This is what one of my hubby’s friends once said when he was describing my mother…… or was it me he was describing ?? No matter, we are both Russian – though I’m technically Ukrainian cause I was born in Kiev which should really confuse the average non-slave person. Papa John always wanted me to remember my Russian heritage and researched back into my mother’s side of the family being the history fanatic that he is.

So in keeping the maiden names of my mothers, grand mothers and great grandmothers I am Valeria Yurievna Maslennikova Preobrishzcenska but by my married name I go as Val White. Which do you prefer LOL ?? Yuri was my genetic fathers name hence Yurievna as the feminine version. Maslennikova was my mum’s maiden name and Preobrishzcenska was my grandmother’s maiden name, so there.

Talking of being a brother and my guardian I’ll relate a little incident a remember when I was about 6 or 7yrs. Perhaps I was sense of safety in numbers I suppose. So this wasn’t a one off occurrence – it had happened a few times before but I think on this instance the stones got bigger and their aim had improved. I was used to having things thrown at me and being a pathetic shot myself I never retaliated. So this particular group of boys started taking to throwing items at me – usually whatever was within reach at the time. But this particular time they were right outside one of their own houses which was built on a little gravel road called Penn Lane. The small gravel stones I usually dodged quite easily but this boys’ house had a small front garden featuring a rockery. Egging each other on their aim on that day was en point and even when one stone hit my shin I still didn’t flinch. Neither did I feel the urge to run nor to attempt any form of retaliation. I just stood my ground eye balling them with Kashtan sitting at my feet looking up at me with this look of ‘let me at’ em !!’ . He was that well trained that would not even growl at them but when a stray stone happened to hit Kashtan on his gorgeous chestnut furry face that I lost it. He yelped when it him and something came out of me to shout out ‘Kashtan, get them!!.’

Given permission at last Kashtan started running at the boys who very hastily bolted for the front door of this boys’ house. Their ground floor window was open though and Kashtan made this spectacular leap straight into their lounge room then little boy squeals of fear could be heard. Give it a minute I thought to myself, this is actually quite amusing, and then I shouted ‘ Kashtan, come here.!’ On which my chestnut coloured comrade jumped back out of the window and re-joined my side again looking very pleased with himself.

The mother of this boy made noises about laying charges against our family about our very aggressive dog – even tho she had 2 Alsatians herself (who happened to be tied in the back yard by the way) but when I explained exactly what happened and showed Mamushka the nicks on my shin from the stones they had thrown at me any accusations were swiftly recalled. And after that day ‘those boys’ crossed the street whenever they saw me and Kashtan coming.

Kashtan and I were inseparable and had a unique bond. I would instigate a howling session when I felt we both needed to vent. It would start with a subtle whimper and crescent into a full on lingering hoooowwwwllll with heads tilted right back like we were howling at the moon at midnight. Very, very satisfying – who cares if it’s unorthodox. I’ve never been one for doing ‘normal’ – I’m Aquarius after all, and I think Kashtan was one too.

I’d love to hear your comments on it guys !! LOL I think it will end up being longer than War and Peace at this rate. I’m at 15,839 and I haven’t even finished my time at Alton Towers — ie I’m only 20 yrs old at this point. Oh well, maybe I’ll split into 2 books…….