In Quiet Remembrance

Been off grid a bit these last few weeks. There's been a lot going on socially, which is something I will never complain about - it's good to have friends who want to see you.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that after the Halloween shenanigans, things didn't ease up any and so I found myself on the Remembrance day weekend with Maisie in tow just having a quiet one. Hubby has self diagnosed Man-Flu which I have now successfully caught, though of a weaker strain. The work of the flu jab which I got privately through work, or better genetics? I'll let you decide.

Either way, my significant apathy was explained when I woke up with aching kidneys and my voice an octave lower.

Despite the frosty starts to the morning, the weather was kind for Maisies visit. She was a star pupil as always and ate all her food, including the dreaded lamb. (Backstory, once a month or so my Brother gives me a dozen sachets of lamb dog food. Apparently Maisie will eat the chicken, turkey and beef, but will not eat lamb for him. Financially it's still cheaper for him to buy the multipack, and so Missy gets the lamb). Well, you guessed it. I didn't have anything but the lamb in jelly (she also won't eat gravy) and the madame gobbled it all up and almost beat Missy to be the first to finish.

I'm fairly convinced she has my Brother trained at the point! 

And that was the weekend. There was much crafts (the Xmas deadline is approaching) and the hubby and I powered through Ms Marvel. It was good, but you won't be hooked till episode 4.

And this week has been a misadventure in DIY. The time line was fairly tight to begin with, but throw in us both having colds and getting the hallway skirting painted and a carpet put in has become a true quest. (Spoiler, we did not manage the carpet, however, all the prep has been done, so halfway there).

So. Remembrance. 

I will warn you now that its gonna get soppy.

This weekend we three sisters boarded planes to go see our Dad. As I've said before, he's unwell and we have an indeterminate time left of him being the dad we remember. His big wish was to have all 4 of his daughters together again. Yep. Another sibling. Though really more a cousin at this point - a nine year age gap and only seeing them twice a year until you were 14 kinda stops a relationship forming. There's no menace in it. It is what it is. So I've been orchestrating that behind my dad's back for a while now - let me tell you, whilst sibling 4 had the right idea of wouldn't a surprise be wonderful, I'd been having kittens that someone somewhere else was gonna double book him. So last week, on the eve of Remembrance day when I know my dad was hurting that he couldn't attend the parade, his wife let the cat out the bag. If nothing else, knowing the lift he got from that, it was worth the low key anxiety I've had for literal months.

I am very pleased to say that the visit was perfect. My dad was like a peacock strutting about in absolute delight. There was lots of photos. Lots of food. He had got us all Christmas presents and insisted we open them (I'm not entirely sure he's ever forgiven us for growing up, it ruined Christmas for him) and he grinned like the Cheshire Cat all day. It was lovely to see him so happy. We had all been anxious about the what ifs and the maybes and honestly, everyone out preformed themselves on best behaviour.

Except the dogs - but that's because Missy wasn't there to keep them in their place! (Seriously, Jock, the very grumpy daschund took one look at me and barked the house down. I clearly haven't been forgiven yet for bringing Missy into his home!)

And thats a wrap. It was a whirlwind day yesterday and I for one am knackered. Missy has been most unimpressed with the cold and damp weather of late and has rather enjoyed our quiet day today cuddled on the sofa quietly crafting.

So, as I do each year, I will silently raise my mug of tea in thanks and remembrance. Not just to those we remember each year in November, but also to everyone we hold dear. 

Till next time

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

So yeah, it's November. Not sure how that happened! 

Well, I do. I spent last week with my head down being very busy with work, having a friend staying over and blitzing through a speed run to build my latest ensemble:

Y'all, I was the wickedest witch. I got to scare the absolute pants off of grown men and women during the special Halloween ghost tours at the House of the Binns. Hearing a legit adult stall and mutter the gloriously Scottish "Aw, Hell naw" was an utter delight. 

Seeing as I'm normally as frightening as a kitten caught short in it's litter box, I was legitimately concerned about being cast as the witch. When I volunteered to help, I thought I was gonna be collecting tickets, or waving folk into parking spaces, not creeping about like an extra from the Ring. 

But where's the hat I hear you cry? I did get to don it at the Steam and Scream event in Bo'ness:

I mean, hubby said it made me look like Granny Weatherwax, but if you know who she is then I take that as a compliment! 

After all that, I was too beat for anything else. Missy doesn't much care for Halloween, after the 5th set of kids guising, shes fed up and goes to bed. So I think she rather enjoyed the series of lie ins that we had, and the early morning cuddles in bed. And that brings us to this weekend.

We continued on the Halloween theme with our good friends coming over with the twins for a late Halloween party yesterday. This was followed by a dash into town to see Aladdin in the theatre (amazing) before getting home far too late. 

