ClazUK

This is them the weekend I got them - they've grown a bit since, I'll try to get new pics soon. The dogs are fantastic with them and my long-term aim is to integrate them fully. They're both boys but I will be getting them snipped in a while.

What's the best day? Saturday?

Can visitors pop in? I had plans for the weekend that now aren't happening; there are a few people going that I'd love to meet/see again and it's not too far for a day out.

Alex Sam has summed it up better than I could; please don't forget the good things you've brought to other peoples/animals lives. I've had a ponder on this and there are a few maybes that came up..... Buying White Lodge took Gary & I into a very hard phase in our lives, caused me to have a breakdown, our marriage to fail, and I got an injury that means I now need a knee replacement. But....... we rehomed over 300 dogs, a lot of which would be dead by now, we made a lot of good friends through both the rescue aspect and the business aspect and we gained enough equity to be able to have a comfortable and amicable divorce. It would have been easier to stay in Reading, where we both had a strong network of family and friends. It's hard building a new life in a place where you know very few people, but we got there in Melton Mowbray and we can do it again. No regrets regarding the divorce; Gary and I had drifted apart in so many ways, better we split when we did than end up hating each other. I saw him a few weeks ago and was pleased to see him and Jack, but he's nothing more than a friend, now. The biggie that's a bit raw with me now is Matt. I met him through a friend (Mr Lunch with those of you with long memories) and spent several months with him as a friend and studiously avoiding getting involved with him. I KNEW the distance, the time, the cost etc. would make a difference. He's 16 years younger than me but that's never mattered, except possibly the issue of maturity But meeting Matt shortly before I moved to Northampton meant my weekends were enveloped in doing things with him. It made the transition easier, but it stopped me from getting out in Northampton and building a new life. We split last week; all the irreconcilable differences were still there and we both agreed it was never going to work. We're going to be mates; we still talk regularly, and have made plans to do things together later this year. But I can't help thinking that my life here would be more sorted if we'd always stayed friends instead of becoming partners. I don't think I'd 'undo' anything, as the path I've walked has taken me to places and people I'd not want to have missed. But I think it's human nature to think "What if....?"

Morning..... I step back into RMF with some trepidation, it's been months and I've missed so much, for which I'm sorry. I've been a bit wrapped up in real life, but my parents health is improving slowly, so less journeys down South, and Matt & I have called it a day (yes, again) so less journeys up North. And I've started looking for a new job as I have never worked anywhere that more closely resembles a sweat shop. I'm hoping to catch up with a few Fugees this weekend and am homechecking for the Oldies Club this afternoon. Would anyone like to summarise the last two months?! I'm not promising to keep up but I'll try

A lot, lately. Like you I don't have any answers yet

I'm still too skint but I've borrowed the money, I couldn't bear looking out on the mess anymore. I'm hoping it will be done in 2-3 weeks, then I'm doing the planting myself. There have been a few tweaks from Helens original design, partly to save a few quids and also to accommodate Sky who is refusing to pee on anything but grass, and my new baby bunnies who need somewhere for their run to go. So the top swirly bits remain the same, but from the front of the gazebo down to the pointed end of the garden will be one long swathe of grass with a swirl at the tip. The bunny cage will be on slabs to the right of the gazebo, where the 3 shrubs are in the plan. Progress to date (eeeek! at orangeness of fence):

Happy belated birthday, Jules

Picking up on what Billy siad, I think there's a lot of truth, there. I'm old enough to remember when homosexuality wasn't generally acceptable. It's easier now to be outwardly gay but if you have other 'deviations' you still have to hide them away in todays society; we are nowhere near as liberal as we like to think we are. There is a wonderfully enlightened piece here: http://dale-miller.com/interesting/men-in-...-cross-dresser/ I feel for the 'upset' person here, but I also feel deeply for anyone who has to go through life hiding their true self.

Cr@p pic of me (no make-up, Sunday morning walk) but happy that Guinn is still taking pleasure from finishing my icecreams at her age:

The partner of a good friend is a CD (and a very gorgeous one at that), I'm sure they'd both be happy to talk to you as they combine it as part of a very loving relationship. PM me if you'd like.

