The Old and the New

Well, I’ve made it through to the spring, just like Annabelle said I would. But don’t let anyone tell you old age is a golden age . There’s precious little that’s golden about it, as far as I can see.

For a start, I can no longer run the way I used to. We sighthounds love to run, and when I was younger I used to run for the sheer joy of it; now I can only run when I’m scared. I get scared a lot on walks now. When you get to my age, Nature is always on the lookout for an opportunity to send you over the Bridge. I’m not strong enough to survive a snake bite or fight off an attacking dog, so if I see something I don’t like the look of, I take to my heels before it can spot me.

Which brings me to another problem of age: I quite often forget my way home. If I lose Annabelle when I’m running away, I end up losing myself as well, causing much anxiety for both of us. It’s better when we can go for a walk with our friends Snip and Frieda. I feel safer on a walk with Snip; nothing scares him, and I know he’d protect me if anything went wrong.

Snip, my guardian angel

These days I prefer astral travel to long walks; but since I’ve been spending so much time out of my body, it has started acting off its own bat, without my say-so. Things are being done in the house that really should be done outside, if you get my meaning.

On a happier note, the view from the front garden looks much better now than it did last October when the conifers were cut down. Remember this?

The nature spirits have been busy behind the scenes, and now it’s bursting with new life.

Also, our friend the ash tree has made it through the winter. We were afraid we were going to lose her to ash dieback last autumn, but she’s fought back – and here she is, resplendent in her spring finery!

I just wish I could be renewed every spring. I was never meant to get old, I was meant to be a puppy forever.

Is it just me, or does everyone feel like that?

Note from Annabelle: You’re lucky you’re a dog, Millie – you may be old, but you still look stunning. When we humans get old, we look like muppets and garden gnomes.