Who is the most confident person you know?
The one who breezes into a room and holds the floor
The one who knows when it’s appropriate to open a door
The one who smiles even though they are tired
The one who always seems to be so inspired
The one no matter what happens next
Never seems to be really vexed
I admire them from afar and feel their presence in all I do
They’re the man in the song, “A Boy named Sue”.
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What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?
To have realistic plans is good.
To realise that not everyone has your best interests at heart,but that doesn’t mean they are bad people.It just means they are not the right people for you .
Where possible try and maintain your freedom from banality and impossible goals or targets.
Negativity is not all bad,sometimes you can call it reality.Life is many shades of colour.
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©GeraldineBanksMarch2025
Totally unaware of the kidnapping rendezvous and the capture of the kidnapper , Tedi , Tommy and Bruno and his friends continued their journey.
Tedi and Bruno had developed a very close bond. Tedi knew he could rely on Bruno to help him get back home safely with Tommy. Bruno was originally from Spain and was a type of hunting dog called a Podenco. He was mischievous and knew the ways of the world.
As dogs, on their first meeting within seconds they both knew everything about each other, their health , their history and also their honesty. As they travelled together Tedi picked up on the hard times Bruno had been through. There was a sadness about Bruno that was always present.
Bruno was fascinated by the images of the Big House, the Countryside and the Fields, in turn Tedi picked up on Bruno escaping off a boat that was being used by drug dealers to land drugs off the coast. He had made his way to London, and lived rough for about seven years. He had loads of friends and loads of adventures, but he was getting older and wanted to find a “safe” home.
So that’s how Bruno and his mates, accompanied Tedi on their journey back to the Big House.
After crossing under the M4 motorway. They made their way cross country, following Colne Brook while it was still dark and found a road which pointed in the direction that Tedi wanted to travel. Bruno said that roads were “good” as they always led somewhere , usually shelter and food. Bruno showed everyone how to keep out of sight and even found a bit of rope for Tommy to attach himself to Bruno. Tommy would be able to keep up with the dogs and no one would get lost.
Tommy was relieved to reach the road, it was getting light and he was wondering if there would be any shops or garages in Iver to get something to eat. They followed the road, walking on the grass behind a hedgerow so no one could see them and they came across a brightly lit petrol garage that had just opened. Some of the dogs headed for the bins at the back, when no one was looking they rooted around in the darkness, and ran away as soon as the doors opened with people bringing out cages of empty cardboard.
Tommy though knew what he was looking for, and entered the shop unseen and left the shop unseen. He had untied himself from Bruno and Bruno watched as the automatic door slid open and Tommy entered the shop. Everyone was too busy setting up the tills tidying, restocking and cleaning to notice the little waif of a boy who quietly gathered something for breakfast ,some drinks and some bottled water and some fruit and then left.
Bruno was impressed when Tommy came out again without being noticed. To be truthful, having some fresh food was a real treat, so he called to the other dogs, to leave the bins alone and to move on . The little group went back behind the hedgerow and walked a bit further on and then they stopped when they found some shelter under a tree and beside a small bridge crossing. They were all tired and they had the cover of some trees and thick bushes and were able to feast on what Tommy had brought and drink fresh water , they could then have a well deserved sleep. The day was just beginning but for the little group of dogs and Tommy it was time to rest. They all snuggled up together.
Tedi’s head was racing as he lay among the warm bundle. He was dreaming of home and he could almost smell it. He reckoned 60 miles or so. Three days travel if they kept up this pace. He was trying to keep a note of the shops that Tommy had taken items from and planned to settle up with them once they had got back home. For the moment it was necessary , but he didn’t want Tommy to get into trouble or the shops to be out of pocket.
So far they had got on quite well sleeping outside, but it wasn’t what Tedi was used to. They would rest for today and then head out again when it started to get dark.
Dogs don’t think in terms of days, but it was going to be Saturday night when they set off again. Cross and Letitia had been given the go ahead , as the kidnappers were now behind bars, to launch a Publicity Campaign to look out for Tedi and the other dogs as well as the little boy. They had used the CCTV images that the Police had gathered and the plight of the Dogs and the little Boy was all over TV and Radio. They concentrated their efforts on the area where the dogs were travelling through, so everyone was on the lookout for them. Bruno though knew how to keep out of sight , so despite the coverage there were no reports of sightings, which frustrated Cross and Lettie who couldn’t help but wonder where they were.
It was seven o’clock at night when the dogs and the little boy all woke up. The weather had been kind to them, it had been warm with no rain and it was just getting dusky and turning into a pleasant evening. They had all slept soundly and had eaten and drank. Tommy put some bowls of water out for the dogs and they had some snacks and soon it was time to go.
