A rebel without a clue.

Geese flying south on the final day of August... This morning with Archie and Ruby as we passed over the railway bridge to Millennium Field. And I thought a storm is coming. Not far away now. The end is near. And I am not talking about Archie's back end? Wouldn't that be something that on the final day of that final dog he broke in two again in some haphazard moment which I was forever to live with. There was a moment brewing near Ashdale Lane, as Sally(Nick's current divorcee) ignored me, and up near the copse when Archie was a little too playsome. I was concerned he'd snap that spinal cord and I'd never live it down. It's a fear I've had since the start, but now - with Ruby - something like that is possible? So I will have to keep him closer to me for just another 24hrs... Ruby will treat it as revenge for his viciousness at her food bowl last night: his snarl was nasty! It's a quiet Wednesday lunchtime in Wetherby. I popped into Ask for an espresso, b...

Boxing off one house to move to Ruby's with Archie tomorrow, but just come to BAE for a espresso. No book and not prevaricating - mum want some dog food for Lola so I with head there after this, pick up Archie and his kibble then head back to 42. The dryness of everything: there is no pasture or its heavenly bounty in August, this year. Some dark clouds pass by but are unaffected by it. The new East Leeds Orbital Road is open amongst these grey skies. All the way to Leeds to feel nothing and for there to be no mail of any consequence. The mounds of rubbish pile higher and higher in Leeds and it seems not to bother any of the folks wrapped up in their lives. I left as soon as I was capable. The hopelessness of it... *** Archie is a sweet boy. I introduced him to Lola's bed last night, in mum's front room, and he was there asleep this morning at 6. The chance to sleep in, until 6, staying on 42 without the interruptions of North Street, and from today Ruby's home on Chest...

Within touching distance of the end of this summer: 7 days left of dog sitting duties, but from tomorrow it gets more intense, before it petters out to just Lola and I on Sunday, which I am very excited about as she'll 100% from me without any distractions! Cleaning up the house by degrees: put a wash on of all the bed linen and the towel/flannel I used finally yesterday. Off back to the flat this evening, picking up Ruby around 7am tomorrow, if I catch the 6 am bus, and then collect Archie or visversa... Lola should be at my sister's until around 9:30 so I will keep them separate if I am able? Perhaps Emma will drop Lola on Chestnut Avenue for me? I am not sure if I will get to the allotment from Tuesday until Friday... I've got to deliver some water on my back up there so I will need to call passed with at least one of the dogs early. Perhaps this morning... No I feel like a trip to the river. Only an hour for these two this morning as yesterday was a long morning at seve...

Why capitalism doesn't work: the current situation with the cost of energy and the greed of shareholders, etc, but what is the alternative? Give the dog a cuddle, have a piss and listen to an audiobook waiting for the noise and the light to die down and sleep to overtake me. I really need to get my act together. Days like today are too frequent: there are functioning alcoholics and I am not one of these: I am too weary the day after. It's shortening my existence and I am becoming pointless. Archie heads to his bowl for a glug of water as I discover a pimple inside my ear which has that tight pain: it's hard to squeeze that section of the ear! *** Looking at the line up of The Leeds Festival, @ Bramham Park, I know of one band -The Arctic Monkeys - only so God knows why my sister has gone? But she loves the Arctic Monkeys... Woke up at 6. A lovely end to last night as Archie and I went for his before bed crap and a cuddle before we both vanished into Lalaland. Now I get read...

Out for a coffee, chocolate and a chapter of East of Eden . Now to keep away from Bar Three or The Mews. Will instead call in on Alan and Diane on my way back to collect Archie, take him to Mother's and bring Lola out. She was so odd this morning as she continually crept between my legs in an affectionate fashion! I think she's suffering from not having much interaction with me? I will make it up Sunday week when that will be a day dedicated to her entirely! First day of the Leeds Festival so my sister has shunted off there for what's it worth. I couldn't imagine anything I'd dislike more: except perhaps an afternoon at Elland Road... *** Good day yesterday, including going to the brewery to watch a band play standards with Nick, who looked a train ticket to watch Everton at Brentford just like that! £106 return train ticket... Never been to the home of The Bees so he wanted to visit. He must have a good income to afford it and a mortgage in Wetherby... Slight hango...

Hopped on the X70 just after 2pm for a, final, trip to Harrogate with Archie. Things will be a little more confusing come Friday afternoon until Thursday (when Archie's owners return) as I've Lola this afternoon too, will probably have to visit Emma's to feed her fish and come Tuesday will have Archie, Lola and Ruby for three days. Could all three nestle down up on Chestnut Avenue for those two nights ... I am tempted to try that as Lola has slept there with me previously and so has Archie and Ruby tolerated both of them separately... That trip to Harrogate - I think I was drunk from the final two beers and, perhaps, should have got the earlier bus back. Not a terrible night's sleep, but not ideal. A slight hangover around 4, as St James's Church chimed that hour, so at 5:30am I rolled over for another half an hour. Meeting up with Nick was probably the error of Thursday's trip, as I usually only have a half in the several bars before coming back this way, and w...

A great night's sleep. It's a calm morning outside the window, but I heard a little rain before I passed over into Lalaland. Archie is by my side and back enveloped in sleep. 10 more days of dog sitting until I leave Ruby a week on Saturday. On the 6th I head to France to connect up with where I left off in April... From Beauvais into Paris and along the Chemin southwards towards Orleans then from where I stopped along the Via Turonensis towards Saint-Jean Pied-de-Port. It was a real relief to speak to Janet & Leslie about giving up the allotment. I feel less complicated inside now that I can put some distance between Wetherby and myself in the months ahead... My renewal is in July 2023 so I could just pull out then naturally and hand over to them if they are still looking to take it on full time... Janet mentioned that there is a lady and her son who would also be interested... I had told myself this 50th year would be my last doing replaying the same old songs. And Septem...