Hiya!
Have do you ever feel as if you just want to put the brakes on? When you just want to tell everything or everyone to stop. Freeze. A moment in time. I do and truth be told I have probably felt this way for a few weeks now. Since coming back from Ireland I feel as if everything has been on fast forward mode. Work is busy, so is my schedule to try and get slimmer for summer and my social life is hectic. On top of all of this I also have several big life events to contend with. My Grandfather passing away and his hastily approaching funeral and my best friend since being a small child emigrating are just the tip of the iceberg.
Miss Tweedle-Dumb has been there through it all and to be honest there isn't anything that I think our friendship has not been through or tested by. In all fairness I am almost certain that some of those testing's probably came from me directly but I would not change our friendship or life together that we have shared since we first met in the sandpit of our Lower School. Me and Miss Tweedle-Dumb were the best of friends and when Miss Tweedle-Dee came along, every man and his dog were telling us all that it would never work out and "three's a crowd"! But through the decades we have always remained friends. Now of course there is sometimes a love/hate relationship as we all know what buttons to press and I think when asked individually, Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I would be lying if we said that we didn't piss off each other at least mildly on the odd occasion. I think like most girls we are a little bit jealous or envious of each other, well, at least I know that I am, and on its own this could be a toxic combination. However when it is combined with a rock-solid strong friendship and a resilience that we share together, a little reminder to keep up with the Jones' is just whats required to keep our 'A' game.
And maybe it is this that I am worried or scared of, that we have been friends for so long that I don't know what it is going to be like without all three of us together. Looking back on things, it was about two-decades (God I'm old) that we met, all the way back in the heady heights of late 90's scrunchies, A1 Posters and Jelly shoes! I suppose in a way it wasn't that long ago that I was having the same worries and fears that I was now about Miss Tweedle-Dumb moving to Basingstoke to be closer with her fiancee. There I was thinking that the whole world would Collide in on itself because my best friend moved a couple of hours down the road. And to think that whilst LA is nice and all, I would sooner her take a couple of hours drive down to the Anbil rather than boarding a plane for several hours. I just know I am going to miss her so much and that may be the fact she is emigrating and moving on with her new life in the sunshine state it just worries me that I wont be a part of it or her life anymore.
Maybe a part of me feels that I am not in control despite not necessarily needing to have any control over anything. Take the funeral for example. With the funeral less than a fortnight away, I feel a heavy pressure to look a certain way, talk a certain way and act a certain way that it's all becoming a bit stressful. The fact that I am a fully fledged adult and know exactly how to act, what to wear and what to say is obviously beyond them, my Dad in particular. I know he means well and just does it as he maybe wants me to come across in the best way or to not mess up and embarrass either me or himself and the family, but sometimes it is just so overwhelming. I worry constantly every day about being judged. I am forever conscience of not upsetting someone or being inconsiderate or not saying or doing the right thing that its leaving me in an anxious mess. In the beginning it was only a fleeting thought that maybe, just maybe, whatever I did was never going to be good enough whereas now it is a constant reminder.
I don't know, is this what anxiety feels like?! Constantly in a state of worry or concern? Always overthinking things? Is this why I feel the need to be in control? I am terrified that something will go wrong and that it will all be my fault. I am worried that the funeral wont go to plan and that I wont know what to do or say on the day itself, I'll just be in a snotty, teary kitchen-floor-reset state or that big or small, something will happen that will spoil the day for everyone. I have been told that I expect too much (from myself) and that I need not be so hard on myself when things don't go to plan, but I do and I don't know why. All I can hope is that everything is alright on the night and that when it really comes down to the crunch that I stay calm and collected. Now, wheres my Xanax!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Showing posts with label Friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friendship. Show all posts
Monday, 9 April 2018
Monday, 10 July 2017
Family Is Not An Important Thing - It Is Everything!
Evening All,
So after the trauma of last week's trip to and in Basingstoke my bruises have started to heel but even the site of a cold coffee or green and white mermaid makes me sad. Rest in peace Creamy Coffee Caramel Frappucino - Gone but never forgotten and always in my heart (but more often in my belly). I am more than happy to be back home and safe for territory, and after a busy and rather hectic week at work I was more than ready to relax and put my feet up. Alas though that wouldn't happen until Sunday as I had put myself forward in order to host the annual family fun day at work.
With the whole day being several months in the planning I was certainly looking forward to seeing everybody happy and letting my work colleagues into the secrets that I had been keeping from them for so long. I seriously think but some of my work colleagues must wonder what I actually do on a daily basis, and over the last few months I am surprised that I have been able to manage my normal day-to-day job as well as heading up the organisation for the family fun day, not to mention my duties before being the head of the office courtesies committee and what would have appeared to be chief thermometer watcher and recorder for the air-con wars that still battle long after my duties ceased.
For weeks upon months now I, along with the board, had been planning what we were going to do on the day including entertainment, food, fun activities for adults and children alike as well as the all important drink. I like organising and in all fairness I was more than happy to plan the whole thing by myself. After a few suggestions we settled on a magician that would cater for both the adults with some close up magic including ice, cards and rings as well as a magic show for kids as the afternoon wound down to an end. There would also be a children's entertainer ready to face paint and balloon model until their little hearts content. A caterer would be brought in and it was decided that a hog roast would be something different but something everyone can enjoy ... Well if you like pork anyway! For anyone not wishing to tuck into Peppa Pig there was a vegetarian option of a filo pastry pie with vegetables which sounded and looked as yummy as the main. Bouncy castles and inflatables were hired in order to keep the kids occupied and a photographer was also hired for the event as well as setting up a photo-booth for people to capture the day in all manner of fancy dress.
Planning coming to an end I was looking forward to everyone seeing the results of what I and others around me had helped achieve. As ever the week in the my department never seem to get any easier with it getting busier and busier towards the end of the week I was anxious that I would not have enough time to get everything ready in time. Staying late and rallying around the troops for extra help we got done in the end. So as the clock struck twelve (in the afternoon) and everyone started arriving I was over the moon to know that it was all over and done with ... at least for another year!
Soon the offices and garden surrounding it were filled and as I looked around I noticed that whilst I would never be able to get back what I had at my old company with the friends and tight-knit family feels that I made there, these people that I call my work colleagues are actually just a new family of mine. You have the weird aunties that always give the best advice and pervy uncles that you laugh along with. Good looking cousins with fashion sense to rival Chanel and hot sisters who make Victoria's Secrets blush. Brothers with banter for days and then there is the older and wiser generations that bring a touch of class to everything whilst still managing to be outrageous on the odd occasion. Yes, looking around at my new work family I was certain that I could make this work! I even got a little bit emotional thinking about the fact that I along with my team had managed to pull off a family Fun day that I would hope with rival others before it.
