Whizzie

Hello from a Premier Inn in Coventry an best wishes to everyone here Unusually for me I am away for a couple of days re work, Day 1 of being forcibly separated from a computer and I've had 3 booking enquiries for WagTails House by e-mail and 2 by phone, oddly after a quiet patch as we now don't have availability on the dates many people want. Can't quite believe it or the fact that a simple post on my Facebook page the other day is now showing almost 600 views :O Due home tonight so hoping it does not snow much!

Drink the gin. One less thing to pack!

Poor Charlie. I've heard of so many dogs struck down with this vestibular syndrome, but very positive news on recoveries so I think you have cause for some optimism there. Good news about Kinky cat Alex but not so great about the early pooh overload Jazz. Sam, it must be getting a bit stressy as the big day approaches, but she who has saved many can I'm sure find a way to cope with a few bits of surplus furniture. After a wet morning walk, Reuben returned like the skinniest, muddiest hippo in history. Fancy choosing a white dog who suffers extensive splashback from high speed running.

Oh dear what a worry Snow, but it is only a maybe as yet so let's hope it isn't anything so bad. I'm sure someone will be around before mid-April to advise you even if you have to push to get answers. What a day Sam! I have more mundane good news - THE LAWNMOWER HAS LANDED! It would appear that the courier recovered it from wrong address and redelivered to correct location. The delivery label had been carefully removed so we suspect the original household was less than honest and decided to do nothing more in the hope of gaining a free lawnmower! Max (a retired copper) feels like knocking the door just to say "we know who you are!". Hope you get your delivery sorted too Alex. In fairness mine was resolved quite quickly (26hrs) once I raised the query.

Not fun Jayne. It took me a good week to recover from food poisoning from scampi once, although actually being sick stopped after about 48hrs. I tried coca cola which I rarely touch otherwise & it worked a treat. It may not have any medicinal evidence to support the claim but I feel sure it killed any residual bugs within hours & it gave me some energy back too. Please post an auction reminder again later Karen - I tend to forget as I have lots of stuff going on at the moment.

I've heard a few things about Yodel. They have e-mailed Amazon now saying that the driver's geocode placed him in the wrong road. Driver will attempt to retrieve & redeliver parcel. I am not unduly worried as Amazon have been very helpful and said if it is not sorted by the end of Wednesday they will send another lawnmower out. Amazon's business is somewhat reliant on a good name for successful deliveries. If the worst comes to the worst, I paid on my credit card so can get payment clawed back. It's just a bit of a pain & I will be glad when it is resolved. Good luck with the assessment Jazz

Back from a few lovely days at WagTails House - it was mild and mostly sunny, unlike now. Dogs had a fab time. Jayne - you have been ill for too long, hope doctor can get things sorted quickly now. Owl & Snow - sorry to hear more news of poorly relatives. Sal the dog sounds very collie-ish We had dog ear trouble about a decade ago - I still find pinprick dots of blood in strange places! Woe is me & my lost lawnmower for WagTails. I bought it from Amazon & arranged delivery to my friends in Wales who look after the house - scheduled delivery last week but nothing. Tracked with Yodel who said delivered safely to back porch of their house a week ago - house has no back porch! Drivers geocode is recorded at right house number but wrong road. Aargh! Amazon have been helpful so I'm sure I will get a lawnmower - eventually!

We are going to WagTails later today for a short break - I feel like I need one! Best wishes to all - may your troubles vanish!

Monster chair Gooster! Very nice though? Can your feet reach the ground as you are only little? Bit down in the dumps - my Dad is still coughing horribly despite the antibiotics & there is something I am very unhappy about at work I have been to the bank asking about arranging online access for my parents accounts so I can do payments, transfers etc for them rather than their old fashioned way of lots of cheques & visits to the bank (!). Bank actually suggested I get full third party access granted while my parents can still go in & talk about it because otherwise it is a legal process which is complex & costly. It may be an idea as Dad has always dealt with anything financial & Mum just doesn't want to know. I jokingly said they should give me all their money and I would pay Mum a monthly allowance and was shocked when she actually seemed to like that idea (not my plan at all!).

Good luck wishes for your Mum Griff James sent me a text while I was out on transport run to say he eventually got home from hospital last night. He is very happy about that. The little Oldies dog was a real sweetie - staffie looks & shape but very small in size. Lovely natured if a bit windy!

