The Mystery of the Disappearing Dog

It's been a while since I've posted anything personal on this blog. The last couple of years have been difficult and I haven't done much more here, than a bit of promotion for my fellow authors.This post isn't about writing or books though, it's a funny story I thought I'd share with you - although it didn't seem funny at the time.

This is my little dog, Choccy, who I've mentioned on this blog before.  Thanks to Choccy, I didn't get much sleep the other night.

We have a bedtime routine. I let him out to do what a little dog has to do, last thing at night, then he has a couple of small biscuits eats his supper while I wash and get ready for bed. He usually  goes into his crate and waits for me to call him when I'm ready to get into bed. (Since my late husband passed away, Choccy has taken to sleeping on the bottom of my bed). 

This time when I called him he didn't appear. I got out of bed and looked into the crate and couldn't see him. However he tends to cover himself with the blankets, and sometimes sleeps in the crate for a few hours before joining me, so I felt around but couldn't feel him and even with the light on, it's difficult to see inside the crate, so just in case he'd managed to shut himself in one of the other rooms, I checked them all, the kitchen, the living room, my writing room, even the bathroom, but there was no sign of him and no answering bark when I called him. I even opened the door into the garden in case he'd somehow sneaked out, although there was really no way he could have got out once I'd locked the door for the night.  

I decided he must be asleep at the back of his crate under all the blankets, even though I couldn't see him, and went to bed slightly puzzled. I didn't get to sleep until after 3 a.m. and woke at about 7.a.m., thinking I heard a muffled 'woof' and not sure if I'd imagined it. To my dismay there was no little dog on the bed. I called - no answer. I got out of bed and again looked into his crate, I felt as far back as I could reach, and I was pretty sure there was nothing in there but blankets. Again I checked every room, calling, but no dog. By now I was really worried. Was he ill? Had he got trapped behind a piece of furniture? I checked everywhere, moving chairs, and the settee in the living room. My home is a small bungalow so it wasn't as if there were many places to look. Where on earth was he? How could he have seemingly disappeared into thin air?

The only place left to search was the garden. Poor Choccy, had he somehow been out all night? Why hadn't he barked to ask to be let in? Had something awful happened to him? I went back into the bedroom and started to dress to go outside (Yes I had looked all around the bedroom and the bed has drawers so there was no way he could have got under the bed.) "Please let me find him," I prayed silently, trying not to panic "let him be all right." All at once the thought came to me - there was one door I hadn't tried.

I rushed into the hall and opened the airing cupboard door - and out bounced a very lively Choccy! Phew, the relief! I remembered then - I'd left the door ajar for a few minutes while I went to fetch some laundry to air before I went to bed, and he must have snuck in and gone to sleep on some towels I had piled up at the bottom. Well I needn't have worried about him being cold that night - and if he ever goes missing again, the first place I'll look will be the airing cupboard!

 

 

 

 

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Remember Me Thursday

                                     

This isn't a book related post, but anyone who knows me knows how much I love animals. 'Remember me Thursday' is to think of the unwanted animals who have lost their lives because no-one wanted them, and to urge anyone thinking of getting a pet to consider adopting, instead of purchsing from a breeder. Many dogs, cats and other pet animals end up in overcrowded shelters, and some will, sadly, be euthanazed, not because they're unmanageable or dangerous, but simply because
they've ended up homeless, through no fault of their own, and no-one wanted to give them a second chance.

My own little dog, Choccy, is a 'rescue'. Before my husband and I adopted him from the Blue Cross, he had spent the first two years of his life locked up, never played with, never taken for walks, and with absolutely no training.

 

Choccy when we first adopted him

From the start, he was the most loving little dog, and took to us straight away. He was hard work though, because he'd never been socialised with other dogs, he was afraid of them, and would bark and spin whenever he saw one. However, with much patience and copious treats, he gradually learnt that other dogs were usually friendly and nothing to be frightened of, and that cars and buses were also something he could walk past without going 'crazy bonkers' as my lovely neighbour laughingly called it. He is also very clever, and in no time had learnt the value of 'positive reinforcement'. i.e. treats and praise for good behaviour. Two days after we adopted him he was fully housetrained, and soon learnt how to 'sit' 'come' and 'lay down' etc. and his zany character began to show itself. Eight years later his position as head of the household is well established. Since my husband passed away two years ago, he has been my faithful companion and now sleeps snuggled up next to me. I honestly don't know how I'd have coped without his love and companionship.