Even my very own flesh and blood came - Well my auntie, uncle and cousins anyway! With it's been a free event as well as less than half an hour drive from there home, it was a no-brainer to come and support me on such a special day. My first ever event organising. And whilst I wasn't alone in my efforts, I was just glad that my own family could be there to see how well I have done and all the effort that I had put in. I think for one of the first and only times in my entire life I had heard my uncle and my auntie both say that they were proud of me and all the work I had achieved. Unfortunately my sisters from other misters were not available to attend and instead we're either busy I bet sunning it up in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria as Miss Tweedle-Dee was doing with Momma Tweedle-Dee or getting ready and preparing for a life on another continent as Miss Tweedle-Dumb was with her boyfriend. At least they knew that they couldn't make it, that's all that matters.
As fast as anything the day flew by with little more than a few hiccups and before I knew it it was time to go home. I think I will miss it you know organising everything and planning for something spectacular. Maybe next year we will get to do it all over again and maybe we can get even more people turning out to celebrate and spend some QT together ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
So after the trauma of last week's trip to and in Basingstoke my bruises have started to heel but even the site of a cold coffee or green and white mermaid makes me sad. Rest in peace Creamy Coffee Caramel Frappucino - Gone but never forgotten and always in my heart (but more often in my belly). I am more than happy to be back home and safe for territory, and after a busy and rather hectic week at work I was more than ready to relax and put my feet up. Alas though that wouldn't happen until Sunday as I had put myself forward in order to host the annual family fun day at work.
With the whole day being several months in the planning I was certainly looking forward to seeing everybody happy and letting my work colleagues into the secrets that I had been keeping from them for so long. I seriously think but some of my work colleagues must wonder what I actually do on a daily basis, and over the last few months I am surprised that I have been able to manage my normal day-to-day job as well as heading up the organisation for the family fun day, not to mention my duties before being the head of the office courtesies committee and what would have appeared to be chief thermometer watcher and recorder for the air-con wars that still battle long after my duties ceased.
For weeks upon months now I, along with the board, had been planning what we were going to do on the day including entertainment, food, fun activities for adults and children alike as well as the all important drink. I like organising and in all fairness I was more than happy to plan the whole thing by myself. After a few suggestions we settled on a magician that would cater for both the adults with some close up magic including ice, cards and rings as well as a magic show for kids as the afternoon wound down to an end. There would also be a children's entertainer ready to face paint and balloon model until their little hearts content. A caterer would be brought in and it was decided that a hog roast would be something different but something everyone can enjoy ... Well if you like pork anyway! For anyone not wishing to tuck into Peppa Pig there was a vegetarian option of a filo pastry pie with vegetables which sounded and looked as yummy as the main. Bouncy castles and inflatables were hired in order to keep the kids occupied and a photographer was also hired for the event as well as setting up a photo-booth for people to capture the day in all manner of fancy dress.
Planning coming to an end I was looking forward to everyone seeing the results of what I and others around me had helped achieve. As ever the week in the my department never seem to get any easier with it getting busier and busier towards the end of the week I was anxious that I would not have enough time to get everything ready in time. Staying late and rallying around the troops for extra help we got done in the end. So as the clock struck twelve (in the afternoon) and everyone started arriving I was over the moon to know that it was all over and done with ... at least for another year!
Soon the offices and garden surrounding it were filled and as I looked around I noticed that whilst I would never be able to get back what I had at my old company with the friends and tight-knit family feels that I made there, these people that I call my work colleagues are actually just a new family of mine. You have the weird aunties that always give the best advice and pervy uncles that you laugh along with. Good looking cousins with fashion sense to rival Chanel and hot sisters who make Victoria's Secrets blush. Brothers with banter for days and then there is the older and wiser generations that bring a touch of class to everything whilst still managing to be outrageous on the odd occasion. Yes, looking around at my new work family I was certain that I could make this work! I even got a little bit emotional thinking about the fact that I along with my team had managed to pull off a family Fun day that I would hope with rival others before it.
Even my very own flesh and blood came - Well my auntie, uncle and cousins anyway! With it's been a free event as well as less than half an hour drive from there home, it was a no-brainer to come and support me on such a special day. My first ever event organising. And whilst I wasn't alone in my efforts, I was just glad that my own family could be there to see how well I have done and all the effort that I had put in. I think for one of the first and only times in my entire life I had heard my uncle and my auntie both say that they were proud of me and all the work I had achieved. Unfortunately my sisters from other misters were not available to attend and instead we're either busy I bet sunning it up in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria as Miss Tweedle-Dee was doing with Momma Tweedle-Dee or getting ready and preparing for a life on another continent as Miss Tweedle-Dumb was with her boyfriend. At least they knew that they couldn't make it, that's all that matters.
As fast as anything the day flew by with little more than a few hiccups and before I knew it it was time to go home. I think I will miss it you know organising everything and planning for something spectacular. Maybe next year we will get to do it all over again and maybe we can get even more people turning out to celebrate and spend some QT together ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 12 June 2017
Castle on the Hill
Hello Dears!
Finishing work I don't think many of my work colleagues knew that I was taking annual leave, starting with a half day on Friday afternoon. Come half-twelve I was more than ready to finish work and get my hot-tub on! But first I needed to wait for the besties, Miss Tweedle-Dee and Miss Tweedle-Dumb to arrive so that I could drive us all to our home for the weekend. Once they had arrived we popped everything into the car and headed out to the Open Roads.
Our purpose built, Laxfield Lodges log cabin was set in the beautiful Suffolk countryside and is a part of a couple that the land owner has on his property in order to make a bit of cash on the side. And why wouldn't you make use of your surroundings, bunging in a hot-tub as well to increase profits. All rooms in the cabin were carved from the finest cuts of wood and the cabin itself was comprised of two bedrooms, a double and a twin, one main bathroom with a bath tub and a en-suite to the master bedroom including a rain shower. A separate utility room with tumble dryer, washing machine and storage was hidden along the wooden corridor before you came into the main living area which boasted a beautiful black and white granite kitchen including an incredibly useful island. All the mod-cons and amenities you could ever ask for in a kitchen as well as a six-ring old fashioned range in which you could cook in either the fan or the gas ovens provided. Two leather sofas rounded of the Living area looking out to the large decking and meadows but was accompanied by the glass free-standing dining room table and TV.
But as you stepped outside onto the wooden veranda you saw the 'piece de la resistance': The Hot-Tub! Covered cleverly with some reeds and bamboo shoots, the hot-tub / Jacuzzi itself was very discreetly hidden from view of the other Lodge and the main house. perfect for a late-night dip and even maybe something a little bit more risky! But on a hot and lethargic Friday afternoon and certainly following the long journey that we had coming over from Bedford, Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and I were all itching to take a dip before the sun set. We even found out from the owner that the singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran was from around these parts, and was actually raised in the village down the road from where we were staying. The area even hosted Ed and his female friend, the international pop star that is Taylor Swift in a pub round the corner and and the video shot for Castle on the Hill was actually done nearby and showed the Framingham Castle in the background, a supposed old haunt of Baby-Ed.