So today was a nice calm day. Missy has enjoyed the respite from the storms this weekend and was playing with all the boys this morning before my brother turned up to drop off Maisie for a sleepover. 

Pouty does not like fireworks. To her they are evil. They are sneaky and scary and bad. And she absolutely should not be left alone with them chapping on the window and door - with my brother working nights, it was inevitable and I volunteered to have her over.

Between Missys absolutely apathy of them, Classic Fms curated Pet Classics play list and a steady stream of distractions, she's doing OK. Maisie isn't her usual cheery self, but she hasn't tried to hide under the sofa, or make any use of the nest built for her, so I'm gonna call that a successful endeavour. 

Until next week! 

A Spooky Pause

It's been a crazy run but it's been epic. But first, the photoshoot we did a few weekends back:

Of course I had to do the viral dog photoshoot. I saw it and knew Missy would happily put up with a sheet over her head if there was enough bribery involved! We decided to go to Dechmont, the old insane asylum, with the purpose of getting nice photos and it's sad that every time we go, the construction has crept in and it's smaller and smaller. 

And we did the photoshoot. Missy got all the biscuits. Hubby got enough footage that there's even a tiktok and we had a lovely day which really go us in the mood for the spooky shenanigans planned for the month. 

What spooky shenanigans you ask? 

Halloween in Disneyland Paris!

It was just me and my sister this run. Dressed as alternate Cheshire Cats (me in pink and she in blue - when the post comes up about the outfits she made I'll pop a link here) and it was a blast. There was a lot of travel drama - trains being cancelled, planes being mislaid and flights being delayed, but we got there and it was amazing. The characters loved the outfits, we had some amazing wild meet and greet moments, and overall would 100% do again. 

One brief highlight was our Cruella meet and greet:

Cruella striding about with her handlers barely able to keep up with her, clocks us and grinds to a halt. 

Cruella: Did you make those yourselves? 

Me: (indicates sibling) All hand knit! 

Cruella: (grabs hold of one hand of each of us and tows us along) I'm in need of new minions since Horace and Jasper left - how does that sound to you both?  Join me as fashion designers?. 

Me: We'd be honoured! 

Cruella: but I prefer dogs. And spots.

Me: Oh, of course, cats are so last season! 

Sibling: (cogs finally catching up after being utterly overwhelmed) totally last season - spots are definitely coming in.... 

We spotted her again later and she asked for a progress report on the dog hunt, which just added to the hilarity of the day. 

But, alas, no rest for the wicked, it's back at work with a very busy run of more spooky fun booked! 

So I'll leave you all be with one last photo of Missy being adorable:

Picking Pumpkins

I have tried for a few years now to go pumpkin picking somewhere dog friendly to absolutely no avail. They're either sold out of time slots, or they aren't actually dog friendly. This year, as swathes of cute pups perched atop pumpkins filled my feed, a horrible thought dawned on me, clearly I'd missed it again. The gourd had sailed. My hopes we're squashed.

And it was my mums birthday weekend and I needed to find something dog friendly that wouldn't freak Ren out. I won't lie. I spent far too long go ogling an ever wider circle of pumpkin patches before I struck upon South Ardbennie Farm.

I know it seems odd, pumpkins for birthdays, but firstly, the double dog situation, secondly, what I was really offering my mum was an autumn photoshoot with a prize pumpkin to carve later in the month with the grandkids. And I'm pleased to say that, with the sun out and the wind (mostly) keeping away, the weather was perfect and she was delighted. 

The Facebook Post was already up before I'd gotten home after dropping her off! 

Ren had had a... Moment earlier in the week. Hubby watching the wrestling with his friends online and Ren went into an absolute spiral. Shibas, or at least this one, don't display thier anxiety in the usual way. I honestly thought he was pacing about because he needed the bathroom and, when that failed and he was bored playing rug if war with me, that he had reached the mid-stay I'm gonna push boundaries stage. We'd certainly had that in the morning when he snuck into the bedroom and I found him casually draped over my pillow. So when he decided to hide under the bed, I thought he was acting the goat again until he snarled and tried to bite me.

Let me tell you. We decided it best to leave him there as he was clearly frightened. I did not sleep a wink that night. I had a literal monster under the bed. 

Until the morning. The sun came up and he was bright and cheery and his delightful self.

We messaged his pawrents in the morning and they said that they had suspected crowd noises being a problem, and they apologised. Why do I mention this? Because I think it's important that people realise that taking on a second dog just because they have one already is super easy, and it isn't. 

Apparently grandpaw is one of those types that scream at the TV when the footy is on, so Ren, being in a new and weird place, panicked. It's not his fault for snapping whilst being scared, and we now know what to look for as his anxiety signs, so no harm, no foul. He deserves leniency and was quickly forgiven.  

