I know its only September but for me the new year begins. That is the new academic year.
It only seems 5 minutes since I handed my last essay in way back in May, then I was looking forward to a summer of freedom and to be able to enjoy the warm weather free of the stresses of study. It didn't transpire like that though. I started a new course and the weather by and large was rubbish with the odd warm rain free day here and there, mostly when I was at work.
I am on a fortnights holiday, the idea behind it was to have some time to unwind and chill out before the new year began. What happened? Work was desperately short staffed and I ended up volunteering for 4 shifts. Things are "up in the air" at work and my attempts to get a new job have so far failed. However on opportunity has arose, to do something I really enjoy-a little bit of teaching.
During my holiday I have done a few things, I have visited my nana and had a day out, where it rained heavily, all day. I had other things planned but they have failed to transpire. Still there is time yet to do something with the remainder of my holiday other than housework and studying, although I don't start till the middle of the month I want to get started early I have my study notes just not the relevant textbooks. This last module looks to be both interesting and tough and I desperately need to do well in order to get a "merit".
Life is very busy at the minute as not only have I got my studies to concentrate on but also I have the new summer term coming up and I have training to do for the leaders of the children's clubs I volunteer for and I need to get myself up to speed with the latest policy documents in preparation for this. Plus I have been asked to do a talk to the children on issues affecting them.
I took my nebuliser in yesterday for its annual service, I was shocked to discover that it now costs more than buying a cheap but half decent nebuliser, this is without all the other costs that come with being a nebuliser user.
All the animals are fine, I have two guests. Foster boys, they are delightful animals but there isn't the room for them and they are getting under my feet a bit but all the same I am enjoying their company.
Talking of pets, I must dash as I have my friends gorgeous cat to feed and I want to spend some time with him like I normally do and I don't think his mummy would be too keen to come home exhausted only to find me still invading her house and her cats attention.
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Friday, 6 August 2010
12 feets grows to 16 feet
As you all know I have 3 gorgeous guinea pigs Prince Harry, Sparky and Thomas. I am more than happy with my little gang and had no plans to extend it. They are wonderful pets, all of them each offering their own different characteristics and personality. I love each of them to bits.
A few weeks ago me and my nana were nattering away on the phone and she mentioned in passing that she was thinking of getting herself a hamster. I have carried a view from childhood that they are nippy little things, not easily tamed. I have had two as an adult "Alice" the devil in hamster form. Put your hand in her cage when she was awake, even offering food and you would remove your hand with a hamster dangling off your finger, no matter how hard I tried it was impossible to tame that hamster.
There is one amusing story related to Alice though, I took her on as a pet while living in the university accommodation block which was overseen by a woman known to us all as "Twiggy". We never called her that to her face but she of was know of that title behind her back and she shared a similar personality to Alice, without the biting, I don't recall ever seeing that woman smile. One thing that was an absolute no-no was pets, though several hamsters did reside in that block along side students.
Anyway, Twiggy appeared one day wanting to do an inspection. On hearing a knock at the door I shoved Alice's cage under the bed, in doing so I woke Alice up. While "Twiggy" was busy doing her inspection all I could hear from under the bed was the "squeak, squeak, squeak" of Alice whizzing round her wheel. Fortunately, it would seem "Twiggy" as well as being devoid of personality was also devoid of hearing as she never appeared to pick up on the strange squeaking coming from under my bed.
Then later on came "Sammy the hammy" he held the distinction of being the only hamster never to bite me. He was one class hamster. After that I became hamster less and gave no further consideration to ever having a hamster darken my door again.
Going back to my nana wanting to acquire a hamster as a pet, I offered to purchase a hamster on her behalf and then bring it down to her. I do not believe in homing from pet shop or breeders so after a few enquiries I discovered that there is a small animal rescue 20 miles from me a few emails later and a hammy was reserved for my nana. So off I went one Thursday night in my trusty chariot to view the said hamster and make a final decision. She was adorable and I deemed her suitable as a new companion for my nana and thus agreed to adopt her for my nana.
