Flying solo

*Robin*

Dear Diary and MSEers, :hello:

It's been a loooong week.. We are almost at homehome; actually parked outside a family member's house about five miles away, recovering again.
So much stress; Owner's attitude utterly unbelievable, accusing me and the mechanics of inventing faults with the car just to inconvenience her - it failed the MOT on four things in the end, not counting the wiper which I had to replace on the road. Her last hysterical rant demanded I drive car and dog to her location immediately - or she would call the police!
By then the similarity with Wiggywoo's sad story about her mother was ringing loud alarm bells, sending me onto various mental health websites.. Really does look like Owner has Narcissistic Personality Disorder - appears fine until her merest whim is thwarted. Very, very dangerous for anyone unfortunate enough to cross the path of one of these people - now I understand why Owner's BF always appears downtrodden and they split up so often (poor ***).
At that point it was very tempting to say "Fine, call the police - I've nothing to fear but you may well end up getting sectioned!" ..But I didn't, instead agreeing to take LP to her straight away (after talking to MOT Boss and seeing the dangerous brake pipe for m'self).
It is bad: Partially crushed in two places, and the kink which was rubbing on the wheel had nearly worn through the metal; as garage Boss said, it could fail at any moment. It was also clear the damage was done quite a while ago - feel sick just thinking about how I drove the car over six hundred miles in that condition!

We arrived at the rendezvous on time but Owner didn't show up. Later she sent a text saying she'd come exactly twenty-four hours later, obliging us to hang around waiting for her - again, typical of NPD people who insist on absolute control.
By then I'd done enough research to be afraid she would attack me or try to smash up the camper if she got the chance, so my darling Divo Four took LP and waited for her while CD and I retreated to a safe distance. DS is young, fit, and experienced at martial arts so we both felt he would be better able to deflect physical assault than I could.. But when Owner arrived she just grabbed LP and his bag of stuff, throwing them in her works-car and driving off without saying a word to DS4.. Once again - not normal, not sane behaviour at all!

Divo Three says I should stop trying to be nice to people, laying m'self open to being abused.. But m' nature is what it is; guess that for every fifty good deeds one is bound to come across a nutter; all I can do is pay attention to my own karma - something certainly protected us on this latest adventure..

The stress has left me very shaky, while being heartily grateful that unlike dear Wiggy there are no family ties binding me to Owner; hopefully I'll never ever see her again! Am a bit worried that she knows where I live in Spain, but it's likely that by the time CD and I return Owner will have had another dozen clashes with other people which will take thoughts of revenge off us. She never made any attempt to express regret for endangering our lives - something is really very wrong inside her head.

Financially it cost a fair bit; boat fare and half the fuel costs I'd have had anyway if I'd taken m' own van, but I forked out for LP's hotel and camp-site fees [20€ + £40] and the car was full of cheap Spanish fuel which Owner had asked me to get and initially agreed to pay for - another 60€. Oh yes, and the car's MOT - £40.
..Am trying to think of it as cheap compared to our lives!

Sun.A - maybe you're right about LP, I don't know. For twenty years we've had snow dogs, before that lurchers, a Saluki, Collies and a British Bulldog - none of them ever suffered with anal gland problems so I've never had to deal with that. But the reading I did while trying to decide whether to pick up the tab for a vet's diagnosis suggested cancer, am sad to say.
We gave LP a wonderful holiday, cleaned him up and loved him despite him being horrid to CD - she was getting very depressed the last few days he was with us - so I really didn't feel like accepting responsibility for a full blood panel, scans, the vet's time etc. Owner certainly loves LP even though she doesn't look after him very well, but at least she's been alerted to the fact that he needs to see their vet as a matter of urgency.

CD is beginning to relax and perk up again now, although she hates being parted from me - clawed her way through the door's fly screen the only time I left her alone in the camper for an hour; luckily it looks fairly simple to replace.

Sparky - it was LP's eye that was so swollen and painful, not mine (thank goodness - wouldn't have been safe to drive with such a malady).

Meanwhile m' lappy has blown up - overheated while turned off in it's bag, possibly came very close to catching fire by the time I realised..? Anyway the battery has been removed and I won't use it again before it's been to visit the local techno-wizard, but am resigned to the need for a replacement (where did I put my John L€wis card??). So posting on here is likely to be sporadic - depending on borrowing various friends' equipment - until that's been sorted out one way or the other.

Hope everyone is well - with any luck will be able to catch up with you all sooner rather than later.

