Colwich Novitiate

CHELSEA

PETS are a common addition to the religious family, and it really does add to the family spirit. There has for a long time been either a cat or a dog resident. In the past there was ‘YOGI’ who was an Mongrel and was a great friend of Sr. Edith (who later on became Abbess from 1982-1994), Peterkin was a white cat with black spots and a black tail, he was here over 12years after we adopted him from a rescue home. His main job was to see to catching mice and looking after people who were in the infirmary  - he was chelsea’s predersessor. Chelsea came to us in 2001 aged 3 – after a friend of ours gave her to us. Chelsea is also a rescue dog, but it was not a sad case like so many are, so there was no distress involved with her. She is a very happy and affectionate ‘Apricot Standard Poodle’ who loves children and all people. Being a poodle, that means she doesn’t shed her fur so that means a wash then out come the clippers and i get busy. At first it was a struggle trying to get this right, but with perseverence i have handled it and she lets me do her. Also, she is great to have if you’re an Asthma sufferer.  Chelsea is now getting on in years, at the moment she is 10yrs and has a small complaint of arthritis.

Here is a minor thought of perhaps what goes through CHELSEA’S mind!

Even in religious life it is quite common to have ‘pets’ amongst the queer two legged people who wear queer clothing of  long black dresses and white garments around their head with a black upper cloth, known as a veil. All we creatures do all day is sit around lazing about, giving a bark here and there when it is needed, answering a possible door bell with a single woof. It is a wonderful life here for us small creatures with a park all to myself – and yet , i’m not completly alone…. There are other animals lurking in my grand little island squirrels which i can chase, but they get away up the tree.

June 18th:  Today, there was a group of  ‘first holy communion candidates’  here and chelsea went in to see them, two people were afraid of dogs but they got on ok with her.

July 9th: Just recently one of our gardeners spotted in the orchard the hen phesant and her chicks, unfortunately we did not see them as babies but suddenly one day the two youngsters were spotted in the greenhouse around the tomatoe plants. Now they are seen on a regular basis, i have seen them around the strawberry plants this afternoon. Chelsea obviously smelt them out and as usual chased them off, they might not be ‘Pets’ as such but they are a part of our wildlife and are doing pretty well in the orchard – that is until we are able to go in there and pick the apples!!!! Its great to have these birds here and for us to encourage them as much as possible, one day they will disappear from here and maybe never return but in the mean time it is their home.

AUG 2nd:  Today is Chelsea’s birthday! She is 11 (or rather 77 in doggie years ). She got lots of fuss and not to mention lots of treats!! Occassionally she acts like a puppy but she is feeling her age now. She has slowed down quite alot since we first got her 8 years ago. Still, plenty of walkies (of course when willing to go that is because there is a stubborn streak in her), plenty of treats like markies, choccie drops, rawhide chews and anything else she can persude people to give her always comes in handy and gives a little pleasure. Especially a good old rub on the tummy, or a little back scratching takes those tiresome little itches away. Still in 1 weeks time chelsea will be having a good old bubbles and hair cut ready for the people ‘coming for the come and see weekend!’

Mon Aug 3rd:  CHELSEA WRITES:  Today,we had a Recreation Day and had a picnic although it wasn’t too good weather (It should have been outside) so we had an informal gathering in the refectory, lots of sandwiches and i (chelsea) had my biccies and they put me outside, but i didn’t finish them i wanted one of those sandwiches and in the end i got one full of cheese – it was delicious! I missed out on the ice – cream though, my friends were too quick at having it themselves and my mum (that Sr. D) put the rest back quickly. Still i did get my fair share of the fun and i had some extra biccies at tea time too while they were eating cake. One thing i tried to do while they wasn’t looking was to bury my bone in the prioress’ garden – but i got caught out so i had to abandon it! MAYBE NEXT TIME……

Aug8th:  Chelsea is causing a bit of a stir at the moment. Let me tell you of her lastest antics!!! Last night she did something rather disturbing in more ways than one. You know what it is like to be afraid of something??? Well Chelsea is afraid of 2 things only flies and hot air balloons! At 10.30pm when everyone was asleep (yours truly hits the sack straight away and knows nothing till next morning – that is usually), Chelsea decided to do a runner from her bed because of a single, solitary FLY. It meant that mother prioress who looks after her along with me went all round the house looking for her and in the mean time whilst Sr. Anne was looking chelsea was knocking at my cell door – so to speak – i take ages to wake up and heard noises outside my door. When i got my wits about me, i realised it was chelsea dog and thought what was she doing not in bed…… so i opened the door and in she came straight to her mat that she occassionally goes on when with me during the day. This is situated by the window and radiator. I thought she was hot so gave her a drink of water but no she didn’t want it so it happened that all night long she was panting, and that meant neither of us got any sleep. Chelsea doesn’t usually come to me at night, she always goes off to her own place. But all this just because of a fly…still these are little trials and penances to put up with, and are expected occassionally………..also another little episode has just taken place and that is with the other dreaded thing that we call (public enemy number 1 – HOT AIR BALLOONS) one has just skimmed the top of the trees and the nearby housing estate and chelsea just will not go out she shakes if she does and it is so pitiful to see but you just can’t do anything. They have regular events at Shugborough Hall just opposite us and quite a few come over and all the animals in the village hate that – but we all have our own individual fears and hates even the animals get to share in things like us and all we can do is togive them extra T.L.C and of course a treat! 

Hope you enjoy chelseas antics please let me know - and she will be having a bubbles on monday with a hair cut on tuesday ready for the weekend. Here’s a photo of when i do her… from sr. d   x

COMPETITION TIME FOR CHELSEA

CHELSEA now has a little competition and that is with a KITTEN! Yes, there is now a cat amongst our family, but it is indirectly as she belongs to our chaplain. The cat’s name is ..wait for it……DIANA 3rd. This isn’t a good photo and she was 2 months old here, but she has now grown and is very playful. She is a tortoise shell and very friendly, loves company, tries extremely hard to get into the enclosure but is very quickly escorted back out. On occassions i have been asked to go over and look after her and after the meal Diana my come and spend a few minutes on your knee (If you’re lucky!) She really is a sweetie……. and a pleasant addition to our life here.