I'd Read About It In Books....

[flick]

Today, I got to do something I'd never done before. I'd read about it, lots of times, in books. I'd even confidently told bewildered Americans that it really did happen, All The Time.

Yes, I went to an English pub and ended up having conversations with complete random strangers purely on the basis that I had a dog with me.

Now, on the other hand, it is blowing a storm (I was outside a little while ago and heard a creaking, cracking noise. I turned around in time to see one of the budlias topple gently onto the lawn. It is relatively sheltered in the back garden, for which I fear that we may have to thank the house-high-even-though-it-was-topped-a-few-years-ago laylandii tree that we had been planning to yank out) and my beloved husband is celebrating our anniversary with a Worldcon Skype. Ah, wedded bliss. [g]

Comments

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

You are a tad isolated, but we've made loads of friends among fellow dog walkers, not to mention fellow agility people.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Just a tad, yes! Most of the conversations (all two, I think!) I've had with local dog walkers have been 'please stop it coming near my horse' related. We've not yet come across anyone while we've been walking Jodie in the woods nearby, although we did meet a few when we went to a nearby common the other day. That might be partly because our very close woods are privately owned and steep, as well as being right next to an enormous tract of Forestry Commission land (where we often ride) that's much easier going for walking.

I suspect Jodie would enjoy agility, but I'm not sure that I could keep up with her. She seems incredibly uninterested in anything like balls, sticks and toys, though: if you throw something, she'll run after it and then keep going!

The most common comment we get is "What's she?" followed by guesses of Newfoundland and Collie.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Re Bren: "Is it a greyhound?" "Is it a greyhound cross?" "Is it a lurcher?"

Re Draco: "Is it a Doberman puppy?" "Is it a mini pin?"

These are questions familiar to all owners of Smooth Collies and ETTs.

On the other hand, "Oh, it's a Smooth Collie!" "Yes. Is that a Duck Tolling Retriever?" "Yes, she is."

"Oh, an ETT. How's he bred?"

"My goodness, a Smooth Collie. You don't see those very often."

This being the rich part of Essex we have local Leonbergers (someone in Epping owns a veritable pack), Howawarts, Berger de Picard, Dogue de Bordeaux (a local walks four), Sussex Spaniels, Portuguese Water Dogs, Inuit Dogs, Cotons, Victorian Bulldogs (walked by someone who claimed to be a Lord), a Caanan Dog (rescued on Cyprus) and a couple of Spanish Mastiffs (who may or may not be on the dangerous breeds list.)

[del-c.livejournal.com]

How do you claim to be a Lord? I just wondered how you'd drop that into a conversation.

Do any Games of Thrones cast members live near you? I hear some of them adopted "their" "dire wolves" (Northern Inuits) after filming was over.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

He dropped it 'casually' into the conversation at one stage. He did have a posh accent and a Range Rover... You know, "I'm Lord So-and-so." We didn't take much notice. This is Chigwell, after all - home of East End crooks, stockbrokers and footballers. (I haven't seen Game of Thrones and have no idea who was in it, and I'm hopeless at recognising 'celebs' - I'm much better at recognising rare dog breeds!)

[anef.livejournal.com]

I suppose he could have been a "nouveau" type of lord. The ones in Georgette Heyer novels would just say "I'm [title]" and expect you to understand.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

He was very personable and his dog was lovely, but he could have been a con man.