The end

Well here we are, at the end. 1000 posts!

When I started this blog on 6th February 2010 it was all about the coffee plants, but of course since then, it has been about so much more than that. So much has changed... apart in some ways from the coffee plants themselves. They are still growing very slowly, no flowers, no beans and certainly no cup of coffee will be had for many, many years to come... if ever.

Among other things:

I got divorced and, in spite of my ex-husband having said he wanted to leave he thought he could still live in the house, I kicked him out. I found his idea of being a Buddhist included lying, stealing and cheating was hard to take and wasn't exactly what I thought Buddhism was about. My abiding memory is of when I challenged him about it  - i.e. the principles of Buddhism are right mind, right thought, right action, how could he call himself a Buddhist? And his answer?  - 'I never said I was a good Buddhist'. Well, it made me laugh!

I've also had the pleasure of training 3 Guide Dog puppies and boarded a whole lot more. It's been wonderful to have had the privilege of being part of something that I truly believe changes people's lives. And it's also  great that the people who've ended up with Odi and Vespa are still in touch with me, giving me updates about their exploits and how they're getting on. I do hope that Diesel can do well. That has to be seen, but as he's only 6 months old there's a long way to go.

I've travelled to Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, South Africa, Australia and France (a couple just once, but most several times) and hopefully there'll be more travel to come. I'm off to Thailand in a couple of months for my annual stint there and have been invited to go back next year. I'm hopeful that the place in China that invited me will be open soon and I can go there in 2018, as well as work I've been offered in New Zealand. Lots of fun to be had methinks!

I've been through an earthquake and come out the other side, feeling blessed and lucky. Also, in a bizarre way, it was good to go through something that momentous, but that comes from the privilege of being able to leave Nepal and not have to live there to see the devastation to the economy and what's happened since. My friends there have all tried to leave to make new lives elsewhere. That does make me feel very lucky that I don't have to do that to live well.

I've published 2 books and had quite a few poems published. I've also written a play, a fact that I'm very proud of myself for doing, even if it wasn't exactly Shakespeare and won't win prizes. 

I've had a few dates since divorcing, but nothing much to write home about. In some ways I feel I'm better off on my own, though strangely I have actually met someone recently, but we're playing it gently and I'll have to see how that develops. You never know, but I'm quite happy with things the way they are. 

I've also been to Holy Isle, off Arran 8 times since I started this blog and I'm due to head off there tomorrow for my annual retreat, so I feel this is a fitting end to this blog.

So all that remains is for me to thank you for staying with me on this journey. And I thought it fitting to finish with a picture of my coffee plants, which are doing pretty well... for them. Still growing, still shedding leaves, still demanding light and water and still nothing to show for it!

Wishing you well.

Vee

The penultimate post

Diesel and I have had a busy weekend so far.

Yesterday we went to the Border Union Show, to walk around, take in the sights and find out where the Guide Dog tent was, as we were due there today to do our bit. That last took some doing! It took me about half an hour to find it!

I've always had a fondness for agricultural shows as I love to see animals at their best and it's a fab place to people watch. Anyway, we found the Guide Dog tent and also Diesel's pal, Millie, who was there helping fundraise. Of course Diesel couldn't understand why it wasn't playtime. But, after a severe telling off, he eventually caught on that he and Millie wouldn't be playing and his job was to stand around and be petted. He wasn't all that happy at the no play situation, but loved being petted.

One of the lovely things about having a Guide Dog puppy is that I get to go places for free and the Border Union Show is no exception. They even allowed me to park for free! And today was the same, free parking and free entry.

We arrived in good time to walk around the show this morning, tasting lovely food and drink before our work stint began. I bought some delicious olives and marinated garlic... yum!

Then we got to the Guide Dog tent and I have to say that Diesel behaved really well. I'm so pleased we went yesterday as he knew what to expect. He enjoyed being petted by all and sundry, though I did have to warn children who were carrying toys to put them out of reach, as Diesel is very fond of soft, fluffy toys.

One thing that did piss me off a bit is how some people with dogs just don't get the Guide Dog thing about not letting their dogs say hello. Diesel has to learn not to interact with dogs in public places and that only happens because we train them to ignore other dogs. The amount of folk who actively encouraged their dogs to come and sniff Diesel was extraordinary. I was very patient and polite, though what was going on in my head was probably not repeatable!

Diesel and me doing our bit

After we'd been at the show for 3 hours, I decided Diesel had had enough. We came home and he immediately went to sleep for the rest of the afternoon.

It's a hard life but someone has to do it!

Sometimes, being petted and being nice to everyone is very hard work... and that's just Diesel... I found it hard too... not being petted obviously, but being nice to people for 3 solid hours was enough to drive me demented. Luckily I have wine and my nice olives to help me relax and enjoy my evening!

Birthday boy

Today, Diesel is 6 months old!

He went from this:

Diesel at 7.5 weeks

To this:

Diesel at 6 months

I can hardly believe how much he's grown. And... he still has a whole lot more growing to do!

To celebrate we went into Edinburgh to meet up with Shirley at Jamie Oliver's for lunch, which was lovely and Diesel behaved well. He did have a rather large, disgusting chew to keep him occupied though.

From there we did a quick call in to my 80 year old friend Pat, who's someone I met through poetry classes. Very sadly she has colon cancer and is in the final stage of her life. She was very tired so we didn't stay long, which I think her cat was very relieved by, as she went and sat out in the garden while we were there and wouldn't contemplate coming closer.

And so now we're home and I'm having a glass of wine to celebrate on Diesel's behalf, while he chews on a cheese and marmite filled bone. I think we're both pretty happy.

A true champion

In 2010 a 14 year old girl from my village in the Scottish Borders had a freak accident, when she was accidentally crushed under the beam of a forklift truck. She broke her back and was paralysed from the waist down.

Today, she wheeled her way into the village for, what she thought, was a quick drink at the pub and she was met with a wall of villagers who had put out the flags, hired a piper all to welcome her back home.

Why?

Sammi Kinghorn is a double world paralympic champion. She won 2 golds and a bronze at the paralympic world championships in London.

All the kids were out waving their flags, having spent the last 24 hours putting up bunting and signs for her.  Everyone I spoke to thinks Sammi is wonderful and they all want to be like her, no matter that she's in a wheelchair. For kids today (and I'm talking all age groups here) to look up to someone who can't walk, is really something.

