This is your last chance

You can't say we didn't warn it.

For the last several years we've been saying, "Okay, produce fruit this year or next year you're going."

It has resolutely ignored us producing a single plum at the most. And always in an unreachable place where the only ones to benefit were the birds. So the plum tree has gone. At least most of it has. 

I had originally planned to replace it with a lilac bush but a) the best thing about lilacs is the scent and my sense of smell is disappearing along with my hearing; and b) now I've seen the space I have a hankering for a statue.

Or an arbour for sitting and pondering. Sadly though I fear not much sitting or pondering would be done so it's back to a statue. But what sort?

A fierce dragon? A courageous sword-wielding maiden? A  more classic naked man with jug of water? I shall have to browse. 

Or maybe a rose-covered arch? Or a bench plus statue/arch? Decisions, decisions.

* * * * 

I caught a snippet on the news while I was marinading my lamb for curry along the lines of, "Downing Street has admitted that it was them that requested a private meeting between Johnson and Sue Gray (the woman charged with producing a report on the alleged breaking of lockdown rules by those in government."

Initially it was claimed that Sue Gray requested the meeting, a claim she denied. Let me see, an independent investigator or Boris Johnson's government? Who to trust? It's so hard to decide.*

Along with others in this country I was amazed that Trump never got thrown out of office, that the scandals and stories never brought about his downfall. Now I see the same happening here. And this is why I don't commentate on politics very often. It's just too depressing.

*Not

How does your garden grow?

I notice Blog Visitor Count seems to be down. That's all really. I'm not sure how accurate it is anyway. 

I just wrote, "As long as someone is reading it," and then I deleted it. I do love knowing some people read it and I'm incredibly grateful for my regular readers and commenters, but the blog exists primarily for me to empty my brain and serve as a reminder of when things happened. 

So that was apropos of nothing.

Before and after garden photos. Sadly Husband had to take over and do the planting but I shall claim it as all my work when they flourish or blame him if they fail.

When I say before I mean before planting not clearing. I should have taken a photo then when it was a mess and you would have been so impressed.

There is a blue/purple theme going on here. All being well and assuming I picked up the right plants.

And here are some of the things currently blooming in our garden.

That's as well as rhubarb and bindweed of course.

Elder Son and family came around yesterday afternoon and ES cooked a delicious chilli on the barbecue. I do enjoy being cooked for.

Jig a jig

I spent most of yesterday doing a jigsaw, my form of mindfulness, to take my mind off this one.

And here is the jigsaw.

I'll tell you a secret if you promise not to tell anyone. Two of the edge pieces are in the wrong place. I have had to force them in. I have searched but for the life of me I can't find any other edge pieces that seem to be wrong.

Hey ho. In between jigsaw-doing I popped to the shop and bought some plants. I have a hankering to rejig a tiny bit of garden. 

This morning I set out bright and early to start work clearing the section and I hadn't been going for more than five minutes when my back said, "I don't think so." 

Martyr that I am - I know, heroic is my middle name - I carried on digging but had to sit down to do it. I can sit and I can stand. It's getting between them that I am struggling with. 

Storm troopers and life

First the regular George update. First the good news, since having two seizures in one day on Tuesday he's been seizure free. And he has a very good appetite.

But though he can walk reasonably well - except on slippery floors - if he tries to stand for any period of time - five seconds say - he falls down with a clunk. We keep telling him, "Either walk or sit, George!"

We have some new tablets now that may help reduce the frequency of seizures but it takes up to a month for it to settle and they may not work.

We are trying not to leave him alone. Of course at night we go to bed but, as has been shown, Husband will hear him if an attack starts. The diazepam is always at hand ready. 

I vary between thinking, "Are we being cruel? Are we keeping him alive for us?" and "Well, actually he seems quite happy now and we can't justify ending his life."

That said he has periods when he is agitated and barks for no apparent reason, and I wonder if he is suffering from mental distress. Then again, falling down, confusion and eating a lot could equally apply to me.

We did have sad news this morning. George's old friend, Willett, died. 

