Tuesday 9 July 2019

Wouldn’t you know, Man proposes

and God disposes. Whether it’s God, Fate or more likely, Sod’s Law*, sometimes you just cannot get past the obstacles in your way.

It takes me a great effort nowadays to motivate myself to drive to Ludlow, my county town, for a bit of comfort shopping and running a few errands. I was going to pop into a supermarket on the way for an urgently needed large bag of oats for my homemade muesli and a few self-indulgent goodies at the Ludlow Farmshop like posh pies and pickled herring. In Ludlow itself the Chocolate Gourmet was beckoning, as well as more mundane shops. So, there I was, having tricked Millie into submission (i.e. not queuing at the front door to be taken along) by generously sliding a few biscuits towards her in the kitchen and set off. I got as far as the cattle grid to the road when the knocking started, a hard knocking sound, getting louder and more insistent as I accelerated. Knowing nothing at all about the innards of cars I tend to get scared quickly. By the time I reached the outskirts of Valley’s End, less than a mile from home, the knocking was freaking me out and, after having stopped at the surgery to drop off a prescription for my next batch of medication, I turned tail and car and made for home again. I rang the mechanic. No reply. No call back. I imagine he’s on holiday. The car has sat in front of the house ever since Monday morning a week ago. I will try to get hold of him tomorrow.

The weather had been rather good the latter part of last week. Saturday, I decided to do a couple of weeks’ wash, there just isn’t enough to do a full load of anything per week now. Three loads I collected, bedding, towels, smalls, etc., dark and lights, which I wash separately. I don’t own a dryer, I prefer an outside line. I had just put the first two loads out on the whirlywizzer (rotary washing line) when clouds came up. By the time the third load was rinsing the rain started in earnest; I rushed to take everything down again and loaded several freestanding indoor dryers which I set up in the conservatory. Botheration! Had I known the outcome I’d never have attempted three loads.

You know that Millie is very old and now she has become incontinent. Up to very recently she has slept in my bedroom at night; again, until recently, she managed to wake me in time to rush downstairs and let her out. Several times lately she has not managed to get out in time and presented me with the signs of her incontinence. Dog poo, in other words. Dog poo on the carpet, a heck of a job to remove and clean. It got so bad that I kept waking up in fear of her needing to get out and me not realising in time, hardly sleeping at all. So then I decided that she had better stay downstairs at night, shut in kitchen and scullery, two fair-sized rooms with hard floors, quite sufficient for a sleeping dog. She had her bed. She didn’t seem to mind. Or maybe she is just too confused. All was fine for a few days and then, bingo, lots of presents in both rooms, from tiny little spatters to solid matter. (Too much information?) So now I spend the first half hour of every day picking up, disinfecting and washing the floors. It’s not as if she didn’t have the opportunity to go out in the evening, the back door is wide open until I go to bed at 11 or later. She’s fine and continent during the day, why not at night? I think I may have to leave the door open all night during the warm weather. Poor sweet Millie, she is still such a darling, she can’t help it. I cannot bring myself to do anything drastic just yet but my ideas on how to deal with this problem have dried up. If only she would dry up too.


*Sod’s Law is the axiom that “if something can go wrong, it will", with the further addendum, in British culture, borrowed from Finagle's law, that it will happen at "the worst possible time". This may simply be construed, again in British culture, as "hope for the best, expect the worst"







34 comments:

  1. Dealing with aging pets is so difficult. After our last cat died, we had to replace all of our carpeting, as it absolutely reeked.

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  2. Murphy's Law is what it's called here. I hadn't heard of Sod's Law until your post.

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  3. I hope the problem with your car - whatever it is - can be sorted easily and without too much money involved. Like you, I know nothing about it, so the knocking sound would have scared me, too.
    Poor Millie, and poor you. The last two years with my old cat were a bit difficult, too. Coming home from work, cleaning up after her was my first task; not much fun when actually you'd like to relax a bit and maybe have a bite to eat after a long day at the office. Her toilet was clean and accessible; sometimes I wondered whether she simply became senile and forgot where to go when she needed to go.

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  4. Poor Millie. Poor you. Making a decision to put down a pet is horrible to do. But, when the pet is suffering, infirm, what needs to be done is the hardest thing.

    Murphy's law, Sod's Law = I am betting there is another country's law with the same sentiment.

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  5. Carry on your heroes journey, dear friend ♥️

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  6. I have two elderly dogs. Spunky is a male Boston Terrier that we have to keep in the kitchen. We put down puppy ppee pads for him and sometimes he uses them but he's 15 years going on 16, blind and deaf so he doesn't seem to know where he is most of the time. We can't bring ourselves to take him to the vet and put down. Lucy is our other Boston. She's 11 years old and she still sleeps with us at night. Sometimes when I can't sleep because I'm having pain she spends time with me and we will go outside into the courtyard and watch the stars together.

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  7. Another day in paradise, I see. There is a time for everything and we just have to figure out when the time is right. I went through that with my black lab Piwo. After a seizure, it was easy to let him go, but it is hard to be without him. On a lighter note … you mentioned 2 other things in this post that made me smile: 1.) Pickled Herring (yum) and 2.) the word "Botheration" (you learned me sumthin :) Anyway, wishing you well, friend Friko. Love, cat.

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  8. Sigh.
    Been there and have stained carpet as confirmation.
    I hope the car woes are temporary and easily fixed.

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  9. May your car problem be simple and not too expensive. Sorry about your sweet old kitty, we all are aging, one day at a time. Hope you get to go on you excursion soon. I have laundry that needs doing also, but we keep having rain. Like you, I line dry.

