Four Seasons in One Week

Well, not exactly four seasons.

Wait, very wet with a high of 10...thats a Scottish summer! So yes, all four seasons in one week!

It started with snow:

And then rain:

And lastly, in a brief respite from storm Dennis, spring is arriving:

So we haven't managed much in the way of adventures, but after last week, we all needed a bit of a holiday from the holiday! 

In the down time between going out for what is supposed to be considered a walk, but this week has resembled either an Antarctic exploration or swimming the channel, I have managed some sewing. After coming in soaked so often, I figured Missy could do with a quilt that had some water resistance to it:

Bonus points, it's completely upcycled. The main fabric is some old jumpers that were too well worn to donate and then the batting is actually an old waterproof mattress protector. We bought one thinking it a great idea and then, because they don't breathe, my husbands excema completely broke out and its never gone back on the bed...

So a win win! 

Just a short post this week since we're all still recovering from our bumper week down south!

Razzle Dazzle with the Fab Four

Part 2 of our holiday away! When looking for things to do in our designated Liverpool day, I happened across the Mersey Ferries River Explorer Cruise. Not only was it dog friendly, it had a port based in the Wirral side of Liverpool (a convenient 15 minutes from our friends house who we had planned to visit that night) and it was one of the last weeks she would be sailing in her Dazzle colours. Why the Razzle Dazzle? Created as part of the First World War commemorations, designed by Sir Peter Blake (more famously known for designing album covers for the Beatles) and inspired by the dazzle camouflage of the time, the ‘Everybody Razzle Dazzle’ is a sight to behold. 

The explorer cruise is a 50 minute loop with an audio tour of the landmarks of both sides of the Mersey, and the ticket acts as a hop on, hop off day pass. After enjoying free entry into the U-boat experience (complimentary as part of the ticket), we headed over to the Albert Docks for a stretch of the legs, a wonder and some lunch. We knew it would be a long day, so kept the plans low key. 

Missy met these four guys, who were fab (had to be done!) and we really enjoyed listening to buskers all playing Beatles covers. The day was bright and clear and was pleasant for a wander about before we found an eccentric double decker bus-come-burger van where we had lunch. They kindly gave us some water for Missy and a we were back on the boat. The plan from the outset had been to visit friends for dinner and a catch up and we managed a quick walk together. Ren, another fur cousin, is now 2 and has learned his manners, so both dogs played very nice (although Missy did hump him a little when she'd had enough playing!) 

Didn't get many photos, was too busy enjoying good food and chat! 

And then it was Friday. Going home day. Well, we couldn't resist enjoying our holiday a little longer and stopped in at the National Waterways Museum. This was an absolute gem of a find. Completely dog friendly, Missy could go anywhere and everywhere with us, and again a beautiful, if cold, day for it. I have a huge soft spot for canal boats and recently, through work, have found canals quite fascinating places in regards to construction. For the hubby, who loves a good audio tour, they had brand new tech - a tablet with AR installed that brought the people on the information panels to life. It was a lovely change for me, who usually reads and summarises aloud all the boards, to have them read to be in wonderfully over the top Mancurian accents. 

There was plenty to look at, from the construction of the canal, the mechanism behind the lock keys and even a little terrace of houses each done in a different time period. It made me think of New Lanark and I immediately recommend it to my sister and her young family. Missy was a star attraction amongst the school groups visiting, and she even had a brief flash mob where they all took turns patting her (I made sure she wasn't feeling crowded, but as usual she just lapped up the attention). The cafe, also super dog friendly, provided us with some warming food before we decided to get back on the road and go home.

Overall a wonderful trip! With all the wartime themes, I picked up the Make Mend and Do booklet and was actually surprised that there are some very useful hints and tips as well as some fun upcycling ideas. Keep an eye out for some inspired pieces in the near future! 

Looking for Roman Ghosts and Cold War Mice

We are not long back from a pretty bumper week away at the roman city of Chester. The location was a new one for us, as was the idea of having Missy on a "city break", she being much more of a wild woodland wonderer than a pavement pounder. And it actually worked out really well!

The location was picked because it was a good central point to family we wanted to see and friends we were long over due visiting. We also wanted time for ourselves to do our own thing as well, so didn't want to be intruding on people with the intention of not being 100% social.

Monday was a travel day. Its a 4 hour drive for us, and we have to break regularly for Missy. We were being extra cautious after her bad stomach at the weekend and stopped more frequently than usual. She was absolutely fine, which is a relief. We had scoped out all the nearby vets as a matter of precaution but thankfully it wasn't needed. We arrived in good time though and, after checking into our Airbnb, had enough time to scope out the local bakeries and supermarket. 

Tuesday was a family day. My sister and brother in law managed a sneaky day away (in what we have playfully now dubbed as "doing an Alton Towers") and they came down from Manchester on the motorbike to hang out. It was a mooch about and hang out kinda day, in which we all ate way too many sweets and snacks. All the school groups were out and we watched them in the Roman Amphitheatre attack each other with plastic swords and shields. I don't remember history being that exciting at school, if it was, I might have pursued it sooner. 

We ate at the Lock Keeper, and my BIL found the pub cat who was blissfully unaware of the dog on the premises. A really good day, it's nice to just hang out sometimes! 

I also managed to pass on my latest sewing project: sandwich wraps (v2) and treat pouches, each in a fabric Specifically chosen for a member of the family. 

