Evening all, didn't like to post about this before, with so much going on for so many members, but we have some dear friends, B & J, and B had a stroke on the Saturday before Christmas. He is only 61. He spent some time in the main local hospital, was then tranferred to a hospital in Taunton for surgery to remove a clot that could have caused another stroke, and is now back in Bideford hospital for rehab type treatment. I have offered J all sorts of help, come to us for meals, me to cook for her freezer etc (she works, usually sort of 7am to 2pm ish, but changeable), but until now I have not been able to provide any practical help.
We have spoken every day since B went into hospital (nothing unusual there, really, as she phones me every day that she knows Mr P is away) but as she has to make umpteen phone calls to let every one know the current state of play with B, I really do appreciate the time she takes to keep us informed. She had asked me if I could be on standby for when B comes out of hospital, go over and get him some lunch, make sure he is doing his exercises etc, which of course I will gladly do. J had a hysterectomy a couple of years back, and I took some time off work to be her sort of nurse/homehelp, she very nearly killed me, on the second day she said that she would like to go for a walk, walk my a*r$e more like a yomp round the village, bless her!
Anyway, tomorrow I am on dog patrol! (B is still in hospital and J's work means that the dogs need walking and feeding)
There are 3 of them, all gundog trained. Henry, black Lab, now approaching 10, who was my "God Puppy" as I've known him since we first looked after him aged 12 weeks, Willow, aged 8 black Lab bitch, slightly portly but wears it well, and Jasmin, sort of ginger and white cocker spaniel, can be inclined to think that some people are dog murderers, but thankfully doesn't place me in that category.
So, Mr P has been out and adjusted the back of my Focus to allow for dog accommodation, I have dug out an old duvet cover to put down for them, J has promised to leave me a training whistle (3 peeps for "come back" any number of peeps for "if you don't come back this minute you &$£" you will be in *BIG trouble).
It's a long time since I walked dogs, ex & I had 3, collie, collie x spaniel and a russell, but Mr P and I have only cats. I'm looking forward to it, but just hope I don't lose any of them!
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You are going to be an absolute godsend, phoenix! (I can foresee many stories...can't wait 
)!
Have fun Phoenix. All water-loving dogs, and the spaniel will be the one who didn't quite catch you jumping up and down yelling your head off when she saunters off in the opposite direction. Ours used to make a point of blanking everything we said, except 'do you want a biscuit?'
Willow is the most water keen of the three, bless her. She is also the proud possessor of the "Loudest Snoring Dog" trophy, awarded by me! We quite often go to B & J's for a meal, on the odd occasion that we actually go through to the sitting room (more often we just sit round the table eating more cheese and drinking more wine) I usually end up sitting on the floor, leaning against the sofa on which Willow reclines. She could snore for Britain!
I can feel a story coming on I am looking forward to it
phoenix you are a good friend to have around.
Thank you all for the lovely comments!
Off to bed now, as the damned alarm will be going off around 3am in order for Mr P to leave with enough time to get to the office for 8.30ish.
Not only will I hear the alarm, but there will be further activities that ensure that I am fully aware that he is up and "doing"
He could of course pack his case tonight, leaving only the last minute wash kit type stuff until tomorrow morning.
He doesn't.
Come tomorrow morning, he could put his case in the spare room while he bungs in the last few bits and pieces.
He doesn't.
What he does do is put the case on the end of our bed, furtle about looking for socks and pants (that, incidentally I have already put on top of the chest of drawers) make far more noise folding a pair of trousers than is strictly necessary, and tut and sigh during the whole procedure.
I try to do a Digby, i.e. remain comatose throughout the whole proceedings (that cat doesn't so much go to sleep, as behave as if someone had taken his batteries out) but usually at some point my opinion or advice is sought, for example where is something, or will I remember to pay a bill/query a bill/look for a document etc. In the event of locating an item, I will get out of bed with a sunny smile (oh, yeah, really) and offer assistance, i.e. stomp off, find the item, throw it in the general direction of Mr P and get back into bed. Other requests are met with a polite (!!!) request to leave me a note.
Oh heavens, I've done it again, and rambled on when I started by saying I was off to bed!
'night all! 
Phoenix what a blessing you are to your friends; I'll bet they treasure you.
The Wonderful Man often works away and needs to get up at silly o'clock in the morning, so on those nights (hint, hint) he sleeps in the next bedroom . He can 'furtle' away to his hearts content whilst I slumber on.
You'll be brilliant phoenix and lots more grist for your mill, I'm sure.
You friend must be very worried and will be pleased to have you around. 
Well, that was fun!
They were very pleased to see me, and being retrieving dogs, each of them brought me something to welcome me in. Jasmin brought a slipper, which looked rather new, except for the bit of trim that she had obviously decided was surplus to requirements, Willow presented me with a tea towel and Henry seemed very proud of his offering, which was an igloo type cat bed, complete with cat. Fortunately Lyle is used to it and waits for Henry to put it down before making her escape, sauntering off with only the slightest hint of motion induced nausea. How do cats do that, express so much feeling when all you can see is their bottom? Still, she maintained her dignity, and we both agreed not to mention it again.
I put the whistle round my neck, which seemed to be the cue for much excited frolicking, detached Henry's paws from my shoulders, picked up the leads and opened the back of the car. Willow and Henry jumped in, but Jasmin decided that it was far to high for her so I had to pick her up.
We drove to the Forestry Commission, waited for an elderly lady to put her greyhound in her car, (it was quite a small car, and she seemed to sort of have to "fold" the dog into it) then I decanted the dogs and off we went.
It was lovely weather, dry, quite mild and that rather nice wintery sunshine. The path was somewhat muddy though, and on reflection white trainers were not the best choice of footwear. The dogs went running ahead, but responded when told to "wait", so I had no worries about losing them. They really are very well trained, although Henry has now been retired from picking up at shoots, as he decided that he knew what to, didn't wait to be sent and then developed a bad case of pheasant envy, which manifested itself by him stealing other dogs birds, somehow convinced that they were better than his.
Willow did disappear from view momentarily, but a resounding splash indicated that she had flung herself into the wide, water filled ditch with her usual gusto. The crazy cocker careered off into the undergrowth, but was easily spotted as an orange and white blur among the dark trees, and she did come back when called. Henry was very busy sending and receiving "pee mails" , although he did become a bit over excited at one stage and tried to hump Willow. As they are not related I decided to turn a blind eye, but I did get the feeling that Willow was less than impressed, especially as she was trying to have a poo at the time.
We had a lovely walk, then made our way back to the car. Henry jumped in, I lifted a rather soggy, muddy Jasmin in (thank goodness I was wearing Mr P's jacket, which I seemed to have picked up by mistake 
. ) Willow did her best to persuade me that she needed lifting too, but I draw the line at risking a hernia with around 6 stone of labrador.
We set off homeward, but had to pull over when my glasses misted up, due to the moisture caused by 3 gently steaming dogs.
My jeans are in the wash, my trainers are waiting for the mud to dry, my legs ache.
Can't wait to do it again!
phoenix you are going to be so fit you will make us all green with 
Phoenix who enjoyed the outing most I wonder.........? 
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