January-Update
My little dog Summer was poisoned by someone being careless with antifreeze which got onto her paws, and she licked them, poisoning her beautiful little body. She passed away on the sixth of January at six am, in my Son Andrew's arms, less than twenty-four hours after the vet told us the devastating news by phone, following a blood test. She was in tears herself as she had not seen a more lovely and more beautiful westie dog. I told her this was the first time she had bean to the vet when ill. Only going for jabs and yearly checkups. She originally thought it was gastroenteritis. Rest in peace little pup you are very much missed.
I did not put out a January Blog.
The sky at sunset 31st Jan.
February 1st
My friend Jenny is having a cataract operation on her eye today. Hope things go well for her. I will ring her later to see how things went. Angela came round to see me and brought flowers, that was really nice of her. She was not sure what to say to me about Summer.
Went to see my friend Mary and Rory her dog. I was a little bothered how this would be as Rory was Summer's boyfriend. When Mary came to see me straight from the common on January 12th. Rory was looking for Summer and kept looking at me confused. I gave him a chew that Summer and I had wrapped up for his Christmas present. Because I did not see them over Christmas, I decided to wait till later. He ate it under the table and then put his paw on my knee. The time came for them to go. He did not really want to go and kept looking at me still confused. Mary phoned me later to say that after Rory had bean cleaned up from the common. He is a collie-type dog and like Summer when he gets a mucky belly. He went under her table, a place where he only goes when he is scared or frightened like bonfire night. The visit to Mary's and Rory's was a mixture of tears and smiles. Rory hardly left me at all, even trying to get in the toilet with me.
4th
Not a good night, I keep hearing Summer crying, and one time I got out of bed to go downstairs. Andrew and I are going for a walk along the river bank (anywhere apart from the common) I can't face that yet. Lovely walk bit cold, but quiet though. We did see other little dogs, one came right up to us for a fuss, I did not know him. I think Dogs when you're sad even the ones that you have not seen before know how you feel. Summer always did and has shared many of my fears and tears. A bit more Knitting later of a blanket, that is now on its third pattern as things did not go well with the first two. I am doing the same style but all one colour this time as the blanket I made for my friend Debbie's Christmas present, finished in November's blog on the 15th. Picture when finished.
7th
Frosty and quite cold first off. Washing out so that's good. I feel very lost as I am on my own most of the time. When I was very upset, Summer's picture popped up on Goggle's home hub, and just looked at me. Maybe her spirit is here, not too sure what I believe about that though. I still feel very angry about her going well before her time. A lot of people on the common thought she was younger than twelve around six, most said. But she was twelve and would have gone on a lot longer.
8th
Paul and I went to see our friend John as it's his Birthday today. He is out a lot so to catch him in we went at night after tea, I made him a cake and Andrew made him a coaster with John's Brew on it. He liked both very much. I know he will enjoy his cake maybe a slice later.
9th
Going to see Jenny today, she said she was having a bit of a problem putting her eye drops in, and wanted me to see if she was doing it right. She was, I said you will get used to it then the time will be up and drops are no longer needed. A nice time few tears but I suppose that will be like that for a long time. Jenny is not a dog person but she really liked Summer. Everyone did. I am altering a pair of trousers for her.
10th
Paul has gone to Halifax to pick up Wayne and Kayleigh they are here for two days. This time they will stay at a Hotel nearby, The Tennison. We only have a single bed so Wayne usually sleeps on the settee. Not the best so this time he booked the hotel. Also, it's Summer's bedroom or what used to be. We have not seen them since last July, Wayne's Birthday. They did not come at Christmas as they and we were ill. This was Christmas day for us and them and we exchanged presents. Lindsay and Jamie-Lee are also coming around for Chinese tea. A very good day apart from a lot of pain for me. RSD, always there to spoil things for me. My left arm and shoulder still hurts from where I fell on the ice near the shed last December 17th.
11th
Wayne and Kayleigh had a good night apart from the room being a little warm. The present from them for my Birthday on 13th Feb was a "Tree of Life" a lovely glass one.
Paul did us all bacon butties for late breakfast they were good. Later Lindsay and Jamie-Lee came around, and a bit later Jay-Jay and Mollie also came to see everyone. Spent the afternoon with Wayne and Kayleigh. Paul was at a football match Lincoln City v Bristol. Lincoln won 1-0. Paul returned from football and Lindsay did tea for us all. Wayne, Kayleigh, and Paul only had chip butties, as they were getting a meal later a takeaway of some sort. Everyone else had chips with something. Good, they were too. Paul set off to take Wayne and Kayleigh home to Halifax. He might stay the night or come home he is not too sure depends how tired he is.
12th
Paul did stay the night, so a bit empty this morning as Summer is not there now to greet me when I come down the stairs. My Brother David and Bev, my Sister in Law came round to see me as it's my Birthday tomorrow. The presents were flowers and two boingey little solar light-ups for the garden plus a wrapped present.
A bit later Michelle called but did not come in. She bought me flowers also.
