Jackanory

As is the norm over the Winter I got up at 7am to let everyone out and get them fed. This morning I was greeted by the usual smell and cleaning to do in Loki's bed, it is what it is, and I get on with it, but I wasn't expecting to find so much vomit in Meerah crate. I hadn't heard a thing overnight, and no one had sounded the alarm. What frightened me was the sharp shards of plastic in the vomit ... what the bloody hell was that? I was extremely stressed and of course overthinking the situation, the damage that plastic could cause was frightening. I guess I felt better when she came flying in and ate her breakfast, but she won't be going into the front garden for a while now as we think the plastic has come from a bucket smashed in the storm. With my mind elsewhere I then gave Zeus' breakfast to Orin, yes it matters as Zeus gets a steroid in his breakfast ... feck concentrate girl! When changing Meerah's bedding I took a clean one from the middle of the pile, I should know better, of course the top half of the bedding fell on my head. I really should have got the little stepladder out! I took my cup of tea back to bed with me and tried to relax as Steve snored, oblivious to it all again!

Whilst lying in bed I decided I would somehow get 5 dogs into the van and go to Cwm Dulyn. So yeah, we did it. Doubling up Ross and Meerah seemed to be the logical option. Sammi and Zeus work, she is full of it but doesn't race around like the younger girls. Especially now with my hands as they are, I really can't hold onto him with Meerah or Beti. I watched Sammi gaiting and just couldn't believe her age, my god I told myself, she's 11. I'm sure that if anyone who didn't know her saw her, they would age her at around 7 .. she is just amazing, long may it continue. Having walked the track we crossed the bridge, Sammi went down to the stream ... OMG, Zeus went down to the stream, slipping in the mud I had no control and I skidded about 2 ft down hill before landing on my bum in the mud. Nothing hurt, and I was pretty well wrapped in the big coat, but I did get soggy knees as I tried to get back to my feet. One thing I was proud of, I didn't let go of him! LOL.  I stood at the edge of the stream as Sammi watched Zeus, I imagined her saying, "Get out of there you knob!" (or was that just me? 😁) They had a great time. 

I then took Ross with Meerah and Beti. The first issue was the bridge, having been uncomfortable crossing it the last time Meerah was worse this time. I had little time or patience as I imagined Ross getting to the stream before me and dropping his kong in the fast moving water, so I just pulled her up the three steps and then let her get on with it. The second issue was that Meerah followed Beti everywhere, up the rock was OK, as "Wait" was successful but when she found herself in the middle of the gorse, well she had a bit of a crisis and remained glued to the spot as we carried on with the walk. Stop laughing Beti. So of course to get back to the van we had to get back over the bridge so another crisis. Her front end came up one step and she then put her head under the step and screamed, I didn't get chance to deal with it, Beti came back over the bridge and told her off. Maybe not text book dog training Beti, but it worked!!! 

I enjoyed my morning walks and was looking forward to telling Steve all about it when I got back, but I knew instantly that things were not as they should be when I got home. He'd had another fall in the yard, and this time he'd fallen harder, Sadly we had to change our afternoon plans of a visit to the Garden Centre (I was going to walk for home whilst he browsed) and I walk Orin and Siska around the Cwm. 

Thankfully Steve, with Isla in tow, had taken Loki around the field before his fall. He said that Loki did seem lost but sadly there is no choice now. This morning I was concerned about his expression and demeanour, dog people will understand I'm sure, but he hasn't been too bad since. Of course no photos from the walk, so I tried to get one in the house, you have to laugh at Beti and her it's all about me attitude don't you. After so much sadness and stress this young lady really has helped get a smile back on my face.

To finish our eventful day, I hope, as Steve was going to the kitchen I asked him to let the oldies and Meerah out. He did, or I thought he did, when I went to get them back in about 20 mins later, he'd let Beti out with Sammi, proving, maybe, that the fights were hormonal. Still though she doesn't know it, Sammi is old, and I won't be taking chances!