The Dog's Blog

My Week So Far…

Sunday, 31^st January – Homeward Bound

Returned home to my own flat…hooray! Still without Coy though…aaww! I’m still not steady enough to hold onto him if he decides to take off after a rabbit, a fox, an elephant or something.

It’s been great staying with Mary, but it really was time I returned to my own nest. After almost 4 months in hospital, there was a lot of tidying and sorting that needed doing.

Monday, 1^st February – Domestic Bliss?

Spent most of today getting things squared away and tidied up as best I could; I’ve regained a lot of mobility and independence, but there are still some things that are just beyond me at the moment.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, it’s boots on and away for a 25 mile…err… short walk. I’m only just able to get my own socks and shoes on and shoelaces are about a 20 minute operation! Honestly, the things you take for granted having two good hip joints!

Tuesday, 2^nd February – The Best Laid Plans…

8:50am – Dismay…

All my plans for walking up the farm track were immediately placed on the back-burner when I looked out of the window this morning. Sleet, sleet and yet more sleet making the ground conditions too treacherous for someone with a walking stick and a new hip.

Oh well, back to designing the new business site.

11:35am – Hmmm, it’s starting to get quite sunny out there. I might be able to get out after all.

1:45pm – Great! The sun has melted all traces of sleet and ice. Time to get the boots on, wrap up warm and hit the proverbial road. My plan is to walk up to the entrance to a local farm and back again. It’s a round trip of approximately half a mile.

I hear you laughing and scoffing! But, remember this – for the best part of four months I wore nothing but slippers and was indoors for 99.9% of the time. Also, whilst I was at Mary’s for three weeks, my outdoor excursions were limited to a couple of trips around the village in the final week. For the first two weeks the ground was covered in ice and snow.

The trip I plan for today may seem short, but it’s a very rough track strewn with pebbles, stones and other hazards. This really would be a test of how well I could walk and, more importantly, a test of my confidence and ability to take Coy out for walks again.

2:50pm – Back home and I actually made it as far as I intended. The sun was absolutely radiant and the sky was a wonderful, almost cloudless blue.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I’ll repeat the same walk but push on for a bit longer before I turn back. If I can repeat this on a daily basis, I’ll be up Conic Hill and have Coy back next week – joy!

Wednesday, 3^rd February – Sticks & Stones May Break My Bones…

8:40am – Heavy frost last night – deep joy…

1:10pm – Sod it! It’s dull and overcast, but at least the pavements and roads look clear. Best foot forward…

2:35pm – Made it past the farm gate as planned and was almost at the bottom of the track when…disaster!

My walking stick slipped on a largish stone and I lost my balance. The stick went one way, my bad leg simply crumpled and my good leg tried valiantly to keep me upright but, ultimately, it lost the battle.

Fortunately, as it was my good leg to give way last, I fell on my left – un-operated – side. After lying there for about 2 minutes mentally taking stock, I came to the conclusion that I hadn’t managed to dislocate my new hip and sprang…err…struggled to my feet.

No harm done – this time. From now on though, it’s call me Mr Extra Cautious!

Thursday, 4^th February – …But The White Stuff Will Surely Give Me A Bad Day!

Today’s activities? Purely indoor as you may guess from the pictures below – and it looks as if it’s here to stay a few days. Check out the Scottish sheep – nothing comes between them and their grass – talk about a tough breed!

Oh well, time to put the coffee on, light the fire, power up the laptop…and dream of having Coy back!

…until next time folks!