Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts

Sunday, 12 October 2014

The House of the Dreaded Lurgy

Well perhaps I'm exaggerating. Just a tad.

A teeny tad.

It just feels like we are all sick.

The cats aren't though, which is a relief. After an initial morning inspection of us, they just slink away only to be seen again if they want fed. Probably very sensible of them.

It started with me, a a sneeze, a cough and a scratchy throat and then BOOM! I was floored by  a cold that quickly found its way to my chest and decided to coorie in and make itself at home there.

My immune system is weakened at the minute so I was laid particularly low by this and for various reasons I am having to rely on the most basic of remedies.




I felt very medieval.  I'm all for a natural approach but this felt extreme. A beechams powder is a miraculous thing..but I can't. But it is all for the best and I'm sure will be worth it.

I'm actually nose deep in a Vick inhaler as I type. Try not to dwell too much on that attractive image, eh?

Archie, our Scottie pup. Has had his own fair share of drama.

A fortnight ago I found a wee lump on his cheek. Being the vigilant and slightly ( read - very) overprotective dog mum I am, he was promptly whisked off to the vets. She made lots of reassuring noises, aspirated the lump and we were sent home with a weeks course of anti-biotics.

Then Archie started to sneeze and he got a doggy cold! Complete with a runny nose. So we had a Snotty Scottie!!

Back to the vets. I fully expect to be invited to their Christmas night out at this rate!

Told to keep taking the tablets and just monitor him. So we did.

He was miserable and did get much better but was frustrated as I kept him away from other dogs. He loves a good play does Archie!!

A week ago the results from his wee lump came back. They were weird results for a pup. Looks like he has lymphoid cells where he shouldn't. Very rare.  His lump was getting smaller, but the lab still recommended removal. Louise, our lovely Vet suggested we get him in for his castration and get the lump removed at the same time. We're trying not to worry too much about the results, as the worst case scenario is going to be heartbreaking.

But as anyone who knows me, knows I have a talent for worrying. A gift, if you will.

Upshot was that we booked him in two days later.

We swithered over the castration part. It seemed like kicking him while he was down, but it was the safest time as he had to go under an anesthetic anyway. I'd rather he had one op than two.

And to be truthful, he was getting a wee bit..ah...hormonal? I was begining to feel a bit sorry for his cuddly bear! A touch territorial and tiny mysterious puddles of pee were appearing in strange places.

As Mr M had to take him to the Vets, he reported that as they were waiting to be called, Archie, very matter-of-factly, pee'd on Mr M's shoe.

Talk about nipping behaviour in the bud!

 He returned home wearing the 'cone of shame', all groggy and feeling betrayed and just a wee soul.

Mr M and I felt terrible.

Then the next day Mr M came down with the cold and chest infection I did. The three of us were miserable together.

Archie's now hit that stage where he's full of beans, hating his buster collar and demanding a lot of attention. Amusing himself by trying to collect our hankies, used or new...whatever he can get his paws on. He's not that fussy. I have no idea how he gets them, but he does!



We are not full of beans, we are like two washed out rags.  working our way through Netflix and taking turns to make hot drinks.

I can't help thinking a Scottie puppy is like two other puppies. He's so sneaky, clever, quick and adorable and seems to be everywhere at the same time. But is a lot of work. It actually took two of us to put him to bed last night. He doesn't like 'bedtime' and runs and hides. It's really the only time he is out and out disobedient.

If I'm wearing a long skirt he actually hides under it! which is so sweet. But makes it easy for me to catch him.

This time next week, he'll have all his stitches removed and be free of the 'Cone'. Hopefully Mr M and I will be back to feeling much better so I think a day at the beach or somewhere else he loves will be in order!



Monday, 1 September 2014

Oh I do like to be beside the sea!

It feels like Autumn is here already. 

In many ways it is. It is my very favourite time of the year. I have never gotten out of the habit of seeing Autumn as a time of new beginnings. It's my Birthday soon so I think that contributes to my habit of starting new resolutions, hobbies and the like around this time.  

My new love appears to be amateur photography. It's easy to get hooked in this era of Instagram. I am an addict.

It all started with my OU course last year. I had to take photo's of my work and actually be imaginative. That struck fear and a sense of dread into my heart. 

I started using Instagram as a tool to practice, because goodness knows I needed to practice and I love it.

There are so many really talented people out there. I find it so inspiring. I am also in incredibly nosy individual and IG offers a peek into so many lives. 

I like I can post something and then come back later with a fresh eye and critique it. I like that friends and family can get a wee glimpse into what I've been up to or what Archie's latest escapade is. 


I love seeing photo's of the mundane right through to the spectactular..... and it makes me smile when some folk get quite snobbish about it all.   Decrying the person who loves selfies or taking pictures of their meals. 

With the arrival of Archie and forseeing the need to record events happening in life, we took the step of investing in a fancy schmancy camera. Mr Mimosa's idea really, he's been trying to buy one for the last few years but other things kept cropping up. The one he chose (I always let him pick gadgets, it's a gift he has) is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 a bridge camera.




To me that means there's lots of buttons and dials and things to click. I was a bit daunted to say the least. 

However slowly but surely I'm getting the hang of it. My IG feed is busy. 

But as I adore beaches and will go to one whenever I can, that means lots of beach photos....




and shell photos.....




and seaweed (with the occasional jellyfish) ...




and of course, adorable little Archie.....










All in all it's been quite a summer. I think I can sit back and think it was certainly a summer I'll never forget, but one that turned out extremely well. In fact pretty perfectly. 

I can only hope that Autumn will be as good. I'm already gearing up to go searching for photogenic golden trees, leaves and forests!