Hannah

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my fifteen plus old Bearded Collie; Hannah went to 'forever' asleep.

She was amazing, everyone who ever met her - and there were a lot of people of the fifteen years, never once guessed her age.  But I am most proud about the fact, that new vets, that had never met her before also questioned the notes they had on their computers, in front of them!

I had have owned and loved several dogs but Hannah has been with me the longest.  We as a family met her at just three weeks.  I had wanted a Beardie since I was little – I just loved everything about them: how they looked and also they were wilful, oh so wilful!  I knew I would need hours and hours (and more hours) to train a Beardie properly.

Having moved to Swindon and working part time, I knew this was the time.  Because not only was I working part time but I was going to be able to take my future puppy to work with me.  I started the search process – I wanted a good bred dog, less likely to have genitive issues in the future.  I did my home, checking all the winners in Crufts over the years.  Narrowing, down Bearded Collie breeders around the country.  Getting in touch with Bearded Collie clubs; when this was done by telephone!  I eventually spoke to a lady called Belinda Steer, who put me in touch with the lady who I eventually bought my Beardie from.  Her name was Carol Palumbo and she lived in Brentwood in Essex – a 3 hour drive away.  I was serious about who and what my new puppy was going to be.

I was given a telephone interview about my prospects of becoming a Beardie owner.  I passed!  We were then invited to meet the 3 week old puppies.  However, the whole household had to visit.  If we had a lodger (we didn’t), everyone had to visit.  For my family it was Noel our then; 10 year old daughter, Poppy and myself travelled to Wentbridge. Little did we know it was another test: we were all invited into Carol’s conservatory and we were all looking at the puppies, contained in a huge playpen, when Carol released her other Beardies into the room.  She wanted to see how we reacted to a pack of very excited dogs.  Noel and I ignored them, until they settled down – no eye contact but it was Poppy who really passed the test for us – she was brilliant.  An 18 month old Beardie jumped up at her.  On dog on her back legs was as tall as Poppy.  However, Poppy was not concerned by this at all.  She caught the dogs front legs in her hands and with one clear decisive move; took the paws and let the dog down with a clear command of ‘off’, such a natural.

We had passed – yay.  And that was it for the first visit – not touching of puppies.

We travelled again to Wentbridge when the puppies were 5 weeks old and Carol had a better idea of the personalities of each of the puppies.  We are and were a reasonably quiet family but a fit and energetic family.  However, would you believe the best puppy for us, actually picked Noel.  This little puppy walked over to Noel crawled into his lap and fell fast asleep – it was a done deal.

She was now ours but we still had to wait another 2 weeks.  As it was back then; puppies left their mums at 7 weeks old.

Like you do preparing for a puppy is a bit like preparing for a baby, new crate, bed, toys, food bowls etc.

This puppy was my wedding present, birthday present and Christmas present all rolled into one; she was expensive at £500.00 (a fraction of the price of puppies now but in 2003 this was a lot of money).

We collected newspapers and I visited all the charity shops to buy as many towels as possible. Something that wasn’t done back then, you could pick up a bin liner full for just £5.00 but not anymore!  Already for our next journey back to Brentwood.

Our puppy was born on 4^th October 2003 and we were allowed to pick her up the weekend of my birthday at the end of November, we were all so very very excited.

We were going to call this puppy; Hannah an adaptation of my last name!

She did wonderfully well on the way home, she was sick a couple of times but we were able to clear the mess up quickly, with the newspapers, kitchen roll and bin liners.

Oh my goodness what a puppy she was – she was beautiful and a real pickle but so bright and took to clicker training so very well.

Oh I am feeling a bit emotional, not all bad but tears anyway – so I hope you don’t mind I am going to break this down into probably three parts.

Till the next time xx

A Year Ago

A year ago today - I became a Granny.  Such a proud time in my then 55 years of age!  If I had never joined the Granny Club; then that was okay with me.  However, my son and daughter-in-law allowed me to join that very prestigious club with my very own precious grandson; William.

Today the bestest grandson in the whole wide world (very biased opinion) is ONE xxx

We as a family love and treasure this little man - who very rarely  stops smiling. He is a chilled and easy going and a pickle!

We LOVE you so much xxx

Just a few hours old and I am having my first cuddle,

 where he stole my heart.

Babies grow so fast!

And intrigued by everything.

Before Daddy could even open the

 packaging for the balls, he was in!

Sharing the LOVE, Jacky xxx

A Box - A Big Box

Oh the excitement!  The box actually arrived yesterday, while at hospital but I had arranged for my lovely neighbour to take care of this box, containing a very special order.  Noel collected the box after we had been to the pantomime - it was late, so I choose to open it this morning.  How I held out, I don't know - it took a lot of willpower.

The story began with Opal Yarn not doing making an advent calender for 2018.  I have been very lucky as Noel bought me one in 2016 and 2017.  The advent calender contained little 10g balls of wool - 24 days of little balls of wool to hold and stroke my cheek with (oh does that sound weird? Maybe, only a yarn lover would understand!  So back in September of last year (now that does seem weird to type that!!) Noel and I found out that Opal were not doing a 2018 one - Nooo.  

