Rosy and I have had quite a few anxious days regarding Angel recently. It started 5 days ago when Angel stopped eating her normal meals. 3 days ago I took Angel out for her morning constitutional 6km run/walk. After Rosy had pointed out to me that Angel's hind legs were a bit wobbly. I started getting concerned when Angel would fall over herself while she was running around. She had been eating some strange things off the beach and the thought had crossed my mind that Angel had had some sort of food poisoning. I cut the walk short and brought Angel back to the van.
Rosy called the local vet and they said it sounded like a tick. And armed with that information Rosy started scouring Angels thick coat. Low and behold, underneath Angel's collar was a dirty big (5mm) grey tick - a paralysis tick to be precise. Rosy knew what to and she instructed me on how to extract the little bugger, which I was able to do without leaving some of it embedded in Angels neck.
Off to the vet we went, with Angel and tick. The vet was a nice guy called Dr Steve (nice name, I trusted him immediately). His main concern was whether we got the tick off in time. Apparently, the tick will cause a bacteria to progress through Angel's body, which will cause difficulty with her breathing and eating, apart from causing paralysis in her limbs and eye lids. What they did was give her a blood transfusion, and overnight stay to enable them to keep an eye on her deterioration. Rosy was visibly upset and I didn't know what to expect.
The following day, the vet gave Angel the all clear to recuperate with us back at the van. She is under strict instructions not to do anything that would cause excitement as her breathing has not completely been cured. She is a van-bound dog for one week and then she can go on very short walks during the second week. Our task is not to allow another paralysis tick on Angel this season as she may not recover.
Angel has made some doggie friends here at Bonny Hills, so I went over to their owners and just told them what had happened, just in case they were wondering why Angel hadn't made her presence known for a few days.
So now I have Rosy bound to her banana lounge chair waiting for her foot to heal, and Angel laying on it with her, not understanding why we haven't taken her for her walks of late.
I can't wait until all three of us are back on the beach.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Rest, rest and yes, more rest
We're still here at beautiful Bonny Hills. Last week it rained a little but most days have been lovely with a gentle coastal breeze except for yesterday, which had quite a strong NE wind blowing. The annex did a bit of flapping but is still standing.
Stephen and Angel are both great. Stephen is looking so relaxed (beard and all) despite completing all the bookkeeping for the last 3 months and working on some websites. Angel is having a great time too, though I think we should rename her "Itchy" or "Scratchy". Something seems to be irritating her and we can't see what or anything on her skin. It could be that she keeps lying underneath the caravan in the long grass with whatever bugs live there. Tonight we're trying her with a different treatment to see if this will give her some relief. So far, not a scratch in sight.
Meanwhile, I've been adjusting to the fact that my foot (heel) needs plenty of rest and time in order to heal. So I'm staying off it and have put just about everything on hold for a while including the sewing I was going to do. I didn't realise how much I was on my feet while sewing the other week. As chance would have it, the sewing course at Spotlight I was going to start last week was cancelled due to lack of numbers. I'm enjoying the rest though and Stephen bought a banana lounge for me to laze about on with my foot up, so I lie there looking out at the ocean (as long as no one has their caravan in the way) and only be a few feet away from the caravan. It's great!
Today is battery recharge day. Every week we need to recharge a 12V battery that runs all the lights in the caravan. Gradually the lights get dimmer and dimmer until eventually it's like dining by candle light. Not that I mind that. When we finally remember to set up the recharger it needs to run from morning until night and even though the completed light doesn't come on, the lights are nice and bright again. Some of the caravans we saw had 2 switches for every light so they can be run from 240V or 12V. I don't know what it is but there's something quite nice about this little weekly ritual.
Anyway, that's all from us.
Stephen and Angel are both great. Stephen is looking so relaxed (beard and all) despite completing all the bookkeeping for the last 3 months and working on some websites. Angel is having a great time too, though I think we should rename her "Itchy" or "Scratchy". Something seems to be irritating her and we can't see what or anything on her skin. It could be that she keeps lying underneath the caravan in the long grass with whatever bugs live there. Tonight we're trying her with a different treatment to see if this will give her some relief. So far, not a scratch in sight.
Meanwhile, I've been adjusting to the fact that my foot (heel) needs plenty of rest and time in order to heal. So I'm staying off it and have put just about everything on hold for a while including the sewing I was going to do. I didn't realise how much I was on my feet while sewing the other week. As chance would have it, the sewing course at Spotlight I was going to start last week was cancelled due to lack of numbers. I'm enjoying the rest though and Stephen bought a banana lounge for me to laze about on with my foot up, so I lie there looking out at the ocean (as long as no one has their caravan in the way) and only be a few feet away from the caravan. It's great!