Saturday morning the Tweedles and I all awoke fresh as daisies and ready to start our day. After having breakfast consisting of a cup of coffee and a waffle or two, we all jumped in the car for the 40-minute or so journey to Ipswich in search of some shopping and retail therapy in order to unwind, spending some much needed time together for alas this may be the end of our annual holiday as we knew it. With some swift changes coming up in the next few months and very near future it was clear that we did not have much time to spend with each other, at least not in person anyway. Some make-up, clothes and holiday bits for mine and Mr. Warehouse's holiday to Tenerife in August we we're all officially shopped and dropped, and it would appear that we have dropped right into a Chiquitos nearby for some Dinner.
Sunday was an unsuccessful day at the farm for a free activity, but I would say that the less said about this the better and so back to the hot-tub to enjoy the last few moments in whirlpool bliss before heading home to reality and work the next day. Suffice to say that whilst we had our holiday squabbles and disagreements as usual it was also an emotional time to reflect on our friendship and realise just how far we had all come from the school girls that met in the playground well over a decade ago. Who knows where our next trip will take us however I have a funny feeling that it will probably involve a little bit of a Chillier climate and even a trip to a Swedish Christmas Market!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Finishing work I don't think many of my work colleagues knew that I was taking annual leave, starting with a half day on Friday afternoon. Come half-twelve I was more than ready to finish work and get my hot-tub on! But first I needed to wait for the besties, Miss Tweedle-Dee and Miss Tweedle-Dumb to arrive so that I could drive us all to our home for the weekend. Once they had arrived we popped everything into the car and headed out to the Open Roads.
Our purpose built, Laxfield Lodges log cabin was set in the beautiful Suffolk countryside and is a part of a couple that the land owner has on his property in order to make a bit of cash on the side. And why wouldn't you make use of your surroundings, bunging in a hot-tub as well to increase profits. All rooms in the cabin were carved from the finest cuts of wood and the cabin itself was comprised of two bedrooms, a double and a twin, one main bathroom with a bath tub and a en-suite to the master bedroom including a rain shower. A separate utility room with tumble dryer, washing machine and storage was hidden along the wooden corridor before you came into the main living area which boasted a beautiful black and white granite kitchen including an incredibly useful island. All the mod-cons and amenities you could ever ask for in a kitchen as well as a six-ring old fashioned range in which you could cook in either the fan or the gas ovens provided. Two leather sofas rounded of the Living area looking out to the large decking and meadows but was accompanied by the glass free-standing dining room table and TV.
But as you stepped outside onto the wooden veranda you saw the 'piece de la resistance': The Hot-Tub! Covered cleverly with some reeds and bamboo shoots, the hot-tub / Jacuzzi itself was very discreetly hidden from view of the other Lodge and the main house. perfect for a late-night dip and even maybe something a little bit more risky! But on a hot and lethargic Friday afternoon and certainly following the long journey that we had coming over from Bedford, Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and I were all itching to take a dip before the sun set. We even found out from the owner that the singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran was from around these parts, and was actually raised in the village down the road from where we were staying. The area even hosted Ed and his female friend, the international pop star that is Taylor Swift in a pub round the corner and and the video shot for Castle on the Hill was actually done nearby and showed the Framingham Castle in the background, a supposed old haunt of Baby-Ed.
Saturday morning the Tweedles and I all awoke fresh as daisies and ready to start our day. After having breakfast consisting of a cup of coffee and a waffle or two, we all jumped in the car for the 40-minute or so journey to Ipswich in search of some shopping and retail therapy in order to unwind, spending some much needed time together for alas this may be the end of our annual holiday as we knew it. With some swift changes coming up in the next few months and very near future it was clear that we did not have much time to spend with each other, at least not in person anyway. Some make-up, clothes and holiday bits for mine and Mr. Warehouse's holiday to Tenerife in August we we're all officially shopped and dropped, and it would appear that we have dropped right into a Chiquitos nearby for some Dinner.
Sunday was an unsuccessful day at the farm for a free activity, but I would say that the less said about this the better and so back to the hot-tub to enjoy the last few moments in whirlpool bliss before heading home to reality and work the next day. Suffice to say that whilst we had our holiday squabbles and disagreements as usual it was also an emotional time to reflect on our friendship and realise just how far we had all come from the school girls that met in the playground well over a decade ago. Who knows where our next trip will take us however I have a funny feeling that it will probably involve a little bit of a Chillier climate and even a trip to a Swedish Christmas Market!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 22 May 2017
Life Lessons From My Step-Dog
Hiya,
So here I am on a Monday evening following a fairly low-key weekend attempting to write for you all but being distracted by simply how cute and playful my step-pooch is. Switching between writing and playing with the 8-year-old Blonde Labrador I struggle not to feel completely overwhelmed when I look at her little face.
The funny thing is that as I said before, she is not even my dog, not really anyway. I met Pooch when Mr. Warehouse introduced me to her in the Autumn of 2014. It was love at first sight with a friendship that would only get stronger with time. She has learnt to trust me and accept that I, along with her doggy-dad, we mean business. Over the course of the last two-and-a-half-years, the fluff-ball and I have shared secrets and plans with one another - OK mainly me telling her all my plans, secrets and surprises. But strangely she has also been there for me. In times of absolute joy as well as despair, pooch has been the one I have thought of most. When I failed my driving test she was the one I came home too disappointed to tell her. When I passed my driving exam the second time around I couldn't wait to get home if only to share in the news that our adventures would not be restricted by public transport. And when I had to make the tough decision about leaving the workplace I loved so dearly, she was the one I talked things through with.
You see this is something that some of you might not understand and not in an ignorant way, but especially so if you have never owned a dog. I am not stupid, I get that the pup can't understand me and is just a simple animal, domesticated over years in order to satisfy the human race in many different forms. Of course the dog is not able to have deep discussions about what is the right move up the career ladder, nor what financial decisions need to be made. I would laugh if they did for I am almost certain that our entire household budget would be spent on dog-treats and balls. But on a more serious not they feel you, and what you are experiencing, far better than a cat could do. Dogs sense when their owners are ill or upset, and comfort you when feeling blue. They are always happy to see you and are something that you are solely responsible for.
I wonder if parents feel the same way? The need to care and look after something that is so much more precious and fragile than yourself. Even though she is nearly fifty in dog years, she certainly does not let her age get her down and goes around her daily business acting as though she is still a puppy. Her little quirks and personality traits certainly makes for good company and I am forever imagining what kind of fun we could have if she was able to talk and tell me what she is really thinking instead of me commentating her little world in a deep and course male voice. I don't know why ... It just comes out like that in my head?!
It is sometimes so overwhelming I feel like crying, and I am not ashamed to say that on the odd occasion I have. I could easily watch her for years just sleeping, as a mother with her newborn, many a time choosing to gaze over Mr. Warehouse's Pup rather than watch whatever is on the box. When she is asleep she is at ease with the world and dreaming of all the wonderful things in a dogs life. Chasing cats just to play with them, millions of tennis balls and sticks I am sure litter every pup's dreams, but for our little one I am sure that eating ice-cream on a warm day, cuddling on the sofa with a film and having adventures with Mr. Warehouse and I are all at her disposal when she is in the land of nod.
