Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSEers, :hello:

It is heart-warming to read of everyone's experiments with GP, and really great that it's improved Doglet's appetite so quickly, Missrlr (he's the very picky eater, isn't he - or perhaps wasn't he?).

Maddiemay, I prefer taking GP frozen too after getting fed up with all my 'one-pot' meals tasting the same.. It's worth surfing the TUG group's posts on FB for ideas though; some folk make amazing-sounding smoothies and there are plenty of other specific meal ideas where GP actually enhances the recipe. I tried one with chicken which everyone really enjoyed (too tired to try and find it now, sorry - think it was posted about a month ago).

Mcculloch - lucky you! I keep looking at all those silicon trays on The River longingly, would love to be sent free samples to test - but as Maddiemay says, the blister packs work ok for long enough, at least half a dozen re-uses each by which time I've emptied 'new' ones of my supplements and headache meds - so can't really justify buying silicon molds at the moment (spending far too much already, compared to 'normal' ).

Dansmam - the solar kit is a huge success despite recent disappointing weather. Partly because the inverter also allows us to charge up 'phones and laptops from the van as we drive - to be honest I don't understand exactly how it works, but it certainly does!
How far have DD and her mate got on their travels? Are they still managing to keep in regular contact via free wifi? ..No problems with their Tranny yet, I hope!

Bubbles - thank you so much for thinking of CD and self; your post gave me much-needed positivity just as I was about to take CD to see Camp-site Owner's vet.. :T
Am glad we got a second opinion - COVet was very good; gave CD a thorough examination, called the other UK Vet and asked them to fax CD's records over so that we could compare the bloods she took with the previous lot as well as the ones done in Spain (which Dear Vet had given me).
Then COVet produced a remarkable gizmo she called a 'canine she-wee' - CD never even noticed when that sample was collected, lol - what a difference compared to the last vet's failed attempts at chasing CD around with a metal tray!
COVet concluded that CD had been given too low a dose of not the best antibiotics for her symptoms, for too short a time.
We discussed GP [she has lots of patients on it and takes it herself], and diet, and continuing care. I suppose the size of the bill is understandable given the amount of time COVet spent with CD and self, the tests and long course of antibiotics she has supplied.
Lots of free tea and biscuits for yours truly during the extended consultation was an unexpected, but welcome extra. :T

So we spent another night in the New Forest, waking up to a more cheerful CD and pouring rain. It's been a long, slow drive today, but we've reached our objective - West Wales. Looking forward to seeing the scenery in daylight tomorrow, when the weather forecast looks better.
It's taken a couple of hours to wind down, but now - bed-time; goodnight all. :wave:

Spends:
COVet - £225
Camp site - £27
Fuel - £47
Bridge toll - £6.50
Waitrose reduced ready-meals for dinner - £6
Passport 'photos - £5

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Scenery up to expectations, weather has been kind to us today.
Met our friends, turns out they live very close to a small-holding we nearly bought 28 - no hang on, 31 - years ago (time flies!).
So it's a real nostalgia trip; how different life could have been..

CD is enjoying new scents and the freedom of open fields.
DS4 asked for jobs to do an hour after arrival, endearing himself to our host. :T
Yours truly is very tired indeed.

Spends:
Fuel - £40
Communal groceries - £20

Feeling very broke, looking forward to a few NSDs..

*Robin*

Dear Diary, :hello:

A late morning snuggled up in bed watching curtains of rain pass across the landscape, harried onward by gusting winds; welcome to Wales (:rotfl:).
Even Divo Four's insatiable appetite for work has been blunted for now - although he's gone off to see if our host has any barns which need tidying up (very likely).
CD isn't impressed, she ventured outside for what must have been the quickest comfort break in the history of dog before returning to curl up damply on m' toes.

Am heartily grateful for camper-van's facilities today; it would really have ruined m' temper to have been forced outside in search of a bathroom first thing - omitted to bring wellies, brollie or heavy-duty waterproofs on this adventure.
Might even put the heater on later for a taste of real luxury - at least in this area it shouldn't be so hard to find a replacement gas-bottle supplier as it is in the balmy South-East!

The solar panel indicator is reading 2.8 - 3.0, the first time it's dropped below 12. Still don't understand exactly what that means - but can guess, lol.

Pressed the wrong button just now; brain still functioning well below par - must be a good day for reading, chatting and planning rather than action.
Doug English [who started TUG] has a new website for turmeric aficionados:
http://www.turmericlife.com.au/
..Reckon I'll start with that.

Hope everyone is having a good day today - especially Lucky and her family.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Thank you Robin! I'm exhausted but ok. DH is depressed but ok. Most importantly though the boys are happy and unfazed!

Sorry to hear you have awful weather. It's en route here apparently but hasn't reached us yet. Hope it eases for you soon Xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

According to m' favourite weather site Lucky, you've now got the rain we had yesterday - we've still got the tail of that front; very fine droplets that nevertheless soak through clothing in moments. Am regretting not grabbing a brollie from DR's collection, or bringing m' wellies from the Nest..

Divo Four is helping to build furniture today for someone who's moving into a very small flat, and reorganising more barns (certainly knows how to ensure folk are pleased when he turns up, lol). :T

CD and self took advantage of a brief lull in the wetness to explore a couple of fields behind where we're parked. After walking the boundaries it started raining again upon which CD took off at a canter, heading straight for the gateways along the fastest route back to camper-van - made my heart sing to watch her being so lively, and my lungs protest violently at having to chase her first thing in the morning! :rotfl:
..Anyone watching would really have no idea she is blind and ancient - if I couldn't see, I certainly wouldn't be able to navigate across the middle of a five acre field straight to a gateway after just walking around the edges twice (think it might be a good idea to find the owner of the sheep who live close by, and explain that CD is no danger to them - don't want anyone taking pot-shots at her)!

