Flying solo

Dansmam

Hi Robin, hope the black dog turns tail and runs off quickly - garlic in the golden paste might do it? Seriously, so sorry to hear the horrid BD has been lurking around. Bit of that here, missing my girls. Thanks for asking after them, I remain anxious but also resigned, given all I can do is be here for them and be encouraging. Eco farm - new one further north last time I heard but heading for Portugal for winter. My cowardly self will be mighty relieved when I hear they're out of Croatia, due to mine and aged mother-out-law`s shared anxiety about the likelihood of either hijack by, or adoption of, stateless children or even whole families - though DD describes refugee crisis as exaggerated by the press...no news there then... girls are also unlikely to travel on without one or more rescue pups, I suspect.
Nights are certainly drawing in. Have given in and the heating is on. Seems early. Clear view of the eclipse from the northern wastes - how about where you are?

missrlr

Hi Robin
Good to see you back I have popped by a few times (sounds stalker like and that really is not the case!). Not quite free of the yoke yet. Sadly there are a number of items that need attention and of course the legal matters to attend. I have a dual sense of relief and anticipation coupled to panic and sense of impending doom. What will be will be. Only 2 weeks left! I am hoping we will head south for a time away from home.
Anyway back to you. Central heating for the van sounds wonderful. I think you will develop a series of important stickers for the van electrics at this rate to prevent unwanted usage! And thank goodness the tenant has seen sense and accepted the raise. Let's hope their behaviour improves and stays that way. Lessons to be learnt there.
Fingers crossed that BD !!!!!!s off soon. Re the e-cigs: undoubtably these have compounds in them That can cause addiction but without knowing the specific brand / version whether these are as addictive as nicotine remains to be seen. Most evidence seems to be less addictive than nicotine but the results do come from manufacturers of the implements themselves so perhaps take with a pinch of salt? Probably on balance fewer nasties than the burning of tobacco.
Right I now must plan for another day.
Hugs xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear Friends, :hello:

Thanks for popping in, Sparky, Dansmam and Missrlr. :T

Wish I could say Black Dog has been chased away, but he's still lurking.. A RL mate has let me down - started making stuff up and generally talking rubbish about me - which left me feeling very stressed and upset because I've wasted a lot of energy trying to help her, when I should have been working on my own never-ending lists of Things To Do.. Stress is really bad for folk with ME/CFS; it's over cost two weeks mired in hopeless depression, feeling oh so alone without DH..

On top of that am worried about CD. Nothing concrete, just she doesn't seem quite right - and she's got dandruff again which only appears when she's sick. One night she made me get up three times to take her out - very unusual - so we went back to the vet with a fresh sample, to have CD's kidney function checked. Not good news; results are much worse than they were in July. Vet thinks it's worth trying another course of antibiotics and increasing the dose of GP for a couple of weeks before repeating the tests, and doing a scan.

I understand what Vet isn't quite saying; she found blood and actively dividing epithelial cells in CD's sample.
..That news was so unsettling we moved three times after leaving the surgery - couldn't decide where I wanted to be. Actually, I do know - it's time to go back to the Nest.

The beautiful weather we're having can't last much longer, and I'm already putting on the heating most nights for an hour or so - gas bottle ran out yesterday.

Ah, but wasn't the eclipse marvellous? Well worth setting an alarm and going outside at three ayem for!

Oh h*ll - three quarters of this post just vanished into the ether! That shouldn't happen; had already previewed it! :mad:

Sorry, too discouraged to try and write it all out again..

Spends:
Gas - £24
Service charges London Flat - £475
Groceries - £5
E-cig spares - £40
Vet - £98

please-let-me-be-lucky

Good to hear from you Robin, though I'm sorry it's not under better circumstances. You are a wonderful friend and I'm sure the problem lies with mate not you. Everything is crossed for CD too.

Sorry this message is short, I'm off out to work now but didn't want to read and run Xx

satchmo1

Sorry for the news, Robin, and I'd be drawn to return to my nest too. Does CD have to have injections in order to cross the channel? Will the injection be ok for CD?


I was savaged by the black dog last week, and it's wounds are still sore, but healing. Passing the salve over....

*Robin*

Hello again, :hello:

Let's try another post before the battery starts beeping (we're 'wild camping' tonight).

Sparky - yes, the mild weather is a blessing; most days CD is happy to go for a decent - if slow - walk which I'm sure is good for both of us.
Am getting on pretty well with the e-ciggie. Still occasionally smoke a roll-up - usually when the e-cig's battery needs re-charging - so have ordered a second kit to remove that temptation. Am surprised to realise I don't actually like the taste of the roll-ups any more (that's got to be good, surely?).

