Monday 30 June 2014

For My Blogging Friends

A small taste of what has been happening around here in the last few weeks - not the usual sweetness and light...



1.   A major flea infestation, courtesy of our two great hunters, Bennie & Sparky.
Because I am super-sensitive to chemicals
and because I don't like to subject my pets to chemical drenches,
it has been a long, hard, battle.
Apparently, I am irresistible to the little blighters.

Fingers crossed, I think the problem has finally been sorted.


*   *   *

2.   During all of this 
my 92 year old aunt started to need more care and attention.
As she lives almost an hour away from us
each dash down to help her has taken a minimum of three hours
out of an already busy day.

Eventually, we persuaded her to have a home visit from the doctor.
She was prescribed antibiotics.
Failed to take them,
(spat them out into a tissue and hid them from her carers)
and suffered a fall as she was feeling so ill
due to an untreated infection.

Since then it has been chaos with her,
and for her.
We have had emergency calls, falls, paramedics,
extra nursing, 
more paramedics.
Finally, a hospital admission.

The news is not good, 
she has some serious problems.
Given her age, they are not likely to be treatable.

She is terrified of dying.
She is terrified of going into care.
She is my problem
as 
I am her next-of-kin.

*  *  *

3.  Bright spots in my life.
They have kept me sane.


Well, these are the first three.
Despite it all, we managed to fit in a couple of days visiting our youngest grandson.
It was wonderful.

*   *   *

Meanwhile, back at home, these two cheeky little tykes 
never fail to make us smile with their antics
and their love.


Two little grub-monsters, taking a break from gardening
and after a face-painting session.

*   *   *


4.   My beautiful cat, Bennie is lost.

We took Toby Too, Sparky and Bennie to a local cattery
so that we could spend two days with young Archer and his mum and dad.

I won't go into the details, but she was lost at the cattery.


We called and called, 
searched high and low.

She has been missing for a week now.

Sparky is distraught, 
and so am I.
Sparky is able to express those emotions which I am struggling to keep inside,
crying won't bring her back.


x

34 comments:

  1. I feel for you - I wonder how far away the cattery is from you - could he (she) be making his way back home - I do hope he turns up soon.

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    1. Thanks Susan. The cattery is only about four miles away with just two country roads to cross - so i have my fingers crossed that she may yet turn up.

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  2. Oh no. I hope your cat turns up at the cattery, or as Susan said, he could be making his way home.

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    1. Thanks, Sol. I have done lots of internet work reporting her as missing, we have also made leaflets and asked people to keep a look out for her.

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  3. Oh Elaine, I am so sad for you. Sending much love and hoping upon hope that your aunt finds some peace and that Bennie finds her way home. xx

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    1. Thank you, Scarlet. We found my aunt in a lot of pain this afternoon - they hadn't given her any painkillers because they know that she spits out pills... needless to say I had a chat with her doctor and they quickly found another means of delivering pain relief! xx

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  4. All thoughts of you Elaine were ones of brightness, happiness and joy at the forthcoming wedding celebrations. How wrong can you be?

    Bennie will find her way home I'm sure. What I admire in cats is their resilience and resourcefulness. She will return, have no fear.

    What did touch my old heart-strings was the fact your 92 year old Aunt is terrified of dying. What can you say to that? Spitting out the anti-b's made me smile, although she obviously isn't thinking it through very well. In order to stay alive you need to accept the treatment. Senility is obviously in the mix to add to your problems.

    Big hugs,

    LLX

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    1. Thanks, Linda. Before all of this kicked off, I had a notebook full of lists of jobs which need to be done before Jonny & Ming Ming return. I was convinced that working through those jobs on the lists would be a bit of a tight squeeze, but they could just about be done in time. Ha! I've thrown the book away. What gets done, gets done, the rest doesn't matter. I am way behind with my emailing everyone, I hope to drop you a line at the weekend. When do you start the performances? x

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  5. oh my goodness so sorry about all your woes, I do hope you find your cat. Can you take photos and blow them up and post them in that neighborhood, I once got one of my cats back after a month and half from a photo I posted, and years ago the same with a dog.

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    1. Hello Linda, The posters are done and have been distributed, our local pub landlady has also been kind enough to spread the word and has posted it on Facebook for me, internet notifications have been made and the microchip people have been informed. I'm not giving up hope.

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  6. Oh dear. I shall be thinking of you and hoping that all works out for the best ... life can be so hard sometimes. May you have smoother times ahead!

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    1. Thanks, Susan. Part of the trouble is that I feel pulled in all directions at the moment. Things will eventually settle down. meanwhile, I have a party to organise for my son and his lovely wife, I shall take refuge in some cookery books - always therapeutic.

