Evidence that dog hair, football and Daphne du Maurier have more in common than they thought

A strange man offered me a handful of his dog's fur this morning while I was walking to church.  Am I right in thinking you can't say the same happened to you?

I'd been watching him while I approached.  He was standing with his two young children, and had bent down to groom his big hairy dog with the palm of his hand.  I heard him saying, 'Look at all this moulting fur, boys.  Look at this.'  As I walked past the group, the dad obviously thought I was his wife (who was in fact walking behind me), so he stood up suddenly and thrust a large clump of fur right into my face, saying, 'Will you look at all that?'

It's only after the event, isn't it, that you think of all the things you could have said in reply?  I wished I'd said, 'I will, if you like, because I haven't had such a kind offer in ages' or 'No, thanks.  I've already had my dog fur fix for the day' or 'Only if you promise I can show you my treasury tag collection in return'.

But of course I said none of these.  Embarrassed, I did one of those very silly laughs that you make you feel ashamed afterwards for even daring to exist, and walked on.

The only redeeming factor was that, as I continued down the path, I could hear his wife and kids laughing like drains at his mistake and taking the mickey out of him good and proper.

For yet another year, Fido had won the 'Dog That Would Look Silliest with a Bald Patch' prize at the Dog Show


While we're talking about dogs, which have legs, let me, in a seamless link, mention last night's World Cup football, which was played by men, with legs.

Did any of you see the England v Italy match?  It didn't start until 11pm, so I sat up in bed, with my laptop on a chair beside me tuned to BBC1, and a pile of urgent marking on my lap.  I turned the sound down low on the game, started marking, and every time I heard the intonation of the commentator go up a notch ('He's running down the wing, and he's just passed it to Rooney, and Rooney's just passed it to Sturridge ...') then I glanced at the screen, and caught the good bits.

The good bit.

While we're talking about football, which has two Ls in it, let me, in a seamless link, tell you that you must read Daphne du Maurier's chilling story called 'The Lordly Ones' (the title of which also has two Ls in it).  It is haunting me, since I read it a few days ago, and stories that haunt you need to be recommended.  It's in a collection called 'The Breaking Point' which was apparently written when she was going through mental anguish.  And it shows.  The stories are harrowing but brilliant.

Let me know if you've read it.  What did you think?





Comments

  1. stephen Hayes15/6/14 11:23

    No, I haven't read it, but you've inspired me to find a copy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill15/6/14 12:07

      Come back and let me know what you think, Stephen.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous15/6/14 11:27

    Great post! Perfect for my butterfly mind on a Sunday evening. That is definitely the way to watch the football too. And will defo remember the tip about the Daphne du Maurier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill15/6/14 12:08

      Yay! Anything I can do to make a teacher's Sunday evening better is a bonus!

      Delete
  3. Steve15/6/14 13:18

    I shall now always endeavour to carry a handful of dog hair around in my pocket so should I ever be on the receiving end of such a bizarre event I can say, "No thanks, mate, I've already got some." Call me sad but that would give me much satisfaction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill16/6/14 11:10

      I'm completely with you there. It would give me satisfaction too.

      Delete
  4. Janie Junebug15/6/14 17:09

    I've read two of Daphne's novels, but never a short story. At one time one of my sisters and her husband tried to buy a hotel on an island. They were going to turn it into a B&B. I begged to be the housekeeper. I would be called Mrs. Danvers. The sale fell through. Another dream not realized.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill16/6/14 11:11

      Your comments always make me smile. You have such a dry wit and do pessimism in real style.

      Delete
    2. Janie Junebug16/6/14 14:43

      Thank you. The pessimism is authentic.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous17/6/14 03:18

    Can't be too bothered with England's World Cup efforts, but will seek out The Breaking Point. By the way, when we lived Cornwall, one of my colleagues often bumped into Daphne du Maurier, walking her dogs on the beach, close to where he lived.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Hill18/6/14 13:55

      Let me know what you think of it. It's made me want to re-read Rebecca etc.

      Delete
  6. BadPenny18/6/14 12:39

    Dog hair ( I don't think it's fur but I may be wrong - do dogs have fur ? ) I know about... especially Golden Retriever hair.
    People knit with it you know !

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reasons why Fran is desperately in search of earbuds

Image
My try-to-get-fitter walk in the fields today was a silent one. I usually listen to the radio through earphones but have lost one of the soft earbuds and nothing spoils a walk more than having hard plastic nudging up against your fragile tympanic membrane. The BBC's  'Woman's Hour' is a brilliant programme but loyalty has limits.  It was disconcerting, walking in silence. Listening to radio distracts from the disturbing reality that my legs are propelling me in forward motion because, if I think too hard about this, I frighten myself.  Today, while walking, I had to listen to my own thoughts.  And now I've listened to my own thoughts, I remember why I like radio better. The inside of my head is like a wastepaper basket.   Be grateful that I only offer you a brief excerpt.  Oh, look, that bird is - / Where did I put that mark scheme. I'll need it for - / My shoes are getting muddier./ Maybe mash with the fish tonight / really muddy / The trees are definitely more
Read more

Evidence that we don't always have the right words to say at the right time

Image
The Younger Daughter was reminding me about how, when she's just accidentally burned herself and is hopping up and down in the kitchen, my instant response is 'Careful, that's hot!'  Or when she's just tripped up a step, that's the time I choose to say, 'Watch yourself!' That's me.  Eager to be helpful.  Caring Parent of the Year. But it's instinctive, isn't it, to say something completely inadequate in the face of crisis?  It's a strange feature of the way we communicate sympathy.  What about the following situations ... When someone's fallen over and is lying flat on their face, we say: 'Oh, no, are you o kay ?' When someone's just set off down the road to the shops, then lets themselves back in five minutes later, cursing and stomping, we say: 'Did you forget something?' When we come across someone sobbing their hearts out .... ..... we say things like, 'Is something the matter?' To the
Read more

More evidence that the wrong consonant makes all the difference to a famous book title

Image
More typo-lit, one of my favourite genres: To Kilt a Mockingbird - a tale set in the Southern States of America in which a young family move into the area from Aberdeen.  The children are found dressing the local wildlife in tartan and have to be taught that clothing innocent victims in bright material is not acceptable.  The little girl (Scot) says, 'Shoot, Pa, that's the darndest thing I ever did hear!' and there is surprise all round at her adoption of the local dialect in such a short time. To Kiln a Mockingbird - a tale set in the Southern States of America in which a wise father teaches his children that to put an innocent bird into a red-hot oven, converting it into an attractive china piece for the kitchen, was bound to upset Aunt Alexandra when given as a birthday present, and if this was indeed their intention, they deserved a whipping.   They don't get the whipping; the father can't stand Aunt Alexandra either. To Bill a Mockingbird - a tale set
Read more