Mike's musings

Expenses

My company doesn't always pay its expenses as close to on time as I'd like. I'm currently waiting for around 1500 quid, and am about to put in another claim for over 700. This doesn't always make balancing the books at home very easy, as you may appreciate.

Jo's taken to talking to Buster - it might be first thing in the morning, after prayers at night, or just in the car. She'll look up into the sky, and just talk to him. It's really sweet, and very healthy, I think.

Labels: buster, Jo, money, work

A bit lonely

The girls were out with Mel today, and Moo was working away: I got rather lonely. I'm used to popping downstairs from time to time for a cup of tea, or for lunch, or just because there's a bark as Buster wants to go out. But it was just me in the house today.

Let's hope we can get a kitten or two soon.

Labels: buster

Still not here

Buster's still not here, and it's the little things, but we're fine. I'm really fine, I think, but sad from time to time - writing yesterday's blog entry was hard: harder than I expected.

Working hard, and no dog to take for a walk at lunchtime.

Labels: buster, work

Buster's dead

(backposting) We were up at 0200: Buster was barking, and not well. Panting, drooling so much. I ended up calling the emergency vet number. I spoke to a very nice female vet, who was very reassuring, and we agreed that Buster clearly had a temperature. She said that other than giving him painkillers, she wouldn't be able to give him much more than the medication we already had, given the symptoms that I'd described. She encouraged me to give him his medication a little early, and to try to get him to have some food as well. I got the medication down him, but not the food. And though I went upstairs, I was down again a few minutes later, as he was clearly very upset. I let him outside, as it was cooler out there. We went to bed.

I was up at 0630 to deacon at the 0800 communion service. After getting dressed and some food, I went outside. I called Buster, and he padded down the drive, though he didn't look well. He had knocked over his water bowl, so I filled it up, and he came to drink from it, but then collapsed. I went and got Moo, and we put the water in front of him, but he really couldn't drink from it. I phoned the emergency vet again, and as I was on the phone, he tried to get up again, and failed. They said to bring him in to the surgery in Witham - about 30 minutes away.

I brought Moo's car down, we put some towels in it, and I had to manhandle poor Buster into the boot, because he couldn't give me any help at all.

I drove there faster than I should have done, in places, though I think I drove safely. And I chatted to Buster from time to time, through some tears. When I got there, I rang the bell, and the receptionist/assistant came out. But when we opened the boot, I was unsurprised to find that Buster was dead. The vet came, and confirmed it.

They'd had a terrible night. Buster was not the first dog to turn up dead. They'd had to put another one down, and other things had gone badly. I felt for them very much. They were great, though, and I don't think that there would have been anything they could have done if I'd turned up earlier. Nor do I blame our vets - I think that, given the symptoms, all was done that could be done. Sometimes, animals die. Particularly Newfoundlands, I'm afraid.

Moo hadn't expected that he'd be dead when I came back and told her, and Jo didn't quite get it, though she's been saying on and off that she's sad. Her first reaction was to try to cheer us up - I cried when I told her. And Miri's been waving at the French windows from time to time, as if she was looking for him.

Oh, I'd told John, my training incumbent, that I'd not make the 0800, and he was very understanding. I made the 1000, and it was marvellous! I performed the deacon's role, including reading the Gospel, preparing the altar and the elements, inviting people to the Peace, and the dismissal. As I walked up the the nave with New Testament, I realised that I had a new home, and it was very emotional.

We went out to lunch - we felt we deserved it - and then went to RSPA Danaher, where we got Buster. We told them about him, and then went to look at kittens. We could pretend that it was for the girls, but that would be a lie.

And in the late afternoon, Si and D came around with Morgs and Boo and their kids. And their dogs. We had a good barbecue, and it was good to have dogs around.

I really loved Buster. But I find it easier to accept his death than I thought. Partly because we've been through it before with Suzy. Partly because I have not the slightest doubt that Buster and Suzy are both in heaven. With Meg. And, as Jo said tonight, when we were saying prayers, let's pray that Meg and Buster are playing together.

Labels: buster, diaconate, ministry

Kim's wedding!

(backposting) In the morning, we got up and went to Freeport. The official reasons where:

• to get a wedding card for Kim and and Andy and
• to get my watch fixed.

It was mainly to get out of the house, actually. We got back in time for lunch and then to go to Kim's wedding to Andy. Miriam's not been very well - running a nasty temperature - but she's just got non-specific toddleritis. The wedding went well (they both said "I will"!), although I had to take Jo out twice to go to the loo.

When we headed out to the meal, Miri still wasn't great, but managed OK - keep them dosed up with the relevant medication. Kim and Andy had asked me to say a grace at the beginning of the meal, which was a real honour. It was also my first outing in a public forum in the clerical shirt and tie. I wore a black shirt and a linen suit - having tried on a grey shirt and two other suits.

