First of all Chris’ Mum & Dad had a week’s holiday in Bournemouth, so we had them, my Dad & Pat over for lunch one day. Fortunately it was before the weather turned too wet so we sat out in the garden & chatted, and I did a large salad spread for lunch. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the 2 sets of parents met up the following day (Dad took Ann & John out into the New Forest and then back to Mudeford Quay).
We have also had Mark and Katja round for dinner (that was last week). It was so nice to see them again after all this time. We had a lovely evening chatting (it was as though we’d only seen them a short time before – we just seemed to pick up where we left off). Dinner went down ok. I did Thai Fishcakes, followed by a Malaysian Thai Curry with rice & stirfry veg, then a summer fruit and mascarpone dessert.
On the decorating front the kitchen is finished. And yesterday we finally ordered the new floor covering (which I have been meaning to do since I first re-decorated the kitchen in March 2000 !). We’ve also ordered new flooring for our en suite bathroom, and carpet for one of the bedrooms (which I plan to decorate next). I’ve still got to get new blinds for both the kitchen & bathroom. After I finished the kitchen I started decorating the main guest room (which Chris normally sleeps in). This is one of the rooms we’ve never decorated, so I’ve had to strip wallpaper, which has meant scrubbing the paste of the walls so we can paint them. And one of the walls was in a really bad condition under the paper, so took a lot of filling. Anyway, it’s now coming along nicely, although is taking 2 coats of while on the walls followed by 3 coats of colour! And the woodwork was grey, so I’m having to cover that well as I’m painting it white. I’ll move onto the 2nd guest room next – the only remaining room in the house which hasn’t been decorated since we moved in (in 1993!). But then it had been newly decorated and was quite nicely done in blue & white.
On the dog front, it was Max’s first birthday last Friday.
Of course, he had presents, which Jez had to help open…


Once opened he seemed to like them…



Chris gave them a blueberry muffin at lunchtime

And I made a Victoria sandwich which we all had later. Here are a couple more photos of the 2 of them, and a couple of Max on his afternoon walk.




And so onto Jez. Her left hind leg was getting worse, so a week last Monday I took her to the vet. He referred her on to her orthopaedic vet and we went to see him on Monday. She was booked in for a consultation and an operation. However, when we saw the vet he said there was nothing wrong with her patella at all (ie her knee wasn’t slipping). Rather, she has damaged her cruciate ligament. She had an Xray and a further examination when she was under the anaesthetic and so relaxed. He doesn’t know if it’s just strained or partially torn. For now though he’s not going to operate as it may not be needed. So he’s leaving her on her anti-inflamatory meds and as referred her for physiotherapy. I was interested to find out that Chartered Animal Physiotherapists have to first quality as a human physio (4 years) then have to do a further 2 years training in animal physio on top of that. The woman he suggested actually treats both humans and animals. I’m not sure yet whether her vet will arrange an appointment with her (as she’s in Bournemouth so about 7 miles away), or with the person they normally use who is in the New Forest and so further away. Meanwhile we have to take her for lead walks to build up her muscles so that they support the ligament and let it heal (although she is very muscular), and stop her running around like a maniac and playing with Max. The latter is not the easiest of tasks, although at least the episodes of play are sporadic throughout the day, so we just have to step in to stop them when they start.
As for me, well my hip and lower back has been quite bad, so I went to the doctor. He confirmed that it is almost certainly caused by falling oestrogen levels as a result of the menopause. I too am taking anti-inflammatories (which seem to be easing it) and have been referred for physiotherapy. The bets are on as to whether my or Jez’s physio appointment comes through first.
Lastly, which Jez was at the vet’s in Devizes, I took the opportunity to go back to Lacock and to go round the medieval Abbey there. I haven’t quite finished tweaking the photos, so I will post them separately.
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