Groggy Doggy

Poor Hattie, still suffering the after-effects of the doggy anaesthetic on Monday.  Vet removed either huge puppy or big cyst and left her with a severely wrinkled tum held together with some big stitches which are to be removed on 3 September if not before.  She is certainly full of woe and has taken to insinuating herself beside BH on sofa, tucked up under a couple of blankets and cuddling close to his face so that when she yawns, he gets the full blast of her bad breath.  A bit worrying not to see her bouncing about but as vet cautioned against exercise other than gentle stroll for toilet purposes, it's probably for the best and BH is most protective of her.  And the cats are treating her with respect at last.  For how long, I wonder?

Still waiting for Defra kit for wood stove and getting daily whining remarks about the wait for a blazing hot stove from BH.  Feel as if I ought to knit him some kind of sheepskin insulated sleep suit....

Have been tied up a lot over last couple of weeks, sorting things out for our art group.  Many phone calls to tutors, possible venues and trying to conform to all legal aspects, the dreaded health and safety crap (COSH to you), funding, and so on and so on. We are organising some exciting workshops (woohoo) and our autumn exhibition so lots of Q&A sessions among members.  The most tedious aspect of setting up this group is the insurance - what greedy grasping so-and-sos these insurance companies are - they'd take your last penny but refuse to pay out when a genuine accident happens.  May they fry in hell along with bankers, lawyers, corporate raiders, drug dealers, murderers and policiticans.  Not that I'm over-reacting...and the list is not exclusive...

Went sketching with group in Walkden Gardens yesterday - a beautiful place, very well tended.  Modelled on Hidcote, it's a series of garden rooms - many places to catch an artist's eye so we must arrange a return visit and hope to have the weather with us.  And it's not long before our classes resume - hurrah!

Am such a clot, missed meeting old friend at Jamies restaurant on Tuesday - totally mistook the date. God, how thick am I? Rescheduled for 4 September. Reading group there on 3 September, and meeting group of former workmates there on 30 August! Am getting the full Italian flavour even if I can't get to Italy. Not that I could go anyway unless I renew my passport - it always helps. Would so love to be in Rome, and would adore to visit Sicilly - full of history, good food, wonderful buildings - aaaaahhhhhh. 

And it looks as though the beginners' Italian classes that I wanted to start is no longer on offer - bastardo!

Awaiting a Defra set

Never thought I would be writing those words!  It seems that I can buy a kit which ensures that our woodburning stove will comply with Defra regulations so have sent off for one.  ~Apparently I could also get a kit to convert it into a multi-fuel appliance.  Am very taken with idea but BH doing his usual Steptoe Senior impersonation at the outlay.  As he has just laid out approximately £2,000 on car insurance, tax, MOT and so on, perhaps he has a point.

So don't think it would be wise to ask him to pay for Hattie the Slapper to be neutered....nor pay for my hair to be cut and coloured - nor for my many projected outings.  Seem to have booked myself into Jamies on at least three occasions throughout August - yay!

Hattie's bottie seems to be clearing up well though am not in market for anal inspections of canines; indeed not in market for anal inspections of any species.  The braying like a donkey is apparently down to her having a very long upper palate which means she sucks in a loose piece of palate down her windpipe when she gets excited.  Vet said very expensive operation to shorten palate could be done but as it only happens when she gets very excited and I can easily distract her and therefore calm her down, no point unless problem gets really bad.  Good job she doesn't play the mouth organ - it would be hell sucking and blowing and braying and choking.....Larry Adler would never have been impressed.

Meeting of pet art group this morning.  Quite a lot achieved and everything done in according with mine and MBF's wishes.  Hurrah!  So now must try to get workshop sorted as soon as possible and then the exhibition.  Also must do minutes and get them out to members so no excuse for complaints.  How very dare they.

hair done tomorrow and Chatsworth House on Sunday for MYF's birthday treat - woohoo!  But lots of money.  need to earn some rather than keep spending.  Wonder if can teach Hattie to play mouth organ and use her in advertising - she's much more appealing than Sykes - but not as well behaved, sadly

How disappointing

Alright if you just want to go to a concert, I suppose.  Otherwise just a gigantic opportunity to bring yopurself back into the limelight.  Russell Brand should just go and stay in America together with George Michael.

And on to home news.  It turns out that Hattie, she who has been protected like a mediaeval maiden, appears to be 3 weeks pregnant.  Quite how she managed that is anyone's guess and yes, I understand the physicalities of the enterprise but the logistics is something else.  Plus she appears to have something wrong with her soft palate and something wrong with her behind.  Oh what joy to own a dog.  Back to the vet next week to sort out problems.

Then letter from neighbours complaining about smoke from chimney and wood burning stove.  I imagine this will be from the crazy people opposite.  BH up in arms as he feels the cold and we have enough logs for Father Christmas.  But know the cold affects him badly.  Wonder if we could return to open fire (which I would much prefer) and use coke instead.  That suggestion is going down like a lead balloon.

Closing ceremony tonight - whew! What a thrilling couple of weeks it has been, and more to come in the Paralympics which sadly get overshadowed by the big guns of the Olympics 'proper'. who can forget the taekwondo gold, Mo Farah, the cycling and so on? But I loved Rebecca Adlington - bronze is just as good as gold and she will always be a star in my eyes. Loved Tom Daley and so many others, not necessarily British competitors, but real gutsy interesting personalities. And some of the sports! The synchronised swimming - who'd have thought it could be so thrilling and fascinating? And Andy Murray winning at last - hurrah! Cyclists wonderful, and the equestrian events though am not fond of the dressage type things - surely it can't be right for horses's heads to be twisted into such unnatural positions? Hate that aspect.

And what will tonight's ceremony be like? Hope it isn't one long dreary concert. Fingers crossed it's exciting and innovative.

and what of Hattie? She is still in season, still dragging her bum on the floor, still coughing and barking like a donkey with emphysema, still chasing the cats and still wees on the kitchen floor whenever the cats get more attention than she does and when it's raining outside! Apart from that, she's a little character and I love her to bits. Just need to do some doggy psychology to discover cause of incontinence as she never does it at night-time and always performs when out for a walk....