Jezi And Nico

Possibly the strongest friendship/bond here. 

What would she do without him? 

Just A Little Moan!

As I arrived at the vets for my appointment yesterday I was told the vet had gone out and would be back in a few minutes! There was no point in any of the others seeing Mikey as they hadn't seen the lump/growth to know what it was like previously. Anyway within minutes he was back. As I got Mikey out of the van I became aware that the vet was behind me, he did jump a little as Mikey flew out of the van ... Mikey Mikey has no manners!
Instead of taking Mikey into the consultation room he continued to examine him outside, no I didn't mind and to be honest Mikey was more relaxed outside! But all he did was feel the lump a couple of times, give me his opinion and Mikey went back in the van. Well sure what else could he do? Well I would have liked to weigh him I suppose, though I do feel Mikey hasn't lost any weight! (And I'm pretty damn sure Gill Hubbard would have checked his heart, lungs etc.) My shock came at the bill .. £22 for the consultation ... shit even at Cibyn that would have been a "Consultation frequent" and cost me about £17. Hell I don't mind paying, but with over £50 lab fees to pay as well as £105 already paid I did feel that it should have been a little less and considered a continuation of treatment! Anyway being out of work, maybe I'm just feeling the pinch a tad more right now!

Vet Check

Mikey has been back to the vet, he's happy that the lump has not grown at all since he last saw him. (it's still 7.5" x 6.5" including the rise of the lump - about 4.5" x 4" in distance across his body.) This lump is so hard to describe as it's not like a lump on his body, it's like part of him! (I just don't know how to explain it!) So now we plod on and monitor for any changes in him or the growth. Anyway a nice cooling dip for Mikey in the river at Llanystumdwy on the way home! I'm not a lover of this hot weather, bring on the snow!

 The Angel went too as she missed out yesterday and Saturday! 

This Is Where We Were

Garnedd Goch is a top of "Craig Cwm Silyn." It is one of the peaks that forms the Nantlle Ridge. It is the third highest point

Garnedd Goch from home 

The gate down to the lakes

The twin lakes of Cwm Silyn at the foot of Craig Silyn

We made it to the foot of Craig Sliyn by the furthest lake

Looking back the way we came

Cwm Silyn

Another wonderful walk on our doorstep .. yet none of us had ever been.

We will be going back .. hopefully when Tracy doesn't have to work! 

A Horse Show In Mona!

Nice afternoon at the CMMRC show. Shame the dog section was not as well supported as it could have been, hopefully it will be better advertised next year! Anyway in it to win it and dead chuffed our Loki won Non Sporting and Best In Show. Ian Turner's Bella was second in Open and in Best Condition .. well done both. Mikey came for a day out and thoroughly enjoyed himself. Thanks Linda for the pics in the ring. Love this pic of the three of them after judging.
I had never heard of the judge, and certainly never seen him before. He was a nice pleasant guy who's decisions were somewhat mixed! He felt a need to give verbal critiques in all classes, which is usually only done by breed judges at Championship shows ... but maybe they do it with horses too! He said he loved Loki conformation and that he was in tip top condition, actually "standing apart in the class!" Yes a lovely comment but I was somewhat embarrassed in front of the other exhibitors! When giving him BIS he said he was a lovely strong male and he loved the way he was gliding around the ring! Again I've never heard anyone describe my dogs movement in that way ... but you know what? I know what he means! Loki is one of these dogs that has a huge long stride, he's light on his feet and covers maximum ground with minimum effort! Yeah .. you could say he glides!

Making Up For Yesterday ...

Just One Walk

I was shattered after yesterday, but managed to get the little ones out! Thank god for the fields for the others! Apparently it wasn't right for me to go myself today so my minder came with me!

 The boys one side of the lake - the girls on the other!

 Back to visit Steve

The "Little ones!"  Loki and Sammi 

Computer Says No!!!!!

Yesterday a long day was soon to become a stressful one! To avoid traffic the driver of the Janbulance decided to go through Runcorn rather than through Liverpool/tunnels. We arrived at Walton 30 mins earlier than planned .. good going. Enough time for a cuppa before signing in!

Oh Jan!!!!!

At booking in time, 10  mins before the appointment I left Jan and Gail having their cuppa and I went to scan my appointment letter, the computer said no, I tried again .. it said no again. An assistant came over, checked all my details where correct and scanned it again ... Computer says no! The assistant said, don't worry just go and sign in manually ... which I did. The typically dolled up blonde receptionist scanned my letter and said, "is this the only letter you've had?" I said "yes it came on Saturday," she said "this appointment has been cancelled and another made for you on the 22nd!" I could feel myself sinking, this hospital is a 100 mile one way trip for me, I have to ask people to take me and I knew this was the only letter I had received ... and that's exactly what I told her!  She said she would go and speak to the Neuro nurse and I went to find my back up!
On return she said the nurse had finished her appointments for the day and I would have to come back on the 22nd ... and the reason for this cancellation was that this appointment was not within the 6 week period before the operation. Jan immediately pointing out to her that the operation was only a month away, she flustered somewhat and asked if we'd like to speak to the nurse. Obviously yes!
From the moment we met her nurse Debbie was wonderful. We explained the situation and she said she would cancel her meeting, send for my notes and do the pre op. But she said, smiling, "I'll leave your blood pressure till last shall I!" She was an amazing lady, typical of all the staff I have previously seen at Walton, efficient yes, but also funny and caring!  She contacted Mr Puthuran my consultant and he also agreed to come and see me. ... Yes he was Dr Yusef Khan from Easternders, but not as similar to him as I remember, actually much better looking! He explained that my MRI results show the coiled aneurysm is in good order, but because of the size and location we should proceed with this stent. Without it he said "It will re-bleed!" The aneurysm itself was very large at 14mm,  (that almost a centimeter and a half!) and as he said ..inside your head that's taking up a lot of space.
So blood test, pee sample, ECG, blood pressure etc etc and a thousand questions later I though I was ready to leave for my Maccies meal on the way home. But nurse Debbie still had to tell me about the future ... I will start 2 lots of medication a week before the operation. One lot to be taken for 6 months, the other for 2 years. (the dentist will be pleased, but that's another story!!!!) If all goes well I will only be in for 2 to 3 days and will need to take it easy for a minimum of 2 weeks. The MRI cycle starts again with the long MRI before I can go home, then another 6 months later ... etc ...  The stent is only to safeguard the coiling and I must be prepared for some more intense headaches for a while. Also the stent will have no affect on my progress after the hemorrhage, only time and correct management will heal the brain! Yes I know - rest rest rest! So when I told her I went back to work 2 months after the hemorrhage she said ... "YOU DID WHAT??"  Ooops oh well ... glad I didn't tell her I was driving!!!!
My Chicken Legend meal from Maccies on the way home was wonderful!!!!!!

Remember This ...

I've just thought of something, when I had that dental procedure a year ago we took the piss out of Loki and called him Doctor Loki .. he wouldn't leave my side then either!

Must get him a stethoscope for when I have my op!  

Photos credit to Steve  (I think!)