I'll just share my nephews tractor and digger set, the rest will be on my Instagram! 

Wednesday was another day where we met a resident cat, the super dog friendly Hack Green Nuclear Bunker had the chilled out Goulash and there was a scent hound training day, so we met some very excited spaniels too! 
The nuclear bunker is pretty much what it says on the tin; an old, declassified bunker used during the Cold War. It was very interesting, although we felt an audio tour would help as the giant humming and clicking computers soon blend into one another. For the kids, they have an "atomic mouse" game where you look for and find all the brightly coloured mice. 

It was an interesting day as its obviously something our parents grew up in fear about. Reds under beds is a joking comment I hear often from my MIL when she's talking about her childhood, and when looking at all the propaganda, it's a grim thought for a childhood. Over well brewed tea from the NAFFI we discussed the liklihood of a nuclear event, and the convoluted politics of the Cold War. Missy was disinterested in such deep talk and flirted with the scent hound trainers instead. 

To shake off the remnants of the Cold War, we went to the nearby Wynbunbury Tower. Apart from its lopsided appearance, and the supposed woodland walk around it (read peat bog, thank goodness Missy is wipe clean), we mostly went because my hubby thinks the name is hysterical. 

On the drive back to the Airbnb, I spotted a giant bee sculpture in a field. Pointing it out, I then spotted a sign for Snugbury Ice Cream. Well, if we can go to a tower because the hubby thinks a names funny, we can certainly get ice cream on the same pretence. The straw sculpture is because they are raising money for save the bees. Straw sculptures seem an odd hobby when you make ice cream, but admiring the photos of past sculptures including a giant dalek and a meerkat, it certainly seems to be one they are good at!

The ice cream did not disappoint, and we ate it whilst admiring the 40ft bee. Missy managed to coax us into sharing the cones with her, so she was very pleased with herself. 

I'm aware this is becoming a very long post, so will share our day out in Liverpool later in the week. See you all then! 

A bad Fright at the bottom of the Rainbow

Well, its been a little too exciting this weekend, but I wont get ahead of myself. The weather this week has been...stoating. Its been swinging between mild and bitter cold and all the time a driving heavy rain that feels like someone is throwing ice into your face.

The only benefit of this has been the rainbows. I spent several minutes on the phone describing the one above to my mother - the photo fails to so any justice as their was nine bands of colour. Despite the rainbows, everyone seems to be ill. I've been steeping in hot baths most nights this week (trust me, I cant afford to catch a chill, biology is against me with my delightful combination of shockingly bad circulation, low blood pressure and raynauds) whilst both my mother and brother have had vomiting bugs.

There had been grand plans this weekend of meeting family in Linlithgow (the members who weren't ill!), but I had to call it off after one of the worst nights ever with Missy. Worse than when I thought she'd blown her back out bad.

At first we thought she had a chill. She was being clingy and just acting out of sorts. Then she started trembling and shaking. Then we noticed that her quilt was wet - she hadn't had an accident, but had more sprung a slow leak. Let her outside, not interested. Fresh blankets and a waterproof under layer and we were dismayed as she rigidly lay, sphinx like, swaying.

I lost my childhood dog to a series of strokes so was starting to get inconsolable. I insisted, slow leak or not, she be allowed on the bed so that if she deteriorated any more we could get her straight to the emergency vet. An hour later she threw up a ball of leaves. Yes. Leaves. From trees. Rancid smelling leaves. A huge ball of them. We changed the bedding, watched her have a stretch and a potter about the garden a little and decided that she clearly was looking better for getting that up and out her system and tucked her back up.

I'd insisted that she had to go to the vets regardless the next day, and when we got up, despite some indignant shivering at being sent out of a warm bed and out to a balmy 2C walk to the bottom of the road and back, she seemed fine. The new bedding and quilts I'd put down for her were completely dry and she was alert and looking for food. With the slow leak I had fallen prey to Dr Google and matched up a few of her symptoms to a possible urine infection.

Picture this. Its 8am. 2C. My hubby is walking Missy on the lead and I'm stalking her with some old tupperware. All I can say is thank goodness she cocks her leg when she pees on things!

You've probably beaten me to the punchline. What was wrong with her? 

She's eaten something bad. Probably the leaves, which is a new one on us for her to eat.

That slow leak? The weird overly alert swaying? Staggering walk? Stomach cramps, more likely than not. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has been curled up on the bathroom floor wanting to die with indigestion before. It also explains her almost immediate recovery after being sick.

She checked out perfect. Temperature, spot on. That urine sample? Everything was absolutely normal, all in the ideal range. The only thing to comment was that she wasn't keen on having her stomach and bladder poked at. Cant say I blame her.

I relayed my concerns about my childhood dog to the vet and was assured that she was absolutely fine. And she has been fine. Missy is fed up of me checking all is dry (which it is), her appetite is good and she was chasing squirrels on her afternoon walk.

What a dog, I tell you!

Needless to say, its been a sofa day. Lots of cuddles and being cosy and warm whilst watching the rain. None of us have slept well, so all in all, its been a perfect sort of day to just chill out and doze listening to the rain over the sound of the radio. Its rare for us to just switch off from the world outside, to just appreciate the physical company of one another and say nothing, to enjoy the moment and the passing of time.

We should do it again, but, perhaps, without all the drama beforehand!