She really is a true inspiration. 

The village making it's prep

Sammi Kinghorn coming down the road completely unaware of everything round the corner

A moment of confusion

There I was in Costco today, when I spied a pair of Skechers for the knockdown price of £19.99. I love Skechers and have a couple of pairs, but not like these. So I made Diesel sit while I tried them on.

My shoe size is 6.5 so that's the shoe size I tried on. But wtf? Not just small, but way too small. I do know that sometimes different styles demand a half size up or down, but this was ridiculous.

I took a size 7. But no, that was too small too.

A 7.5? No. Have my feet grown that much?

And by this time Diesel was getting very antsy, so I was almost going to give up when a very lovely woman, who was also trying some on, said, 'You do know these are in American sizes and therefore you'll need to go up by 2 compared to UK?' No, I definitely didn't!

We both had a laugh and much to Diesel's relief the size 8's were a perfect fit. 

When I got to the checkout the woman before me had also bought some. However the checkout person said, 'Are you sure you've got the right size? They're American sizes.' No she didn't, so at least I wasn't the only one!

Poor Diesel had another 5 minutes of boredom while we waited for the woman to go get the right size.

However, it was all worth while, for me at least. I don't think Diesel was impressed at all!

Lovely new shoes!

Back to work?

Yesterday was such a gorgeous day weather-wise, which was a bit of a shame as I had to spend most of the morning in my solicitor's office in Edinburgh sorting out some legal bits and pieces.

I also got to check in with my sons, which was a nice interlude, and they couldn't believe how much Diesel had grown. He had a lovely time with them as he just adores people who sit in the floor as it gives him access to their hair and ears, which is a definite favourite of his!

Then it was back home to get on with things, but as I'd been warned that the weather was going to turn today, I decided on a late walk in the woods and down the old railway line. It was wonderful out there.

The old railway line looking fab on a beautiful sunny day

I'm so pleased we did this yesterday as today is as dull as dull and it feels decidedly stormy out there. I managed to get a walk in this morning though, as the rain hasn't hit yet, but I don't think it'll be long now.

Diesel and I have a lunch with a friend in Galashiels to go to, which will occupy us for some of the day, but then there really is no excuse and I'll have to get down to doing some work. I've managed to avoid it since getting home, saying to myself 'well I'll just have Sunday off' and that seems to have morphed into up to today, so have quite a bit to catch up with.

I wish I was still on holiday!

Back to normal

I picked up Diesel yesterday morning and he's grown so much in 2 weeks.

What a big puppy!

It's hard to believe that he's only 5 and a half months old. He was very pleased to see me, but had had a lovely time with his pal, Rose and had been well behaved, which was a relief to hear. I think he was a bit disappointed that Rose couldn't come back with us.

We got home in time to go for a quick shop and then settle down in front of the telly for the last day of Wimbledon. I was so pleased Federer won, but the match itself was a bit disappointing. I was very sad for Cilic as it must be so hard to play badly in a final of such magnitude and seeing him break down in tears part way through was uncomfortable viewing to say the least. Anyway, that's Wimbledone now and roll on the US Open.

Today has been spent out in the sunshine meeting up with friends and their dogs. Diesel had a great afternoon playing with his pals Folly and Millie in a paddling pool. I might even have to fork out and get one for him as he had such fun. The other two weren't so keen on the water and would only go in to retrieve toys, whereas Diesel was like I remember my boys when they were small, in and out, in and out, jumping all about.

So that's us. Settling back into our normal routine. I have a couple of weeks before I head off again, this time to facilitate my annual retreat on Holy Isle off Arran. I think Diesel will be a bit disappointed as he's going to stay with Freda, who doesn't have another dog, but it might do him good to be on his own as I think Rose taught him a few tricks while he was with her e.g. rolling in horrible things and going upstairs for starters and I could well do without any more of that kind of nonsense!

Adventures away from home

I had, what can only be described as, a surreal time both in London and in France.

It all started when I was in London before going off to France for my hols. There I was, having come in from dinner out at my favourite Japanese restaurant and I was watching tv in the back room off my mother's kitchen, when I suddenly heard her coming down. I was drinking bottled water, which she hates with a vengeance (don't ask me) and I just felt I couldn't face her at that moment, so I went and hid in the bathroom, just about remembering to take the evidence with me.

So there I was, sitting on the edge of the bath, in the dark and my mother actually came into the back room. At this point it did occur to me that, if she ventured into the bathroom, I would have little explanation as to what I was doing sitting in a dark bathroom with a 2 litre bottle of water on my lap, when she went off. But then 5 minutes later she came down again. I'm really sorry to say that I hid again. Held my breath again. And luckily she went out without seeing me.

Ok, well I realise how ridiculous this all must sound to you. It even sounds totally ridiculous to me, but it was also incredibly funny/sad/surreal all at the same time. And yes... before you ask... I am 65 not 15, but some things just don't seem to change!

Then France. It just so happened that a very old friend, who's recently bereaved, turned up and the two of us had a lot of laughs together. However, at one time I was almost convinced I was in a Fellini film it was so bizarre and I think that's pretty much all I'm going to say about that.

I did, however, get to see some adorable puppies, buy a couple of lovely tops in the local market, spend time with my friends and their Great Danes, muck out stables, drink a lot of wine and put the world to rights with deep, meaningful conversations that went on far into the night. I ended up getting back to London feeling exhausted.

Clarence the Great Dane relaxing!

2 of the 5 adorable Dogue de Bordeaux puppies

9 English Mastiff puppies having lunch!

Sara with one of the Dogue de Bordeaux pups

One of the English Mastiff pups

Sara with Jaconde, the English Mastiff mum

Instead of going back the way I came (on the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen),  I accepted a ride in a car and a trip on the Eurotunnel. I've never done that before and, apart from losing our way by not getting off at the right exit at Calais and hitting the M25 at the wrong time when we got to the UK, it was pretty uneventful. It was great to have someone to chat to instead of a 7 hour ferry crossing on my own and we went for dinner in Uxbridge (yeah, well someone has to!) before I got on a bus and got to my mother's house with no problem at all.

Yesterday I took myself off to the Pink Floyd exhibition at the V&A. You must go if you get the chance. I danced my way round the exhibition and had a great time.