The wonderful person J that ran the rescue then introduced me to the other inmates and though they were each gorgeous I resolved that no, I was not offering any off them a home. There were gerbils rescued from their owner by the RSPCA as they were been kept in unsuitable conditions and being neglected. There was pets brought in as their owners could no longer offer them a home and then there were two hamsters who were brought in by the police having been found dumped in the street. They were male and female and in a tiny cage, not good and I got quite annoyed at this stage that someone could do something like this to an animal so tiny and defenseless.
Then she introduced to me to a tiny underweight ball of fluff who, has been found at the same time as the two hamsters mentioned above in a tiny cage and on his own this time, he was scrawny and underweight but incredibly friendly and tame for all he had been through and my heart melted and my resolve weakened and that was it animal osmosis toke place in my house once more. He's been living with me a week and he's and amazing chap, hopefully what J said to me as we left "being dumped may be the best thing that happened to him" will prove true as he settles in his new home with a good size cage, lots of toys and lovely grub. I can see an improvement in the little mans condition already. His name, Pippin.
Here he is
This of course led to some anxieties on Sparkies part as he clearly thought he was been shoved to one side and replaced, this is certainly not the case and he need a lot of reassurance before he settled down and stopped yelling and demanding my attention at every opportunity bless him!
A few weeks ago me and my nana were nattering away on the phone and she mentioned in passing that she was thinking of getting herself a hamster. I have carried a view from childhood that they are nippy little things, not easily tamed. I have had two as an adult "Alice" the devil in hamster form. Put your hand in her cage when she was awake, even offering food and you would remove your hand with a hamster dangling off your finger, no matter how hard I tried it was impossible to tame that hamster.
There is one amusing story related to Alice though, I took her on as a pet while living in the university accommodation block which was overseen by a woman known to us all as "Twiggy". We never called her that to her face but she of was know of that title behind her back and she shared a similar personality to Alice, without the biting, I don't recall ever seeing that woman smile. One thing that was an absolute no-no was pets, though several hamsters did reside in that block along side students.
Anyway, Twiggy appeared one day wanting to do an inspection. On hearing a knock at the door I shoved Alice's cage under the bed, in doing so I woke Alice up. While "Twiggy" was busy doing her inspection all I could hear from under the bed was the "squeak, squeak, squeak" of Alice whizzing round her wheel. Fortunately, it would seem "Twiggy" as well as being devoid of personality was also devoid of hearing as she never appeared to pick up on the strange squeaking coming from under my bed.
Then later on came "Sammy the hammy" he held the distinction of being the only hamster never to bite me. He was one class hamster. After that I became hamster less and gave no further consideration to ever having a hamster darken my door again.
Going back to my nana wanting to acquire a hamster as a pet, I offered to purchase a hamster on her behalf and then bring it down to her. I do not believe in homing from pet shop or breeders so after a few enquiries I discovered that there is a small animal rescue 20 miles from me a few emails later and a hammy was reserved for my nana. So off I went one Thursday night in my trusty chariot to view the said hamster and make a final decision. She was adorable and I deemed her suitable as a new companion for my nana and thus agreed to adopt her for my nana.
The wonderful person J that ran the rescue then introduced me to the other inmates and though they were each gorgeous I resolved that no, I was not offering any off them a home. There were gerbils rescued from their owner by the RSPCA as they were been kept in unsuitable conditions and being neglected. There was pets brought in as their owners could no longer offer them a home and then there were two hamsters who were brought in by the police having been found dumped in the street. They were male and female and in a tiny cage, not good and I got quite annoyed at this stage that someone could do something like this to an animal so tiny and defenseless.
Then she introduced to me to a tiny underweight ball of fluff who, has been found at the same time as the two hamsters mentioned above in a tiny cage and on his own this time, he was scrawny and underweight but incredibly friendly and tame for all he had been through and my heart melted and my resolve weakened and that was it animal osmosis toke place in my house once more. He's been living with me a week and he's and amazing chap, hopefully what J said to me as we left "being dumped may be the best thing that happened to him" will prove true as he settles in his new home with a good size cage, lots of toys and lovely grub. I can see an improvement in the little mans condition already. His name, Pippin.
