Thought I'd give Diane a break this week. Sorry, no pretty pic, but here's a link - posted by Gardenbirder late Saturday - to a funny BBC page re the Wales earthquake: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43100524 :-))
Oh dear Lindy! Matthew did not eat a home made fairy cake? I hope he is well.
Lucky for Bonnie, though!
Are you hibernating Forest Boar? Not a bad idea until Spring arrives.
Nice story about the rescued dog, Wendy.
Yes, ForestBoar, I've just driven home in -2 and falling ... and it's going to be even colder over the next few days. And I have to be up early tomorrow to take someone to the station. Aarrgghh!!
This morning a friend and I walked around the lake at Hever Castle. We were a bit late for what had been billed as a 'spectacular snowdrop walk' - we didn't see many snowdrops, not even dead ones, so not sure about 'spectacular'. It was bitterly cold, but lovely bright sunshine. We walked into the biting wind for the first part, but when we turned at the top of lake suddenly it wasn't nearly so cold. We tried to cheer up the frozen people walking in the opposite direction by telling them it would be better once they had turned the corner!
We always had chish and fipps at home. Doesn't everyone?!?!?!?
Just got home from a rather long and difficult meeting, so it's good to come on here for some friendly banter!
Pat O: I know it's a silly question, but I've been meaning to ask you what movies you ended up watching on your recent long airline flights? :-) You'd asked for suggestions, and I was curious about what you chose. LOL
Unknown said:AQ: Wonder if Ms.L woke up later to harass Mom and Dad.
Oh yes, a regular occurrence. She can’t last the day until bedtime - yet, but her naps are getting later in pm. She wakes as other two go to bed. Dau & s-i-l only watch “child-friendly” TV in evenings. It saves having to disguise adult themes, esp violence. I wish my OH would watch “nice” movies. I shut the door to avoid hearing the guns & screams.
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When I was a child, our family always ate chish & fips. Police were referred to as “Occifers”. Inquisitive became “squizzy beak”, then “busy squeak”. In the garden were flutterbies.
I forgot to say hello to everyone. I will do a catch-up reply post tomorrow. My shoulder is still sore.
Evening all:
PatO: Your "spectacular snowdrop walk" sounds like our much heralded "wildflower blooms" which can be somewhat elusive. Sorry about the difficult meeting - can you share the topic (but not to worry if it's not worth remember)?
AQ: Well, "adult themes" are so much more "adult" than when I was growing up - even I'm offended sometimes. And why do men like these noisy and aggressive movies?! I remember 'occifers'.
Diane: Is your shoulder getting any better at all?
We ended up having a sad day here that ended with us putting poor Lightning to sleep. She was obviously very uncomfortable this morning: unable to sit, lay down or even walk easily. We took her to the vet (lovely office staff squeezed us in), who diagnozed a severely impacted colon (the first, most obvious issue). We left her there for several hours while they tried to alleviate the problem with enemas and fluids, but without much success. Then they took X-rays which showed the problem was beyond the capabilities of that particular office to handle and might be complicated by something else that the vet was worried could be a tumor, but couldn't be sure. We asked about taking her home with some laxatives, but that didn't seem like an option given the severity of the problem, her age (20), her diabetes, general condition, and the fact that we wouldn't be able to "force" liquids or monitor other functions with the result that puss could end up suffering more. She said that ideally, Lightning should go to the CARES hospital where she could be put on a fluid drip, anesthetized and then given at least two and possibly more enemas and some intense manipulation to help things along, but she was also concerned that the hospital would want to do all kinds of invasive tests (I know them, she said ) and that even then (and many. many $$$$s later), there'd no guarantees that there wasn't something else going on or that the same problem wouldn't recur. Anyway, OH and I went back to the vet, talked to her some more, and made the horrible and heartbreaking decision to have our silly old puss put to sleep. It was all very quiet, but very sad.... OH and I were both weepy. Then I came home and saw her food dishes and started boohooing again. So that was our day. And here I am, second-guessing our decision, which the vet said was the right one, but still... :-((
Oh, Annette, how sad for you both. I'm so sorry you had to take such a horrible decision for your beloved pet. But you have done absolutely the right thing: she would only have suffered and it would have been even worse for all of you, given especially her age, if you had gone for treatment. {{HUGS}}
You have undoubtedly given her a lovely life, so you can comfort yourself with that.
Very cold here this morning, and a chilly few days ahead are forecast - keep warm, everyone in the UK!
Today's pic:
For Annette. It's labelled "A rare white wild horse"
Annette - no question that you made the right decision for Lightening. This is a situation I have been in many times and it never gets easier but you did everything you could and cared for her all the way so don't feel bad. I know that horrible feeling of returning to the bowls and toys - if like us you will probably keep finding little bits and pieces around for a while to come but smile when you do and remember her in the good times - stretched out or rolling in the sun - like cats do.
Morning everyone - I'm getting over bronchitis and have been put on steroids as not recovering fast enough - but feel a bit better so am off to South London today to stay with Son, Partner and Grandson James who is now 9 months! old and teething badly. I will return on Monday hoping to beat the snow due in the East.
Also got a lovely video of Granddaughter Lune crawling for the first time - she looked very pleased with herself.
Have a good weekend all
Annette - I am so sorry you had to make that difficult decision, but Lightning had a long and happy life and it's the last loving thing you can do for a much-loved member of the family. Doesn't actually make it any easier for you, I know ... I've been there. But eventually the happy memories will prevail.
The meeting was members of our Methodist Circuit, many of whom don't want anything to change - I'm Secretary of the meeting and just hope I have got the 'mood' right before I have to prepare the Minutes!
Lovely and sunny here this morning, although still bitterly cold. We are still being promised snow from Monday afternoon until late Tuesday night. Do I need to rearrange my week? Possibly ... at the moment it involves a fair amount of driving, which may not happen. But forecasts have been wrong before ...!