It's been almost 18 months since we lost our much-loved little Lucy, known to her legions of fans the world over, as Small Dog. Not a day passes without my thinking of her, and I miss her terribly.
One of the many, many things I especially miss is our 'konversashuns' here on my blog. I still hear her unmistakably unique voice in my head when I write about this or that. She had opinions on just about everything, from politics to squirrels, and was refreshingly forthright about expressing them.
I've had in mind to make a homage to her, in miniature toy form, and to that end, during the summer of last year, purchased a number of mini Yorkshier Terrrior dogs, intending to make a little pullalong toy and accompanying kit, to celebrate her inimitable joie de vivre. Since then, what with one thing and another, I just haven't had the head space to make a start.... there's been a definite limit to the level of sadness I can bear. However, with things now looking up, and having booked to do the KDF Online Showcase scheduled for early September, I've decided to crack on. They are currently lined up on my table in the workroom, as I set about working out what I'm going to do with them. Inevitably, I just can't keep SD out of my head.....
Scene: Sandra's workroom. Her table is awash with all the paraphernalia involved in creating a new miniature toy kit, including a phalanx of remarkably patient Yorkies, standing uncharacteristically still.
Small Dog materialises from a puff of smoke, and settles comfortably on my lap.
SD: *curiously* Helo mumm. Whot ar yue doen?
Me: *tearfully* Oh hello.... so lovely to see you.
SD: *gently resting her cold wet nose on the back of my hand* Ai am orlwais with yue... yue kno thatt.
Me: *sniffing* Well yes, I do know. *pulling myself together* So.... I'm making a new toy kit, based on you.
SD: *surveys the assembled little dogs* Hmmm.... ai suppoas thai do luke a bitt liek me. Knot neerlie so gorjus thoe.
Me: *shrugs* Well no. Of course not. But they are most definitely Yorkshier Terriors. I'm just trying to work out how to decorate them.
SD: *suspiciously* Dekorait them? Whott....with kloaths?
Me: *carefully* Well..no... not clothes exactly... I'm thinking more of a little sparkly, decorated saddle and maybe a jewelled, feathered headdress.
SD: *raised eyebrows*
Me: *eyes downcast*
SD: *scathingly* A SPARKLIE SADEL?
Me: *quickly* It's a little pullalong toy SD. I want it to look quirky and special and...
SD: *interrupting* A FETHERD HEDRESS? With JOOLS?
Me: *placatingly* It will look lovely. Just wait and see.
SD: *witheringly* Speshul?..... ai am, off korse, VERI speshul, VERI rair. Yue cude evin sai yewneek.
Me: *encouragingly* Yes.... you are. And you always did enjoy a bit of dressing up, didn't you.
SD: *grudgingly* Hmmmph.... sumtyms. Nevur with a sadel tho. Yoor knott plannen to add a harnis and rains ar yue? Thatt wude be a stepp two far.
Me: *reassuringly* A harness and reins? Oh no. Definitely not. Just the little saddle. And the headress. Maybe a little collar?
SD: *warily* ok. a kollar. Thatts fyne.
Me: *warming to my theme* And a decorated wooden platform on painted metal wheels, and a wooden pull handle on a silken cord.
SD: *mischieviously* So thay kude do wheeelys! And rais eech uther.
Me: * warningly* Probably better not to put ideas into their heads SD....
SD: *continuing*.... liek chareeott raises. Or obstickle korsis, with slallomz.
Me: *faintly* You're getting a bit carried away now. Anyway, I'm also going to include two little book kits, which I've just finished designing, based on you.
SD: *sagely* Ah, yes. Ai eckspekt wun will bea a knottowbyograffie.
Me: *carefully* Hmmm.... not exactly. They're little vintage picture books for children.... published in the 19th century. One is called Doggy Doings and features a terrier chasing a cat, and the other is.......
SD: *expectantly* Yess. Go onn.....
Me: *falteringly* Well..... it's a bit of a joke I suppose. I mean you were obsessed with them.
SD: *narrowed eyes*
Me: *unwillingly* Erm... it seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I'm not so sure. It's called.... Frisky The Squirrel.
SD: *incredulously* Frisckie. The. SKWIRRUL?!?!? Hav yue lost yore acktewl mined? FRISCKIE the SWIRRUL???? Wurds fale me.
Me: *crestfallen* It was just a bit of fun SD. You were always chasing them and barking through the window at them. Every day.
SD: *imperiously* Thai yewst to maik faises att me thrue the windoe. Thai wer mai nemesuss. Eniwai, ai kude eesilie hav kott wun .... ai wosent reely tryen.
Me: *smiling* Yes of course you could. You just enjoyed the sport didn't you.
SD: *mollified* Absewlootlie. Rite....aim goen to hav a napp now. Ai luke fourwurd to seein mai poolalong toi when itts phinishd.
Scene: The room is empty again. It feels so much emptier than before. Sandra gazes at the spot on her lap and a single tear lands on the back of her hand, where Small Dog always placed her cold, wet, nose....
*sneek prevue*
