Tuesday 13th October 2026

A stressful morning taking Ellie to the vets. Of course she had to be walked first but the Gabapentin makes her so wobbly on her legs. No food either which she wasn’t happy about.  As soon as we saw the nurse we told her about the Gabapentin and she wrote it on Ellie’s notes. She explained everything they would do, which Meg had already explained but the drug had made Ellie just lie on the floor so Mal had to help her in.

Of course Mal and I were stressed because she is fourteen and a half and had to go under anaesthetic but they assured us her heart and lungs were good.

So we left her there and went off to Deal to have breakfast, to keep us occupied! I was in one of the shops when my phone rang. I presumed it was the vet. No, it wasn’t! It was my doctor who was supposed to call me next Friday. She told me she has all the results back and yes I have haemochromatosis . She must have persuaded them to do the proper tests (it’s an expensive test, she told me before!) She then went on to say she has put it through as urgent to the hospital, so I should hear within the next two weeks. Well at least she was good enough to keep chasing it up for me and called me as promised.

Then about 2pm Clare, the vet called saying she was amazed how Ellie was coping with all of this. Teeth have been cleaned and X rayed and also she had an infection and an ulcer and I think a broken tooth.  She wants to see her again in a week to see the progress after antibiotics and then will advise about any teeth need removing. But she agreed no more Gabapentin, Paracetomol instead.

At 3pm Meg (her nurse) phoned to say Ellie was up and about and to collect her at 4pm. Meg told us all about the drugs she is having and to stop the gabapentin and instead use Paracetomol. She also has antibiotics.

We collected her at 4pm, still very sleepy.

 

Sunday 11th October 2026

We took Ellie to the Eastry Picnic site where she can walk as little or as far as she likes.

She headed towards the second field and then thought better of it  and turned around!

I watched Strictly in the evening. It certainly isn’t what it used to be!  I found catching up with “Sam and Ade go birding” much better!

Saturday 10th October 2026

I went Tesco shopping to ensure that I could get my 8p per litre off fuel voucher!  We had used nearly a tank being away, so well worth it!

It is Margate Restaurant Week the 2nd -6th November, when you are able to book for a 3 course meal for £20.26. We have booked two. The Buoy and Oyster and Quince.   

A short walk for Ellie, these tablets are horrible, making her legs wobbly. We will be very pleased after her dental procedure on Tuesday and she can start healing. So, a quiet day. Mal went to the allotment and returned with French beans and a lot of apples. I have to say when I was in Tesco I struggled to find English apples and I refuse to buy them from New Zealand when orchards are full in the UK.  Sad to say I don’t think the average person even looks to see where “fresh” food comes from.

We watched the Spurs game (v Man U and had a few texts with Oscar as he supports them) 1-1 was the result and I have to say Spurs played better apart from the disgraceful red card.

I cooked prawn and tomato linguine using some of the mass of tomatoes from the garden and garlic from the allotment.

Friday 9th October 2026

We were due to catch the 9am ferry but they let us on the earlier one.

We love the Isle of Wight but being honest it wasn’t much of a holiday taking care of Ellie as the pain killers made her have wobbly legs, made worse by the slippery floors in the lodge, even though we had taken three of our non slip runners to cover some of the floor. Plus she was waking up quite a bit during the night, bless her. Mal did a lot of carrying her. BUT it is such a lovely place to stay in the middle of woods but we just couldn’t walk Ellie much.

It was nice sitting out on the terrace and playing cards with a drink or two!!

Back home and unpacking and sorting. I have loads more tomatoes on my plants!  As I did the driving Mal cooked.

Then of course another episode of Traitors (in between the Hammers game which they drew).

Thursday 8th October 2026

Ellie appeared to settle a bit better and still hadn’t woken us up by 7.15!!

A cold morning but the sun was out.  The view from our terrace out towards Portsmouth.

Just after lunch we went into Ryde. Mal and Ellie sat in the park and I looked around the High Street and had a nice chat with the Manager in Cancer Research. I also bought some CD’s for the car as Mal is fed up with the ones we have in there at the moment. One of the charity shops wanted £4 each!! We sell ours for £1 each but in Age Concern I bought a selection at 50p each!

We watched Traitors in the evening and then started packing

 

Wednesday 7th October 2026

No fog horn to wake us this morning obviously because it was raining, so no sea mist! We have been so lucky with the weather up until now so no complaints.

We went to Arreton Barns Craft Village. There are a lot of craft shops there and also the pub The Dairyman’s Daughter where we spent some time. There is also the Maritime Museum.

On returning back to the lodge, I received a form to complete from the vets prior to Ellie’s dental op next Tuesday but the price they put on there was not what the vet had quoted, in fact double! As well as that they put the wrong date on ..Saturday instead of Tuesday! I had to contact them straight away and panic over they had included possible extractions, which was not explained! We didn’t need that shock when we are on holiday!

Previous insurances have covered teeth but not the one we have at present which is for older dogs. She is worth it!! We have moved her gabapentin tablets from first thing in the morning, lunchtime and last thing at night and cutting one out. The vet prescribed four a day but she is losing control over her legs(side effect) Hopefully this will help and still reduce the pain.

Mal is carrying her a lot and helping her stand.