BERTIE
Greg Sadler
Blenheim Palace
30 x 30 cm
Monsieur Bertrand, or Bertie as he is better known by, arrived just before lockdown, a cheeky 9-year-old ‘little man’, adored by his first mummy but who sadly had terminal cancer and could no longer cope. He charged into our lives demanding attention and treats and threw little temper tantrums when he couldn’t get his own way. He then quickly had a bit of a shock when he realised that he was not the only dog in the household and had to share with a girl dog twice his size! However, his huge personality soon established a few new rules in the household: treats after a walk, no shoes to be left lying around, valued cushions to be put out of Bertie’s reach and that his second mummy was already ‘taken’! What ensued was a true bromance between Bertie and his first ever daddy, with Bertie becoming hugely protective of anyone’s access to his dad when sitting on the sofa, making sure that dad cuddles were reserved exclusively for him. It left his new sister and second mummy to cuddle at the other end of the sofa.
From a lifetime of walking on a lead, Bertie soon discovered walks took on a whole new
meaning as running and chasing his new sister was thrilling but with endless time to sniff in every bush built in and, best of all, a chance to stop and make new mates! Oh yes, Bertie the chirpy little socialite had arrived!
Lockdown tails…
Lockdown then came and with it a new member to the household, a ‘human’ sister for Bertie. Just when Bertie thought that life couldn’t get any better, his new ‘sister’ showered him with cuddles, played games with him and sneaked him upstairs to the land of the humans (shush, don’t tell the parents, but he often settled down on the human bed for the night!).
Lockdown showed us that a slower pace of life could give way to a more relaxing and
appreciative time of what we were fortunate enough to have. Having dogs got us out of the house and for the best walks, discovering new routes and pathways right on our doorstep, meeting strangers who only lived down the road and the chance to watch mother nature shift through the seasons with all the wondrous changes she brought to the countryside and wildlife.
Having a dog in lockdown ensured that we got out whatever the weather, reminding us of what is beautiful and giving us time to reflect on what is important. The companionship, presence and unspoken understanding of a dog is something remarkable and humbling and Bertie’s loyalty and devotion has touched our family in ways we didn’t think possible. However, our ‘little man’ arrived with one bad habit – hiding the TV remote control, usually by burying it in the garden, until his humans got wise!
Vanessa Sadler