Brightspark87

Sorry Robin I was reading in a rush! Poor CD being all upset about your guest though but mainly you! Golly you poor thing I really feel for you. Please look after yourself!

sorry to hear about your laptop too. Whilst over here could you nip to CEX or Game perhaps? They both sell second hand laptops but with 12 months warranty? Perhaps a slightly more cost efficient way of replacing? (although it may be fdixed by your local wizards!) xxx

*Robin*

Good morning Diary and Gentle Readers,

Thanks for the suggestion Sparky, but Techno-Wizard is confident he can resurrect my lappy; said it's better quality than similar machines available now and there's probably only one component which has failed.
Meanwhile DS4 looked in J.L€wis* for me; the replacements I'd consider [ie. non-App!e, non-Chinese made] are all too high-spec and pricey for my computing needs - agreeing with TW.
*Tend not to bother with the discount chains; yes they have cheaper [shoddier] items, but when comparing costs for a specific model JL take their slogan very seriously; have never known 'em beaten on price, better quality stuff lasts longer, and their after-care is excellent. All m' Tenants' white goods are from JL because they'll deal with any problems whether or not I'm on hand. Win-win really.
Divo Four did return with a shiny new dongle so we're back on line, and he's loaned me the lappy his college gave him when they decided he has dyslexia (prefers the one DH and I got for him; old now but still faster and more robust than his freebie).

Am slightly in shock at how much the UK cost of living has gone up during m' absence; treated DS and Dear Relative to a take-away before moving to our current location - £26 for a fairly basic selection of Indian dishes (roughly twice the cost of a similar meal in backwoods Andalusia)! It was very tasty though. :cool:

We are now parked right in the centre of town, off the road outside an old mate's work-place (his clients usually arrive by bicycle so the car spaces are rarely used). Apart from the benefits of being close to TW's shop [all the shops in fact] and right next to a beautiful green space for walking CD, we've also been able to hook up to the mains which is much easier while we're learning how Campervan works (had a nasty moment when leaving DR's home - thought both batteries were flat! ..Divo Four worked out that I'd just set a switch wrong; phew ).

Not sure how long we'll stay here; DS wants to spend Solstice at The Stones, but am really not up to driving so far, so soon after the last run - if the gates aren't locked, I'd rather see the sunrise [if there is one, so far we've just had grey days] with DH at the Woodland Burial Grounds which are just a few miles away. We'll decide later, when DS returns from collecting his bicycle (luckily Campervan is fitted with a bike-rack).

Found a nice surprise when re-organising our packing; the previous owner left a mini-TV/DVD in the back of a cupboard. The lead is missing, but TW reckons he can find me one.

Spends:
So far have put £90 worth of fuel in Campervan; tank is still three quarters full.
Groceries - £14
Take-away - £26
Dongle - £40 (inc. first month's charges).

*Robin*

Dear Diary, :hello:

Thank goodness - third time lucky! Was beginning to be afraid MSE has decided am persona non grata; first two attempts to log in resulted in a "You have been blocked" message - there's something very weird about the 'new layout'..
Not like.

Yesterday we spent most of the day at the burial grounds visiting DH. It is becoming such a beautiful place now the trees are growing and wild-flower meadows are getting established.
It was surprisingly busy with folk bringing flowers to their late Dads and Grandpas on Father's Day - at least two families enjoyed a picnic between the graves; lovely to see kids running around having fun in what would usually be considered quite a sombre space.

Then Divo Four treated me to dinner at a busy country pub. Cries of "That's a wolf! You can't bring a wolf in here!" greeted CD as we walked through to the garden, and she was surrounded by elaborately dressed children wanting to cuddle her (all the girls had flowers in their hair, sisters in matching dresses etc).
"We've stumbled into a traveller wedding party" DS said, as he tried to attract the attention of the rather nervous-looking staff.
Divo Four was right. Their patriarch came up and introduced himself, then tried his best to buy Pug:
"Oi've got cash for you roight now," he kept saying..
It was hard to get away.

Bought a few bits camper is lacking: Bread knife, salt and pepper grinders, plastic bowl, cheese grater and so on. Was surprised to find a butcher on duty in the supermarket; he chopped up a chicken for CD but it had to be one from his counter - organic, free range, seven quid a pop. That dog is getting spoiled, and my budget is out the window!

Spends:
Groceries & useful stuff - £42

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Managed to get rid of the 'new style' MSE format, thank goodness! Inserting the first post at the top of every page in a thread is most off-putting; really ruins the flow. And having to sign in every time one wants to post on a different thread can hardly be called an improvement. Why, oh why do folk decide to change things which work perfectly well?