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  7. We are all sending purrs so that Bennie finds her way home.
    Jane and The REAL Maple Syrup Mob xxxxx

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    1. Thank you all - Sparky is trying to be brave. She and Bennie have been homed together for the last 3 years. Bennie has always been her calming influence. Poor Sparky was semi-feral and is very uneasy around new people, or when things are not as they have always been. She has taken to drink - large saucers of special kitty kat milk seem to soothe her. xxxx

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  8. If the cattery is in the same general area as your home, your pussy may very well find her way back. Cats are pretty resilient and can manage for a surprisingly long time on their own. One morning, you may open your door and there she'll be meowing for food and attention, but otherwise looking just fine. We've had cats disappear for even a month who returned safely.
    What a challenge looking after your aunt. So difficult emotionally when someone is afraid of dying or a care home, and unable to understand what needs to be done (taking meds) to stay as healthy as possible.
    Your grandchildren look like fun, happy people. That's a treat!

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    1. That is exactly what I keep hoping, Jenny. I'll keep you posted. My aunt has never been an easy person to care for, but it is impossible not to feel sorry for her. She has no difficulty in remembering who my grandchildren are, so we chat about them quite a lot. That is guaranteed to put a smile on her face when nothing else does. Little Francesca visited her Great, Great Aunt in hospital the other day - she charmed everyone on the ward with her big smiles and sparkling eyes and since then she has been working hard at making all her teddy bears and dollies 'better'.

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  9. I'm sending all my best wishes your way. May your aunt soon find peace and your darling kitty find his way home.

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    1. Thank you, Ms Sparrow. Peace is exactly what I wish for my aunt, her spirit is restless. She must be totally bewildered by the sheer number of people who have somehow found the time to visit her today, to the best of my knowledge they number ten, split between two visiting sessions... I'll be sure to post as soon as we find my lovely Bennie (positive thinking!).

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  10. Poor Sparky; losing a good friend who licks your ears is awful. I hope Jenny's idea comes true.
    I know how difficult it can be to deal with an old curmudgeon. (I wonder if there is a way to make that word look feminine and frail!) You have my sympathy and love.

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    1. I love the word curmudgeon, no need to make it feminine and frail! It is all too easy to turn people into 'saints' when they are ill - the truth is that she still the same person she always was and I needed that reminder, Joanne.
      Bennie gets very grumpy with Sparky, for it is Sparky who does the ear licking. it always ends in hissing as Sparky gets a bit too enthusiastic.

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  11. What a lot of suffering, so many sad things happening at once to you. I wish you with all my heart to be strong, to be soft too, to think of the lovely grandchildren, and that it will be getting better, somehow it will.

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    1. Hello Brigitta, Thank you! I am working through things, friends are being incredibly kind and helpful in our search for Bennie, that helps. There is no doubt that having our wonderful grandchildren around us also helps. They are so funny and so willing to help, it is impossible to be too sad when they are around.

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  12. Oh Elaine, you've had a time of it. Hope Bennie finds her way home to you soon. So sorry to hear about the difficulties you're having with your Aunt too. Your grandchildren are beautiful.

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    1. Hello Molly, In my younger days I would have found it incredibly difficult to cope; these days I get upset, but seem to be able to compartmentalise it, and then carry on and do what is necessary...needless to say that occasionally a few tears leak around the edges and I have to work out exactly what/who they are for...then I have a cup of coffee and carry on - as we all have to. It does help to have such lovely friends lending their support and kind words, so thank you, one and all. xxx

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  13. Dear Elaine,
    So sorry to hear about your Aunt. It must be so strenuous on your daily life.
    A shame about Sparky.. I do hope that you can find her.
    You are allowed a few tears Elaine.
    Enjoy your grandchildren..
    Thinking of you.
    val xxxx

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    1. Hello Val, We do seem to be constantly dashing from one place to another at the moment, dealing with the oldest and the youngest members of the family! My aunt is deteriorating, luckily I have a lot of family history to help entertain her. Still no sign of Bennie but I haven't given up hope. Those grandchildren of mine still manage to make us laugh on a daily basis! xx

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  14. Surely Bennie can't be 'lost'. She must have made some new temporary friends, and will return. I certainly hope so.

    Sorry to hear of your trials. Life can be extremely challenging at times.

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    1. Hello Cro, There was a possible sighting today - along by the pig farm - so not too far away. We may yet get her back. Poor Sparky is still lost without her constant companion, she finds Toby Too a very poor substitute.

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  15. So sorry to hear of Bennies disappearance but rather think she will find her way home.

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    1. Hello Doc, I was so sorry to read about Miss Betty, she was a pretty special dog, you and MeMa must miss her so much. Best wishes to you both. x

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  16. Hi, Sarah! I would like to make a digital painting (with a paintbrush and software) based on your photo of Little Cawthorpe Manor House. I am writing a children’s book, and the house is in it. I have never written a book before, so it is very unlikely that it will be published. But I wanted to ask your permission just in case. May I, please?

    Julie

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    1. Hello Julie, Please feel free to use the photograph, it is a very characterful house. Good luck with the book, it sounds an exciting project! Best wishes with finding a publisher. Elaine

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  17. Hello Elaine
    So very sorry to hear your cat has gone astray hope she comes back!! I'm also sorry to hear about your Aunt it must be really difficult for you. Poor dear to be so afraid. Very hard for you!!!

    keep well

    Amanda x

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  18. Elaine, my heart goes out to you--I'm so sorry it's been a trying few weeks. Praying that Bennie finds his way home to you, XOXO

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Your comments are much appreciated and greatly enjoyed. x