A chapter

*

 The bulldog sitter Mike texted me around 6.30am stating everyone had had a wee this morning and all had gone back to bed. Dorothy had been given her painkillers hidden in a piece of boiled chicken and had slept by his side on the couch all night.

They had watched an entire box set of something I’ve not heard of and he had eaten three quarters of the quiche I had prepared yesterday in addition to the beers I had bought in special 

I was somewhat embarrassed when he told me he’d done a load of washing after spying a small pile of underwear, uniforms and T shirts in the laundry basket by the washing machine 

That’s a friend for you.

But I’ve had a busy long night and need sleep so I didn’t dwell on things.

* Yorkshire Puddings version of Going Gently the novel lol

Ps the ponies are back

 

This childhood prayer came to my mind today

“ God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

This isn’t about Dorothy 

Believe me I’m much too pragmatic to be catastrophizing about a much loved pet. Dorothy is unwell but miles better today than she was. She is pain free, eating gently, hydrated and remains comfortable. But she IS around eight years old ( the vet was shocked as she looks like a bulldog half that age) and will have inherited the genes of dogs not built for old age. She has clearly lost weight, a possible sign of some further malignancy, but I and she will carry on as long as her quality of life remains good for her.

Thank you all for your kind wishes.

I was working yesterday and could not have sorted what I did, if it wasn’t for the support of manager and colleagues who made everything a whole lot easier. A thank you to them.

I’m sat at the newly cleaned kitchen table, Dorothy remains clingy, so she has slept with Mary on the kitchen reading chair. I have cleaned the who kitchen so she knows I’d never leave her and the kitchen.

I turned on talk radio , but turned off the news discussions. 

I have realised that I don’t watch the news anymore. I don’t tend to read blogs that cover the conflict in Gaza either, I find the feeling of impotency, after reading them, fruitless,  and the anger generated by them of little use. Some people need to have that anger stoked and I get the power of sharing it, especially as the answer to many is a plain yet fruitless stop it! But anger attracts anger and what good does it eventually do in the long term.

My niece-in-law lost her mom today and needed a kind word. 

I’m working tonight and a friend has offered to bulldog sit for me.

I’ve made him a thank you quiche

Sick

 

Dorothy is not well

The vet thought pancreatitis 

I agreed she has the symptoms, though not the temperature  

Meds, pain relief but not yet needing IV fluids

She will be reviewed again tomorrow morning.

She’s clingy and needy and sad 

And almost collapsed once when trying to vomit

I’ve seen patients do that so didn’t panic 

I don’t panic when the animals are poorly

She’s wrapped in one of my jumpers with her head on my side

They break your heart just a little, don’t they?

Spanish Interlude

The lisping gets me everytime

I’d love a Spanish boyfriend

I’m at the hospital 

A faceless outpatients

Running late

Thank goodness for wifi

Dorothy is unwell today

 

Gwahoddiad

Old Trevor’s funeral was held at Prestatyn Church. I know the Church well, mostly negative memories of family funerals for my grandparents , parents  and brother all had their final services there.

The church was cold and I was thankful for my new woollen coat.

I spied Animal Helper Pat and walked in with her, there was a good turn out given Trevor’s age

The young vicar Gregor performed the service after testing the microphones in the pulpits with a brusque 

testing ! Testing ! 

My mother would have frowned at that.

And in the half silence before service I remembered my grandmother being supported up the aisle by my mother and Uncle Jim at my grandad’s funeral

She was wailing “ My boy, ,my poor boy!” 

That was a bad funeral

Trevor’s was an uplifting one. 

A long eulogy read by Canon John Evans centred upon a life well enjoyed and lived but it was kind of sad to see the tiny coffin, just a little bigger than a child’s being wheeled past covered in lilies. 

The congregation sang Abide with me well and the Welsh hymn Gwahoddiad passably but it is really a hymn that needs a totally Welsh speaking congregation to do it proud, having said that I could hear Animal Helper Pat’s sweet soprano mingling in with my sudden bass . And a few Welsh voices at the back lifted the harmony enough for it to be moving.

I didn’t stay around the Church door after the service as so many do.

I find all that really embarrassing.

I walked around the Church and looked briefly at my parent’s Gravestone which lay unattended and cold looking, before heading off for home. 

My new coat keeping me warm was a comfort on a bittersweet day.

The Rose -Trelawnyd male Voice Choir

When Spring IS Mrs Doubtfire!

Yesterday I parked at the beach with a coffee and just closed my eyes to the sun 

Gawd I felt so much better.

For the first time since Lockdown, I reckon that this winter has been the worst in my history

It’s been dreadfully depressing

Physically depressing .

It’s almost caught me out

But hasn’t ! 

Yesterday’s sun was my MRS DOUBTFIRE moment 

The snowdrops by the garden arch

The daffodil buds by the garden gate

Tracy Manchester’s kind text about the Memorial Hall windows

Help is on the way dears! 

Spring is on the way 

Funeral Etiquette

 

Even working Friday night, it seemed a long weekend, all told.

I don’t do well without at least some company over a 48 hours, even if it’s a phone call or a brief chat,

C’est la vie !

It’s Trefor’s funeral on Wednesday and I’ve nothing to wear

The etiquette for funerals generally is pretty fluid nowadays but even I recognise the fact that I cannot go to the Welsh funeral in a custard yellow sou’westers jacket even if it’s Northface made

I’ve been needing a proper, coat for years.

So this morning I bought one from Marks And Spencer 

What an indulgence ! 

It’s lovely.

Grey, wool and simple .

I tried it on with my own green cashmere scarf ( which Chic Eleanor even noticed) and looked very New York. Even with my crocs on.

The camp, tubby salesman rather enjoyed it when I said I felt very New York and joined in telling me if I had a floppy hat on I’d look very Helen Bonham Carter! ( he was referring to my crocs) 

Cheeky cunt!

Don’t worry your sweet little heads about my crocs dear readers,  they will not be worn on Wednesday.

On a roll I also treated myself to some budding daffodils and a new fruit bowl from Habitat in Sainsbury’s which was reduced in their sale to 5£  

I bought a MacDonalds coffee and sat at the beach with my face to the sun.

It was glorious and felt like such an indulgence.

It’s half term this week, but I need to catch up with my Uni homework so have booked a room in the library for all day tomorrow 

Hey ho