Florence the Unwell. Crying at 5 a.m., pressed against the back door, desperate to be let out to dash into the snowy back lane and demonstrate the urgency of the call. Settled back to bed, as did I. But when I woke, the appalling odour throughout the house signalled that something was rather wrong. Poor Flossie had, at least, the sense to be Very Unwell in the tiled (and then pebble-dashed) utility room. Rubber gloves, buckets of hot water and disinfectant started my day off quite memorably.
Florence the Bewildered. Why no breakfast? Why no treats? Why is the lovely human who cleaned up without a word of reproach now starving me to death? Why am I walking on the leash, unable to tidy up all that bread that the birds are ignoring?
Christmas deliveries. Some presents ordered online may not arrive in time. The temptation to go into town and find substitutes is compelling, but not very sensible, given that there are several more days to go before the big day. And once you set foot outside the house, you risk something arriving that must be signed for, and so is taken away again, unable to be collected from the highly-inconvenient no-parking depot for a further 72 hours.
Christmas disorganisation. Where's that list? And the other list? Where are the cards? The wrapping paper? Who have I forgotten? Why am I awake at 5 a.m. every day? Why is this fridge so messy, and full of horrible leftovers that I don't want to eat? Why didn't I make a cake? A pudding? Mince pies? (Answer is identical for all: only I would eat them, and we know where that slippery road leads...) Who left all this fur on the sellotape? And the constant wail: where are my specs?
Christmas tidying. Always tricky - a week beforehand, the house fills up with birthday presents, cards, wrapping paper and ribbons, and where to put everything is a problem. I don't feel ready to put things away - after all, they're my lovely birthday presents! The cats are no help; Scooter has gone back to confetti-making, just like last year:
Millie walks amongst the cards, and is amused to see how easily they topple. And then Scooter pounces, and confetti-ised cards are the result.
Plumbing matters. Richie is due to return tomorrow, although it is unlikely that a replacement toilet will make its appearance. Disappointing. I don't care about the shower or the extractor fan....
Weather and travel. Will the predicted blizzard hit us tonight? Will the Lovely Son make it home on the train booked for Tuesday afternoon? Will he have done his shopping, written his cards?
And it's not just me; I'm sure you share some of these little problems (though hopefully not dog-diarrhoea related).
It will all come right in the end.... won't it?
All together now: "'Tis the season to be jolly. Fal la la la la......"
24 comments:
Oh dear, poor little Flossie... I hope her indisposition is temporary.
I hope Flossie is feeling better. Nothing sadder than a sick ward who can't tell you what is wrong (although I guess she demonstrated her symptoms clearly enough).
Same here with the packages - promises of timely deliveries now voided. The ease of online shopping does have its drawbacks.
Welcome to my world.... I totally relate to what you've described. Heating went off this afternnon and I hid till D and A had fixed it.
Hope Flossie's OK. We are getting by on catnip and wine, just.
Jan x
"the" Rrea as we refer to it here. Labs & retrievers.
Sigh. Garbagitis. White rice, ground beef and lots of sweet it's not your faults.
Big get well soon wishes to Flossie
from Winnie & Sam and of course from me
and the cats, all three of them ... oh and Doug
Lovely way to start the day! I hope Flossie is better now. We keep a tube of Diarsanyl handy if the problem persists for more than a day.
uh oh.... sounds like perhaps Flossie ate something she shouldn't have? ... hopefully she is back to normal very soon, poor baby. It must be very strange for animals to feel so sick and not know what is happening...
You are certainly having an interesting run-up to the Big Day. Hope it calms down. And some of your questions at least get answered ...
I'm immensely cheered by all this . Running round like blue-tailed fly trying to tidy everything that has littered every surface for weeks , I felt harried .
But I'm obviously one of the fortunate . I don't have furry sellotape !
As for LS ? Of COURSE he'll have his presents wrapped and his cards sent . His sense of self-preservation must developed at least that far by now ?
I forgot to add that I hope poor peaky Flossie is feeling a lot better now . Her eyes looked so sad !
Wow, my life is better that I thought!
Nika's fine, just frisky, the cat is no more insane than normal, GG's finished this semester's finals and my impending migraine went away after a pill and a 40 minute nap.
We only do presents for a very few people, then after boxing day we shop for each other.
Life's too bust to do t any other way.
Hope the Flossy-ness feels better soon, for both your sakes!
xo Jane
Poor Flossie - they look so sad and guilty don`t they? Our Border Collies were very good at eating Unsuitables when they were younger.
I hope your lovely girl is better tomorrow so that you can put the rubber gloves away......
The new kitten is discovering confetti making here, and yes, we have furry sellotape!
Poor Flossie! Poor you!!
Have been stuck indoors for so long because of the cold that by the time we get to Christmas Day, it will seem like any other housebound day!!! Luckily, we have all we need, although hubby is postponing a trip to the other end of the country to deliver presents. It's not worth risking it.
I hope Florence is back to her usual bouncy self pdq. We cut into our lovely, large Christmas cake tonight, every raisin will make a bee-line for my hips or my double chin, but i'm going to eat it anyway! Merry Christmas!
Thank goodness you don't have to show prospective buyers round just now. Poor Florence and poor you. I hope she's back to her bouncy self soon.
I am sorry to say that I do share the dog diarrhoea story! Nothing quite like rubber gloves and disinfectant to start the day....
Wishing, you calm and arrival of presents.
No doggy doo here but we have had cat sick (on a window ledge and down the back of the radiator. Nice). Undelivered parcels, cleaning, wrapping, food shopping? I'm ignoring it all as I'm about to break open the box of After Eights. (Small box. Easier to hide evidence).
Hope Floss is recovering.
There is surely no sadder sight than a sick dog. And you know that they're fine really but they really can ham it up!! I hope for both your sakes that she is better soon.
Well, sure it will all come right in the end.
Even if you have to adjust "right" to "what is."
What'll it matter in a hundred years?
Oh my dear, how I can relate to the holiday harriedness... yesterday I was in a tizzy about disappearing items necessary to gift-wrapping. Lots of food to prepare for guests who may not be able to arrive due to weather. Holidays... arrgghh!
Most important, though: I hope Flossie is feeling better. Poor thing looks so dejected.
I've just spent 30 minutes on the phone listening to my son's woes - a leak under the bath, with water coming through his kitchen light fitting, having to spend his Christmas bonus on new tires, because the icy roads had wrecked the old ones, his wahing machine pump breaking down and the kitchen getting flooded ..... are you feeling better yet, with his tale of woe to cheer you up?!
It was bad enough when oor spaniel had the trots, but Flossie is a much bigger dog ..... I came to hate the smell of Zoflora, but it was the best disinfectant for eliminating unwanted smells!
Just be like Scarlett O'Hara - 'I won't think about that today, I'll think about it tomorrow' ......and sing my favourite song (which I sang when I was in Houston and my luggage was in Paris) 'things can only get better'
Poor Florence, and poor you. I know what a lab with the runs is like.
Coco was vomiting blood a few nights ago. I was very worried, then found a chewed up cat toy (innard of a plastic fur covered mouse) in the regurgitation. So that explained it I think. Thank goodness for newspaper!!
I hope Miss Florence is feeling better today.
As a fellow doggie owner, I've been there! Ann
Hmm, so lovely. Hope you're both better now.
Christmas has its good points but it's a messy time of year, isn't it?
I have everything crossed for you in the hope that 'the lovely son' will make it home for Christmas. I have Jo (daughter) flying up from Luton on Christmas eve - I hope. It's very frustrating isn't it, not being able to do anything other than just wait and hope - and cross fingers and toes!
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