Yayy! Barbecue Day at Last!

For a while now mum's been on a diet and that's meant weeks of powdered shakes and grumpy faces. So dad's not even mentioned the "B" word for fear of getting a rolling pin in the back of the head.

Thankfully today sees the end of that. Mum's finished the diet and is now in the eating sensibly stage - and as the weather is so good today it must be barbecue day.

Earlier on dad took me out to Doggy Disney and I just had to find every puddle I could and either drink it or lay down in it. It was just so warm. Of course to finish off I got to go in the big pond and play the fetch the stick game. I love swimming now, can't believe I was so worried about it before.

After we got home dad gave me a proper hosing down. Not just the quick spray to get the dirt off, but a full shampooing. I might not like the hose and water much, but I love getting the massage as I get the shampoo rubbed in and rinsed out. It's just great.

It was so warm that dad just left me wet without towelling me dry. 10 minutes later I had to go and remind him to finish the job. I kept on at him until he came out and gave me a real good rub down with the towel.

Ear Infection Returns

Damned ear infection has returned with a vengeance. I spent the evening before shaking my head until I fell asleep. Last night I kept dad up all night fidetting, head shaking and pacing around.

Thankfull dad had some Canaural and put it in and cleaned my ears out again. It was so good. It's a great feeling having his finger halfway into my brain... I'm not so sure it's as great for dad though.

Last night Ian came round after they all went out. He gave dad his present which is highly unusual to say the least. I think he's going to have to be in a really brave mood to even try it!

It smells awful.

Ingredients are listed as, Fish, Shrimps, Pepper spices, sunflower oil - that's all. Also says "This sauce will compliment any dish Can also be used as a spread" Ohh yeah. Looks like the day it gets tested I'm going to spend the day outside! When it does get tested I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes.

Happy Birthday Dad!

06:50 I woke mum and dad early having a seizure in the bedroom. Now I've started creeping in there in the morning I guess at least it means less time alone when I do have a cluster.

What a way to wake dad up on his birthday!

He crashed on the sofa for a while until I'd relaxed and wound down for a snooze. I kept waking him up with whining, which once dad distracted me with a tummy rub or pat on the head I'd stop.

Eventually though dad figured just to leave me alone. So it went from whining to "Awowow, Awowow" then full blown "Awwwooooooooooooooooooooo, Awwwooooooooooooooooooooo" howling. It's as if once it starts I just have to let it out. Once finished it's back to sleep as if nothing happened.

Same Old Song and Dance?

15:50 Today saw the start of a seizure in the afternoon. Dad was working from home and we were on the computer upstairs when it started. Same old routine and back to normal.

I wonder if this is the start of a cluster and we should expect more.

Mum said she thought I was acting a little strange earlier today. All edgy and hyperactive. Then when she tried to put me out side to the toilet she said I acted like she was going to beat me and cowered away from her.

Later in the evening I wouldn't leave my ears alone so dad gave them a good clean. That only made things worse! After that I was shaking my head constantly and really uncomfortable. Mum and dad tried to distract me for a while until I eventually gave in and slept a while.

"Dad you're embarrassing me!"

Dad took me out for a walk around the park tonight. The weather was great, no rain. Which makes quite a change of late. When Blaine took me out last night we just got back home before it threw down enough to have drowned us.

Tonight though, I almost walked home on my own. Dad was just sorting out my "business" when there was a "rriiiiiiipp!". We were only half way around the park and the skate park was full of young kids. Dad's shorts picked the most in opportune time to give in.

We had to continue our walk with dad pretending as if nothing had happened. As luck would have it and although we passed plenty of people no one seemed to notice. I just can't take him anywhere!

An Event Free Few Weeks

The past few weeks have gone by without event really. Since the last seizure, which unusually was a one off, nothing else really has happened. Again I know I'll probably regret saying so.

Me and dad have been off on our usual travels around the woods and around the park in the long grass. I showed off just what kind of dog I am the other day. A couple with a muzzled Vichler walked towards us in the park just as dad was letting me off the lead. On the other side of us a guy with a Staffy was shouting not to let me off the lead and generally panicking.

Dad let me off and I just sat there watching the two dogs and paying them no real attention. I think they were both surprised when I just trotted along beside dad as we went on our way.

Over the weekend Janet and Dave made it official. They got married! Dad had to make a speech at the wedding, but I got left out :( Not even asked to be a bridesmaid.

