Brrr

OK, this is an old snow picture now, with Herbie trying to melt it as fast as he can. This week has been more about mud and scraping ice off the car every time I want to go anywhere.

I have seen the inside of more DIY shops than I care to mention, and the marvellous Mr Hood, who does gates and fencing, has talked me into having laminate flooring, so... yet another trip to the builders' merchants. This house will become inhabitable. Soon. Really. I am totally convinced.

I am about to go back to work for a rest. I'll miss the dogs though - Holly has been much more cheerful with her human at home. If I had the money to stay home all day, I would.

Cool Runnings

Two inches of soft powdery snow = the perfect racing surface for greyhounds! They tiptoed out of the door, with that "eek it's cold, don't make me go out there" expression they sometimes have, then realised it was snow. They both took off for the gate, then ran back, ran round me in circles, back to the gate, then towed me down the road. At eight o'clock on a Sunday morning, we were the first ones out, and had a pristine world to walk in. And run in. Herbie was full of the joys of snow, pelting down the track just because he could.

Now they're both sleeping it off. If the snow lasts till this afternoon, I'll take some pictures. In the meantime, it's preventing me from going to Homebase for paint, so we're having a quiet day in. I got the keys to the new house yesterday, and I've taken this coming week off work to do some decorating, consult with builders, and all the routine tasks that you can't do from the office. It's unfortunate that the new house is well off even a secondary gritter route, but this snow isn't scheduled to last.

Another Scare

A bad morning yesterday. Herbie's been coughing the last couple of nights, and yesterday he wouldn't eat his breakfast. He wanted to come out for a walk, but after a couple of hundred yards, he turned for home. He'd had enough. Once home, he was gasping for breath, lying with his neck stretched out and back, like a swan about to fly.

I called the vets, crying, and they said to bring him right in. I've always known that secondary tumours would develop, and lung tumours are high on the list of probabilities. The new junior vet (they're the ones who have to work weekends) listened to Herbie's chest, took his temperature, then said "There are a lot of respiratory infections around at the moment. Let's try antibiotics first, rather than go for a chest x-ray."

Twenty-four hours later, Herbie's breathing is fine, he is bright and lively, and wants all his meals and everyone else's meals too. Yesterday I was so convinced that I was taking him on his last trip ever, that now I feel silly. We have to go back to the vets tomorrow for a check-up, nd I'm going to have to apologise for crying all over their nice clean surgery.

PS A big hello to Jenna and her blog - hope the treatment goes well!

Please to Remember...

... the entire first half of November? When will the fireworks end? Herbie had a really bad night on Friday - I didn't get home from work till after six, and he was already delirious with fright, panting and shaking so much he could hardly stand. Last night, he was dosed with everything veterinary science can throw at him, but not a whole lot better. I need to keep buying lottery tickets, so I can have my own private island where I go every 5th November. (Given the number of dog and horse owners I know, I won't be on my own there, it'll need to be quite a big island!)

Anyway, I'm hoping this is the end of the explosions, now we've had the 5th and the weekends either side. On the plus side, I've exchanged contracts on the new hovel, so only another couple of weeks, and I can start decorating. The ghastly green in the kitchen will be the first to go, then the green stripes in the hall. Then there's the navy blue wallpaper in the bedroom to strip, and... endless hours of joy.

Enough of my news, there are more important events in the world. Yes, THOSE elections, but equally greyhound racing has been banned in Massachusetts. Wish our legislators would follow suit.

Another Hallowe'en Gone

So pleased we made it through. Again, it may not seem like a big deal, but my mother died on Hallowe'en five years ago, and I don't think I could bear it if Herbie were to go the same night. My mother was in a hospice thirty miles away, and I would drive over every night after work. She wasn't really conscious much, her last few days, but I told her on the 30th that I wouldn't come over the following night, too many idiots on the roads- my father would come in the morning. She died the night of Hallowe'en, when the veil between the worlds is supposed to be at its thinnest. (So really not sure why it's the one night we throw small children out onto the streets after dark?)

There were a few fireworks last night, but I think the credit crunch has cut down on the number of huge exploding rockets. Everything seemed more restrained this year. Good job, as Holly refused to touch the drinking water with Rescue Remedy in. Herbie panted a bit, but he survived. There'll be a few more on the 5th, but the main public displays are over. Sighs of relief.

However, Hallowe'en claimed one greyhound, Magic alias Meg from Greyhound Gap. She ran away in the New Forest last Friday, and people from all over the country went to look for her. I'd hoped she was living rough, and would find her way home, but it wasn't to be. On Friday her body was found. Rest in peace, Meg. Not forgotten.