Sun At Last

In truth, I did this entry this in the afternoon but could not resist the above graphic.

I actually managed to get an hour sitting in the sun earlier on, first time this year and it was so nice to sit and listen to the birdsong and watch them flit around.  Still little sign of Spring, just tiny buds on the trees.  Even the Forsythia which is the earliest thing to bloom in our garden is without flower.

So, what I have I been up to?  Mainly wrestling with the computer and Aol.  Could not get online for most of last week, just kept getting error messages that my moden could not connect to the DSL.  I tried everything.  In the end I had to ring aol and wait in the endless queue and think of the money it was costing.  Aol blamed Norton, said it was nothing to do with them.  I had to ring Norton, another half hour wait on the phone.  They talked me through all the possible problems it could be and it was none of them.  They said it was aol.  Back onto aol and they then said it was a problem with the driver.  I would have to delete the driver, they would connect me via dial-up so that I could download the driver again and install it.  I had to wait until the next day. A total of four hours on the phone with the waiting time.  I was at screaming pitch by the end.  So, the following day I uninstalled Norton, just in case, and installed the new driver.  Just to be certain I got rid of Norton completely and switched to something else.  All went well until yesterday when the same problem reared its head again.  Took me over twenty minutes to get online today.  I have given up.  I hope that I can get Dean to sort it all out for me. 

Apart from that I have been getting on with various things as I intended but still not done any more to the rug.  Nathan will be eighteen by the time I finish at the rate I am going. I wonder whether an eighteen year old would like Winnie The Pooh?

Our next door neighbour said he saw a rat run across his garden and into ours.  Gave me the horrors.  I cannot stand wild rats, they make my skin crawl.  Neighbour said they have come from somewhere further down the  street.  Mike got two traps and set them where the rat came through (we have not seen anything) but today he checked the traps and the bait is gone but no rats caught.  He has re-baited them and we will try again.  If not, we shall have to resort to poison, making absolutely sure that the dogs cannot get to it.  Yuk, I hate even writing about them.

Jack is growing by the day and turning into a lovely dog.  He is so good with other dogs and people, quick to learn commands and is a pleasure to own. 

Of course he still chews things although he has so many toys he had done little damage around the house except for an old pair of Mike's shoes.  What is it about puppies and shoes or slippers? They just love to get them.

It would be nice to think the weather would stay like it has been today when the last two photos were taken.  That way I could get out and do work in the garden.  It needs lots of attention as we have a glorious crop of weeds.  However, they have forecast rain for the next three days.  Well, at least that will help with the drought.  I was just glad to get my hour sitting in the sun today.

 

Boys

People say that I look like a Panda

I am very curious, into everything

I try and help Nathan with his games

And I love to make him laugh

When I am too tired to do anymore, I always curl up with my very best friend

Race For Life - Can You Help?

Our journal friend Jules is taking part in the Race For Life to help raise funds for cancer research.

I know this means a lot to Jules and the race takes place on her late Mother's birthday which makes it more special to her.

If you would like to sponsor this wonderful cause then please friends, visit this link and give what you can.  Remember, every penny counts.

Race for Life - Jules Tranham

Thank you. 

C.T.W.

Yesterday I was reading once more one of my favourite poems - The Ballad of Reading Gaol (for our American friends Reading is pronounced Redding) by the great Oscar Wilde and I wondered how many people know that it was based on a true story.

 

In Reading gaol by Reading town
There is a pit of shame,
And in it lies a wretched man
Eaten by teeth of flame,
In burning winding-sheet he lies,
And his grave has got no name.

Oscar Wilde was in Reading Gaol at the same time as the man concerned and, on release from prison, wrote the poem and dedicated it thus:-

In Memorium
C.T.W.
Sometime Trooper of The Royal Horse Guards
7th July 1896.

I never saw a man who looked
With such a wistful eye
Upon that little tent of blue
Which prisoners call the sky,
And at every drifting cloud that went
With sails of silver by.
I walked, with other souls in pain,
Within another ring,
And was wondering if the man had done
A great or little thing,
When a voice behind me whispered low,
"That fellow's got to swing."

This is the story of C.T.W.

Charles Thomas Wooldridge was a 30-year-old soldier serving in the Royal Horse Guards and  he was stationed at Regent's Park barracks, London. He was married but the marriage was a stormy one and although he loved his wife dearly he was an extremely jealous man. His wife was living in the village of Clewar, near Windsor. They met whenever they could but the forced separation of army life  put an inevitable strain on their relationship.

By March 1896 his wife had decided to start using her maiden name again and  she was seeing other men.  She continued to meet her husband and during one of their meetings, Wooldridge struck her.

On 27th March she requested her husband to sign a document undertaking not to molest her further. They had arranged to meet later that day outside Regent's Park barracks and, when she failed to turn up, Wooldridge became highly agitated. He told the sentry on duty that he was going to Windsor to find her also saying ~ 'I'm going to do some damage.'

His wife's neighbours, alarmed by screams, rushed from their homes to find Wooldridge standing in the street over his wife's body.  Her throat had been cut. He made no attempt to escape. When he was arrested he told the officer 'Take me! I have killed my wife.'

At his trial the jury took just two minutes to find him guilty, despite his attempts to get the charge reduced to manslaughter because of his wife's unfaithfulness. He was sentenced to death and was hanged at Reading Gaol on 7th July 1896. He passed into immortality as the subject of the well known poem. 

"And all men kill the thing they love,
By all let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!

If anyone wishes to read the complete poem which is very descriptive and conjours up strong images  of what prison life was like and also what Wilde's own thoughts were on this man,  then visit:-

The Ballad Of Reading Gaol - Oscar Wilde

It's A Big World!

First walk. Jack has taken his first steps out into the world.  Every time a car passes, he sits down and stares in amazement!

Pals.  Jesse hates the camera.  As soon as you pick it up, his ears go down and he looks miserable. Unlike Jack who is turning out to be a real poser like Pip was.  You have to catch Jesse unawares to get a "happy" shot.

This last one is how we wish Jesse would look every time we take his picture

Postscript

I have added a Postscript to

 

THROUGH A DOG'S EYES

 

Final Chaper

THROUGH A DOG'S EYES

Ooooooh, What Happens Next, Nathan?