Flying solo

NewLeaf_2

hello dear Robin and all dogs. Hope everyone is staying as warm and healthy as possibe. Nothing is wrong with us being known as the mad dogs ladies, I take it as a compliment xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

It feels very cold today; am wrapped up in a double layer of clothes and a duvet. Waiting for the sun to break through and make gardening a tempting prospect.

Was intending to go out this morning - got things to post as most of us have at the moment - but CD scuppered that by vanishing again. At least she came back before I went to search for her, but it's ruined my mood, and it is also too late to go out now as the post office has shut for the day.

I do not like CD disappearing. If she gets as far as the main road there's a real possibility that a passing stranger might grab her; there are so many needy people here these days and it's not apparent that CD has been spayed (selling her on for breeding would pay someone's rent and give them a jolly good xmas). The tradition here is that light-fingeredness can be expected if the owner hasn't protected their property, which is why all the houses have barred windows or shutters.

Also, technically I'm breaking the law if the dogs wander off my land - CD does know where the boundaries are although the garden isn't fenced in - so this time I'm afraid she'll be dragging the chain around for longer than a couple of hours.

dorothy52 wrote: »

Here I an again, Robin, in tears after reading your wonderful and poignant description of 'that last painful gift of love'. That's exactly what it is, and it is such a responsibility isn't it.

Oh dear Dot, I guess this situation is very close to your own recent memories of losing your beloved companion - am so sorry my words cause your emotion to overflow. But am also [perhaps selfishly?] grateful that you're sharing our journey at this time; it really helps to know fellow pet owners do understand the dilemma.

Both the Oldies seem pain-free today; appreciatively sniffing the air which is redolent with scents of their dinner cooking (white fish paella). There is no doubt they're both keenly anticipating that, although if I'm honest neither of them have much else to look forward to apart from dozing in the sunshine..

dorothy52 wrote: »

I remember your very first post when you asked us to give you a gentle nudge as regards sorting out the finances, so I was so pleased to hear that you are cracking on and getting things sorted, well done you.

Don't think anyone who knows me in RL would describe anything I do as "cracking on" :rotfl: am simply not capable of moving fast in any direction these days. So it goes.

What I need to do is rearrange some furniture to liberate a large table where all the different 'subjects' can be laid out and left between sessions. Before any adding up is possible I must sort out which pile all the receipts [two box files full] need to go into. Then enter them on separate spreadsheets and work out what can be set against tax.
Di-dah-di-dah.
Not a favourite occupation; one that has been ignored pretty much since DH fell ill so there's an awful lot of catching up to do. At least I managed to keep receipts and make a few notes..

..Of course I'm stuck at Step One; "rearrange some furniture" - need a strong young man to achieve that. Meanwhile the piles move from box to dining table to bed to box; two steps sideways for each one forward.

After the holidays I'll be meeting up with a lawyer who's going to help me with the Spanish paperwork - worth paying a professional to ensure it's done correctly as I haven't a clue.. Dickensian lawsuits are common here, often prompted by someone not knowing the legal implications of what they're doing. Am being MSE to try and avoid that scenario.

dorothy52 wrote: »

I don't post every day but I most certainly do check in with you and worry if we haven't heard from you or CD for a couple of days, so it's good to hear that you are settling in nicely and I too enjoy hearing about life in a part of the world where I have never visited. I loved the story of your foster daughter and am sure that she did too, and I'm sure it will be lovely for you to have her and her family visit, and again I am quite certain that PC will approve of your allowing your friends and family use his cottage to let them stay and enjoy a holiday while providing you with company and support.

Thank you for your comments, Dot, sometimes I wonder who is reading; it is lovely to know you are popping in.

DH would be most insistent that his cottages are used, and he'd approve of a mix between holiday lets and non-paying visitors - of that I'm certain. I will have a problem removing all the personal items from his little cottage as am running out of storage space - which is a conundrum awaiting a solution.

DS4 is coming to stay very soon; he's promised to help me get the bigger cottage ready for the xmas visitors. He'll use the little one (it will give DS and his GF some private space, and me more time to decide the future of DH's things).

