A Typical British Summer

 Rain, Rain and even more Rain! I mentioned we were lucky on holiday, but the heavens opened on the last day. The heavens have never closed again.

The last week has been juggling dog walks and gardening (more later) with endless rain showers. Not a deluge of rain, that light rain that comes with a breeze, that gets you soaked through very slowly, but very thoroughly. It's literally been non stop. Looking at the weather forecast it's not going to stop any time soon.

The wild fires across Europe seemed to have stopped, which is good news. And who wouldn't take rain over fires.

Needless to say our coat rack looks very unseasonal, with about 20 different types of rain coat. Two of mine are on the right. Husband absolutely hates the tartan one - it's a cape. He says when I'm wearing it I remind him of Professor McGonagal from Harry Potter. Now as far as he's concerned that's an insult, as far as I'm concerned I'm quite flattered.

There was lots to get done last week and so I was working flat out at home as well as at work. Juggling real life with work life. With some success.

In my lunch hour on Monday I drove to Portslade, the nearest Mini Dealership to organise a new key. The garage was only open between 09:00 and 17:00 - which is convenient! They wanted to see my log book, a bill and a driving licence. I tried to tell them that only a very desperate person would steal my mini as it's in such bad condition and a very old lady. Later in the week I had to use another lunch hour go back to pick up the new key as they wouldn't put the key in the post.

I have to say it was somewhat embarrassing parking my jalopy (or skip as son's friends call it) in the car park next to all the shiny mini's other people seem to have. With it's peeling paint and lack of gleam. I saw a mini I fell in love with in the showroom window. On asking the price I was told it was £22,000. I'll remember that for when I win the lottery. Until then I shall continue with the skip!

New key cost me £200, so not as bad as I thought, but still a ridiculous expense for a key.

When we were on holiday Dog spent huge amounts of time worrying it's bottom. At first I thought she was on heat, but there were no other signs of this. A new vets has opened up in the village, on Monday I transferred dog from Vet about 8 miles away to this surgery. The old vet was great, but so far away and a difficult congested drive along the sea front, so a visit to the vet took in the region of 1.5 hours there and back. Not at all convenient and I always arrived in a fit of stress because I'd spent so long in traffic jams.

New vet wanted to see dog immediately and this seemed like a good time to mention the bottom activity. New vet thought it was probably the scent glands and so warned me they'd be sticking their finger up dogs bottom and I should hold dog because this might be startling.

So taking instruction I held dog firmly - it was terrible. She put finger up dog's bottom and dog literally started screaming and yelping. Suddenly there was blood and puss everywhere. The poor thing did have full glands, but they had been full for so long she had a cyst up her bottom. She must have been in so much pain.

Thank goodness we changed vet. With the old vet being so far away I'd have waited at least another week before taking her in - as apart from licking her bottom she was previously not showing any other signs of distress.

Vet said that I needed to be aware of signs and reeled off loads of different signs the glands were full. I said that honestly we hadn't seen a single one of those signs. Anyway, when vet went back in to clear the second gland the dog didn't scream as the cyst had gone.

Dog has now been on antibiotics since the visit. I hope she feels better, but honestly her behaviour now is no different from before when she had the cyst. Hopefully she's doing ok. Husband is going to take her into vet again on Tuesday. I can see the costs suddenly building up. Vet wants to see dog on monthly basis (£50 each time!) so she can keep an eye on the scent glands. I'm not sure we'll stick with that for too long, but probably worth it until we are able to recognise the signs. I never want her to be in that sort of pain again if I can avoid it. I'll let you know next week how she is doing.

The other bit of life laundry I had to fit in around work was the patio. You will recall the rats and the fact the rat catcher said my patio was a haven for rats. So next week the entire patio area is being remodelled. It's not a normal patio - it's quite large (in fact about the same size as the first house I rented) and it's very much used because it's the only bit of the garden you don't have to go up steps to. It's also very private - though it doesn't see huge amounts of sun - it's at the bottom of a hill.

There were climbers up all the walls in the garden. So whenever I wasn't working and whenever it wasn't raining (and sometimes when it was) I spent last week with clippers, a saw and huge garden bags ripping down all the climbers. The workmen had better turn up - the whole area looks horrific.

Husband is off work this week and so is going to finish it off. There are just a few vines that I didn't have the strength to pull down and as the walls are being rendered he just needs to clear the tops of the walls - the bits my grand old height of 5 foot couldn't reach. As I said to husband, I refuse to get out a ladder and risk falling off that when he can actually just reach up and do it. He agreed.

Husband went camping on Saturday and was very lucky - as on Saturday - for one day only - the rain stopped and the sun came out. I had the morning off on Saturday because I'd gone to the butcher on Friday as it's about 100m from the vets. As husband was away I'd also let friends know we were having a quiet evening and not inviting others around for supper. So son and I had a night in together watching a film. He was great company actually, now he's getting older it's nice to interact with him, not as a child, but as company. 

As we're all so fat after our holiday I cooked proper food for us - usually when husband is away we'll have something disgusting like a McDonalds. But we were meat and 3 veg on Saturday.

On the subject of food - quite exciting. Husband has always refused salad as he says it's disgusting and he can't tolerate it. Son and I both like salad. I have recently discovered that if you make a salad interesting enough he'll actually eat it. Don't get me wrong - this isn't great for a diet - he'll eat salad if it has a creamy sauce over it and lots of bits to hide the taste of raw vegetables, things like bacon bits. However, it is at least a start.

On Sunday Mum and Dad came over for lunch. Husband was amazing and left his camp site early so that he was back with us by 10.30 so he could get washed and presentable in time.

Was lovely to see parents, Mum as usual came with 100 gifts. She excelled herself this time. A handbag she no longer wanted (which I absolutely LOVE), a bottle of wine, a jar of coffee, some cling film and some tin foil!!!!!!! She also bought son some profiteroles, which will have done son's diet no good. I love the bizarre gifts she brings. I've no idea where I'm going to keep the cling film and tin foil - they are industrial sized.

Dad has dementia that is still manageable. It's sad that he is forgetting things from his past, but as far as I'm concerned as long as he remembers his family and is healthy that's an ok place to be. I know it will get worse, I dread that time. I also think I'm seeing signs that Mum has dementia too. She is forgetting things a lot. Both seem to be very comfortable with life and that's the most important thing. It's difficult knowing that at some point things are likely to be very tough, but not knowing when this will be. Watch this space.

So a very very busy week. Let's keep our fingers crossed vet is happy with dog's recovery. Oh and on a positive note, I felt 'normal' at work last week. So I think perhaps I've had the rest I need. Though I'm very much hoping to win the lottery - just in case you can arrange anything for me!