Well - he did it. Berry passed his Grade one Gundog Test yesterday with a merit pass. His sit and stay was absolutely spot on - he sat like the proverbial statue as I walked away from him and never moved until the examiner told me to call him. His walking to heel was brilliant (apart from the lovely smells in the grass!). His retrieve was better than I thought it would be (been having nightmares about it).
Whilst we waited for the results, we watched the Grade 3 dogs going through their tests. Their retrieves to the gun and whistle the length of 2 fields were absolutely brilliant. So obedient to all commands even just hand signals.
Berry will be that good one of these days. He starts the Grade 2 in about 3/4 weeks time which will involve a lot of responding to whistles and the start of using hand signals. Come the autumn we may be allowed to take him on a shoot to see how he manages (permission of the gamekeepers required before seeing if he will retrieve game).
Did all this with a massive flare up in my left hand and wrist. Could hardly move my thumb, first and second fingers and for anyone to touch it, I nearly hit the roof. It has been coming on for a couple of weeks with the thumb joints very painful but it really let me know about it yesterday. Last night, had a bad night as it was so painful and I couldn't seem to get any relief no matter where I rested my hand. I used cold packs and heat and today have taken two lots of paracetemol (have run out of Nurofen) which helped. I even managed to wash and colour my hair this morning when the hand had eased up a bit.
Private visit to Sandringham House last Friday by kind permission of HM, followed by drinks. It has all been moved about since I was last there and some different wallpaper in the small drawing room (used to be Queen Alexandra's morning room - very cosy). The wallpaper is silk and really pretty and made locally. Dining Room was set with crystal with the royal cipher on it, and Meissen, Copeland and Sevres china everywhere some of it too fragile to use and is kept on shelves behind. The table has 9 leaves and can seat 22/24 people. Views across the gardens down to the lakes spectacular and the paths lined with bluebells and other wild flowers.
Weather has been pretty miserable here - with torrential rain, local flooding etc. Barely seen the sun at all. Went to lunch with my best friend on Thursday and bought two hanging baskets filled with violas for the front of the house. Garden is looking good - just got to get the fountain working again. Berry chewed off the top! So need a new pump. Now have another skip as we are clearing out the shed and the greenhouse. Painter coming tomorrow to start on the kitchen.
House cleaners been in and have done a good job. Coming back next week as still have to do the sitting room and conservatory, Because we were going out on Friday, they ran out of time.
Carpet cleaner came on Wednesday and the carpets and upholstery all cleaned. We put the chair covers (freshly washed) back on the armchairs but have left the sofa as it is as it came up so well. Himself has now lost the remote for freesat box! He had it on Thursday evening and it has not been seen since. I expect he put it down somewhere and now can't remember. So we are left with just Freeview as cancelled Sky some months ago.
Will stop now as hand is hurting. Lovely to hear Julie 55 is back in touch and Tricia-P. Love to everyone. LavendarLady x
BILLY BOWDEN
RA and Chronic Kidney Disease medication?