Thinking of you, Billy. You gave him so much love

I'm so sorry to hear this

Hello I just clicked on RMF and it took me to page 13 (3rd April) what have I missed? Hello I just clicked on RMF and it took me to page 13 (3rd April) what have I missed?

Thanks for my birthday messages I'm in Cornwall with Matt, having had a hectic Saturday with my family and a leisurely journey down here yesterday. Tonight we go out for a meal with our hosts (and my oldest bestest mate) and tomorrow M goes home. Wednesday I travel to London for more food and friends, before returning home on Thursday. Thanks again, I hope to pop back online before I move on.

Thanks for phoning me, to let me know. It's such a shock, he'll always seem young to me. Thanks for giving him a wonderful life. Sleep tight sweet boy

Sending huge hugs to Riley Get in touch with Alison (Mist on here) - her Snickett had SLO and Alison got herself very well informed about it.

Happy Birthday, Marie

Sorry it's late - hope you had a fab day

I'm feeling that, I can't imagine the gap she's left with you guys I've completely neglected The Refuge lately. The Mum/Dad issue has become a bit overwhelming. Sorry. Dad has moved into a nursing home, he has moments when he's like him, other moments he's flat and lost. He desperately wants to go home but would probably hurt himself in his workshop or set fire to the place if let unsupervised for long. Mum has had the knee replacement. She hoped to go home around now, but has got pneumonia. Currently my brother and I are ferrying my Dad to see my Mum as often as possible but we are both running out of annual leave and ££s and energy. No idea when Mum & Dad are going to be reunited but Mums not going to be out for at least a week. Just wanted to update (and say Hi to Gary) cos a few lovely fugeepeeps have messaged me through Facebook asking.

Morning and thanks for listening to my witter yesterday and thank you for all the kind words. I've not heard from Gary yet but I'm hoping Colleen got a suitably fantastic send off. The car passed the MOT - £164 lighter but at least I'm legal. Mums op went well - she struggled a bit in Recovery but she seems to take ages to wake properly after an op. I'm still skint and tired but that's nothing new As for Dad..... oh it's so hard to accept that the brilliant man who build this: can't always form a coherant sentence. If any of you reiki ladies would like to send him some, I'd be so grateful: My Dad

Thanks guys I'm a bit flat, soooo much to worry about today. It was also the anniversary of Shadow going to the bridge yesterday. Sorry to wallow, I know a lot of you have got a lot of 'stuff' going on, too. Perhaps it's time to resurrect the woe is me corner.

Still miss you, you big old lummox

Tomorrow is the funeral of my ex Mother in Law, mum to Gary (Dognabbit on here). She had been battling with cancer for some time and finally lost the fight. If you could spare a thought for Gary, his Dad Eric and his sister Tina, as they say their Goodbyes to Colleen, the best Mum in Law I could have asked for, I'd be grateful Tomorrow is also the day my Mum has her knee replacement. She needs to get well and fit soon, as she wants to get home. My Dad had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and he is desperate to get out of the rehab ward he's in. Although he's not ready to leave yet, my mothers speedy recovery will mean he'll be home sooner. A few stray thoughts for my Mum would be much appreciated. Finally my car has it's MOT tomorrow. Normally I'd not ask anyone to cross fingers for the Oookmobile, but it's absolutely essential that it's okay, as I need it for running around ailing parents right now. So please could you think 'pass your MOT without too much expense' thoughts for it? It's been a pretty yukky month, starting with an non-operation on my knee that confirmed it needed major work. Then Dad had the stroke. I had 2 weeks off unpaid, recovering from knee pokeage and checking on my folks. Then Colleen died. And now my 78 year old Mum is having a major op. I've completely neglected RMF, my friends and my fugeefriends, for which I am genuinely sorry. Most of my birthday plans have gone on hold through lack of time and poverty. And I'm 50 in 13 days I am hoping April will be better.....

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I'll see what Helen comes up with but I love both the chequerboard grass/slabs idea and the idea of a tiny lawn at the bottom of the garden. Also, if I ever get my housebunny, it will need something to mow Cher, Gary & I had a spectacular lavateria at one of our houses in Reading. It did the same as yours. IIRC we pruned it back drastically and it came back the following year.