Thursday 30th November 2023

Frost everywhere, far better than mud when we went across the fields. I much prefer this weather, crisp and cold but dry.

We spent a while  doing my new red hatter website.

I have just seen this on Facebook…………

Excellent Ellie, our weight loss superstar came into today for a stage 1 dental procedure. Here she is after her procedure looking very pleased with herself 💜
Weight loss in pets involves a comprehensive approach, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and addressing any underlying health issues. If you are interested in finding our more about how your pet can loose weight please send a message to our fantastic nursing team.
What a star! Megan is with her, the nurse who Ellie sees every other month.
We went to Quex to buy a pot for strawberries as Mal was digging them up from his allotment.
It was really cold and so we went into the restaurant as they allow dogs in there and had our  lunch. In the barn they do delicious pies and pasties, all local meat from their butchers so Mal decided we should buy a steak pie, for the following day as I will be out.

Thought for the Day – “Count your age by friends not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” ~ John Lennon

Wednesday 29th November 2023

Poor Ellie woke me at 3am and wanted to go out, she was sick, I guess because of the anaesthetic and also maybe the change of food as I had to give her soft food and not her normal kibble. Then again at 4.30 by 5 Mal and I were both up and turned the heat on!

So, Mal took her out for a short walk and I went for a quick shop. She seemed to feel better after her walk.

Megan , the vet nurse phoned later in the morning to check that Ellie was OK. She agreed it was probably the anaesthetic that made Ellie sick and told me to call if there were any problems.

Mal spent another hour at the allotment.

It was a very cold day. Ellie improved as the day went on until she seemed back to normal by her dinner time and back to eating her hard kibble.

Thought for the Day“I realized that I don’t have to be perfect. All I have to do is show up and enjoy the messy, imperfect, and beautiful journey of my life.” ~ Kerry Washington

Tuesday 28th November 2023

No breakfast for Ellie as she was having her dental procedure. She was not impressed by the lack of food but she was having anaesthetic to have her teeth deep cleaned so no food. She went in with the nurse, no problem. As Ellie couldn’t eat, we waited for our breakfast and so went to the Waterside Cafe to have it. It is a lovely place by the lakes.

We wanted to keep busy and so then went on to Wingham Wildlife. They put out an appeal for blankets for the Orangutans and chimps and I have been collecting a few. If there any in the Cancer Research shop, I buy them. So, we took those along.  Of course we went to see the orangs and the chimps, in particular Lucas.

The vet called twice while we were out. Once to say she was fine and settled and then after the tooth procedure to say that she will need 5 extractions at a future date. That was a bit of a shock but then having been a street dog, who knows what she was eating to keep her teeth in good health or not!

We really didn’t want to go home with no Ellie so we went into Deal, a look around the shops and then we went into the opticians as we both wanted new glasses. I can’t believe I found ones I liked within 5 minutes as I hate glasses having worn them since I was 18 months old (with a gap in between). So mine are ordered and Mal discovered he only had a couple of months until a test so he said he would pay for a new test as he found some nice ones as well.

We had lunch out in Deal and then the vet called to say we could pick Ellie up.  She was so pleased to see us but felt very sorry for herself when she arrived home, obviously her mouth hurting . We followed the instructions on her discharge letter(medicines and doses)………………………..

She certainly had a lot of that as she cuddled up next to me on the sofa and didn’t move until we went to bed and then she lay on the floor beside me.

Thought for the Day“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~ E.E. Cummings

Sunday 26th November 2023

I was woken by Ellie licking and had to make sure it wasn’t the place on her leg. It wasn’t but she will have to be watched and get it checked out when she is at the vets on Tuesday.

During the week Mal contacted “PALS” at Maidstone hospital saying he still hadn’t heard anything about seeing a consultant re his op. They replied saying no one had contacted them! So much for Canterbury Hospital AND our GP chasing it up! He has now gone through PALS at Canterbury Hospital and wait for their reply.

We have another holiday booked to Madeira at the end of January (yes, we had two booked) and now have not a clue whether we go or not. The holiday in January was with my friend Paula and he friend Jill, so we have to let them know soon.

Our walk was to Gazen Salts, along by the river and back through the town, a bit of a mistake as Ellie saw people who know her and feed her treats. I persuaded them to give her a piece of her weighed out kibble instead.

Mainly because of people we met, the walk was well over 2 hours!

Mal cooked a roast. We watched the Spurs game…they lost!

Thought for the Day – “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Saturday 25th November 2023

Twenty eight years ago Mal and I met on Flitwick Station! So much has happened since that day. Who knew we both had the same dreams to leave the country and spend time abroad and what an adventure that was.

Another sunny day BUT the first time I have had a  bit of ice on the windscreen, not bad for the end of November. In fact I was marvelling yesterday that I have caterpillars on my nasturtiums in the garden!! I have never known that before in November. This is the second lot of nasturtiums, they reseeded because of the good weather after the first lot had been munched by caterpillars.  A very strange year.

Mal said he had even seen a butterfly at the allotment. I am guessing after the colder weather last night, they will now be gone.

Off to Kearsney. It really didn’t matter to Ellie that the stream was cold…straight in! Of course, as anyone who knows Goldies will know, she then rolls in the mud!

After the walk around, up to the cafe for a hot drink outside in the sun.

Mal went down to the allotment for an hour to collect some vegetables.

Football in the afternoon with Hammers and Luton town both winning their games. Just need Spurs to win tomorrow.

I noticed Ellie was licking her leg a lot and when I looked, it may be a “hotspot” as I know Goldies get them, so I will have to watch she doesn’t lick it any more.

Thought for the Day“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Friday 24th November 2023

A very weird sky when we were walking! It looked as if it was going to pour and it was also sunny…no rain though. It was cold!

We went into Dover for our lunch and a couple of presents on the way. Christmas is getting closer!

Thought for the Day“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” ~ Paulo Coelho