Drummond Hill at Kenmore, 26th September 2020. Just a pathway disappearing into the trees. Nearly 30 years since we first came to the Kenmore Club time-share, and 17 years since 2003 and my first walks with little Fred our first Bedlington terrier. This is the turn off the main uphill path, into the woods themselves, where I would stroll with Fred and dream of things that I would have time for in retirement, which had just started. Time was ever the mainspring of my endeavours: never enough of it, to do things the way that I wanted-to, and as they deserved, and yet freedom from the necessity to work from early till late every week-day and more, would surely solve the problem wouldn't it?
And now things have morved-on. As they would in 17 years, never mind 30. Little Fred has come and gone - a delightful memory. Such a loving dog. He was a lost soul, a rescued-dog, and our first ever dog. So many memories. What can one say? We loved him, and, I believe, he did likewise in return.. So good to be able to give a member of the animal kingdom, a happy life. What more can one do? I hate the thoughts of what we, the human race, do to so many of the animal kingdom. Cruelty to work- animals and to food-animals. Abattoirs. Meat production lines. And so much more. Impossible to do anything effective against such a mountain of behaviour, except in your own private life, in terms of what you eat and how you treat animals. And now we have Mac, our second Bedlington. Delightful too. In his different way. Feisty, when he is out walking and meets another dog. But quiet and so well-behaved at home.
And what did I dream of with Fred? Of family history investigated and recorded and printed and published in elegant format, using Adobe desk-top publishing programmes. And keeping fit and well. And many other projects. And have these been realised? Not fully at all. Time ran out. Health factors took-over in 2012, if not before. Well, that gave you 9 years didn't it Phil? Wasn't that enough? Not really. Not for the plans I had made. ....(to be continued)...