Author Archives: Frances

A Different Approach

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Today’s regime has been different.

No painkillers today – I don’t think they actually help, just change my focus of attention.  The pain doesn’t go away but I just don’t care because I’m too zonked to notice.  Also they don’t help my innards one bit.  I can see that problem creeping up.

However, my acupressure mat makes a difference. I lie on it making sure to include my sore left side.

Then, after a good hour, I got up (peeled myself off the mat more like) and took the dogs out for a walk along our track and then the road.  I also wore a support back brace, which my jury is still out on.

It was not easy and I had to force myself to walk.  I honestly don’t feel like doing anything but I made myself and we went out and quite far.  Well, further than yesterday.

This time I remembered to put the dogs in their hi-vis jackets and they were very good about traffic too, coming to sit beside me and wait patiently.  I am lucky that with this road, I can see and hear most things before they are upon us.

And I specifically don’t wear my headphones either so there are no surprises.

So, that’s me and my different approach to my pain.  Try and walk it out or acupressure mat it gone.  I feel a bit more like myself without the muddying painkillers, which is good.  Looking back, I have absolutely no idea how I ever managed achieving my usual day.  I consider it a huge effort just making a cup of tea now.

Tunnocks, Tea and Tramadol

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My current diet consists mostly of Tunnocks, tea and tramadol.  The three T’s, as I like to think of them.  (The blue/silver ones are the dark chocolate variety if you’re busy thinking they’re the wrong colour!)

And I spend the best part of my day lying on my bed willing my sciatica to leave me in peace.  I get nothing done, and I’ve given up trying to attempt anything.  There really is no point.  It only leads to frustration, misery and more sciatica.

Another Tunnock?  Don’t mind if I do.

But today, things seemed very slightly better so I took everyone’s advice and went for a short walk.  Walking is good for sciatica.

I decided to stay on the track and road as they are level and easy to walk along.

I realise that the hill is no place for me at the moment. I took a walking stick too for stability, as well as Pepper for company.

Taking Pepper was not one of my brighter ideas as she is was nearly impossible to see in the dying daylight and certainly no help either.  Never coming back when she was called.

When I turned the corner at the end of our track, I could see there was the sunset was just ending.

We lingered a while to watch as the colours really were very beautiful.  It was nice for me to be outside too.  Fresh air always does me good.

And so my invisible companion (Pepper) and I walked up to the first passing place on the road and then turned around and walked home again.  Back to my Tunnocks, tea and tramadol – those also do me good and now I definitely deserved another Tunnock for all my walking efforts today.  Don’t mind if I do.

The Face of a Thief

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I’m getting slowly worse.  I can barely walk now without a huge amount of pain.  So not great.  The bad weather eased off this afternoon and I managed to get the horses and ponies out into their respective fields.  Waffle was awful and turned around at the last moment to escape.  I tracked him down trying to scoff as much sheep lick as fast as possible, told him what I thought of him and limped him back to rejoin his better behaved friends.

Meanwhile, in the house someone stole and ate half a loaf of homemade bread.  We don’t know who was the perpetrator – it is between Monster and Ted.  Ted has form – at Mum’s he would steal anything he could find and Monster has been known to get on the kitchen table.  Floss reckons they worked as a team.  OH thinks it was Pepper but she has an alibi – she was with me while I was putting out the horses and ponies (I think – but to be perfectly  honest, I really don’t know as my brain is very muddly  at the moment). I am blaming Ted, Floss is blaming the Monster/Ted combo and OH is blaming Pepper!

Now, I ask you, is that the face of a thief?

Opened the Gates and Shouted!

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Today has been vile – rain with constant storm force winds.  It is not freezing – now, there’s a plus, but it is definitely not nice out there.  First thing, Floss and I went out with the buckets and for once, turned back.  The wind was too strong and we couldn’t reach the old horses and ponies who were huddling down the bottom of the field looking utterly miserable.  They did have rugs on, though.  The field was slowly flooding too.

Floss did, however, get to the Shetland ponies and they ate their food quickly and left to huddle somewhere.

These days, I can’t make a decision about anything. My brain is fairly addled with painkillers so I phoned Daisy and described the situation.   We decided that, if possible, everyone should come inside.

Floss and I kitted up and went out.  We managed to open the shed big door, Floss opened the gate and shouted. First up was Vitamin who trotted determinedly by and put herself into the shed, followed pretty swiftly by Fivla and then the three big ones.  Grim determination on their faces.

We quickly de-rugged and put them in their stalls.  No one rolled first, which was kind (I hate a sandy rug, it makes me feel ick).  Surprisingly, all were totally dry underneath.  We have had nearly 0.8cm of rain today.  The rugs had done their job very well.  I am impressed.

Next was the turn of the Shetland ponies. I said they could come in if we could see them.  Poor things were all huddled like soggy orphans. I caught Waffle (ring leader) and led him a circuitous route to the shed (avoiding deep puddles and new rivers).  Everyone dutifully followed like a troupe of little circus ponies.  When things are rough, follow Muzzah. Floss also had the inspirational thought to also shut the door to the sheep shed so no one could muddy the waters there.

I think this was a wise decision.  Bloomin’ good rugs, though.

Lambie’s Not Right

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Lambie has been acting strangely over the past few days. How do you tell, I hear you ask.  Well, as his Muzzah, I just know.

I am telling myself it’s the weather, and everyone is cooped up which Lambie particularly hates.  He likes his personal space and avoids hassle.  He not eating his regular food, says he can’t use his private dining-room and just stands there looking even more confused than usual.

So he is now eating a combination of horse beet flakes (dried) and a handful of hen food (whole wheat grains), plus TumerAid and he seems to like that better.  As long as I can keep him eating, I think there is hope.

This afternoon, Floss said Lambie was grinding his teeth when she saw him so tomorrow, when I’ve got him by himself, I will give him some Inflacam – painkiller.  Maybe it is the cold weather affecting his arthritis, which he’s had since he was a very young lad (bone on bone, the vet said after many bouts of Joint Ill).  Maybe Lambie has come out in sympathy for me and this sciatica.  I don’t know so today I let him have a Duvet Day along with ‘Ster for company.  I left them a big bowl of food and the end of the haynets to finish. I think he just stayed indoors, a bit like me then.  I don’t like when Lambie’s not himself.  Hopefully as the weather turns back to normal and so do all the routines, he will feel himself again.

We are one. ❤️    ❤️ (he did manage to choke down an Animal Cracker or ten which I gave to him when no one was looking).