Alison

Thanks to everyone for their kind and healing thoughts - they've helped enormously and I'm extremely grateful Sol's diagnosis is a perineal hernia, so whilst he's still got to have surgery it could have been for something so much more serious. I've got to ring tomorrow to book him in on a date some time this month when the rectal surgeon is free. I'm every vet's nightmare in terms of wanting to know everything so if anyone would like to know the latest in terms of research etc. on bum bulges, I'm your woman!

Owned by a Weimaraner myself for 16 years I know exactly what you mean! Well chosen words Jinty and welcome to The Refuge. I've found the friendliness here and willingness to help and share information so useful. I'm sure you will too.

Sol's got a minor bulge or swelling which has developed very slowly - almost imperceptibly - over the last 6 weeks. Nobody but Mrs Paranoid would even have noticed it. His Dad (official owner) still can't see it and neither can anyone else. I just know instinctively that something isn't right so I've booked him for a vet visit on Monday evening. I don't think it's an emergency or I'd have whipped him down to Chine House Veterinary Hospital immediately I noticed it. Having said that, I'm glad that I could get an appointment with my preferred vet on Monday rather than having to wait until Thursday for example. Not an emergency in my opinion but something that needs looking at sooner rather than later. Sorry to be graphic (I have photos, of course ) but it's a slight "bagginess" of the flesh to the right of his rectum. I experienced this with my Weimaraner and it was found to be caused by an abscess on his prostate. Sol's not having any "toilet" trouble; his stools are regular and uniform, bladder function normal. No change in diet or digestion. If anyone has any clues that would be great. If not, could you send some "nothing nasty just a small but deep thorn in yer ginga bum" thoughts for Sol please? Reiki for both Sol's bottom and my mental state would be very much appreciated I appreciate that I come over as very shallow and jokey on The Refuge but seriously, I am more profound than that and love Sol more dearly than I could ever say.

I see right through those seemingly innocent enquiries Flampange and Jazz Go right ahead and give me a phobia of postmen why don't you! I already have a morbid terror of letterboxes so a postie aversion will complete the set very nicely thank you very much - NOT! If that disgusting article finds her way here I'm going to inform the Police that I've received hate mail and tbh, a cursory glance at the evidence will be enough to convince them. That's if they don't turn to stone when they see her of course which I suspect is a strong possibility.

Me, and I'm feeling very nervous Nope, I can relax (I think) Please say you did!

My parcels have been posted and received (can't wait to find out what that MPeg thing does - please keep me posted Fee ) Cheque to DNB for Mod Box No.8 sent today so you should receive that tomorrow Melps. Please send "no CL" thoughts my way, folks!

Town - what a bloody nightmare of a day I've had! Half a day off to go and choose an outfit for a wedding and so traumatised by the experience that I've decided to wear a skirt made by my Mother for her school sewing project in 1956, a resurrected gardening hat and either a rope or opera of pearls borrowed from my dog, provided that he sanctions it. Have I really come to this? Grovelling to Sol for a jewellery loan, potting shed millinery and a 50 year old garment made by a parent I ask you. Whinges in no particular order of magnitude: Smelly alcoholics who kept trying to buy my "greyhound" Stinky streets Graffiti (badly drawn, incoherent spelling) Litter Spoilt teenage girls and their daft overindulgent yummy ( ) mummys, aka mutton dressed as lamb, yah? Indolent shop assistants A makeup makeover that gave me the appearance of Coco The Clown with jaundice (Yves St Laurent - and yes, lady, I'll get you back for that one of these days so watch out!) Loud and inescapable piped music permeating every store Changing rooms the size of a cigar tube Overpriced clothes that would fit no soul on this planet I had to upbraid no less than 3 separate sets of youths for swearing in front of Sol and insist that they apologise to him personally I will give them their due and admit that they did at least do this very sincerely and with no hint of cheek or irony. Still begs the question as to why they felt it was OK to yell profanities in public though. Oh, and how come the f*cking elf and safety f*cking spoilsports who attempt to ruin every bit of fun we have aren't down on those bloody stratospheric platform soles and 7" heels that were on sale just about *everywhere? Talk about a Naomi Campbell waiting to happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm as big a fan of my killer heels as the next woman but these were just mad, dangerous and not even remotely stylish. *On that note, I really do mean everywhere too. I knew that Nottingham was (in)famous for having the most licenced premises per square whatever it is in wherever it is (Europe?) but nobody told me that neighbouring each drinking dive was a bloody shoe shop. I own upwards of 70 pairs, a real devotee, and never believed that I could suffer from shoe shop fatigue but today has proved me wrong. Cobblers to the lot of them Just to cap it all, Nottingham's famously crap resident tranny Dennis who haunts the market now looks credibly feminine. After 30 years, he's finally shaved his beard and started calling himself Denise - how disappointing Pah, pish and phooey to urban life. It's not at all like I was led to believe by watching Sex And The City I can tell you. The balloon seller and the whistling eccentric were nice though I suppose.

