I dread Sundays

What a ridiculous statement you might say:  "I dread Sundays" but the reason behind this feeling is that throughout Sunday I'm thinking that tomorrow is Monday which of course is a work day!

I really need to get out of this way of thinking.  I work full-time plus some, often working evenings and weekends so really should be enjoying this 'day of rest'.  Saturday is usually spent recovering from my week of work (or working) and doing those demanding household chores that never disappear entirely.  Then along comes Sunday and instead of enjoying the rest I worry so much about the day being (a) too short (yes, I'm pretty certain that Sundays are shorter than any other day) and (b) the day before Monday and my return to work that I seem to get nothing achieved. 

It's kind of a 'Catch 22' situation - because I'm thinking about work the following day I tend to end up working then I don't need to worry about it as I'm already doing it!!!!!!  How crazy is that???!!!

So, in line with yesterday's post (Cleansing) I need to put my life in order, working Monday-Friday daytime only leaving evenings and weekends to rest and play!  This won't always be the pattern since my job often means that I have to work antisocial hours.  I'm going to make a note in future of the hours I work and make sure to take 'time off in lieu' where applicable. 

I've been working so much lately during my 'free time' as I want to be seen as efficient and indispensable.  But I think I have finally accepted what a very dear friend of mine has told me, that most colleagues will think I do all this work when I'm in the office.  By not being at everyone's beck and call at all times means that they will see that time in the office along cannot possibly achieve everything I've been doing.  There are no magic elves and fairies busy during the night updating the website (alas), creating promotional material, writing press releases etc etc - it's me and me alone.

Life is so short and I'm at an age (NOT to be discussed!) where I question the validity of what I'm doing.  There definitely is more to life than work and whilst this provides an income to pay for a roof over my head, bills to keep that 'roof' cosy and stop bailiffs from putting their size 90s in the door, food to keep me fuelled and alive plus clothing to prevent me from being arrested (debatable!) and the odd little luxury there's so much more that's important.  

Life, like my possessions, needs to be compartmentalised.  Work is in one, albeit very large, section, then there are so many other areas which I need to prioritise. 

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to have any time to work!

I wonder ... if there was a bank holiday every Monday then Sundays would be total relaxation.  Add Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday AND Friday to that list of national holidays I'd really be a very happy bunny.

Hmmmmm ... food for thought.  But for now I need to think about the day itself on Sunday.  And during the week I can think about how soon Friday will come round - isn't psychology fascinating?

Here's to many more Sundays and my enjoyment of them! 

Cleansing

Physical cleansing can help cleanse the mind.  It's not that I enjoy cleaning - I really don't but I do enjoy the clean and tidy area afterwards!  Yesterday I took time to spring-clean my lounge and have to say I feel SO much better for it.  I had purchased some new curtains (75% off the already cheap price so a true bargain!) and then I added cushions to add colour to what is essentially a neutral room.

I adore colour and different colour combinations but need to have some colour warmth in a room.  I already have some lime green accessories, a little turquoise, chocolate lampshades and some pinky magenta flowers so the curtains I chose were neutral with pink & chocolate 'headings'.  With many cold and cool colours, pink certainly provides warm accents.

Down came the old curtains (and a mountain of dust with them - oh dear, make a note to clean curtain tops and rails regularly) and up went the new.  Out with the old cushions and in with the new:  4 different cushions - 1 square fuzzy turquoise, 1 round pink felt rose, 1 multi-coloured crochet & 1 large oblong pink/green/turquoise stripe on neutral.  The poodles approved by jumping onto the couch and flinging them onto the floor as usual.

I vacuumed and polished where no woman (or man) had ventured for quite some time.  Ornaments,candles/artificial flowers/chess set etc washed, paintings wiped, couch/tv etc moved, hi-fi lifted to remove had been accumulated, drawers & doors opened & cleaned, fireplace ashes removed & hearth swept, poodle toy box tidied, arty stuff transferred to studio, magazines sifted through, criochet put into new fab bag leaving the bare minimum out on view. 

My tidied and cleaned room helped me to tidy my jumbled thoughts.  When I had finished it felt wonderful to sit in that room and enjoy the moment.  Not a worry to think about as everything had been put in order and was clean.  Every object, like every single thought buzzing around in my head, was contemplated as an individual item rather than a mass of 'stuff'.  It made it so much easier to face everything, one thing at a time, as opposed to trying to tackle a whole jumble of physical or mental anxieties.  I so enjoyed getting rid of 'stuff', making decisions on what to throw away or how to store it tidily and logically. 

We all need to take stock of our material goods as well as emotional baggage.  No more hoarding - just think of it as negative energy.  Let it be fleeting ephemera which can be pushed aside relieving you of unnecessary responsibilities.  Maybe it just isn't needed and you're better off without it or possibly you can replace it with something that makes you more content or that is technology advanced and/or easier to understand.

Maybe tomorrow I shall sort another area.  Why not try it?
  

Poodle Love

I have 3 standard poodles, 2 females and 1 dog, that I adore.  They are my lifeline even though they are a huge responsibility.  But maybe that's one of the reasons why they are such a lifeline.  We need, I believe, responsibility.  Without my care and nurture they would not be looked after.  They give me a focus that I need and they offer me unconditional love.