Today is battery recharge day. Every week we need to recharge a 12V battery that runs all the lights in the caravan. Gradually the lights get dimmer and dimmer until eventually it's like dining by candle light. Not that I mind that. When we finally remember to set up the recharger it needs to run from morning until night and even though the completed light doesn't come on, the lights are nice and bright again. Some of the caravans we saw had 2 switches for every light so they can be run from 240V or 12V. I don't know what it is but there's something quite nice about this little weekly ritual.
Anyway, that's all from us.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A Whale of a Time
Unfortunately, for the next month or so at least, I can no longer go on the morning beach walks. My foot injury (plantar fasciitis) which I've had for 12 months now has flared back up again despite wearing the recently purchased expensive orthotics and joggers on my walks. After a phone call yesterday to the Heel Pain Centre to get their advice, it seems I've been doing all the wrong things to aggravate the injury plus the ONE time I went barefoot on the beach last week sealed the deal. Beach walking, walking up and down hills, going barefoot are all big NO, NO's. So, feeling a bit sad and sorry for myself I stayed at the caravan this morning and did the washing while Stephen and Angel went off on their respective walk and run.
It was while I was hanging out the washing that I noticed several people standing around looking intensely out to sea. Like the busy body I am, I took a glance toward the sea as well and there to my delight were 3 or 4 whales close in to the headland just in front of me slowly making their way northward. WOW, this was the first time I'd ever seen whales this close in the wild. They were magnificent to watch. They were just hanging around off the coast leisurely rolling around in the sea taking their time to get to where they needed to go.
I realised how very lucky I am to be here, that the foot will get better eventually (although I've had it now for 12 months) as long as I give it time and that there'll be plenty of time for walking along beaches. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that big a deal.
So now that the annex is up, I've got somewhere to do my sewing. I've got a little project underway to make something to wear to our niece's wedding next month. Also, I've signed up to do a short overlocking course at the Spotlight in Port Macquarie. Although I've had my overlocker for over 20 years, I've never done anything more with it than neaten seams and I know there's a whole lot more I should be able to get it to do. The course is only 3 hrs a week for 4 weeks and hopefully, my ancient overlocker will be able to do all the things they are going to teach.
Anyway, that's all for now. Good night!
It was while I was hanging out the washing that I noticed several people standing around looking intensely out to sea. Like the busy body I am, I took a glance toward the sea as well and there to my delight were 3 or 4 whales close in to the headland just in front of me slowly making their way northward. WOW, this was the first time I'd ever seen whales this close in the wild. They were magnificent to watch. They were just hanging around off the coast leisurely rolling around in the sea taking their time to get to where they needed to go.
I realised how very lucky I am to be here, that the foot will get better eventually (although I've had it now for 12 months) as long as I give it time and that there'll be plenty of time for walking along beaches. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that big a deal.
So now that the annex is up, I've got somewhere to do my sewing. I've got a little project underway to make something to wear to our niece's wedding next month. Also, I've signed up to do a short overlocking course at the Spotlight in Port Macquarie. Although I've had my overlocker for over 20 years, I've never done anything more with it than neaten seams and I know there's a whole lot more I should be able to get it to do. The course is only 3 hrs a week for 4 weeks and hopefully, my ancient overlocker will be able to do all the things they are going to teach.
Anyway, that's all for now. Good night!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Up went the caravan annex!
It has been a few weeks since we bought the caravan and we thought it was time to try and erect the annex that came with it. We only got shown once by Watson's and there were quite a few processes involved. So, we both took a deep breath and attempted to get it done, before the sun set in 6 hours.
Slowly, but surely, bit by bit, we remembered what we had to do and within 90 minutes we had another room, which by the way, Angel has taken up residence in. Rosy is going to use the room for her sewing. Our large table fits in there quite nicely. We are both quite proud of ourselves as we didn't bend or break anything, and seeing the annex costs around $2000 to replace, it's a good thing.
Now all we have to do is wait for it to rain and for it to be windy to see how it will hold up. There's a picture of it on the right.
On the beach this morning, during our walk along the beach a woman walked passed us, after being sussed out by Angel, who was 'off lead'. She said "I didn't recognise your dog without the lead!". It's quite a looong lead that Rosy put together. It's 20 metres long and causes much talk amongst the other walkers. We need a lead that long to keep Angel happy and a little free, while we are around a lot of people. Angel tends to lose us in a crowd, maybe intentionally.
