Wishing you kindness at Christmas

 Well it’s that time of year again! The Juniors will shortly be home, then the celebrations really begin. So before it all kicks off, we just wanted to paws for thought. It hasn’t been the worst, but it hasn’t been the best of years for ‘Them Indoors’, with the Seniors having some serious issues. It also hasn’t been the best of times in the UK and the world in general, and it is easy to get caught up in a downward spiral of gloom and doom. Yet there is still so much good in the world.

Take the apprentice for example, she might be a monkey moo who chews her way through things she really shouldn’t, uses her bossy bark and her tactical tooting to get me to relinquish my toys and bed, if she takes a fancy to them, but, at heart, she is a sweet natured fur, who likes to give little licky kisses, play, and curl up next to me if I give her half a chance. She also has an endearing knack, if she is feeling uncertain about anything, of looking round to see what I’m doing, and then, if you’ll excuse the pun, taking her lead from me!

And the wider world has some similar niceness. Most days, when we are out for a walk in all weathers, we meet a pleasant lady with her  Shih tzu dog. We normally exchange polite greetings and ‘Her Indoors’ has a quick chat. Anyway, one day ‘Her Indoors’ admired a little hand-knitted coat the fur was wearing and asked the lady if she had knitted it. It transpired that this little dog isn’t hers. It belongs to her elderly neighbour who has such poor health she was thinking she’d have to put her dog up for rehoming, which she was very sad about. So, in order to keep owner and pet together, this lady had stepped in and walks this little fur, unfailingly, whatever the weather, and has also undertaken to give them a home, should the worst happen to the owner. 

Then there is  another fur who was a stray, abroad, and formed a bond with some nice hupeeps on holiday from the UK. They managed to rescue the dog and get it shipped back, and it is now living its best life in our village.These acts aren’t barked from the rooftops - true kindness has a quiet voice - but if you look around you, they are there, and in a much greater quantity than you might think.

So this Christmas, we want to celebrate kindness - a little goes a long way - and to wish you all a contented and kind Christmas with those you hold dear. Happy Christmas!