3 legs n one spare and Sophie.

29^th June 2012 – Location – Comfy chair at Richard's home in Salisbury with Sadie parked up outside.

Yes. This really is quite cosy and welcoming and just as before I left the UK last February. Both Tanya and I enjoy our time here at Salisbury and really appreciate the hospitality. There is a difference this time though. I notice I have been reluctant to completely move out of Sadie, my home for the last 6 months. I am sleeping in the sumptous guest suite and spending most of my time with Richard in his home. Mornings though see me getting up, taking Tanya for a walk and then breakfasting and spending time in Sadie.

As indicated in the previous blogs. I am here for a reason. Tanya's recuperation back to fully functioning four legged dog. She is doing very well. The vets prognosis this morning was positive and signaled the next stage as 'Go Go Go!

'Go Go Go'; means that now is the time to disturb the mental condition Tanya is happy with; which is …. '3 legs n one spare is OK n guess we'll just get on with that.' I  somehow have to now intercede and change it to ….. 'Ok, Ok ! I get the message, 4 legs is go, 3 is soooo NOT Go Go Go!'

This is to be done over the next few weeks by gentle walking and increasing, by various methods her use of the injured leg. One tip I have been given is baby socks. Insert some sharp stones in one and fit it securely to her one good rear leg. This should encourage her to use her dodgy leg a little more. On the other hand it could be, and was, a good excuse to sit on doggy bum and spend a few minutes chewing baby sock off. Much more fun!

If all fails then more money needs to be thrown at the problem and in turn Tanya gets thrown into a Hydrotherapy pool for some doggy paddling exercises. I am not sure my credit card will sanction that one so am keeping silent in case credit card hears and gets the jitters. Best to surprise the poor little plastic being at the last moment with a quick and definite thrust into the dreaded machine rapidly followed by pin number before it realizes and starts curling up it's corners in violent plastic protest.

Certainly Tanya is benefitting from having a 'non moving floor' combined with a regular walking route around the local 'Middle Street Meadow.' She is back to climbing up and down stairs but not yet able to leap in and out of Sadie or, once in, jump up to her rightful place on the passenger seat. She has discovered however; that a bungalow beautifully converted for wheelchair use with liberal amounts of slippery wooden floors is a trifle difficult to negotiate with only three legs. She is getting there though and has no problem in rapidly moving to the kitchen once Yvanna or Jurate, Richard's carers, start to prepare food.

Tanya has also met Sophie while out walking. Sophie's mistress coincidentally is a local lady who owns a motorhome and has travelled the western Isles in it. Something I hope to do. She in turn was equally interested in my going 'Fulltime' in a motorhome and travelling on the continent. Well; such a meeting naturally prompted a wish to know more and so, and with much ribbing and hilarity from both my brother, partner, and the assembled bridge foursome, I now have, 'a date'. I on the other hand will look forward to a day trip out as passenger in a very different and smaller motorhome.

….. date indeed.......... Hmmmmph!!!!

Doggy Op & all day breakfast.

"We've used this spot two or three times before."
"Ahh! And you've not been moved on at all?"
"No. Never had any bother at all."

This conversation with the young couple in their smart red van conversion camper van made me feel a lot more comfortable about wild camping on this Wiltshire Council car park. Especially as it had a 'no overnight camping' sign, was near to Avebury stone circle and time-wise near to Summer Solstace and weird and wonderful crop circle time. It was between Walkers hill and Knap hill on the Marlborough Downs.

I was here for a reason. I had arrived back in the UK a few days ago and gone straight to the 'Companion Care' vet in Salisbury for a consultation as to the best way to get Tanya's dislocated hip sorted once and for all. I was expecting her to be going in for an op the next day and then to convalesce at my brother's house in Salisbury.

Hmmmm! Expectations eh!

The vets opinion and clinical advice did not meet my expectations but was the best clinical option for Tanya. I left having taken her advice and booked an appointment for an operation with a specialist Orthopedic vet 25 miles away in Devizes for the following Monday morning.

I tucked Tanya gently under my arm and walked back to Sadie. Now I swear. During that brief walk I could feel pain coming from my 'hip' pocket, where I keep wallet and credit card, as it digested the words vet, orthopedic, specialist and operation.

