Review of 2016

A dreadful year for me, in many ways, but there's been some great points as well.
I managed to hit all my reading aims, I think. I'm slowly edging my way back to writing.
I have Kindle published a collection of my poetry, I have been dipping my toe into making and selling my own items.
I have a gorgeous Maine Coon kitten, who is eleven months old today, he's called Raphael, and is a heavily disguised angel.
I have tried new recipes out, but probably only one per month.

Bad things, :(
I was made compulsory redundant, I had to wave goodbye to Shadow as she crossed the rainbow bridge, several electrical items died, the boiler died, the toilet died. I haven't found a new job yet....

BUT......I'm still here, alive and creaking.  Another year older, maybe a little wiser.

Edwin and Becky are now living together in St Helens, Sam and Lewis have a house, instead of two flats in St Anne's, and Oliver has a lovely girlfriend, who he thinks enough about to have brought her home for Christmas.

Oh! And I met some lovely people who I was only friends online with before.

Not a great year, but some really nice bright stars in the darkness.

Difficult time

Over the last few weeks I've been missing Shadow like crazy.  I've only just stopped looking for her around the house.
Don't get me wrong, both her and Spark are still "around", spiritually speaking, I "feel" their presence, even though they are not here any more.
In a few days I'll be collecting my gorgeous Maine Coon, Anglesarke Raphael.....but I would still love another dog.  Perhaps when I'm gainfully employed again.

A sad day

Today, Shadow has crossed the rainbow bridge.  She'll be with Spark now.
She has been very poorly these last six months with a grade 4 heart murmur, fluid on her lungs, and poor circulation.  She was on 3 lots of pills, and the Last couple of times that she saw the vet, she had an injection as well.
When I took her last week, the vet said that she'd deteriorated vastly in four weeks.  Today she was put to sleep. She couldn't walk well when we got there, and she was shaking like crazy. I suspect that she knew that she wouldn't be coming home again.
My heart feels like it's broken into a thousand pieces.
I have to clear away her toys and beds, and just can't bring myself to do it.

An apology.

Wow! Here we, almost at the autumn equinox. (It's officially Wednesday, according to the diary.)
I started back at work on September 2nd, but have been so busy every day.  I'm not complaining, I hate having nothing to do at work. I will look for things, but that hasn't been an issue so far this school year.  The work that I have been doing is work that needs to be done.
The restructuring is being pushed through, when our union rep from the local branch office came in, I believe that she wasn't happy with how things are being done.
Tomorrow looks to be another busy day as well.
I've been trying out some new to me recipes, all of which have worked.
Shadow has had to visit the vet's though.  She has a grade 4 heart murmur, fluid on her lung, and her circulation is not what it could be.  She's currently on two lots of medication, one for her heart and one for her circulation.  We go back on October 2nd, when the vet will check her over.
There's been a lot going on here, but nothing much today. Just usual Sunday jobs, I might bake in a short while.

Half term

Where does all the time go?
It doesn't seem to be that long since I posted about Spark, and here we are 3 and a 1/2 months later.
I've not been blogging much, as there hasn't been much to blog about.
Last Tuesday, Shadow went to a different groomer.  I was worried about her, as I'd been told that she " bit for fun".  This distressed me, and after I got her home from that appointment, I found two cuts on her.  Probably the reason why she wasn't happy.  She hasn't been happy going there since her claw broke inside her toe.  It does make me wonder if that is where it happened.
Anyway, I picked her up just over two hours after dropping her off, she was very happy, and the only odd thing she had done was "freeze" a couple of times.  She looks lovely.
Plans for this week, maybe trim Bertie Budelia back a little more. Do some knitting, maybe some sewing, just take things easy.

Grr, Nosey Parkers!

OK, at the moment Shadow has a swollen toe.  This is because she cracked her claw inside her toe several weeks ago.  It formed an abscess, which she has had lanced, and is seeing the vet.  It is getting better and now the flesh is almost normal colour.
Shadow is a feisty dog and would rather walk than stay at home and rest, and the exercise is doing her good.
What annoys me, and even is upsetting me is that people seem to think it is OK to ask what is wrong with her, and point out that she is limping.  Fair enough I suppose you are saying, but when total strangers quite rudely ask what is wrong it gets me mad, after all, if I was on crutches, they wouldn't ask me what I'd done....friends might, but not strangers.
It makes me feel like I should go out with a placard around my neck stating what is wrong....or I might just tell the next person to mind their own business.

Evening wander

Just as I was about to walk the dogs tonight the phone rang.
I answered it, more than 40 minutes later I set off out with the dogs.
I took my time, and it was a darn sight colder than I expected, but I walked to the end of the Stone Jetty, and sat for a while watching the sun setting, but keeping an eye on the very heavy cloud creeping into the bay.
It felt cold enough to snow, and if there is snow on "them thar hills" in the morning, I won't be surprised. There was a definite chill in the air, and the wind was from the North East. If there is snow, I'll try to get a photograph, although....British Weather is known to be unpredictable.
I was out for the best part of an hour, not walking so fast, just strolling really.
I've worn Shadow and Spark out, and they are both spark out on the floor as I type.

Jelly dog?

Well, it was a bit late, but I took Spark for his annual booster today.
What usually happens is the vet checks him all over, says he's healthy then promptly sticks the needle in him, and it's all over so quickly, and he's usually a shivering mess by the time the injection comes.
We have a new young vet though, and today it was her who saw to Spark, she was even gentler than the male vet, that I prefer to see. (Long story.)
However, she gave Spark a good all round check, and said he was a lovely dog and then she noticed his ears, she was checking them anyway, but they have been a bit tender, I just thought it was because Shadow nips at him when she wants to play, but have noticed once or twice he's yipped when I've ruffled his ears. He has an infection in his ears, so she cleaned them out with a warm saline solution, then she put drops in each ear, and massaged the ears, he loved that and was pressing his head against her to help her massage his ears, which is probably why he sat as good as gold for his injection, not even whimpering.
I've to take Spark back next Wednesday for a check up. Shadow, however, sulked at me for going a walk and not taking her with me. Yes! she sat on the settee, curled up on the elephant cushion, with her back to me! Little madam!
Then Edwin came back from Scotland and the dogs were happy.
And I think I had 4 calls from Oliver, he was making curry, and wasn't sure about things. It goes like this, my mobile rings, it's Oliver, and his Mexican Tomato song, he says, "ring me back", I do, usually it's about cooking, or best buys when shopping.
If you want to listen to the song, go to http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=111404406