15months to debt free - I hope

jwil

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that, how hard it must be to lose both in such a short time.  Thinking of you xx

ladyholly

Thank you jwil. I think we are beginning to come to terms with being dog free but have asked people to be on the look out for another one for us. The house is too quiet. Its not that they were noisy but there was a presence that is missing.

Ironong done this morning plus 2 loads of washing (nothing in it will need ironing). Hoovered all through the house and had to empty the cleaner 3 times. I am very lax in hoovering except the lounge as Mr L moans about the noise. It was mainly dog hair as Mr L had long hair. It will be interesting to see if we can clear the hair before we get another dog. After lunch we wnt on a fairly long walk that we used to do regularly with the dogs when they were fit enough and met so many lovely dogs it was quite cathartic. I was absolutely shattered and in pain when we got back but it has really helped Mr L so was worth it. I have done nothing since except cook dinner and have no intention of doing anything else physical today.

I have cashed out another £5 on surveys and moved £10 into my account from paypal leaving enough in for next months charity donation. I have also had a small ebay sale (if it is paid for).

Nothing else financial as I havent been anyway to spend anything but assuming my sale is paid for I will have to go out tomorrow.

Quiet evening in store. I hope everyones is the same.

Sun_Addict

Our dog is our first one. Mr SA and DD pestered for a dog for years before I cracked and now I can’t imagine life without one. She’s 10 and when the unthinkable happens we’ll definitely get another. 

foxgloves

I've been catching up with a few diaries, @ladyholly, & I was so sorry to hear about your dogs. They clearly had a lovely life with you, but I know how strange the house must feel with you losing them both so close together. So much of our daily routine & activity is bound up with our animals, isn't it? They are part of our family & that's why we miss them terribly.
F x

Moneyfordreams

Sorry to read about your dogs LH - sending my condolences 

ladyholly

foxgloves said:

I've been catching up with a few diaries, @ladyholly, & I was so sorry to hear about your dogs. They clearly had a lovely life with you, but I know how strange the house must feel with you losing them both so close together. So much of our daily routine & activity is bound up with our animals, isn't it? They are part of our family & that's why we miss them terribly.
F x

I think you have hit the nail on the head. We usually have fairly routine times for feeding, walking etc. It now reaches the time for doing those things and we are a bit lost as to what we should do.

We have both spent a lot of time on the internet looking at the dogs in rescues. Due to our age, my health and previous experience we have to be quite particular in choosing a new companion. Neither do we want to rush into a decision which may not be suitable. It took us over a year to find Mr H after our old Collie died. Over the years we have had up to 4 dogs at a time but that was when we were fostering as well. We have decided one will be enough now (unless the perfect bonded pair turn up). 

foxgloves

Yes, it doesn't do to rush into things, but there again, I'm sure that dog rescues are as bursting at the seams as all our local cat shelters. So many abandoned animals during & post-pandemic (we think our Ash must have been a dumped kitten early in Lockdown as he was young to be living rough & clearly hadn't been used to human contact for some time) & it's continuing because people can no longer afford the cost of keeping them. 
Just adopting one dog would help to keep costs steadier but as you said, it's possible there may be a bonded pair. I expect it's the same with dogs as it is with re-homing cats in that it's harder to find homes for pairs.
Years ago, when I lost a dear old grey tabby to kidney disease, I intended to leave a long gap before adopting another. It just felt too sad. But that changed when I tentatively looked at the website of a local cat charity & spotted an enormous ginger & white tomcat who had been a long-term stray, followed by 3 failed adoptions. I just felt that we could be his final successful rehoming & we were! He didn't replace my previous cat, he was a different boy entirely. He was with us for 6 years & I was so pleased we were able to give him that stability. 
So you never know, you may just spot an ideal candidate & feel like using your obvious doggy experience & knowledge to give him or her a chance. 
They do become such a part of our daily routines.
F x

Humdinger1

Sending love @ladyholly.  Only just got into dog ownership myself but gosh what personalities they are! Keep looking as to get another is the best tribute to the ones that have gone before. Love Humdinger xx 

ladyholly

Thank you everyone for your kind comments. Humdinger1 once you have a dog you will always need another. They creep into your heart .

I came downstairs this morning to find Mr L had been up all night looking at dog rescues. He hasnt found a suitable one yet but its been less than a week. One will turn up we are sure and it will choose us .

We are going for a walk every day partly to get our fill of other peoples mutts and partly to get Mr L out. He rarely leaves the house most of the time and having the dogs was good for him. It is not easy for me and my legs, ankles, feet all hurt plus I come home sounding like a steam train but he probably wont go without me. One advantage of having older dogs was they didnt need long walks. However if we just have one dog he wont need me to go with him.

I have been given some stuff to sell by a friend so need to go through it tomorrow and list it. I think she is trying to keep me busy. On that note her dd is pregnant (due in April). Has anyone got any ideas what I can give them as a gift as she has been very generous to us. I am thinking something for the grandparents, something for the parents and something for the baby. Its been a long while since I had to find baby gifts and I dont know what is suitable these days.

CRANKY40

Maybe a photo album each for the parents and grandparents? In this digital age everyone seems to hold photos on whatever device they're currently using but I printed off my House Troll's baby photos as I took them and we do enjoy looking at them from time to time (he's 18 now). For the baby, maybe something practical like vests or babygrows but in a size two up from newborn. It's common to receive a lot of stuff for the new baby but mum will still need things when the baby is bigger. 

I'm sorry about your doggies but big hugs for being brave enough to let them go when they needed to. There's a dog that needs rehoming near here but I think we're too far for you (North West). Poor dog has really bad separation anxiety and barks non stop if he's left alone.