What isn't working logically is Divo Four's college laptop; can see why he prefers the old one. Still, Techno-Wizard has been in touch to say my lappy is now feeling much better and ready for collection, so DS4 has gone into town on his bike to do that for me, bless the lad for his willingness to please. :T

We've been to visit homehome, although Tenant Two wasn't there; she's taken the twins for their first experience of international travel - do pity the other passengers who booked on the same 'planes!
Interestingly, all six houses in the close have exactly the same problem with crumbling roof edges, so am going back to talk to the neighbour-wifies when DS returns; maybe we can get a good deal from a roofing company to sort out everyone's homes at the same time?

When we arrived, CD jumped out of camper-van and stood quite still for about fifteen seconds, head raised, sniffing the air. Then she trotted straight across the front lawn and around to a gate which leads to the kitchen door - am really impressed with her intellect and memory! :T

Last night we drove back to Dear Relative's house because he'd offered to cook us dinner. Unfortunately he doesn't live in exactly the same time-zone as everyone else so we didn't eat until midnight, by which time both DS and I were definitely flagging and unable to do justice to his efforts.
Am a bit worried about DR. When we arrived the other day, the first thing he wanted to talk about was stuff which will need to be done urgently in the event of his demise - I am his named executor - he's younger than me so I found that a little perturbing..

Beginning to understand why all of you full-time UK residents celebrate each NSD - think yesterday was my first since arriving back on home shores.

Dansmam

What an eventful few days Robin, have to confess,I'm curious to know how LP might be doing but somehow doubt you'll be getting an update from the peculiar person he `belongs` to. Had to smile at the different time zone meal - sorry, you must have been ravenous by the time it was ready!
Hadn't pictured CD as a wolf, but now have a very clear wolf picture in my mind - no wonder you feel so safe in her company.
I do enjoy reading your tales, look forward to the next update

Brightspark87

hi Robin its impressive that CD remembers so well, I think that's amazing!! golly you certainly have been a busy bee haven't you?

Love the idea of you being able to sort everyone roof with the same guy and getting a group deal - really great thinking x

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

Lots more problems with MSE's 'new style' format now am back on happily repaired lappy. Very frustrating until this afternoon when unease about CD became panic. Controlled panic, but an emergency none the less.

Last night she wasn't right. Indigestion? Walking too far? Not a happy dog, whatever the cause. Watched her closely, coaxed her to drink then just a few metres on to the grass for a pee..
After lunch she began swaying, back legs buckling. Mr Goog!e supplied a 'phone number for the closest vet who agreed to see her at once.

Wonderful vet; spent a long hour checking CD over thoroughly, revealing a very high temperature but good vital signs. Then Vet asked whether she'd spent a lot of time with another dog recently?
Out came an annotated version of LP's time with us, and bingo [or a word rhyming with hugger that begins with 'b']; looks like my guess re his genital problem was correct. After copious licking of his penile lesion he'd caught CD in the mouth on one of the occasions he snapped at her - Vet found the wound on her gum.
The timing is right; CD's malaise and fever the result of infection with one of only three transmissible cancers known, which starts as an STD. Normally passed on as one would expect, but this time orally because LP's mouth must have been full of shed tumour cells..

Blasting it with strong antibiotics should kill the infection at this early stage - so long as CD is strong enough to resist until the drugs kick in. Vet injected the initial dose to give her the best chance, and sent us off with a course of pills - but we've to go back tomorrow if CD isn't significantly brighter after twenty-four hours.

LP, alas, has almost certainly been infected too long to survive - but I doubt Owner will even take him to her vet.

This last attempt at trying to do someone a good turn has almost broken me; if I'd left it a few hours longer to seek help, CD's age means she would have been doomed too, and she's not out of the woods yet.

Spends:
Techno-Wizard - £45
Vet - £59

Lappy is about out of battery - will try and recover this morning's lost post tomorrow.
Goodnight all.

mcculloch29

Oh Robin... Damn, damn, damn. Poor LP. The phrase 'a good turn never goes unpunished' was never more apt.
Fingers FIRMLY crossed for CD. Having visualised her as a beautiful collie crossbred, I can now 'see' her as the lovely snowdog she is.
I have a massive soft spot for snowdogs, having spent a memorable few weeks in Vermont with the most spoiled Mackenzie River Husky on the planet.

Dansmam

Sending all the hugs and ear rubs in the world. Antib...s please do your stuff for CD. You did a good deed Robin, and the world's a better place for you and your good deeds - am sad and angry for you that this one is backfiring, and hoping for a quick quick quick recovery for CD. That vet sounds marvellous. More hugs,and ear rubs all round.