Herschel

 

                                                                                                                            Herschel

Herschel soaks up the warmth.

Does my life revolve around animals? Yes, four-legged and two-legged. On Monday last week, it was Herschel’s turn to spend a day with the vets. He arrived at 8:45 and had four teeth extracted. By half past three in the afternoon he was home again, and very pleased to be in his normal surroundings. He rubbed all round the dogs, purring loudly. We were told that he had been a very good boy and let the veterinary staff do all they had to do without fuss.

Two days later he was due to have a routine check to make sure everything was healing properly, but in the morning he was not very interested in his breakfast and was only persuaded to eat it with the addition of some chicken broth. He licked up the liquid very readily, but still left the meat, so his appointment was brought forward. The vet could find nothing wrong but felt he must be in pain, so prescribed some pain-killers for him. She gave him one before he came home and he was a very happy boy. We thought he might be a bit high on the drug as he was charging around the house, and we wondered if he would ever settle down to sleep that night.

The prescription was for a minute amount of liquid to be squirted into his throat, where it would be absorbed through the mucous membrane. Cats don’t take kindly to having things sprayed anywhere near them, let alone into their mouths. To add insult to the process, the medicine obviously tasted foul. Even worse was the fact that it had to be administered three times a day.

Herschel is a very forgiving cat. He struggles to get away when he senses what is about to happen. but never scratches or bites. A quick scruffing and the job is soon done, the pain is alleviated and peace is restored. He is now eating normally again. Long may it last!

Yesterday, when Charlie (10) and Jack (7) were with us for the day, both Herschel and Jellicoe received an extraordinary amount of attention. To Charlie’s delight, Herschel went to sleep on his lap and remained there for a long time. This served a double purpose. Sleep is good for healing and recovery, and Charlie was where we could see him and not able to slope off to nick more trifle!

The London Family

 

The London Family

Jack with Roxy, Herschel and Gilbert

The London family came to see us on Saturday. We hadn’t seen them since June and, of course, the children have grown. Charlie was ten in August and is going into his last year of primary school. The nail-biting business of applying to schools begins now, with offers not made until March. The most popular schools have strict catchment areas, which are adjusted from year to year, according to the numbers applying. There is no guarantee of a place being offered, unless the child lives right on the school boundary.

Charlie and Jack made a beeline for the cats and spent much of the day playing with them and stroking them. Jellicoe responded magnificently, stretching out on whichever child’s lap he was inhabiting. Herschel became rather over-stimulated and started lashing his tail, a warning to keep clear. He is not as used to being handled as his brother, since he doesn’t make regular visits to the vet. He is very affectionate, but on his own terms.

Robert is entranced by cats and loves watching them. He says he’d get no work done if he had a cat. As he’s allergic to them, having to take an antihistamine before he comes to our house, it’s not very likely he will be acquiring one. It doesn’t stop Charlie researching hypoallergenic cats, though there are no completely hypoallergenic cats.

Roxy and Gilbert were largely ignored. The children have a Labrador of their own, so dogs are not a novelty to them.

Jack spent quite a long period playing cards, first with me, and then with Barry. Apparently, he plays three card games with Bethan every morning before breakfast!

I had made a trifle, but realised, after I had started, that I had no custard. Charlie and Jack were very understanding, but made it clear that a proper trifle should contain custard. I promised them that I would order some immediately, and did so. The lack of that vital ingredient did not prevent them from quietly demolishing most of it in the dining room as the adults sat and chatted in the conservatory, unaware of the boys’ activity. It didn’t do them any great harm as it was packed with fresh blueberries and raspberries.

All too soon, it was time for them to leave. We sent them away with apples and plums and a tradescantia I had potted up. Ninety minutes later they were home again. It had been a most enjoyable day. The dogs and cats were exhausted, Herschel so much so that he didn’t come upstairs to bed. Most unusual!

The following day was a quiet one, as the animals reverted to their usual routine. Today, Monday, the dogs have been out for a lovely walk, and much joyous swimming in the rather depleted ponds. We have had heavy rain, but need very much more. We haven’t had a hosepipe ban imposed in our area, though it could still happen.

Most schools start back later this week, and life returns to normal, with all the demands that come with a busy Christmas term. The daylight hours are shorter, the nights cooler and longer, and soon we shall be lighting our first fire. Then it will be time to draw the curtains, light the lamps, and enjoy the cosiness of autumn.

