Another mad plan?

Oh dear, I had another blog-whinge yesterday! Sorry about that; I really need to be more accepting that the process I've embarked on is fraught with uncertainty, false hope, disappointment and wanting to be somewhere else, somewhere where I'm not. The Somerset house was also being viewed yesterday, and that raised my anxiety levels even higher.

I need to pin notices up round the house reminding myself:

The new life will happen whenever it happens; all my angst and anguish isn't going to make any difference, I know. But thank you again for your supportive comments, as I drag you along with me.

However..... one of the elements of the new life plan that I had been forming for so long included taking in another dog. I have long wanted another black labrador; the Lovely Son grew up with the adored and perfect-natured Becky, and she left a big hard-to-fill gap in our lives when she died.

I thought I would start my search once we had all settled down in our new home, in reach of wonderful moorland and country walks; however, as it is quite possible that for the foreseeable future, we will be settling down in our old home instead (our home within a couple of hundred yards of a huge 40-odd acre woodland park, perfect for long walks with a dog....), I thought "Why wait?"

And so I have floated the idea with my more doggy countrified friends, who are now on the alert for a black labrador bitch in need of a new home. I've combed the rescue sites, and contacted the Guide Dogs people who sometimes have dogs that don't quite make the rigorous training standard.

I know that, just like the house sale, this quest could also take time and patience. (And perhaps some compromise as to make and model....)

You may wonder about the existing team. The cats will be snooty and bullying - I've seen them in action with George, the visiting labrador, who shrinks in stature and courage as they stalk round the edges of the room giving him the Death Stare - but they all came from doggy households before mine, and will adapt. The dog will be put out, no doubt, but she's very good at making sure that her needs are met, and will enjoy being carried for part of the long walks that she and her tiny legs, her injured ligament and her love of amateur dramatics won't willingly put up with.

Watch this space, but patiently.....