Bruno was up and ready , snuffling at the others to get a move on .In truth Tedi was a bit stiff and did some stretches as he always did. Downward Dog and Upward Dog which was his way of limbering up and getting ready for the long walk. Tommy meanwhile was refreshed and put his little rope leash over Bruno’s head and tied it to his own waist. Bruno seemed to understand the pace that Tommy could go at so they both walked together. Tedi was always at the front.
Tedi sniffed the air for a few minutes after doing his stretches. He let the dogs know his plan and with Bruno’s help they began the penultimate stretch of their journey back to the ” Big House”.
Meanwhile back at the Big House it was all stations go. Lettie was making and taking telephone calls, and putting out Publicity to search for the little dogs and the boy. The villagers now knew the full story and were on the look out for any sign of the dogs and the local Police Forces were notified.
“Surely they would be spotted soon” .Lettie and Cross thought. They were worried but hopeful and now the news was out, it was easier to keep everyone informed. Mr and Mrs Graham now knew what had happened, and just hoped that Tedi was safe, and they said if there was anything that they could do let them know.
” It’s a waiting game now” Cross told Mrs Graham on the phone ” We’re doing all we can.”
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What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
Always and Forever……
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Are you superstitious?
Spills a little bit of salt off a spoon in the kitchen onto the floor.
Takes a pinch of it off the floor and throws it over my shoulder.Three times.
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Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
Red Panda,total cuteness just like me.
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Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.
Dear Dusty,
I wanted to let you know that though you didn’t make it to a hundred years old,you didn’t fail in life.
It’s a misnomer to think that the body can last a hundred years.Seventy to eighty is good going and nothing to be ashamed of,and truthfully is more in line with nature.
Who wants to be a giant tortoise trundling around under the weight of a heavy shell eating grass and dandelions in a field when it’s pouring with rain .
Or a deep ocean sea creature dwelling in hidden caves and scavenging on the seabed for the world’s detritus.
Life for us bipeds is different and you played your part or the game whichever way you like to view it.Which now you can.Magnamously.
You made it,now exist in Peace.
Love Me.
Namaste,my good friend,you ,thank you for reading.
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©GeraldineBanksMarch2025
On Friday morning Chief Superintendent Napper drove up the long driveway to the ” House” . He was driving his wife’s car to maintain the status that the Police were not involved, even if he knew Tedi was not in danger , at least from the kidnappers.
It was a pleasant day and the Superintendent was pleased to say that he had some good news. There had been a two or three reports of sightings of a white dog with a small boy and it appeared that they had travelled out of London and had been spotted with some other dogs. The little group had so far evaded capture and seemed to be heading West. Increasingly the Chief Superintendent felt that Tedi was heading home. Even better he had CCTV photographs of the little gang which he felt would reassure Cross.
Napper was intent on getting the kidnappers, he hated kidnappers with a vengeance. One of his most difficult cases was a kidnapping that was never resolved to Napper’s satisfaction. So he was determined to get the person responsible . This was an opportunity to get the main protagonist and he had to persuade Cross to follow his plan. He felt Cross would be reassured that they could proceed with the plan without endangering the little dog.
” So there you are” Napper handed Cross and Letitia the photographs.
” Yes, that’s definately him! ” Cross and Letitia gasped. ” I don’t know the other dogs with him or the little boy”.
“They seem to mainly travel at night, how they got out of London and crossed the Motorway without being killed, I don’t know, but now we’re beginning to get reports from the smaller villages. Some people have reported the dogs sleeping in their outhouses and have given them food and water. The little boy has stayed out of the way when people are around, might be he’s scared someone will catch him. Either way , they’re covering a lot of ground , about twenty miles a day.”
” Is there nothing we can do, put out a search party, posters anything?” Cross asked.
” If you don’t mind, they seem to be doing OK, we can’t say anything yet, I want to get this kidnapper, you said that you were getting a call at 6.00 o’clock tonight , to arrange a rendezvous to hand over the money. “
The Chief Superintendent continued.” You’ll get full backing and I’ll get whoever is behind this. I’m pretty certain the kidnapper will ask for a meeting tonight. We’re going to fill a suitcase full of monopoly money and a little surprise, the techhie people will brief you. You know he hasn’t got the dog, but you can bluff it. Whoever the kidnapper is , they aren’t going to trust their underlings with ” a million smackers”. The Chief Superintendent smiled.
So Cross took the call as agreed at 6.00pm, the technicians were listening in and gathering evidence. They managed to trace the call to a telephone box in Oxford, and the local Police , once they knew the coast was clear , followed through and took finger prints from the phone in the box. It was a long shot but it had to be done.
