Debbie
I am an Author, wife to one, mother to five and grandmother to six. I live in the English countryside in Hampshire, UK, with my husband and two dogs and am a non exec Director for Glow www.theglowstudio.com.
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The iron, the ironing board and the sales assistant
Having struggled to clean our old steam iron (maybe not so ‘old’ as neglected) after its latest run-in with fabric that left the mysterious brown rust mark on its plate, I gave in. We needed a new iron. Not only that, but the ironing board itself had begged to be replaced years ago. It had come close a while back, I ordered one online. When the board arrived it was more suited to a doll’s house. It was quite possibly, the smallest in history. So, a trip to an actual shop was called for. We headed to that well know store that sells electrical goods of all descriptions. There was…
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Washington DC and friendship
USA Part Two After two wonderful weeks in Texas, having said a tearful ‘goodbye, for now’, we board an internal flight to Washington DC. Why are we not flying home to England? Well, many moons ago, when I was eleven years and three months old – February 1968 in fact, I applied for a USA penfriend through my weekly comic, Princess Tina. I begged a fourpenny stamp (pre decimalisation) and an envelope, from my mother without telling her what it was for. I posted the form in the local post box and told no one. Exactly what my mother had thought I was doing I am not sure! I had…
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Debbie did do Dallas!
Yes folks, it’s true. Thank you, Laura, because had you not moved out here, I may never have come to Texas. As it is, we wave the UK goodbye, and fly to DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) International Airport, where Laura and the family are waiting to greet us. I shall gloss over the long, long wait to get through security once we have landed, because seeing their faces as we walk into Arrivals, Delilah holding up a home made welcome banner, makes it all worthwhile. Hugs all round! So, apart from playing American football with the grandchildren, and another game that I really do not understand, in which I am…
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Happy 13th Birthday Flossie!
“Happy 13th Birthday Flossie!” That’s what I heard shouted at me this morning when I stumbled to my Paws. Do they think I am deaf? Well, come to think of it, the house has seemed a lot quieter these past few months and I get the distinct impression the Boss has been calling me for some time when she finally raises her voice loud enough for me to hear. So, yes, I must admit, deafness seems to be the reason. I am not quite sure why they are all so excited at me reaching the grand old age of 13 but I can tell they are by the number of…
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A typical writing day…
Here I am upstairs, in my lovely, fit for purpose writing room. Computer on – hmm, so many emails – must ignore. Himalayan Crystal Salt lamp on, to keep me calm (a Christmas Gift) Now, open file. File is saved where? Dropbox/iCloud/Desktop/got it! Re-read the beginning of chapter two and spend twenty minutes or more changing one word. Prepare to begin a new chapter. Big old Dog wants to go out Big old Dog wants to come in Small dog barking at front door – at delivery person Now I am here, I may as well save them the trouble of putting the parcels in the plastic box I put…
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The Special Tent…
The following conversation was overheard between Mum and toddler, as we sat admiring the view, on the beach at Readymoney Cove. Catherine Tate springs to mind! Worth noting, we could hear Mum’s voice more than toddler’s but you can tell what he might be saying! Imagine Mum’s voice sounding just a little more stressed by the second, having trudged across the sand with towels, picnic blankets, something in a long, nylon bag slung over her shoulder and an over excited toddler skipping along behind, finally settling a couple of yards to our left. The Mum: ‘This is a good spot darling, but we need to wait for Daddy to help…
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A visit to the vet
Extract from Flossie’s Diary with comments from Charlie Brown included, April 2022: This may be a first for us, (Charlie and me) I don’t think we have ever shared a blog post before but between you and me, I think it is time he stepped up to the plate. I think you mean you have at last, grudgingly decided to share it with me! Quite apart from whether or not it is time, there is another reason for us coming together to write this post and that is because, for once, it concerns us both. Today, we were both hoodwinked by the Boss. Now, let me say that the Boss…
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A letter from the past…
This letter came into my possession recently, It was sent to my mother, a few days before her wedding to my father, Denis, in October 1948. I remember Aunt Gert but only vaguely. My paternal grandfather, Victor, was one of eight children and he and at least two of his siblings, died in 1968 when I was 11/12 years old. Memories of sitting outside the church in the car, during what seemed to be an endless series of funerals, abound. So, finding this letter gave me quite a jolt. Knowing my mother’s love of dogs makes it all the more special. The letter itself is quite hard to decipher, so…
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Those Senior moments
You know you are getting old when you gather dog lead, phone and poo bags, ready for a walk with your faithful old Golden Retriever, and five minutes later, realise you cannot find your phone. Phone has completely disappeared. Phone cannot be rung from landline because it is on silent and out of signal. Dog grows ever more impatient, so you decide you will resume the search on your return. Friend takes her phone with her so should there be an emergency (dog collapsing or photograph needing to be taken) friend has it covered. Returning some 40 mins later from a walk that used to take Dog half the time,…
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It’s official…
…I have been elevated to official ‘Old Dog’, status in the family. Now, how on earth did that happen? I began this blog almost 12 years ago as a lively, forward thinking, pup. I was proud of my ability to escape from anywhere. No fence was too high, no hedge too thick…um, well, there was one hedge in which I got stuck, but we won’t dwell on that. (If you must, you can read all about here).A Twist in the Tail The fact remains that I have gone from being that cute bundle of fun, to this staid old lady. One thing I have not lost, is my appetite. On…