A fantastic stained glass window from The Dark Side Of The Moon album cover

One of the Floyd exhibits

I then spent the afternoon watching Wimbledon with my mother, who insisted on having the subtitles on (another don't ask me) and talking all the way through, before heading out for a final dinner in London before I head home this morning.

I'm looking forward to getting home and relaxing and, of course, seeing Diesel, who I'm off to fetch tomorrow morning. I'm sure he'll have grown since I left him 2 weeks ago.

And finally, I got an email the day before yesterday from the wife of the guy who has Vespa and it was just great to see him looking like the happy dog I remember.

Vespa looking gorgeous

Winning the lottery!

They say 'be careful what you wish for'.... well on Friday I decided to buy a lottery ticket and this isn't something I do very often, but hey... I was feeling lucky. I didn't even realise there was an £87,570,000 prize fund, but imagine my surprise when yesterday I received an email to tell me I was a lucky winner.

I won! No... not £87,570,000 but £3.10! A winner yes, but maybe not quite as much as I was hoping for!

Also on Friday Diesel passed a new Guide Dog milestone, as his brand new Guide Dog Puppy In Training jacket arrived in the post. And he looks very handsome in it.
 

Diesel modelling his new jacket

It was slightly marred yesterday when we went to a garden centre in Edinburgh and some complete dipstick came charging towards Diesel with his hand outstretched. When I said he was actually in training to work he said, 'Oh. I thought the blue jacket meant they weren't working.' I can't tell you what I really wanted to say to him as I don't think it's repeatable in a public forum, but, because when we're out with our pups we're representatives of Guide Dogs and therefore have to be super polite, I managed a smile and told him he was wrong.

I'm now getting ready for my annual jolly to France to spend time with my friends in Normandy. I'm really looking forward to it and, of course, I will no doubt be spending my lottery winnings. Oh. I've just realised, I've already spent it on an avocado pear, some grapes and bread. Never mind... money isn't everything!

The evidence

Today I was sent a link, by a friend, on Facebook. It was of our visit to Lothian Buses last week. Apart from spelling my surname wrong and not doing the promised... which was to pick a picture that made me look good... it's rather nice to see that the bus people were happy with us.

Diesel and me with the bus people

On Saturday we started out by going to the Farmers Market especially to buy tomatoes only to discover the tomato people were at the Royal Highland Show. Very disappointing. But then it was clock-time.


I'd had a phone call from the clock man on Friday to say the clocks were good to go. Much to everyone's surprise the new bits had arrived in record time and so, on Saturday at midday, clocks were installed and at 11 minutes past they were telling the right time. It's lovely to get my house back to looking good again.

Back to normal

To celebrate the new clocks, my neighbours came round for a glass or two of Prosecco, which turned into a lot of glasses of Prosecco! We had fun and that's all I'm saying about that.

Sunday we paid a visit to my good friends, Shirley and Andy. Poor Shirley had done her knee in and was in worse shape than me with my foot. We spent some time commiserating and a lot of time eating and enjoying sitting in their conservatory. And then it was home before all those people decided to go home from the Royal Highland Show and clog up the Edinburgh By-pass. I managed it... just.

I have just one more week to go before I head for my annual jolly to France. Can't wait!

The countdown begins...

Yesterday my clock was supposed to be put back. The cherry-picker arrived, the clock man arrived, the clock faces arrived and the wrong spindles to put the mechanism in and join the hands up also arrived. So now I have clock faces up in all four places in the clock tower, but none of them can tell the time!

The clock man wasn't amused, but personally I thought it was quite funny!

The clock tower with no clock faces

One of the new faces

The South facing face is in... minus hands!

Meanwhile, Diesel and I left the clock people to it and went off to Galashiels to say hi to the badminton folk before they finish for the season. They were amazed at how big he is now. Then a bit of shopping and back home for lunch.

After that we had a really lovely walk in the woods. The sausages are working fantastically and Diesel now runs to me as soon as he's called. He even left playing with another dog to come and get his sausage treat, which means he's a real joy to go walking with now.

Ok... well I've come to a decision. This is actually the 990th post of this blog and I've decided that I'm going to go to 1000 and then stop. I thought I'd give you a 10 post warning so you can start getting used to the idea of not knowing what I'm doing!

You have 9 more to enjoy...

Photo call

Today Diesel and I had a day in Edinburgh.

We started out at the back of 8 am driving into the city, where I parked my car at No. 2 Son's house. We then took a bus down to my philosophy class. When that finished at 12.30 it was a quick nip back to the house to feed Diesel and then off we went for a photo shoot.

Diesel is a sponsored pup. He was named by Lothian Buses so we had to do our bit and go to the bus depot and have our pics taken with all the bus folk. Considering there was another Guide Dog there (a proper one), who'd done some fundraising, and her owner and loads of people all wanting to stroke him, Diesel did incredibly well.

He had a lovely time and left most of them with a bit of slobber on their uniforms to remember him by.

I don't actually know what they're going to do with the photos they took, but I'm just hoping we don't end up on the back of a bus!

I love summer

On one of the most gorgeously hot days of the year so far, Diesel had a busy day.

But first... yesterday, he had lessons from Ziggy as to how to jump into the back of my car, so I didn't have to keep lifting him in. He managed perfectly. But today, because... it was too hot? He's too lazy?  He likes being lifted? Who knows?... he just looked at me when I asked him to jump in. Oh well.

So, having lifted him into the car, we started off going to Boots in Galashiels and meeting up with some of our favourite sales people. They absolutely adore him in there and I think the feeling is mutual.

Then it was off to the The Borders Book Festival for a wander around. I don't think it was Diesel's most enjoyable experience. It was very hot and he's quite a lazy pup, so it was all a bit too much and so we left after about 20 minutes. I'm really pleased I didn't take him on Thursday night, that's for sure.

We had a final drop off at the Championship Dog Show taking place in Kelso. Diesel's face was a picture when he saw a dachsund for the first time ever. It was hysterical! Just sorry I couldn't take a pic, but I'm sure you can imagine. We had a lovely wander around and talked to quite a lot of people while watching some lovely looking doggies doing their thing.

And then it was back home to wait for the clock man to come and (re)measure something for next week's epic of getting my house back in order. Yes...  the clock faces will be back in the clock tower next week and working too. I hope!

We've had a nice end to the day, relaxing in the sunshine and enjoying being in the garden.