For now though, we are, peaceful, calm and parked up for the night not too far from Devizes and the vets premises. I felt more comfortable doing it this way rather than driving 25 miles from my brother's home in Salisbury during rush hour/school Mum time on a Monday morning. Especially as I am anxious over the operation and do not want Tanya reacting too, or picking up, my anxiety.
_-_-_-_-_-

Oooh! that was a treat! My first Morrison's all day breakfast since Dec 2011 when we left Scotland. I have to admit Morrison's of Devizes do a cracking one too. Not to be repeated on a regular basis but well deserved on this occasion when a bit of personal TLC was required after leaving Tanya at the vets for her operation.

A professional and confidence giving consultation was had with the vet. All options were discussed and a balance between 'best for Tanya' and 'financial sensibility' was agreed. What that means is as the state of the dislocated joint is seen the vet now has a clear choice of options to consider.

My hip pocket developed sharp pains again!

I will now head back out to the downs for a walk. It will help pass the time and also work off the inevitable  'just want to sit and sleep' feeling, which invariably follows a copious Morrison's all day breakfast.

Here's hoping n praying all goes well for Tanya.
_-_-_-_-

Back now in Salisbury with one 'done' and dozy Tanya. No drama and no difficult choice for the vet. It was a clear and simple case of remove the 'ball' of the joint and put her back together. The work now, over the next few weeks will be to work Tanya slowly and steadily toward using and developing her fourth leg rather than continuing with just three, which she was getting on well with and starting to regard as normal.

Guess it is now settle down here in Salisbury for two to three weeks of doggy TLC. I also get some as well. Iwona (ivana), Richards carer is quite happy to cook for me as well. That alone will be a lovely treat for me.

And the credit card?  ........ In severe shock!

Trouble & decisions.

"Tanya stay! what the ***** you're leg, it's wrong, the hip joint is out again is'nt it!"

I could not believe what I was seeing. We were in 'Notre Dame St Mort". Nothing special about the place apart from it was in the Vendee area and on our way north and had a convenient Aire where we could stop the night.

It had been an OK days drive but through some horrendous rain which made it awkward to walk Tanya as I was supposed to be keeping her bandages dry. There had been one small walk earlier where both her legs were fine. But here we were in the late afternoon with one leg at a peculiar angle and Tanya hopping around on 3 legs. She was not looking too happy about it either.

I was pretty well knocked sideways by this latest turn of events. I did not know what to do and would have been quite happy at that point if the world just went away and stopped troubling me. I'd had enough, was tired, hungry and pretty low.

I was also reluctant to go back to Eymet. Tanya was now going to need another operation and this latest disaster was probably due to a moving motorhome not being the ideal place for doggy convalescent care. I needed a stable base.

Map out, hmmmm! Nearest is Ian and Brownie's place at 'Redon' in Brittany. I had met them back in March on the Loire and they left me with a phone number and an open invite to visit any time. I phoned them and a plan was soon in place. An appointment with a local vet near Redon to see where we go from here.

Food, bed, a cuddle with Tanya, who apart from having a dangly leg was not in pain and managing ok. Up early next morning to drive the 140km to Redon.

That's when the next disaster hit. My phone blared at me with a warning I had used fifty quids worth of mobile data and Vodafone, thank goodness, had stopped it at that. My phone had somehow been hacked and someone is stealing my data allowance. Just what I needed along with Tanya and continuing heavy rain. I still have not figured it out but by altering a couple of settings I have managed to stop it for now.

By this time I am starting to question just who the hell has got it in for me up there in the thundery heavens.

We make it to the vets and x ray confirms hip joint is once again dis-located. It seems in small dogs this is not uncommon even when pinned. The final alternative, I am told, is removal of the ball end on the femur (thigh bone) and let the muscles and ligaments heal and hold the bone in place on their own. For small dogs this works well, I was informed. This was confirmed by a phone conversation between this vet and Mme Crochelet in Eymet. I was sent away with a recommendation to return to Eymet and a distinct impression Mr Redon vet did not want the job.

In despair I then went round to Ian and Brownies lovely home where I was welcomed and we all three thrashed out the various scenarios available. In the end and after phoning the Pets at Home vets in Salisbury I decided a return to the UK was best. Tanya was travelling OK. She was not in pain or stressed and a recuperation base in Salisbury where I could stay with my brother Richard seemed to me to be the best option for Tanya.

