kp was up at 8 today. That’s AM, Ante Meridian, morning, before noon. I think she had wondered where I was. I had got up at 4.30am, unable to sleep. Her hip was a lot better today, I am pleased to report, not 100%, but signicantly better. Today’s problem was her eyes. She struggled to focus on things. She went back to bed after breakfast and after wishing my dad a Happy 66th Birthday.

I joined her, but no sooner had I put my head down than the boilermen arrived to fix the boiler. They brought with them a nice shiny new boiler bit (that’s its technical term).

It was supposed to be a 2 hour fitting job (tops), but it’s 5.30pm and they are still at it ! At least they are earning their £700.

Marie arrived at 1.45pm after a 3 hour bus set of bus journeys. We went straight off to take Cleo to another vet for a second opinion and are we glad we did. We found a helpful vet, a caring vet, someone who spoke to us succinctly and gave good advice. We were very pleased. The vet told us what she would do if it were her dog. Rather then evade the question completely like the Lanchester vet.

So, basically, she is going in on Thursday to get her leg taken off at the hip. I am referring to Cleo here and not Karen who is keeping both her legs, just in case any bloggers starting reading from this sentence. Actually, it’s a little more involved than that.

She (Cleo still) first gets her chest x-rayed and if the tumour hasn’t spread to her lungs they are going to amputate and apparently she could live another 5 years if she’s lucky. kp and I are all too aware that if the tumour has spread, the leg stays and she doesn’t have very long left.

But, we are very pleased with that.

With no running water and no central heating and a very blustery day, the house was freezing on our return and kp kept her coat on and sat by the fire trying to warm herself up. She also used the “gassing” technique whereby if she talks a great deal, she warms up. Here’s Marie and kp warming themselves up big style.

Marie and Karen spent most of the afternoon after that sorting Karen’s clothes out for the Spain holiday in a couple of weeks. That’s it for today