Preparations

 

Preparations

Gillian is apt to descend on us with no prior warning, with one or more of her children and grandchildren. It’s always lovely to see her, but we have to rely on what is available in the way of refreshments, though, to be fair, she usually brings her own. That way, the children are not faced with unfamiliar food.

Impromptu family visits are fun, but those which have been telegraphed in advance – that is, planned – take on a different countenance. Absolutely no-one in our family is at all awkward or demanding, but it’s always nice to ensure that things are as welcoming as they can be.

Part of the fun is making sure we have acceptable provisions. For example, dairy milk is not well tolerated by some, so almond milk is provided, but that’s not good for everyone, either, so we order oat milk. Some are vegetarians, and food provided for them must be kept at a safe distance from the offerings for the carnivores.

Once the food has been organised, we set about ‘tidying.’ This is a mammoth task, as we have many interests and are untidy and apt to be distracted.

Finally, ‘alles ist in Ordnung.’ For no particular reason, we use German phrases occasionally. I suppose we use French, too – ‘tout de suite,’ for example. Somehow, foreign phrases seem so much more fitting than our pedestrian English, and, of course, our language is littered with Latin expressions. What a mongrel nation we are!

Anyway, the house is at last less of a tip than usual, the dogs have been exercised, and we welcome our visitors with open arms.

A couple of weeks ago, Susannah and Arthur came to stay for a few days. Susannah works to a different timetable from everyone else, rising at 4:30 and retiring in the early evening. Her childhood friend, Jo, was staying with her for a few weeks. She now lives in Ecuador, but came to see us, which really touched us. She’s a breath of fresh air, a vibrant personality, and great fun. She and Susannah make a wonderful double act, with a terrific sense of humour.

 Yesterday, Bethan and her family came for lunch. They arrived with a beautiful bunch of sunflowers and a loaf of chollah. They never come empty-handed and always bring us chollah from a Jewish bakery close to them, as they know how much we like it. My first experience of chollah was more than thirty years ago when I saw it in a supermarket and thought it would be interesting to try. Robert’s grandmother used to make her own.

We aimed to eat at 1:00, and nearly made it. I think we sat down about 1:30, which is rather good, for us. Charlie and Jack are older now and better able to control their hunger pangs, so it was all quite relaxed.

                  The beef joint prior to cooking. It didn't end up on the floor this time!

Barry had prepared a beef joint ‘sous vide,’ garnished with rosemary and thyme from the garden. It cooked slowly for twenty-four hours and sliced as easily as butter. Bethan took over and cooked the vegetables – carrots, green beans and tenderstem broccoli. I only recently discovered that tenderstem broccoli, sometimes called broccolini, is a hybrid of kale and broccoli. It is delicious cooked al dente (there we are, an Italian phrase to enrich our English) or eaten raw in salad.

Almost as soon as we sat down, Charlie asked if I had made a trifle. Luckily, I had. Out of curiosity, we looked up the French and German translations for trifle and were rewarded with ‘bagatelle,’ and ‘kleinigkeit,’ both meaning ‘a little thing, a minor detail.’ Clearly, trifle is not something familiar in French or German cuisine. It is English in origin, first appearing in cookery books in the sixteenth century.

Roxy and Gilbert were thrilled to see more family members, nudging and nosing them, Gilbert bringing them toys. Robert, Charlie and Jack were delighted to see Herschel and Jellicoe. They would love to have cats of their own, but Robert is allergic to them, and has to take antihistamines before he visits us – or maybe it’s us to whom he’s allergic.

The cats were fussed and stroked and talked to and played with, and responded with grace and patience.

Jack trawled the raspberry canes to discover edible berries, which turned out to be anything which was pinkish. He also discovered a few more cherries and strawberries. Charlie concentrated on training the cats!

                                        Roxy snoozes and dreams

It was a lovely day, and we all slept well last night. My back was stiff and sore by evening, but that was a small price to pay for the pleasure of seeing much-loved family.

                                Gilbert enjoys a well-earned rest
As children and grandchildren grow and create their own family units, it becomes more difficult to arrange meetings. Barry and I are the older (oldest!!)  generation now and as is normal, older family members tend to fade a little into the background, or possibly it is that we become observers more than participants. I know our children would hotly deny that this is the case, but it is the natural order of things, which they will realise in the fullness of time.

