Gelert


I was reminded of the Welsh folktale about Gelert the loyal hound this morning.
His story is written on a stone monument in Bedgelert North Wales and goes thus:-

""In the 13th century Llewelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, ‘The Faithful Hound’, who was unaccountably absent.
On Llewelyn's return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood.
The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side, thinking it had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry.
Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here".
The living room looked like a charnel house. Winnie, asleep in the armchair had blood all around her mouth, there was blood on the carpet and couch and Mary's cone of shame was rancid with it
No Winnie had not bitten off Mary's ear, she had only tried to lick off the blood after the stitches gave way........
Another trip to the vets, another cone of shame and another couple of stitches .


49 comments:

  1. Barbara Anne3:46 pm

    What a sad folktake, moral of which seems to me to investigate before taking action.

    Clearly, you had a lot to investigate when faced with the scene in the living room. Sorry Mary needed a few more stitches but all the better to help her ear heal properly. Bother about another vet bill ...

    Hugs!

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  2. Oh no - and another addition to the bill, no doubt. I wonder if Winnie's motherly licking had opened the wound in the first place? Perhaps there's something nasty-tasting you could put on the wound?
    I've read the sad tale of Gelert before- but it still brings a lump to my throat.

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  3. It never rains but it pours... Honestly, you deserve some good luck now.

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  4. Winnie instinctively 'went to work' to help her sister.
    Poor Mary!
    Poor you! One step forward.....two steps back. Happens to us all at times.

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  5. Woah,that would have been a shocking sight to greet you!

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  6. Those animals certainly keep you on your toes , I think they must get together hold a committee meeting to decide what they are going to do next .

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  7. I could have lived without that "folk tale" ...

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  8. Oh my God. How is your blood pressure. I am glad Mary's is all fixed up again. Take care, John.

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  9. Moaning Mavis4:16 pm

    I have cried tears of "heart in the mouth anguish" despite knowing the tale of Gelert.

    When Dorothy lost her eye her sister Patsy had to be sent on holiday while the wound healed because she had similar nursing behaviour. We lost Patsy 6 months later. It's been a year this month, and now I am weeping.

    You John are a sod for making me cry with your stories.

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  10. Similar story to yours here. My younger collie is epileptic and I was warned that during a seizure it triggers other dogs to attack. So I kept them separate when I wasn't here. But as the years went on and no seizures with Emmit and the other collie was so old he could barely stand up I got casual about separation. Then I came home to find Emmit coming out of a seizure covered with blood and Blitz with blood on his face and ruff. The vet found no wound on Emmit but he hed bitten his tongue. Obviously the blood on Blitz was his nursing attempt.

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  11. Oh dear, Winnie has been over zealous with her nursing, bless her. Not so good for Mary or your pocket, but dogs will be dogs. I've never heard of the tale of Gelert, so sad, but with a very sound message.

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  12. Good job you got payed !!!! Poor Mary and how kind is Winnie ? ..... you should re name her Florence ! XXXX

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  13. That's a heartbreaking tale, one I've never heard before. Thanks for sharing it. Not that I like being heartsore ... but it's a reminder to trust our loved ones and give them the benefit of the doubt in spite of appearances. I can't tell you how often I've misread the actions and motives of my taller half, and vice versa, and it's caused so many ridiculous problems over nothing. -Kate

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  14. And another vet's bill. But Winnie is a darling isn't she.

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  15. Anonymous4:38 pm

    I first heard the story of Gelert on a family holiday to Wales when I was a young girl. I was so moved by it my Dad bought me a book of the story to take home. I hope Mary isn't it too much discomfort and bless Winnie for trying to look after her

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  16. What a relief! Unlike Llewelyn, you did not jump to the wrong conclusion and dispatch Winnie with your sword. Consequently, you will be able to smile again.

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  17. YP said it better than I.

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  18. Oh, crap, my heart was in my throat. Glad you're more rational than that stupid prince!