The kidnapper was oblivious to all this evidence gathering and was pleased with himself for setting up the rendezvous. He would handle this alone, he would have some dinner at a local restaurant and then make his way to the Industrial Estate he had chosen for the money to be handed over and agreed Ten O’clock. He would bring a little white dog which looked like Tedi, it was in the back of his car. In the dark no one would know and anyway if there was any trouble he would use his gun.
Cross was in his car , waiting at the agreed Rendezvous spot in the middle of the Industrial Estate the kidnapper had requested. Cross had been waiting in his car for ten minutes , when the kidnappers car pulled up beside him.
Cross rolled down his window.
” You got the money in small bills in a suitcase.”
” Yes, I have, let me see my dog.”
” Look he’s there in the back, happy as Larry to see you he is.”
” It’s very dark, but yes , I can see his tail wagging, so he’s alright then?” Cross played along.
” He’s fine” The man took out a gun and said to Cross. ” Get out of the car, I’ll check the suitcase on the bonnet, no funny business, you’ve seen the dog”.
” Yes , that’s fine.” Cross wasn’t worried about the weapon, in his youth, he’d looked after many shooting parties, there wasn’t much he didn’t know about guns.
Lettie, however, was in the Chief Superintendent’s car watching on videocam and she was very worried.
” Oh no!” she put her hand to her mouth.
” Be careful everyone, suspect has a gun. Approach with care, but move fast if anything untoward happens. Listen for instructions and act when I give the command.” The Chief Superintendent said over the radio.
” Untoward?” Lettie looked at Napper.
In the meantime Cross had got out of the car with the suitcase in his hands and moved to the front of the car to lay the suitcase on top of the bonnet.
The kidnapper moved beside him but keeping his distance and pointing his gun at him.
“Open it”
” Surely that isn’t necessary, I hardly would have come here by myself without the money.”
” I wasn’t born yesterday mate, you posh ones are all the same, forget it , there’s no honour among thieves. “
” What ? What Century do you think we’re living in” Cross looked at him calmly.
” Open it!”
” Alright” Cross moved his hands towards the two locks on the suitcase.
As he pressed the locks, the case flew open and jets of orange gas spewed into the atmosphere.
” Go!” Napper shouted on the radio.
Meanwhile Cross jumped behind the passenger side of his car, and ran around the back . At the same time covering his face with the mask he had in his pocket. He ran around the back of his car over to the kidnappers car.
The Police came from everywhere, they shouted at the kidnapper to put his weapon down.
The kidnapper’s eyes were streaming and he couldn’t see a thing, the Police shone a beam of light on him and watched as the kidnapper threw the gun on the ground and bent over and began rubbing his eyes. The Police officers grabbed his arms and moved him away from the gas towards a wall of a building and then searched him.
The message came over the radio. ” Suspect detained. Weapon retrieved, cleared of live ammunition and bagged for evidence.”
” Right , lets go and see this fellow.” Napper said to Lettie.
“Is that OK? Well I’d appreciate it, I mean I ….”
” Right come on….” The Chief Superintendent said gruffly, he had cottoned on to the fact that Lettie was fond of Cross.
So as Napper walked up to the officers who had handcuffed the kidnapper, Cross appeared with a little white dog in his arms.
” I’ve no idea who this is ” He said to Lettie.
Lettie looked at him relieved and petted the little dog on the head.
” Are you alright?” she asked, really meaning Cross but looking at the dog.
” He’s fine, fortunately I got him into the fresh air before he breathed in any of the orange gas.”
” And how about you, you OK?” Lettie enquired .
” Oh yes, I think it all went to plan what do you think?”
” Sounded pretty good.”
They both looked over at the man in handcuffs being questioned by Chief Superintendent Napper. They spoke to some of the other officers involved and checked if it was alright for them to return home. The Chief Superintendent would be occupied for quite some time and while Cross and Lettie wanted the go ahead to start the Publicity to find Tedi and his gang. It was agreed they would speak to the Chief Superintendent tomorrow. So they said their goodbyes to the officers and some of the technical staff and headed back to the Palace with the new addition to their brood, James would be delighted and they had already decided he would be called ” Napper”
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Where would you go on a shopping spree?
I would spreely shop in a hiking shop,
To buy boots and jackets and a wicker top
A durable tent and some trusty pegs
And waterproof leggings for my legs
A solar lamp to read at night
And all in one cutlery to have a bite
A sleeping bag to keep me warm
A colourful bobble hat my head to adorn
Finally ,a stainless steel stove a bowl and a mug
And Tensing the Sherpa, my load to lug
Thank you for reading Namaste
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thenotsomightyom 