Olga surprised me yesterday morning with a youthful burst of energy. We went walking to the housing estate, where we haven't been in months, even though it's not that far from our flat. She usually prefers to go around the corner and sniff garbage, so this was a welcome change.
When she was younger we walked here almost every morning. I hope she enjoyed it for old times' sake.
I texted Dave: "Free stuff!" He texted back, "No."
That middle chair is pretty cool, in my opinion, but I suppose we do have plenty of chairs.
I spent the day reading and doing some stuff around the house. Mrs. Russia met me outside to have a conversation about the front garden. Remember how we got an estimate for having it pruned? Well, it won't surprise you to know that the Russians have come up with an alternate plan that involves ripping out several large bushes and basically replanting the whole thing. These people! They can't just let things be! They have to renovate EVERYTHING!
I said no, that is not what I want, and I wrote our landlords to that effect. The ultimate decision lies with our landlords and the Russians, who co-own our house together, but our landlords may regret involving the Russians in this project. Which is what I told them. In the past the landlords have paid to trim the garden using our maintenance company's handyman service, and I don't know why that wasn't good enough. I even offered to split the cost with them. But they appealed to the Russians to share the cost, and now that the Russians feel they have an ownership stake in the front garden I'm afraid we will never hear the end of it.
In the evening we Skyped with Dave's mom. His dad has been ill and is now getting rehab for some back problems, and we're still considering going to see them in Florida next month. Dave has been on the fence about going, given his own recent surgery, but I think we're going to do it. Hopefully the Russians won't seize that opportunity to pave the front garden and turn it into Red Square.
We also watched "Mulholland Drive," David Lynch's mysterious movie about Hollywood, from 2001, to mark Lynch's recent death. I've been a Lynch enthusiast for years, ever since I saw "Blue Velvet" in the mid-'80s. Here are a couple of screen shots showing his mesmerizing style.
Lynch loved to put people in front of microphones. That's a common feature in several of his films. "Mulholland Drive" is all about identity and duality, and I think Lynch liked the idea of characters being on stage, performing, in an exaggerated semblance of how we all perform in real life.
Soon after we started the movie, Dave turned to me and said, "This is the weirdest thing I've ever seen."
And I said, "Yep. That's David Lynch!"
I would find it hard to walk past the middle chair.
ReplyDeleteI did find it hard! But I don't want to get divorced. :)
DeleteFirst they take over Crimea. Next they're planning to annex your front garden. Ask The Golden Emperor of The Americas for support and I am sure he will supply you with all the weaponry your require. MWHGA!
ReplyDeleteHa! I laughed at MWHGA. Maybe I should make a hat that says that.
DeleteStay strong on the front garden! If they pave it over, go wild with large potted plants.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Twin Peaks was on TV and my co-workers all changed their make-up and nail varnish colours as a result.
"Twin Peaks" was a HUGE deal at the time. It's hard to fathom now. It seems very dated.
DeleteSniffing garbage is a favourite canine activity. In fact, sniffing anything that most humans would turn their noses up at appeals to dogs.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they do like their pungent odors!
DeleteBe grateful that she only sniffs. My last two dogs were 'holy rollers'.
ReplyDeleteShe'll do that too, given an opportunity, but when I'm holding the leash I can forestall it.
DeleteI kind of like the idea of letting a dog decide where we go. Many many years ago when young and single, I used to do weekend drives by using random chance dictate when direction I turn at every intersection. I ended up in some pretty off the road (but interesting) places in the years that I took those drives.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in the town where David Lynches cult exists. They still exist and have a bait and switch program of promising to teach theater/filming techniques of his but I'm told by those who have signed up, that the focus is all on meditation through chanting the names of Indian gods and nothing to do with Lynch other than borrowing his name. I think he used to frequently stop by and give talks in past decades and though I never went to one, I occasionally saw him around town. Regardless of his beliefs, he was talented.
