Eric (other dogs are available) that’s disgusting!
Posted by contentedsouls on 05/01/2020
So who’d have thought it? Yet again it’s not light and I’m up and talking to you lot again for the second time in less than a week.
Now, as you know, I’m new to this pet sitting malarkey, but I’m beginning to suspect that pet sitting with your own pet brings a whole new dimension. All those wise and experienced dog trainers will tell you it’s all about routine and consistency with dogs, but poor old Muttley is now having to fit in with OBR’s (Other Bugger’s Routines). Although he is particularly enjoying OBRs this week – we are not.
The current gang of Daschoundy guys have breakfast. Muttley has never eaten, or wanted, breakfast in his entire life. Now he does. He’s always had a dodgy stomach, and more so recently with the medication for his cushings, glaucoma and stuff so, if you are house sitting and he wakes you up to say he needs to go out, you don’t argue; particularly when there is a rather nice abstract rug in the bedroom which has a WHITE background. Did he need to go out? – did he hell, he went straight to the utility room where the OB’s breakfast is stored and dispensed. This, of course, wakes them all up so they need to go out for a pee and then come in for breakfast … so, result, Muttley gets breakfast and then goes back to bed downstairs whilst I’m left cuddling Eric on the sofa. This, in itself, would be a rather nice start to the day if it wasn’t still dark and extremely early and Eric didn’t release his gastric juices with great gusto. Eric’s farts are bad enough to evacuate the entire neighbourhood, except we don’t have a neighbourhood, as we are even more remote than the previous sit. So, for company, we rely on each other’s conversation which, largely, consists of, “Eric, that’s disgusting”. If there was such a thing as a ‘farting for England’ competition, I would wager every last penny of my pension on Eric to win.
What we do have, however, are the most spectacular views across the valleys and hills. This week we are up high with a 360 degree panoramic view, which means we get to enjoy every drop of sunshine available. Some days it’s been glorious and we have been able to sit out and bask in the warmth with a G & T, and others it has been bitterly cold. Not a shabby view to wake up to on New Year’s day 2020.
This was the town on the opposite hill from us, Castelnau de Montmiral, which was incredibly beautiful but like a ghost town and absolutely freezing. A drop of sunshine would have made these pics spectacular.
Friday we trundled off into Gaillac. Wow! I thought Mirrorypoiks was amazing, but Gaillac was sensational.
Just Albi (ALBI, not ALDI) to be done now, and then it’s off to Spain to see if, after all my hard work, I can understand anything anyone says to me. I’m also intrigued to see how Muttley fairs back into his own routine on the van without OBR’s.
contentedsouls 
Gillian Stollery said
Wonderful architecture. I would love to know some of the history of those villages…or towns. Laughed at all the farting!
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contentedsouls said
Most are 14th and 15th century Gill. Quite stunning
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andywindy said
Absolutely stuffed with character those buildings, I cannot imagine any of the current crop of timber frame buildings lasting that long! Maybe Eric believes that He is a Boxer? They have a tendency to aromatically clear a room on a regular basis! Can you plug your phone into your laptop? If so you should be able to copy your photos to the laptop, then the Blog. That’s what I did until I got WordPress working properly on the ‘phone . (Well, I say properly, but working anyway!)
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contentedsouls said
He is such a (smelly) love!
All completely beyond me, but G has been onto it and just downloaded around 1,400 pics off of my ‘phone. Hindsight ’tis a wonderful thing!
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andywindy said
Hindsight is even easier when it isn’t me that’s been struggling! Glad I could suggest a fix, I found this out by accident myself when plugging my phone into the laptop to charge on Holiday and the laptop asked me if I wanted to load the photos from the phone!
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Kevin TOO said
Well at least you blamed the dog and not Graham, you made me laugh 🙂
Mutley has always struck me as a smart dog, and now he’s proved it 😉
These old french towns and villages are so delightful, no modern redevelopment in the centre, excellent!
Wonderful photography as always Jill and thanks for the ‘morning post’ LOL
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contentedsouls said
Trust me – it was Eric! Muttley is getting way above his ambient intelligence level!
Loving this area Kevin, so beautiful.
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vallypee said
Clever Muttley, and awful Eric. Mind you, I think he has good competition from Charlie whose farts rival the smells coming from the local animal feed factory. I did laugh, though 🙂 Lovely places you are going to there! I think I’ve been to Gaillac and def to Mirrepoix (sorry, guessing the spelling, but I think you were too 😊). It looks a bit bleak with no sun, but gorgeous all the same. France is always a bit dead during the winter, isn’t it?
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contentedsouls said
I seem to be suffering from monumental technical problems Val. I’ve just noticed that my response to you hasn’t published! Rural France is deserted in winter and we are actually enjoying trafic noise now we are in Spain (never something I thought I’d ever say!), it is reassuring to know that we are NOT the last people left alive on the planet!
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vallypee said
No worries about the reply, Jill! I’m a bit behind on my WP blog visits, so I’m late replying too. I’m glad you’re enjoying the liveliness of Spain. We liked the busyness in Portugal too.
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Catherine Hytner said
I used to live in Fanjeaux a neighbouring village to mirepoix. Saturday morning markets and lots of artists. Up there with the pronunciation of mirrorpoyks is the sat nave for Rojales in Spain. Not roharlez but rowjails.
I did a Workaway in the region where you are now… stunning views
Am I right to assume you now Parler francais y tambien hablar espagnol ?
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contentedsouls said
My French is still rubbish, pero mi Espanol es mas mejore ahora. Yo aprendo mas poco todo los dia
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contentedsouls said
Charlie’s a bit young for such aromas! Gaillac was lovely and Mirrorypoiks (Mirepoix) also delightful. I had forgotten just how ’empty’ France is – it becomes quite surreal after awhile
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