Dog vs Teens

At last the truth is out.  A recent study in the US revealed that mothers show the same maternal instincts towards their pet dog as they do to their child.  In some of the tests, mothers actually showed greater response to their dog’s image. I am not surprised at this, and here’s why:

Faithful Hound does not leave wet towels on the bedroom floor nor does he eat the entire contents of the fridge in one sitting.  (Although there is a possibility he would if only his paws could open it)

Faithful Hound does not desert you all evening to go on his computer /smart phone while you sit alone in front of Great British Bake Off.

Faithful Hound does not go all hormonal and moody.

Faithful Hound actually bounds up to see you every time you arrive home even though you’ve only been gone ten minutes.

Faithful Hound does not borrow your comb, straighteners, hair gel, mobile phone charger, earphones or expensive speakers.

Faithful Hound comes when you call him.  (Unless a grey squirrel is involved)

Faithful Hound does not hack into your Amazon and ITunes accounts.

Faithful Hound goes to bed when you tell him to.

And there you have it – several reasons why I might if tested reveal a slightly more interested response to the image of my dog.

Oh and finally, Faithful Hound keeps your feet warm on a cold evening when Absent Husband has turned the heating off.

Column for Maidenhead Advertiser, Thursday 16th October 

Finished by the skin of my teeth....

July and August flew by in a haze of hot summer days and long hours chained to the keyboard.  There were A level exams for Younger Son and end of years for Only Daughter.  Eldest Son finished university ridiculously early and joined the previously unknown world of employment serving Toffs (or wannabe Toffs) at Royal Ascot.

The book ticked along with some days of frantic and frenetic writing and other days of endlessly slow   tortuous trickles of words.  I finally finished the book in mid July giving myself only three weeks to edit the first draft.  The editing was done whilst trying hard to ignore the wonderful hot sunshine outside the summerhouse (blinds were drawn tightly) and my shoulders and arms ached from endless backspacing and cut and pasting as I tried to get a draft ready to send off for manuscript review.

The neighbour's noisy gardeners drove me insane (all summer...) with their endless strumming and mowing.  But I would not allow myself to be distracted!  Having the deadline of August 9th was the best thing as I continued to drive myself to at least get a draft finished by then.  It's all too easy to sit around enjoying the sun and not focussing on your work.

So on Friday 9th August, the manuscript made its way into an envelope and off to the Post Office.

108,000 words and six months later.  Hoo-bloody-ray!!