This weekend felt like a proud moment for Mr. Warehouse and I as we took the furball down to the local country park, one of many that surrounds Bedford. Down to the soft gravelly beach we went alone on the shore as the weather swelled. Entering the lake our pooch got stronger and stronger with each toss of her favourite tennis ball. The braver she got the further out she went until eventually we saw what we had waited for. Little paws paddling towards the shore. She was swimming. A proud moment considering her age and what she had been through the last few months with her Pyometra and Hysterectomy operation. I thought to myself as I looked at the little wet face in front of me, big brown eyes begging me for one more go in the cool water "There was a point I didn't think you were gonna make it pup".
I would like to think that one day, when I have my own babies, that I would be able to look back on the beginnings of my little family with Mr. Warehouse and know that pooch, albeit playful, sleepy and bolshy all at the same time sometimes; She would have taught me all the things I need to be as a parent. Patience. Compromise. Discipline. Leadership. Ownership. Fun. Friendship. Compassion. Caring. Loving. All these life skills you have taught me pup, and I am forever grateful. Hopefully, despite your later years in life, you will be there to welcome home my babies one day and show them the same toothy smile you showed me all those many moons ago dear friend.
So here I am on a Monday evening following a fairly low-key weekend attempting to write for you all but being distracted by simply how cute and playful my step-pooch is. Switching between writing and playing with the 8-year-old Blonde Labrador I struggle not to feel completely overwhelmed when I look at her little face.
The funny thing is that as I said before, she is not even my dog, not really anyway. I met Pooch when Mr. Warehouse introduced me to her in the Autumn of 2014. It was love at first sight with a friendship that would only get stronger with time. She has learnt to trust me and accept that I, along with her doggy-dad, we mean business. Over the course of the last two-and-a-half-years, the fluff-ball and I have shared secrets and plans with one another - OK mainly me telling her all my plans, secrets and surprises. But strangely she has also been there for me. In times of absolute joy as well as despair, pooch has been the one I have thought of most. When I failed my driving test she was the one I came home too disappointed to tell her. When I passed my driving exam the second time around I couldn't wait to get home if only to share in the news that our adventures would not be restricted by public transport. And when I had to make the tough decision about leaving the workplace I loved so dearly, she was the one I talked things through with.
You see this is something that some of you might not understand and not in an ignorant way, but especially so if you have never owned a dog. I am not stupid, I get that the pup can't understand me and is just a simple animal, domesticated over years in order to satisfy the human race in many different forms. Of course the dog is not able to have deep discussions about what is the right move up the career ladder, nor what financial decisions need to be made. I would laugh if they did for I am almost certain that our entire household budget would be spent on dog-treats and balls. But on a more serious not they feel you, and what you are experiencing, far better than a cat could do. Dogs sense when their owners are ill or upset, and comfort you when feeling blue. They are always happy to see you and are something that you are solely responsible for.
I wonder if parents feel the same way? The need to care and look after something that is so much more precious and fragile than yourself. Even though she is nearly fifty in dog years, she certainly does not let her age get her down and goes around her daily business acting as though she is still a puppy. Her little quirks and personality traits certainly makes for good company and I am forever imagining what kind of fun we could have if she was able to talk and tell me what she is really thinking instead of me commentating her little world in a deep and course male voice. I don't know why ... It just comes out like that in my head?!
It is sometimes so overwhelming I feel like crying, and I am not ashamed to say that on the odd occasion I have. I could easily watch her for years just sleeping, as a mother with her newborn, many a time choosing to gaze over Mr. Warehouse's Pup rather than watch whatever is on the box. When she is asleep she is at ease with the world and dreaming of all the wonderful things in a dogs life. Chasing cats just to play with them, millions of tennis balls and sticks I am sure litter every pup's dreams, but for our little one I am sure that eating ice-cream on a warm day, cuddling on the sofa with a film and having adventures with Mr. Warehouse and I are all at her disposal when she is in the land of nod.
This weekend felt like a proud moment for Mr. Warehouse and I as we took the furball down to the local country park, one of many that surrounds Bedford. Down to the soft gravelly beach we went alone on the shore as the weather swelled. Entering the lake our pooch got stronger and stronger with each toss of her favourite tennis ball. The braver she got the further out she went until eventually we saw what we had waited for. Little paws paddling towards the shore. She was swimming. A proud moment considering her age and what she had been through the last few months with her Pyometra and Hysterectomy operation. I thought to myself as I looked at the little wet face in front of me, big brown eyes begging me for one more go in the cool water "There was a point I didn't think you were gonna make it pup".
I would like to think that one day, when I have my own babies, that I would be able to look back on the beginnings of my little family with Mr. Warehouse and know that pooch, albeit playful, sleepy and bolshy all at the same time sometimes; She would have taught me all the things I need to be as a parent. Patience. Compromise. Discipline. Leadership. Ownership. Fun. Friendship. Compassion. Caring. Loving. All these life skills you have taught me pup, and I am forever grateful. Hopefully, despite your later years in life, you will be there to welcome home my babies one day and show them the same toothy smile you showed me all those many moons ago dear friend.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 24 April 2017
You cant pick 'em, But I wouldn't want to!
Evening,
Sun shining, cousins playing in the garden and all my family around me, the only thing that could have made this better was a glass of wine and someone to drive me home. Alas, Mr. Warehouse has yet to learn to drive and as such I was driving so no White Zinfandel from me! But as the temperature rose to a pleasant English Summer's day I soon realised that, no offence of course, but my family is old! Sounds strange but Mr. Warehouse and myself were the youngest adults on the patio, and not that this is an odd occasion, as it was the same when we visit Mr. Warehouse's brothers and their respective families.
It sounds strange but you never really think about your family getting older. You always imagine them being there for you, throughout everything both good, bad and ugly. As a family from my Fathers side we have been through a lot including my father in the military and going to war with the later addition of my parents divorce and the eventuality of me being kicked out of the family home also, not to mention one uncle living in Southern Ireland and working away in Africa, another with a busy life involving a young family and my grandparents facing care issues with my Grandpa. But every family is different and I am sure that similar problems arise.
My Aunt and Uncle had come over from Southern Ireland and we all in my Grandma's Garden and I cast my thoughts to the day where I would one day be the Grandma and I would be hosting a BBQ with my family and my grandchildren. Lemon Cake on the side and with pretty flowers adorning the garden area (not sure how though since I fucking hate gardening) my family would surround me for hopefully some of the happiest days of my life to come. Bringing myself back into the moment though, with most of my Aunts and Uncles drinking we all revelled in each others lives and what was going on and what was up with work, home and family life. However, there was a point in the Sunday rays as the smell of the BBQ sizzled in the background, I wondered how much longer I have with them.
