Definitely not Aviemore...

Er, but Gail, I thought you said we were going to Inshriach House, near Aviemore in the Cairngorm Mountains this weekend?

I do believe you have taken a wrong turn. This is most definitely not the Cairngorm Mountains.

I see. There's been a change of plan?

I must say I did not think it should take eight hours to drive a distance of less than a hundred miles...

Oh dear, you say Human Granny is in hospital again and is very seriously ill, so we have come down to Nottingham?

Well Gail, I guess we're now in the right place then.

And at least I won't have to deal with hyperactive border collie Hemp!

Gail, would you feel better if I gave your face fond lick?

PS from Gail: Difficult times. The blog may be quiet for a bit.

It wisnae me!

So Gail and I are now safely back in Scotland, and I am delighted to report that Human Granny is recovering from her hospital stay (precipitated by something called a UTI, with complications). She is back in the familiar environment of her care home, being no doubt fussed over by the kind carers and looking so much better than she did a couple of weeks ago.

You will never believe what a colleague apparently asked Gail when she went into the office yesterday morning.

"Oh dear Gail, whatever happened to your cheek? Did Bertie bite you?"

WHAAATTT???!!!!

It wisnae me!

Perhaps I had better let Gail explain.

Gail here: it has been a stressful ten days in more ways than one. As if the drama of mother's unscheduled hospital admission was not enough, while down in Nottingham I went to see a nurse about what I thought was a boil which had erupted on my cheek, only to be told it had all the characteristics of a skin cancer. Cue a hastily arranged visit to a doctor to learn I had a 'keratoacanthoma' (a fast growing but usually benign type of tumour). I managed to get it removed on Wednesday afternoon, just before returning to Aberdeen. The wound doesn't look too pretty at the moment, but at least I can't blame it on Bertie! 
As 
So Gail and I are looking forward to a weekend of recuperation watching the Six Nations rugby, with Gail fervently hoping for an England victory against Wales this afternoon and me willing Scotland to defeat France tomorrow. Go Hoggy and wee Greig!

I would like to be licking Gail's cheek better, but that seems to be frowned on at the moment...

Changes

Do you enjoy a routine? I do. I like to get up, be fed, taken for a walk, curl up on the sofa, etc. at about the same time every day. I guess you would say I am a creature of habit.

That's not to say I don't enjoy an outing to some new place, especially if it involves lots of off-lead running over the hills or through the woods of course.

Ever since I was a wee puppy I have been visiting Nottingham, which is where I am now. I soon learned there was a different routine here with the Human Grandparents, but it was a nice one, involving walks by the River Trent and afternoon tea and cakes in front of the telly (BBC News Channel).

It has been over a year now since Human Grandad lived here. When I last saw him he was in a different home, and then I had to get used to not seeing him at all.

The house has felt a bit empty, but there was still Human Granny. I got into the habit of resting my head against her arthritic foot every evening as she ate her dinner very very slowly.

But last week, everything seemed to change again. I noticed HGY needed help walking, and then couldn't walk at all. Doctors came and went. On Sunday I overheard Gail, sounding very anxious, saying again and again: "No Mother, I'm not Peggy I'm GAIL. Your daughter Gail, remember".

Then on Sunday night, in the middle of the night, my beauty sleep was disturbed when a big van with flashing lights arrived in the driveway and next thing I knew two burly gentlemen were carrying HGY down the stairs and into the van.

I haven't seen HGY since, but Gail tells me she is in hospital, very ill. The doctors seem flummoxed and the earlier diagnosis of Parkinsonism is now in doubt.

Oh I do hope Human Granny is going to be OK. I am missing her ever so.

This afternoon I am going to tell Gail to make a proper cup of tea, in a warmed tea pot covered by a tea cosy, then to drink it from a nice china cup with a saucer, sat in front of the TV tuned to the BBC News Channel, and we can pretend everything is just the same.

I don't like change.

When is Human Granny coming home?

HGD birthday report

Well I am happy to report that HGD remembered how to smile for the camera on his 92nd birthday.

Human Granny and I supervise the present opening

Human Grandad and son Max enjoy a birthday beer

But sad to report that he took a bad turn later in the day, and is now in hospital and very poorly indeed.

Big paws crossed for HGD.

If only Human Grandad had four legs

It has come to my attention that there are pros and cons with the human set-up of walking on just two legs.

This arrangement seems all well and good in the middle years, when humans can generally balance quite well. It frees up their arms to make bows and arrows, shop for dog food and use computers.

