From Angie..
"I'm not sure i even remember what living a "normal" life is anymore. Come to think of it, i dont think my life has ever been "normal" for want of a better word. Bringing up 6 kids, 9 dogs a parrot and a lodger, with a husband that worked away and only came home at week ends in a 4 bedroom semi, and holding a job down could never be seen as "normal" could it?
Some days i look back and reflect on how things used to be, then i look around me, and realize it hasnt changed much. The dogs seem to have replaced the kids, but the work, stress, worry, and lack of dosh is all pretty much the same as it was back then.
Would i change it? Nah, it wouldn't be normal if it were any other way..well not for me.
Another night of broken sleep again last night. "Normal" in this house lol.
Pickle now has to be crated at night as the little shit has started "marking". Ive tried leaving him outside with the bigger dogs, but the crafty sod has worked out which is my bedroom window, and insists on standing outside it yapping until i give in and let the bugger in. So at 2,30, he's whining for a pee, and because he has started, the other 5 dogs get all excited cos they know i'm going to get up and let them out!
Reluctantly i get out my nice warm cozy bed. Off they trot. I put the kettle on cos its never a 2 minute job. Standing at the doorway drinking my tea, i see Pickle sniffing at what looked like a pile of shite. With a mouthful of tea i shout NO..he backs off, Ive just scalded my tits with the hot tea, and because ive shouted NO, all the other dogs come to investigate.
They are all now sniffing the object. Its a dead baby rabbit. Obviously Percy the cat brought it home. It's now nearly 3am and im groping around in the dark looking for a dustpan and brush to scoop it up. Job done, now all the dogs wont come in because they are all busy sniffing where it had laid.
Eventually i get back to bed and i'm just drifting off, when the wind picks up. Doors banging, things outside clattering, dogs barking, Missy throwing a hissy fit round the bedroom, Sara (who is scared of anything that bangs) trying to climb over the stair gate at my bedroom door..eyes like saucers!!
Although Phil is as deaf as a post, the commotion wakes him up. He's now stropping down the hall, effing and blinding cos his sleep has been disturbed. I lay there thinking What the actual fuck?
At 7am i'm up..made the tea, had a fag, when Libby walks in with a load of white fluffy stuff in her mouth! OMG, I went outside to investigate. She has ripped open a stuffed toy. The garden looks like we have had a down pour of snow, and i as i start picking it up....the wind starts blowing a hoolie!
Took me forever to collect it all up. Phils just got up..and asked me if i heard the wind last night!!!!.....whatever Trevor! lol"