NewLeaf wrote:

Nothing is wrong with us being known as the mad dogs ladies, I take it as a compliment.

:rotfl: In certain circles that is true - personally I hold fellow dog ladies in the highest regard (and have never been disappointed ). But Visitor reminded me that 'normal people' don't talk to their dogs [and expect a response ] or consider clothing covered in shed fur an acceptable norm..

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi Robin .... I'm way behind on your diary so need a big catching up session with a cuppa

*Robin*

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Hi Robin .... I'm way behind on your diary so need a big catching up session with a cuppa

Hello Rising. thanks for popping in. Oh yes please, a cuppa sounds lovely - could do with warming up on the inside here; it's freezing! (This house isn't well insulated by UK standards, and no central heating of course).

It's such a black, quiet night tonight - eerie - think it's time to retire to bed with a cup of tea, so goodnight to all MSEers; sleep well.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Night Robin, sweet dreams Xx

HeadAboveWater

A cuppa is the best way to heat yourself up! From the inside out like you say. And the biggest mug available so you can wrap your hands around it! Cosy

Hope you slept well

NewLeaf_2

i cant imagine not having dog fur someplace!

*Robin*

Good morning Diary and Dear MSE Friends, :hello:

It was Fat Dog's turn to prise me out of bed this morning - she is an artist when it comes to the placement of a cold, wet nose!

Having got over that shock, I just couldn't resist watching the dawn; mist rising from the river made it seem as if we were on an island, looking across a magical foaming sea. Pastel pink and gold sky exploded into brightness as the sun rose above the eastern mountains - which changed from a dark silhouette to glittering peaks in an instant; unbelievably beautiful.

Closer to home, frost lay thick on my island shores - which explains why it was so cold last night, requiring a double quantity of wood to keep the cottage acceptably warm.. Not very MSE.
Still, am doing better than Visitor - we bought our supplies at the same time but he told me he's almost run out of logs already (so much for the supposed benefits of a stove costing over a grand - think I'll stick with my 80€ traditional cheapie until it expires ).

Oh - just remembered; a 'phone-call interrupted my early night at about 2am.. One son waiting at the airport, looking at an arrivals board flashing "estimated" and "delayed" and wondering if I'd heard from his brother who should have landed several hours earlier.
I hadn't. Hope they managed to sort themselves out and DS4 is not still waiting for the UK weather to improve before his flight can take off. Not that it would be the first time he's spent the night in an airport; that's something of a rite of passage in this family. :rotfl:

NewLeaf wrote: »

i cant imagine not having dog fur someplace!

No, neither can I. That would be part of the definition of true loneliness for me..


Not sure what today will bring. Am thick-headed so once again have abandoned plans to go out; is not safe to drive when rattling with painkillers. It's already too late to guarantee UK parcel delivery by xmas so no point in worrying about it - in some ways it's rather nice to get an extra present after the celebratory mood has tarnished and return to work or school looms ahead..

HeadAboveWater

*Robin* wrote: »

I just couldn't resist watching the dawn; mist rising from the river made it seem as if we were on an island, looking across a magical foaming sea. Pastel pink and gold sky exploded into brightness as the sun rose above the eastern mountains - which changed from a dark silhouette to a glittering peak in an instant; unbelievably beautiful.

Aw wow!!!!! Sounds breathtaking Did you take a photo?

Me and OH decided the other morning we're getting up early on Saturday morning, wrapping up in the winter heavies, getting a flask of tea or coffee, and heading out to watch the sunrise!!! I can't wait!! (Just so long as it's a clear and frosty night on Friday obviously!!)

*Robin*

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Aw wow!!!!! Sounds breathtaking Did you take a photo?

Alas no - didn't occur to me; was still half asleep. Tbh my camera isn't really up to capturing such subtle beauty.

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Me and OH decided the other morning we're getting up early on Saturday morning, wrapping up in the winter heavies, getting a flask of tea or coffee, and heading out to watch the sunrise!!! I can't wait!! (Just so long as it's a clear and frosty night on Friday obviously!!)

..Sounds like a lovely plan, if the weather's right for it of course.