However, the human young 'uns and oldies do often seem rather wobbly.

My human Grandad (HGD), aged ninety, is a case in point. These days he quite often topples over when out and about. Normally he avoids harm, brushes himself down and says to any concerned passers by "It's OK thanks, I'm fine, I know how to fall, I used to play rugby". Sadly, last Sunday HGD's luck ran out and he stumbled over a kerb and hurt his face quite badly. He is now in hospital.

Oh if only HGD had four legs like me. It's so much easier to stay upright. The downside, of course, is that without arms one needs a human secretary to assist with one's blog.

Well I'm sure my readers will understand that Gail must go down to Nottingham to help her father get back on his feet. So I'm afraid that this blog will be quiet for a few days.

Don't worry about me though. I am being cared for in Aberdeen by my lovely friend Marie-Thérèse.

Although I will admit to being totally gutted at missing out on Jazzi's National Taco Day celebration this year.

Granted, it would have been hard to improve on last year's Aberdeen MacTaco feast...

So happy that things are back to normal ...

Well nearly, anyway.

I was let out of 'camp' this morning. I have to tell you I was ever so slightly miffed to learn that Gail had been back from hospital since Saturday, but I was so pleased to be home too I wasn't going to make a big deal about it.

She keeps singing the praises of something called 'keyhole surgery'. I don't know about that but I can tell you she has a bruise around her belly button more colourful than the fall foliage in a New England forest.

Oh, I am being told to change the subject, as some of my readers may be of sensitive disposition....

Well let me tell you, we are gearing up for Saturday's big Rugby World Cup game, Scotland versus England!

Meanwhile, I am going for walks in the park with a nice lady called Sheila, 'cos, can you believe, Gail has suddenly turned all lazy. (She is pretending it has something to do with the belly button thing).

A wee chat and a nice walk

What's that Gail, you want a wee chat? Then here I am, bounce bounce, on your lap, all (exceptionally cute) ears.

Well Bertie, the thing is, I'm going to have to go into hospital for a few days next week, it's all happened very suddenly and I only just found out, but don't worry, I'll be right as rain again before too long.


Oh dear Gail, what's the matter, it's not my fault is it?


Silly billy Bertie, of course it's not not your fault. It's one of those women's problems you see...


[Bertie looks very alarmed and quick as a flash puts his paws over his (exceptionally cute) ears.]
No, no, that's OK Gail, I quite understand, I really don't need to hear any more details, us males are very sensitive about these matters you know. Let's talk about something else shall we? Like, what's going to happen to me while you're away?

You're going to be going camping Bertie! No it's not the 'prison' it's somewhere you've not been before. It's a lovely camp, run by that nice Kevin at the agility club. You know, the instructor who said you were 'a fantastic dog'. Believe me you'll be having a lot more fun than me.


I s'pose. But how long until I can come home?

You'll be away about a week I think. But Bertie, now do listen to me, I'm afraid that when I come out of hospital I'll be feeling a bit delicate, and there certainly won't be any of this bouncing up on my lap for a good while. You do understand that don't you? And I won't have as much energy as usual and will only be able to take you for very short trots round the block. But Jake's owners have kindly promised to take you for some 'proper' walks too, so that'll be fun won't it?

Walks with Jake? Yippee!  Oh. And what about my blog?

Perhaps you'd better tell your readers that you won't be able to blog very much for the next week or so. But remember to say that you'll miss everyone and will be back as soon as possible.


Oh I will miss my bloggie pals. But hey, Gail, this is all a bit boring, can we post some pictures of the nice walk we had by the River Dee yesterday afternoon? After all, my readers don't come by this blog to read about horrid hospitals do they?

******************************

So. Here I am by the River Dee, just upstream from Banchory. It's been raining so much lately that the banks were on the verge of bursting, and the rapids were very, well, rapid.

We normally see men in waders standing in the water fly fishing on this stretch of the river, but I think today they'd have been swept away.

We did encounter one fishing party, but they were concentrating on the party side of things (I saw wine, whisky, yummy looking sandwiches and cakes on the picnic table).

I went inside to inspect their little hut. No-one seemed to mind. Gail said the man in the wellies looked like something out of 'Monarch of the Glen', which I believe was a BBC TV series best watched with the sound turned down so you could enjoy the scenery without bothering about the lame plots.

We saw another bigger cabin later.

But this one said 'private' so Gail didn't let me go and inspect it. I did at least get a close look at the Land Rover. So much more impressive than our puny little Mini.......

Yes it was a jolly nice walk, all in all.

Missing you already.