Rantings

Well, I haven't posted again for a wee while. I've been busy spending the past 2 weeks giving my website/online shop a facelift. I got it uploaded a few days ago, and then thought it might be an idea to put a few soaps on Ebay really cheap in the hope of driving customers to my site. So far I've sold 4 soaps! Yay! I've also put Ian's new range of cushions on Ebay while I build his website, too.
Today I went out to buy a load of fabric to make us both outfits for the Whitby Gothic Weekend in October. I got almost everything I need in one place, which was great, and have got most of the parts for my frock cut out. I've taken on quite a challenge to get everything done in time for Halloween weekend, but I'll see what I can do. It's not the end of the world if I even only get one thing made in time.
Ok, I'm hungry. I've had no dinner, so I think I'll go and find something to eat before I go to bed. Nite, all!

I had a lovely weekend. Saturday we walked Biff up at Beamish woods. Unfortunately, she didn't seem to enjoy it (she'd had a bad tummy during the night and left me a nice present to clean up on Saturday morning), and plodded her way around the walk. Still, I got to play with my new 7mm and 10mm close up lenses.
Sunday we went up to Bamburgh with Biff. She was a different dog and bounded along exploring all the bits of seaweed and chasing after sticks that Ian was throwing into the sea. She managed the walk really well, but was plodding and looked obviously tired by the time we got back to the car. Poor girl has slept most of the day today. Still, she does amazingly well for a 16 year old.


Biff and Ian, paddling. Even though it was overcast, it was remarkably warm with hardly a breeze.


A ragworm cast. Taken at Bamburgh.


Bamburgh Castle, taken from the water's edge using my new wide angle lens. Needless to say, the tide was out at the time.


Biff and Ian, walking along the river at Beamish.


Some ropey looking blackberries, but some of the first I've seen this year. Taken at Beamish woods using a 10mm close up lens.


Another one of Bamburgh Castle, taken from almost the same spot as the previous photo using my new telephoto lens.

I lied. I did have stuff to report, but wasn't ready to write about it. Now I am.
Several weeks ago a swelling appeared under the chin of my 16 year old dog, Biff. I found a tick on her neck, as well as one or two others elsewhere, and removed them. I sort assumed/hoped that the swelling was a reaction to a tick bite.
After a couple of days it was still there, so I took her to the vet. The vet treated her for a week with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, with little change. So, she was anaesthetised and a biopsy taken. The results came back inconclusive. The lab report said there were some abnormal cells there, but it was impossible to tell if they were inflammatory cells or malignant cancer cells.
So, she was treated for another two weeks with a different, stronger antibiotic, in the hope that it was a persistent infection (ticks can carry some really nasty bugs). Still no change.
So another biopsy and several hundred pounds later ... we got the results from the lab today. And they ain't good. She has a particularly aggressive type of cancer which is inoperable, so we are left with two options:
a) do nothing
b) start chemotherapy
I've decided to do nothing. Before you think badly of me, my reasoning is this:
Chemo won't cure her, it'll just slow down the spread. It may upset her stomach, and she will have to come off the tablets she takes for her arthritic hips as they can't be taken together.
Now, Biff has a sensitive stomach, and has had a history of colitis, on and off, all her life, so the chances are the chemo will make her ill. Also, she is so well on her arthritis tablets, I don't want to take her off them. She now acts like a dog half her age and enjoys decent walks. I don't want to take that away from her.
So, the way I see it, I think it would be best for her to be well and fit for a shorter length of time, than to give her chemo and have her sickly and arthritic for a longer length of time. I think it's quality of life that's more important than quantity.
Since receiving this news, I have been feeling really sad all day. I keep crying when I think about her. Then I look at her and how well she is now, and I smile. We may still have her for some months yet, so I'm going to enjoy her as much as I can.

I haven't been playing with my camera much lately, but I thought I'd post this little snap I took while away at the weekend. I reckon it's a lady beetle. Go on, have a close look. Go on. Look at those eyelashes! LOL