Agony Aunt Service
A confidential space for people looking for perspective on relationships, family, loneliness, work problems, difficult decisions, etc.
For years, people from all walks of life—friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers—have turned to me in moments of uncertainty. What began organically as an open door and a listening ear has evolved into a passion for helping others navigate life’s ups and downs.
With a degree in psychology and years of experience holding space for diverse human stories, I offer more than just traditional advice. I provide a warm, non-judgmental environment where you can speak freely, feel truly comforted, and gain practical, empathetic clarity on whatever you’re facing.
Whether you need a sounding board, fresh perspective, or a compassionate guide through a tough decision—you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Saved by a dog
As a baby, lying in her cot, she had her childhood dog, Snowy, lying under her cot, safeguarding her. Once, as she rolled in her cot, she coughed and couldn’t breathe. Snowy ran panicked to her grandmother who was in the kitchen, barking endlessly and pulling at her skirt. Her grandmother realised that something was wrong and on hurrying to the cot, she found that baby Marica had turned blue. Snowy, the dog, saved her.
Growing Up
Growing up, she spent a lot of her time reading books. During the hot summer months, she read books as she lied on the floor and there was always the family dog by her side. That was her kingdom. That was the life she knew. Herself and dogs.
When she was 8 years old, a German shepherd was found near her primary school. He was limping, with blood on his paw. But although afraid, he allowed little Marica to get close to him and hold him there until the rescue team from a sanctuary came forth and took him away.
As a young woman in her twenties, she saved a lot of stray dogs and cats from the streets. Many of them came to her so that she could help them cross over the rainbow bridge. Once, while driving for an errand, she noticed a white puppy lying under the pavement. It was a heatwave and the dog was dehydrated. It had been hit by a car and was badly injured. Unfortunately, the dog was diagnosed with Parvo virus, and it did not make it.
On another time, after a rainy night, she found a cat in a carton box. The cat had also been hit by a car and had its spine broken. It was laid to rest at the vet through euthanasia.
There are many more stories like these. A heartache, you must say, and yes, each story made Marica shed tears, but all the animals that came to her life, came because they needed her. And she helped them in the way they asked.
Pet Sitting
In her twenties, Marica pet sat a few dogs over the years who became her constant clients. Below is Marica with two Great Danes, Floyd and Pepper, two dogs of a friend with whom Marica shared the house for a while.
Then there were Jack and Rosie. Jack, who is on Marica’s left-hand side, used to love being thrown stones and get them back. Rosie, is the gentle giant, the great Dane who was adopted from a sanctuary. When the owners had their first child, they decided to stop travelling often and so Marica’s services were understandably no longer needed. It was once during a walk in Summer when thoughts about this dog started flowing to her mind with images of him running happily towards the thrown stone, looking for it, picking it up and coming back to her. It was the day after when Marica was stunned with a private message: the dog had passed away the day before. It was then that Marica realized that when she started having visions and thoughts about the dog, it was his soul who had departed his body which had visited her, to thank her of the time she took care of him, walked him and played with him.
Sprocket and Tinker
The two dogs who stole her heart were Sprocket and Tinker. They were both meant to be in her life. Their purpose was to keep her company for a long solitary period of spiritual and emotional growth; to love her and support her. It was her world – she and them. They were always together.