I did get to say hello to Auntie Caz again though as she came down for the big weekend. I know that sometimes she thinks I'd eat her. But I promise not to do it all at once ;)

Oh, S#!7

Well I guess we were all holding our breath and not saying the words out loud, but today began with a return visit of the machette wielding seizure monster.

04:10 It was pretty early in the morning and now I've developed the habit of going upstairs after I have had half a nights sleep in my own bed, I was asleep on the floor in the bedroom when the seizure struck.

It was the usual chomping, paddling and unconsciousness. I was up and about afterwards and now I'm just relaxing through the day. Dad's working from home so he can keep an eye on me.

Now that I sneak upstairs and wake dad up to lie on the floor in the bedroom I have to use a sneaky tactic and catch him half asleep. If I scratch on the door dad comes to open it to see who's there and before he has time to do anything I push the door open and run as fast as I can through the gap and around to the other side of the room. I don't think he sees me and must think it was the wind or something, as he goes straight back to bed.

What a way to celebrate

100 postings onto this blog!

Keeping Quiet

Well there's only so long I can stay off the blog. I know things have been real quiet on here and that's a sign of good news in a way. I've held off as saying something is bound to be the jinx on it and the Genie will be let out of the bottle. So I'm not saying anything... if you don't understand well, sorry I can't explain ;)

We're off to the woods in a while for my weekly fix of fun and frolics. Dad will no doubt take his new phone which has a much better camera than the old one. The weather's supposed to be getting better, it's a bit overcast, but at least no more rain. We have a puddle in the yard that ducks could swim in.

During the week dad took some photos of me acting the fool in the grass. I really got carried away and dad thought I'd found something really smelly to roll in, but it was just long grass. I thrashed around in it for a few minutes until I was all happy and panting.

WTF?

Sorry I've tried as hard as I could not to resort to expletives on this blog. Tried very hard to reign myself in and moderate my language - and been as inoffensive as I could be. But I'm sorely tempted to have a burst of profanity driven by frustration and disbelief.

Why? Well I knew it was too good to be true. You may remember that the vet generously offered to help save me some money by combining my prescriptions into one [here]. Well today was prescription day, so I figured let's go for the big one and get a prescription for 3 months that covers the two medications - Epiphen and KBr for the bargain price of £12. So dad turns up to collect it and they say that'll be £18... same old price!

When queried they said they couldn't do it for the single price, dad must be mistaken. So who saved money here? Not us. The vet now used one piece of paper, not three. The vet signs one signature, not three.

I GIVE UP!!! I SURRENDER!!! RESISTANCE IS FUTILE,

ASSIMILATE ME NOW AND GET IT OVER WITH!!!

But life goes on. It's summer and that means good times. I prefer it a little cooler so I can laze around outside, but summer means long grass. When dad takes me out in the park it's the highlight of my walk. It's not even close to being in the woods, but it's still great fun.

There's two areas in the park where the grass grows long and wild and I just love to go running and hunting in it. I guess it tickles my nose and smells nice because I just bounce around in there snuffling through the long tufts and hopping around like a deer.

If you've seen Jurassic Park and recall the scene with the Raptors in the long grass, then that's all you can see of me when I'm in there. Just the grass parting as I race around having a blast.

Blood Test Results

Dad spoke with the Vet on Monday to find out the results of the blood test. It came back all good. A little elevated from the norm, but to be expected given the tablets I'm taking.

In a way it's good to know things are OK, but in another it means there's nothing jumping out screaming "This is what causes the seizures!" If only there were a straight forward answer.

I had some fun yesterday. Showing off what a big, bad scary dog I am. We had a visit from a couple of Sky TV engineers, who came out to install a new Sky+ HD box.

They turned up at the door, so dad and I went out to the gate to say hello. I bounced around and barked as loud as I can. They had a strange look on their faces... like they weren't quite sure of me.

Dad said I was friendly and that they'd be fine, so I woofed some more, just to make sure they could see how friendly I was. As they went around the house installing cables they'd stick their head into the room and ask gingerly if it was safe to come in. By that time I was bored with them and just lay there ignoring them.

As they were coming and going between their van and and the house they left the back door and gates open. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, but postie hadn't been yet. When the letters hit the mat I was off like a greyhound, out the door and gates to go say Hi to the postman. Dad came charging after me to call me back in... one day I'll catch up with him and say hello properly.