mostly david ephgrave

It's fair to say we're living through a difficult time, and while it's hard to know what's ahead, it worth taking the opportunity to take stock of where we're lucky. I know I couldn't manage without my wife, and how fortunate I am to have her. We've been together for fifteen years and married for a little under six, and she's my most ardent supporter. Being with me isn't straightforward and comes with its challenges, but she stands up to them and makes things better. If I hadn't had her to help me through the mental health mess I was in when we met, I wouldn't still be here today. I know I wouldn't. And that comes with a lot of pressure, but she's still with me (the fool) and, despite it all, we still have a lot of fun. And while it may be soppy, I'm grateful for our dog. He brings a spark to my day and fills it with energy and positivity. He came from Wood Green Animal Shelter a little over a year ago and is a perfect fi...

Today was crunch ‘Project: Pick up a Dog’ day in the Ephgrave household. The most stressful part inevitably was driving home with Elwood (for we've Christened him such) in the car, as the double-whammy of presumably never having travelled by road for long - or at all - combined with the fact he’d only met us a few times previously meant he was very anxious and barky, although his fear seemed to conveniently subside whenever I offered him a treat. Since we’ve been home - and I’m conscious of not wanting to tempt fate - he’s been a ridiculously well-behaved boy. He paced around the flat a few times initially, before tentatively chewing on the antler we bought him for that purpose, but after a walk around the estate when he needed a comfort break he became more relaxed, with the key moment being when he leapt up to join us on the sofa - which shouldn’t really be possible on account of the fact he’s fucking huge - and promptly fall asleep. One's hard at wor...