I love summer.

And the answer is... sausages!

Yesterday started off with a visit to the physio, who told me that my foot was already 70% healed, which after just 3.5 weeks is a miracle. Still bruising and swelling but that's to be expected. I now have strengthening exercises to get it back to full recovery.

In the afternoon, I took Diesel over to Alex and Jackie's so he could have time with his half-sister, Ziggy, while I got myself ready for my poetry reading at The Borders Book Festival.

He had a brilliant time, but apparently was looking for me when I left him (awww... so sweet... and I thought he'd go with anyone who had food for him) and was really pleased to see me when I got back.

My poetry reading went well considering that I could feel my nerves. It didn't help that I was 9th out of 10 readers and the wait was excruciating. However, one of the other readers, Anita John, a very good Borders poet, who's well known in these parts, was even more anxious than I was. Somehow that helped a bit. Interestingly, she was also part of the play writing competition I was in and she's been on tenterhooks about it... I think she's expecting to win. And I think I'm expecting her to win too.

This morning didn't start well. Diesel and I were supposed to go to Edinburgh and meet up with the puppy supervisor at 9.30 am for help with his recall, which hasn't been brilliant. Diesel works on Diesel-time and that's it!

Anyway, last night I was still awake at 2.45 and that was the last time I remembered until I woke up at one minute before 8. I was a bit shocked as usually Diesel and I get up at 7 and, given that it takes 45 - 60 minutes to get to where we were to meet the PS this wasn't the best start. So there I was with 30 minutes to feed the dog, feed myself, get showered and dressed and get the dog in the car, before having to set off to negotiate the A68 and hope for the best. And unbelievably, I managed. The PS, however, didn't and was nowhere to be seen. It turned out her morning was even worse than mine, with her aunt (who lives with her) feeding her 2 dogs last night without telling her and then the PS fed them too... the results of which were large, not very nice 'parcels' on her kitchen floor this morning, followed by a whole host of problems with the little girl she fosters.

She eventually arrived and we took Diesel to an enclosed part of Fort Kinnaird (who knew such a place existed?) where we let him off the lead and he went off and did his stuff. She could immediately see the problem I've been having and, apart from hiding from him and encouraging him loads, the remedy given was... sausages. Not the kind you cook, but the kind you find in jars that live in brine and are incredibly cheap in Lidl. I was left with instructions of how to use said sausages and so did a quick trip to Lidl when I got back to The Borders.

Given that I've not eaten meat for over 25 years, it wasn't the best experience getting the dratted things out of the jar, cutting them up and putting them in a bag. Then Diesel and I went out for a walk and, following all the PS's instructions, they worked a treat. He bombed back to me at high speed once he knew sausages were on the menu.

The only problem was, was that it was windy and that I'd completely forgotten that my hands were covered in sausage, so when I tried to smooth my hair down it too got covered in sausage... not the best for a non-meat eater.

It just goes to show the lengths that have to be gone through to train a Guide Dog puppy... so if sausages is it, then sausages it must be and I'll probably end up having to wash my hair much more often!

Back to normal

My puppy is home!

Freda brought him back for me this afternoon and I got a wonderful greeting. He seemed to be pleased to be back, but it must've been confusing. In the last 3.5 weeks he's been to Lynne's, to Clare's, back home for 36 hours and then off to Freda's, so I'm not at all sure he expects to be hanging around for very long! And this will be compounded when we go off to Alex and Jackie's for him to have a play with Ziggy tomorrow afternoon, while I get myself ready for my poetry reading at the Borders Book Festival. He'll probably get a shock when I actually go and pick him up again the same evening!

And he's grown... quite a bit. He'll be 20 weeks on Friday and is the size of a 6 month old pup, but his legs are still far too long for him. It was lovely watching him gambolling about the garden, falling over himself, as he still has problems controlling them.

The boy's come home!

6 weeks? I don't think so!

Today was the first day I've truly felt like my foot is recovered. I can even see the veins on my foot coming out again. Never thought I'd be grateful for that! I know there's still a way to go (I was told 6 weeks for initial recovery and 3 months for full recovery) and I do have to be careful and there's still a lot of bruising and a bit of swelling, but to be walking about without my stick and being able to do things like walk up and down stairs with no problem... well it's fantastic!

My foot, complete with veins. Hooray!

But what's even better is that I'm getting my puppy back on Wednesday. I'm so pleased as I've missed him loads. And of course, there's no more French Open for me to watch. I don't know if you watched it, but for the first time ever the women's final was more exciting than the men's. I never thought I'd say that!

Roll on Wimbledon. Can't wait.

Something to work towards

Today was physio day and it's all really good news.

Apparently my foot is as good as it gets after 11 days. I've been given some exercises, told to walk with a stick and still spend time with my foot up. With a bit of luck and a fair wind I should be able to walk much better by next week. And once I can walk for 20 minutes then Diesel can come home.

Now that really is something to work towards.

Something to work on

The good news is that the healing is going to plan. The bad news is that the plan is incredibly slow.

The swelling on my foot has gone down hugely, but it's still swollen. According to my doctor that's what's to be expected after 10 days and I've now got the proverbial doctor's note to stay sitting with my leg up for most of the day and just get used to it until it's better. However, she also did suggest I went for private physio as waiting for the NHS version could take probably into next year. I've now got an appointment tomorrow. Let's hope that helps.

Meanwhile I've been watching lots of tennis and using up an incredible amount of energy whilst doing so. I sometimes wonder whether watching high level sport is good for me, as my tendency is to get very over-involved and very over-excited.

Diesel came home from Sunday afternoon until yesterday morning and was as perfect as he could have been. No. 1 Son also came for a visit on Sunday, so that was really nice for both Diesel and me.

Yesterday was puppy class and Diesel was handled by Freda, who he was going off with for the next while and so it gave them a chance to get used to each other. It was really interesting for me to see him strutting his stuff and, on the whole, he did well. Even better though was that, at last, I was given my photo of Vespa from when he graduated from Guide Dog school last August. It was truly lovely to have it and it's already on the wall.

My gorgeous boy

I very obviously haven't gone to London, as there was no way I could manage without causing further damage to my foot, which leaves my poor brother having to tell my mother that we're taking her car away. My thoughts will be with him tomorrow.

So that's me. Still feeling a bit sorry for myself, but not quite as sorry as I was the other day. Patience was never my strong point, so it's good to have something to work on!