Here he is
This of course led to some anxieties on Sparkies part as he clearly thought he was been shoved to one side and replaced, this is certainly not the case and he need a lot of reassurance before he settled down and stopped yelling and demanding my attention at every opportunity bless him!
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Here comes the summer
Along with the rain, thunderstorms and associated power cuts, like the power cut we had at 3am this morning, trying to find your way to the bathroom in the pitch black is not my idea of fun, nor is being without a kettle.
Anyway the whole summer stretches out in front of me without the demands of study. I had a lovely e mail from Mr C today the tutor who marked my last essay and who will be my mentor next year in which he informed me that he was impressed with my academic ability particularly in light of the challenges that he knows I face.
But now what do I do with myself? I am considering undertaking a course in Youth Counselling which will greatly benefit my role within the church as "children's advocate". This role is far encompassing and covers a great deal but basically it means being there for a child should they need someone to talk to no matter what they want to talk about. The trouble is it costs £400.
In myself I am doing ok, I am off the steroids and aside from a couple of headaches I feel fine in myself at the minute, busy with work and looking forward to 16 days off in three weeks time. Again I have no real plans for this though sometime will be spent on preparing for my next module.
Today I am undertaking a special mission, a mission to get my nana a hamster so this evening I will be heading over to a local rescue to view the hamsters that they have in their care to see if there is one suited for my nana, I have one on reserve so I hope all will go well. I know it will have an amazing home. I am resisting strongly not to bring a little furry home for myself.
The 365 project has completely fell by the wayside, I will recommence it soon though. I am also giving some very serious thought as to what job I want to do when I change jobs, I know I want to do something different but I don't know what.
So thats me up to now.
Anyway the whole summer stretches out in front of me without the demands of study. I had a lovely e mail from Mr C today the tutor who marked my last essay and who will be my mentor next year in which he informed me that he was impressed with my academic ability particularly in light of the challenges that he knows I face.
But now what do I do with myself? I am considering undertaking a course in Youth Counselling which will greatly benefit my role within the church as "children's advocate". This role is far encompassing and covers a great deal but basically it means being there for a child should they need someone to talk to no matter what they want to talk about. The trouble is it costs £400.
In myself I am doing ok, I am off the steroids and aside from a couple of headaches I feel fine in myself at the minute, busy with work and looking forward to 16 days off in three weeks time. Again I have no real plans for this though sometime will be spent on preparing for my next module.
Today I am undertaking a special mission, a mission to get my nana a hamster so this evening I will be heading over to a local rescue to view the hamsters that they have in their care to see if there is one suited for my nana, I have one on reserve so I hope all will go well. I know it will have an amazing home. I am resisting strongly not to bring a little furry home for myself.
The 365 project has completely fell by the wayside, I will recommence it soon though. I am also giving some very serious thought as to what job I want to do when I change jobs, I know I want to do something different but I don't know what.
So thats me up to now.
Saturday, 10 April 2010
All change
Lots of things are happening here, some mundane whereas others are exciting.
My studies are going well there is just the issue of sorting out my semester B essay which I did a year early. This time last year in fact so I am hoping that I don't need to re sit it as I passed it without problems.
My health continues to be very up and down at the minute my joint problems are causing me significant problems but I have already blogged enough about this previously so I won't expand much on this other than to say I am in a a great deal of pain at the minute, I am very grateful for being prescribed strong painkillers. It is presenting me with some concern as this flare has been more painful than usual. I am hoping that this is just a blip rather than an indication that my joint problems are deteriorating as they inevitably will.