Sorry it's a bit late in the day Marion, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Alison xx & Sol xx

Oooh, yes please - for the greyhounds at Leicestershire RGT (formerly Clazuk's White Lodge Longdogs). When winter mid-September comes, they love having knitted garments to wear in the kennels. What a lovely gesture

Rachel looks stunning! Both she and Adam are great individuals and a real credit to you and Les

......then there are those of us who're as thick as a plank who have quite a confident command of grammar! For goodness knows what reason I was thinking about the cases and endings of 2nd declension Latin nouns while I was with Sol on his woodland walk today yet had to ask the newsagent to take the money from my purse to pay for a paper afterwards as I can't even count coins. It's a mad world

I have a feeling it was Snow who needed to find a contact number for an Italian person. Kiri - it might be worth asking the French Consulate in London.

Life is way too short to sweat it Sam. I think that your writing always comes over as very articulate and well-educated

Not just necessary but absolutely vital for some people, including me (and I would actually prefer to be veggie). Don't judge such as I harshly without being cognisant of the facts

I'm having a should I/shouldn't I foster dilemma........... The delightfully smiley, cuddly, perfect in every way Dusty....... .......who White Lodgers have decided should be called Marilyn (Manson) due to her black eye patch

As a fun fundraising idea, how about CL being randomly posted to a Fugee then forwarded after "adventures" to another? Anyone receiving the dratted thing should take photos of her and pass her on to the next unfortunate delighted recipient and post a donation for the dubious privilege of being her custodian to the nominated rescue of the month. Anyone (like me) who is sufficiently scared of her arriving in the post could opt out by donating a quid to the nominated rescue of the month. Worth a pound of my money not to have that monstrosity making an appearance though this letterbox I can tell you!

I had similar thoughts San and that worried me even further - what if Mystery Mod thought the same and landed me with her for just that *purpose? I'm so certain she's coming my way that I even found myself eyeing up photo opportunities this morning while I was in church with Sol (hanging ropes - as in long drop/by the neck - were involved ). That ersatz ornament is the devil's child for sure. *purpose being in terms of raising funds that I'd pay someone to take her off my hands and I'm sure I'm not the only one

I too got a lovely surprise this week from Wendy - leads, collars and toys for the rescue dogs. I'll take some pics of them sporting their new gear at the weekend and post them either here or in HLGS's "happy" thread. Your parcel turned a bit of a sh*tty day into a lovely one so many thanks again for that

The lady I placed the order with also seemed uncertain about this instruction but hey, the customer is king! A superkettle will be placed in your back entrance tomorrow Elaine as requested. Please tell me that you're not going to make tea with it Fee - will post MP doohdah off tomorrow. Please let me know what it does when you find out! Melp - I'm still a touch nervous about the possibility of CL arrival but will be brave and post my cheque for Mod Box no.8 to DNB in the morning Fingers crossed that she is not amongst the goodies.

Elaine Your PM box is full! If you can send me your address before 2pm, the couriers will deliver your Superkettle tomorrow. Let me have any special instructions (e.g. leave in back passage/with neighbour at no.10) in case you're out when they call. Alison x

Well thank you very much for that Marian I may be gone for some time, probably finding myself in a bizarre situation where my own dog is visiting me as a representative of Pets as Therapy as I languish in an institution (he'd just bloody love that too, the smug devil ) That's it! I'm pressing the report button on Phoebejo right now for both the scary photo post and changing her aviator or whatever it's called - that little pic by her user name. I've just spotted it. Cheryl donated Mod Box no.8, I'm certain of it, and now she's taunting me.

.....making this even more like Russian roulette I'm getting seriously nervous now as the odds narrow Who brought the subject of the CL up in the first place? I'm putting a curse upon your house.

I'm tempted to press the report button on that post with the photo and insist that it be changed to a link. It's far more scary than Clazuk's hysterectomy pic (which was changed to a link) and that was in contro!

......and I doubt we're the only ones Murtle! This is like car crash TV or whatever it's called. Why the hell did I go and click on that link so close to bed time? A custom made shudder smiley should be made just for the CL. I'm not referring to her by name any more as it invokes the image too vividly.

I dunno about "auction" - this is beginning to feel more like Russian roulette! Can anyone recall who won (I use the term loosely) the Cabbage Lady last time? The stuff of nightmares Theresa, the stuff of nightmares........