2013 Easter Weekend March

Once again its been a long time since anything has been written here.

We have had a really busy few months, Dad has been poorly with a hacking cough. Probably all this cold wet weather.  And Nan has been poorly as well.

She had a fall on the night of Halloween, and the paramedics came out to her.

She was fine but very shaken, and since then she has lost her confidence and doesn't want to be alone especially at night.

We tried to help her get back to normal and the local council tried to help, they put all sorts of equipment into her house to make her safe.

Anyway none of it helped, and in November she had a fall and a stroke and despite being 93, and having a really bad stroke she is doing pretty much ok.

On Christmas Eve she moved into Coble House Care Home in Cullercoats.

She has a lovely room with her own bathroom, and a view down the road to the sea.

She shares a lovely lounge with other residents and has made some good friends.

She is still confused, and has many health problems but she loves to see me.

Me and Nan at the home 

Connor came with us last time, Nan is so pleased to see him

This is her room, its very nice.

Well we go there as often as possible, and at lease once a week. She loves to see me and I get lots of tickles, but I also get fusses of most of the other residents as well, they are getting to know me now and I get biscuits of the staff.  Its a lovely home, just like visiting her in her own house, but with more people about.

She had her 93rd birthday there last week, mind she isn't the oldest resident one lady is 102.

Nan seems happy to have lots of company, she is warm, well fed and well cared for.

We are going there this afternoon.

Its been a while since we wrote. October 2012

Its been quite a while since we wrote anything on here. I feel sad and ashamed that I have let it lapse for so long.  However hopefully we are getting back into the swing of things and I shall endeavour to keep the blog up to date.

Well, I have been fine, still loving living by the sea, and the chances to go swim in the north sea.  And Plessey Woods, which isn't far from us. Its a great place for a wonder and a dip in the rive. (although mum and dad are a little worried about this woodland virus which is effecting dogs, so I think we are staying on the beach and fields for a while just in case).

PLESSEY WOODS

 Bit of a Struggle to get out 

ONE DAY I WOULD LIKE A CHAIR NAMED AFTER ME !

We have been pretty busy lately, mainly due to some illness and other things that effect our lives.
Dads lovely sister Doreen died just before Christmas, it was very sad.  She was such a lovely lady, and I always got a custard cream off her when we visited.

She had lung cancer, Dad says it was from smoking.  Mum says she has never met a nicer lady and she was so kind and thoughtful and she will be missed so much but remembered forever.  Mum and Dad still mention her name very often, and I miss going to her house.

Nan, mums mam, was diagnosed with Alzheimers early this year, and its taking a bit of a toll on the family.  There is a lot more to do, however the family are sticking together and we are doing all we can to make sure she is happy and safe.  She loves me to come along, and she forgets she has given me treats and she gives me some more.  Mum says we should never argue with her so I just eat them.

Mum has got some form of Arthritis, which is causing pain in her knees and shoulders, she says its a pain in the bum and she hasn't got time for it.  Never mind she says, keep taking the tablets.

I have also got problems with my joints, must be my age, I am nearly seven now.  Or it could be all that freezing cold water in the North sea.  Anyway apart from getting me a supplement for my joints, they have only gone and changed the car to an estate model so I can get in and out more easily.  I guess they love me a lot.

Condor and Ben

Condor is a very special Guide Dog

Sometimes he just needs to run free and have an afternoon off 

Ben and Condor having fun together

Bit blurred because they are running so fast

time for a treat

4th April 2012 Ben is 6 years old

Just cannot believe that it is six years since that tiny little bundle of trouble came into our lives.  Today Ben is six years old and he has grown into a lovely fluffy loyal and gentle dog.  Not quite the black Labrador that we thought we had bought but we wouldn't part with him for a fortune.

Happy birthday Ben xx

17th March St Patrick's Day in Scotland

We have just come back from a most wonderful weekend in Scotland.  We stayed at the Trigony Country House Hotel, Dumfries and Gallaway.

The Hotel itself was perfect, lots of gardens, nice and quiet and fantastic views.  To make it even better it is a "Dog Friendly" hotel.

True to its advert I was welcome almost everywhere in the hotel and even had breakfast and dinner in their bar/restaurant.  (They keep the main restaurant pet free).  The food was great and we shared ours with the dog who lives there, she's called  Roxie.

We had the most perfect weather for the weekend.

It was very frosty in the morning, but fresh and pleasant like a lovely spring morning.

The lovely laid out gardens are full of lovely flowers.

 Off for a walk behind the hotel

GLENKILN SCULPTURE PARK AND RESERVOIR 

We stumbled upon the Glenkiln Sculpture Park near Dumfries. We found out about it in a leaflet supplied by the hotel, with instructions on how to get there via a lovely scenic route. 

The park was an inspiration in 1951 by Sir William Keswick who was a friend of Henry Moore ande owned the land, he wanted to exhibit sculpture in a natural setting. 


There are four sculptures by Henry Moore, one by Jacob Epstein and one by Rodin.

There are no signs to the park (we were told by a local this was because the statues had been vandalised in the past and attempts to steal them had been made). 

Henry Moore's King and Queen, a Henry Moore cross, you can see from the road. Rodin's John the Baptist is beside a small car park, then Moore's Standing Figure. 

The other two - Epstein's The Visitation and Moore's Two Piece Reclining Figure are a bit further off the beaten track up a hill beside the reservoir.  Unfortunately we didnt manage to get to these due to the very deep mud we would have had to wade through, so we will take wellies next time.

Rodin John the Baptist





He stands at the head of the reservoir, looking out over lovely views.

Henry Moore King and Queen

They have fantastic views

Roxie and me during dinner.

We will certainly go back here again, its lovely.