Hanging on
Anyone who noticed the lengthy absence since my last spot of blogging could be forgiven for thinking that I had, at the very moment the post was published, packed my bags and left for Japan – and neglected to catch a return flight. As it is, I’m very much still here and the holiday is still a distant dream; books have been read, websites have been trawled for info, plans have been made… It’s the Making A Decision and Putting Plans Into Action part where I am – typically – coming unstuck. Once it’s all booked up, it will be hard to keep me quiet about it.
Summer was a bit of a non-event this year. I’m sure there were some gorgeous fun weeks in July, but the happy memories are fading as quickly as the warmth from what little sun we’ve had, as it all turned to grey and gloom in August. The British weather is getting tougher to forgive for these let-downs. I want to stay hopeful for a bright September, but inside, I’m hibernating already. At least my yearly crop of sunflowers weren’t trashed by the wind and rain; it’s said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and they drank it up.
I need to make time to post more on here, and not only so it doesn’t feel like every post I write is announcing another Death in The Family. But sadly today, after just a day or two of being quiet and subdued, little Dita left us. She was found collapsed in the garden when we came in from work, barely able to lift her head. We had an appointment booked already to see the vet then, but she didn’t even make it to the car with us. It’s like she was hanging on, just waiting for us to come home so we could say our goodbyes. Our flock is down to 5; they don’t seem to miss her, but we really are already.
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Tags: Pets, sunflowers, weather
Pleasant distractions
So it’s been over a week since we returned home from our much needed break in Fuerteventura, and I’m still struggling to get into any kind of routine. It was nice to have the excuse of the long Easter bank holiday weekend for a little laziness. The Saturday was spent browsing a vintage fair. Shoes with buttons have a strangely magnetic pull for me, so I was delighted this blue pair were my size – and even more pleased hubby stumped up the £4 to bring them home with us.
Though it was a bit of a shock coming home to temperatures 20 or more degrees cooler than we’d been languishing in abroad, happily the sunshine’s put in a fairly regular appearance lately. Shoots are sprouting around the garden – much to the chickens’ pleasure – and my weedy rose bush is under constant surveillance from hungry ladybirds. Bad luck, aphids.
Of course, the real reason I’m finding it difficult to concentrate on anything much at the moment is the surprise hubby let slip on holiday. I like to think my 30th birthday is still a fair way off (it’s not), but he’d been plotting for quite a while. Despite his best efforts to keep a secret and pull off a perfectly executed surprise, in the end he decided it was for the best to tell me his plan and let me sort it out for myself.
I am – we are – going to Japan.
I AM GOING TO JAPAN!
I am going. to. Japan.
Eeeep. 
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Tags: garden, holiday, I love surprises, ladybird, shoes
Under the dust
Being rather fond of everyday things in miniature – smaller is somehow almost always cuter – I was happy to pick up an old printer’s tray a couple of weeks ago. With a bit of elbow grease, several decades of dust gave way to show off the nicely-battered wood underneath. Now I just need to find some wall space for it where I get a great view from my desk. All those little compartments are begging to be stocked with tiny treasures; I guess if I don’t have quite enough to fill it up now, it’s a perfect excuse to shop for more cuteness. As if one were needed.
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Tags: collecting, home, print tray, wood
Little stars
It was no surprise to me that I didn’t feel like blogging – or doing very much at all really – for a couple of weeks, but it’s time I got back on the pony. Somehow I have so far managed to keep on top of my 365 Days project. Whilst I can’t say I’m thrilled with all of my photos, I’ve exceeded my expectations simply by taking them; with a little luck and a lot more practice and effort, I’m hoping they can only improve.
Speaking of luck, I stumbled – thankfully not literally – upon the perfect pair of wellies to keep my feet happy in the cold, wet weather. Bright red and studded with tiny white stars, for me they’re pretty enough to be fun without making me feel ridiculous. My shoes, I’m sure, are equally delighted, grateful to no longer receive a coating of stinky sticky chicken shit each time I head up the garden.
And with little dumplings like this waiting for me, why wouldn’t I be out there all the time? Now if only Aimee and Dita could remember how to lay eggs. Giving us 4 almost every day at the moment, I reckon the Orpingtons could jog their memories.
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Tags: chickens, photography, wellies
The big one
It seems I have to wait a little longer for things to get better. Pepper was back on the Baytril for her snuffles when she developed a rather wet eye (hello, blocked tear duct), then things started to go wrong round her back end. My heart sank when the vet told me she could feel a lump inside her; we all crossed our fingers and willed it to be impacted food – not something I thought I’d ever be hoping for in one of my bunnies. Later that day, we got the worst news: there was a growth on her kidney – now 4 times its normal size – and it was most likely malignant lymphoma.
Once again, and all too soon, we had a tough decision to make – really, nature had made it for us. All I wanted was for Pepper not to be in any pain, so whilst she still had some spark and dignity, I chose to let her go.
After all that Pepper had cheerfully battled through, perhaps it was inevitable that something insurmountable would one day come along. Having dealt with snuffles, myxomatosis, a severe eye infection in her left eye then a blocked tear duct in her right, I was sure that any day now, Pepper would get a break – surely no rabbit could be that unlucky? Lloyd told me that Pepper’s lucky break was getting to come and live with us; but it’s me who feels like the lucky one. My pocket-sized little madam with enough attitude for a whole warren of rabbits has gone to find George; and the garden and our lives are that much emptier without her.
