owl

Thank you. Getting Wispa out for a bit before it gets too hot, then hoping for a quiet day before seeing chiropractor at half 3.

40C on our patio this afternoon. Only 21 in house. I have just watered tomatoes in polytunnels at reserve and had lunch here. Now off home to face sulky cross dog who is not being walked until this eve.

Had first decent night's sleep since the neck strain. Not so good walking around, so pacing myself today. Going to get another of those velour neck pillows from Aldi for when this one is in the wash. They are my new friends

Another 48 hrs to chiropractor and with any luck it will. Certainly it won't get better by itself. Sciatica has eased off with a ramble along the riverbank. Neck is still being a pain in the neck.

Griff that is horrid, not to be able to sit in your own garden. Naughty Jazz pups! Very rough night as neck and shoulder pain have been joined by sciatica on same side. Roll on Tuesday afternoon. Neck is improved by lying on lounger, sciatic pain is improved by gentle movement. Trying to alternate between the two.

Families are complicated ... I popped out to Aldi for a few things and found a soft but firm travel pillow that sits round my neck like a fat collar. Really comfortable, and makes me feel much more relaxed. Nice for reading and watching TV, and will probably try sleeping in it. Still overcast and muggy. Patio temperaure at midday was 34C.

More trips are planned for Aug 10 and 11th so hopefully I will be fit by then. Today my neck is really ouch and the only place I am comfortable is the zero gravity garden lounger.

I am about to cancel 2 hr canal boat trip which I was booked for this evening, up the Chesterfield and Retford canal which runs along one side of the reserve. Very disappointed not to go but in too much pain to enjoy it. There will be more over the summer. The trips are run by the local canal trust volunteers, on restored barges.

Griff, I am now in bed propped up by pillows and going to sleep soon. Don't worry.

I have had some very good news and am a happy owl. I have been helping some nice people catch a stray cat who appeared for his breakfast yesterday with a serious eye injury. They had been gaining his confidence for quite a while, but whatever happened to him yesterday had made him very frightened. I borrowed a trap and took it to them at 3.30 and by 5 they had trapped him. He is now at the vet. I am sure he will lose the eye but he is a strong cat so should pull through.

Yes, just about coping. Good thing I have a walking belt for Wispa as well as some nice quiet places where we don't see any other dogs.

On the subject of oldies, my friend who does border terrier rescue put a very old one in foster with her 90+ year old mum last year and they are so happy together. Friend visits morning and evening to check on them both. It had always been a worry to the family that their mum refused to have heating on however cold it was, as she maintained she didn't need it. Last winter the heating was kept on as mum wanted to keep the dog warm! Problem solved. I am in the wars again and bubble wrap won't solve it as I was in bed and should have been safe enough there. Woke up yesterday morning with agonising pain all down right side from head to foot. Eventually I realised that I had strained or twisted both my neck and right shoulder. Feels like trapped nerve, icy cold. Chiropractor away on hols, just my luck. I have an appointment for Tuesday so will just have to take it easy until then. I have wrapped a wrist and hand support band around my neck which has helped quite a bit, and a neck brace is arriving tonight.

Very sad, Fly free little one,

Very tough on all of you. I hope he is indeed still sober.

Suzeanna, you must have had fun raising that lot. Griff, that is truly awful. to watch someone go down such a relentless path of self destruction and know there is nothing you can do about it.