Category Archives: Something different

One Arrives, One About to Leave

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It’s been an exhausting day for everyone.

We were up an hour early to do the animals and then I drove to the airport to collect Flossie, who is taking over from Daisy (98 mile round trip).

Meanwhile, Ted went to the vet for his scheduled “dental” – he had to stay for the day and ten teeth were removed while the rest were cleaned.  Poor thing.  He’s just come home and seems relatively bright and is managing to eat soft food.

Anyway, I shall be sad to see Daisy go. Her help has been invaluable and she keeps me on track as to food, rugs and general looking after.  I need that.  And I think a wee dog will be miss her hugely as will her science companion, Monster.

So now it’s Flossie’s turn again – back to lugging buckets through the mud in hellish weather without a single complaint.

And she gets to work from home too during the weekdays, subject to the internet working.

Life goes on, apparently.

We’re Not Talking to Pepper

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No one is talking to little Miss Pepperpot this evening.

Not even her BFF, Monster.

I know Pepper was with me this morning as she helped me make Flossie’s bed for her return home tomorrow to help me around the place as it’s Daisy’s time to leave.

And Pepper was here to scoff her tea down as fast as she could and then, when Daisy and I went out to put the ducks/hens to bed and let the sheep in, no one had seen her for 30 minutes or so – each thinking she was with the other. She wasn’t anywhere. She had gone.

We asked around.

I checked my phone for any messages, shouted and whistled (two fingers in the mouth kind that gets you a taxi anywhere in London) but nothing.  No little orange dog.

And then I grabbed the car keys and off we both (Daisy and I that is, no sheep) to look for little Miss Pepper.

The first neighbour we saw said he had seen Pepper a few days’ back (really? we didn’t know she had gone) and had sent her home then but no, he hadn’t seen her today.  The next neighbour’s home was quiet and so we tried our third neighbour and guess who came bouncing out.  There she was “helping to fill haynets” along with a kind offer to happily keep her all day.  I won’t lie, at this point I was sorely tempted.

I do wish she wouldn’t do this.  I really do.  We are very lucky with our neighbours who know what a little terror/runaway she is.  She just likes visiting folk and maybe I am just her taxi collection service.

The Family Photograph

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My morning’s after-breakfast job was to try and sort out OH’s ancient but much-loved (and now fully backed up, yay!) Macbook which had gone on the fritz again. I thought I had mended it a few days’ back but obviously not.  It’s the cursor – it keeps freezing on one account.

Anyway, this time I brought in the experts!

Once mended (hopefully, don’t make me go into Terminal or look for plists to delete), Monster needed to rest.  He thought he’d worked hard.

I love how the way Ted stands like a sentry nearby and you can almost hear Monster saying “I got here first and you’re not getting the bed”.

And then Pepper was wandering past so I asked her to sit as well and I would try for a family photograph.

Perfection (though I wish Pepper looked a bit more enthused).

And, so you know, I want to rename Monster “Bao” or “Baozi”, as in Chinese dumpling. I don’t know why. It just came to me.

Best Be Prepared

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I spent the morning on a Zoom meeting with a variety of visitors.

And then in the afternoon, after talking it over with OH and Daisy, I made the decision to pack an overnight hospital bag, just in case of emergencies.

My back-pain changes daily (never of course getting any better) and I am scared that I might develop Cauda Equina Syndrome.  What I am experiencing now is not dissimilar and if it is, then it will be all systems go with blues and twos to hospital.

Symptoms: Severe back pain, saddle anesthesia (numbness in buttocks, inner thighs), sciatica (often both legs), and bladder/bowel dysfunction (e.g., incontinence, loss of feeling).

However, as I don’t have the bladder/bowel dysfunction bit (I have everything else), I don’t think I am quite there yet. I will make an appointment for Monday to see the locum GP in residence just to set my mind at rest.

Anyway, Pepper helped by pushing clothes off the bed.

And there was lots of giggling which took my mind off packing my bag.

And then she sat beside my bag as if to say “if you go to hospital, I am coming too”.

I could happily tolerate hospital if Pepper was with me.  Anyway, let’s hope it doesn’t come to anything and my imagination is just playing fast and loose with me. There are plenty of other explanations – like meralgia paresthetica or something else.

Another Bed Saga

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A few days ago, there was the most God-almighty full on dog fight. It was not pretty and both dogs were equally to blame. Apparently, it was about the new dog-bed and it’s accompanying little cushion.  Pepper would not give up or let go while Ted gave as good as he got.  Luckily, there were no injuries and, once separated, I shouted at both of them until they understood that this behaviour was totally unacceptable.  I then ignored them for the remainder of the day disgusted at what had gone on.  To be fair, they did each apologise.

Anyway, this has resulted in a rather strained relationship between Pepper and Ted, while we all watch who has the bed and for any grumbling about it.

And, because Daisy is here helping, Monster needs a bed in her bedroom/study area. Of course he does. So we made him one next to his favourite place – the radiator – basically a folded up throw on an old wicker basket.  Perfect.  He spends many peaceful hours up there.

In one of her wanders around the house, Pepper found the new bed.

She was quite keen on investigating it.

So she hopped on and decided it wasn’t that great after all.

Phew, not another bed to have a fight about.

And anyway Monster always wins every battle with Pepper.  He got her on her way past just now.  So that’s us. The Bed Wars continue but are now being supervised.  We were all very shocked by that latest fight.  I think I made my feelings very clear as it has taken quite a while for Pepper and Ted to play nicely again together.