Visits

 

Visits

Push-up puppet. I love these little toys! He looks as if he has strange growths on his legs, but they're tree branches behind  him.

I had an ophthalmology appointment last Wednesday – just the usual annual check – but I postponed it as I’m still learning to walk without falling over (I jest!)

It was fortunate that I had, because our eldest daughter, Gillian, arrived unexpectedly with her younger daughter, and three of her grandchildren. Gillian has three children and six grandchildren, ranging in age from one month to twelve years. So, we had Ariella, a very competent four-year-old, and her brother Luca, who is two and a half, and their cousin, Melia, who is two. Melia had broken her arm in two places a few days previously, and had a half-cast on it, but it didn’t stop her doing everything she wanted to.

We had a delightful time with them. The children are all very accustomed to spending time with big dogs, so Roxy and Gilbert were simply accepted as part of the furniture. The cats were more of a novelty, but are unfazed by children, and can swiftly take to the heights if necessary.

They left for the homeward journey with Kiri’s car loaded with last Christmas’s presents and a selection of toys, books and bedding no longer needed in our house. We still have plenty left!

Blue Power Ranger. Apparently, he is autistic, I've just discovered! I think we have some different Power Rangers, too.

On Easter Sunday, Bethan and Robert came for lunch with Charlie and Jack. Barry had promised to cook a roast beef joint ‘sous vide.’

‘Sous vide is a cooking method where food is vacuum-sealedin a bag and then cooked in a precisely regulated water bath for a prolonged period at a low temperature.  This technique ensures even cooking, tender texture, and moisture retention in the food.'

The joint was ceremoniously placed in its water bath on Saturday morning, where it remained for twenty-four hours. While Barry went out for a walk with Bethan and family, and the dogs, I continued preparing vegetables. When they returned home, it was time for the moment of revelation.

 As Barry lifted the meat from the sous vide bath, the bag containing it split, and the beef ended up on the floor. I was so glad I wasn’t responsible for it and just cackled with laughter. It was swiftly picked up and run under the tap and patted dry, ready to be sealed in the frying pan. Roxy and Gilbert were delighted, and spent a long time licking up the juice, which otherwise would have supplemented the gravy. Barry will double-bag the meat next time!

 The meat was delicious, very tender, and moist. Bethan had made an apple and blackberry crumble, and I had made a fruit trifle, so we ‘filled our boots’ to capacity after the main course. We don’t usually eat much during the day. Barry has breakfast and supper, and I normally just have supper.

‘Sous vide’ requires forethought and planning, not something for which I am renowned. I’m more of a ‘look in the fridge and see what’s available’ cook.

Jack had made a collage for me, entitled, ‘The city and the sun’ and I’ve promised him that I’m going to mount and frame it. He also made me a birthday card, which made me laugh. 

Charlie made one, too, but he forgot to bring it with him. He said he'll bring it 'next time.'

Nearly everybody in our house slept very soundly last night. I had several bouts of cramp because I had been on my feet more than usual. It was a small price to pay for the privilege of spending quality time with family.

Tonight, we’re having cold meat and bubble and squeak, followed by fruit crumble and/or trifle. Then we’re returning to our usual light meals. It’s fun to have a blow-out now and then, though.

 

Another birthday

It was Barry’s birthday on Monday and the day passed quietly. In the main, we have gone beyond the stage of buying gifts for each other. It is almost impossible to find something he hasn’t already got, and if he hasn’t got it, he has no interest in acquiring it.

Occasionally, I give him a bottle of fine brandy or port, but he rarely drinks, so the bottles last for a long time. I can find books to interest him, the one pictured here being an example. It is a book to dip into, I think, and we shall both enjoy it.

Otherwise, we each decide if there’s something we would like, we discuss it, it is agreed, and we buy it. It is not the most exciting way to bestow gifts, but it pleases us. Our joy in giving is mainly confined to seeking out presents for the youngest members of our family. There are currently seven under twelve years of age, with a new one expected in March.

Children and grandchildren called and sent messages to wish him a happy birthday. Charlie and Jack sang to him, which was sweet, and Gillian also serenaded him.