We had a good time at the meal, sitting on a table with Gena and a bunch of Kim's previous colleagues. Jo enjoyed playing with April, a girl she knows from pre-school and elsewhere, and who was a bridesmaid. Jo was, however, a little bit put out that she (Jo) didn't get a present from the bride and groom, whereas April did...

At the disco afterwards, they were taking requests, and, aware of the shirt and collar, I requested (and got) "Spirit in the Sky". Top tune.

Buster seemed a bit better this morning, having had some food, and so I didn't take him to the vet. I managed to get his pills down him to in the morning and before we went out to the post-wedding party (wedding breakfast). When we got back, though, he was very drooly, and panty, and I was quite worried about him. But he went to bed OK, though he'd not wanted to come in from the garden after going out.

Labels: buster, marriage

Girls back home

(backposting) The girls got back this evening, and we got them both back to sleep fairly quickly, which was good. I was a little worried about Buster today, as he's only eaten 1 out of the past 5 meals, and has been dry coughing a little bit. So, I took him to the vet. The one I saw knew Suzy (who died from a heart complaint), and was very understanding about the fact that I'd brought him in. His eyes were a little gummy, and it turns out that he has a bit of a temperature, but at least his heart sounded OK. She said to bring him back tomorrow morning if he didn't seem better tomorrow.

Labels: buster, girls, Moo

Dark

1900 is officially too late to go for a walk with the dog in the country. Without a torch. And a very black dog. But we had a lovely time, and he really enjoyed it, as did I. Who needs light, huh? I chose a walk I know very well, and which doesn't have too much walking under trees, and I could pretty much see most of the time.

Labels: buster, walk

"My own bed..."

0610 this morning:

Jo (waking up next to me in the spare room bed): "I slept in my own bed all night!"

Me: "No, you didn't!"

Jo (plaintively): "Why?"

Me: "Because you came into my bed in the middle of the night."

Jo (with conviction): "I'll try to sleep in my own bed tonight."

My night?

• Last night, bedtime - Miri's unsettled, so Moo takes her into our room, I take the spare room.
• 2310 last night, Jo gets out of bed. I take her back to her room.
• 2340 last night, I go back to bed: Jo seems to have settled.
• 0015 Jo comes into the spare room.
• 0420 Moo comes in to say that Buster's barking. I go downstairs, then up to my side to do some Facebooking.
• 0450 after some time with Buster, he still won't settle. I let him outside. I watch some TV to give him some more time.
• 0510 I let Buster back in, and go back up to bed.
• 0610 Jo wakes up (I haven't got back to sleep).

Not exactly standard, but I've had worse...

Apparently Turtle, Jenny's eldest, won't watch Underground Ernie, which Jo loves. When Moo asked Jenny why, she answered, with a shrug, "Talking Underground trains?".

Labels: buster, facebook, family, Jo, miri, sleep

Sales training

Really not my favourite thing, by a long chalk, but it's been a useful day, to be honest. Discovering how best to work with the other guys in the team, some strengths, weaknesses, etc. We're going out for supper later on.

Moo had a terrible evening with the dog last night, but once he was finally down, things seem to have improved. Jo was very tired again, after her second pre-school session, and apparently her behaviour (which was never bad as such) is already improved in the context of the toddler group she attends on Wednesdays.

As far as I'm aware, Catherine didn't find any more dead bats in her office today.

Labels: buster, Jo, Moo, work

And really home, and Buster, and Meg

(backposting) We headed home in the morning, and had a pretty good drive home - Miri slept all the way. Meg's home, but not well at all, and although she's not eating, she's tolerating being given food via a syringe. We'll be taking her back to the vet's on Monday to see what's next.

Buster, on the other hand, is very well, and pleased to see us all. We suspected that he might play up a bit, but he really hasn't.

There was a message on the voicemail saying that I'm expected at a deanery evensong tomorrow night, to talk to people at vocation. This is terrible, terrible timing, as it's over Jo's bedtime, and as Jo's just not sleeping for long periods, that means that Moo will have to juggle them both. There was little getting out of it, and as Moo's likely to need to have to do this at some point next week anyway, she very kindly told me to do it.

Spent some time on SecondLife tonight with Lee, who seems to be big into it, and to have plans for making money.

Labels: buster, home, meg, vocation

Long with with Jo and Buster

Went out with Jo on my back in the backpack and Buster. Lots of horses, which Buster sniffed and licked, making Jo very happy. Went to Freeport, bought some new shoes for Jo. Kids' shoes are scarily expensive, even reduced. Moo's beginning to acknowledge that she needs more sleep, which is good.

Labels: buster, Jo, sleep

In Sudbury, yesterday

Labels: buster, dog