I’m a sucker for a costume drama, especially Jane Austen, although I think they are starting to be done to death.  Peaking into a bygone time always gives me food for thought. How life was in those days and different things are now.

Blogging for instance – iPods – the Internet – in fact the whole technology thing.  I wonder what they may have made of it all.

But you don’t need to look back centuries to find life so different you’d hardly recognise it.  I was listening to Woman’s Hour on my iPod as I walked the bassets today and they were discussing The Women’s Room written by Marilyn French who died recently.  It struck me how much things have changed for Women in just my lifetime.

It also struck me that whilst technology has changed the world, it’s probably the place of women in society that has had the biggest impact on the way we live.  With education and opportunity we’ve been empowered to do our own thing.

As I walked amongst these eucalyptus trees I was trying to work out whether I classed myself as a feminist.

I’m not a burn your bra type of woman, that would probably be a waste of a good bra.

But in truth I am a feminist believing deeply in equal opportunity for women – but I’d go further that I wish for equality for everyone in the sense that all people should be empowered to make their own choices, to be educated, to be healthy and live in a safe environment.  That doesn’t mean that everyone should go off to university and have a life like mine but that as a society we have a responsibility to create the environment and opportunity for people.  Having worked in the education, health and social services sector, I know how hard that is to achieve.

These are deep thoughts for the end of the week – that’s what listening to Woman’s Hour does for you!

Back in the real world of Domestic Executive, my thoughts have been closer to how to I get my basset out of trouble.  Fortnum decided a walk in some muddy water would be fun till he found himself in deeper than he’d rather and a panic of how to get out.  I know I should have been helping him but I couldn’t resist the picture.  He wasn’t in any danger just keen to get back on to the boardwalk path.

It was a hopeless feat for a dog with legs only a few inches long.  He was never going to be able to swing that back leg up far enough to push himself out.  Oh Fortnum you are my favourite stupid muddy big basset.

You don’t need to worry though I put my own life and camera at risk to rescue this mutt.  He was not too grateful I don’t think.  Especially when I marched him straight back to the fast flowing stream to swim and wash himself off.  No harm done.  Just another lesson learned – you’d think.  Walking back he headed back towards the same spot to do the very same thing.

His shame and shock was soon over and he was back with Mason running around the eucalyptus trees.  It’s hard to keep focused on whether I am a feminist when these too are acting like goons.  Chasing each other and hassling the park ranger who is always delighted to see them.

But my bassets aren’t totally feral – they did wait for me patiently whilst I mulled over the deep thoughts of the day.

Especially Mason who tends to stay out of trouble whilst creating his own mischief which usually involves avoiding the camera lens altogether.  But I caught up with him today.   Little “sumo” basset is on a diet at the moment.  Too many chicken necks I fear. Being overweight is a basset trait but we have to be real careful about it as they only have little legs and it can be very bad for their joints and back.  He’ll love me for it one day.

In recent weeks I’ve come to notice how isolated my life is.  Cocooned in the country in a land thousands of miles from anywhere else.  But its not an isolation in a social sense.  There is plenty of access to other people, communication is plentiful.  I have been thinking though how meaningful it all is and whether I’m making the most of all I have available to me.

The short answer to that is no.  No need to elaborate really.

As a true coach I’m now asking myself, “So what am I going to do about it?”

Good question.  Now all I need is the answer.  Any ideas?