Bank holiday weekend

Rookie

I was really looking forward to this bank holiday weekend. Mainly because I've actually been working for the last 2 weeks which makes a holiday seem so much more worth while. Whilst I was waiting for my second lot of eye surgery and not working, weekdays and weekends just blurred into one really. How ever much I don't like to admit it, I do really like routine on some levels.

So any way, I was looking forward to the weekend but we had to take Rookie to the vets on Saturday morning. She's not really been well for the past 9 months, she's lost a lot of weight and is sick increasingly often, particularly over night. But until very recently she was happy and as active as a 19 year old cat can be. She's been treated for a thyroid problem for the last 6 months but all other tests have come back normal for her. About 3 weeks ago she was very sick one morning and just looked so weak I made an emergency appointment to see the vet, and really thought that if she didn't get better she would have to be put to sleep. But she had an anti sickness injection and antibiotics and seemed to rally.

Last Friday she was sick again one morning and as she was due another check up we made the appointment for her on Saturday. She was quite dehydrated but not as bad as she had been the time before. The vet however found a lump when he examined her. The vet says it is most likely cancer, I've suspected it for some time now but as she hasn't been in any pain I hoped maybe it was just the thyroid problem making her poorly sometimes.

It's strange how quickly she has gone down hill in the last couple of weeks. She still doesn't seem to be in pain but she has had anti sickness and antibiotic jabs. She just doesn't seem her normal self, its as if she can't settle or get comfy so I'm guessing she must have some discomfort. She is due back at the vets this Friday as long as things stay as they are, any deterioration and she's back as an emergency sooner.

This weekend I've had to come to terms with the fact that we will have to do the kindest thing for her soon. I don't want her to suffer in any way so I know that it won't be long until the vet has to put her to sleep. The thought of it at first horrified me. Just the thought of her not being alive was so upsetting. But I know that it will be the right thing to do if she starts being sick again and gets dehydrated and weak again or if she starts to be in pain.

So this weekend ended up being quite upsetting as I came to terms with having to say good bye to Rookie. She's a very eccentric cat, very demonstrative always letting you know how she feels, and always wanting attention and love. Sometimes she is more like a dog than a cat. Very loyal and always wanting company. In fact that's one of the ways we have been able to tell that she's ill over the last couple of days. She wants to be made a fuss of but seems to not be able to settle. She won't climb on to Jason's tummy like she always used to nor on to my lap. She is spending most of her time sleeping on the rug in the living room.

Rookie is a very affectionate, loving cat who has been through a lot with me since I got her from the cats protection league 7 years ago. We're making the most of the time we have with her right now.

Today we took a short drive out to the garden centre at Willington. I wanted to get some plants to make a autumn/winter hanging basket. I'd forgotten it was time to plant bulbs. So I ended up buying daffs, narcissi, tulips, crocus and snow drop bulbs, as well as basket plants. I spent a couple of hours gardening when we got back. Repotting a few asters that haven't yet flowered - I'm hoping they will now, and planting some of the bulbs in containers. Then at the front of the house under my study window I've planted snow drops and the daffodils and narcissi. I'm hoping they will come up ok in the spring. No doubt I'll be buying a few more bulbs before November!

We also went to Simply Oak for lunch, I had the roast beef and Jase sausage and mash. e both had the plum tart and custard. So my healthy eating was put on hold today. I'm back at the gym tomorrow for a work out and then yoga so hopefully it won't set me back too much.

Garden 20 Aug 2011

Garden 20 Aug 2011, a set on Flickr.

Just some photos of the flowers in our garden at the moment. lots of dahlias and marigolds, the last of the lilies and a surprise return of the fuchsia.

RSPB Sandy Lodge

RSPB Sandy Lodge, a set on Flickr.

Yesterday we took the car out for a spin, and drove to the RSPB reserve at Sandy. We had a lovely walk in the morning sunshine. The reserve has 5 miles of walks but we probably only did half of that.

We saw some interesting sheep with horns lazing under the trees. There were plenty of insects including dragon flies and bees. We even saw and heard a bird of prey. Still not sure what it was, I guess a buzzard. Its cry was very high pitched and a bit like a cat mewing.

The landscape is a mix of woodland and heath which is lovely as you get to walk through shady trees, some of which are very old, as well as walking through open sun drenched heaths. The old heathland was full of beautiful heather.

Just a quick update.

Above is a picture of the Asiatic and Oriental Lilies which are growing in a nice wooden tub in the garden at the moment. They smell gorgeous too and seem to be a real hit with hover files, butterflies and moths.

It's over two weeks now since my last eye surgery and so far so good. I certainly haven't had any set backs. My vision hasn't got back to normal yet though. I can see close to ok but distance vision is still very blurred. I have to wait 3 weeks and then go to the opticians at Moorfields to get my eyes tested for new glasses. I also have an appointment with the contact lens department in September so I can be tested for new contact lenses as well. My consultant was confident that my vision could be helped by a change in prescription for my glasses and contact lenses.

This weekend my parents visited and we went for a nice meal on Saturday at the Black Horse at Ireland (that's the Bedfordshire hamlet not the country!) Then on Sunday we went over to my brother's for his birthday. Baby Tilly is now 2 months old and has grown a lot in the last month since I saw her last.