It's a bit early, but I've gone through July's spends which gave me a bit of a shock. DR's birthday present and celebratory meal, not to mention CD's vets' bills have put me well over budget; am going to have to be rather parsimonious in August to make up for the extravagance. One possible extra excursion to a wedding in Eire definitely won't happen (different ferry company so can't use the credit note which would have covered the fare, unfortunately).
Oh well, so it goes (feeling flush was novel and fun while it lasted). We won't starve, bank a/c is still in the black [just!] and camper-van's fuel tank is full.

missrlr

Oh Robin so pleased to hear of the bouncy CD. Shame about the wedding being put off, but I think if you can keep in the black perhaps memories would be worth it?
Doglet continues to accept GP, and even the modified GP with part fish and part coconut .... Apparently too much pepper judging but the sneezing though!
I am putting one paw In Front of the other too ... GP being administered to me too so hopefully I will canter along too soon!

*Robin*

Missrlr, very good news that Doglet is taking his GP happily - though don't understand why cooked then frozen pepper would make him sneeze - did you make it up with more or less the proportions TUG recommends?
Hope you see good effects yourself soon, too.

CD's dose of GP is back up to what she was on before our last batch went off; three lozenges [ex Milk Thistle blister-pack size] three times a day. That seems to be the therapeutic amount for her - unfortunately am lagging behind, m'self; never seem to have a cuppa on hand at the same time as CD gets her pills and then tend to forget after taking m' morning supplements..
Hence CD now goes faster than I can; serves me right, lol.

She took me for a long walk this evening, probably four miles - more than we've done for a while, most of which I spent calling after CD as she trotted ahead:
"Slow down - wait for me!" Not sure how much can be attributed to GP and how much to the more effective antibiotics, but if this progress keeps up CD is going to have to start pulling me again, or I'll be too tired to do anything else! :rotfl:
Divo Four had cooked dinner by the time we found camper-van again; fried Camembert with our host's black-current preserve, mange-touts and the last of the spuds from the Nest, followed by strawberries - yummy (he does look after his ol' Mum very well )!

We don't really mind about missing the wedding; the celebrants will have a great time without our presence, and they were being a bit off about CD attending anyway. Instead we're going to meet up with DS3 & GF for a few days - much cheaper as it won't involve another ferry, and to be honest DS4 and I would both rather spend some time with his brother and lovely GF..
Memo to self: Must put DS3 on camper-van's insurance to facilitate travelling further than I can manage to drive in one go - then find fun places to visit together..

Oh, and some happy news from DS1; a new Grandchild is on the way! :j

chevalier

Glad your trip home is going well, if a bit more expensive than expected. Glad too that CD is back to herself as well. That is great news. And yeah to being a Grandma again. I became an aunty again over the weekend. So looking forward to snuggles at Christmas
chev

please-let-me-be-lucky

Congratulations on the new baby :j.

Thrilled to hear of CD's improvements.

Tea sounds yummy!

We certainly do have the rain . Xx

*Robin*

Good morning Diary and Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

Chev - great to 'see' you, how is life treating you these days? Congrats on the arrival of your new nephew / niece - reading between the lines does that mean you're coming back to Blighty for Xmas?

Wouldn't say CD is quite back to her old self yet; am very aware that her condition is being 'propped up' by the antibiotics, so we've a while to go yet before being able to say they have worked to get LP's horrendous infection out of her system (although all the vets we've seen agree that CD is isn't infectious herself because she is being treated - not that she's got any interest in sex anyway, given her age and the fact that she was neutered at least ten years ago).

Still, we're seeing a bit of the typical snow-dog bolshiness re-emerge: Yesterday camper-van's gas bottle ran out [again - aargh - those little bottles don't last long!] so I went off with our host to try and find a replacement, leaving CD with Divo Four..
It wasn't raining, there were actually blue patches in the sky so DS had tethered CD on the lawn while getting on with something useful (clearing ditches I think).
She was as grumpy as could be when I returned; wouldn't greet me, only followed me back to the van because being on the lead meant she had no alternative. Didn't want to go for a walk with me [DS took her while I cooked dinner], take her ham-wrapped pills from my hand or eat the meal I prepared for her. Last night CD slept right at the other end of the van - in short; refused to have anything to do with me!
This morning she is thawing a little; now curled up by my feet but still hasn't eaten her dinner and doesn't want cuddles..

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Congratulations on the new baby :j.

Shhhhh Lucky! ..Such sentiment is premature - don't want to jinx the pregnancy, especially after DGS' very rocky arrival! Positive vibes are welcome though..

The rain is back with a vengeance today; rather a shame because Divo Four has gone out with our hosts, hoping to take some 'photos of a job they're doing (for their website). Yours truly volunteered to weed the veggie garden - a task I've really been missing since leaving the Nest - so hope it clears up soon.

Did a small top-up shop yesterday while [fruitlessly] searching for caravan-style gas bottles; was quite shocked at the high prices locally - at least twice what am used to paying at the German supermarkets! Compromised on the gas by borrowing one of our host's bottles which the local supplier would exchange - at least that meant van's freezer is still working and we could put on the heating last night (luxury, lol!).
I'd just made dinner when a white van pulled up next to camper-van, sounding it's horn. Went out to talk to the driver, only to be offered a wonderful selection of fresh-caught fish.. Well, couldn't say no as the chap had gone to such effort, so last night DS and self dined on fillets of black bream - very like sea-bass - absolutely delicious (we'll have the veggie curry tonight )!

Spent £36 in all yesterday.. [:o]