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Tags: Pets, rabbits
The chickens came first
Christmas may be over, but that didn’t stop the hens from giving us a welcome present today:
As it was left neatly in a perfect little dimple in the snow on the garden path whilst we were out, there’s no way of knowing who the generous chicken is…although I thought Suzi was looking quite pleased with herself. Due to the recent rapid growth of her wattles and not inconsiderable comb, Lloyd is half convinced that Suzi is more of a Steve – but that will have to be resolved another time. Right now we have to fight over who gets the boiled egg and soldiers.
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Tags: chickens, egg, Pets
George
This week hasn’t really been the start to the year that I had in mind. Hearing scrabbling and thumping from the bunny house outside as I was sinking into sleep on Monday night, we went out to find George in a very bad way. Just half an hour later, we were stood in a room with the emergency vet being told that a bug was attacking his nervous system – and his symptoms were so severe there was little hope of a recovery even though we’d taken him for treatment straight away. The poor bun couldn’t even sit, never mind stand, walk or eat. I felt quite sick as we had him put to sleep; he was 2 years old. It’s just so unfair. Part of me can’t believe he’s not still outside, hiding somewhere – it all happened so fast. I’d give almost anything to have his head tucked under my chin in a big cuddle one more time, losing my fingers in his thick, gorgeous fur. Pepper seems to be coping well enough without him, though it kind of breaks my heart to see her outside all alone. She looks so small and vulnerable without George by her side.
Despite my reluctance to commit to any kind of dreaded resolution, I went and joined the 365 Days group on Flickr. I am contrary if nothing else, but hopefully the challenge will do me good. I hate having my picture taken – at least this way, I get to be in charge of the camera. Thinking up ideas for more photos will be a good way to keep my mind occupied so I don’t sit around moping. I refuse to let the past few days set the tone for the rest of the year – things will get better.
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Tags: 365 Days, Pets, rabbits
Nudges
Knowing all too well my ability to drift in life like a leaf on a stream, lately I’ve been feeling the need to make an effort to nudge myself down paths more of my choosing – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the nudge may appear: tiny acorns and mighty oaks and all that. I’m not really one for setting resolutions – who really needs another disappointment waiting to happen? – but without a handful of thoughts to guide me, I’ll be back in my stream:
- Make my garden beautiful. Simple, right..?
- Do a Toy Society drop. I love seeing the softies people have sent out into the world for a stranger to discover.
- Sponsor a child. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, so it’s about time I got on with it.
- Make more time for me. Far be it from me to dismiss time spent staring out of the window as time wasted, but there is only so much daydreaming one girl can do before days disappear without trace. So I want to focus on spending my waking hours doing the things I really love: taking photos, reading, making things, being with my loved ones – in short, living.
I’m sure there will be more ideas, I’m looking forward to them. 2009 has been pretty rough for a lot of people I know; I hope everyone gets what they need out of 2010. See you on the other side.
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Tags: craft, garden, New Year's Eve
Such magic
Not for the first time do I realise that I am full of good blogging intentions which frequently fail to deliver. Conveniently, the time for making resolutions is almost upon us; no doubt I can make some promises to myself to improve on this, which will be carelessly broken in due course. In the meantime, I’ll make amends with a handful of snaps of life from the past few weeks.
Coveting the V&A café decor…
Picking a favourite from the V&A museum…
The new occupant of the Christmas tree…
A mysterious brown paper package…
..and its contents. *squeal* We are going to have so much fun together.
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Tags: camera, christmas, gift, V&A
Sweet promises
Our continental shopping spree could be described as a moderate success. I have to keep checking the wall cupboards in the kitchen, as a (somewhat paranoid) part of me is convinced they are easing away from the brickwork under the weight of multiple bottles of red wine – so that’s Lloyd’s needs taken care of. After sampling deliciously zingy (and very drinkable) lemon bonbon cocktails on a night out a couple of months back, I’ve been searching for butterscotch schnapps – an unlikely but essential ingredient – to recreate the experience at home as and when the mood takes me. It seems there isn’t much demand for it in Calais supermarkets, despite the varied selection of strangely coloured and flavoured liquids that were on offer. I was hoping to pick up another packet of Kinder hanging chocolates for the Christmas tree this year, but they were also nowhere to be found. At this point, I probably should have grabbed the Hello Kitty advent calendar as a small comfort, since the worst was yet to come (have you guessed where this is going yet?). I’m not certain exactly how long it was that I spent staring at the well-stocked shelves of the chocolate aisle; other shoppers came and went, browsing and choosing quickly and moving on, whilst I was left empty handed. Apparently my beloved Lindt dark chocolate with the milky middle is no more. 
It would be only a mild exaggeration to say that I was fighting back the tears as the realisation set in… Naturally, I felt the need to compensate for this absence with a variety of alternatives in the hunt for a new favourite – hopefully the raspberry goo, crème brûlée, and lemon meringue pie flavours will live up to their enticing wrappers. The Milka Caramel looks especially promising, though could be good, or could be horribly sickly – I will report back in due course. I consider it my duty. In the meantime, it’s taking everything in my power not to devour the entire box of fruit macarons in one go. I’m sure there’s a good reason not to, I’m just struggling to think what it might be…
Filed under: Sulky, Travel | Leave a Comment
Tags: chocolate, food, shopping
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