Here's a happy photo to start with. Sandy has come back from the vets and has had his paw sluiced out, is full of strong antibiotics and painkillers and is running about like a mad thing! You can see the bite on his paw and it still looks raw but hopefully the anti bios will work to heal it completely. The only worry is if the infection has entered the joint, but the vet hoped it hadn't. He had to make another hole in Sandy's foot and whooshed water through to clean it all up. He's supposed to stay in tonight but is full of energy. Happy Jim and me. Wallet's a bit thinner though!
Sandy was posing to show you his poor foot - he knows how to go for the sympathy vote.Builders
The builders have been working hard today and Martin had a good discussion with Jim about what, when, etc! He seems to have things reasonably organised. The plumber turned up this afternoon and then presented us with a long list of things he wants us to get! AAAH! So now Jim has to tour builders merchants to source the materials. Not quite what we expected but that's what they do here apparently. Seamus, the plumber, has a very strong Irish accent and speaks very fast too, so I find him very difficult to understand. Still, he's a good reputation and it'll be great to get that stage done soon.
Bundle of Bundles, the Disintegration Project
I had a reminder from Seth Apter, the originator of the above project, that the second stage is due on 1st August. For those of you who don't know about it, 100+ of us made up a bundle of anything you liked. Mine contained papers, photos, an ATC and other bits and bobs. We then had to expose this to the elements for a few months, then on 1st May we took it down and opened it up to see how the items had disintegrated - or not. Then came part 2. We now have to make something entirely new, using some or all of the contents. This is the start of my part 2:
You can see that Buster is bored by the whole thing. He did actually try and chew up some of the sticks. Maybe he was trying to tell me something.
Jim clearly thinks the whole thing is hilarious! After a bit of work, it changed to this:
That's the bottom half of course.
Buster had moved position, but was still less than enthusiastic!
Ah well, I shall press on regardless. It rained while my structure was still outside, so Jim carried it into the barn. Bless.Blackcurrants
I took advantage of a pleasant spell to go and pick some more blackcurrants. I had promised Martin the builder some for tomorrow. I picked a large bowl full and I've hardly touched the surface. I also picked some of our apricot coloured raspberries for our pudding and Jim managed to find some more strawberries and some red raspberries from the allotment. Delicious with cream. We also have 2 white currant bushes that are completely laden with fruit.
When the rain became too heavy I came in again and it was just time to watch Holby City. We had a lovely meal of home grown peas (which I'd popped) and broad beans with a pasta bake and a few of Jim's left over potatoes. Jim was really tired and has retired to bed.
We also gave Buster a quick bath as he stank when he came back after an evening romp, probably with some other dogs. He hates it!
Martin The Farmer
A bit out of sequence but at 2am yesterday morning there was a knock on our door and Martin the farmer was standing in our porch, grinning away. He was clearly the worse for drink! I opened the door and Jim mentioned to him that it was 2 o'clock in the morning - he seemed surprised. He then rather sheepishly asked whether Jim had a Guinness he could have! I said no; I can't give an alcoholic drink under any circumstances. We had a bit of a joke then he asked if I had a candle. I gave him 2! Jim thought it was probably so he could look round our barns to see whether we had any booze about. Poor Martin. I do feel sorry for him but we don't really want him calling at that hour.
His wife has thrown him out (can't blame her) so he is living in his parents' old derelict house. He has water but no electricity. He told us last night that he has been given a mobile home, so that might be better for him. You do see life here.
That's about it for now. I'm pretty tired myself so am off to bed.
