tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627322010786735293.post887395398093829274..comments2023-10-01T09:35:35.894+02:00Comments on Antipodes: Spring revivalWilliam Skyvingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052367756561555096noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627322010786735293.post-84350597287950417252011-03-24T21:06:08.839+01:002011-03-24T21:06:08.839+01:00Annie: I'm not sure that Fitzroy has truly aba...Annie: I'm not sure that Fitzroy has truly abandoned his kennel. For example, he certainly spends time there (for a while, at least) when it's raining, and I actually leave his food inside the kennel. But William (the Welsh drover who bred the dog) always insisted upon the fact that this is an outdoor race. And it's clear that Fitzroy is not fond of the inside of my house, and seems to be bored there. He's attracted by the possibility of being in tactile contact with another animal, be it me or Sophia. He's by far the most sensually-demanding creature I've ever encountered (with apologies to any old flames who might be reading my blog). If he were a woman (that's a totally stupid "if", but this thought has often gone through my mind, so I'll finish expressing it), Fitzroy would have reduced me to an emaciated psychological skeleton: the sort of situation that most males do in fact crave for. We might pretend to complain about being stared at with big soft eyes and asked, for nth time: <i>"Tell me, what are you thinking about?"</i> But, in fact, we <i>love</i> such constant pointless questions. And that's exactly how Fitzroy behaves with me. He sits down on his backside, at my feet, and peers ceaselessly up into my eyes. It can be quite unsettling. And caresses turn rapidly, for Fitzroy, into spiritual ecstasy. (Well, they seem to produce a transfixed Teresa-of-Avila state.) In any case, getting back to his new abode, he appears to appreciate the vegetal presence all around him. On one side, there's a wild rose. On the other, a wisteria… which he has pruned to his tastes (literally) by chewing. In front of him, there's lavender. And beyond that, his lawn and his sticks. Besides, it's a spot just alongside one of the main doors into the house, so he can detect the sounds of anything that might be happening inside.William Skyvingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10052367756561555096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627322010786735293.post-75657134063416908852011-03-24T20:17:04.949+01:002011-03-24T20:17:04.949+01:00Glad to see that the plum trees have survived, Wil...Glad to see that the plum trees have survived, William.<br /><br />Do you think that Fitzroy would like his palance relocated to the new location of his home? Does he return to it when it rains?<br /><br />Perhaps it's too grand for him?<br /><br />Speaking of socks. A dog I know well called Max always has one sock. He picks it up and walks around with it. He chews it. He brings it to you to have you throw it so he can catch it and bring it back. It's a lot safer throwing a sock indoors than a ball!<br /><br />In many ways, Max's sock is like a child's favourite toy - when he loses it he can get quite upset until he finds it again, with or without human assitance. <br /><br />I don't think that Fitzroy builds quite the same relationship with your socks, though!Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10806660109196835114noreply@blogger.com