Busy times again

So the last day doing a new dog sit for me, unfortunately a shortish distance away from home and with everything else going on, there seemed too much back and forth along the A4. I have enjoyed the sit, a new breed to learn about, a Border Terrier. It’s taken him a few days for him to get used to me, but it’s been fun. He sleeps in my bed and somehow manages to push me out, so I wake up finding myself on the edge of the bed, to see him lying next to me, all innocent looking. When you talk to him he rocks his head from side to side, as if he understands what you are saying.

We go to Dinton pastures for a walk early because it’s been quite hot during the day, and as he is reactive, I have to be extra careful with him,  when he meets others dogs. You know the ones he knows, his tail wags like a helicopter and he goes all submissive. He loves his food, but he is under weight, they are trying to get some extra  on him. We did an extra walk around Dinton one day, with a friend of mine, on her mobility scooter, she doesn’t get out much, so she loved going around the lake. He was very quiet that evening! He has this great home made toy, I think the lady called it a snuffle box, it’s full of paper and card, and you hide treats in it, to keep him amused for a while. Every dog should have one.

The new Twyford library is open, everything has been moved from the old temporary/permanent portakabin. The new location is a remodelled school and has a brilliant children’s area. I have been in, joined up and will start using it soon.

Back to the dog, I have done the Waltham st Lawrence circular walk with him, and we went to the Bell pub afterwards, he liked that. We have also had a night out, at the Royal Oak in Ruscombe, outside in the sun. The allotment is doing ok, but it’s really dry on it now, we have had two courgettes, lots of spinach. The Brussel sprout plants are doing well, the low growing runner beans are producing small beans. I made a lemon meringue pie for myself and a few friends, I think the pastry is the best I have made so far. I have a  new technique getting it into a flan dish in one piece. My dog sitting continues, after one night off, with the chocolate lab for the weekend, then the two frenchies. After a day sit, it’s everyone’s favourite cocker spaniel. On one occasion going around Dinton I got this nice photo.


The next few days will be busy, Friday I am cooking a meal for a friend at the labs house. I am going to the Hurst show on Saturday with the Labrador and a friend, Sunday afternoon, the  Cosy Nook is having a summer party that I am going too. I plan to make another one of my famed carrot cakes and a neighbours recipe for salmon and prawn quiche.

Footnote. It’s a year to the day that I broke my leg. It seems such a long time ago now, so many memories of the whole experience. But to many, a medical trauma is a permanent life changing event. I still have the stiff ankle, I also get the ball and chain syndrome as I call it, but I am still working on those issues. I can do everything I want, so I consider myself very lucky. Many thanks to everyone who supported me and gave me encouragement to recover. Below is a photo of the cage, now mostly covered with the rose and other plants in the garden. It is a great metaphor for the accident, its gradually becoming a distant memory.



 

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