A rebel without a clue.

The final day of this long dog sitting summer. Ruby is asleep up at Chestnut Avenue, but with an empty stomach, as she barely touched her breakfast, after the lovely early morning walk. It was just the two of us: often she came for a cuddle and kiss along the way - such a cutie and very delicate Took Iskara and David some courgettes (mine and a couple from Ruby's 'pawrents' as I can't get to the allotment today really), touched base with Archie Bub and returned their second set of keys. They will definitely have me again, but I am not sure I could do another school holidays in Wetherby, unless the few individuals all cease to exist here? That's the wrong thing to think, but I mayest... Thou mayest. Not thou shalt. God gave us a choice to sin or not, to be good or bad, to be up or down. I chose down... *** Left Ruby around noon having walked Lola and her around 7. She was still off her food... No bother. She ate the two boiled eggs and kidney, but not the raw meat as...

Ruby is such a sweet pupster: she's forever young! There is not one aspect of her that seems 3+ years. Yesterday, once we returned from depositing Archie and Lola, she wriggled and messed about on the bed hysterically. Now she's by my side on the small sofa put aside for her in the kitchen/dining room. The previous two nights, with either Archie or Lola here, she spent the morning upstairs on mummy's bed. Yesterday afternoon we walked across The Stray together and came into Harrogate a direction parallel to the railway tracks, more towards the Odean than I expected on Homestead Road. Valuable to discover because Harrogate offers little else to me other than around 6 places to stop for a half and a doggy biscuit (although Major Tom's doesn't provide them and it's not open prior to 4pm on a Thursday). 8 beers then back in the number 7. No more Harrogate... Lola, Ruby and I are off on an adventure Saturday morning, but no further than the causeway bridge over The C...

Into the final day of Archie, who stayed with my mother last night as he upset Ruby over a tendon and this is her home. Lola stayed over with me instead. Ruby doesn't have any issues with Lola, but Lola gets a bit grumpy if I spend too long cuddling Ruby in the morning. It has been very nice to settle beside Lola in the bed and now at my side, on the sofa as the clock ticks the seconds down in the corner. 36 days in Wetherby. It's been eventful with the various moments of conflict and the long hot and dry summer? This morning I am resisting Lola's stare as I intend to go out with her and Ruby prior to our breakfasts. If you're busy Lola can wait, but if you're by her side it's intense her state! It's September, Thursday the 1st, and Archie's parents/owners will arrive in Leeds around 4pm so I guess I'll see them around five? If they get delayed I'll keep Lola again and mum can hand him over with the stuff from the allotment... I should be able to...

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...