I figure it's the dog's walk, so why shouldn't she determine the route!
DeleteDavid Lynch has a cult?! I have not heard of this. I had no idea he had spawned any kind of religious community.
It isn't a cult that he started. It was started by Maharish Mahesh Yogi of the Beetles fame. David Lynch just joined up with them and practices TM. Meditating isn't really the part that I refer to as the cult. The cult part has to do with their practices of making participants pay large sums of money to achieve the next level of meditation, basically a giant pyramid scheme with the people at the top getting rich over it. You can tell who is on the top of the pyramid by driving through town and seeing million dollar mansions next to $25,000 run down shacks.
DeleteLook out, Mr Russia will power wash the front garden to get rid of the nasty earth! I wonder what they'd replant with if they "renovated".
ReplyDeleteThey're certainly attention getters.
They make me so tired.
DeleteI'm curious about the Russians. How do they get upstairs? There must be an outside entrance, but where is it? How big is the upstairs? Do you know? Do they have children? Where do they work? So many questions:)
ReplyDeleteThey have a front door to the right of our front door, coming off the same front landing. It opens onto a staircase that takes them directly upstairs, which is two floors (I'm not sure how many rooms). They do have two kids, the youngest probably middle school age. I have no idea where Mr. Russia works, and I'm not sure Mrs. Russia works at all.
DeleteYes. The middle chair. I think we all agree.
ReplyDeleteGood for Olga! She must have been feeling frisky and fine.
I've never been able to handle so much as one entire episode of Twin Peaks. I am just not good with that sort of weird.
I have no suggestions as to the Russians' involvement in the garden situation. It seems to me that there is none except for moving and who knows what sort of neighbors you would have then?
Yeah, that's the same conversation Dave and I always have. We'd love to get away from them but who knows what we'd get next.
DeleteGood for you for watching that movie. I remember seeing it many years ago. Lynch was a man who did things his way which always turned out to be slightly strange.
ReplyDeleteHaving to deal with the Russians is certainly a challenge for you. I can see how them owning their upstairs flat presents a problem when it comes to things like the front garden.
Yeah, Lynch's vision was always strange, but it was also fascinating. At least to me.
DeleteI wouldn't care too much about the front garden as long as it looked neat and clean especially if you don't have to pay. Let it go. Your back garden is what you look at the most and that's lovely. Hope you do get to visit Dave's parents soon.
ReplyDeleteWell, I agree to a point, but I feel like I have to defend the plants! I hate to see them killed for no reason. (At least it seems like no reason to me.)
DeleteI let Minnie choose which direction she wants to go, left or right. She usually chooses left down to the end of the street where all our friends, dog and human, live and then if the weather is good she'l continue on past the house to the next street over. On other days she goes right and we do the next two streets over and rare days we do all three streets.
ReplyDeleteHold your ground on the front garden since it's in front of your flat. Though maybe the Russians feel proprietary about it since you have the back garden. I don't understand why the owner of your flat has the responsibility of the front garden. Wouldn't it just be easier for you to keep it pruned back?
Dogs are funny, how they develop such strong ideas about where they want to go. Olga has opinions even in places she's never been before! The front garden is considered part of the outside/street appearance of the house, which is the owners' responsibility.
DeleteThis scene is very colorful and energetic.
ReplyDeleteYou mean the singers? Yeah, that was a colorful and fun scene.
DeleteI really like that middle chair, but I also have nowhere to put it so I guess I'll be on Dave's side this once.
ReplyDeleteWe don't either, really, which is why I left it!
DeletePersonally, I like the first chair because it has arm rests, is higher, and looks more comfortable then that low-to-floor other thing!
ReplyDeleteThe first one looks like a chair from a hotel room, doesn't it? Maybe the second one too, actually.
DeleteI would have thought the landlord, Russians and you would have to mutually agree on the front garden maintenance. I like a nice curb appeal so the entrance would be important to me too.