A trying time

After Monday's accident I've been forced to stay at home for the most part. Yes, I've been able to drive as I have an automatic, which is great. However, getting a shoe on my foot has been another matter.

I've got a lovely pair of Skecher's, which are soft and easy to wear, but I've not even been able to get those on my foot properly until today. Hooray... I can put a shoe on! So today, for the first time since my accident I've been able to go outside and walk around, at least in a limited fashion.

My foot is still quite swollen, bruised and very sore. All I can say is thank goodness for The French Open, which has kept me well occupied whilst I've had my enforced rest. I'm also lucky that I have a freezer with food in and I did a bit of shopping the day before the accident, though my lovely neighbours have offered to get me anything I need.

Diesel has been having fun. He went to stay with Lynne, who was also boarding his great friend Folly and he apparently had a wonderful time. I'm not quite so sure that Folly would agree, but she went home on Wednesday. Lynne was going away today, so it was arranged that he'd go and stay with his other pal, Oscar, last night. Lynne very kindly took him over there and the messages I've had so far from Clare (Oscar's owner - he's a withdrawn GD pup) is that Diesel has been perfectly behaved. Such a relief. I'm going to pick him up on Sunday as Clare can only take him until then and he'll be with me for 24 hours before he gets farmed out again to Freda. That visit was arranged a couple of weeks ago when it became apparent that I needed to get to London to sort stuff out for my mother. We'll see if I can go for that, but anyway, Diesel will go to Freda until I can walk properly again. That's the pup sorted!

Now I just have to be patient - not do too much, but also not let my foot get stiff. Frankly, I'm finding the whole thing depressing and frustrating. According to someone who also had a severely torn ligament recently, it's going to take about 6 weeks to heal fully. 6 weeks? We'll see about that!

A dangerous activity

There I was, out with Freda and Ziggy, giving Diesel a lovely walk down by The Water Wheel in Selkirk, when a very enthusiastic Ziggy ran at full tilt behind me and smacked into my left leg, which ended up with me on the ground and a skinned elbow and an extremely sore foot.

Freda and I collected up the dogs and walked (ok... well I hobbled) back to our cars, where I took some Arnica and then went into the cafe for a cuppa and an ice pack. However, the swelling just got larger and so I made the decision to go to The Borders General to check all was ok.

A quick phone call to friend, Lynne and then off to hers to dump Diesel and she then drove me to A&E. It only took just over an hour (which I thought was pretty good) and I was diagnosed with a severely torn ligament - luckily no break and Lynne came to pick me up.

I'm so grateful for wonderful friends, who've sorted Diesel for at least today, that I drive an automatic and that it was my left foot and not my right - otherwise I'd never have been able to drive myself to Lynne's in the first place.

The person I really felt for was Freda, who was a bit freaked by the whole thing, but is now feeling a bit better as she knows it's nothing too serious and is just pain and swelling, which will go away in due course.

Who knew that dog walking was such a dangerous activity!

Not a pretty sight!

A taste of freedom

The walkaround arranged by the puppy supervisor for Friday was cancelled due to a funeral she had to attend. That meant that Diesel's free-run, supervised by the PS, was also cancelled, but she told me to go ahead and do it on my own.

This sounds good, but to be honest I've been a little anxious about Diesel's recall. He sometimes comes and sometimes he doesn't. In fact in the garden he seldom pays any attention to me at all and will trash the flowers and eat moss and anything else he can do before even looking in my direction. Not a good start.

However, he needed to start walking off the lead and knowing what a proper dog walk entails, as for the last two months + all we've done is tramp the pavements and do lots of shopping!

So what to do? I made the decision that it might be a good idea for us to do the first free-run with another puppy who's recall was completely sound. It just so happened that on Friday I was invited over to the next village where another puppy walker, Kate, lives with her puppy, Robyn and Robyn has a great recall. We arranged to do a walk yesterday and so Diesel and I went back for lunch and a walk.

It went ok. Not brilliant as Diesel still wanted to take his time to do anything if he was engaged in, like sniffing, but at least he came back. We only managed a 15 minute walk as it started raining and also Diesel needed his lunch.

This morning I decided to brave it and take him out on his own and to my complete surprise he was excellent. He came when he was called and he ignored another dog when the owner said she didn't think her's wanted to play. It took quite a lot of treats, but I do think he's got the idea and I'm hoping it'll only get better from here as a good walk is the cure for a lot of doggy problems in my book... as long as he returns when called of course!

My only other bit of news is I've been picked to read one of my poems at the Borders Book Festival in June. I wrote it for the Borders Writers Forum Anthology and there were only 5 of us from BWF picked. I'm now feeling a bit anxious as the other 4 are well-known writers (at least in The Borders) who regularly read their work at festivals. I've only read one of mine out at a small village event way back in 2009, so I'm a complete festival virgin on that score. Funny really... I can talk to a whole conference about anything to do with work, but when it comes to my writing... well that's a different story. It'll be an experience that's for sure. Now I just have to hope it'll be a positive one!

The grand plan

Today Diesel was 16 weeks old. He went to the vet for his jags and was given an A* rating for behaviour and gorgeousness.

The gorgeousness is part and parcel, but the good behaviour was down to an exhausting day for him yesterday.

We started off by going into Edinburgh to meet up with my friend, Shirley. We went to the Market Street Cafe, where Diesel disgraced himself by barking when no-one was paying him any attention. Not great Guide Dog behaviour! But then we went for a walk around town (better known as shopping) and I have to say he was pretty good. He even passed a proper Guide Dog who wanted to say hello, but Diesel (aided and abetted by a treat) walked on by without a blink.

We also had an extraordinary serendipitous meeting. Shirley and I went to pay a visit to the Laura Mercer counter in Harvey Nicks for a spot of eye shadow and the girl that was serving us was asking about my puppy walking. It turns out her boyfriend's grandparents have Diesel's sister, Jinny. I gave her my details to give to them and they were in touch on Facebook. We're going to get the sibs together when they get back from their hols in June. How amazing is that?

Then yesterday evening I was invited to Susan and Gordon's (other puppy walkers) for drinks and nibbles and Gordon even came to pick me and Diesel up. Diesel had a wonderful time playing with his pals, Minnie (formerly Millie/Molly... don't ask) and Folly. We didn't get home until 11.30.