Noel had a secret - he made me a box; not his finest piece of engineering but not his worst either (his words, not mine).  That is a whole new story that I may never tell!  But he made a box and with the help of Poppy, he ordered 24 x 2 of each chosen colour of Drops Nepal yarn.  Such a beautiful, well spun, soft yarn.  I will repeat 48 balls of yarn.  A door to open everyday of advent for Christmas.  With the top hole hiding a skein of lace weight, Bluefaced Leicester and silk yarn from Fyberspates which I opened on Christmas day - beautiful purples with a tiny hint of pink.  So me.

I have ordered some base colours from the same Drops range, so that I can make two fair isle inspired cardigans.

The box also included nearly the rest of the colours in the range, so that I can do gradient colour design work on my cardigan(s) plus a pack of Attic24; original yarn pack to crochet a Summer Harmony Blanket - this pack was a birthday present from my sister, lucky lady; when my family knows what puts a massive smile on my face xx

My 2018 Wool Advent Calender with 25 doors to open!

The very big heavy box containing so much squidgyness.

The two base colours; cream and a deep teal.

Woolware House loose yarn gets packed in

 organza bags - a very nice touch.

I will take more photographs, when there is better light and as I start each project.  Remember I am a starter and not quite so good/fast at the finishing!!

Jacky xx

He’s behind you! A very English Tradition

This morning; Noel and I left for Oxford or more importantly Churchill Hospital.  I had my six monthly review at the Respiratory Clinic.  I saw a new consultant today!  He smiled but he is an academic who has practised his - smile to patient ‘smile’.  He liked to talk about my medication by using the pharmaceutical names, not the names that our local pharmacy, GP or I know them as ... my respect dropped a bit.  He then went on to say: my use of the inhaler was in correct.  For goodness sake I use a full mask aero chamber - really hard to get wrong!  And he liked this by the book i.e. not to use my nebuliser at home.  Sadly this is because a few people have been irresponsible with their own lives and instead of going into hospital have over self medicated, using a home nebuliser.  I tried to explain, that I want to LIVE and that I will not take chances. I also tried to explain about why I do not use an ambulance (most of the time).  It can take 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive but it will take Noel and 12-15 minutes in the car.  But he said the ambulance has oxygen - yes it may do but I have to wait up to 45 minutes, where if I get there by car, I am having the full treatment in 20 minutes. I left his office feeling as if I had been tripped up, really not a nice feeling.  So I asked to have a chat with my respiratory nurse at the clinic and we had a good positive conversation.  She was disappointed that the consultant had not ‘got’ me.  She said that some one with such a severe asthma as mine and that I am still living - I therefore most be doing something right and that ‘going by the book’ doesn’t always fit.  And I am one of those sensible and responsible patients, that does not take risks.  She made me feel better about how I cope with my illness and told me how much she enjoys seeing me.

However, on the plus plus side, I only have to visit Oxford once a year and probably in John Radcliffe Hospital as the department was moving.  So just as well I had planned to show you this hospital.  I love it - it is old but, I like to think of all those patients before me ......

The History of the Churchill Hospital - Wikipedia 

The original hospital on the site was built in 1940 with the intention of providing medical aid to people suffering orthopaedic injuries as a result of air raids during the Second World War,  This proved unnecessary, and the building was leased to the United Stated Army medical services, who were relocating from Basingstoke.  The new American Hospital was named after Sir Winston Churchill, the then Prime Minister, and was opened by the Duchess of Kent on 27 January 1942.

The US Army left the hospital at the end of the war and itwas taken over by the local council and reopened as a conventional hospital in January 1946.  The Churchill Hospital came under common management with the John Radcliffe Hospital in April 1991 and with the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in November 2011.  New cancer treatment facilities were procured under a Private Finance Initiative contract in 2005.  The new facility, which was built by a joint venture of Alfred McAlpine and Impregilo at a cost of £125 million, opened in 2009.

I took these photographs today; showing the history of the building and that spring is coming.

No proper doors at the rear entrance.

The original metal framed windows.

One of the many little green gardens

between what would have been the wards.

The long slopping corridor.

My entrance.

And spring has come early due to the slightly

 warmer weather we have been having.

To finish our last non working day of the christmas holidays; we: Noel, Poppy, Mac (Poppy’s friend from school days) and myself (which shows just how well I am doing, by being able  to go to the theatre - with all those germs!) went to see the Pantomine - Aladdin at the Wyvern Theatre - such good fun.  

In fact the sillier and the more you interact with the cast, the more fun you have - 'Boooo' and 'He’s Behind You' with competitive singing and actions from all generations and practically the whole theater: singing the Little Shark song.  So funny, and wonderful to see and hear everyone singing and dancing in their chairs.  

Till the next time, Jacky xx

Happy New Year - 2019

New year, new beginnings, a new page - a journey!  Do you have plans?  Big plans?  I like to take one stepping stone at a time - let us see where it all leads me; exciting, promising, positive...