Rescues are so worth it, and will repay your kindness a hundredfold!
 

Choccy now

 

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Monday's Musings - on Tuesday

Sorry to be a day late.  It's been a busy day  Had to take my little dog to the vet yesterday, for his routine injections..  He was such a good boy.  He whimpered a bit when the needle went in but soon forgot the discomfort when the vet gave him some treats afterwards.

I can't believe it's the middle of Febuary
already.  It hardly seems like a few weeks since Christmas.  I've had snowdrops in my garden since January, due to the unusually mild winter, and now there are crocuses, daffodils and primroses as well.  I usually have to will the daffodils to bloom in time for St David's Day on March 1st, but this year I'll

be lucky if there are any left by then!

Getting very excited about the forthcoming release of 'Beloved Enemy' on March 11th, and am busy arranging blog tours, etc.  If you'd like to see some previews, pictures of my settings and characters and news before I post them anywhere else, and if you'd like to help me get the word out, you're welcome to join my 'Stargroup' street team at https://www.facebook.com/groups/118700921405/

That's all for now, enjoy your pancakes if you're having them today, I'll be making a stack tonight, I love them with cream, lemon, and maple syrup.  I might get some nutty chocolate too if I have time to pop to the village shop.

Monday Musings

I can't believe it's well into November and Christmas is only about six weeks away! Where has the year gone! I'm going to bake our Christmas cake today as soon as I finish this.

I love my fellow authors and really enjoy promoting  them on my blog - but I think it's time I started sharing some of myself with you again, so I'm going to try to keep Mondays to chat with you about this and that - and perhaps post up the odd Welsh legend again.

It's been quite an eventful and busy year.  I had the third novel in what has become the Destiny trilogy accepted by the Wild Rose Press and have been busy with edits with my very patient editor, Frances Sevilla, and was thrilled with my lovely cover by the talented Rae Monet, who gave me exactly what I asked for - only better! Hopefully I'll have the release date soon and will be giving a few short 'teasers' here and on my Facebook 'Street Team', where I'll be posting all the news about 'Beloved Enemy' first.  If you'd like to join, just pop along to
https://www.facebook.com/groups/118700921405/  I'll be thrilled to have you on board.

I've also been busy with our new 'rescue' Choccy.  He was pretty hyper when we first had him, as he'd spent most of his life shut up in a box room, and never being taken out for walks or played with until he went to the Blue Cross, who, along with other rescue centres in this country do such sterling work for abandoned, abused and neglected or unwanted animals.  Never having been 'socialised' as a puppy, he tended to bark and spin like a loony when meeting other dogs. I'm glad to say he's a lot calmer now, and doesn't bark so much when we meet

dogs when out and about. We had a few sessions with a
local dog trainer, which we enjoyed very much, and I think that helped a lot.  It was his third birthday yesterday, and he had a good time, with two different types of ball (he loves chasing balls), a nice marrow-bone to chew on and a special chicken dinner. He had a great time and is sleeping it off today, lying behind me on my chair as I type.

I'm doing National Novel Writing Month again  this year,  and am writing a ghost story.  It's completely different to the Destiny series and is very horsey, we'll see how it goes.  I'm actually behind on my word count so I'd better finish this post and get back to it - as soon as I've made my Christmas Cake.

Have a great week!

Choccy

The house has felt empty since we lost our beloved Jack Russell, Bouncer, in August, so...

The DH and I paid a visit to the Blue Cross Adoption Centre

where I'd seen an on-line picture of this little scrap named Choccy

After some visits to get to know him and take him for walks...

(Well wouldn't you know I'd find a chocolate themed doggy!)




We bought a smart, matching Blue Cross collar, harness and lead

and took him home with us

Where he soon made himself at home in his new bed with his blanket and toys...

before calling round to see the neighbours
Bonnie and Ellie, belonging to Sara-Jane and Neil.
(Poor Bonnie was abandoned in a box. she had a badly infected
eye which had to be removed, but she's such a happy little girl now
with her lovely adopted mum and dad.)

At this rate I'll never get that novel finished and submitted to my publisher! But who could resist  such a sweet little dog - even if he does put his paws on the keyboard so he can give me big doggy kisses!