This morning I didn't get him up until 7.30 (we usually get up around 6.45) and when we went to the vet, he walked beautifully in Kelso, showing off his skills... but of course he was really tired from yesterday.

Consequently, next Friday, which is when the puppy supervisor is coming to Kelso for walking around and then assessing Diesel for a free run (his first off the lead experience), I've already arranged with Gordon and Susan that Diesel will be taken over to theirs the night before for a play with his pals. Hopefully this will end with Diesel being exhausted enough to behave well when the PS is down.

That's the plan anyway. I can only hope it'll work!

16 weeks and looking gorgeous!

Sickness, teething and a trip south

How come the days go by so quickly? Here we are on 17th May (I've realised I've not posted in almost 2 weeks) and next month, half the year will have gone by... Xmas next!!

Okay, well... I've had a sick puppy on my hands. He's had diarrhoea, which started almost 2 weeks ago. He was given medication and a light diet and all seemed ok, but then I had to go to London and my friend, Lynne, took him and that night there was a reoccurrence. I did offer to not go (I was off the next morning), but Lynne told me it was fine. I went, feeling super guilty, but she insisted.

Lynne took him to the vet then next morning and he was given more meds and back on the light diet, with a gradual intro to his food. All was going well. I picked him up on Saturday evening and he seemed fine only to revert back to diarrhoea by the next morning. So, after consultation with Guide Dogs, he was back on light diet and I've been slowly putting his own food back in, in the hope that all will be ok. So far so good.

He's actually been teething too, which won't have helped and is due his 16 week jags on Friday, so really needs to be better for them. We'll see what the next couple of days brings.

Meanwhile my trip to London was a great success. Apart from when I got there and my mother had had yet another fall that morning and was feeling sore, but wouldn't accept any help and then didn't remember falling.

I had a lovely social time with friends and my cousin, who was over from The States. I'd actually arranged the trip to spend time with him. We went to a rather fascinating restaurant, Gauthier Soho, where you have to ring the bell to go in. Also, they don't let anyone in the door before 6.30 (when our table was booked) and so, after arriving at 6.15 and being told politely to go away and come back in 15 minutes (I wasn't the only one by any means) and wondering what I was going to do with myself, I needn't have worried. I sneezed and had a nosebleed, so had to find a toilet to go and deal with it. Thank goodness for the Pret A Manger across the street! Anyway, that took up my 15 minutes and then I went back and was let in.

It's a Michelin star type experience (with the price to match), but good fun, good food, good company and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Since getting home I've managed to finish my play and send it off. Now I keep dreaming of all the other dialogue I could have put in. Will it win prizes? I have my doubts, but an achievement is an achievement and I'm super proud I've managed that.

Diesel is growing bigger by the day... literally. He goes to bed and comes out every morning even more leggy and with bigger paws than the day before. He's either going to be a big dog, or look extremely silly and I'm not betting on which of those two it might be!

Diesel showing his two missing top teeth

True relaxation with his best friend, Teddy

It's a dog's life

It's felt like a busy week, except of course that it's not been... just feels like it.

Diesel has had some lovely playtimes, some of which were meant and some definitely weren't! He had a wonderful time with Oscar, who's 18 months, on Sunday. They raced round and round the garden, played tug and did quite a bit of playfighting. 

Diesel with his new best friend, Oscar

Then on Tuesday we had puppy class. Diesel immediately spotted Oscar and decided it had to be playtime. Then there was Folly and Milly and Robyn to name a few and that was that. One decidedly badly behaved puppy who wouldn't do a thing he was asked, apart from a great recall, which surprised everyone.

Wednesday we went to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh to meet up with William (better known as Prince William) a 9.5 week old retriever, who is absolutely gorgeous. He's a big boy and looks like a teddy bear. Diesel thought it must be playtime again and I struggled to get him to walk nicely, which in the end I gave up as a lost cause and we went for a cuppa. Lovely to sit in the sunshine and enjoy some warmth though. I've decided if William is the Prince, then Diesel is the court jester!

Court Jester Diesel and Prince William

From the Botanics we headed for Portobello to meet up with a new boarder. She's going to take Diesel for a day later in the month when I have a writing event to go to. He loved it at hers as she had a great plant at Diesel height and he spent an hour being told off for keeping on attacking it. At least she hasn't refused to take him.

Yesterday my car needed something sorted and so we were given a courtesy car so I could get about. Diesel immediately decided that the lever that moves the seat back and forward was a far better toy than his monkey. I now have to pay for a new one. Oh dear! He was definitely in the dog house for that one!

And from that disaster we went off to Susan and Gordon's, so that I could air my woes and Diesel could play with his chums, Milly and Folly.

Milly looking adorable

Diesel was warmly welcomed and even got to sit on Susan's knee for a cuddle.

'Don't take my pic!' - Oh dear - too late!

Before finally heading home and crashing for the afternoon.

Exhausted at last!

It's that time!

Time for a coffee plant update!

As you can see the plants are doing well. There has been some brown leaf problem, which is something that happened to the large one that never recovered and was eventually 'removed'. I do so hope that doesn't happen to these two.

You probably can't see, but there are quite a lot of new leaves growing. As always the plants don't like it when the temperature fluctuates too much. They like it warm and sunny. The sunny I provide in the way of the lamp they're under, but sadly I can't do much about the awful weather we've been having this week. We went from an ambient 14 degrees on Sunday to 1 degree on Monday and we even had snow. I have had the heating back on, but I think the plants think it's not on as it should be spring and heading for warm.

I have to say I fully agree with them!

A proud mother moment

I had a phone call this evening from No. 2 Son announcing a bit of good news. He'd been at Edinburgh Comic Con this weekend and had taken part in the Cosplay championship, where you have to dress up like a character from a comic film.

He made his costume himself of No Name from Spirited Away. And out of about 150 people, he came 3rd.

Well, ok... it's not the Nobel Prize, but it was a prize and he was super happy and therefore, so am I.

Proud? Of course I am!

Change of plans

I'm finding life with Diesel is full of doing not much at all and yet seemingly very busy.

We've been out to play with various other Guide Dog puppies, done lots of shopping (he's quite the star attraction in Boots in Galashiels and Sainsburys in Kelso. And the security guard in Asda has done quite a good job of checking our Guide Dog credentials every time we go), a bit of training and not a lot else.

