This Way? Or That?

"Now son, are you really sure you are going to stick with this? You know what you are like; getting all enthusiastic about something, only to drop it five minutes later to move on to the next thing."

The words of my Mum to me aged about 9 when I decided I was going to spend ages playing War Games. And yes, I did need the landscapes and model soldiers to go with it. We bought sponge and bits to make trees and bushes. We bought some little metal soldiers. We bought paint. I launched myself into tree making. Made one and a half before deciding it was boring and went off to play with my wind-up Evel Knievel. And that was the end of War Gaming. Sorry Mum.

And so we come to the Modern Day. 40% of my way into the Canine First Aid course and apparently committed to dog walking (to make a few quid), I start to question why I am doing this when the longer term aim of Property Development/Landlordingness could potentially get underway now? BT (Boy Teenager) is keen on the idea and has been talking about learning the trades so that he can do some of the work and maintenance, ultimately intending that this should be his career. And so in true Mr H style, the canine stuff went on ice and I launched myself at property. Exciting! BT is excited, although a little non-plussed at the sudden change in direction, and even Gin gets involved in looking at potential places to buy.

Reality has a funny way of intervening at times of great optimism and true to form deployed its Mallet of Disappointment to begin smashing Awkward Facts through the Shell of ourEnthusiasm. We had started our search with areas we know ... Sutton, Horsham, Haywards Heath. Dear Mary Mother of God, Joseph, the Baby Jesus and their Sweet Donkey, how can anyone starting out in life afford to buy anything? £170,000 for a Studio Flat? A studio flat ... a single room, which lets face it, isn't big enough to have a permanent bed in situ. Madness. But no problem, I can raid the pension pot (as I'm now old enough) for a decent deposit and take out a mortgage for the bulk of the costs. Easy! I'm sure Rob (described as the Gandalf of property loans) will be able to help.

Rob is a very nice man. A very clever man. He is probably a wizard at what he does. But even he can't arrange a personal loan or mortgage for someone who has no income. Gah. Ah well, will just have to raid the savings pot set aside to pay off the mortgage on our home. Easy! I'd best tell Nick, the Financial Advisor guru that has kept me on the straight and narrow.

Nick is pulling faces as I tell him the plan. He draws a box on a piece of paper. "I've got this great new investment, Mr H" he says. "I will charge you 3% of your funds to enter it, OK? And then at the end, I will charge you 38% on the capital growth. Good?" Hell no it isn't. It's terrible. What is it, this investment scheme? He draws a triangle on top of the box. "That's a roof" he says, "Property really isn't good any longer, unless you are doing it through a company and on scale". He explains how a company structure could work; it can be done and whilst more complex, has some advantages. The dream then, whacked about and dented, is still a possibility. But it will need funding and the best thing we can do is find a way to earn some money now. Nick points out that I could go contracting in the City and earn well. And he is right. But also he is wrong. Corporate life is not for me anymore. Which brings us full circle back to Dogging. Best crack on with it then.

Module 5 of Canine First Aid is now complete and we are sizing up the Tiguan (MPV car thing) to work out if we can get a few hounds in the back with the seats flat.

All of this flip-flapping has affected BT, who has been stable and sleeping well for many months. The poor lad worries about his future, knowing that he won't have GCSEs, but the property business is something that he has hung his hat on. He finds change difficult because of his anxiety, and several weeks of belting off in a new direction only to then hit reverse has messed-up his sleep. He is now awake all night and asleep in the morning, which is sort of the teenage condition, but he does it with bells on. Knowing that the dream is still alive but will take a few years to get too has, in a strange way, had a calming effect. It transpires it was all happening too quickly for him. Confusing this anxiety thing isn't it?

It's been a strange period for BT, with his locked-down mates now back at school. He's had bouts of sadness and being withdrawn, but also of laughter and happiness. His friendship group seems to be going through the upheavals that they do at that age as the lads mature at different rates, and their interests begin to change. This is an extra challenge for BT as he isn't with his friends at school and can't see how the dynamic is moving. It means that he can't move quickly with the changes and has resulted in him feeling left out on occasion. There's no easy solution, other that perhaps to try to arrange to see his mates outside after school, but he is reluctant to take the lead. I guess he fears them saying "no". What can we do, other than try to reassure him that this is all quite normal and that he will still have mates in the years to come?

Milo (the Sprocker pup) has also been a worry, with the odd little pop or crack noise coming from his joints. Having learned a few months ago that we had been over-exercising him, there was great fear that his joints may have developed abnormalities. But Good News! As I type he is at the vets ... and they've called to say that they can find nothing wrong. The RELIEF! Milo must have sensed something was up this morning; he was like a Motorised Space-Hopper. He greeted the vet (and everyone else) with loads of extra bounce and enthusiasm. Ah bless, he clearly didn't know why he was there. By the time he emerges later today, his bounce, like his nadgers, will be gone.

Unusually Gin (the Juniper-laced Mrs) and GT (Girl Teenager) haven't been in any real scrapes in the last few weeks. Both are working incredibly hard and their days seem to flash by in a haze of lessons, marking, planning and revision (GT only). Gin is even working whilst the mighty Arsenal are on the (telly giving BT and I palpitations). Surely there's enough time for the footy?

Right, whilst the pup is out being de-nadgered, I must clean the carpets.

Until next time ...

Love and elbow-grease,

Mr H x

PS EasyJet have finally stumped up our refund vouchers. Had been sending them to the wrong email address. Of course. Now have to figure out if and when we can use them. Might have to sell them (I can apparently); watch this space, I'll sell them at 10% off face value!