Flying solo

maddiemay

Big lump in my throat as I send gentle hugs to both you and dearest CD. I hate it when our dear furry ones get to be old and frail and we are just taking each week/day/hour as it comes. The fact that any of us human or animal are only here for a limited time and that we have turned ourselves inside out in order to give them the very best care can be rationalized later, but so not now:(:(

Take care of yourself dear Robin, I know that you will do everything in your power for CD, but you must look after you too.

Much love from another friend in the box (I hope that you don't mind me being presumptuous).

MM
Gentle licks from "the one in the avatar" too.

missrlr

Oh Robin, we have a similar thing with Doglet here too. Dawn crying and more frequent accidents if he doesn't get let out instantly. GP does seem to help but we are still on steroids low alternate day dose and low dose other painkillers, it's heart renderingly awful to acknowledge the end of a companion's days on planet earth.
Hugs to all xx

*Robin*

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

Maddiemay and Missrlr - (((Hugs))) and thanks for understanding..
Missrlr - hopefully you can look forward to a reduction / cessation in Doglet's dawn emergencies once his GP intake is up to a therapeutic dose (CD hasn't had a repeat of the problem). It's one of the positive effects noted on TUG by quite a few owners of geriatric pets (so fingers crossed for us both!).

Black Dog had me well and truly in his clutches yesterday, so I stayed out of everyone's way and walked with CD every time the rain let up a bit.
Last night DS cobbled together a scratch meal with the last of our supplies - I knew that tin of baked beans would come in handy at some point, lol.
It was hard to sleep with wind and rain buffeting the van; eventually I persuaded CD to join me on m' bed to keep warm - she wasn't keen, but stayed put until after I finally dropped off.

This is our last day in Wales; tomorrow DS, CD and I are going to find Divo Three and GF. Don't know what will happen then, but can put DS3 on the van's insurance [once within reach of a mobile 'phone signal] which will increase our range significantly - somewhere in the UK it must be sunny! :cool2:

ETA: The solar panel gave up charging our electrical gizmos yesterday - pretty amazing performance given how gloomy it has been since we came to Wales..

missrlr

The south coast is not fantastic and warm but not so windy! Try Sussex or Kent but I think most of the UK will have the same idea. Ashdown Forest perhaps?
BD visiting here so nothing more productive or sensible to say.

Dansmam

Prefer CD to BD any day. Shame we don't get the choice. Had a DD text to say she was feeling sad end of last week, but better now. She and bff are still in Hungary. I'm still pretty envious.the solar system did so well, didn't it! Onwards,and upwards, I blame the rain...

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Gentle Readers, :hello:

Sorry to read BD 'got' you too Missrlr - hope he [STRIKE]******s off[/STRIKE] leaves your locale very soon.. (((hugs))).
Reckon you're right about temperatures being warmer further East along the South coast over the next few days, but will leave the decision to m' big kids - have done my bit by getting to our rendezvous [:cool:].

Dansmam - your turn will come, am in no doubt of it. ..Looking forward to reading about your adventures when it does!

Torrential rain made it a slow trek right across South Wales - 20mph along long sections of the M4 was tedious as well as tiring. Resorted to truckers' caffeine pills again which is why am still awake now..
Weather improved as we crossed The Bridge - nice surprise, there was no charge heading East - then Satnav took us on another mystery tour along roads of decreasing width until finally delivering us at the right place just before dark. Lovely small camp-site, no owners around but other guests said:
"Just choose a spot and make yourselves at home!"
So we did.

Annoying news from Divo Three; Boss wouldn't let him and GF leave site tonight because the crew's work isn't finished yet - so tomorrow we'll have to battle with Security in order to get close enough to pick them up (gates open to the public in the morning; signs are up plus temporary traffic lights and what looks like a one-way system - it will be fun I]not![/I getting camper-van through such narrow lanes in competition with thousands of enthusiastic festival ticket-holders).

Spotted a German supermarket somewhere along the road so called in to replenish van's food-stocks before collecting DS3 (who is perpetually hungry). £53 well spent; cupboards and fridge now stuffed full.

Oh, another unanticipated spend: DS4 went out with Welsh Host's daughter last week and they had a minor mishap in her car.
Other car's owner has clobbered her with an enormous bill (not really justified by the damage as described by both youngsters). Felt guilty because I should really have taken DS to visit his friend, but didn't feel up to it so Host's DD volunteered. She refused a contribution from Divo Four at the time, so we left an envelope for her to find after our departure - £100.

*Robin*

Good morning World! :hello:

..And a beautiful, bright sunny morning it is!
Thank goodness; it's finally chased away BD, thick 'ead and leaden limbs.. Just what the doctor might have ordered, had I consulted him haha.

Divo Three and GF successfully joined camper-van's crew yesterday, thanks to their Boss who delivered 'em on his way back to base for some glamping necessity, crucial to the comfort of their well-heeled guests..
DS3, as is his habit, dived straight into van's fridge and announced he'd cook lunch while we decided where to go next. He chose CD's dinner; a packet of minced lamb* which was soon transformed into spicy sliders accompanied by a tasty mixed veg sauce (*yes it was fresh, human-consumption quality, lol).

We meandered south at the whim of the Satnav and Divo Four's shaky concept of map-reading (which saw one stretch of road traversed three times! :rotfl:).
None of the youngsters had ever seen a chalk figure, which called for a stop at Uffingham to visit the horse and let everyone take a healthy walk on the hills before dinner. At last the weather is being kinder; sunset was glorious and the views spectacular..

This morning everyone is up early, cheered by bright sunshine and birdsong. Am grabbing a few minutes peace while the others strike DS3's tent and sort out his and GF's huge pile of possessions - am amazed how much stuff they're lugging about, but camper-van's storage boxes should take it all if packed sensibly (yesterday most of it got thrown on DS4's bed and in the bathroom, lol).

Today we are heading further South and West, keeping an eye out for interesting landmarks to look at on the way to the youngsters' chosen destination; the Eden Project, which none of us have visited before.

Spends:
Fuel - £39
Top-up shop (inc. replacement dinner for CD) - £11
Car park - £4

Brightspark87

oh Robin a trip South West now I am jealous! I hope that you can find a few beaches for CD to enjoy perhaps? You've chosen a great weekend for it too as its going to be gorgeous. Enjoy x

please-let-me-be-lucky

I really liked the rainforest bit when we visited the Eden Project. My hair didn't though :eek::rotfl:.

Lovely to hear you have good company Xx

Dansmam

Lovely part of the world. Another jealous person here:D. Glad the sun's seen BD off. Heligan garden is close to Eden and I loved it when we visited a few years ago. Had dear departed dad in his wheelchair and it was relatively wheelchair friendly if that helps any of your readers. Pushing chair through the tropical zone at Eden was pretty sweaty though! The girls have gone quiet - another festival. I have taken my own instructions and refuse to worry:rotfl:. Enjoy the southwest!:j