Online we go. Brittany ferry Cherbourg to Poole is booked. Back to vet next morning for worming tablet and doggy passport signed by vet to enable Tanya's return to the UK.

So here we are. Parked by a harbour wall just west of Cherbourg on a sunny and warm evening. Ferry is tomorrow morning (Thursday 14/6).

UK here I come. Sad but necessary and only a couple of weeks before my planned return. I will be back. Despite the difficult times of the last week or so there is still so much more of France I want to see.
Let us just hope while reflecting on my present run of misfortune, the ferry stays afloat tomorrow!

Tall story and cleared for take off!

Hmmmm! I'm not sure I completely believe that I thought. But I kept the rapt attention and flabbergasted look because it was such a lovely story and obviously meant a lot to this Dutch couple who lived Locally. As they left I continued to fill Sadie with clear cool spring water from the 'washer women' grotto just 5 minutes from our overnight spot of the last few nights by Lac Lessouroux.

The story was that the old washer women stones belonged to the individuals who once regularly used them and their names were engraved on them. The Dutch couple had two grandchildren named Janu and Isa who lived in Holland. One day on a walk they had come across the washer women grotto and been amazed to find that one stone had the name Janu engraved on it while it's neighbour had the word Isa. They could not believe it and of course rang their son in Holland to tell him and that he must come visit and see. He had never seen the grotto and was an infrequent visitor to his parents new home.
A really lovely story and one the Dutch gentleman was just a little too eager to tell me and I noticed his wife nodding her head and agreeing with dutiful silence. 

Once they were out of sight I went back to the stones to have a closer look. They were certainly genuine, old and well used washing stones with indentations worn into them from the knees of many washer women. The names though. Hmmmm! One had a number engraved on it which was difficult to decipher as it was so worn. Some of the others also had marks on them which at some time could well have been names or numbers. Sure enough though two neighboring stones had the names Janu and Isa engraved on them. They were easily readable and it was quite apparent the engravings were not many years old. It looked as though they had been roughly chiseled out not too long ago in the dead of night by torchlight.

Oh! Wicked and skeptical me!!  As I said though, a lovely story and one that, for whatever reason, meant a lot to the storyteller.

Next stop was Mme Crochelet in Eymet 10 minutes down the road. She was the vet and hopefully was going to give us clearance to move on. Tanya was much improved after her operation and was once again using her dislocated leg albeit with caution at this early stage.  

She had also had some extra TLC from an American lady who was an energy healer of animals. She was on the retreat at Plum Village and had generously offered a healing to Tanya. Whether you believe in such capacities or energies or not makes no odds. What I saw was Tanya immediately take to Lisa, remain totally still and look intently at her as if in conversation which, as far as Lisa was concerned, they were. Tanya has since come on leaps and bounds. Of course it could have been the anesthetic wearing off as well. Who knows. She was well on the mend and that was all that mattered.

There was another emergency at the vets so things got delayed till the afternoon. To pass the time we popped across to 'Kismet' the cafe owned by Paul and his wife. They informed me he was doing a fish and chip supper evening at a pub in the next village and I was welcome to pop along that evening.

Back to the vets and 'clearance for take off' plus some extra pills was given. It was really too late for travelling on so we moved to 'Lauzon' in good time for our fish and chip evening meal. Yummy it was too. The place was crowded out with Brits and is obviously a regular social venue for the local and numerous Brit population.

Back to Sadie via a stroll round 'Lauzon' a very pretty village. The weather broke overnight and our northward journey resumed the next morning in heavy and continuous rain.

 
I am happy to report we have made it to 'La Palmyre' on the Atlantic coast below La Rochelle where the weather is blustery but sunny. On saying that 22 degrees feels quite cold after the 25 to 28 degree temperatures of the last few days.
We will move on again tomorrow.

Tanya ongoing.

600 euros, I thought. I'm as well forking that out here as in the UK where it would be the same, but in sterling and probably a lot more too.

