Surprise!
On Tuesday afternoon, we were quietly pursuing our individual interests in the sitting room when we heard the front door open. No surprises there – we often leave it unlocked so the postman can just pop parcels into the porch. Then we heard a voice and assumed it was Susannah, but it didn’t sound quite like her. Roxy and Gilbert were alert, ears pricked, tails wagging, so we were fairly certain this was not a threatening intruder.
They’re very friendly dogs but not averse to barking at strangers and unusual situations. That is, Roxy barks and Gilbert stands back and wonders if he should be barking too. So far, he only barks, and that just once, if he’s outside the closed patio door and wants to come in.
The voice proved to be that of Gillian, who had arrived, unannounced and unexpected, with Paul. It was not a case of ‘just popping in as they were in the neighbourhood’ as they live more than 80 miles away. That’s not far in big, wide-open countries, but UK is small, crowded, and festooned with roadworks where no-one is working, and diversions up the ying yang, so we really appreciated the effort they had made.
It was lovely to see them and sit and chat for a couple of hours and it made a very pleasant interval between a visit to the dentist in the morning for me and an appointment with the hygienist in the afternoon, again, for me.
Roxy loved having lots of attention. Two of her full siblings from a later litter live in Dorset with the family. Gilbert was beside himself to have different people to interact with. We all had a very enjoyable afternoon.
Gilbert’s nose is very busy. Every parcel that comes into the house has to be investigated thoroughly and he tries to help with the unpacking.
Recently, on Friday, he learnt how to start the Roomba. I think he likes the noises it makes. It certainly has a lot of work to do as there seem to be drifts of fur across the floor at every twist and turn.
I suppose the animals are shedding their winter coats, clearly not taking any notice of the old adage about casting clouts.
How lovely to have them come for a visit! Lol funny that he likes the Roomba. Our dog was afraid of the vacuum. He would hide whenever it came on.
ReplyDeleteOur late Gus was scared of the vacuum, too - big, brave gun dog that he was, bless him.
DeleteYou are right.. 80 miles sounds like a long shopping run to me. But does your doggy visitor know your area? Has he marked his trees before?
ReplyDeleteThey didn't bring their dogs with them, though they have been here before.
DeleteHow lovely! I had a surprise visit my self when my brother and his wife dropped in. They're doing a road trip holiday around half the country.
ReplyDeleteI should get a roomba for all the cat hair and fluff that's around here.
Surprise visits really lift the spirits.
DeleteEighty miles seems a very long way to me but how lovely to see friends. xx
ReplyDeleteWe don't see our son and daughters very often, apart from the one who lives nearby, so it was very good to see our eldest daughter and son-in-law.
DeleteI still brush my cat, but she is not shedding much at the moment, I keep her fur for the birds building their nest.
ReplyDeleteThere must be many birds in your area thankful for soft linings for their nests.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful surprise to have them turn up like that. Roxy has the sweetest face!!! Yes 80 miles is a long way in this country too - sounds like we have the same ongoing roadworks that you do!!!
Perhaps there's a worldwide conspiracy to clog up all the roads!
DeleteWhat a lovly surprise. Despite the text it took me a while to realise that the Roomba was the vacuum cleaner. Strange.
ReplyDeleteSorry - I should have clarified. *blush*
DeleteThat sounds like a fun visit. Maybe not so much with the dentist later. And Gilbert's just proving how smart he is by turning on the vacuum cleaner. He knows he's shedding and he's trying to help.
ReplyDeleteIf only! :-)
DeleteRoxy is adorable and she has the most expressive eyes. How nice to have unexpected visitors, after such a distance also. I would love a Roomba but husband says just call him Roomba :)
ReplyDeleteIt was husband who decided we 'needed' a Roomba - and we have one that washes the floor, too, but it's quite a kerfuffle:-)
Delete"n'er cast a clout till May is out”. Again you sent me to Google.
ReplyDeleteGillian or Paul is one of your children? Google won't be helpful with that.
So you have a robo vac. I want one, just as an amusement as I am sure it won't cover everywhere. Perhaps you could write a post telling me otherwise, with a Roomba review.
Gillian is our eldest 'child' and Paul is her husband. I will review the Roomba, just for you, Andrew, after the A to Z ;-)
DeleteHow lovely to have an unexpected visit from your daughter, I'd love that.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely - it really bucked us up:-)
DeleteHow lovely to have surprise visitors! (I say that but would hate it myself!) Clever doggy! (I've just realised it was your daughter who visited so that's okay; I would enjoy that.)
ReplyDeleteFamily dropping in is acceptable - others, not so much so.
DeleteLovely to have family 'dropping in '.
ReplyDeleteFor a moment I thought the Roomba was a new coffee machine 😂
Alison in Wales x
Ha ha ha!
DeleteUnexpected guests are wonderful. It makes me laugh to think of your dog starting the Roomba. I saw a post from someone who left their patio door open a bit so that their dog could go in and out into the back garden. Their roomba escaped. Luckily, the yard was fenced in.
ReplyDeleteHow funny! I hope it wasn't muddy outside.
DeleteGilbert has such a sweet face. I'm glad you had a very cheerful surprise visit.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun. (Gilbert has a sweet nature to match his face.)
DeleteIt must have been lovely to spend some unexpected time with your daughter and son in law. I loved hearing about Gilbert'
ReplyDeleteand the roomba.
It was very pleasant.
DeleteIt's always nice to get surprise visits from people you love, and I'm sure it was a wonderful diversion from the dentist and hygienist!
ReplyDeleteGilbert is very clever to have learnt how to start the Roomba! I'm sure Bess would run a mile :-) xxx
Our cats don't mind it - I suppose they're used to it now::-)
DeleteHow very convenient that Gilbert has joined the housekeeping team. Does he know how to turn it off and park it when the cleaning has been finished?
ReplyDeleteIt parks itself, fortunately, otherwise it would keep going forever.
DeleteHow lovely to get a surprise visit from your eldest daughter and son-in-law.
ReplyDeleteWell done to Gilbert for knowing how to start the Roomba :)
All the best Jan
He's a clever lad, for sure;-)
DeleteWhat a lovely surprise.
ReplyDeleteIt really was.
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