I sat up way past my bedtime last night to watch the Manchester United match which means I’m an extra sleepy Stephen this morning. But at least they won. By the time I was nodding off, however, it was nearing midnight. It was also a very muggy night which made drifting off to sleep even more difficult. I wasn’t looking forward to the following morning’s alarm. Getting back into the swing of full time employment has been a struggle.
Imagine my despair, therefore, when I was rudely awakened by the sound of our border terrier, Charlie, barking like a lunatic downstairs. I stumbled out of bed, staggered down the stairs, and let him out into the back yard thinking he needed to go to the toilet. Next thing, though, I heard an almighty scuffle with our Charles barking and growling like a demented Hound of the Baskervilles. What on earth was going on?
I ventured outside to find him pawing excitedly at a small, prickly ball. A hedgehog, no less, had ventured into our garden and now taken up a defensive pose as Charlie investigated in a frenzy. I didn’t cut a very dignified sight in my pyjamas as I hauled him by the scruff of the neck back into the kitchen. It took much cajoling and a few harsh words to get him back into his cage and settled down again. Hedgehog 1 Charlie 0.
This morning I checked outside to discover that Mr. H was gone, having lived to fight another day. Sometimes all you can do in life is curl up into a ball when under attack and hope for the best. To try and fight back could end in disaster. You just have to take it on the chin and pray you make it through to the other side in one piece. We’ve all had our hedgehog moments in life. It’s part of the experience. That, and the occasional sleepless night.
Black Thoughts 
I am so jealous! I have lived in England twice and Scotland once- never was I fortune to see a live hedgehog. I did see a dead one in someone’s garden- but not quite the same. although I have taken care of a friends pet hedgehog beforw
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I think it was a baby one. It was very small.
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Good analogy, Stephen.
Those prickles are a hedgehog’s great defense. It drives the dogs crackers. ☺
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Most definitely. Thank you 😊
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Not a very good preparation for day two of your new running habit. At least your team won even if your dog came up short this time.
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Ha Ha. That is true 🙂
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Great post! We’ve all had them for sure. But I did have a small stuffed hedgehog 🦔 named Henry when I was a little girl. I lost him so my childhood friend bought me another one….2 years ago. Lol
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Awwwwwh. How are you today,
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We have a groundhog that comes and goes in our yard. We named him George.
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Great name 😊
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A perfect analogy for life under a pandemic!
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Love this post so much!
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Thank you very much 🙂
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You lucked out! My pup went head to head with a skunk the other night… Chalking it up to the way things are just going to be in 2020! I wanted to roll into a little ball myself – but NO! 4 baths in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, Dawn, and baking soda and a final coconut-oatmeal shampoo and we could go to bed. One day these will be fond memories!
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Thankfully we have no skunks in Ireland
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On a sort of side note, that game, was not worth staying up for…extra time against Copenhagen, when United should have wrapped it up way earlier….
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Ok
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Super cute! My daughter has one too ❤️ such loving little dogs they are 😂
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They are indeed 🙂
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Wow!
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We’ve all had them, and will have them in the future. We have the strength to make it to the other side, after weathering the storm in a ball like a hedgehog.
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Every hedgehog has his day 🙂
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i’m glad that both parties are okay.
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Thank you 😊
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