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  19. Oh my goodness...hope everyone is ok.......that tale is beautiful by the way..x

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  20. Oh my . . . gasping at the first . . .
    Afraid to read more . . .
    Poor Mary . .
    Faithful Winnie.

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  21. Maybe Winnie needs a cone of shame, too - to keep her from HER licking instinct! I'm sure your heart was in your mouth for a few moments while you figured out the source of the blood. I hope the bill wasn't too high for those couple of stitches.

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  22. Oh my. A cone on Winnie might help. I wish there was a way to easily get the blood out of everything.

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  23. Anonymous6:27 pm

    Oh, it never rains, but how it paws in your house.
    I am glad these dogs and cat have you to care for them and you can deal with all this in a calm and proper way.
    Much as l love my cats l don't deal with blood or sick very well
    I still would like you to consider a fund to help with the animal costs at present, your funds must be very tested at the moment with all these vet costs. We could do a ' buy a dog a sausage fund raise '
    I know JOHN will say NO, but what about it readers?
    Tess x

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    1. I'm with Tess on this. If you feel odd about it, I'm sure a thank you card with Winnie' s paw print would thrill your readers who will never meet her in person.

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    2. Oh my goodness, John would you just CafePress some coffee mugs of the animals? I would be thrilled to have my own coffee mug of the dogs!

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  24. Poor Mary. Lovely Winne.

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  25. Oh for heaven's sake! Winnie was just trying to help, I suppose. Glad things are stitched up and cone is back in place. Take care, John. -Jenn

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  26. Oh dear never a dull moment poor Mary isen't out of the woods yet will have to wear that cone a bit longer, still Winnie's heart was in the right place.
    A lot on your shoulders John but this to will pass.

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  27. OMG that must have been a scary moment when you came into the room. I can imagine. x

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  28. Ive had enough of animals today off to the cinema

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    Replies
    1. One time thehamish had to go to the vet and spend the day there for tests. I had the vet keep him and I picked him up on the third day. It was so nice to not worry and sleep without getting up every morning at 5: 30 for the start of his daily pills and eye drops. It got better over the course of months but two days off was wonderful.
      I understand the need for some away time movie, very much.
      Happy to know Winnie and Mary were OK.

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    2. I thought thehamish was your spouse. Is thehamish a dog?

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    3. I wish thehamish was my husband. He along with Watson were the greatest Scotty Gud Dug ever and I miss them every day, even with the crazed iwinston living with me now.
      My so called husband left one morning as I drove the children to school. His "so long" message was left on the answering machine. What a jerk !

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  29. Sad story - the folktale and your one. Poor Mary. Poor you.x

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    1. We can hope the folktale is apocryphal, like most, and written as a warning.

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    2. Yes Andrew I hope you are right

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  30. I love, love, love my pets but the messes just become draining, don't they?

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  31. Poor girls. Traumatic for everyone. Hope you got some scotch eggs.

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  32. Oh dear. Although I have always loved the tale of Gelert which was told to me as a small child on the first of many visits to Beddgelert. Hope all is sorted and you don't have to face too much more blood and gore.

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  33. What a discouraging mess to clean up. Just like kids.

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  34. Oh feck. My friend who had a lurcher used to say to his girlfriend if they saw another lurcher on a walk, "Look - alert!"

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    1. Winnie had a bad press I suspect she just tried to help

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  35. You really are a rock,John. I'm glad you got out to the cinema, you know we're taught to take care of ourselves, lest we go down and become unable to take care of the others. Be well,good man,-Mary

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  36. D in Texas12:00 am

    The French movie 'The Sorceress' (English version) tells a similar tale. Here is a Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Guinefort

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  37. Gotta love that Winnie for trying to be a nurse... but what a pain! More dosh out than in ... again. You deserve some good luck to come your way John. Here's wishing!

    Jo in Auckland

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  38. Poor Mary, she's not having a good time, is she. Give her a little tickle from me. x

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