Do you love dogs, like them, indifferent to them or really dislike them?  I purposefully haven't added 'hate' to the list as I don't understand the word at all.

If you're not a dog lover I wonder why that is?  Is it the attention they need? Are you afraid of responsibility for an animal that would find it difficult to survive without human intervention?  Is it the extra mess that means dust and hair to clean up (poodles don't shed hair)?  Is it the noise they make?  The smell? - wet dog smell, doggy breath, other disgusting smells that dogs don't hold in!

I guess there could be all kind of reasons and I'd be really interested to know since I cannot imagine life without loving dogs or, indeed, most animals.  To me, they are God's creatures that we should care for (and whilst I state 'God' I don't necessarily mean the Christian God but a spiritual being). 

You see I just don't understand people not liking dogs.  I become so emotionally attached to them that I suffer heartache if one of them is poorly or when the end of their life arrives.  But I also experience tremendous joy from some of the things they do.  Yes, sometimes I find I'm stressed by some of their actions but that really is because I've not taken the time to train them and be consistent with how I am with them and not firm enough maybe with how other people treat them.  Puppies are so adorable when they jump up at you but a big dog is not!  But of course as puppies they have learnt by jumping up we pet them so that of course is why they continue to do so when older.

I don't totally agree with the phrase 'there is no such thing as a bad dog, only a bad owner' since some illnesses may create aggression.  But in the main the saying is correct.

So, having rambled on and on let me introduce me to my poodles:

Willow is just over 4 years old and I have had her since she was 10 months old.  She is white (I get reminded of this when she is bathed since muddy dog syndrome and dusty dog syndrome often disguise this fact) and is the matriarch of the three, often keeping the two younger poodles in check.  She had her first litter of puppies last year, in 2010, and will probably have a second litter next year.  I cried every time a puppy left for his or her new home but that's another story.  Yes, I really do get attached to my dogs.  Willow follows me everywhere throughout the house, every single time I move.  I really like that but can understand that many people would find it irritating.  The only time I don't like it is if I accidentally tread on her or trip over.  I so often start to do something so my movement triggers her to follow me, then I'll remember I could be time efficient by doing another action and halving my 'journey'.  And when this happens (most of the time!) I'm quicker than the dog or dogs following me and end up tripping over them.  I'm sure that Willow thinks I am her pet and she is responsible for ME.  Outside of the home, however, on our daily walks, once off the lead and is pursuit of interesting smells she ignores me until SHE is ready to come back.  Hmmmmm, some training needed methinks.

Floyd is my boy.  He is pale apricot in colour and is 2 years old.  At just 10 months old he fathered Willow's litter!  So he is a dog daddy to 8 gorgeous 1 year old poodles.  But he has no idea whatsoever about it.  He was totally uninterested with his offspring when they were small puppies - no good to play with, not bothered with any care or nurture and no good for what 'complete' dogs are otherwise keen to do!  Floyd is, bless him, a little, how shall I put it tactfully, unintelligent.  Now let me tell you, if you don't know already, that contrary to popular belief poodles are extremely intelligent dogs and they are also hunters.  Much as they are beautiful movers and pretty dogs they truly are DOGs with natural doggy instincts.  Floyd tries to be macho but he resides at the bottom of the pack being told off and 'put in his place' by the girlies, mainly Miss Willow.  He is real scaredy-cat (even though he's a dog you understand) and will bark at people and other dogs occasionally because of his fear.  More about Floyd another time.

My third, and probably prettiest, poodle is Lola - yes she thinks she is a showgirl!  Lola is litter sister to Floyd and came to live with us approximately 3 weeks after her brother arrived.  Oh dear, I decided to drop in and visit Floyd's brothers and sisters having drunk a number of cups of tea.  I am very susceptible to caffeine (and more about THAT another time) - it makes me massively hyperactive - and was offered Lola to foster until she was sold and I just took her home.  Needless to say, because of the way I am with animals, I fell in love with her before 2 days had passed and the fostering continues after almost two years.  This is called permanent fostering I guess!  Lola is the naughty poodle but also the comedian of the pack.  I'll elucidate some other time.  Oh, I forgot to say - Lola is blue.  She was born looking quite black but not as black as the black puppies (confused yet???) but is turning a slate grey colour, very pretty.  When her face is shaven the 'black eyeliner' is very noticeable (noooooooo, I don't put makeup on her face, the eyeliner is natural black hairs around the eyes, very striking).  Lola is also the clever one of the three.

Enough of the introduction:  there is much much more to say about my 3 poodles but hey there are plenty more blogs to write I'm sure.

All three are lying very close whilst I have been writing this blog.  Floyd is lying over my feet and the 2 girls are just a paw's breadth away from him.

When I'm sad they comfort me because they respond to cuddles and tears.  It's so wonderful that they want to be close to me.  And if I'm feeling energetic they'll respond to that also.  In fact they respond to any of my moods and would follow me anywhere.  For me and my personality that's just the most fabulous thing ever. 

And here's the funny thing - I thought I was a 'cat person'!