Dansmam - it's hell when our offspring are so far away, isn't it? Especially if there's any kind of political uncertainty or unrest wherever they are.. Your DD sounds like a sensible lass though; adopting a puppy isn't a bad idea, and she and her mate will be heading in the wrong direction for any potential emigrants to try and hitch a ride. The girls will find winter in Portugal almost as chilly as the UK though; bet they end up heading further South and East before the end of the year.

Missrlr - only one more week to go! Know what you mean about mixed excitement and trepidation; jumping into an unknown future is always nerve-wracking. Definitely a good idea to head South for a while; enjoy an extra taste of warm weather while you catch your breath.

Van's heating is indeed wonderful, and yes, several of the switches have sprouted DIY stickers to help me remember the correct settings, lol. CD is much more restful when the van is warm, so I've stopped worrying about gas consumption - just make sure I replace the empty bottle ASAP so always have a spare.

T2 are digging in their heels re continued use of house-sitters (after first of all agreeing to every condition for continuing the tenancy). Am not happy; firstly there's no guarantee these strangers will look after the animals properly, but also because the insurance will be invalidated if people unknown to me - not on the AST - are left alone in the house. Don't know what to do about this problem.

The new windows are being fitted next week - just when the bad weather is due to arrive. Will stick around for that excitement, and must also decide what to tell T2 by the time the job has been done.

Finally managed to get through to a real-live person at the freeholder's office for the London flat. They have lost all the paperwork I sent 'em three years ago, and the woman who was dealing with it is no longer working there. Which explains why progress has been so spectacularly slow - aaargh.

DS3 tells me he's got someone who wants to rent DH's big cottage, and he's appropriated m' Spanish van for now, although is also poised to fly over in order to drive South with CD and self.

To that end, have spent my River voucher on: Spare bulb and fuse kit, two fluorescent jackets, a warning triangle, DIY breathalysers for France, and an immobiliser / tracker / anti-theft thingy (sooo many camper-vans are getting nicked at the moment!).
Still need to sell the satnav and buy a specialist large-vehicle one, get hold of a book showing all the "Aires" - oh and I suppose a valid ticket to get back across the channel might be a good investment.

Lucky - thanks for your support; means a lot..

Satchmo - sorry to hear Black Dog has savaged you too; danged beast is really getting about at the moment..
CD won't need any more jabs until May '16, thank goodness - but if she doesn't respond to the antibiotics and increased doses of GP over the next fortnight, initial costs for detailed diagnostic scans and tests at the vet's here will be over £1k..

missrlr

Oh Robin
What a sorry post to read. RL "friend" needs to go on ignore list for a while. You do need to focus on you amd if that means getting back to the Nest then do it for you and CD. And sooner not later. Sorry if that sounds bossy but I am sure DH would say so too.
Stick some dates in diary for stuff so you can take action later get some help from Divos or third parties for immediate stuff then book your ticket and go. It's getting bad in southern France now, frosts and storms, you have the mountains to contend with too ...

Sorry lecture over. Hugs to you both xx

missrlr

Oh and regarding house sitters temporary house sitters are usually ok wrt insurance as it's preferable to the house being empty.

Bubblesmum

Robin

Just wanted to send positive thoughts to you... Black dog is a miserable thing... And yes the impact on CFD is huge.... And when both hit together it's hard to let things bother you like actions of friends.

Is there another friend who you can bask in their warmth and kindness to aid healing and feelings of wellbeing.

Hearing all your news re T2...I would be considering what is worse the stress of asking them to leave and getting a new tenent or letting things settle and flip for a while and seeing what happens.

I also wonder if the four walls of the camper van as nice as it is... Needs to be swapped for your home and garden and its time to head back... Your posts are more contented there.

Sending warmest wishes

Brightspark87

Hi Robin

Firstly sorry to hear about RL friend - sometimes we need to cut certain people out of our lives. As tough as that sounds they are just no good for us. I had to do this, and although I am never rude or horrid about or to her its much 'healthier' for me this way.

Sorry about CD, sending warm and happy thoughts over your way.

Great news about the roll ups - I agree with you - I don't like them anymore either! If you need a voucher code the online shop I use (all tested etc) often has them and I can give that to you.

I think if the tenants are being funny about house sitters than another stern word is necessary - I understand re insurance so would never do that as a tenant. Have you told them that it would invalidate it and thats why you dont want them (not trying to tell you what to do / might have already said but with some people you have to be blunt!).

xx