In other news, life has been busy as usual. Led Zac's on Tuesday, cooked on Wednesday, delivered food today, wrote and recorded my radio talk, all the normal things. Missing walks with George, and exercise class as both teachers are on holiday for almost all the month. Comfort eating plus lack of exercise equals a slightly podgy Liz. But I have better things to worry about at the moment.

I love this moment on a Thursday when I've recorded and sent off my talk and life settles down for a short while. I think I may join Husband in the garden this afternoon and sit and read. I could do something more useful but I can't be bothered! So there!

Also I've recently started playing Word Blitz. If you play do challenge me. I'm pretty rubbish so you're sure to win!

And did I tell you I spotted a storm trooper walking along the promenade the other day? Actually thinking about it, it was probably May 4th.

Never ask the internet

I got up twice last night - before I stopped reading and settled down - and Husband got up four times during the night. Just to let George go out to pee. 

Husband said, "Much rather that than get up once for a seizure."

George has now had his blood tests so we wait and see. He is quite sleepy today - as are we all. (Even though I was only aware of Husband getting up twice.)

I'm currently reading The Twyford Code. Not the best sort of book to read when being disturbed or tired. I have to keep going back and re-reading chapters. Very entertaining and bemusing. It's the book I described vaguely to the librarian who worked out what I wanted, if you remember.

I was right: it does have a fish on the cover. But it doesn't look anything like I thought.

On Netflix we're watching Missing. We finished season 1 and now we're on season 2. It's very good but does leap back and forth in time a lot, and to more than two time zones. Currently we're having to work on various clues to guess which time we're in: long hair/short hair, scarred/unscarred, pregnant/not.

The fact that both Husband and I struggle to remember who is whom doesn't help either. 

Is the pregnant one the one he was having an affair with? 
No, because that's now not then. 
Is that the woman he chased to the supermarket?
No, that's a different man.

I thought it was the woman who stroked his head?

No, that's his mother.

So the man who was in Endeavour is a bit dodgy?

She definitely is.

Between us we get there. I think. 

* * * * * *

Think my nose is getting fat: my glasses hurt. Also have diagnosed my bad hip: tronchated bursitis. #neverasktheinternet

I could be wrong. Running up and down a slope five times probably doesn't make me the sort of runner who gets bursitis. But I never let facts get in the way of my self-diagnosis.

Also am leading bible study again this week, sickness or work backlog because of sickness leaving me the only likely suspect. 

This could get boring

George had another seizure last night.

Husband heard him and rushed downstairs. I followed. Husband managed to get the medicine in and then we sat and waited while he came to. While he was sniffing us and not absolutely sure who we were he still managed to find his way to the pantry and stick his head in his bag of dog food. Some things never change.

When he was about 18 months old.

Apparently a seizure leaves him hungry. We gave him a bowlful and then let him into the garden for a bit. It was raining but Husband didn't want him to take himself off to sleep in a bush so went out with him. In his dressing-gown, sandals and umbrella. Husband is our hero.

Hoping he gets through tonight peacefully as he has his blood test first thing tomorrow morning and mustn't eat for twelve hours beforehand. I misunderstood what the test was for. It seems it can tell if the cause of the seizures is a chemical imbalance. That, I think is the best option, as it could be treated with drugs. (I'm assuming that.)

It feels as if we're all just waiting. 

George on the rollercoaster

After a wonderful day yesterday George had what was probably a seizure yesterday evening. We both held him while it lasted a few minutes. Immediately after he didn't recognise us and snapped and growled at us. After a while he returned to himself but was still agitated and obviously frightened. Husband spoke to the on-call vet but we decided against taking him to a (different) surgery as he had calmed down and was behaving more normally.

The vet this morning spent a long time with him - I sat in the car as only one parent was allowed in - and said what Husband described sounded exactly like a seizure but he will go for a blood test on Monday (has to starve for twelve hours beforehand) to confirm it.

In the meantime we have stuff to give him if he has another one - stuff to go up his bottom! (A job for Husband!) Dogs have seizures for a variety of reasons. If we took him for an MRI it might show what is causing it but the vet wouldn't recommend an op at his age. We will wait and see the result of the blood test and take it from there. He is completely fine this morning, as normal as ever. 

This is going to be a rollercoaster. And we have to learn to live in and be glad of the moment and not in fear that he will have another one.