Sounds morbid I know, but looking around at everyone, laughing and joking with one another, trying to take a dig at someone else I was grateful for the family I had. As the younger one of the family, you don't really think of the people in your life getting old or growing tired of life. But there were more wrinkles and grey hair than I remembered from last time we were all together. I wondered about the next time we would all be together, would it be another family BBQ or something bigger and more of a special occasion. Each and every person round this table I had a special connection to, whether it being my Uncle and Auntie with their two active boys who were kind enough to open their home to me when I had none of my own or my other Aunt and Uncle who would always be there should I need to them, be it an escape to the quiet Irish countryside after a messy break-up or just someone to talk something through over the phone.
Not that it was a bad thing, but I realised that one day this would end. I would be one of the only family members left and the generation before me would just be a talking point and in photo's. This made me sad, but determined not to let a single moment or opportunity be missed with family in the future. Without them you are nothing, but with them you are everything.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Sun shining, cousins playing in the garden and all my family around me, the only thing that could have made this better was a glass of wine and someone to drive me home. Alas, Mr. Warehouse has yet to learn to drive and as such I was driving so no White Zinfandel from me! But as the temperature rose to a pleasant English Summer's day I soon realised that, no offence of course, but my family is old! Sounds strange but Mr. Warehouse and myself were the youngest adults on the patio, and not that this is an odd occasion, as it was the same when we visit Mr. Warehouse's brothers and their respective families.
It sounds strange but you never really think about your family getting older. You always imagine them being there for you, throughout everything both good, bad and ugly. As a family from my Fathers side we have been through a lot including my father in the military and going to war with the later addition of my parents divorce and the eventuality of me being kicked out of the family home also, not to mention one uncle living in Southern Ireland and working away in Africa, another with a busy life involving a young family and my grandparents facing care issues with my Grandpa. But every family is different and I am sure that similar problems arise.
My Aunt and Uncle had come over from Southern Ireland and we all in my Grandma's Garden and I cast my thoughts to the day where I would one day be the Grandma and I would be hosting a BBQ with my family and my grandchildren. Lemon Cake on the side and with pretty flowers adorning the garden area (not sure how though since I fucking hate gardening) my family would surround me for hopefully some of the happiest days of my life to come. Bringing myself back into the moment though, with most of my Aunts and Uncles drinking we all revelled in each others lives and what was going on and what was up with work, home and family life. However, there was a point in the Sunday rays as the smell of the BBQ sizzled in the background, I wondered how much longer I have with them.
Sounds morbid I know, but looking around at everyone, laughing and joking with one another, trying to take a dig at someone else I was grateful for the family I had. As the younger one of the family, you don't really think of the people in your life getting old or growing tired of life. But there were more wrinkles and grey hair than I remembered from last time we were all together. I wondered about the next time we would all be together, would it be another family BBQ or something bigger and more of a special occasion. Each and every person round this table I had a special connection to, whether it being my Uncle and Auntie with their two active boys who were kind enough to open their home to me when I had none of my own or my other Aunt and Uncle who would always be there should I need to them, be it an escape to the quiet Irish countryside after a messy break-up or just someone to talk something through over the phone.
Not that it was a bad thing, but I realised that one day this would end. I would be one of the only family members left and the generation before me would just be a talking point and in photo's. This made me sad, but determined not to let a single moment or opportunity be missed with family in the future. Without them you are nothing, but with them you are everything.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 17 April 2017
BF4L
Heyy,
So it would appear that yet again it is Easter and after weeks of planning and looking forward to visiting Miss Tweedle-Dumb and her other half, I picked Miss Tweedle-Dee up after finishing work of Thursday evening, ready for the tedious drive down. Truth be told I actually don't mind driving down to Hampshire to visit, in fact I quite enjoy the drive. Getting there late we all milled around Miss Tweedle-Dumb's flat until the earlier hours, gossipping about friends, family and strangely current affairs. It was not normal that the subjects of news articles were topic of conversation, but it seemed to happen a lot this weekend and I liked it.
Friday morning Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I awoke and planned out a nice day to a local working farm. Arriving on site with sun shining and Sunnies on I was really enjoying my time with the girls. Ever since Miss Tweedle-Dumb had moved down to Basingstoke last Summer I had been worried she would miss home too much or that Miss Tweedle-Dee and I wouldn't see her as much, and whilst the latter is true, I think we treasure our time together much, much more than we ever used to. For the weeks in between our monthly visits I imagine we all look forward to them as much as the next.
I know myself just how destructive living with someone can be, well at least for me it was destructive with Mr. Workaholic. So I can understand why she was nervous about moving in with her boyfriend of more years than I can muster, especially seeing me go through the messy break-up and everything else that went with separating whilst still being responsible for a property. It can be so easy to look at someones situation close to you or that you know of sometimes and compare it to your own, even if there are very little commonalities. I worried when Miss Tweedle-Dumb moved away that she would feel isolated, cut off and abandoned in a fresh new area where she knew very little people, most of them her other-half's family. But I am glad that it seems to have all worked out and safe to say that despite the odd bicker here and there, she is flourishing in her new home.
I suppose in a way though Miss Tweedle-Dumb and my situations were and are very different, even now. I lived with Mr. Workaholic when I was in my late teens and early-20's. I was still learning about myself and dealing with situations most twenty-somethings don't have to contend with. We were both very young and naive and whilst I tried to make it work, for one reason or another it was not meant to be, but I can see now why. Could I really have raised children with a man that thought it was OK to eat nothing but for Chicken flaming dinosaurs and pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner? And whilst we had some good times, Mr. Workaholic and I, it was a case of too much, too soon. It would have never lasted and I am thoroughly glad of all the experiences and people I have met since him and his god awful man-gina habit!
Walking around the farm on Good Friday, enjoying the extra time off we had together, we saw the regular inhabitants including sheep, baby lambs, cows and pigs, not to mention a donkey with a massive dick and his two bitches in the fields next to him. I never understood why we have never done anything like this before, It seems almost like a right of passage in friendships - Day trips to Zoo's go hand in hand with shopping and cinema outings. But I was glad to be doing something else outside the box with the girls other than the usual shopping and spending money which usually happens when I visit Miss Tweedle-Dumb down South. Obviously after seeing all the sights and sounds of the farm (Including the super hot farmer who was so enthusiastic about the sheep he farmed I would totally let him "ram" me) we headed into town, where I spent waaay more that I should on stuff I probably could have done without including a six-pound lipstick that looks no different to my normal lip colour and an eye-shadow for over fifteen-quid that gives me a mediocre coverage to look like a glitter ball. Also included in my haul were flip flops I did not need for a further four months, cake I did not need to eat and more cheese for my expanding fridge collection of nibbles.