We were on our 2nd visit to the vet who was confirming my suspicion that the hip joint had dislocated again. This can very easily happen and when it does the only way to properly deal with it is for Tanya to have an operation to insert a synthetic ligament held in place by 2 pins. This ensures the joint will then remain 'located' giving the natural ligaments and muscles time to heal and strengthen.

The vet also apologised for not giving me an explanation about the blood around her mouth at the time of the accident. She showed me an area of empty gum where her frantic yapping and biting had dislodged some teeth. I felt bad enough about my nearly killing her anyway. This information just made me feel worse.

So. Back to our wild camp spot by 'Lac Lesccouroux' which now looks like it is going to be 'homebase' until the vet is satisfied we can move on. Frustrating but nothing I can do about it.

Tanya's op is at 9.30am tomorrow morning at the vets surgery in Eymet (prnce - Amy.) Which is 5minutes down the road.  There could be worse places to stay for a while than a warm, sunny and sleepy but full of character little Dordogne town. It is very 'UK' too with 12% of the local residents being British which during the summer months rises to 40%.

This was certainly apparent as I Lunched in the same cafe as yesterday but this time without trauma or the ladies from Plum Village. The cafe is owned and run by an English couple and was full with a mix of local British speaking people plus UK holiday makers. It also had free wi fi and I now finally have a working Co Pilot sat nav system back on my phone.

-  -  -  

Thurs June 6th. - Tanya is now a metal dog! Well she has two steel pins in her with a bit of stainless steel wire between them securing her thigh bone firmly but flexibly to her hip.

Steve is now broke!  Well not exactly but June's budget has been blown out the window. I don't mind and It is not a major worry. As I look at Tanya now, fast asleep on the passenger seat, I cannot help but feel 'shite' as it was all my fault.

I think my body also has gone into 'lets just stop shall we while I replace that adrenalin'. I'm exhausted. Could also be something to do with me doing about 25 k on the bike today in 28 degree heat. I had to do something as I could not just sit around and worry about Tanya all day. Good ride though which affirmed again what a lovely area this is. I can see why it is such a popular area for Brits to move to. Came across a lovely little grotto at St Sulpice, only 5 mins from where we are, with old wash stones still in place. I backed Sadie down there later, topped her up with fresh spring water and did a wee bit of light washing myself.

We have another appointment with the vet for Saturday morning. She will check things out and if all Ok will give me paperwork so I can move on. The paperwork is to explain to the next vet exactly what has been done and what needs to be done. Ie: removal of stitches in 10 days.

Overall, and fingers crossed, my experience of French vets has been positive and fairly priced. I certainly do not feel I am being ripped off and I do like the way everything is on site and open. Madame Crochelet has made a point all the way through this saga of explaining everything to me and backing it up with Tanya's actual X ray and scan pictures.

Ah well. I'm for ma bed. Ah'm shattered. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Tanya Accident.

"Oh my God!" I shouted as I yanked the handbrake on, jumped into the drivers seat, started Sadie up, crammed her into reverse gear and flung her backwards.

The frantic and alarming yelping from underneath Sadie meant only one thing and I instantly knew what that one thing was. Tanya was lying under the rear wheel as I released the handbrake to let Sadie roll forward and off the levelling ramps.

I rushed round to where she was expecting the worse. It was not good. She had managed to move from under the wheel once I had reversed but her rear end was obviously seriously injured and there was blood around her mouth.

For the next hour all was a blur but at the end of it Tanya had been tranquillized on a veterinary table in 'Eymet' and the vet was doing a full examination. I was still in shock and still expecting the worse.

I waited anxiously as Tanya, now asleep was taken down stairs to the vets operating room. About 10 minutes later I was informed it looked, at that early stage, as though she had dislocated her hip but all x-rays and scans were showing no other damage. There was nothing more I could do till later in the afternoon when I was to come back to collect her.

The vets surgery was in the small but pretty main square of 'Eymet' and I informed them I would remain in the square if they needed me. I headed for a cafe in a sort of a daze and spoke to a lady, whom I thought was to do with the cafe. Turned out she was not but she was on the Plum Village retreat at the women's centre. It was a 'retreat day off' and there were quite few of them in town. She invited me to have coffee with her and unload my stress. Phew! What relief and for a time tears flowed. She was with 2 others who soon joined us and I got the support and 'mothering' I needed to release the trauma of the morning.