He had decided that a(nother) cordless electric screwdriver was something he would really like, and after much research - there’s always detailed research! – he selected one that satisfied his exacting requirements. Cordless electric secateurs were also on his wish list. They have arrived and have already been put to good use and declared excellent, relieving the hands of much hard work. An extension pole arrived today so that the many trees and bushes we have rapturously planted in the decades we have lived here can now be pruned and shaped and otherwise made good.

All these things are rechargeable!

I think the thing that pleased him most, though, was the appointment that was made, of which more anon.

                        Look at those lovely noses! I love dogs' noses.

Knitting and other things

 

Knitting and other things

We had a busy day on Saturday, when our youngest daughter and her family came to see us. They were supposed to have come before Christmas, but other things got in the way, and we had to postpone their visit. It seemed strange to see the children eating chocolate Santas and reindeer in February, but why not?

Jack wanted to learn how to knit and picked it up quickly. Apparently, he was sitting up in bed knitting on Sunday morning!

I also wanted to introduce him to French knitting, but the wool/yarn I had was quite thin and difficult to loop over the pegs, and I couldn’t get it started, so I left that for another day.

 A French knitting spool is a simple loom with three or four pegs, and produces a thin tube of knitting, which can be used in a variety of ways, to make small mats, for example.

The one I had as a child was a cotton reel with four nails hammered into it!

Often, looms with more than four pegs are used to create socks, or hats, called tuques, or fingerless gloves. Some looms may have as many as a hundred pegs. Knitting produced from the larger looms is known as spool knitting. Bizarrely, to me, anyway, spool knitting was historically used to produce reins for horses.

This form of knitting originated over four hundred years ago. During the First World War, French or spool knitting was used as occupational therapy for wounded soldiers in hospital, to practise and maintain fine motor control.

As usual, I over-catered, so we had much food left over. Bethan always arrives bearing gifts, and had brought a challah loaf and rolls and some delicacies, so there was no chance of us starving. She also gave me a beautiful bouquet.

Herschel is quite a florist and always tries his paw at flower arranging, pulling out some stems and laying them on the worktop. He did that for a couple of days, then, satisfied with his work, followed other pursuits.

We had a lovely day. I did very little, not finding movement very easy at present, and felt rather guilty that Barry, Bethan and Robert were doing all the fetching and carrying. They were happy to help, or so they assured me!

The cats excelled themselves, loving the attention Charlie and Jack – and Robert! - gave them. They seem to appreciate company as much as the dogs do.

Jellicoe, as ever, was as interested in the food as the dogs were and swiped a Madeleine before we could stop him and galloped off with it, with Gilbert in hot pursuit. Gilbert got the lion’s or, rather, the cat’s share, his poorly paw not hampering him one iota.

Sunday was a very quiet day, all the animals, four and two-legged ‘relaxing.’

We are still eating our way through the supplies, and I haven’t had to think about meal preparation since Saturday. 

Christmas mugs

 

Christmas mugs

This is something of a rambling post. ‘So, what’s new?’ I hear you mutter.

A few years ago, I started collecting Christmas mugs and for a while they were brought into use for the whole of the festive season, from December 1^st to January 6^th.

In 2023, I completely forgot about them, but this year I am determined that they will not be left, neglected and unloved, in the sideboard, the very sideboard that was responsible for my sojourn on the floor.

It’s odd the way some people apportion blame to inanimate objects. For example, when my children were small, if one of them caught their shin against a chair, the cry would go up, ‘Naughty chair!’ or was that just my mother-in-law who said that? (My mother would say, ‘Never mind, rub it better,' just as I do.)

A comforting path lies somewhere between truth and fantasy. When my husband was a little boy of five or six, he broke his arm, but instead of telling him he was going to the hospital, his mother told him he was going to a party. I suppose she was trying to be kind and spare him the fear of going to hospital, but I can’t think he would have been in much of a party-going mood. A little gentle preparation would have been much kinder.

When a toddler is told he’s going to have a baby brother or sister, all too often emphasis is laid on what fun it will be to have a sibling to play with. I made a peg doll family to explain to my small children that the baby would be small and noisy and not a playmate for a very long time. Would it have made any difference to them to let them believe that another baby would not affect the family dynamic? I don’t know, but they seem to have weathered the trauma of additional siblings and grown into sensible, loving parents in their own families.