Nevertheless after my weekend with my friends I was looking forward to going back home to my pooch and boyfriend. I always seem to miss them much more after being away, even if only for a few days. I do however miss my bezzies. but until next month, I will just have to count down the days ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
So it would appear that yet again it is Easter and after weeks of planning and looking forward to visiting Miss Tweedle-Dumb and her other half, I picked Miss Tweedle-Dee up after finishing work of Thursday evening, ready for the tedious drive down. Truth be told I actually don't mind driving down to Hampshire to visit, in fact I quite enjoy the drive. Getting there late we all milled around Miss Tweedle-Dumb's flat until the earlier hours, gossipping about friends, family and strangely current affairs. It was not normal that the subjects of news articles were topic of conversation, but it seemed to happen a lot this weekend and I liked it.
Friday morning Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I awoke and planned out a nice day to a local working farm. Arriving on site with sun shining and Sunnies on I was really enjoying my time with the girls. Ever since Miss Tweedle-Dumb had moved down to Basingstoke last Summer I had been worried she would miss home too much or that Miss Tweedle-Dee and I wouldn't see her as much, and whilst the latter is true, I think we treasure our time together much, much more than we ever used to. For the weeks in between our monthly visits I imagine we all look forward to them as much as the next.
I know myself just how destructive living with someone can be, well at least for me it was destructive with Mr. Workaholic. So I can understand why she was nervous about moving in with her boyfriend of more years than I can muster, especially seeing me go through the messy break-up and everything else that went with separating whilst still being responsible for a property. It can be so easy to look at someones situation close to you or that you know of sometimes and compare it to your own, even if there are very little commonalities. I worried when Miss Tweedle-Dumb moved away that she would feel isolated, cut off and abandoned in a fresh new area where she knew very little people, most of them her other-half's family. But I am glad that it seems to have all worked out and safe to say that despite the odd bicker here and there, she is flourishing in her new home.
I suppose in a way though Miss Tweedle-Dumb and my situations were and are very different, even now. I lived with Mr. Workaholic when I was in my late teens and early-20's. I was still learning about myself and dealing with situations most twenty-somethings don't have to contend with. We were both very young and naive and whilst I tried to make it work, for one reason or another it was not meant to be, but I can see now why. Could I really have raised children with a man that thought it was OK to eat nothing but for Chicken flaming dinosaurs and pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner? And whilst we had some good times, Mr. Workaholic and I, it was a case of too much, too soon. It would have never lasted and I am thoroughly glad of all the experiences and people I have met since him and his god awful man-gina habit!
Walking around the farm on Good Friday, enjoying the extra time off we had together, we saw the regular inhabitants including sheep, baby lambs, cows and pigs, not to mention a donkey with a massive dick and his two bitches in the fields next to him. I never understood why we have never done anything like this before, It seems almost like a right of passage in friendships - Day trips to Zoo's go hand in hand with shopping and cinema outings. But I was glad to be doing something else outside the box with the girls other than the usual shopping and spending money which usually happens when I visit Miss Tweedle-Dumb down South. Obviously after seeing all the sights and sounds of the farm (Including the super hot farmer who was so enthusiastic about the sheep he farmed I would totally let him "ram" me) we headed into town, where I spent waaay more that I should on stuff I probably could have done without including a six-pound lipstick that looks no different to my normal lip colour and an eye-shadow for over fifteen-quid that gives me a mediocre coverage to look like a glitter ball. Also included in my haul were flip flops I did not need for a further four months, cake I did not need to eat and more cheese for my expanding fridge collection of nibbles.
Nevertheless after my weekend with my friends I was looking forward to going back home to my pooch and boyfriend. I always seem to miss them much more after being away, even if only for a few days. I do however miss my bezzies. but until next month, I will just have to count down the days ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 13 March 2017
A Crime-Scene in My Pants
Evening one and all,
So after a long and stressful week I was certainly looking forward to the weekend and a much deserved bottle or two. Settling into the drivers seat outside TESCO as I prepared for the journey home, snacking on some ham since I had been hungry since missing my lunch that day. Suddenly walking past the front of my little Viv I noticed my Dad, and, clocking one another I was certainly glad for what ensued. Several hours later we had touched on many a subject including marriage, travelling and home buying, something until only recently I had sought some professional advice about. I think that everything last week had seemed like a challenge and that I wasn't going anywhere and that getting to where I wanted to be, especially on the property ladder, seemed out and out so un-achievable unless I came into a great deal of money or spent the next decade saving. Seeing Dad was lovely and the heart to heart conversations was what I severely missed in my relationship with him. Pop's probably doesn't even realise it but our meeting was really cathartic and meant a great deal to me, even if it was unplanned.
Seeing Family over the weekend also cheered me up no end, especially my cousins. Aged eleven and twelve, both boys are starting to learn about the world and how it works, and during the course of Saturday I was taught the difference between all the difference levels of Cannabis on the spectrum of hallucinogenics and how these days, schools tend not to bother with the whole banana and condom trick. Oh no! Kids nower days are given full blown Dildo's (And yes my cousin did shout the word dildo several times in the middle of Costa Coffee) and made to put a condom on. The world has come a long way since 2001 I thought.
Back in the day the lad's and ladies were separated in order to learn about their bodies, but we were never shown or taught what the other had to endure. Ergo, we had the era of the period jokes and a crude fascination with the opposite sex. I would have loved to be a fly on a wall in that room, hearing all about inappropriate boners and what semen contains. I suppose as a boy is may have been equally interesting listening into tits and fannies for half hour every Thursday afternoon.
In this time frame all the girls were handed a booklet about our body and how it changes in preparation for periods and the eventuality of childbirth. This was my actual nightmare beginning. I hated, and still do, talking about periods openly. It is something private and whilst every women aged fifteen to fifty does it I still feel a twinge of cringe when I open up about bleeding 'downstairs'. I don't laugh and period puns and can hardly stand it buying tampons or pads, forcing them through the self-scan at TESCO like some strange lady with a weird body function to hide. Its embarrassing - Both being so ashamed of it and actually having to put up with altering your life for however many days in the month. I am lucky in a way that I never suffered at the hands of cramping or major mood swings like some of my friends in the playground, however I think every girl will admit to remembering those dark days when you didn't know how to manage it. Spills, accidents and leaks were something I loathed but in a way I was grateful because it meant that someday I could have my own children and in way I have now come to accept that it is something natural and normal.
I will still try to hide away when someone reminds me of that scene in a Rom-Com somewhere, I think its called 'No Strings Attached' (which is ironically funny when I tell you where this is going). Ashton Kutcher (love of my life) makes a period mix-tape and brings round cupcakes for all his Bae's friends, including one friend who describes her period as "A Crime-Scene in My Pants". On this mix-tape including old favourites such as Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, Red Red Wine by UB40 and The Tide Is High by Atomic Kitten (or Blondie, if your so inclined). As cringe as that was it does go on and the full track listing can be found online. Cute, cringe and bile-inducing all at the same time is hard, but somehow Ashton nails it ... And me if he is in Bedford any time soon!
Back in the classroom the time soon comes when both the classes were combined, adding to the social awkwardness, both for students and teachers alike. Settling an unruly class is one thing, but trying in-vain to teach them about the birds and the bees was another, and so most teachers at my small town Middle School chose to simple put in a VHS they had recorded from a teachers Satellite channel in the late, late hours (Yes I did just say VHS).