Sending best wishes to all with worries, illness or lost plots ;) I have a busy weekend ahead. A transport run for Oldies today & a sponsored walk with Deaf Dog Network tomorrow. I will enjoy both but could use some extra energy beans as busy at work covering for & visiting James & parents are in major stress state over "fence gate" - a dispute over location of a fence!

Alas poor Murtle, mad as a march hare ;) My dogs were not in need of any biscuits from either frown or friend. Too much of that advanced statistical analysis perhaps or wrong person perhaps!

Eh??? I have no idea what this means. Has Miss Murtle had some of the Squirrel dentist drugs?

Morning All Went to visit James again last night. He should be discharged today or Monday as he can slide off the bed into a wheelchair & manage the loo. Apart from shuffle to loo, no other standing or walking allowed yet. WagTails House is doing nicely now - 20 full weeks booked, plus a long weekend over Easter & a pending enquiry for 2 peak August weeks. I have stopped worrying about selling now & transferred my angst to worrying about it being treated kindly!

That would be "advanced statistical analysis" then with perhaps some "trend interpretation" and "using past performance to predict future behavior patterns" thrown in the mix! Highly skilled stuff!

Sorry to hear about the house aggro Jazz & the illness/appointment troubles Griff. James is still in hospital but they are very pleased with the surgery and his progress. Physios are getting him sat on the bed and dangling his legs for progressively longer times. The next stage is to stand him with the aid of a sack truck type thing, then to see if he can sit in a chair. They are pushing him quite hard but James is very determined. He may actually be discharged in about a week & I know he will be so pleased to be back with his family - they are working out how to accommodate him downstairs at home. Still a long road ahead but all moving in the right direction. Clever folk these surgeons!

Mmm, I wonder Sorry if I've been quiet. My sex life is just sooo exhausting I just don't have the energy left ;) (And for the internet trolls out there for posterity, this is not a serious post!)

Thinking of Alex & Owl. I've crumbled every time over ashes. I don't think it is unusual at all but hugs to you from all here x

I haven't got specific experience with students or graduates in this area but I do have a graduate coming to work here next week to gain just such experience so I can ask them! I know they had trouble finding a commercial placement so were advised to look at charities & asked us as a relaltive works here. Meanwhile I recommend the following places to explore further:- http://www.do-it.org.uk http://www.wwv.org.uk (for worldwide volunteering) http://www.prospects.ac.uk We have found The Guardian to be excellent for advertising volunteer vacancies online - and it is free for charities. The other way of going about it is to form a link with a specific college or university that offers this type of course/degree. A good relationship may get you a steady flow from the same source so low maintenance! Try contact through their careers office and also consider courses with media or journalism in the title. You will need to create a job spec/project brief for what is to be done & be clear about where and what help/supervision is offered. Most graduates will be looking to learn from a more experienced person - I'm not sure how this would work at DogStar. Hope this helps get you started but like all things you may need to invest a bit of time up front.

My role is Fundraising & Marketing & incorporates an element of PR if that's any help

Morning all. Thinking of you Alex Well done to Molly & good luck for Logan I am going to visit James in hospital later - 1 week after the surgery to reconstruct his leg. I understand they are pleased with progess. I need to pull myself together a bit as still very upset after seeing my parents last night. Dad's had a bad few days, he's coughing terribly & feeling a lot weaker. He was talking about not being sure how long he's got - not a nice conversation to have. I'd like to murder the neighbour who has sent them a solicitors letter re fence & a boundary dispute - we could really do without that hassle right now!

I'm so sorry Alex. Try to think of all the wonderfully happy times Max had with you and not just the last few difficult days. I know it's not easy. Max could not have had a more loving carer. You did what you believed best for him at the end & that's all anyone can do. Thinking of you today. You'll get by simply because you have to but we can imagine your inner pain

Oh Alex, I am so sorry to hear the devastating news about Max. Cherish every moment you can with him. When we lost out beloved Jester he was diagnosed with lung cancer on the Monday & we said goodbye on the Friday. It was bittersweet but we shared and treasure those last few days x

Sorry to hear Max is so poorly Hope a diagnosis and solution can be found

Ooh err Sam, you are much cleverer than I am but thank you. I might ask my work colleague James to have a look at some of this for me when he is back home recuperating from is accident. He might appreciate something else to add to his list of activities for the brain while his body recovers and he loves techie stuff. He e-mailed us on Sunday to say thank you for the itunes vouchers bought with the collection at work