Earlier in the week I broke my mobile phone, a real pain in the neck I took it over to the store where I bought it from and who I have insurance through and was informed that I would need to pay £50 excess for the repairs which didn't please me. I was even less pleased given the fact that I had less than 4 months on my contract and my current contract does not meet my usage thus my bills are expensive. I explained this to the sales person and he told me to go and sit down in one of the chairs provided which I did. After a few minutes natter with the sales guy I came out £110 in my pocket to pay off my current contract, and a new contract that meets my usage needs. Plus I got the phone I really wanted, free. The iphone. I know that they have been very hyped up and some may argue, over hyped. But, it is brilliant and there is a wide range of apps many of them free or costing a few pennies. Instead of carrying my bible with me as I always do I now have a study bible on my i phone. I have put lots of other apps on it, some of my favourite CDs and have down loaded lots of pod cast. The only drawback with it is that when in use its heavy in the battery.
In three weeks time my middle sister will be married, and I will be in Italy. She is getting married in Italy at the end of the month a very exciting though expensive holiday looms. Not only will I be attending the wedding but I am also her bridesmaid and will have the honour of giving her away. I am spending two nights in the south of Italy where the wedding is to be held and then a few nights in Rome.
While I am away my piggies will be staying with a friend. Sadly there have been a number of issues arising with their regular sitter to the point that it seems our friendship will inevitability fizzle out, its sad and difficult to deal with. I have tried a number of avenues to try and resolve the issues but to no avail and I feel that I know have to accept the inevitable. She no longer wishes to remain in the friendship.
Anyway my friend who lives just up the road has kindly offered to take my piggies, I am not sure that she knows what she is letting herself in for but I know that they will be well cared for and loved. Thomas is a lone pig as he has fell out with previous cage mates. Its a situation I am not comfortable with, although I have no real desire to have four piggies at the same time I am conscious that they like the company of their own kind and I am fearful he is getting lonely sitting in his cage all day on his own. So to this end my friend M has offered to try and bond Thomas with a piggy called Bob, M helps run a small animal rescue and Bob is a lone boar who is very lonely on his own. He has also been in rescue since his birth last year, he is now 10 months old and really needs a loving forever home. I am not convinced it will work out but I hope it does for both of them. The trouble is also that I have seen pictures of Bob and have fell in love, it would not be practical or fair on Bob to take him in on his own though, so unless he and Tommy get on he will continue to look for a new home. This is Bob
Just before I head off to Italy I am going to South Lakes Animal Park with my friend B and at the same adopting her a giraffe. Just to note it will remain at the animal park, we will not be bringing it home with us.
My guests Fred and Barney are still with me but they may be moving on to permanent fosters in a few days time. I will miss them greatly but its another step for them on the route to a loving, caring forever home.
So lots happening at this end and as I said at the beginning of my post some are exciting and some are pretty mundane.
My studies are going well there is just the issue of sorting out my semester B essay which I did a year early. This time last year in fact so I am hoping that I don't need to re sit it as I passed it without problems.
My health continues to be very up and down at the minute my joint problems are causing me significant problems but I have already blogged enough about this previously so I won't expand much on this other than to say I am in a a great deal of pain at the minute, I am very grateful for being prescribed strong painkillers. It is presenting me with some concern as this flare has been more painful than usual. I am hoping that this is just a blip rather than an indication that my joint problems are deteriorating as they inevitably will.
Earlier in the week I broke my mobile phone, a real pain in the neck I took it over to the store where I bought it from and who I have insurance through and was informed that I would need to pay £50 excess for the repairs which didn't please me. I was even less pleased given the fact that I had less than 4 months on my contract and my current contract does not meet my usage thus my bills are expensive. I explained this to the sales person and he told me to go and sit down in one of the chairs provided which I did. After a few minutes natter with the sales guy I came out £110 in my pocket to pay off my current contract, and a new contract that meets my usage needs. Plus I got the phone I really wanted, free. The iphone. I know that they have been very hyped up and some may argue, over hyped. But, it is brilliant and there is a wide range of apps many of them free or costing a few pennies. Instead of carrying my bible with me as I always do I now have a study bible on my i phone. I have put lots of other apps on it, some of my favourite CDs and have down loaded lots of pod cast. The only drawback with it is that when in use its heavy in the battery.
