Don't know where you're goin', only just know where you've been

My next door neighbour is dead. Yesterday I met a friend of his daughter's who confirmed that he died in hospital on Easter Saturday.

I'd be a hypocrite if I said I was really upset about this. First because I hardly knew him, and secondly because from what I'd seen, he'd long since passed the point where continuing to be alive was anything but pain, inconvenience and embarrassment to him. The last time I saw him was when he called for help and I answered, to find him semi-collapsed in his hallway with his pyjama bottoms round his ankles, too distracted by the pain in his swollen, ulcerated legs to be embarrassed about exposing himself to a complete stranger.

But he was a nice guy, and a dog lover. I hope the next tenant is too.

I am managing to exercise Squish on the long line without any more rope burns or nasty accidents. What I did was attach the end of the line to the end of his retractable lead - between them that gives me a line long enough for him to actually run and fetch balls, with a nice plastic handle for me to keep a death grip on. It's not ideal for a dog who wants to run and run for miles, but it beats hell out of losing him or having him lose his mind from lack of exercise. His recall is still intermittent, but showing signs of improvement... I'm doing a lot of calling him and treating him in the house, but he ignores treats when he has the scent of outdoors up his pretty black nose.

My only problem now is that it's not easy to give Spike enough attention/playtime/exercise, because Squish will yelp and yowl his head off if he's left alone in the flat for longer than thirty seconds. I can only go out with Spike if I walk the pair of them over to Mum's and leave Squish with Mum and the cat.

Am still getting cramps and nausea from the Mirena, but the frequency is easing off somewhat. According to the booklet the doctor gave me this is a fairly common side effect, as well as bleeding for up to six months. Urghhhh....

But at least my sex drive is back. That really scared me. I don't feel like myself without it...

Don't know where you're goin', only just know where you've been

My next door neighbour is dead. Yesterday I met a friend of his daughter's who confirmed that he died in hospital on Easter Saturday.

I'd be a hypocrite if I said I was really upset about this. First because I hardly knew him, and secondly because from what I'd seen, he'd long since passed the point where continuing to be alive was anything but pain, inconvenience and embarrassment to him. The last time I saw him was when he called for help and I answered, to find him semi-collapsed in his hallway with his pyjama bottoms round his ankles, too distracted by the pain in his swollen, ulcerated legs to be embarrassed about exposing himself to a complete stranger.

But he was a nice guy, and a dog lover. I hope the next tenant is too.

I am managing to exercise Squish on the long line without any more rope burns or nasty accidents. What I did was attach the end of the line to the end of his retractable lead - between them that gives me a line long enough for him to actually run and fetch balls, with a nice plastic handle for me to keep a death grip on. It's not ideal for a dog who wants to run and run for miles, but it beats hell out of losing him or having him lose his mind from lack of exercise. His recall is still intermittent, but showing signs of improvement... I'm doing a lot of calling him and treating him in the house, but he ignores treats when he has the scent of outdoors up his pretty black nose.

My only problem now is that it's not easy to give Spike enough attention/playtime/exercise, because Squish will yelp and yowl his head off if he's left alone in the flat for longer than thirty seconds. I can only go out with Spike if I walk the pair of them over to Mum's and leave Squish with Mum and the cat.

Am still getting cramps and nausea from the Mirena, but the frequency is easing off somewhat. According to the booklet the doctor gave me this is a fairly common side effect, as well as bleeding for up to six months. Urghhhh....

But at least my sex drive is back. That really scared me. I don't feel like myself without it...