Another guy we met on the beach couldn't believe how much Angel runs. She normally does 10 lengths of the beach to our one, and all in running mode. I am thinking of changing her name to 'Everyready' - it just keeps on keeping on.
I wonder who we will meet on the beach tomorrow.
Slowly, but surely, bit by bit, we remembered what we had to do and within 90 minutes we had another room, which by the way, Angel has taken up residence in. Rosy is going to use the room for her sewing. Our large table fits in there quite nicely. We are both quite proud of ourselves as we didn't bend or break anything, and seeing the annex costs around $2000 to replace, it's a good thing.
Now all we have to do is wait for it to rain and for it to be windy to see how it will hold up. There's a picture of it on the right.
On the beach this morning, during our walk along the beach a woman walked passed us, after being sussed out by Angel, who was 'off lead'. She said "I didn't recognise your dog without the lead!". It's quite a looong lead that Rosy put together. It's 20 metres long and causes much talk amongst the other walkers. We need a lead that long to keep Angel happy and a little free, while we are around a lot of people. Angel tends to lose us in a crowd, maybe intentionally.
Another guy we met on the beach couldn't believe how much Angel runs. She normally does 10 lengths of the beach to our one, and all in running mode. I am thinking of changing her name to 'Everyready' - it just keeps on keeping on.
I wonder who we will meet on the beach tomorrow.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Well, well, well
Guess who was still asleep in bed till nearly 8:30am this morning? I'll say no more.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Who's in Bed until 8:30am??????
I would like to say in answer to one of Stephen's posts not too long ago that not all of us are in bed having breakfast until 8.30am. Some of us (me) are usually up making the said breakfast. However, I think I owe Stephen quite a few breakfasts as he made mine for the last 6 years M -F. I must say I am sleeping a whole lot better here despite being in a much smaller bed, a nearly level caravan with the noise of waves crashing and the occasional car or truck passing by. Could it be the fresh air, exercise, lack of stress - who knows as long as it keeps going.
We visited a couple of markets over the long weekend which really turned out to be the same market in two different locations. On Saturday we were at the craft market at the Port Macquarie near the marina. They had a good selection of stalls with all the usual jewellery, knitting, painted wood thingys, more craft things made out of towelling than I've ever seen and belly dancers. Then on Sunday we visited the markets in the main street of Laurieton. I recognised the same stalls from the previous day but this market came without belly dancers. Nevertheless, we had a good time and found a great little cafe to sit outside and have lunch.
The other day we took a trip up to Kempsey and South West Rocks. Not much to report about Kempsey - we went there to pick up something from a shop there and as it was so hot we didn't look around too much. A friend recommended we visit South West Rocks. It's quite a drive out there, but worth a visit. Once you turn off the Pacific Hwy, the road eventually runs alongside the Macleay River for kms & kms. It's a lovely drive out there and once you finally arrive you find a cute little beach village with a caravan park right on the beachfront. Although it was school holidays the village didn't seem too crowded but the caravan park seemed busy.
Speaking of school holidays, quite a few people turned up here for the long weekend but quickly disappeared once Monday came around. There were a few big groups who despite being in tents brought along their TV sets and sat around outside somberly watching the footy grand final. They were the quietest bunch of footy followers I'd seen - must have been because Melbourne won.
That's all from me for now. Cheers.
We visited a couple of markets over the long weekend which really turned out to be the same market in two different locations. On Saturday we were at the craft market at the Port Macquarie near the marina. They had a good selection of stalls with all the usual jewellery, knitting, painted wood thingys, more craft things made out of towelling than I've ever seen and belly dancers. Then on Sunday we visited the markets in the main street of Laurieton. I recognised the same stalls from the previous day but this market came without belly dancers. Nevertheless, we had a good time and found a great little cafe to sit outside and have lunch.
The other day we took a trip up to Kempsey and South West Rocks. Not much to report about Kempsey - we went there to pick up something from a shop there and as it was so hot we didn't look around too much. A friend recommended we visit South West Rocks. It's quite a drive out there, but worth a visit. Once you turn off the Pacific Hwy, the road eventually runs alongside the Macleay River for kms & kms. It's a lovely drive out there and once you finally arrive you find a cute little beach village with a caravan park right on the beachfront. Although it was school holidays the village didn't seem too crowded but the caravan park seemed busy.
Speaking of school holidays, quite a few people turned up here for the long weekend but quickly disappeared once Monday came around. There were a few big groups who despite being in tents brought along their TV sets and sat around outside somberly watching the footy grand final. They were the quietest bunch of footy followers I'd seen - must have been because Melbourne won.
That's all from me for now. Cheers.
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