots of examples of people and dogs watching out for each other and helping with little acts of kindness and concern. They may not make the news but they make for a better everyday life. And there are lots of little acts of kindness if you look for them. 'Her Indoors' bought a potted Christmas tree from a local supermarket and when she bent down to pick it up, found it was considerably heavier than she thought it was going to be. She later discovered there was half a watering can of stagnant water swilling around in the bottom of the pot, but she was saved from putting her back out by a man who sprang to her assistance and insisted on putting it on her trolley for her. I personally, would have weed on it, and added to the general fluid weight, but there we go, we all have a different approach.
          'Her Indoors' also does writing for wellbeing at two local hospices and one of the reasons that she really enjoys it is the goodness she finds there. About a quarter of the human resource for hospices nationally, are volunteers, so there are lots of people doing fine work: chaplaincy, counselling, complementary therapies, gardening, working in the cafe, driving, flower arranging and just sitting and chatting to folk, all for free. There are 'Pets as Therapy' dogs doing their bit too. They may charge the odd gravy bone, and one of them may be a spaniel, but they do fine work making people feel just that little bit better. Also, those who are ill are often very compassionate to each other and provide mutual support. The paid staff are lovely people too, doing a great job for patients and their families.
          So this Christmas, let's celebrate the goodness that goes on, out of sight and unheralded. It's easy to think, when you look at the TV or in animal shelters, that the world has gone to pot, but it hasn't. There's a lot of goodness out there. Right, having got that off my chest, I'm back under the Christmas tree. 'Her Indoors' had a second parcel from 'Him Indoors' that looks equally tempting..! Happy Christmas everyone.

Goodness in doggy form!



Except for the odd little mishap.....

Nope, nothing to do with me.....

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