In three weeks time my middle sister will be married, and I will be in Italy. She is getting married in Italy at the end of the month a very exciting though expensive holiday looms. Not only will I be attending the wedding but I am also her bridesmaid and will have the honour of giving her away. I am spending two nights in the south of Italy where the wedding is to be held and then a few nights in Rome.
While I am away my piggies will be staying with a friend. Sadly there have been a number of issues arising with their regular sitter to the point that it seems our friendship will inevitability fizzle out, its sad and difficult to deal with. I have tried a number of avenues to try and resolve the issues but to no avail and I feel that I know have to accept the inevitable. She no longer wishes to remain in the friendship.
Anyway my friend who lives just up the road has kindly offered to take my piggies, I am not sure that she knows what she is letting herself in for but I know that they will be well cared for and loved. Thomas is a lone pig as he has fell out with previous cage mates. Its a situation I am not comfortable with, although I have no real desire to have four piggies at the same time I am conscious that they like the company of their own kind and I am fearful he is getting lonely sitting in his cage all day on his own. So to this end my friend M has offered to try and bond Thomas with a piggy called Bob, M helps run a small animal rescue and Bob is a lone boar who is very lonely on his own. He has also been in rescue since his birth last year, he is now 10 months old and really needs a loving forever home. I am not convinced it will work out but I hope it does for both of them. The trouble is also that I have seen pictures of Bob and have fell in love, it would not be practical or fair on Bob to take him in on his own though, so unless he and Tommy get on he will continue to look for a new home. This is Bob
Just before I head off to Italy I am going to South Lakes Animal Park with my friend B and at the same adopting her a giraffe. Just to note it will remain at the animal park, we will not be bringing it home with us.
My guests Fred and Barney are still with me but they may be moving on to permanent fosters in a few days time. I will miss them greatly but its another step for them on the route to a loving, caring forever home.
So lots happening at this end and as I said at the beginning of my post some are exciting and some are pretty mundane.
Friday, 12 March 2010
Ranting foster mummy
Tomorrow afternoon I will have 2 foster children to care for, two boys. I am going to collect them around 4pm from Yorkshire, settle them in the car, drive home and then on arrival home place them in the bath were they will be sleeping for the next few days.
If you are heading at speed to your telephone to contact social services, stop. Now. Why? you may be asking. It simple, these foster children are two guinea pigs and before you call the RSPCA their travel box (or rather my friends cats travel box) will serve as a house for them and will join them in the bath and the bath will be lined with towels so that their poor little feet don't get cold when taking some exercise in the bath.
I volunteered to collect these lads, the gentleman who is currently housing them doesn't have the space for them. They are not his piggies though, they are his cousins I am unsure as to the reason why they have chosen to rehouse them.
The plan is that they will stay here for around a week and then head on to the rescue after my next set of nights off (I am back in on Saturday) however in between me offering to collect them and now the rescue has become inundated with unwanted guinea pigs and his fosters are also full, so I have informed him that I can foster them till the back end of April if need be. Its so, so sad though that so many pets that could offer their owners so much love and joy become unwanted and treated as disposable thus ending in rescues. It makes me angry, very angry. All pets have a right to a loving, caring forever home and my hope is that each and everyone of them goes off to a home much better than their current one. It has always been my opinion that when a pet is sent off to a rescue, unwanted that they can't off being receiving much love and attention in their homes because if they had their owners would of realised what delightful animals they are and how much a pet can offer and the enrichment it can bring to their lives and having realised all this they would never be able to part with their pet. I know that some owners are forced to give up their pets for genuine reasons and are heartbroken by this fact. It is not these people I am referring to.
Many of these pets are unwanted Christmas presents, in the words of one rescue "is March dump your pet month?", my belief is that the film G-Force has added to the number of children wanting guinea pigs, but the reality is that guinea pigs are nothing like what they are portrayed in the film. Its a sad fact of life pets are bought as cute babies but then they grow up (to me they remain cute), time moves on and the owner (often a child) becomes bored. Parents can't be bothered with caring for the pet themselves (it is actually illegal for a child under 16 to be given total responsibility for a pet) and so off they go to rescue . It is not really the child's fault, the parents need to think very carefully of what they are taking on and though the pet is for the child the whole family needs to take responsibility for the care and welfare for the pet. There is evidence to suggest that children who have pets as children are less selfish and more considerate of the needs of others.
