On Friday, my husband had arranged to meet up with a lady we sometimes see when we walk our dogs, so that they could walk round together while I got on with a bit of housework in readiness for some friends visiting.
Helen is blind and has a guide dog but her husband is sighted. I probably overdid things and was absolutely shattered by the time they were due to arrive at 12.30. They didn't arrive until 1.00pm, by which time I was beginning to panic thinking I'd got the wrong day and done all the preparations for nothing!
When they finally arrived we put our dogs in the kitchen, as they are a bit manic at the front door and I didn't want them to knock Helen over.
Ingle, Helen's guide dog who is a Golden Labrador, took herself off into the lounge (which is downstairs as our house is split level) and Michael guided Helen down the stairs while I was behind her. Once they were safely seated our 2 lunatic dogs, who are both rescue collie/shepherd crosses, flew down to greet everyone. Ingle, in the meantime, had pinched one of our dog's raw hide chews out of one of the beds and Jessie, who is about 8 years old, looked really put out and started to bark as much as to say "Bloomin' cheek, she's pinched my chew!" I was already prepared that this might happen and had 3 new rawhide chew bones for each of them. Jessie settled in her bed with her's, although I think she was still a bit put out that Ingle had made short work of the one she had been saving in her bed. Marley took his out into the lobby outside the lounge and then came back in to lick Helen and Michael to bits. In the meantime, Ingle, ever the opportunist, had nipped out into the lobby and pinched Marley's chew. Marley's face was a picture when he discovered this!
Later on Marley started to bark at me very excitedly (he really does talk and lifts his head and sings/howls at different pitches...quite entertaining to listen to!) and Helen said "Marley, what is all that about?" I looked out into the lobby and listened and said "I think I know" I could hear Ingle up in the kitchen chomping her way through Marley's biscuits! Again, Marley's face was a picture.
When Helen and Michael were ready to leave, Ingle was still up in the kitchen nosing around to see what she could find. She had polished off all the biscuits and slopped water all over the floor around the feeding bowls and, all in all, she looked quite pleased with herself! I said to Michael "Butter wouldn't melt" He said it wouldn't have time to with Ingle, as it isn't in her mouth long enough to melt! which I thought was funny.
It is so nice to know that even well trained guide dogs who are beautifully behaved when wearing their working harness, are just as opportunistic as any other dog when "off duty"!
I felt quite uplifted after their visit as we don't have visitors very often these days as I am just not up to it and neither of us has any family to speak of.
BUT I PAID for it BIG TIME!!!!!
Yesterday I could hardly move. I did go out with my husband and the dogs for a walk (hobble!!!!!) around the fields but that didn't improve me and I just got worse as the day went on. I ended up going to bed early with an awful migraine, intense pain in my left shoulder blade with tingling and numbness all down my left arm and hand and pain in my lower back and down my legs. My knees which are arthritic were particularly painful. I dosed up on painkillers but just could not get to sleep for several hours. While I was lying in bed in pain and unable to sleep I felt very depressed. I felt that I had wasted a day of my life (yet again!!!!) although, to be honest, I never do very much during a day unless I go into manic housework mode which is very, very rare! Even then what I can achieve is very minimal, but I am always pleased if I manage to do a bit of housework.
I suppose I overdid things on Friday but I can't seem to stop myself when I am in full-flow!
The price I paid was losing a day. I feel better today, thankfully. Apart from walking the dogs I have done very little.
I wanted to touch base with you as I have only posted one blog before. I didn't want this post to be all doom and gloom which is why I shared Ingle's visit to us with you, as I thought it might amuse the dog-lovers amongst you. Labradors are well know for being "foodies"!
I am sorry to have rambled on and I hope that this doesn't put you off reading this blog.
Love and hugs to anyone who does take the trouble to read this. Saskia XX
xxx
Mildred and I
Things just get better and better!!! NOT! :(
My other dog 'ONSLOW' 
how can I get GP to listen???