They stayed with me until I went back to the vets where thankfully the mornings diagnoses was confirmed and a very sorry looking Tanya was drowsily pleased to see me. Her hip had been re-located and she was tightly bandaged.

All 5 of us then boarded Sadie and Tanya was carefully laid on her soft bed on the floor. I then drove Roberta, Alexis and Aurolla back to the womens centre where they insisted I wait while they checked out the feasability of me staying overnight in the car park. I felt uncomfortable about this so was pleased when the answer was negative. To be quite honest I needed to get away from Plum Village.

I'm still local to 'Eymet' as Tanya needs to go back to the vet but I'm where I feel at home. Wild camped by a lake with no one else around and where I can give my full attention to Tanya.

Phew! What a traumatic day. I am just so thankful. It could have been a lot worse.

On the edge & fresh Cherries.

Location - 'Plum Village Buddhist community' at 'Thenac' Dordogne

We nearly did'ny get here either. However; I summoned up tremendous discipline and said goodbye to Francoise and John and their boat, caravan and Landrover at 'le Mas-Argenais' on the Garonne canal. We'd left Lac L'uby and needed a lunch spot and a Tanya walk. Where better than by the side of a French canal on the edge of a pretty village with lots going on.

As usual Tanya grabbed Francoise's attention as we strolled up the canal watching the hilarious fun being had by a school party in canoes playing a game of 'canoe basket ball'. It seemed to be organized by the elder boys and girls and there was as much throwing of younger members plus themselves in the water as there was serious canoe work. There was one teacher there with a whistle but no one seemed to take any notice. Great fun to watch.

John had met Francoise 8 years ago in France. He was separated, retired so sold his business and moved over. They now live either on their boat or in the caravan which, conveniently was parked on the side of the towpath by their boat. As John said. "you would never be able to do that in the UK."  A pleasant couple of hours were had while Tanya and Francoise's Daschund checked out all the dogs bringing their owners walks along the towpath. Between watching that and the canoe hilarity plus the relief of sitting in the shade in the 30 degree  temperature while putting the world to rights. Well, I was seriously tempted to just stop there the night. But as I said, serious discipline was employed and we said our goodbyes. A dangerous discipline testing moment I can tell you! I just love these French hello's and goodbyes. Especially so when it is with a rather scantily clad, well proportioned and 'all embracing' female who is saying, "Eeet was joooost so loveelee toooo ave meet yoooo!". Hmmmm! Me? No I don't think so. But Tanya yes. Ho hum eh!

And ....... We still managed to arrive at 'Plum Village', settle in and eat before the evening meditation. Fancy that eh! We actually managed to get where we had planned to be. Most unusual for me.

4/6 - Plum Village.
I guess trying to explain my spiritual journey is, however I word it, going to sound like preaching or pontificating. So let us just say that being here is very special for me and the meditations I've attended along with a wonderful Dharma talk (teaching) by Thic Nhat Han himself have put a few more pieces in the wonderful and forever expanding jigsaw of life.

I love Buddhism but it is the simple, straightforward, and well laid out Psychology of it that is my 'thing'. I'm not into the ritual or the religious aspects of it, or any other belief system or structure come to that. I relish being on the edge, in the area of 'don't know' and I guess a lot of that comes from my years of Counselling.

On the edge is exactly what this visit to Plum Village has been. There have been two aspects to it. The first is we were literally parked at the furthest edge of the field cum car park and right by a big tree to get as much shade as we could. This was again because Tanya is not allowed into the community area proper. It was unintentional but the particular position we chose gave us prime viewing but  kept us separate from all the comings and goings.

The second aspect was there was a large retreat happening with scientists and Buddhist practitioners from all over the world coming together. They were all grouped into families. A lone and scruffy individual homeless wanderer who had'nt paid his dues would of course be a bit disruptive to the proceedings.

So it has been a wonderful time of being able to attend the open meditations and teachings with afterwards good walks around the beautiful surrounding vineyard countryside with Tanya. My open discourse, the fresh understanding and insights have been heard adequately by Tanya herself and the surrounding trees meadows and beautifully laid out vineyards. Much better than deep group discussion and navel gazing. Been there done that. It was good and right at the time but not now.