The parents need to be involved in caring for the pet encouraging the child along the way to be involved with their pets care and reminding them of the importance of ensuring that their pet gets the very best care through out its life and doing their best to maintain the child's interest in their pet, as with anything you get out what you put in, you reap what you sow. What sort of signal does it send out to the child that when they get bored they send their pet off to rescue? What sort of messages does that send out about life in general.
Sorry if I seem to have got onto my soap box a bit but its something that is very important to me. This afternoon I was approached by a someone who is waiting for a rescue place for their guinea pigs, the rescue currently being full. They asked me if I would foster theirs as well as the two I have already agreed to, sadly there is not enough room at the inn for them all. Their reason, they let their heart rule their head and with little consideration of the costs involved acquired 9 animals and now realise they have bitten off more they can chew and they simply can't afford to keep that many so off to the rescue they go.
Before you get a pet. THINK. THINK LONG AND HARD!
If you are heading at speed to your telephone to contact social services, stop. Now. Why? you may be asking. It simple, these foster children are two guinea pigs and before you call the RSPCA their travel box (or rather my friends cats travel box) will serve as a house for them and will join them in the bath and the bath will be lined with towels so that their poor little feet don't get cold when taking some exercise in the bath.
I volunteered to collect these lads, the gentleman who is currently housing them doesn't have the space for them. They are not his piggies though, they are his cousins I am unsure as to the reason why they have chosen to rehouse them.
The plan is that they will stay here for around a week and then head on to the rescue after my next set of nights off (I am back in on Saturday) however in between me offering to collect them and now the rescue has become inundated with unwanted guinea pigs and his fosters are also full, so I have informed him that I can foster them till the back end of April if need be. Its so, so sad though that so many pets that could offer their owners so much love and joy become unwanted and treated as disposable thus ending in rescues. It makes me angry, very angry. All pets have a right to a loving, caring forever home and my hope is that each and everyone of them goes off to a home much better than their current one. It has always been my opinion that when a pet is sent off to a rescue, unwanted that they can't off being receiving much love and attention in their homes because if they had their owners would of realised what delightful animals they are and how much a pet can offer and the enrichment it can bring to their lives and having realised all this they would never be able to part with their pet. I know that some owners are forced to give up their pets for genuine reasons and are heartbroken by this fact. It is not these people I am referring to.
Many of these pets are unwanted Christmas presents, in the words of one rescue "is March dump your pet month?", my belief is that the film G-Force has added to the number of children wanting guinea pigs, but the reality is that guinea pigs are nothing like what they are portrayed in the film. Its a sad fact of life pets are bought as cute babies but then they grow up (to me they remain cute), time moves on and the owner (often a child) becomes bored. Parents can't be bothered with caring for the pet themselves (it is actually illegal for a child under 16 to be given total responsibility for a pet) and so off they go to rescue . It is not really the child's fault, the parents need to think very carefully of what they are taking on and though the pet is for the child the whole family needs to take responsibility for the care and welfare for the pet. There is evidence to suggest that children who have pets as children are less selfish and more considerate of the needs of others.
The parents need to be involved in caring for the pet encouraging the child along the way to be involved with their pets care and reminding them of the importance of ensuring that their pet gets the very best care through out its life and doing their best to maintain the child's interest in their pet, as with anything you get out what you put in, you reap what you sow. What sort of signal does it send out to the child that when they get bored they send their pet off to rescue? What sort of messages does that send out about life in general.
Sorry if I seem to have got onto my soap box a bit but its something that is very important to me. This afternoon I was approached by a someone who is waiting for a rescue place for their guinea pigs, the rescue currently being full. They asked me if I would foster theirs as well as the two I have already agreed to, sadly there is not enough room at the inn for them all. Their reason, they let their heart rule their head and with little consideration of the costs involved acquired 9 animals and now realise they have bitten off more they can chew and they simply can't afford to keep that many so off to the rescue they go.
