So, I am attempting to get fit and have started jogging again. When I do, I like to take the dogs with me on paths that have no traffic. All well and good. I over did it last week with one particularly hellish hill climb.
It hurt. Legs and hips screaming with complaints.
It wasn’t until we got to Cordoba to see Sonalee that I realised that I had also hurt the dogs. Dora and Dante were in a lot of leg and hip pain.
It was a reminder that they are getting old too. Luna as well. We spotted grey hairs on her snout and neck. When we found her 5 years ago, the vet couldn’t give us an exact age but probably between 3 and 5. She’s now old.
Would you know it? No. She’s still like one of those perpetual motion machines that just never stops running. To see Luna run and run and run is one of life’s pleasures; it’s just pure joy on her face. On the minus side of course is her staying out in the campo for hours, chasing after a variety of other animals – so far, a giant boar, a goat, a Moroccan police horse with armed rider, a small boar, various dogs and cats and a deer – and jumping into people’s gardens, going walkabout and having to be brought back by strangers and charming all that she meets on trains.
But what on Earth would we do without her or any of them?
Sonalee and I often discuss whether our four dogs (and 2 cats) hold us back from doing stuff that we want to do. Given that we’ve been to 3 different countries in 5 years, the evidence would suggest no. But, we don’t often do the going away overnight thing because it gets expensive with four hounds to kennel for a weekend. So, perhaps they do limit what we do.
But look what we get in return:-
- Constant loud barking
- Lots of poo to clear up
- Occasional vomit on floors and furniture
- Hairs everywhere
- Exercise
- Endless unconditional love
It is strange to think of our dogs getting old, as we are. They’ve been such a huge part of our lives, for nine years in Dante’s case. It leads to thoughts that I don’t like and don’t want to consider.
So we will consider that when we moved here to Fuente Tojar we gave the best possible life to all of them. They get a long walk in the campo each and every day. They have experienced lots of different places and lots of new things on our travels to other countries. They get a large house with 3 beds and 3 sofas to lie on and they get to bark at people and dogs that walk past each day. And their mummy cooks them fresh meat and rice for each day.
And let’s face it, Luna belongs here. Sure, she loves beaches, trains, people getting drunk and tons of attention but this is where she is at home.
I know that we’re pretty odd in how much we spoil our dogs, especially here in rural Andalusia where the treatment of animals remains absolutely appalling. It is the one downside to living here. And crap driving, obviously.
In fact the treatment of animals around here is heartbreaking, it really is. For every Luna that we took in, we could have taken in dozens more like her over the years. The recent change in the law whereby animals are supposed to be treated humanely isn’t going to be enforced around here. We don’t have a policia local and the guardia civil in the village can’t be bothered.
In the towns and cities it is different but here, in the middle of nowhere, nope.
What to do
Well, we can invite people to visit and see for themselves what life is like here. We did this last weekend when Guillermo and Marina came to stay. They’re the couple who had one of the best weddings ever earlier this year. My word, was it good.
Anyway, they’re a lovely young couple. They’re going through a bit of a shit time at school at the moment so we can empathise with that. They have also done the living away from each other during the week so they can empathise with our shitty situation. They make VERY nice cookies as well.
It’s really nice to show people our home which is slowly improving and the open skies of where we live. The Autumn colours of Priego and Zuheros are glorious and it’s the first time we have witnessed them in years thanks to our travels.
The dogs loved them. And so did Sambol who is currently unaware of his fate at the vets tomorrow where he will be having them whipped off. The poor sod.
Otherwise not a lot of stuff is really going on. Sonalee doesn’t get the help from her husband that she needs in a new job during the week. And that’s a bit crap. That will change next year. I’m, I’d like to say busy but not really, planning another wall to build for our patio. The lemon tree is in full bloom and should give us another good harvest in the next month.
I have managed not to cut off a limb using my new chainsaw, which is a result. The Spanish government is up and running following a very divisive decision by the PM to give an amnesty to the Catalan Independence leaders from 2017. It’s the one thing that dominates the news here. He’s a canny operator is Sanchez and, overall, he is better than either the PP or another general election in January. I know many Spanish would disagree with that.
Our friend Jan continues to live in her new property whilst it is, literally, being built around her. In the winter too. We have finally made some start towards getting a new kitchen and I can now say a whole sentence in Spanish without being embarrassing.
Meanwhile, the dogs get to stay happy and happier on the weekends when their mummy is around. We have found a really good curry house in Cordoba which has made us both somewhat relieved. You need good curry in life.
There is one bad change that has happened here. The village plaza bar has changed its red wine. I know, right! Despite their words, we know it is of cheaper variety. I have looked at the laws regarding cheaper wine served to customers and, apparently, it is not illegal. I was as surprised as you no doubt are. Lots of mutterings, naturally. Hopefully they’ll get the message.
Given the subject matter, I think I will offer you this.
Ayubowan
Hasta Luego, inshallah
Ciao
Paul
PS Why not? And this is pretty good.