Champion of Champions

It has been a hot minute since the last update. So let me speed you through things:

2025:

July: P in the Park, heatwave

Aug: Finland, Missys in-off limp has returned 

Sept: Missy on significant bed rest, no improvement. I've been sick since Finland.

Oct: Disney trip, more scare acting. Cold I got rid off? Caught COVID in flight home

Nov: Still sick. Missy still limping. Showing symptoms of loss of night vision as won't go down stairs in dark.

Hubbies bike stolen

Bathroom flooded

Dec: 

Neighbour passed in a house fire. Still (March 2026) not sleeping right after rushing into my own home to get Missy out not realising neighbour was in. Confirmed Missy is losing hearing as she was asleep despite the alarms going off.

2026:

Jan: Damage to our property minimal, but still mid Jan before it's properly cleaned from snake damage. Still sick, caught a new bug during Christmas 

Feb: Missys limp being treated with massages, improvement comes and goes, but at least it's something.

The Romans believed that Jan/Feb, whilst they existed, was a time between years. New year was March, those months before were dark and nothing growed and simply were days to pass and survive.

That's my approach to this year. March 1st, I crawled out of my slump, took Missy to the Muirfield riding therapy dog show and decided to get over it.

And she came out Champion of Champions. On her 13th birthday, Missy finally won the best in show. Limping and half deaf, she cuddled up to the judges and shone like the little star she is.

Y'all, I actually cried. Never thought the day would happen, I was delighted that she has won Dog Judge Would Most Like to take Home. My husband actually laughed at me, apparently the shock was evident on my face when she was called.

If that's where this year peaks, I'm gonna be happy. Honestly. This time last year Missy was about to undergo surgery to remove what we later discovered was cancer. Talk about the come back kid.

Following that was a trip to London where I presented at a conference (that makes me an actual professional now, doesn't it?). I was terrified and psyched in equal measure.

Then I had friends staying, hosted a games night with work colleagues and then we got off to our first doggy adventure of the year.

Wales was the destination and we had planned nothing. Despite being very ad hoc, we managed to get Missy into Caernarfon Castle before it closed to dogs for the high season.

Then we managed the Great Orme Tramway the next day before rounding the trip off on the world's fastest zipline (Missy chilled in the doggy day care) and a walk down Bangor Botanic Gardens and then the Pier.

It was cold, very wet (hail, seriously?) but we made the most of it despite coughs and colds.

So, what's the plan here? I absolutely dropped the ball last year. I spent most of it sick, Missys health really took a knock (she's never fully bounced back from the last surgery) and there's a lot going on in my family life I am not privy to share here. I dropped this, I dropped her Instagram and her tiktok. I did manage to maintain the sewing vlogs, mostly thanks to the fact I keep a good buffer and that they basically make themselves. Crafting is how I stay sane.

But back to the plan. I don't intend to write here weekly. But I do want to keep a rolling blog of happenings, so I will report in when I have nice things to share. Same with the tiktoks and and Instagram, schedules be damned, I will upload if and when I want. And that's it. I know this is gonna be another difficult year, the family is rumbling and I am in the eye of the hurricane, but so is my husband and, for however long she determines to stay, so is Missy. Our adventures may be slower than they used to be, but I still want to share them.

Until next time