Before you get a pet. THINK. THINK LONG AND HARD!
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Snowball
Sorry I haven't post for a while sometimes I am not sure what to blog about as my life seems well, boring.
There is much happening here I am busy with work I have just started an 8 week stint of nights, my friend B is in hospital I am doing my best to help and support B and my sisters wedding is looming large in the horizon. On Friday I am heading into Yorkshire to collect two guinea pigs for a rescue. Please anyone reading this, if you plan to get a pet think it through very, very carefully. A pet is for life, they are great fun and can add a very special extra dimension to your life but their is price to pay both personally and financially so please think about it carefully before you commit. Can you offer your potential pet a a loving, caring home for life? My personal opinion is, is that the costs involved in having a pet are hardly noticed if you genuinely love and care for your pet because they give you so much you will want to ensure that your pet has a happy life where it is cosseted and loved.
Anyway moving on, the winter is dragging on and my arthritis is really playing up. Last night I woke in severe pain though I lay in my bed for several minutes trying to work out what was wrong before twigging. I got up feeling totally fed up, I was exhausted and needed sleep. B, despite being in hospital was on hand via text message to support me and Sparky was more than happy to act as an extra hot water bottle and sit with me, enjoying the attention and cuddles. I had a hot bath, hot chocolate, hot water bottle and lots of painkillers and around 5am I settled back off to sleep not waking again till 2pm. I awoke feeling achy like I had been kicked by a horse so had more painkillers and rested for the rest of the day.
At 7pm as I waited for my painkillers to work I decided to try a "heat rub", I usually use "deep heat" but my nana recommended the one she uses, claiming its better than deep heat. I can't remember its name and given that its now in the bin I can't even check it. I rubbed it into my back, left wrist and both ankles. Within minutes the areas concerned became red and began to itch, I was soon scratching like a cat with a serious flea infestation. It because very obvious, very soon that to add to the problems that I already had I was suffering from an allergic reaction. I took an anti-histamine and some steroids to protect my lungs and had a long soak in a bath with a lot hydromol bath oil added, hydromol is what I am prescribed for my eczema. I got out the bath and noticed that the redness had become much more wide spread and I looked like I had been scolded though my bath water was not that hot and I still couldn't stop scratching. I lathered myself with both steroid cream and hydromol moisturiser. It seems to have settled down a lot but I am still itchy. Tonight has not been a good night.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Sliding ever further behind
Although things are definitely not at crisis point with regards to my studying the last two days has seen my arthritis flair up to the point that it has rendered it necessary for me, for the first time in 3 years call in sick with my arthritis.
Unfortunately it is my upper spine where the flair up has occurred, the result of which is that a) it becomes uncomfortable to remain lying/sitting in the same position for more than a 15-20 minutes b) the painkillers are slowly turning me into a zombie. However I am not to be defeated and will find a way round this latest problem. I have got through worse in the past and I will get through this.
On completely separate note I am struggling to register for this academic year.
Thomas the guinea pig, chose to chew through my modems electricity cable the other night. Luckily it was switched off, otherwise he may well of ended up experiencing DIY guinea pig ECT. Though the piggy that might most benefit from it is Sparky (appropriate name really). Not that he is depressed. quite the opposite. To use a very un PC description he's off his rocker, out of his tree and wired to the moon but a quick blast of ECT might calm him down, probably for all off 5 minutes, though the RSPCA may not look upon me too kindly if I electrocuted Sparky. Not that I have any intention what so ever of doing so anyway. ECT would not be appropriate for Harry-he's long haired and it might make for a very scary hair style.
Anyway I have digressed somewhat and rather bizarrely, I blame the concoction of pills that I am shoving down my throat. I am now relying on mobile Internet while I await my new modem. I used the "my modem is broken", you don't honestly think I would fez that the guinea pig had chewed through the cable, that would leave me feeling like a right plonker. Mobile broadband is good but for some strange reason my mobile broadband is somewhat temperamental and refuses to allow me to get onto the Universities registration area. I am sure a few more days won't matter but without the registration it doesn't feel like the year has properly started yet.
