A puppy’s work is never done

I overheard this morning that we have people coming to visit today and Mum was saying that she and Dad needed to find a way of tiring me out before they come so that I don’t get too excited.

I don’t think so.  If they think I’m signing up for their exercise programme just to wear me out they have another think coming.  For a start, I heard Dad mention that there’s an important man-job to be done this morning and I’m not missing out on that.  Oh no, he’ll need my help.

So you can imagine my excitement when he went to the kitchen cupboard and emerged with a bucket and a big brush on a pole.  I emerged from the cupboard with a variety of things which I thought looked very interesting and might be useful but Dad didn’t seem to agree and as fast as I got something out he would take it off me and put it back, while I went for the next thing.  Dustpan Dad?  No thanks, give it here. Brush (dustpan, for the use of?) No, thank you, Angus.  Give that here as well please. Mop then?  We must need the mop surely? No… thank… you…! Now give me the bloomin’ thing! (Author’s Note: He didn’t actually say “bloomin'” but children may be reading this so…)

Just the bucket and brushy thing on a stick then?  Is that all?  Oh and some hot water and some “All Purpose Cleaner.”  Ooh and look what happens when you add them into the bucket!  Bubbles!  This could be fun.

Open the back door please Dad, I’m ready to begin.  Er, what are we doing exactly? We’re washing the conservatory windows? Pardon?  What was that?  “You’re washing the windows?” Well that’s what I just said didn’t I?  You start with the high ones and I’ll help.  Right, put the brush into the soapy water.  Hang on, I just need to check it’s in deep enough.  Yes, I think so  – let me take a closer look…  Oh! Sneeze!  Soapsuds!! Sneeze, Sneeze!!!

Right off you go.  Hang on there’s water dripping there (pounce) and there (pounce) and here comes the brush again (bounce and pounce) and into the bucket (pounce). Oh this is great – real man’s work.  What are you doing now?  Extending the pole so you can reach higher?  Cool, I can help with that.  You hold that end and I’ll grab this end…  Now puuuuuull.. Let go…?  Why…?  How am I NOT helping…?

So that’s all the higher windows done.  Let’s do the lower ones now,  I can bounce, and pounce and now I can leap into the air and grab that brush.  This is GRRRReat!  We’ll have this done in no time.

Why have you stopped?  Why are you pouring the soapy water down that hole in the ground? (I Googled it later – it’s called a drain – and Dad said it’s where my brain went. Brain drain?  No, I didn’t think it was very funny either.)

Now he’s putting more water in the bucket.  Idiot man – he just threw some away now he’s filling it up again?  Ah, apparently it’s called rinsing and it means we get to do it all again [Editor’s note:  Oh good…]

(10 minutes later)

Well, that’s it.  All done, and I must say the windows are looking pretty good.  What’s that?  Visitors are coming?  Nah, I’m far too tired to see people right now, thank you all the same. [Ed:  Result!]

While I was dropping off to sleep I was thinking about something Dad said after we had finished working, and I think it must mean there’s another puppy around somewhere with a very strange name.  Anyway I am very proud of the fact that I was so helpful that, as Dad put it, “With help like that I don’t need Hindrance!”

Angus