in a car… We decided to make the most of the very welcome spring weather with a trip to Wimpole Hall. The National Trust were running a free access weekend for many of their properties. Unfortunately the journey was somewhat elongated by major road works on the A14 which seemed to nobble every assoiated road in the vicinity. However we got there at last! and toured the house (refurbished in the 1930’s by Rudyard Kipling’s daughter). Well worth a visit, and the gardens look like they will be impressive once a few more flowers are out. The farm is great for kids – lots of new born lambs, piglets and some huge shire horses. Then back to the ranch for a lovely chinese and a game of whist. A good weekend.
On my Lord, what do they think they are up to? New Labour must feel, with the election looming, that they are doing so well in the polls they should try to ensure they alienate every potential voter from The Chalfonts to Waddesdon & beyond by slinging a high speed rail link through the Chilterns. Obviously the existing rail network has been invested to to a point at which no further improvements can be made so, and as we have £30 billion slooshing around in the public coffers and in need of a home (the homesless/NHS/education/care of the elderly/decent equipment for our troops and MP’s expenses having clearly been overfunded already), they must have pondered long and hard what to spend it on.
On a serious note, the Chilterns are one of the primary reasons why so many of us choose to live or visit this area. They provide a green lung for London and an immediate escape from noise, pollution and urban living that that dogs much of our daily routine. Any infringement into this AONB will weaken its protected status and before we know it we will have Tesco, Aldi & Starbucks setting up franchises in the Lee. Perhaps a multiplex at Ballinger! Sorry, I have gone into rant mode again. We have been spoilt and assumed this Eden as our automatic right for too long. So speak now and smite the developmental serpent, or Paradise will indeed be Lost.
Just got back from visiting friends in Thornbury over the weekend. Lots of snow lying in the fields in the Cotswolds & some still in Thornbury too. They have a lovely new house and the gang were all there. Had lunch in .Blend, an excellent vegeburger and very good service. Then some light shopping, Neil picked up a bargain fleece. Much cheese purchasing in the deli, to go with the local Terrick mustard cheddar that we took T&R from the Chiltern Brewery. T cooked a fanastic vegetable curry whilst we took R to sample his new local. A rather unwise but fun late night was had, and then back home today in glorious sunshine.
Travelling again to Belfast, different this time though I am flying in and out of Belfast City (George Best) Airport rather Belfast international. City (as the locals call it) is right in the heart of the city of Belfast situated in I guess what would have been Harland and Wolf docks, I think they built the Titanic here. It is smaller than International with less gates. They give you plastic bags in security rather than charging a pound. I arrived early and took the opportunity for a bite to eat from Harvest Market. The fish pie and mushy peas is to be recommended. When I arrived in the departure lounge it was quite crowded but a couple of flights left and it emptied out.
On Saturday Gandalf went to meet his maker. We had been out for lunch at Rossini in Wendover with Helen and the parents. We got back to the house at about 17:00. Gandalf was at the door shouting about food as he usually does. My parent left and Helen gave him his usual food, then about 30 minutes later he was sick, etc and he was sitting as though he was not comfortable.
Not long after he was sick again and he did not seem too sure on his back legs, then it became obvious he was not right. He could hardly move his back legs and when he did the paws were folding over (knuckling). We got him on the settee and he curled up but was not comfortable he kept on trying to get up and rearrange himself. We decided we should call the vets. Helen spoke to a receptionist who took the details and would get a vet to call back quickly. I took the call and explained to the vet what was going on. It was clear that the vet recognosed the symptons and said we should bring him in for a look immediately. Alarm bells rang!
We got to the vets and the went in to the consultation room, the vet was a young lady. The vet asked lots of questions and gave Gandalf a thorough examination. She explained what she she had discovered in great detail and it was clear that she was trying to get across the message that things were not good. Basically Gandalf had a blood clot that had detached itself from the heart which had descended the arteries towards the hind quarters but had blocked the artery to the legs where the artery splits. This explained the coldness of the paws the lack of pulse and the problem Gandalf was having moving his legs. Although he appeared uncomfortable it is known that this condition is very painful for the cat.
The vet explained that he could be treated but in her experience the outcome was hardly ever good and that the age of Gandalf combined with the other underlying issues we knew about (heart murmur, thyroid condition and high white blood cell count) the prognosis was not good. We made the hard decision to have Gandalf put to rest. It was not an easy decision, but both Helen and I were there to make the decision and we are sure it was the right one. Gandalf was 18 years old we did not want his last days to be miserable.
The vet gave us a moment then came back with a cushion and explained what would happen. Gandalf got an injection into the stomach and very quickly he looked very comfortable, compared to a few minutes earlier. After a short time he let out a couple of short breaths and the vet checked for a heart beat. He had slipped away very peacefully.
Both Helen and I were sad that it had to happen but glad that it happened when we were able to get him to the vet quickly and make the difficult decision together.
Helen is going to have her 40th birthday party this year, and we have decided have a party to celebrate at a local golf club. I have been designing the invite. We needed a good picture for the front of the card. I used a picture that Marshall drew for Helen for her 21st birthday. First I scanned it then I used Inkscape an opensource vector graphics drawing package t trace round all the bits and colour it in. It was surprisingly easy to do once I got started and had figured out how to do all the bits I needed.
We are having our Kitchen replaced, the ground floor redecorated, and oak flooring laid throughout. They started on the 11 January an the kitchen was in in a week, now we are on the second phase the painting. It is going to take a couple of weeks, our painter is very thorough and is doing a great quality job, and pays attention to the details. As of today we have a very white ceiling that is now waiting for the lights to be installed, and almond white walls have had one coat in the Kitchen/diner/lounge.
Kitchenprogress
I have included a couple of pictures in this blog entry but you can see quite a few more on flickr if you follow the link, it uses a set so as I add more they will automatically be included. http://www.flickr.com/photos/treecreeper/tags/kitchen/show/
Well, it did. Neil had his works do and rolled in at 1am! to tell me it was snowing. Woke up to several inches of freshly fallen snow. Left the house at 6.45am before many folk had been out and about, and had the fun of trail breaking through the sparkling white drifts. I love the way there are always a few cat paw prints running hither and thither. Unfortunately the snow had flummoxed the local buses, even though Redline are usually really good at getting though. Fortunately a colleague who lives up the road came to my rescue, vehicularly and hot drink wise. We were a bit late for work but we got there safely thanks to said colleague and that’s what matters. Neil did his Good King Wenceleslas and walked to work through the snow and was rewarded with riches in the form of goldfinch & redwing. A further flurry of snow on the way home but the buses were back on track, so it was just the slippery pavements to navigate. Makes note to buy more salt.
