Diary of a Dire Wolf

Dear Diary,
no one understands me… They don't get me, no one knows what it's like being an adolescent giant furball. I mean, it's not fair – when I wake up and want to play at 6 AM, they refuse to acknowledge my presence. But once they've woken up, got up, and done all their morning ablutions oh it's all very well and good for them to then insist on playing with me.what do they think I am? A giant toy?!


I was shocked to discover this week that my human had actually interacted with Another Pet. How rude. She smelt all funny, the scent was definitely NOT friendly… And frankly it offended my nostrils.
I showed her how disgusted I was with such behaviour by refusing to look at her and staying in a different room from her that the entire evening. That'll teach My Human for interacting with some other pet! I've got that scent banked in my Nose Bank so if I come across that animal in the future I'll show them who @TingleTetra belongs to!



This week I finally made my vows to the Old Dogs and the New to belong to the Human Watch. I've been in training some time now, and now my courage is up and I feel a lot bolder when strangers come into the house. I make sure they know I'm there with my insistent barking, and if the humans have not locked me away in the kitchen then I make sure I am between the invaders and My TingleTetra. We had an overnight guest this week that Tingle was really happy to see… I can tell by her moods that she was really happy. Nevertheless when this visitor gave my human a hug I got in between them as quickly as I could. Well… I can't help but be in the middle of all the action! Isn't that where I'm supposed to be??




On a slightly happier note, I discovered my Fur Twin this week! We were out on a really lovely walk with so many new smells – I think one of them was called "Deer", and then suddenly, coming over the hill, there she was! It was undeniable- She was identical to me… Just a little bit bigger! (But she was older than me) We had a really good play and I really hope I get to see her again! In an effort not to lose touch I opened my own Twitter account – @AryaWolfTales so that she can find me and see what's going on in my life.

Well that is all for now, Dear Diary, I will write again soon.

Well, hereth endeth another weeketh. I'm very fortunate to live in an area where the Goodwood Revival Festival is quite close by and you can hear the sounds of motor vehicles racing around their track, you can see and hear different planes from different eras flying overhead, and let's not forget the many, many helicopters that like to chop about breaking the usual peace and silence of the air. I'm thinking this evening I shall have to watch Top Gun. Yes, I'm feeling the need… the need for speed! (Apologies… I had to say it!)
I think perhaps the key to a successful completion of work is Being Organised. Now, I have gone on about this before in the past. So there is no need to do so here. However after my first full week a number of things have come clear:
1. I have allowed my body to become soft and lazy, and accustomed to "Duvet Life".
2. Knowing when and where I shall be, knowing when and where I will produce work, knowing when and where I shall read, write, plan lessons, and have downtime, knowing when and where I shall walk my dog and train her and play with her, suddenly makes the stressful tummy ache disappear.
3. Chocolate really can work miracles in more or less every situation. In fact I'm surprised that they did not say 'chocolate', instead of '42' as being the meaning of life according to Monty Python!
4. On the rare occasion chocolate is unavailable, then coffee will do as a temporary substitute. And thermal underwear…
5. I think writing is a little bit like teaching… Everyone thinks they can do it, until they actually have a go and try. It's not for the fainthearted, it's not for those who must stick rigidly to a plan as you may think your day is starting out in one direction only to find out you will be led down a completely different path. It is not for those who like to shut off at the end of their working day and go home. There is always more you can do, things you can change, things you think you can do better, more you can learn and improve on for the benefit of others.

So it's now 4:15 PM on a mellow Sunday afternoon, Yes it's definitely time for Top Gun…

Diary of a Dire Wolf

Oh what a week it has been! First of all I discovered an appendage at the far end of my body that just seems to be following me around everywhere. Wherever I go there it is – this fluffy long curly thing that just won't quit. I had my revenge on it on Tuesday when I decided that it would become my latest challenge. Although I became quite dizzy as it had me running around in circles chasing the blooming thing. And every time I managed to clamp my jaws over it I would feel this biting pain shooting up along my back. This thing clearly has an arsenal all of its own. What made the whole situation so much worse was that the humans were of no use whatsoever. I'd end up collapsed in a heap as this Trickster would manage to trip me up over my own legs. I'd bark to tell them I needed help, but if anything they seem to encourage it by giving it a tweak and making it impossible for me not to chase it even more…I'm certain it was just for their amusement. There is some Union I can complain too and I am looking into this. Or at least I will do just after I have managed to bite off the curly end…

The longer I spend with my humans in my home, the more I need them to understand how vulnerable they are– how much they need protecting. There is so much danger out there, so much unknown, I tried to tell them but I am just ignored. Friday was a bad day. The Loud Ringing Sound kept happening and there were strange humans outside, wanting to come in. I would let them know immediately that My Humans and My Home were protected, but they came in any way and I would have to check their smell for alien-animals and assess whether they were Friend or Foe. I have found that this is also quite efficient method of getting treats. The strangers who come in, even the ones that I may have met before, quite often have biscuits and once they sit down they will offer me these treats as a sign of Parlay. I'm no fool. I take these treats and carry on barking at them anyway!
I must admit though, I have found those who smell nicer are those who do not have the alien-animal smell about them and those who rubbed my ears in a massage are really quite welcome to stay. That man who came around once and let me suck on his laces… Oh they were good laces… Full of exotic flavours. Ooo and anyone willing to rub my belly… I am theirs!