    Love, hugs and prayers for you dear Friko~ FlowerLady

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  10. It's interesting to read that she's only incontinent at night. Poor girl & not a fun clean-up job for you!

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  11. Troubles in battalions it appears as old man Shakespeare had it. I was lucky in the Beloved Ansa never had spattery, just hard. I had mats everywhere but her pee was never let loose in the house. Gawd it's so hard though, my heart would break for her as I had to seal off the stairs and her pitiful look upwards would have me sobbing.

    As to the car, I do hope the mechanic can help you and get your wheeling again. Boy.

    I've lost such interest in huge maintenance issues now, I don't have the energy anymore and my one bedroom apartment is the maximum of my management skills. Even then I have Joanna come in every two weeks and do the char stuff.

    Frees me up to do what I love with the energy I have.

    XO
    WWW

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  12. I drive an older car and sympathize with you about the unknown noise emitting from your vehicle. I tend to have a small panic attack and start getting religious ask all the Gods to get me home safely. I hope it is an easy fix and you get transportation back quickly.

    I am so sorry to hear about your beloved Millie. It is so very hard to see our four legged companions grow old and to deal with what is happening to them.

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  13. Hi Friko - I think this all deserves a trip to that chocolate shop - once resolved. I know Millie's won't be ... but she's a comfort and a delight for you. Sincerely hope the knocking can be fixed ... could be the exhaust pipe ... that's easy so I hope that's it. Take care - washing ... yes I'd prefer to put mine outside - but flat life doesn't allow that. All the best - cheers Hilary

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    1. Yup - Sod's Law - always going on around me ... such is life ... but things will turn around I'm sure ... cheers Hilary

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  14. Those of us who have dealt with aging pets truly understand both the frustration and the love that is part of your life right now. I wish I had answers. I think maybe you've found one -- using the scullery. It's still not fun cleaning up but at least a bit easier.

    I can relate to the car, too -- mine was in the shop up at the lake this week. Fortunately, I was well stocked with provisions and things to do but still, one always likes to have it at hand. I hope you get into Ludlow soon and that the cost of repairs isn't too expensive. What a day...

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  15. Aging animals break our hearts. They sure don't mean to make our lives harder and are probably embarrassed. Putting her where the clean up is easier is a smart move.
    Hope the car is a simple fix. Scary but glad you made it home OK.

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  16. Oh dear poor sweet Millie....I remember when you and Beloved welcomed Millie into your home ...seems so long ago. A 'whirlywizzer'! Here in Oz it's a Hillshoist but not many people have them anymore..too old fashioned I suppose. Hope you get the missing mechanic soon!

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  17. I very much sympathize. sometimes it's one thing and then another. That said, I've also noticed that from time to time even inanimate objects fix themselves....

    love
    kj

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  18. Poor Millie .
    I'm glad I am not the only one who still hangs the washing out .I sometimes leave it out in summer rain as it smells so delicious when it dries again .

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  19. When you get your car repaired, take her to the vet to make sure it is not an infection. I am so sorry that you are dealing with this at this time. I guess it is inevitable.

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  20. We call it Murphy's Law here. I do understand about your sweet Millie. And cars, oh my car just decided not to start in a parking lot when i had just picked up a grandchild. Battery up ahd died on the spot. Such is life. may Murphy visit eleswhere. Right?

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  21. I sympathize you Friko. I hope when you have your car repaired and the veterinarian says you how to help Millie. It's true I agree that 'it will happen at "the worst possible time".

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  22. Is your vet aware of Millie's problem? They do make pee and poop pads for dogs as well as nappies. You might try. Good luck with the car. It is terrible when things upon which we rely break down.

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  23. I still give thanks that when Dixie Rose's time came, it came so quickly. Shocking as it was, six hours from discovering her in anguish to the end of her life was a blessing -- for both of us. On the other hand, had her decline been slower, as Millie's has been, I would have tended her just as you're tending Millie. It's what we do. They've learned to depend on us, and all we can do is live up to their expectations. When it comes to beloved pets, there's no question we're in it together.

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  24. Oh, that is a hard one with Millie. Will she sleep on newspapers do you think? It is a bit of a bore to cover the whole floor with them each night, but it might help. As for the car, I hope it can soon be fixed - it's always good to get out and about.

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  25. Sod's Law is called Murphy's Law here. And it does so often hold true! That's tough with your dog.

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  26. Poor elderly Millie and poor you too in caring for her, a dirty business cleaning up her messes. I hope your car gets fixed soon.

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  27. Alas this is the price we pay for loving them; they break our hearts as the decline and go.

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  28. Our little Mini , much older than our sons, one a teenager and the other about 8, began having the same problems and then started throwing up, too, both at night. The poop made me nauseous so my husband cleaned it up. The throw-up made him nauseous so I cleaned that up. I can't remember the diagnosis now, but the vet said Mini would just continue to get worse. We took her home, but she began having difficulty walking. Her little face seemed to implore me to make it better. My heart broke, but I took her to the vet to give her the relief I think she wanted. Other dogs eventually joined our family, but none were as smart and loving as Mini. I still miss her. May help come as you face transportation and beloved pet challenges.

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  29. Oh, my, you have been busy! It's now a week since your post and I wonder if you've made any progress with your car trouble. Maybe you have had your trip into town and have eaten a bit of chocolate?

    Some days, or weeks, are full of surprises and work we didn't plan on, and you seem to be flexible enough to accept it all with a cheerful heart.

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