And to top it all tonight's desert was chocolate sauce, meringues and fresh cherries straight from the tree in the hedge right by us. Yummy yummy!

Ouch & moving North

Ouch that hurt!  30/05. Location - 'Salles-d'Armagnac'

Oh I am definitely into 'poor me' at present. My bump down the high Pyrenees has left me with a strained back muscle of the type that wherever you move it gives you a painful twinge. 

No problems thinks me cos we're 'truckin it' north serious serious like for the next couple of days. "Ouch!" Cries me every time brake has to be applied. Ahhh well! Could be worse. Waking up to a warm sunny morning and breakfast outside here at 'Salles d'Armagnac' makes up for it somewhat.

We just arrived here last night simply because it was there, right on the side of the road with a convenient, flat, surfaced area inviting us in. A walk into the village proper a little later revealed a delightful little church by a lake.

Moving on further North today. The usual has happened. We have not got far!

Location - 31/05 - About 20km up the road on a campsite at 'Lac de L'Uby' which is right next to a spa centre / village called 'Barbotan'.

We were doing OK then I spotted a Patissiere with someone coming out complete with Baguette. Stomachs always react quicker than brains so bread arrived on the lunch menu of the mind and quick as a flash Sadie was in there and parked. The place looked closed with the main shop entrance all shuttered up. Never mind, thinks I, it did look as though the guy with the baguette came from round the back. Off I goes and sure enough the backdoor is open. The place is big as though it produces wholesale as well as for its own retail shop. There was a line of baguettes on a big stainless steel table and three or four guys all dressed up in hygienic bakers gear behind a glass door doing, I presume, what bakers do.

I am spotted and out comes young French baker man all in white.
"Patissiere est ferme monsieur.""
"Ahhh! Oui, OK. Un baguette sil vous plais?" Says I.
"Monsieur, le patisserie est ferme." Says he.
Turning to go I say: "Ok, merci beaucoup, no problem."
"Ahh monsieur, voulez vous un baguette?"
"Errr oui, sil vous plais." I answer getting more confused by the minute and not quite knowing whether this guy was genuine or taking the French piss out of me.
"Un baguette 1.35 euro sil vous plais monsieur."
I paid said 1.35euro to young French baker then decided to have my own bit of fun. Putting both thumbs up in the 'yeah man' gesture I look him straight in the eye and say. "Magic!"
"No, no, no monsieur le patisserie est ferme."
I left at that point while still in possession of my own sanity and with one fresh baguette firmly grasped in one hand.

Tanya was by now needing a walk and the Michelin 1cm to 2km map was showing a nice lake just around the next corner. Using maps again is rendering the Co Pilot sat nav redundant. Especially as it is turning out to be a nightmare trying to re install it onto my phone in a format where it recognizes me as the legitimate user/owner rather than regarding me as some illegal hacker trying to use it for free.

Map was right. Sadie is duly parked and off we go for walkies. "Hey! this is nice Tan and would you just look at that, motorhomes in a campsite right by the lake."

Well I mean, what would you do? My back was giving me jip. My bedding was developing an odor, my wardrobe was nearly all in the black plastic washing bag, it was bloody hot, and it looked as though paradise was right there in front of my eyes.

So we walked round to the entrance and booked ourselves in for a couple of nights. At reception they handed me a site plan with the available pitches marked and off we went to choose the lakeside pitch we at present occupy.

While we were walking round Tanya had no lead on. Remember; the original intention was to give her a quick walk before driving on. So I'm ambling along slowly to be suddenly surprised by Tanya rushing at a duck perched on the lakeside. The duck of course skillfully launches itself out into the lake and out of trouble. Tanya never learns!

However: This time Tanya gets a shock. The duck was perched on the edge of a very steep sided, full of water culvert running at right angles from the lakeside. In her rush she had not seen this and no way could she stop. In fact she went head first into the ditch, completely immersed herself, and came up heading lake-wards with paws going like mad. She soon turned and headed back up the culvert to where she could scramble out onto dry ground.

I was curled up with laughter and likewise a French fisherman who had also witnessed this unexpected and sudden hilarious drenching. Tanya meanwhile was shaking herself off and looking round as if to say, "I was just testing y'know."

"Aye right Tanya. Course you were!"