summer holiday

Hallo again everyone!

It's been a busy old time these past few weeks, what with dogs having strokes, my litany of ailments, general daily happenings plus having our delicious friends Donna and Josh up to visit from Bristol last weekend. That was a hoot and a half, let me tell you.

The thing is that my college course has finished for this year and I now have the luxury of some real free time. Crivens! Rather than wax all indolent during the summer months I plan to tackle lots of domestic tasks and get on with the decorating and tittivating of our lovely house. I expect I'll be posting grumpy ramblings here at some point, but what the heck. It's all good clean fun.

I'm away to tend to dinner but felt moved to post this as I've just mentioned my blog on twitter. I know, it's like tidying up before your parents come visiting. Only doing it after they arrive.

*hugs*

Shaun

essays on emma

Hey there peoples. Another quick update on life here in Wombwell. Rowan is proceeding from strength to strength, quite literally so. We are astonished on a daily basis how her faculties are returning, or perhaps more to the point, how she's adapting to the remaining effects of the stroke.

She's now scooting about the place as lively as can be, and will tackle the stairs given half a chance though we have fitted a baby gate to prevent any accidents while we are out. Sure it's rather incongruous but what they hey?

Other news; I've been working on my final essay for this year at college and it's almost finished. I'm just a little uncertain about it and hope to get chance for a quick meeting with my tutor to check that I'm not yapping up the wrong sycamore. Not worried, just having a few doubts about it. Still, the deadline's not until Friday this week and I have scheduled time for any remedial work that may be needed so we'll just have to wait and see.

It's important, but just now so is Rowan.

Oh, and my leg's almoset free of infection. Gowd bless those heavy duty antibiotics.

Love is in everything. Even the sad parts.

S
x

what a change

Hey there. Just a quick note about Rowan's health.  I am thrilled to report that she has made an amazing recovery. Though she's still a little more doddery than before the stroke; she wanders in strange circles at times, but she's very much up and about. Her eye flickering has all but vanished, and she seems to be on the road to health - for a given value of health, obviously.

So, the vet advises she remain on vivitonin, and that we excercise her gently and don't let her tire herself out too much. Looks to me like the problem will be holding her back at this rate, and believe me when I say that neither Ju nor I are complaining. In the slightest.

In other news, my grim cellulitis infection in my leg is proving a bugger to shift. I'm on my second batch of combined antibiotics to get rid of it and am hopeful it's on the way out, not least because I'm on the wagon with this treatment.

I'll report on things as I get a chance, but remember that the world is a beautiful place; and that bad things do happen, but so do good ones. Perspective helps.

Peas. Ought.

rowan

She's our oldest dog, a smashing mongrel who was born around the start of October 1995 and who has lived with us since she was about 6 weeks old. Never the brightest dog, but a grand, gentle and loving little thing. She's had a largely healthy life, and travelled with us, gone camping and what have you but has had one heck of a week this week.

She stared off limping and avoiding using one of her back legs, so off to the vets we went. Diagnosis? A damaged cruciate ligament that may heal itself, or could require a bit of surgery. A prescription of painkillers and see you in two weeks. Easy peasy.

That was on Wednesday this week, and here's a photo of her in the waiting room that day. Yesterday I came home from work and hit the studying for a few hours, but when I'd got my nose out of Jane Austen's "Emma' I noticed Rowan's eyes flicking left-right like she was reading something. My previous dog, Jasmine, had this symptom when she'd had a stroke so I knew what had happened and called the vets, and then Julian. The diagnosis is a mild stroke from which she may recover, and the treatment is a medication called vivitonin, rest and a generous dose of luck with a side order of hope. She's not in distress or discomfort but she is wobbly on her legs.

We'll see how she progresses; some dogs make good recoveries from this kind of thing. The important thing is she's loved and we're doing our best for her. Of course, I'll keep you posted as to her progress, but I really needed to write this down just now. My chest feels a little lighter.

S
x

what do?

Hey there folkses. Hope you're keeping well and that life is taking you in interesting directions. Mine is for sure.

Managed well over Mother's Day, though we had a body ill at work so the pressure was on a little. Luckily I'd submitted my Film Studies essay early (though I realised the other day that I'd not completed my referencing - silly Shaunface!) so I could focus on work alone. Since then I've also completed and submitted my history essay on the Great Depression and New Deal's influences on Americal Politics. Was in a tizz about it and sought guidance from my tutor. What a star - she gave me some constructive criticism on what was a mess of concepts and semi-conclusions which led to my being able to see the wood for the trees. Hopefully I done good but only time will tell, and while I wait and enjoy my Easter vacation from college I can catch up on my Lit. essay about Jane Austen's "Emma". Got me a load of resources on top of my reading of the text so should be able to nail that during the 3 week Easter hols. Yay!

That'll be most of my first year completed, with about 75% of the course credits I need gained too. Joy!

The last 6 weeks has been deadlines and pressure, but I think that I've managed myself really rather splendidly; managing to hit deadlines without asking for extensions or having to work through the night. Tidy ;)

Oh, and as a reward for working so hard at Mother's Day and at college I bought myself a nice hybrid road/track cycle from Geared Up in Wombwell, S73. Only had a few rides out but blooming loving it. More about that later, along with pics.

Gotta go - food's ready :p

on your bike

Hallo there reader. Apologies once again for another protracted silence but work, college and home life once again have conspired to give me little free time to blog. Yah, it's true.

Just wanted to say that the next few weeks are going to be super busy for me as I have three college assignments with deadlines approaching and Mother's Day is in a fortnight too so I'm going to be quiet again. Okay? Good.

Other news is that our delightful friends Donna and Josh from Bristol were our hosts the other week, and were kind enough to give me a mountain bike. Kind of put together with spares that they had lurking about - recycling? - but what a sweet thing to do, eh?  I have just ordered some lights, mudguards, a helmet and a lock for it, and once they arrive I'll be including cycling in my repertoire of exercises to undertake. More health and green loveliness for me, so a really big thank you to D&J for the gift!

Away I go to enjoy the evening of relaxation before the working/learning week begins.

All is full of love.

Be nice; get good karma.

bad shaunface

Yes, I know that I've not been posting a picture a day and I am wracked with remorse.

I shall try harder; I will post pictures for you.

I promise.