Do you remember the 1989 film: Shirley Valentine? In it, the middle-aged Shirley decides one happy day that she has had enough. Her life is boring. Her family do not appreciate her. Her life is in a rut. I can go on, but you get the picture, right? Then, out of the blue she finds herself on a Greek Island all by herself, and your imagination can fill in the blanks. She had a wonderful trip of rediscovery, but more than that, her family were left to do a bit of soul searching and discovery of their own. She did return home, but the rules had changed slightly.

There are a few family members in our clan that share the sentiment.

On Saturday we got a message from Youngest Son. Oreo is having his worst day, it said. Turns out that Oreo not only had a bath, but also had his teeth brushed. All this on the back of Oreo visiting his Grand pawrents the week before. He was so humiliated when the chaps working on some burst pipes in the area laughed at him when he got zipped into a backpack. It is of course a special backpack made for small dogs. It has a clear panel with breathing holes in it. It did not come cheaply. It was bought specially for Oreo to be carried in when his humans go for long hikes and his little legs cannot keep up. Oreo does not like his backpack, he does not like bathing, and he does not like having his teeth brushed. He also does not like going for a loo break on wet grass. He does not like sharing Truffle’s toys with Truffle. In fact, he has quite a long list of grievances, number one on the list being: his humans do not care.

Do you remember Tam? Tam who used to be so infatuated with Angel? Well, Angel is no more. She has departed this life to become a real angel in the next life. That has left Tam feeling very lonely. So lonely that all he wants to do is sit on a stick in his cage and squawk. His humans, who really do not care much for him, decided to give him his own smart phone to keep him company. For hours on end, they have a video running of other cockatiels chirping away happily. How good can life be? Permission to binge-watch your favourite series for hours on end? Nope. Not Tam.

Domino is living his worst life. He is still boarding with Oldest Son & Wifey, living the most pampered life. He has a cat tree to eat, sleep, play in. He has a Catio to catch naps in the sun. He is rewarded with treats for good behaviour (oh boy….) he has an endless supply of pipe cleaner spiders to swipe at. He gets a new collar almost more often than most cats (that will be because normal cats do not keep escaping from their collars and loosing them). Then why is his life so miserable? Would the tailless ginger cat next door perhaps have anything to do with it? We do not know. Domino is not prepared to talk about it. Something about it not being any of our business.

As for me, I am done being a good wife. I am done keeping a house in order. I am done cooking meals. I am done doing laundry. I am done with everything a good wife is supposed to be. Colin is on his own. And if you want to know why? Go ask him. Let him explain to you why things on his to-do list are not happening. And while you are at it, ask him about the casserole I was planning to warm up for supper. You know the one he had for lunch – yesterday and today. Yup. All (or most) of it. And I am done.

So, at the end of it all, it would seem that only Truffle finds herself in a good place. She does not mind her space. Not at all. She knows that she is living her best life, even if her humans tell her off for leaving glitter (that is what they call her fur) everywhere in the house. Because she knows that she knows that she loves her humans, and they love her.

I have unfortunately allowed my passport to expire. I thought I had until next year, but I did not. Which is just as well. You see, you need a passport to travel to Greece. Guess I will just have to do my sulking right here. There is a really nice market on for the next two weeks. I have not been to any of my favourite coffee shops for a while. All those good things that is better to do without a husband. But before I do all these things, I will find some videos to play to Colin as he sits on his perch and work. Some nice Mrs. Brown videos, of her telling her tribe off. That’ll do it.

Oh, and I hope he likes sandwiches. It was going to be casserole on a cold rainy night, but let us not go there.