13th
My Birthday -There is only one thing I would love more than anything in the world is to have my little girl Summer back but I know she is gone. I got lots of nice things but it was a sad day for me. Paul got me flowers and a Sam Smith CD and posh chocolates. Andrew is going to adopt an alpaca for me a bit later. Lindsay got me primulas for the garden. Angela got me the same but hers are a different type. All very nice. I got chocolate and lovely little messages from Jamie-Lee. A tree of life from Wayne and Kayleigh. Money from Jenny plus a Chocolate bear, Joy money, also Paul's parent's money. Posh Chocolates from my friend John. From my friend Debbie a book, hand cream, a tray, a mug, and placemats all to match. A dove bath set from my friend Lyn. An Amazon £15.00 gift voucher from my friend Tracy. Also, a box of Roses from my brother and wife to go with the other things.
Cards.
15th
Not feeling well today raspy throat and head from hell plus hot and cold. Wayne had a cold so it could be the culprit. Taking Echinacea helps soothe things a bit. Resting and just doing a bit of knitting.
16th
My B12 injection today, was done by a new male nurse. He was very good and it did not hurt too much this time. He asked me why the ouch face when I put my coat back on? I told him I fell last year. He asked if I had it X-rayed I said no and told him I did not fancy waiting three to four hours to see someone at A and E. He did not reply to this knowing I was right. I said to him I think I cracked a bone in my forearm and did some to my shoulder, it's getting better so I am not worried about it. Even If I had gone to A and E I do not think they would have put a plaster on, more like a tubagrip or something like that.
18th
Doing Blog today not an easy one to do as about Summer.
I watched a new Star Trek with Andrew today Picard- it was good. A lot of the older Star Trek actors are making an appearance. This will be on every week as well. Something to look forward to. My cold has got a good hold and making me feel really off it. I have not had a cold like this for years. Lindsay is not well either a chest infection.
17th
Well, it's bean six weeks since my beautiful little girl passed away. How do I feel ?? Absolutely devastated, angry, very angry, in disbelief, lost, and in pain. Just about every emotion you could think of. Mary said people on the common were in tears when she told them. The postman did not ring the doorbell for a month, as he could not face me. Summer was his favourite little dog by far. He used to make a big fuss of her. I blame myself, but everyone says it is not my fault. Her feet were wiped every time she came in from her walk. Quite warm today spring-like day.
19th
Another warm day. I do not feel the best today, I ache everywhere and feel quite weak. My chest is tight and I am coughing up stuff. I do not want Antibiotics unless I have to I think it weakens you. Best to let your body heal itself if possible. Lindsay is not well either a bad chest infection she needed Antibiotics and steroids.
21st
Still not much better but need to move as my muscles are getting very tight and going into spasms. Sorted out the flowers that I got for my Birthday as some are past it now. Flowers are very nice but do not last long when the central heating is on.
22nd
My friend Jenny here after having her hair done looks very nice as always. Gave her the trousers I altered for her. Her eye is doing well after her cataract procedure. She did get better at doing the drops as well. Nice catch-up chat she said it was strange without Summer here. Steak for tea tonight, very nice too. After I had finished I saw I had left a bit on my plate for Summer as I usually did, not thinking.
23rd
Doing a bit more of Andrew's hoodie going better now, I had to pull down the hood as a lot too big. Over the years of knitting, I have found that in a lot of patterns, the hood is too big. In baby/children's I usually do the size hood down from the rest. This normally works well. The lady who I made the cardigan and baby blanket for came to pick them up. She was very pleased and gave me more than I asked for. She would like another blanket as well in white. I have not got enough white to do it so a trip to the wool lady soon.
In town today, a rarity nowadays to get the white wool I need for the blanket, the wool lady had no white at all in fact she was waiting for a lot of her stock to come in. I did get some Aran wool for a baby cardigan I am making later on in the year so not quite a wasted journey. I still need some circle needles for Andrew's hoodie. I do not like the curved needle ones and that's all I have bean able to see at the moment. They make my wrists hurt and that is what they are designed not to do, be ergonomic.
25th
Up before eight that's not much time in bed (bed usually around 3-4am) but I need to get up soon after I wake or the spasms start and they are not easy to get rid of. In the afternoon I went to see Mary and Rory. Rory was very pleased to see me, especially after I gave him a chew. I gave Mary her coaster and glass that Andrew made for her last year. She tried it out while I was there, and said it was perfect. I was to thank Andrew. She was very pleased with it saying how clever he was.
She gave me a present a Lillie plant very pretty I said why a present for me she said for a late Birthday and a friend's one. We just sat talking and at times in tears about Summer. She loved her as well and so did Rory. He still is confused about Summer, or does he know? Left when it was dark around 6pm. Mexican for tea later, not bad but I still prefer Chinese food. Andrews was not the best but Paul seem to enjoy his.
I will take another picture when fully opened.
26th
Cleaning up downstairs today Paul is starting in the front and me in the bathroom. All finished sit down for a bit. I then started knitting a baby cardigan in 4ply wool, this is a lot finer than double knit- (DK 8 ply) half the thickness Not knitted with this for a while so not sure how it will go. After the first few rows, it was alright and I was quite enjoying doing it with a lot less weight so light on the hands.
Plants are all in the garden now so after the rain we have had they will soon bloom.
Not bean an easy month to start the year that's all I have to say. Just hope the year has gone better for you all.