ReplyDeleteSweet Olga still likes her walk.
A FL visit sounds like a good idea. When health issues start showing up, a check-in is helpful.
Getting all of us to agree might be a challenge!
DeleteUsually I read you blog but rarely comment, but today I can't resist joining in. No, not the middle chair - look at the way those legs stick out! How many times will you curse as you trip over them! That's probably why it's been thrown out.
ReplyDeleteGood for Olga. I've had nine dogs over the years and all but one could sniff to Olympic standard! The sniffing took longer than the walks.
Are the Russians naturalised Brits - all our Russians disappeared years ago and their homes lie empty and just waiting for squatters.
Ha! You might be right about the chair. I don't know about the immigration status of the Russians, but my guess is they're not particularly wealthy and thus haven't had a financial reason to flee the UK (like some wealthier foreigners).
DeleteFabulous Capture Of The Over The Shoulder Olga Girl Stare - The Extra Hue Saturation Really Brought It To Life - And You Nailed The Railing Shadow Picture For Sure - That Shot Should Be Framed Under Glass - I Recommend It Anyway
ReplyDeleteStay Brilliant ,
Cheers
P.S. Olga Girl Would Just Love To Find A Just Because Treat Under Her Pink Blanket Or The Fur Blanket - Sh&t , Both Blankets These Days
I actually did nothing to the color saturation in that photo. The light really was that color. She's exclusively on the fur blanket these days -- the pink blanket has been retired!
DeleteI saw Eraserhead in a theater. To this day I have no idea what it was about. If I remember correctly there was a chicken that might have been a baby, and the final scene it was raining chickens. Or something.
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember that too -- something gross involving a baby. His strangeness could definitely induce squeamishness.
DeleteMy sister was a big fan of Lynch's stuff, but I don't think I ever tried watching any of it. I do remember loving Picket Fences (David Kelley), but it was a different kind of weird.
ReplyDeleteOlga looks a bit exasperated.
It's worth watching, just for pop culture value, but it is all uncomfortable. Some of it, like "Blue Velvet," could be downright traumatic.
DeleteI would HATE feeling powerless over an area of house/yard but it seems like something you might have to let go. Grrr. Olga is sweet, revisiting her old haunts. I've done that too lately. I'm not familiar with Lynch although I think I saw Blue Velvet a long time ago. I wouldn't watch it again.
ReplyDeleteI guess I could let it go, but part of me wonders if I should take Ellen's suggestion and offer to prune it myself. That takes it out of the owners' hands. It would be a big job but I could do it.
DeleteI remember watching "Blue Velvet" years ago and being puzzled by it. Those first two photos look like they belong in a David Lynch movie!
ReplyDeleteDavid Lynch's production of "Olga: Wild at Heart."
DeleteI hated it
ReplyDeleteDid you?! I love Lynch's stuff. It's just so darn weird. I find it intriguing. "Mulholland Drive" was probably his most visually beautiful movie. The others have a visual style but they're not beautiful. Quite repulsive, in fact.
DeleteMiddle chair looks like a toe stubber, but I do like it- a lot. Lynch's Eraser Head did my head in ages ago. The baby, the chicken dinner, the lighting, ACK!
ReplyDeleteOlga is a good girl, bless her little doggie heart.
She IS a good girl. And yeah, "Eraserhead" is a puzzle, to say the least!
DeleteDavid Lynch was my lover. He was not that David Lynch, but he was a great lover. Those photos of Olga are great. You definitely didn't need that chair.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Too bad he wasn't "that" David Lynch. Then again, that might have been scary! You're right -- we do not need that chair.
DeleteGreat shadows today! I like the wooden chair with the burgundy seat and back. I'm not a fan of David Lynch.
ReplyDeleteHe's definitely an acquired taste, and some people never acquire it!
DeleteI love David Lynch’s work, but Mulholland Drive was too weird even for me.
ReplyDeleteI would want both those chairs!
ReplyDelete