But I must confess that in the whole history of me being in school, both middle and high, the majority if not all of the things I learnt and picked up weren't from phallic shaped fruits or dodgy home-recorded videos, It was from friends (Miss Tweedle-Dee deserves a shut out here as my main provider of such material and knowledge), late night babe channels and sadly porn. I think that teaching kids younger about what is right and wrong in relationships is and can only be a good thing. Starting them off young, telling them about the Pant Rule and showing them about how good relationships work is crucial in bringing down the number of Rapes, teen and unwanted pregnancies as well as STI's and non-abusive relationships. It can only get better and as on the continent shows that good things come from starting them off early with preventative education and serious chats about well-being.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 13 February 2017
Hitting Peak!
Hello,
After what seemed like an eternity we had finally arrived. Right in the heart of the Peak District, miles from anyone or anything. The thought there was idealistic, although the reality of booking somewhere far away from Wifi, strong enough signal to Google-Map and just general civilisation was far from what I expected. But with the flakes of snow beginning to fall from the dusky sky, landscape littered with peaks and rolling hills of country park ready to explore with pooch we were excited for our mini weekend in the Peak District.
As for Pup, she was still not back to herself but I really think that she enjoyed her surprise of snowy landscapes and hundreds of fields to run about in. She even made some friends with the neighbouring flock of sheep. Pooch was still not eating properly and despite bringing dog food and trying in-vain to get her to eat that, it was small handfuls of pasta that seemed to work. I suppose as a parent would we went back to what we know and both Mr. Warehouse and I knew she would struggle to resist the pull of some Penne. Saying that though we did try her this morning and she seemed to enjoy eating her normal dog food, albeit just the canned wet stuff.
Settling into our little stone-brick home for the next few nights Mr. Warehouse and I were perplexed with the smell and list of odd house rules. One of the reasons we booked was for the use of the log burning fire / stove and when the house rules said that it was forbidden I was gutted to say the least, especially since our trip to York just before Christmas. Nevertheless we would make it our own, but with very limited signal and no Wifi we were a bit put out with the bare-basic accommodation. Relaxing into the comfy leather loungers in the front room I was more than ready for bed.. So after a trip to the nearest town to collect a Takeout (a forty-minute hilly and country-dirt-track drive I might add) and a little bit of telly Mr. Warehouse and I hit the sack.
The following day we decided to head out to Bakewell, a small village known worldwide for their tarts. But rumour would have it that the humble Bakewell tart is not the original of his tasty ancestors, oh no! It would appear to all intense and purposes that the creation of the Bakewell Pudding as it was traditionally called was a simple misunderstanding between a Mistress and her Kitchen Assistant who, in her inexperience in such a role made a puff pastry rather than a shortcrust and ergo you now have the pastry-that's-not-a-pastry delight - Bakewell Pudding. After my Frangipane fling it will certainly be a recipe I will have to attempt and maybe even tweek at home. One thing I would say is that most places in the Peak District, including Bakewell are very receptive to dogs and are more than happy to have them in their shops, restaurants and pubs, a point which we unfortunately discovered alone, whilst our pooch was back at the holiday cottage.
Saturday we headed to Buxton, home of the water in the UK and the countries leading Spa town. Not that we had a lot of that going on. It was snowing for yet again the third day in a row and whilst it was entertaining in the morning on our walks and rambles with doggy, it was becoming tiresome having to manage peaks, hills, mountains and narrow country lanes as well as the poor weather conditions. It made everything worse. Mr. Warehouse and I couldn't go for a walk or mooch about the shops or even have a potter without having to be dressed up to the nines in coats, hats, scarf's and gloves. After a few hours we headed home to the wilderness and watched a film or two.
The last day is always the worst, packing up and heading home back to real life again. Truth be told I was looking forward to some Internet and being able to just pop to the shops for something, not having a long-winded trip to get there and I certainly wont be sorry for those roads. Although I must say that since being back, if even for less than twenty-four hours I am starting to miss the gear changes and whizzing round the country-side. Having been there as a child I thought a nice place to go would be The Heights of Abraham, just outside Matlock Bath. On even a dull and overcast day it would have been passable, but when the weather was beating down on us like a parent on an errant child, snowing, raining and windy it was far from the best choice. Cable car up, a quick walk around and hot cocoa later we were back down and heading to the car, bound for home. Real home. Gutted I wasn't able to experience and share my childhood in part with my boyfriend and his pooch I felt deflated and upset, but as I drove the two and a bit hours home, I realised that we have shared in some classic memories that we will all remember and cherish forever.
Back home we have just arrived back from the Vets and they have not said as yet either way what sort of operation she will need next. As last week it will either be a full blown Pyometra operation to remove her pus-filled and inflamed womb, or just a simple spaying. The difference in price will be drastic but even the cheaper Op. of the two will be pricey. Here's hoping that tomorrow's phone call with the Vet will bring about good news and that her results will show something that wont break the bank.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 6 February 2017
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole
Good Evening,
So I start this tale back last week, Thursday evening to be precise and as it would so happen I had just bumbled in from work when I noticed the pooch had a gunky eye, closed and sore looking. She had not been well for some days, not eating properly, if at all that was and a complete loss of interest in us as owners and the other things she used to love and enjoy. Mr. Warehouse and I wondered if it was something more serious. And so bundling her into my Ford Fiesta we raced her round to the Vets.
Looking over her the lovely Russian lady took swabs of her eyes and also quizzed us both on our dog's habits and traits over the last few days and weeks. Mr. Warehouse proceeded to tell her that she had been prescribed some medicine for a water infection a couple of weeks ago and it had seemed to clear it up but she had done a little accident two days earlier, which he put down to just being excited, although I and the Vet disagreed.
Holding our pup down to get more swaps and examinations from ears, mouth and bottom we started to get worried when we explained she had not eaten for some time. I explained that since she was originally owned by the Brother of Mr. Warehouse, she had not been spayed. This information seemed to turn the Vet white with anxiety. Then come a wave of odd questions that were all answered pretty much with a yes from both myself and Mr. Warehouse. The Veterinarian seemed very concerned and asked our permission to take bloods to see her vitals and how good she was doing internally. I asked the question about what could be wrong with our darling pooch and how if anything can make it better.
"She has what is called a Pyometra which is where the womb fills up with pus and as a result is extremely dangerous and life-threatening without treatment. An open-Pyo is where the cervix has opened up just enough to let the pus seep out which is still serious but can wait a few weeks for an appointment, however a closed-Pyo will mean it is essentially a ticking time-bomb, getting bigger and bigger and with no-where to go could burst at any moment, killing her." Said the Vet.