I do have one funny episode to report, which is when I was trundling around Sainsburys and talking to Diesel while doing so. You know... things like, 'And now I have to get eggs and bread' and stuff like that. Well one couple were looking at me very strangely and so I said, 'I'm not talking to myself, really I'm not. I'm talking to the puppy.' And they just looked at me as though I was completely bonkers and walked off. I only realised after that, that talking 'shop' to a puppy is quite as bonkers as talking to myself. I'm going to have to curb that one before I get a reputation!

I'm in the process of writing a play for Treading The Borders, a theatre company that has got some Scottish Arts funding to stage a Noel Coward play and one by one us new writers (there's 15 of us). I signed up for the project as I thought I'd get to learn about writing for the stage (I did), but I hadn't realised I actually had to write one for an actual performance (I do). That'll teach me not to read the small print! It's still very much in the process and has to be done by 23rd May. I'm finding the constant interruptions of having to say 'no' and 'don't bite' and 'off' is not conducive for a good working session.

We did, however, have a lovely intrusion into our routine yesterday, when my friend, Shirley, came for a visit. Diesel loved having her here too and spent a lot of time on her lap on the beanbag, trying to bite her fingers. I was just relieved it wasn't mine for a change!

Diesel having a good old chew!

We're off this afternoon to Melrose Rugby Football ground for the league final. We're on the guest list. Should be fun, but not sure how long we'll be able to stay. Diesel hasn't yet learned to do anything (that doesn't involve chewing) for very long at all.

Meanwhile, my work plans for this year have changed. I was due to go for my usual stint at Chiva Som in Hua Hin, Thailand in July. It was supposed to be for 2.5 weeks. Anyhow, they asked me to change dates, which turned out not possible from my end. So instead, they've given me the whole month of June next year and, having looked into things, I've decided to completely change tack as July isn't the best time weather-wise in Thailand in July and I'm already feeling a lack of hot sunshine and certainly don't want rain on my hols if at all possible. So I'm now due to go to France and see my friends over there instead. I usually go in August, but it turns out that July is now better for us all.

Always good to have something nice to look forward to.

A new experience

Guide Dog puppies are supposed to be introduced to all kinds of different circumstances, but today was the first time, with all the puppies I've either walked or boarded, that I've taken a puppy to a funeral.

Today was the funeral of the amazing Alison Brown. She and her sister, Betty, puppy walked 98 Guide Dog puppies between them. That is a literally a lifetime's worth of service to a cause. Rather nice to know that their last puppy (from 18 months ago) is now a working dog.

There were about 10 puppies and a couple of actual Guide Dogs there. Not the easiest to negotiate singing hymns and standing and sitting at the appropriate points when you've got a 9.5 week old puppy to handle, with other dogs, children and all sorts of interesting things as distraction. But we managed it. We did have to go out once for a quick pee and I did use half a bag of treats to keep Diesel quiet, but luckily he's a squeaker not a barker, unlike a couple of other pups. One who never even made it through the door as she was barking her head off before we even started to troop into the crem.

All good experience though... and that's for both Diesel and me.

1st class

Today was Diesel's first puppy class and, much to my amazement, he did brilliantly. However, I have no photos whatsoever as I had to concentrate on him.

When we got there it was time to play and his pals, Folly and Millie were very willing to oblige! Also there was Rose, who he's going to stay with when I'm off to Thailand in late June, and Robyn - a 15 week old gorgeous blonde lab/retriever cross. Actually, Diesel did better than Robyn did because he's got his 'down' down to a tee, whereas she was struggling a bit. I even had a proud mama moment when his recall, which is hopeless at home, was perfection.

So, all in all, I was very pleased. And when I think back to Odi and Vespa there's no comparison. Odi was a hooligan right from the off and Vespa, well at every class he disgraced himself (until the Christmas party where he actually won prizes) by doing something or other, so, having a puppy who actually did what I asked, was pretty amazing for me.

However, Vespa was really good at home and Odi, well, apart from being a hooligan, she wasn't all that bad at home, but Diesel? Well Diesel is a very, very mischievous pup. He's into everything and, when I leave him in the kitchen on his own for a few minutes, he's already off creating as much mischief as he can.

It's interesting for me, as in some ways I like a puppy who behaves well at home. But then the accolades of people when my puppy behaves well in class is a new thing for me. And frankly, I'm reveling in it... well just for now, of course, because you can never tell with a puppy. By next month Diesel might have decided that behaving in class isn't really a going thing.

Roll on next month and we'll all find out then.

Busy doing nothing

I can hardly believe that Diesel has now been with me for nearly 3 weeks. He now sits and lies down on command (unless being distracted by anything or anyone else) and walks on the lead (preferably while holding part of it in his mouth). He's actually a very good. The house training is coming on and we've had some successes and some failures, but as he's only 9 weeks old, that's to be expected. And that's the good bit.

The bad bit is, he's a biter and wants to bite everything, which includes a lot of my kitchen. So I've had to be camping out in the kitchen for much of the day while he's awake, just to supervise and shout 'NO!' quite a lot.

Consequently, I've done virtually nothing. I've written one very short poem and two pages of the 30 minute play that I'm supposed to be writing and that, folks, is about it.

We've had a couple of trips into Edinburgh and today we went to see the lovely Neymar, who I boarded just before Diesel came. They had such fun together and Diesel really enjoyed being dragged round the floor while holding on to Neymar's toy.

Now, though, Diesel is utterly exhausted and will probably spend the rest of today (and maybe tomorrow?) sleeping to make up for it all.

Such fun!

Sleepless in the Borders

My very cute Guide Dog puppy, Diesel (aged 7.5 weeks) arrived on Tuesday afternoon. He's very cute and very mischievous. He's also a chewer, so I can hardly leave him alone for a moment in case my kitchen gets eaten. I have sprayed peppermint oil all over the wooden furniture and I'm hoping that will help. Next step is spreading Vick all over it and I'd rather not do that if at all possible as Vick and eating don't go quite hand in hand!

Diesel's original name was Justin, but he was sponsored by Lothian Buses, who gave him his name. I would have thought they'd be better off calling him Go Electric. Apparently Lothian Buses sponsored 3 pups, so Diesel has Marine (after the depot at Seafield) and Buster to keep him company on his Guide Dog journey.

