Day 3131 Burning Love

12th March 2026

I had a few days of dog sitting ahead of me. 

Bobby and Dexter are complete opposites in size and stature, but they share a common ability to bark their bloody heads off, especially when they know it was walkie time.

I didn’t have the best night of sleep, but I was up at seven ready for a brisk walk around the neglected golf course.

Wrestling the dogs to put their harnesses on whilst they were barking in my ear was a challenge, although Bobby had been shaved to within an inch of his life, was the easiest of the two. With Dexter, I had to fight the mass of hair.

Once the had been achieved, we were off. For a small dog Bobby can certainly pull, which he did until I released him from his tether.

Then it was a pleasant walk in the crisp morning air. 

I take the longest route in a wide circle, I watched the early morning train rumbling along the other side of the river, my lungs filled with clean air, it felt good to be alive.

After the walk, there was less pulling, although I need help climbing the steep slope towards the gap in the fence. 

I gave the dogs their breakfast of chicken thighs, which they devoured in minutes, I got ready to leave, I had a lot on my list to do.

The garden at the cottage needed de-cluttering , last years growth had to be tamed, and the brambles from the next door had started to invade again.

I got the incinerator going, and as I cut away the dead stuff, burnt it. Not having a vehicle to take it to the tip, burning it was the only option.

I soon regretted it, smoke billowed everywhere, there was a strong wind that helped the drawing, but made it difficult to avoid getting engulfed.

However I made good progress, and a few more sessions should get it back in control.

I took a shower to get the smell of smoke washed away, and headed back to feed the boys, slightly exhausted from the days activity. This alway makes me question my ability to stay awake in the evening, I put it down to the English air, although most of it was filled with smoke, maybe it was the thick English smoke that did it.