Unfortunately it is my upper spine where the flair up has occurred, the result of which is that a) it becomes uncomfortable to remain lying/sitting in the same position for more than a 15-20 minutes b) the painkillers are slowly turning me into a zombie. However I am not to be defeated and will find a way round this latest problem. I have got through worse in the past and I will get through this.
On completely separate note I am struggling to register for this academic year.
Thomas the guinea pig, chose to chew through my modems electricity cable the other night. Luckily it was switched off, otherwise he may well of ended up experiencing DIY guinea pig ECT. Though the piggy that might most benefit from it is Sparky (appropriate name really). Not that he is depressed. quite the opposite. To use a very un PC description he's off his rocker, out of his tree and wired to the moon but a quick blast of ECT might calm him down, probably for all off 5 minutes, though the RSPCA may not look upon me too kindly if I electrocuted Sparky. Not that I have any intention what so ever of doing so anyway. ECT would not be appropriate for Harry-he's long haired and it might make for a very scary hair style.
Anyway I have digressed somewhat and rather bizarrely, I blame the concoction of pills that I am shoving down my throat. I am now relying on mobile Internet while I await my new modem. I used the "my modem is broken", you don't honestly think I would fez that the guinea pig had chewed through the cable, that would leave me feeling like a right plonker. Mobile broadband is good but for some strange reason my mobile broadband is somewhat temperamental and refuses to allow me to get onto the Universities registration area. I am sure a few more days won't matter but without the registration it doesn't feel like the year has properly started yet.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Procrastination
I said I was going to start my studies a couple of days ago, well I didn't.
I ended up finding lots of other things to do, I had a lay till 1pm, then two men turned up to do my loft insulation (they arranged it back in March but gave me no date and time, just turning up unannounced yesterday). This led to a great deal of amusement as 6 piggies joined in unison squeaking at the sound of loft insulation been unwrapped from its polythene wrapper thinking it was tea time. Then I had the housework to do because my friend was coming round, at least we did get some studying some for his course.
Today, I never really got round to it because the I was coming close to finishing the fourth Harry Potter and I really, really wanted to finish it. Now I have. Then I had to go over to visit my friends cat whose mummy is on holiday, a job I love, I also have her garden gnome to keep an eye on. He's guarding her watering can that comes complete with holes. Wilfreds role is a very important one as someone attempted to steal the watering can earlier in the year, the court case is still on going. The guy responsible is on the run having failed to turn up in court for his hearing. And now I am updating my blog.
Next week, maybe but I have my car loan to organise....
Thursday, 13 August 2009
A pet is for life not just while its trendy
There is a new film out G-force which is bound to be a hit this summer amongst children, sadly this film and many others lead to people deciding to take the animal concerned on as a pet only to abandon the pet once the novelty wears off.
Guinea pigs make great pets but to take them on as pets as a result of watching a film at the cinema may result in disappointment as they are nothing like what the film portrays.
If you are considering taking a pet on please give it very careful consideration, do you understand fully what their needs and are willing to care for your pet for the whole length of their life? Its also advisable that before you take a pet on that you consider who will provide it with the love and care it requires should you happen to go away.
Animal guest house
Let me first of all introduce one of my piggies, this is Sparky.I love this time of year not just the weather (or rather the odd day were the sun comes out and it doesn't rain) but the fact that my friends all go on holiday. Let me reassure you I am not happy that my friends are on holiday, I miss them while they are away. I am pleased for them that they are able to get away and enjoy their breaks away. I am pleased because they leave their pets behind and in my care.
Today three more piggies will be arriving, its gets a bit squashed with an extra cage but we manage. Sparky and Harry, who is currently enjoying a Handel CD are in the living room. Tommy remains in the hallway, whinging and an empty cage stands next to it ready to receive the guests.
Next week my friend B heads off on her hols and for a week I will be cat sitting in addition to guinea pig sitting. He's such a gorgeous lad, though a tad spiky at times so I have the joy of caring for him as well.
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