Three-year-old Charlie had a very robust reaction when Jack was brought home from hospital. ‘Put him in the dustbin!’ he said. The two boys, now nine and six years old, are very affectionate with each other, most of the time, and Charlie is quite pleased with his younger brother. Jack is certainly delighted to have a big brother.

 

 

?

I don’t know whether it’s Christmas or Easter.

We have been eating egg-shaped shortbread biscuits from a rabbit-eared tin. The tin was intended for Charlie and Jack, but we didn’t see them at Easter and the biscuits are now out of date. That’s our excuse, anyway. 

The chocolate rabbits had to be consumed, too. It was a chore, I can tell you.

Timing

 

Timing

                                Red grouse (Lagapus lagapus scoticus)

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons 

My parents’ wedding anniversary was 16^th April. One year, when I was about seven years old, they were having a small party to celebrate and I piped up with, ‘They were married on 16^th April, and I was born two days later.’  This caused some mirth, which I didn’t understand at the time.

It was my second youngest grandson’s birthday on Sunday. Charlie is now nine years old. Our wedding anniversary is the day after his birthday. I don’t think he’s likely to make a similar observation.

August 12^th is the beginning of the grouse shooting season, but, as Barry is not a shooting man, the date completely passes him by. It’s only been fifty-seven years, though, so there’s still time for the date to lodge in his brain. 

Before we were married, we did once eat a grouse, or maybe it was a pheasant, that he had shot. That was the only time, and I remember little of it other than the lead shot still inside the bird.

I watched some of the Olympic shooting. That’s all about timing, too. I noticed that many of the competitors were left-handed, but I don’t recall the archers being other than right-handed. Some say it’s an advantage, while others dismiss it. I am just simply impressed by all the Olympian athletes and everything they’ve had to do to achieve Olympic standing.

I’ve just seen a lovely sight. The Chinese weight-lifting gold medallist, Li Wenwen, pulled her coach onto the stage and picked him up. That was such a delightful thing to see, and they were both so, so happy.             

Alexa

 

Alexa

Like so many people, we have outdoor cameras to record the comings and goings of visitors. Linked to Alexa, announcements are made – ‘Motion detected at your drive’ - and that is all well and good, except at the dead of night. I’m left hoping that it’s a fox alerting Alexa and not a fly-by-night burglar availing him/herself of our drive. Any self-respecting professional burglar would not remain long within the glare of the security lights, I think.

Foxes and cats set off the lights and the declarations. Birds feasting on pyracantha berries, and even spiders, spinning their webs, will activate the lights, though fortunately not Alexa.

 ‘Motion detected at the doorbell’ and ‘Someone’s at the doorbell’ are two more of Alexa’s pronouncements. I don’t know why it is so, but Alexa uses two accents. The drive announcement is made in British English, the sort of English familiar to listeners to the BBC. The doorbell announcement uses a North American accent that you might hear in California. There is probably a setting to adjust the voices, as there is on TomTom, but we haven’t had time to research that.

Alexa is kept very busy in our house, switching lights on and off, turning on radio and television and reducing or increasing the volume. It is also used as an aide-memoire, for shopping and for reminding us of the many and varied tasks that have to be performed regularly, like cleaning filters or checking the heat pump.

It is very useful for managing pet-related matters. For example, Jellicoe is diabetic and has to be fed every four hours during the day, so Alexa prompts us at 7:30, 11:30, 3:30 and 7:30. As soon as the alarm sounds, Jellicoe starts yelling at me to hurry up and feed him. Herschel understands, too, but is less insistent.  Alexa also reminds us when it’s time to reorder Jellicoe’s insulin.

Because we use Alexa as a timer, the cats are sometimes a little confused to hear it chiming when it’s not their mealtime. However, they’re learning to tell the time and don’t react to it in the same excited way ;-)

Roxy understands the significance of the chimes, too!

When Frankie was very young and practising his Ps and Qs, he would always thank Alexa if one of his questions was answered. We had to make a concerted effort to refer to Alexa as ‘it’ rather than ‘she’ and to explain that it was not human. The first time he heard Alexa’s voice, when he was about four, it frightened him and he ran out and had to be coaxed back into the room. Now, he uses it all the time. Our youngest grandsons, Charlie and Jack, discovered Alexa one day – I can’t remember how – and now they make a beeline for the hub and proceed to ‘play’. They haven’t yet realised how the volume is controlled, so that saves our hearing!

