Month: January 2023

Mal took Ellie over the field but she seemed as though she wanted to go further. However we had appointments at the vets and the weight clinic, so it was just a short walk.  She had put on a bit of weight but she has had no exercise for over a week, so we have another appointment with Meghan in 4 weeks. We then saw Sorrell the vet and she was very pleased with her paw. But there is a lump on part of her pad which we should watch but it doesn’t look sore now. We have to carry on with the ointment until the weekend.

So, as she seemed so lively we took her to Reculver country park where she had a really good run, the first in a week.

A very grey day. On the way home we dropped Lou’s birthday present off but we didn’t go in as Ollie was off school with a stinking cold and we didn’t want to catch it!

Thought for the Day – “Do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as you can.” ~ Hilary Clinton

My volunteer day at Cancer Research shop, still not very busy but It should pick up when it is everyone’s payday!

We watched the football in the evening. Spurs won!

Thought for the Day – “You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.” ~ Vernon Howard

Only a trip across to the field again for Ellie and she still jumps when I put the ointment on her foot. Poor thing.

At the allotment Mal untangled the netting from the grapes and pruned some of the other bushes.

We had a huge beef joint which I bought before Christmas, I slow cooked it and it was really lovely, probably last us for quite a few meals.

Later we watched the Arsenal v Man U game. An excellent game. As expected Arsenal won.

Thought for the Day – “Life teaches you a new lesson every day, if you are attentive enough in the class of life.” ~ Invayj

Mal does a quick walk over to the field with Ellie and then back again or she starts limping. I then wash her foot, dry it, ointment and pain killer. At least it is progressing even if it is slowly.

I had a quick trip into Deal. I really am horrified at the price hikes. I used to buy mature cheddar in Sainsburys for £5 a kilo. Today it is £8.50!! So that’s what they call a 10% increase is it? Wholemeal bread was £1, now £1.45 and it goes on.  I had already put in an order with Ocado to be delivered in the evening. I really only came for some nice wedding paper as Sol got married yesterday….he hasn’t even told me! Lou let me know. He only had a couple of friends there.

We had another contractor arrive for a quote for the garden. We also watched the Hammers match and they won! Yeah!

Ocado arrived later in the evening and my shop included a free tote bag and a free  box of Hotel Chocolat chocs!!

Thought for the Day – “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” ~ Albert Einstein

Mal walked Ellie over to the field but she struggled coming back and that is only a very short distance. She is being very good and not licking it any more. She knows I am watching her! But she did jump when I put the ointment on her, the pain killer obviously hadn’t quite kicked in .

We had a plumber round to give us a quote, let’s see if he does come up with one! We are beginning to lose faith with local contractors, they all want long term contracts at the building sites.

Mal decided it was too cold to go to the allotment, instead sorted out some insurances that all seem to be renewed around this time. I don’t have the patience. For instance, Ellie’s was going to double but if Mal cancelled and then reinsured with the same company it was £10 a month cheaper!

Thought for the Day – “Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.” ~ Dale Carnegie

The vet told us to put the “cone of shame” on Ellie at night. I knew she would hate it, so we put a sock over the paw instead which stopped her licking it.  But I was awake some of the night thinking she had started licking again but thankfully she hadn’t.   I’d rather be woken up than put the cone on her!

Mal carried her across to the field where she quickly did her business and wanted to come back. Obviously it is painful putting her weight on the paw.  I cleaned it again, ointment on and pain killer.

She is feeling very sorry for herself.

Hatters had booked for the Exotic Marigold Hotel at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. We met up and watched the show and I have to say we weren’t that impressed. It may have been the theatre but the sound was dreadful. Having said that the theatre  was packed but then 3 local theatres have closed down, so they have rather a monopoly. Canterbury parking is so bad that we all travelled by bus or train.

Thought for the Day – “Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole.”

Ellie started licking one of her paws the previous day. I bathed it and kept it clean. She continued licking it during the night and when I called her down the stairs this morning, she nearly fell, not being able to put weight on that paw. I had already booked a vets appointment for tomorrow but decided it couldn’t wait, so I called the vet who fit her in at 9.10. Sorrel couldn’t find what the problem is but three of the pads were swollen and red. She cleaned it all and couldn’t find how it started. We always clean her feet when she comes back from a walk and hold them in our hands when it is very cold to warm them up.

She gave her an injection to kill the pain. We have to bathe the paw with saline solution, apply antibiotic cream and she also has Metacam for the pain. We take her back next Tuesday for a check up. The positive is she has lost another kilo on her diet!

I had lunch with the Red Hatters at Fields Cafe in Birchington and it was really nice, even if two of the ladies cancelled and another two turned up half an hour late! I suggested that they volunteered to organise meetings and sent a form round. They seem to have decided to do it in pairs, which is fine by me and we have all months full up now except March. I guess I’ll be doing that one as well.

Ellie slept most of the day and obviously we can’t walk her. It is even a struggle to get her to go in the garden. I hope she’ll feel a bit better tomorrow.

Thought for the Day – “You make a life out of what you have, not what you’re missing.” ~ Kate Morton