Model patient

Guess who aced their post-op vets trip? Bert happily dragged me across the car pak and was most perturbed that he wasn’t instantly greeted with cuddles and treats. Have you tried to explain to a 10 month old puppy that he has to be patient cause there’s a queue?!

He made everyone laugh with his enthusiasm. That and the way he crashed about with the cone of shame on (it was far too hot for the baby gro).

He made the vet nurse laugh too when he bounded into the consulting room. Her first words ‘well he’s fine then…’. He really is. He’s back to his normal Bertness. Bouncing around. Wanting to play. I’m not sure he’s really realised what’s happened.

All a huge relief for me. She gave him a quick check over and said he’s very fit and well.

Sadly his duck toy isn’t a case for surgery. Definitely gone too far. He’s definitely in the toy destroying phase. The Dark Destroyer is alive and well. And has now moved on to toys.

Holy stone

Someone is feeling much better!! Bert decided that my garden needed a bit of landscaping today. This is the sight that greeted me when I took a break from the laptop.

He has a new game that he likes to play while I’m working. He brings me a stone. It’s great for training his ‘drop’. Which is much improved. At least he’s not swallowing them!

Not sure what he was digging for, but he was rather pleased with himself. He was also covered in mud. He does make me laugh.

He’s off to the vets tomorrow for his post-op check up. Hoping we can start increasing his exercise again. It seems he’s as inpatient a patient as I am!

Nettles

I think most people know that I love nature. I love being out in it. I love almost everything about it. I say almost, I’m not mad keen when nature fights back.

As it was a nice day, I thought I’d mow the lawns and have a bit of a tidy up of the borders. Great plan I hear you say…

This is me, so it wasn’t going to run smoothly. But even by my standards, I excelled myself. There were a few rather large nettles. No problem, I have protective gloves for them. Unfortunately, they don’t protect against ineptitude. I am now the proud owner of many stings. I peaked when I managed to pull one up and smack myself full in the face. I can confirm that flipping hurts!!

Bert tried to come to my rescue, but ended up taking me out with his cone. We’d been doing well with the body suit. Till he had an accident. I wasn’t quick enough with the fastenings (the clue is there). It needed to go in the wash. So we were back to the cone of shame. My legs are covered in scrapes and bruises from him bashing into me.

I managed to mow the back lawn after nearly falling over him several times. Then it was onto the front. Where a dog rose decided to attack me. Seriously?! They hurt too I can tell you.

Thankfully a full brown bin ended my gardening efforts and I headed to the yard. Buddy had excelled himself in the poo stakes. So that was fun!

Even though I covered him in fly spray, he spent the whole ride trying to get the flies off. There were so many today.

All in all, I’d say it was a draw between me and nature today. My face is really sore. Not as bruised as Bert’s Crown Jewels. He keeps rolling over to show me…

Cone of shame

It’s been quite the day for Bert. He’s had his little boy operation, got lots of cuddles and now has to wear the cone of shame. The latter isn’t going well…

He’s taken my legs out several times, he’s bounced off the furniture and couldn’t work out how to get his food. Think he’s only just forgiven me for no breakfast! I got PROPER Spaniel eyes and threats of the RSPCA.

The vets said to keep him calm and limit his exercise. Ummm he’s a 10 month old Sprocker?! He’s had a sleep in his crate. Then came out for some food. At which point, he went to his toy basket and grabbed a ball. Nope, sorry Bert, it’s not happening.

So he’s back in the crate, dragging the cone across the bars like some 50s jailhouse film. It’s going to be a long evening. Thankfully, I’ve been offered a bodysuit for him, so I’ll go and get that tomorrow.

Now my next challenge is to keep him calm for the next few days. Wish me luck!!

My new mattress was delivered this morning. At first glance it looked like a dead body. 20 mins of huffing and puffing to unwrap it and get it on the frame. Why do I think I can do these things on my own?!

As if that wasn’t enough exercise for one day, I took Buddy for a jumping lesson.

Let’s hope we all sleep well tonight…

Shrunk

My spare bed has shrunk. Intentionally of course. I had a king-sized bed in there but it really was too big. So when I was offered a smaller version I jumped at the chance.