We doubled down our efforts to make sure he had a nice stay with us, hence today being about the dogs. 

And absolutely no more wrestling for the week! 

He gets picked up tomorrow and, whilst they get on well, I do think Missy will be pleased to get her routine back! 

That's all for this week, see you next! 

A Short Interlude

Not a lot to update. BIL finally got married (they got engaged 2018) and, despite the heavens unleashing a month's worth of rain, it went very well. 

It was a long day with a stressful run up (as all weddings are) but the men donned thier kilts and the women thier best smiles and the day went as planned. 

I haven't forgotten the fur babies. Ren is with us till Sunday, so we have tried to fit in some different walks. Our trip to the House of Binns also had an ulterior motive, but more shall be revealed later! 

And that's all for now, it's a busy busy run of things - if I stop I'm not sure I'll be able to get going again. Till next time! 

Trekking Up and Down the UK

 

Its been a pretty busy couple of weeks! On top of the usual day to day life and drama, we've managed to fit in some very busy weekends.

First of all it was Open doors Day on the 23rd and we went out to the Lothian Buses depo. Open Door Day encourages businesses to allow the public in for a behind the scenes look and has been going on for years. This was the first time however that I was made aware of a dog friendly day, so of course I had to take the chance and go along with Missy.

It was a good day, we got to sit on an open top tour bus and have a drive around the depo, hearing about the history of the building before going onto another bus (with a roof!) to go through the bus wash. There was lots of vintage buses to have a wander about and plenty of volunteers ready to chat with us.

Sunday was a quick dash to Keswick and back to see my niece for her birthday. It was my brothers idea, so him, my mum, the two dogs and myself made the journey all together. We first had lunch where I got to catch up with my niece and nephew and then it was a revisit to the pencil museum owing to poor weather. Here I took Maisie and accompanied my brother as he filled in the quiz - after all his mocking of the idea of a Pencil Museum, he actually really enjoyed the day!

Then it was a full week of work.

Then Saturday was a Halloween photoshoot before getting the house in tip top condition for a very special VIPet, Ren. Rens pawrents are away to Oz for two weeks and, owing to difficult circumstances on their end, we agreed to have Ren. Its not the best two weeks for us owing to other commitments, but he's a very easy going dog, so we'll make it work.

Then yesterday was a quick trip up to Stirling with the eldest neice to practice her photography and also fit in a Howl-o-ween dog show. Ren isn't one for dressing up, so in honour of his folks going to Oz, I made him a little Steve Irwin outfit and Missy donned her pirate one. Both were beaten by a poodle dressed as Audrey 2 from little shop of horrors, and it was a well deserved win for Storm.

And then it was a nice walk about Stirling to enjoy the last of the autumn sunshine and each others company before heading back home and getting organised for another week of work. I've been paired up as a buddy to a new start who joined the team today - he seems lovely, but it's gonna be a very busy run of things I can tell! 

Until next time, embrace the spooky season! 

(Missys photoshoot will be shared later in the month, I promise its worth the wait!) 

Honourable mentions for Hufflepups

Am I crazy enough to go to Dundee just for a dog show? Yes. Yes I am. 

And better yet, so is my brother, so Maisie came too!

Missy is a true Hufflepuff - fiercely loyal, full of endless love and devotion, and prone to being a bit niave and, well, she will never live down being rescued from a tree. Maisie is a slytherin. She's clever and cunning, has her pawrent wrapped around her little dew claw and has sass. Endless, tail swishing swagger full of sass. 

Dont let that pout fool you, there is a dark lord behind that underbite... 

My brother was too old for the Potter craze and so whilst he knows of it, it's not his cup of tea usually. In fact, he originally declined the invite then decided to take me up on it purely so he had an excuse to say no to overtime at work! 

So we went along. We paid in, entered through Platform 9 3/4 and browsed the stalls before going over to the main ring. Both girls went in for Best Witch (didn't place) and then Missy went in for Best Robes (she lost to Hagrid and his German shepherd come hippogriff). Then Maisie went in for Best Pureblood and guys, it finally happened, she may not have technically placed, but Maisie got her first ever ribbon as an honourable mention.

Truth be told, my brother was utterly smitten. Missy placing 3rd in Best half-blood paled in comparison to the achievement of our favourite pouting princess. By this point the rain had started and, on the drive back, we discussed highlights and lowlights. We both agreed a burger van wouldn't have gone amiss, and some human stalls too would have been nice. We were also both taken aback by how much fun the theme added. The fancy dress was all Potter themed (the angel winged golden (retriever) snitch being a highlight) as was the decor, which added to the party mood of the day. I was very pleased when my brother added that he would go again next year if he's available. 

Can't give higher praise than that! 

Till next time!