Tales from The Shire

Well we survived Storm Eleanor unscathed and FDawg only woke me once last night :eek: So after a relatively good night's sleep I have been making in-roads into my admin.

Make and Save Pennies

• chap came round this morning to quote for field maintenance. The cost is about what I'd anticipated and I'm prepared to pay it for the luxury of having the place all to ourselves. Now I just have to tell the farmer we don't want any more sheep
• the boiler service is booked for Monday. I think the cost will be about average for what's being charged locally. However, it was really a case of who was available and was prepared to commit to a date and time
• the grocery shop was delivered and I may not be slightly under budget for this week after all as I ordered an extra bag of potatoes and 8 kitchen rolls by mistake :eek: but forgot to order eggs and milk which I'll now have to pick up tomorrow

Stay Well

• I rearranged the routine blood test I had to cancel due to snow
• and ordered my repeat prescription
• the wind is just picking up to storm force for FDawg's late walk although I suppose it will make for a better work out :rotfl:

Have Fun

• we went over to the neighbours for drinks last night and, despite us both being exhausted, had a lovely time. We took a bottle of each colour which had been gifted to us over Christmas so there was no cost. I am a little suspicious of neighbours' motives though as I came away with cat care responsibilities for the last two weeks in January when they are going on holiday :eek: It does mean I'm earning quite a lot of dog care points for the future though
• I booked my truck in for a full valet. Mr F has been giving it a quick exterior wash from time to time but the inside hasn't been cleaned for about 2 years :eek: I can't face doing it myself with the weather so awful so I'm going to stump up to have it done at the local car wash. Not MS but it will make me very happy to be able to drive a clean car. I'll meet the cost from my personal spends as it's really a treat for me
• FDawg will be attending a 'special dog' session on Sunday. It's to kick off his socialisation training. He is becoming a very good boy but needs help to overcome his fear of people and other dogs. I'm not sure whether this one belongs under 'staying well/sane' or 'fun'. I'll reserve judgement until after the class :rotfl:

I know that not all of the above qualifies as money saving but, as always with me, it's about maintaining some balance. We had an exciting but exhausting year last year and I'd just like to make this one a little easier.

Book club is on tonight and I'm determined to go having missed the last one. I'll buy this month's book and got to the pub for a glass of wine after but it still makes for a relatively cheap night out.

But first, FDawg's walk. I hope a house doesn't drop on me

Fortune x

Watty1 wrote: »

Used to love training with my last dog. Definitely fun. And had some cheap nights out with the class too! Training with the current WattyDog is a chore I must admit. For me at least. Mr Watty loves him tho....

FDawg is very easy to train at home because he is smart, eager to please and would do anything for a cocktail sausage :rotfl: It's not so easy when we are out and about though because he gets very anxious and his thinking brain switches off so that fight or flight can take over. This Sunday is to assess him and work out what training could help.

beanielou wrote: »

Balance is always good

If only I could achieve it Beanie :rotfl: It's like walking a tightrope for me and I'm always having to adjust one way or another

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I hope you don't get blown away on your dog walk. It's a bit windy down here, but, so far this winter, we seem to have escaped most of the extremes

Why or why did I every leave Kent Goldie :rotfl: My neighbours have said that this is the worst winter they can remember for a long time but that the Spring and Summer are very beautiful here. We have plans to make life a little easier next winter, now we have experienced this one, but the house has stood up to some disgraceful weather and that's the important thing.

It was only the cobwebs that got blown away on our dog walk but I have very pink cheeks :rotfl:

Fortune x

FDawg went to his Special Dog Training Session today. It proved to be very challenging for him but he survived and I think the trainer is a little bit in love with him now (she kept saying how handsome he was). He is a very sweet character and handsome in a lollopy, cartoonish sort of way. Plus he intrigued her because some of his behaviours she hadn't seen before.

The trainer thought that FDawg was much younger than we had been led to believe and this, combined with a lack of socialisation, is why he is so anxious.

She gave me lots of information and tips and we have homework to do before we see her again. FDawg is not going to be ready for groups classes for a while yet

It was an expensive trip though. The trainer suggested changing FDawg's food and the new brand costs twice as much as the old. It does make sense though as FDawg has started losing weight, even though we've increased his portion sizes and it's likely to be because his current brand is too high in carbohydrate and too low in protein. I've also ordered some pet calming plug-ins and sprays on her advice and a bandana that can be sprayed which he can wear when we go out. Apparently the scent works on all mammals and, looking at the website, may cause all the Fortunate household to end up horizontal :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Just to put minds at rest, FDawg is not a quivering wreck all the time. He is very much more relaxed at home now and increasingly interested in toys and games. This is just the next step for him as the more confident he gets the happier he will be. It is costing money but he's our responsibility now and we need to get him whatever he needs.

I really enjoyed the session and learnt lots so I'm going to put dog training under 'Have Fun' in my updates in future. You were right Watty

Happy Sunday all

Fortune x