 I must confess that I find it irritating when I give the wrong command and am reproached in a rather patronising voice with, ‘Sorry, I didn’t find that device.’ Alexa also responds to some of our orders with a rising inflection, as if asking if we’re quite sure we know what we want.

One day, machines will rule the world. Woe betide us then.

 

 

The 24th blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

The 24^th blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke, (Gus) aged 9.

Hello everybody? Anybody? Is there anyone out there?

I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone had abandoned this blog, just like Mrs H seems to have done! She thinks she’s the only one who’s got lots to do. It’s not even as if Frankie takes up a lot of time now because he’s at school. Humans! They should try being dogs. We have to be alert all the time, guarding the house and barking at the television. We like Kitty Croquettes so we clear up after the cats, too, but the Humans don’t like us doing that and pull faces and tell us to go away. That’s not a nice thing to do to loyal Labradors, or any other faithful dog, for that matter. I suppose they have their reasons.

Talking of devoted dogs (and we all are) Mrs H saw a photograph of Buddy Liver Spots on her Facelook feed the other day. What? Facelook! What’s wrong with that? Oh, Jenna’s just told me it’s FaceBOOK. Well, I didn’t know . . . Anyway, it was a lovely photo. I remember Buddy, and Dominie, but the Dalmatian I remember best is Frodo the Faller. 

(If you want to know why he was called Frodo the Faller you’ll have to read about him here and here and here and here . . . and so on.)

I loved Frodo. I really admired him and wanted to grow up to be as big and strong as him.  I didn’t grow as tall but I’m sure I’m just as strong as he was and quite broad, too.  We all missed Frodo when he travelled on but we had each other and then Roxy came to live with us and she’s a lot of fun. Well, the other day, in the Dreaded Woods, we met a Dalmatian and Bertie and Roxy and I really enjoyed playing with her. I felt as though I was a puppy again. Jenna was very friendly to the Dalmatian, too, but she’s thirteen and doesn’t charge around any more. She prefers to stay close to the Humans because they’re carrying the biscuits and she loves biscuits.

I had to go to the Vet before Christmas because I had a lump on my leg. My Humans thought it was a cyst but it was a tumour and it was benign. Well, the Vets carried out more tests and discovered that it is malignant but very slow-growing. It doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t hurt. I don’t feel as bad about going to the Vet now as I’ve been quite a lot recently. I met some nice children there the last time I went.

I had to keep going to the Vet because my bandage kept falling down. First I had a lovely, Christmassy red one, then a blue one, then a green one. I was very pleased when I didn’t have to wear a bandage any more because then I could go out for walks again. I can tell you, it’s not much fun being stuck in the house when the others go out.

It was lovely to go out again and it's always fun when Frankie comes with us.

On Christmas Day a heron visited us. The Humans think it was trying to find a way to reach the fish in the pond. It stayed for quite a while.

What else has happened? Oh, yes, there has been a new baby. He’s called Jack and he arrived on Marnie’s birthday. She’s twenty-five and he’s nought! So, Mrs Human went to stay with Bethan for a few days to help with Jack’s big brother, Charlie.

Jack, a few hours old

Brothers!

Gillian and Paul and Callum and Kat came to see us after Christmas. They didn’t bring their dogs, though, so we were a bit disappointed about that.  Roxy was ever so pleased ‘cos she really likes Callum.

I don’t think there’s anything else to report. 

Be good.

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That’s Welsh for ‘Goodbye for now!’)

Charlie is 3!

It was Charlie’s 3^rd birthday yesterday. It was a busy day for a little boy, with cards and parcels to open.

He had a very special party at which he was the only child. Later, next month, when his friends come home from their holidays he will have another party, lucky boy.

Charlie played with his toys . . . 

. . . and so did his parents.

 At different times he was an astronomer, (or ornithologist) . . .

. . . a fireman . . . 

. . . a spaceman, and a gardener with his lawnmower. (He expressed a desire for a sit-on lawnmower but that wish was not realised)

There was delicious food, of course, and a lovely cake.

There was washing up to be done. It required rubber gloves. You have to blow into them first . . .

. . . then pull them on.

Add washing-up liquid . . . 

. . . and lots of water.

Like all good washer-uppers Charlie looked around for more things to be washed . . .

