Staying at home

With the Corona virus pandemic raging, we are all being advised to stay at home which, as a dog with separation anxiety, is fine by me. 'Her Indoors' is muttering darkly about what this will do to my on-going conditioning that being on my own is okay, but we dogs live in the moment, so that's for tomorrow.
          There are many advantages to being at home. The garden was looking very scruffy after a wet autumn and winter gave limited capacity for tidying up, so all this extra time is being usefully spent getting things  back up to scratch. I've been supervising of course. Unfortunately, I've been kept away from 'Him Indoors' painting the outside of the home office and shed which is a pity; I could have done something artistic in black paw prints. I've also been given a stern telling off for digging in the borders - just trying to help - and instructing a certain fluffy woofy Leonburger next door in the art of social distancing, which is a shame as I'm so good at it the government ought to be employing me.
          I've also been enjoying the benefits of collaborative media for home working. One of 'Her Indoors' friends, Danielle, after several years of careful training, always says hello to me during FaceTime sessions and asks 'Her Indoors' to give me a biscuit. Then there's the fun of keeping out of shot, but suddenly barking at some unknown threat, making everyone jump. 'Her Indoors' was having a meeting with her academic tutor in the week, so  I was banished to the house, only to discover that the lady she was meeting with had a parrot in her office. There's clearly potential for some significant contributions there. Perhaps we should get one.... We did have a huge bumble bee who decided to turn up to 'Her Indoors' virtual creative writing course, buzzing loudly and angrily at the window. In the end, 'Her Indoors' had to excuse herself and use a cup and a piece of card to catch and release them outside. By comparison, I'm no trouble.
          Then there's the domestic stuff. There's been no end of cooking and cleaning going on which I've been helping with. 'Junior Him' had temporarily stored his flat contents in the conservatory as his lease on his flat had expired and he is looking to buy somewhere, but that has all been put on hold. 'Them Indoors' wanted their conservatory back so they boxed up all his stuff and stacked it in 'Junior Him's bedroom. I helped by thoroughly investigating all the box contents and running off with the roll of packing tape and refusing to give it up. It looked like one of those ring toys so it was clearly intended for me.
          'Him Indoors' has always been good in sneaking me the odd snack and now he's at home a bit more, I'm benefiting. Unfortunately, 'Her Indoors' was changing my bed and found a small piece of crisp at the bottom. This was distressing on two counts: one, that I'd missed a bit, and  two, that 'Him Indoors' had been found out and told off. I hope this doesn't impact on our happy arrangement.
          Fortunately, we're still allowed out for walks and we are very luck to live in the country where long perambulations without bumping into another soul are perfectly possible. 'Her Indoors', rather worryingly, has taken to talking to the alpacas in the fields next to the lane and advising them on social distancing. They seem to be taking note but, to be honest, if she wants to have one-sided conversations with cute furries, she's got me.
          Still, it's concerning times. 'Her Indoors' discovered today that a person within her professional circle has just come out of hospital having suffered from Covid 19 pneumonia, the first time it has happened to someone she knows, and we suspect, not the last. So, my pals, it is up to us dogs, to keep our people at home and keep them entertained. I've been doing my best with toy spinning and tennis ball skills. After all, we furs live pretty much in the moment and are good at all the things people are now supposed to be doing so we have a duty to lead the way. What would they do without us....

Time for a screen break 'Her Indoors'

                                                   Teddy does ballet!