Stay Number Three:
“I’ll watch out for trouble in front and back sections by aiming my eyeballs in different directions.” Janice Berenstain, ‘The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers.’ No, we weren’t looking after bears, or chameleons. Just two small dogs, one who was older and knew the drill, but the younger of the two needed some coaxing. As with most dogs, food wins the day! Eventually, ‘Wary Willy Wonka’, AKA, a wire-haired dachshund settled down with us and enjoyed the evening.
House and pet-sit number three sees us in Hampshire. The county where I was born and grew up. We’re here to test out how we both feel about this area as a place to live, but more specifically how I feel. If you’ve read my blog posts Canine Comfort and One Small Step then perhaps you’ll wonder if we’ve lost our minds in considering this county as an option.
I know, I get it. However, I also had some enjoyable times here. Plus, it ticks a lot of boxes: lots of countryside, the Solent coast, other people who also pronounce any word with a ‘double L’ in a weird way that only makes sense to true Hampshire folks, and familiarity in abundance. However, there’s a fly in the ointment because this place comes with an air of, ‘looking over my shoulder’ for safety and memories that are probably best left in a box marked, ‘Pandora’s box.’ So, we proceed with caution and attempt to cherry-pick our best bits.
We’re in an area of Hampshire that I’m unfamiliar with, so this assists with the above. This house-sit also coincides with a hot spell of weather. Someone, somewhere seems to be watching over us as we have access to a swimming pool. So, each morning begins with an early morning walk to beat the heat, and then spending some time cooling off in the pool. I know, please don’t feel too sorry for us, right?
Willy Wonka seems to have a favourite toy that is a green, tussled, Father Christmas. Also, there are a couple of small mugs that have December 25 painted on them – all of this is making me think of when we spent Christmas in Sydney when we were living there. Hot days, blue skies and yet it technically it was Christmas. It was fun but I’m all in on cosy times in December. How the flipping heck else do you shove your own weight in chocolate down your throat when it’s blazing hot? The chocolate just melts too quickly!
Talking of meltdowns, I originally put out a blog post called, ‘Russian Dolls’ and then decided I felt too vulnerable in what I’d written. The Times journalist and blogger, Bryan Appleyard says that blogging is like stepping out of the loo to find yourself standing on the centre spot at Wembley on cup-final day. I concur. I need to feel comfortable with how much I’m sharing; part of writing this diary is very cathartic and yet I’m also revealing to the internet things that I’ve only ever shared with a handful of people whom I am close to.
I decide to work on a piece of work called Canine Comfort, which I’m more comfortable with. This feels easier to write for a multitude of reasons. We have a couple of sweet little dogs with us, ‘Polar Bear’ (not as big or endangered as it sounds) she’s a Bichon/ Westie cross and as previously mentioned, Willy Wonka. The weather is gorgeous. The setting is amazing – a converted barn with oak beams. I could imagine living in a building like this. It has so much rustic charm. Although, if it was ours, I would want to put it on wheels and shimmy it close to the coast.
Whilst we are in the area, we visit Watership Down and take the two cutie pies for a stomp around the countryside. For those of you that have either read, 'Watership Down’ by Richard Adams, or have seen the movie or television adaptation, then, yes, it is a real place and not just a title. You only have to take a look around the area to see how he was inspired to write the book, and it feels as though you’re standing inside his mind when you’re up here. If you ever find yourself in the area, then we can highly recommend a visit.
Another place that’s worth a visit whilst in Hampshire is the quaint little town of Alresford. Its home to the Watercress Line a 19th-century heritage line with steam trains travelling through vintage stations. It runs for ten miles from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days when it was used to transport locally grown watercress to markets in London. Whilst here we made time for lunch, a wander around the various shops, had a walk along the river and even squeezed in teatime at an award-winning establishment, Tiffins Tearoom. Two pieces of homemade coffee and walnut cake, but not before the dogs decided to pull the table along with two drinks on it. And for my next trick, an opportunity to test my reactions with a moving drinks trolley without wheels.
Whilst at this house-sit, I notice a book, 'My Animals and Other Family’, Clare Balding. I’m doubly intrigued as firstly, we’re staying in the same area as Clare grew up in, plus I’m fascinated by horses, especially of this calibre. Clare’s brother, Andrew, is a British racehorse trainer based at Kingsclere - Park House Stables, near Newbury. During our stay I become very interested, okay, okay, obsessed with walking to where the riders go out each morning to practise and work with these fine horses. It’s such a treat to watch them gallop at full speed, these are indeed magnificent creatures.
Another set of impressive beings are infinitely shorter but no less awe-inspiring are wire-haired dachshunds. Their determination, strength to size ratio, playfulness and affection is a tempting combination. I also acknowledge that they have something to say about everything in the form of barking. Yes, it’s not lost on me, that all the above is essentially me, in dog-form.
They’re also very wary of strangers and quick to put others in their place if they step out of place. Two examples of this occur during our stay and both arise on the same outing. One example is a dog who puts his nose somewhere that Willy Wonka doesn’t consent to. Fair! The other example is when a woman comes into the pub garden where we were sitting chatting. Willy Wonka was on Nell’s lap. He spots the woman entering the pub garden and immediately leaps off Nell’s lap, creating welts as he goes a little bonkers. Then the woman obviously overstays and oversteps in his mind, and he doesn’t hesitate to correct her. Wow, Willy Wonka those are some very cool boundaries little dude. You might even say, concrete boundaries 👇. See what I did there. Oh. Sh! I can hear you groaning from here.
All in all, as we head off on our last day, I know that Hampshire is a beautiful part of the world, but, alas our search continues as I don’t love some of the feelings that have arisen during this stay. Ironically, whenever we stay at Nell’s parent’s house in Guildford, we’re closer to where my mother lives than we were when staying in this house. However, I just don’t want to be in Hampshire. Because as Janice Berenstain's book said, “I’ll watch out for trouble in front and back sections by aiming my eyeballs in different directions.”