David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
Della's tantrum thwarts Cambridge Trip but I force her to go to school, even though we had to stay at home in case of being called in to collect her. She stayed and came home happily and so we hoped she was over it. We had a day of successful work at The Hayling View on a fine and sunny day anyway.
Russia has now called a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, critical of the U.S. action as being disproportionate and the Arab States complain that Israel's flagrant breach of U.N. resolutions go on unopposed.
The normal morning routine for me as I have breakfast, feed Sam and prepare to take him to the bus stop to see the girls off but the tranquillity is broken by a king-size tantrum of Della's. First she refuses to get up and dressed and then to eat breakfast and finally I have to virtually drag her screaming to the bus stop with Diana having given up. We are at a loss to know what is the matter with her. She says that it is fear of being sick; or of the school lunches but, upon telephoning her teacher later, they do not know what we should do for the best. It seemed cruel to force her to go yet the ordeal would only get worse if she was to stay at home so that the task of facing up to things would appear insuperable.
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Della had become nervous of school and school dinners again, claiming nausea at the Prep today, missing some of her lessons by staying in the Kimbolton sanatorium, and so Diana and I spent some time with her this evening.
Sam He was coming on well now and being 18 weeks of age; comes to heel, sits and stays to command, signal and whistle; waits before being waved on at the feed bowl and dummy retrieve, walks on the lead, travels obediently in boat or car and is becoming more settled in the presence of others.
There were more Allied raids on Iraq again today in what appeared to me to be a grossly unfair over-reaction and The Queen and the Prince of Wales are now both missing engagements but their "gastroenteritis" is seen as being a genuine.
Back to a school-day routine for the girls today and it was a shame that Della has become nervous of school and school dinners again. She claimed nausea at the Prep today and missed some of her lessons by staying in the sanatorium which was a worrying development. Diana and I spent some time with her this evening and we hope that she will now be more confident for tomorrow. I was up early by Diana's call to tend Sam this morning and then also gave him two more good runs and training sessions later. He is coming on well now at the end of his eighth week in my care and is now 18 weeks of age.
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Many training sessions and log walks for Sam this morning and time to practice my air rifle shooting as well. A more relaxing afternoon reading yet another book about gundog training and then an evening watching TV and updating my journal for yesterday and today.
The papers published a transcript of a private conversation between The Prince of Wales and a mistress today in the latest outrageous breech of privacy and now the government must legislate.
Diana woke me up at 7.30am after a late night but I was still able to shower and get dressed and ready before the dog woke up at 8.15am. I took Sam on several long walks today and gave him some more obedience lessons - this time on sitting on command at a distance and also on not "nibbling" hands and gloves when offered. It was an altogether milder day and the wind had dropped and, after breakfast and doing the chores, I got out my hunting air rifle and shot starlings and sparrows out of the oak tree and hawthorn bushes in my riverside garden.
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More time training Sam today before an afternoon watching an exciting game of international Rugby Union on TV, seeing England just beat France at Twickenham.
I took Di to Bedford cinema where we saw the new Richard Attenborough film, "Charlie Chaplin", which was a good, if sad, dramatic portrayal of his life and times which was in the epic tradition.
Some more time with Sam today, trying to teach him more about obedience despite his youth. Was still rather upset at my accident to my favourite "poop-scoop" and resorted to sticking it together with Superglue but with little expectations of the repair lasting. The afternoon watching an exciting game of international Rugby Union on TV, seeing England just beat France at Twickenham in a closely fought opening match in the Five Nation Championship. Debbie had a friend, Zoe Bee, round later to play for a while and we thought that she was going to stay until after 8.00pm but she was gone sooner, allowing me to take Diana out for the evening. I took her to Bedford cinema where we saw the new Richard Attenborough film, "Charlie Chaplin", which was a good, if sad, dramatic portrayal of his life and times which was in the epic tradition.
I awoke earlier and managed to walk Sam before he messed his run but then had a worry as my ‘poop scoop’ had broken and I had to rush off to buy another. There were more gales and rain today and so, after a long walk for him along the Crabbett's Marsh, I loaded up the car and headed home.
A quiet afternoon and evening, servicing Diana and finding out her news, tending to Sam and then updating these last two days' journal.
There were more gales and rain as I used the alarm radio this morning and was ahead of the game and washed, shaved and dressed when Sam started up. He still had to wait until after I had eaten my breakfast before he got his but did so without fuss after being told. In fact, he was particularly good as his run was clean and then, after eating, he relieved himself three times in the approved area so that the "poop-scoop" seemed to weigh a pound heavier when he had finished! I still marvel just how much goes through a growing puppy of this size and how much lighter and more comfortable they must be after episodes like this. A long walk for him along the Crabbett's Marsh sawdust road and several opportunities to practise him staying as I walked ahead quite long distances. Between times, he enjoyed galloping along the soft track which is kind on his young feet and legs. We met Doris Vincent on the way and he still jumps up at her but I shall teach him not to.
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More Gales and rain today as I carry on training Sam work inside, fitting the larder, airing and stairs cupboard doors. In Iraq, the Allied raids were some 50% successful in knocking out mobile missiles and command centres but the whole idea of "exclusion zones" is not covered by direct U.N. mandate anyway.
There were more gales and rain this morning and so I was slow waking up again. Sam woke me up and so performed the task normally left to my alarm/radio when it is set. It was after 8.30am before I got to Sam and his run was quite messy by then. More long walks for him today and I saw the owner of the stylish Afghan hound again, still wearing her pink "play-suit" and said "hello". Sam is performing a ‘stay’ quite well as I walk away and increased the time and distance greatly.
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