Farewell 2024!

It's the time honoured last post of the year and I'm going to start by wishing you all a fab 2025. I have some modest plans and hopes for the year ahead, but I'm keeping it low key.

Missy intends to repeat her resolution from every year. To eat, sleep and try and keep out of mischief! Her plans of conquerong the squirrel overlords are in hold these days, though she still gives the scouts a good run for their money should she get the chance.

It's been a funny old year, too fast and yet so long at the same time. We went on our first cruise, Missy sailed first class to Ireland and there were many ribbons won and new adventurs had. It's been nearly a year since we lost my sister's MIL, and her family is still trying to find it's new normal. 

Still, we all have to make the most of things. Missy was bamboozled at the amount of gifts she recieved this year. The Christmas season was a delight this year, ice skating made us all merry and the day went perfectly.

My Manchester based sister arrived boxing day and we had a tremendous time in the chaos.

And that's that. Another Christmas over and a new year ahead.

So, I raise my mug of tea and I'll wish you all a Happy New Year. To many adventures ahead!

A Quick Update

It's been a hot minute since the last update! Firstly, I had an emotional proud dog mum moment when the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home released this:

Missy has come a long way in 10 years, and anything to promote a story of a stray-to-riches, an ode to rescues, is worth sharing. 

Although it has had the funny effect of reminding my family that Missy doesn't do Christmas trees. I've had to come to the realisation they must think me the Grinch in recent years with our "barely there" decor! I've had my brother, my older sister and my own mother check that their trees aren't going to upset Missy! So I've had to explain that the big Faux Pas is leaving her with it. She'll tolerate being about one, but clearly doesn't trust them enough to leave her alone.

Out with Missys celebrity moment, we've visited friends and family and had the in laws through too. This is the calm week, a chance to recharge the batteries ahead of the big push of Christmas to New Year.

We have Yule (we're doing friendmas) on Saturday, then Christmas Eve is ice skating before the day itself. We're doing "the doors" this year and visiting various parts of the family throughout the day. We are seeing cousin Maisie, so Missy will not be forgotten as we have a very nice dog walk planned.

And then the exciting bit - we've had last minute visit organised by Manchester based sister and my youngest niblings! Christmas really is made by kids, so I can't wait for the mini Christmas on the 27th when they are through.

On that note, I will catch you up after the big day! So much to do and so little time!

But first, please take a moment to raise your mug of tea to the "Marvellous Missy", and all the other pets in their second chance homes, and most importantly, on those waiting to find one.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

It's December. We've had our first snow and some truly freezing weather and you know what that means! Yep, time to crack out the Xmas tunes.

We've had a very busy run of late, between the in-laws and friends visiting, I feel like I've not stopped hosting! To finish off November, we had the much anticipated Goblin Ball and it was absolutely amazing.

These outfits have been months in the making! It's not clear in the photo, but we are dressed as moths, myself a Luna moth and hubby as deathshead. The theme came to be as hubby was adamant he wanted a mothman cosplay, and I managed to swerve the enthusiasm onto a rogue/traveller inspired moth attire.

Very pleased with how they came out, and the night itself was amazing. The food was fantastic, everyone was really friendly and the outfits ... Well, the bar has been raised for next year! There was even a medieval band and we played medieval dancing games, absolutely fantastic evening.

Missy was not to be left out. We took her to see Santa Paws on the Saturday - bizarrely IKEA hosted one, even though they aren't dog friendly. One day! We popped into Jollyes on the way home to get her a treat for being on the nice list.

Following on from the being on the nice list, I did a little photoshoot with Missy on Sunday around the theme "naughty or nice", and she absolutely does belong on the nice list.

Missy knows not to take (at least when no one is looking!) and she would sniff at the treats, look and me and then sniff them again. I managed to coax her into nudging at them so it looks like she's taking them in another photo, but it was a delightful bit of fun.

Monday was a quick trip to Ireland to see my dad for his Christmas. It went very quickly but also went very well. He has 5 dogs and they were on best behaviour around my sister and I.

We had some drama on the flight there. Literally as the plane was starting to take off I got a nosebleed. So I was hunched up, one hand clamping my nose shut whilst the other was under my chin in the event of a stray drip whilst my sister was poised awaiting the air stewardess unbuckling her seatbelt. Apparently the woman pulled a face when the call bell sounded the split second she stood up, but when she realised it was an actual emergency, she was fantastic with us. She dashed off, brought me tissues and wipes and a bottle of water along with some sick bags and a plastic bag to put it all in when done. As a first aider, I appreciated the questions about if this was normal or not and was also checked on a few times during the flight. As soon as those around us realised what was going on, a small mexican wave of tissues being offered occured.

My sister found all of this hilarious and, in retrospect, it was funny, although at the time if I could have opened the emergency exit and yeeted myself onto the tarmac, I absolutely would have. Mortified doesn't cut it!

Then it was a very late arrival home before the grind of the week started up again!

I'm hoping to update before Christmas, but no promises! Stay safe and enjoy the festive season.