After that, the gloves had to be washed . . .

. . . inside . . .

Today he went go-karting.  

What's been happening?

What’s been happening?

(Clicking on the photos enlarges them - usually . . . )

The days and weeks and months pass so quickly and when I look back I can’t see that anything much has happened. So, what has been happening?

In February and August of 2016, after years of increasing immobility and pain, Barry had two knee replacements. The result is that he is taller and can do so much more now. He was a very good patient and did all his exercises assiduously. His physiotherapist was extremely good and got the measure of him very quickly, recognising his very competitive spirit, and warning advising him not to overdo things.

 In February last year, 2017, Susannah treated us to a trip to Tromsø in Norway to see the Northern Lights. If proof were needed of the success of Barry’s knee operations, it was provided by that holiday. We went out at night into the fjords to see the Lights and Barry stood for several hours, filming them. The next day we went out again, in the hope of seeing orcas and humpback whales, though the majority had left the area, and again Barry stood for several hours taking photographs. We saw a couple of orcas and one humpback.

Aurora Borealis, Tromso

In the summer, Susannah and I went to Lucca in Tuscany. She was going to a friend’s wedding and I was going to look after Frankie. However, Frankie didn’t come with us in the end. It was very hot!

Villa Cheli, Lucca, Tuscany

Italian wall lizard

In August, our eldest grandson, Callum, came to live with us. He is on a year’s work placement from university. It’s lovely to have a young man in the house and beneficial for Frankie to have another good male role model. We see a lot of his girl-friend, Kat, too.

Callum and Kat at the helm of Appaloosa. 

In September Frankie started full-time school. As he had been attending pre-school in the same school since he was three, the staff and facilities were familiar to him. However, quite naturally, he was a little anxious and wanted to know if there would be toilets there! The uniform was a challenge for him. No longer was it a case of pulling on a tee-shirt and trousers. Now he had to manage shirt buttons. I have watched my husband countless times as he strains and contorts to fasten the wretched top button. Although Frankie had practised fastening buttons before term started, he could not manage the top button and found it frustrating. In fact, the thought of undressing and dressing affected his enjoyment of school and there were several occasions when he said, ‘I don’t like swimming/PE/school.’ It passed, of course, and now he is proud that he can get undressed/dressed quicker than his peers. Like his grandfather, Frankie is very competitive.

First day of school - so many clothes!

 The watchword in our house is, ‘Practice makes perfect’ and so it proves with many things. Frankie asked me the other day why I could write so quickly and I told him it was because I’d had lots of practice.

We hosted Christmas 2017, the first time we’ve done that for several years. Bethan and Robert and Charlie came, with Lolly, of course. It was fun and we were so well-organised, unusually for us, that we could have eaten lunch at 11.30. Susannah, a dedicated vegetarian, was in charge of vegetables and I was responsible for cooking the meat. The thing that delayed us and made us laugh was part of the vegetarian element. The Brussels sprouts were not ready! Even so, we ate at 1.00 which was just as well as small children cannot wait long for food without becoming fretful.

Charlie and Frankie

On the animal front the Labradors keep us busy and make us go out. We may sometimes be reluctant but the rewards are many, not least seeing the joy of our dogs playing. We both use walking poles as the ground we cover is rough and full of ruts and roots and often extremely muddy.

Retrieving sticks

The cats are six in number. We have our three Ocicat brothers, who will be six this year. Susannah’s much loved and characterful Abyssinian, Cleopatra, known as Pats or Patricia, died in 2017. Susannah already had two Somali brothers (Somalis are long-haired Abyssinians) and now has a tiny, exquisite Abyssinian female, Zula, who was one year old on 1^st February. The cats adore the dogs, Bertie in particular, and you may be sure that if you are making a fuss of a dog you will soon be joined by one or more cats.

Zula

All the animals love Callum and pile onto and around him and also Kat. I think they respond positively to youth!

Callum with four dogs and two cats

So there you have it. We have done very little other than look after our family. We are older but not much wiser and still look to the future though with less optimism about our lovely country. Politicians of both main parties, at least those in the headlines, the ‘leaders’, prove their incompetence almost daily. MPs of all persuasions demand that more money should be thrown at whichever problem is causing the most unease at any time. That is not the answer but it impresses the voters . . . maybe. Plus ça change!