Ohh and finally, what an exciting treat – I have discovered… Toes! Frankly, the smellier, sweaty, cheesier the better! Oh my… I give a very good foot licking that rivals any massage. Check out the length of my
tongue! So if you had a hard day and need to feel the stresses and strains worked off your little tootsies then I'm your bitch ;-)

The Final Countdown

This week has been the last full week of summer holidays for us teachers. I have mostly filled it with dog walking, reading, eating out with friends and suppressing vague feelings of panic. The new term approaches and, as ever, the feeling of being completely unprepared has started to encroach. I know in the sensible part of my brain how to deal with this: plan lessons, plan resources, organise time better, do more reading, do more writing, and make phone calls. Six little things all of which I know I can do quite happily on their own, or grouped together in pairs… And I have been doing each one in dribs and drabs over the summer holidays – but when those essential first days start looming over the horizon it's very hard not to just put one's head back underneath the duvet and refuse to come out.

I am very excited about returning to university. In fact I really can't wait! The only drawback is knowing that my lectures start at 6:30 PM and go on until 9:30 PM, on a school night. Now, if you have read my other blog, or just happen to know me (which I'm fairly sure most of you will!) You'll know that it is aroundabout the 6 PM mark that I like to start considering getting out of my wheelchair and wrapping myself up in aforementioned duvet. I'm strongly of the opinion that if I do not get my recommended daily dose of duvet, much like medication from the doctor, I will suffer for it and all those around me! Hence why it is even more important that I get myself Organised. So, dear readers, with this in mind I have in fact purchased A Wall Planner. I have stolen the philosophy of "Units of Time" from Nick Hornby's About a Boy, and assigned each day a certain number of units. To cope with all this frightening PAaBP* there has been much chocolate eaten (two units), alcohol consumed (four units), and an unheard of, nay, unprecedented amount of moaning (8 units).

*Plan Ahead and Be Prepared :-)

Diary of a Dire Wolf

Dire Entry 16

It is three paws forward, two paws back with my human, diary. I thought I had managed to teach her how I like to be fed but instead of simply putting my food bowl down and letting me at it she seems to have ideas of her own grandeur and has the audacity to eat first! She'll even then make me sit and wait whilst food is put in my bowl! Doesn't she realise, dear diary, that I must show her how annoyed I am by making her feel my claws that I've had to wait?! For the meantime, until I can find another way of showing her how cross I am, I will make do with my noisy Howls of Complaint as I am doing my "sitting" and lying "down". I swear sometimes I feel like a performing seal in a circus!

Yesterday was a very busy day for me, diary. There was a lot of gardening in need of happening. I felt that there were just too many weeds, too many plants in pots and that the grass needed extra soil sprinkled across it. Although winter is approaching and as a wolf I don't actually understand anything about growing seasons, I felt it important that my human had many holes across her lawn into which she may put her spring bulbs. I know how she loves flowers, and I know that she knows how much I love to eat them when they are at their prettiest… I also felt that the fencing needed my particular attention. My human may think that the special bamboo fencing put up against the cold metal railing works well as a"disguise". She is wrong. I personally believe that bamboo fencing is ideal for my ever ongoing teething pain and I very much enjoy how it's refuses to come away from the railings – I have such fun playing tug-of-war with it!

Oh dear, I hear her calling me now. Diary, I must go. The suspicion that she may have treats awaiting me is too great for me to resist. I will heave myself off this comfortable bed, ears back, tail up and curled… It's so important she believes I am pleased to see her. That way I will get more treats – this I have learnt from her behaviour! Adieu for now, dear diary.

Welcome to WheelyWobbly

Welcome to WheelyWobbly – my new blog! On this site I hope to share extracts of my ongoing learning curve into the realms of becoming a writer along with taking on the challenges of raising a puppy direwolf, matched with the challenges of working/teaching as a tetraplegic.

The first thing I really wanted to share was the overwhelming sense of having bitten off more than I can chew so to speak… And having to do the thing I hate the most: Be Proactive and Plan Ahead. However in the half a decade (OMG has it really been that long already?) Since I became actively disabled the BPaPA approach is really the one that works best for me.

From what I have found out regarding The Writers World, it's very important apparently to have an "online presence" be that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogspot, Bebo, Foursquare, Google+, and PinInterest. Most of which you will in fact be able to find me on! For those who are actually interested, and have not followed me so far, you can read about my journey dealing with life as a tetraplegic/wheelchair-bound woman returning to work/life/friends/family here: http://tingletetra.blogspot.co.uk/

As I have been suffering with something of writers block I thought perhaps it was time to have another crack at blogging, which is also another handy hint I have received for helping breakthrough the gooey melted mind and actually write things. I do feel very much as though I am a bit like a high wire act, juggling 16 difference items high up in the air, often without a net beneath me should I fall. Hence where the title for this new blog has come from… WheelyWobbly (see what I did there?! ;-) )
So, I hope to see you out there as feedback is so so encouraging – even if it's not that positive – it's just great to know that there's someone out there reading your stuff… Whether it be on Twitter or Facebook or wherever.

So for now I shall say thank you for reading my rather long introduction and I hope to see you next week :-)
PS this is Arya, my dire wolf…

Ahem yes, totally ripped off from Game of Thrones. I am something of a modern day fan girl… I just thought I'd introduce you as you will no doubt be hearing a lot about her in the coming weeks and months!