Our first night together was interesting. Diesel went to bed at 10.30 and I was awake waiting for him to wake up. I eventually fell asleep, but woke with a start at about 5 and there was still no noise. I was quite anxious in case something had happened to him, so went down, but no... there he was bright as anything and just fine. Me? I was exhausted!

Last night he was very sleepy all evening so I eventually gave in and put him to bed at 10. He slept until 2.30 when he squeaked. I let him out and he had a pee and then back to bed and slept through until 6.30. Me? I took about 2 hours to get back to sleep. So he's doing well and I'm still exhausted!

The bad bits: he likes to not just eat my kitchen furniture, but me too. I've already lost a handful of hair and my hands are quite sore. Those teeth are so damned sharp!

However, he now knows his name and is beginning to understand 'sit'. He's peed and poo'd (mostly) outside, so that's not too bad. And he's got into the habit of taking himself off to his bed when he's tired, which is great.

Sleeping puppy having taken himself to his bed

And he has now got his collar and Guide Dog tag on and we attempted to walk around the kitchen on the lead. I can see that he's going to make me look like an idiot in the street when we eventually get there, as distracting him from chewing the lead is a monumental task.

Diesel, complete with collar and tag, doing a good impression of a sit and wait!

Puppy free

Neymar has now gone home. It's quite nice, in some ways, to be able to tidy up and get things sorted without a very big, black presence at my heels. But then I also miss having a dog around. Those may well be famous last words as I have until Tuesday, at approximately 4 pm, until my next puppy arrives.

For a last treat, Neymar and I went to the theatre before I dropped him off at his home. We went to see Hay Fever at The Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. We were very kindly given seats in the box at the back of the stalls so he could have lots of room to lie down.

Neymar and me at the theatre.

The show was good, with lots of laughs and just the thing for a very dreary Saturday afternoon in Edinburgh.

Straight after that I took Neymar home as his folks had arrived back from their hols in the US. They were really lovely and, in spite of my protestations, gave me a rather nice candle.

This morning I've been getting things ready for the new puppy. Putting all the large toys away and getting out the teeny ones. So now the pup's bed is ready and toys are waiting. I've heard from the brood bitch's owner, who has told me my puppy is very mischievous (oh no!) and loves cuddles (oh yes!).

Now all I need to do is to enjoy my puppy free days.

Stress relief

Yesterday afternoon, as Neymar the Guide Dog puppy and I were settling down for some quiet time, my phone went.

'Are you the owner of The Mindful Consultancy website?' a very nice voiced lady asked.

'Yes,' I replied.

'Well you're in infringement of copyright.'

To say I was taken aback would be an understatement, because the person who designed the pictures for that website assured me that we could use all the pictures with no problem. I took a moment and did a couple of my instant stress management techniques and then very politely explained.

'Oh,' she said, 'well let's look.' It was then that we discovered it wasn't www.themindfulconsultancy.co.uk, but www.mindfulnessconsultancy.com. Boy, was I ever relieved!

We then had a conversation about how she could get in touch with these people. She told me she was really pleased that it wasn't me that she was going to have to deal with as I was such a nice person and she didn't want to cause me hassle.

All I could think was how lucky I was that I had stress management techniques at my finger tips, as for a moment there I was in danger of a complete freak out!

All checked up.

Today I had to go for my six week check-up. It went really well and I've been told not to come back until next year. I also had my back checked out and I'm pleased to report that there was nothing to report.

Meanwhile Neymar and I have been having a lovely time together. He went off today for the day with another puppy walker and he had lots of fun. It's been great having him here and it's been a good thing to get me back into having a pup here. Sadly he's going a day earlier than I thought, because his puppywalker made a mistake and forgot to tell the organiser that she's coming back from the US on Saturday and not Sunday.

It'll turn out ok though, as Neymar and I are going to the theatre on Saturday afternoon to see Noel Coward's Hay Fever and I can drop him back at his home on the way back to the Borders. I shall be sad to see him go, but then I won't have long to wait until my new pup comes on Tuesday.

So now I shall just have to make the best of the next 2.5 days and enjoy his good behaviour, cos sure as eggs is eggs the new one will take a while, if ever, to become that well behaved!

It's puppy time!

Today I headed for the Odeon Cinema at Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh for 10.15 am. I was there as part of a Guide Dog practice for 7 Guide Dog puppies (all over 6 months old), who were there to have a cinema experience.

We sat and watched a whole raft of previews of films that are coming up over the next couple of months. All I can say is, don't bother to go to the flicks... they were all crap... unless you love killing and noise!

However, the Guide Dog pups behaved perfectly and weren't bothered at all with all the sounds and flashes coming from the screen.

And then I got to take the very handsome Neymar home with me. Neymar is 10 months old and is going to be with me for 10 days. He's an absolute delight and lovely to have around. We spent the rest of our day doing a bit of shopping and then going to have a playdate with Folly and Millie (formerly Mollie). Neymar had a ball! As did the other 2. They got on a treat. Then Neymar and I went out for a walk, had a play and now we're settling down for our first evening together.

I'd almost forgotten how lovely it is to have a puppy here, which is great considering my own puppy is coming in just 12 days time. Thank goodness I'm getting a bit of practice!

The very handsome Neymar

A day off

Today, being my last day of being without a puppy was determined as my day off.

I went to badminton and had fun. Quite a few games with the men, which I always enjoy, and much laughter.

And this was followed by going to Older People's cinema in Galashiels.

On a Wednesday they offer a current good film for just £5 for over 60's. The cinema also throw in tea and biscuits, but that was a step too far for me, so I politely declined. One of my friends from badminton was there, along with her husband and a couple of friends, so it was rather nice to have people to sit with.

We saw Manchester By The Sea. Was it good? Yes. Did I enjoy it all? No. I felt, cinematographically, that it could have been done better, especially with the flashbacks, but all in all it was an enjoyable afternoon at the flicks.

It's been ages since I've been to the cinema and, with my new puppy coming, it's probably going to be a while until I can go again. But you never know. I could possibly persuade a Guide Dog pal to take my puppy in exchange for taking theirs so I could have a few hours respite. We'll have to see.

I'm now feeling a bit daunted with it all. Neymar (aged 10 months old) is coming tomorrow for 10 days and then I have 36 hours before my new puppy comes. I'm now wondering wtf I've done in deciding to take another one!