Stories Of London

PAGE TWENTY-FIVE

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Louis Armstrong (1902-1971) – Moments to Remember
(written by Robert Allen (1927-2000) and Al Stillman (1901-1979))

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As I wrote in my earlier stories about Casanova/Puppy, he settled into living with me in November 2017 with ease. He proved to be a delightful companion and did not cause any major problems. He was an easy-going dog, but perhaps the only real battle we had was for my bed!

Casanova/Puppy laying claim to my bed!

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There have been many famous battles in the history of the world.  Some have proven to be of great importance, such as The Battles of Hastings (1066) and Waterloo (1815) changed the course of history, while others, perhaps mere skirmishes, and were easily silenced through negotiation or else developed into full-blown wars. My other disagreement with Casanova/Puppy was about sleeping arrangements. Although he proved to be both clever and often cunning in his battle strategy, the issue was eventually resolved, but I have to admit that victory tasted bitter.

Great Generals of History
Top Left: Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821); Top Centre: Alexander The Great (356 BC-323);
Top Right: The Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)
Bottom: Casanova/Puppy – in repose & in sophisticated mood & far too cool to pose

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Most people are at sometime involved in an argument, some have become more serious than mere squabbles or altercations or even a brawl and have spread and involved family members and move into the realm of a Feud. Some such Contretemps have led to the death of many on both sides, and some have never really been resolved.

A Scuffle in the Kosovo Parliament in 2023

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Before coming to live with me, Casanova/Puppy had been used to sleeping on a Queen-sized bed. I was brought up in England and as a child knew only two bed sizes: double (Full) and single. My current bedroom is not especially big and contains a number of pieces of furniture. As a result, I have had to content myself with having a double bed. And there lies the reason for our Contretemps!

Bed Sizes

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From the first night Casanova/Puppy came to live with me, he slept on my bed. I thought that he would be sleeping on his couch, since this was where he normally slept in his old home. I was surprised when after going to bed, suddenly I heard him coming into my room and then felt him jumping up on my bed. I remember that he stood there for a moment. Neither of us seemed to know what to do. But after a short pause where we looked at each other, he took the initiative and walked up the bed and lay down beside me, whereupon he made himself comfortable.

I was happy to allow him to sleep on the bed, but unfortunately, this led to nightly battles for space. I always hoped that he would accept the area of bed that I was willing to allocate to him, which was of a reasonable size. But no, sadly, he never truly agreed to this and continued to attempt to gain more space than I was willing to allow. The result was that I often awoke in the night to find myself precariously balanced on the edge of the bed while he was sound asleep and snoring in the middle fully stretched out!

Casanova/Puppy enjoying a snooze of the bed

Casanova/Puppy liked to get up onto the bed before I was ready to go myself. He would generally settle in the middle of the bed, forcing me to move him over to his side of the bed! He never liked this and spent much of the night attempting to gain more space. One of the reasons for the battle stemmed from the fact that he slept on the right side of the bed. He liked to lie there with his paws outstretched to the left, oftentimes digging them into my back!

However after about two years ago of nightly battles, he conceded the bed to me and they came to an end. He now chose to remain on the floor in the bedroom or else spend various periods of time on his couch.

Casanova/Puppy stretched out fully on his old couch

The only time that he would jump up on the bed after this was when he wanted me to get up! I actually felt very guilty about this since I was willing to share the bed, but the offer was not grand enough. I offered him the bed in my second bedroom, but after sitting on it once he also chose not to sleep there.

Later, his favourite place for sleeping was the new couch which I bought to replace his now-well-worn one.

Casanova/Puppy sitting on his new couch

In an attempt to coax him to remain in the bedroom, I got into the habit of giving him four tiny treats, which he loved, at this time. Following this, he would either curl up on the floor at the foot of the bed or else stretch out and go to sleep.  About half-an-hour or so later, he would get up and walk to the sitting room and jump up on the new couch. He would remain here, changing position numerous times during the night. At about 4.30 a.m., he would awaken, shake himself and walk into my bedroom. I could always hear him coming, as the various tokens attacked to his collar would jingle like Santa Clause’s reindeer. He would then curl up and sleep and wait for my clock-radio to turn itself on when he believed our day should begin ………. which it generally did!

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I always remember thinking when he was alive, how nice it would be to sleep a little longer. Now that he is gone, I awaken at 4.30 a.m. and wait for the gentle jingling, and sometimes, I would swear that I hear it. I lay in bed and listen to the radio.  I can not sleep longer and I find I need to get up and start the day, just as we once did.

Old habits die hard – or perhaps never!

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