Whither Poppet?

That's a very good question. The past month has been chaotically busy with work and non-work related travel which has kept Owner and i apart for far too long but which has finally, i hope, mostly come to an end. The past three weeks have seen me go from London to:

• Dallas, USA (for a connecting flight to)
• New Orleans, USA (3 days for as conference) then return to London
• Then to Birmingham (UK)
• Cambridge (UK)
• Devon (UK) then from Devon with my elderly father to
• Denia (Alicante region in Spain) where my sister lives. Avoided the catastrophic floods but then an unexpected overnight in
• Madrid (Spain) without luggage
• Finally returning home 36 hours later than planned, but with luggage (hurrah)

The above also involving a mad run through Dallas airport from one terminal to the next as my arriving flight was delayed and so i just had one hour to clear customs and TSA etc and make my connecting flight. An onboard medical emergency (not me) on said connecting flight. A taste of the city of New Orleans which, if like me, you enjoy a combination of intricate ironwork on your balconies plus all things death-related, you will love. The French quarter especially, even more so in the run-up to Halloween. The New Orleans conference i attended also included, to my pleasant surprise, being part of a line parade through the city after dark. Which was fun.

Then the challenge and entertainment that comprises taking your elderly father who also has dementia on his first, and sadly quite possibly last, international trip post-Covid. Enjoying seeing him remember and recall his own past career and travels (he was an airplane Captain on 747s and DC10s but also flew 707s, 737s and Dart Heralds) but saddened too at what age and his condition has done to him. Catching up with my sister then watching in mute horror some of the images and messages coming from just a few miles further up the coast as at least 200 people lost their lives in devastating local floods which saw some places receive a years worth of rainfall in less than 24hours. Followed by traveling back home with weather-related delays and missed connections that led to an unexpected layover in Madrid. Boarding a plane only for all passengers to then have to disembark and try another as the first was faulty. Finally arriving home very late Thursday night.

All the while missing Owner terribly and being separated from Her throughout my time in the USA and Spain. She Herself also travelled to Madrid for a long weekend with Her girlfriend to see Nick Cave in concert (we are seeing him together back here in London later this week). She also made clear Her unhappiness at my having been away so much instead of being by Her side or at home.

No sooner had i got back than She reminded me of my true place when She remarked; 'I am so pleased you are back, now I don't have to keep doing things for myself' [meaning that She could, once again, expect me to do things for Her]. She also welcomed me back by presenting me with a delicious glass of Her urine. i had not had any for weeks on end and had forgotten how wonderful it tastes. It was quickly and eagerly consumed by yours truly.

So, hopefully November will see a return to normality. Work remains busy for us both but i have no more work trips or other travel without Owner planned. She has booked us both onto the Eurostar at the end of the month for a weekend away in Brussels, Belgium which we are both looking forward to. i have remained in chastity throughout but, in the chaos of the past two months no challenges were done in either September or October. Now i have a lot of housework to catch-up with and a routine to try and slip back into.

i hope all blog readers are well and sorry (again) for the lack of blog posts of late. i leave you with some impressions from the past few weeks (in reverse order).

A glass of my favourite drink on my return home

Juan Carlos park in Madrid

Boarding my delayed flight back to Madrid

Mountain view in Denia

Mississippi paddle boat

Police closed the road for our 'line parade'

A great place for Creole food and full of history

Taylor Swift was coming to town...sadly after i had departed

A walled garden in the French quarter

Fabulous ironwork

My big bird out to Dallas - then a connecting flight to New Orleans