Shaking I asked about what we can do and what as owners our options were. She talked through the various routes we had out of this mess but ultimately the cost was not in the ten's anymore, nor even the hundreds but at least a thousand pounds or more to treat an otherwise very simply prevented illness. I couldn't take it. My rage filling up inside that this was what we had to deal with because of someone else's negligence. It became too much and I started to tremble. The Veterinarian took some more swabs from doggies undercarriage and said that since there is not leakage that Mr. Warehouse and I had to prepare for the worst.
Going away to talk we left our sickly pup in the hands of what would have appeared to be a very, very good Pet Doctor. And no-one had kept her up to date on her vaccinations as a puppy and as an adult dog, her insurance had been invalidated years ago. Without it we were left in a very desperate situation. Pulling out of the Surgery I trundled down the road, slow and steady with tears filling my eyes. As I stopped in a lay-by on a residential street I switched off the engine as Mr. Warehouse croaked, asking why we had stopped here.
"We have a lot to talk about" I said, hoping that magically we would find the money or a solution would come to us in the darkness, only lit by street lamps. Watching the cars windows steam with little talk and more silent tears, all I could see were dog walkers. We were one of them. We still are one of them. And we need to find a way to fix her. She is our dog and Mr. Warehouse and I need to be strong for her because for every moment we have had a shitty day or been poorly or unhappy she has been there for us. Not just that but we have got so many things left to do together. We still have yet to run on the sandy beaches of Newquay, Hop on a ferry for a holiday in Jersey where we can bask in the sunshine, just meters from french soil and even for her to maybe host in some of life's biggest moments Mr. Warehouse and I will share.
I have never personally owned a dog before and I would like to say that being a part of her life has and will continue to be a pleasure. She has taught me things about life and myself I never knew before and I keep learning, through my little lab, that there are the little things in life that should be noticed and appreciated and cherished within and with others. Yes, we may not be the best dog owners as both Mr. Warehouse and I go out to work five days a week, but that is reality and I will be honest, I think she enjoys having her own time to herself, not being told off for being on the wrong side of the sofa or for licking her biscuit (AKA Fanny). We treat her very well indeed and give her all the love and attention a pooch could ask for.
The next few hours and days were a blur until Saturday when Mr. Warehouse and I were accepted for a loan at the bank. Walking out of that room with a smile on our faces not only meant that we had secured Mr. Warehouse's debt and credit cards, but also that we could save our dogs life and in a way ours. She is still on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, but hopefully she will be on the mend soon enough. Her eye is now fully restored and whilst she is still not eating proper dog food, her appetite I think is very slowly, slowly creeping back in to view. I certainly think that the most recent activities in our little household will almost certainly make for a more romantic and loving break away to the Peak District and a time to reflect on what we have and how long for ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
So I start this tale back last week, Thursday evening to be precise and as it would so happen I had just bumbled in from work when I noticed the pooch had a gunky eye, closed and sore looking. She had not been well for some days, not eating properly, if at all that was and a complete loss of interest in us as owners and the other things she used to love and enjoy. Mr. Warehouse and I wondered if it was something more serious. And so bundling her into my Ford Fiesta we raced her round to the Vets.
Looking over her the lovely Russian lady took swabs of her eyes and also quizzed us both on our dog's habits and traits over the last few days and weeks. Mr. Warehouse proceeded to tell her that she had been prescribed some medicine for a water infection a couple of weeks ago and it had seemed to clear it up but she had done a little accident two days earlier, which he put down to just being excited, although I and the Vet disagreed.
Holding our pup down to get more swaps and examinations from ears, mouth and bottom we started to get worried when we explained she had not eaten for some time. I explained that since she was originally owned by the Brother of Mr. Warehouse, she had not been spayed. This information seemed to turn the Vet white with anxiety. Then come a wave of odd questions that were all answered pretty much with a yes from both myself and Mr. Warehouse. The Veterinarian seemed very concerned and asked our permission to take bloods to see her vitals and how good she was doing internally. I asked the question about what could be wrong with our darling pooch and how if anything can make it better.
"She has what is called a Pyometra which is where the womb fills up with pus and as a result is extremely dangerous and life-threatening without treatment. An open-Pyo is where the cervix has opened up just enough to let the pus seep out which is still serious but can wait a few weeks for an appointment, however a closed-Pyo will mean it is essentially a ticking time-bomb, getting bigger and bigger and with no-where to go could burst at any moment, killing her." Said the Vet.
Shaking I asked about what we can do and what as owners our options were. She talked through the various routes we had out of this mess but ultimately the cost was not in the ten's anymore, nor even the hundreds but at least a thousand pounds or more to treat an otherwise very simply prevented illness. I couldn't take it. My rage filling up inside that this was what we had to deal with because of someone else's negligence. It became too much and I started to tremble. The Veterinarian took some more swabs from doggies undercarriage and said that since there is not leakage that Mr. Warehouse and I had to prepare for the worst.
Going away to talk we left our sickly pup in the hands of what would have appeared to be a very, very good Pet Doctor. And no-one had kept her up to date on her vaccinations as a puppy and as an adult dog, her insurance had been invalidated years ago. Without it we were left in a very desperate situation. Pulling out of the Surgery I trundled down the road, slow and steady with tears filling my eyes. As I stopped in a lay-by on a residential street I switched off the engine as Mr. Warehouse croaked, asking why we had stopped here.
"We have a lot to talk about" I said, hoping that magically we would find the money or a solution would come to us in the darkness, only lit by street lamps. Watching the cars windows steam with little talk and more silent tears, all I could see were dog walkers. We were one of them. We still are one of them. And we need to find a way to fix her. She is our dog and Mr. Warehouse and I need to be strong for her because for every moment we have had a shitty day or been poorly or unhappy she has been there for us. Not just that but we have got so many things left to do together. We still have yet to run on the sandy beaches of Newquay, Hop on a ferry for a holiday in Jersey where we can bask in the sunshine, just meters from french soil and even for her to maybe host in some of life's biggest moments Mr. Warehouse and I will share.
I have never personally owned a dog before and I would like to say that being a part of her life has and will continue to be a pleasure. She has taught me things about life and myself I never knew before and I keep learning, through my little lab, that there are the little things in life that should be noticed and appreciated and cherished within and with others. Yes, we may not be the best dog owners as both Mr. Warehouse and I go out to work five days a week, but that is reality and I will be honest, I think she enjoys having her own time to herself, not being told off for being on the wrong side of the sofa or for licking her biscuit (AKA Fanny). We treat her very well indeed and give her all the love and attention a pooch could ask for.
The next few hours and days were a blur until Saturday when Mr. Warehouse and I were accepted for a loan at the bank. Walking out of that room with a smile on our faces not only meant that we had secured Mr. Warehouse's debt and credit cards, but also that we could save our dogs life and in a way ours. She is still on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, but hopefully she will be on the mend soon enough. Her eye is now fully restored and whilst she is still not eating proper dog food, her appetite I think is very slowly, slowly creeping back in to view. I certainly think that the most recent activities in our little household will almost certainly make for a more romantic and loving break away to the Peak District and a time to reflect on what we have and how long for ...
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
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