I should know better

Yes, I am recovering from a hit and run accident.  It was quite a shock and I am still treating the bruises.  The driver didn`t stop and careered on.  The whole of
Asda was appalled.

"Mum was knocked down by a  WHAT?" - Sparkle

Yes, Asda.  I was knocked down in the vegetable aisle in Asda.  The perp was an ancient guy in a mobility scooter.  He drove at full speed into me, and I fell into the potato racks.   If you are looking for a soft landing, I advise you to avoid potatoes, which are very….unforgiving, shall we say.  He then crushed me against the display as he drove on past.
 
I was quickly surrounded by willing helpers, 3 of them also on mobility scooters.  Those three were furious.  “He was speeding!  He has no right to be in charge of a scooter!  Get security!  Have him thrown out!”  They set off to get security and have the old boy nicked, as the others offered tea and lots of sympathy.  Out of the corner of my eye I could see the security boys searching…

I shopped and got home before the bruising really kicked in.  One side became terribly stiff and sore.   I could  see my  bruises recording the impacts of several  particularly vicious individual potatoes . 

I suppose this contradicts the usual assumption of the unspeakable boredom of supermarket shopping.

I`ll settle for the boredom.

And keeping one eye on the potatoes.

Yes, Sparkle is back!   His little anxious babyface is with us again, and as before, the consensual reaction is “Awww!”
I was a bit worried about him fitting in.  He has not been an easy dog, I am told, and takes really badly to change.  However, I picked him up at a show, and brought him home, late that night, to face the others here.

"Admit it - you can`t resist me!"  -  Sparkle

I need not have worried.   They all seemed to remember him – except for the puppies, who screeched and yelled at him, sure that the Martians  had landed .  The others simply shrugged.  “Oh yes, that little pest is back.”

Solitaire, however, was overjoyed.  Her wandering boy had returned.  She was all over him , tried to clasp him to her bosom and made strenuous attempts to wash him,  which he fairly politely declined.   (Solitaire still washes all her babies, if they will let her.   The girls allow it, but Fidget, now 5, insists he is too old to be scrubbed by Mum)

Where was he going to sleep?   He decided that himself.   He headed straight to Fidget`s bed.   I waited for bloodshed.   But Fidget simply indicated that it was OK, and that was that.   They settled in together for the night

And that was that.   I had bought in lots of expensive food for him – sure to keep him in good body and coat.   He ate it the first night.   After that he held out for cheap tinned, and whatever I was eating.   He seems quite settled.  UNusual noises, like owls (we have lots of owls) disturb him, but he will get used to that.

I`m pretty sure he will be OK, and a happy future of Bambi impersonating lies ahead of him.

I haven`t blogged here for quite a while, and the main reason has been Allegra.   She is my very favourite of all the dogs, and she is having a struggle with lymphoma.  She had an operation, then treatment at home, but a sudden collapse sent me to the vet, thinking this was the end of the road.  But he took her in, and after five days of intensive care she swaggered out, a bit unsteady but very full of it as usual .   The vet had not expected her to live.

"I`m still here!"  - Allegra

Well, not for the first time, Allegra had cheated death again.  Years ago she had a bad accident, and a miraculous recovery after being given 24 hours to live.   Then last year she collapsed with a liver problem.  The vet treated her, and when I brought her back was astonished.  “You mean she`s still alive?”  I assured him she was feeling a lot better.  “Well, not sure what I did right – but let`s do the same again”.  Allegra responded brilliantly.

This time it is a cancer, but I am assured that it is a very treatable one in dogs.  And again the irrepressible Allegra is responding well so far.  She is eating ravenously, growing coat – and, much to my disgust, has decided to come in season.   At the moment she has no intentions of dying off….she is more interested in having sex -  either with her father, or Shelby, she has decided.  I am having to keep a close eye on the invalid. 

If it was up to Allegra, there would be no problem.   She has decided to live forever!