It was the Great Bed Swap Around today. My old big bed is now living across the close. My new little bed was put together. I’m still no nearer sorting out a replacement mattress for me though. But that seems to be a bit of a trend right now. It’ll get sorted I’m sure.

Grateful for the smaller bed. The room looks huge now! Forgive the amount of cushions, they’re still on restriction from Bert. He’s rather partial to running around with one in his mouth. Hence the fact they’re out of bounds. Not that there is anything wrong with a cushion or two. I have several to go in my new lorry.

Smaller bed means new bedding. I love new bedding. I need some for the new lorry too. So if you insist…

Feel the rain

Bert and I got very wet on our walk this morning. Now as a good equestrian, I have lots of wet weather gear. So you’d think I would be prepared. And I was! I put my Reincoat on as I thought it might rain. What I wasn’t prepared for was the torrential downpour.

I was laughing to myself as the rain dropped off my hood. While most of me was dry, my legs weren’t. It didn’t help that I stopped to chat to another dog walker. Because as she said, we weren’t getting any drier. Good to know that dog walkers have the same sense of humour as horse riders.

When we got home, my jeans and my puppy needed to go in the conservatory to dry out.

I love this quote. Today I was both of these…

West Pier

Bert has had a lovely day with his Granddad. He stayed with my Dad while I went to do the hotel site visit in Brighton. The site visit and meetings went really well. It’s a lovely hotel. One I’ve been to many a time before. One I’ve stayed in many a time before. One I’ve been rather drunk in many a time before…

At least I know that when I am next there, I won’t be getting drunk. I’ll be running around like the swan I am.

As I left, I walked down the promenade past the old West Pier. It looks so sad. Once a beautiful Victorian Pier, it’s now a tangle of metal work after two separate arson attacks in 2003.

It’s sadly beyond repair and left to the ravages of time. Though still a key feature of the Brighton seafront. That’s seen many changes over the years. But as I drove through Brighton today, there were so many things I remembered from when I lived there. And in Hove Actually (in joke for those who know).

I have so many wonderful memories of the city. It taught me to be able to parallel park into the smallest of spaces. And on both sides of the road. Believe me that when you find a space in Brighton, you will get into it even if it takes a few attempts.

I was reminded of this when I sat for what seemed like an age on Grand Avenue watching two separate drivers reversing into spaces. It did make me smile. Funny the life skills you pick up along the way.

Day camper

Buddy, Bert and I locked and loaded early doors today to head over to Forest Edge for two lessons. There’s a camp running there, so we went as day campers.

When we arrived, Buddy headed to his stable (no. 3 for the third time this year) and Bert headed to the forest for a runabout.

As the weightbridge was there, I thought I’d pop Buddy on it. He walked straight on and stood patiently. He was so eager, the poor lady wasn’t ready. He was also rather eager for his treat. He knows the deal. He stands to be weighted and he gets rewarded. He also got a rosette for having a perfect body score. He’s now 643kg.

In our jumping lesson, we ended up being demo riders for the other campers to watch and learn. We flew round the course that was laid out. There were lots of new campers so they hadn’t seen us in action before. Several came over afterwards to compliment me on my jumping position, our partnership and how at one we were. That has not always been the case I can assure you.

I do feel that we’re getting better and better. Now we need to recreate it in competitions. Maybe we can start getting some perfect round rosettes too. Who doesn’t love a red one?!

Petflap

Bert got caught out in a rather heavy downpour. It was so loud that I couldn’t hear the webinar I was on!!

As I went to shut the conservatory doors, Bert decided to go and play in the rain. He soon came in when he realised just how heavy it was.

The cat flap is getting a bit snug now. He might have got a little stuck in it. He’s still growing!

I was feeling rather smug under my lovely newly laid roof. Then I heard an ominous dripping sound. Fearing the worst, I tried to pinpoint it. It didn’t seem to be coming from inside. So that was a huge relief. Eventually I found it. The water was dripping in the downpipe where it’s connected to the water butt.

Guess I was the butt of that as I got wetter than Bert. And I am in no way complaining about rain. It felt so good on my skin…

Overordered

I think I might have gotten a little carried away when ordering body parts for the Baby Sprocker. The note on the shipping slip made me giggle.

They had a sale on…. Enough said huh?! One thing’s for sure, Bert was very happy with this delivery.