Laxie through the Looking Glass

[Laxie]

Bugger. I'm sorry to hear this.

I know it doesn't really need saying, but I'll say it anyway. Don't leave it too long.....

I know.  We all know.  We've been struggling with how to decide when it's been long enough.  I'm not keen on waiting until she's 'poorly' because that can't feel great for her and would be selfish by us.   

They've the next couple of weeks off for Easter and I'm pretty much decided they should enjoy that time with her - if time permits. 

Might seem strange, but I count us as lucky really.  We've had more years with her than expected and we've got a bit of advance warning that the end is near.  'Tough talk' for now...I'll be a blubbering idiot when that day comes.

[technolog]

It's so hard saying goodbye to a loved pet. A cliché, but like losing a member of the family.

Was hoping to meet her in May, that looks unlikely now I spose but you never know. Give her a rub from me though x

[Claw75]

sorry to hear about Lily x

[Delboy]

sorry to hear about Lily x

[Dingdell]

sorry to hear about Lily x

So sorry Dawn xxx

[tikay]

Dawn,

Ugly news about Lily, I'm so sorry to hear that. I know you'll do the right thing, though.

Bear up.

[Laxie]

{{{HUGS}}} to the lot of ya.  and xx too.

[Laxie]

Today was a busy one.  Mainly because the next week's going to be proper manic altogether.  The Brooklyn in-laws land on Sunday.  Dunno how it is in the rest of the world, but standard routine in Ireland when you've visitors on the way, is to run around like a headless chicken.  You clean things ya haven't looked at or used in at least 6 months, paint walls that don't necessarily need painting and buy in shite ya don't half need.  All because the visitors are on the way.  As a result, I've lost all me nails I'd worked so hard to grow.  But there's not much left I could possibly clean so I suppose that's the upside of it. 

I'm off to Newcastle next week and due to land at Ger's on Wednesday.  Hitching a ride with him to Newcastle on Thursday where we'll meet up with the rest of the APAT crew for the team event.  We're playing for the Irish team and really looking forward to it.  Won't be home again until the following Monday. 

[Laxie]

So today was my one and only chance to get to 'town' (aka Killarney) for some shopping and errands.  The crew had their usual mile long list for me to get through and I'd a hair appointment at 4:30.  Plan was to head off at noon giving me plenty of time for all.  Great plan in theory and only for Cassie, it wouldn't have come even close to happening.  Although I was giving Bridget the credit for waking me initially.

The girls put Cassie and Lily out the back each morning before heading to school.  Normally I lounge around until the house is empty then get up, make breakfast and let the dogs back in.  Only this morning I went into a coma the minute they walked out the door.  I was in one of those proper deep sleeps where ya think real life is part of yer dream at first.  Cassie went mental over some cows in the back field and in my dosed state I somehow confused her barking with Bridget shouting from downstairs for me to get up. 

"Oh crap!  Thanks for waking me!  On me way down now." says I...

to nobody in particular.   

It was 11am at that stage and I was well behind schedule.  Cheers Cassie...I owe ya one!

[Laxie]

I sorted all the family errands.  The first was never going to be easy.  Sarah was looking for an upgrade of her mobile as a birthday gift.  Not a huge thing in itself, but I'd also to sort out the replacement phone for the one Brian lost in a drunken night out at uni.  He lost his wallet that night too, but I only found out two weeks ago with the art of cagey questioning.  Mothers can always smell a rat.  

Anyway, because the phone was one of mine and still insured, they gave a free replacement the other day.  Apparently the replacement's a €500 phone.  I paid €50 for his standby phone.  He can be keeping that because there's sweet feck all chance he's getting a €500 phone to lose on another drunken night out.  Unlucky man...run better next time.  Will hold on to the new phone til I lose me own.  Makes perfect sense imo.

[Laxie]

The shopping side of things I blame on Kinboshi.  He posted about his race day temperature issues saying it would be 20 in London while he runs the marathon.  I went into a panic saying I needed a few summery tops for that sort of weather.  Reluctantly I hit the shops looking for summery tops.  As it turns out, I found a few.  They're not great, but they'll do.

Then I walked past a shop called 'B Young'.  They'd lovely stuff in the window and lots more lovely hanging on the racks.  Except that they reckon once you've had a few kids you no longer qualify as young.  Don't dare show up in that place with any sort of hips or chest acreage.  I've finally figured out once you've that going for ya, yer expected to dress like a 60 year old with a cane.  Because those are the only clothes fit ya.  'Be Anorexic' is what they should be calling it.  But then who am I to say?  I'm an old hag with 3 kids, no body and no clue.  At least I eat well.

[Laxie]

So why was the shopping trip a mistake?  Because Kin was reporting on London temps and I'll be in fecking Newcastle.  Next stop Alaska imo.  Sure am glad I bought summery tops.  Still going to wear them because I'm stubborn.  But now I need to go find some sort of jacket or hoody to wear with the lot for when it's bloody freezing.  That means more shopping.  Marv.

[Laxie]

Lily and I had a chat tonight.  Ok, that's prolly not how it went, but the idea is there.  I mostly chatted to her a goodly bit.  Told her I know she's not well and to please let me know when it's got to be too much for her.  Normally when we have our random chats, she gives me a dopey look and walks away.  Tonight she stayed put staring me in the eyes and I knew we were nearing the end.  She knows she's screwed and she doesn't want to hurt but she didn't want to upset us either.

Was talking to the guy we got her from all those years back and he said we'd know.  He had the mother and the oldest of the siblings so he knew how they'd gone downhill.  He told me once she loses energy and can't be arsed to do much, it's time to let her go.  I'm of two minds.  We know it's got to happen at some point.  So does it make sense to wait until she has no interest in fighting any more?  Surely she has to be in pain to say she's got to that stage.  And that's what I'm hoping to avoid.  I've told him we'd be happy to have her during the Easter holidays and anything beyond that is a bonus, but I'm not waiting it out to see her in pain.

[Laxie]

11 years ago I was new to Knocknagree.  A wee terrier was stranded around the village and nobody seemed to give a toss.  Poor thing was miles since his last feed and badly in need of care as far as I was concerned.  So we took him in. 

Everyone thought we were crazy.  I took Max (that's what I called him) down to the vet for his shots and fed him like a king.  Walked him every day regardless of the weather.  He was lovely with the kids so I saw no reason not to call him our own.   Except the little fecker took off running the first time the front door was left open and we never saw him again.

Fast forward a few weeks later.  This totally mental guy called Mike (abso genius, but deffo mental) approached me.  He'd a litter of pedigree Old English Sheep Dog pups.  They were six months old and he'd sold off all but Lily.  Nobody wanted her as she'd one blue eye and one brown eye.  That's considered very bad in pedigree lines apparently.  Anyway, he reckoned if I was that caring with a totally random stray, I'd surely give Lily a good home and he offered her to us for free.  No strings.  Just love her.

I'd an Old English growing up and she was me best and only friend at the time.  When Mike offered Lily to us, I didn't hesitate.  Timothy wasn't well pleased.  We've a small house with 3 kids and here I was bringing a fairly large dog into the mix.  There was no debate because I didn't even bother to ask.  Lily was coming home to us. 

When she first landed, she was abso terrified.  No wonder.  She'd spent the first six months of her life in the comfort of her mother and sister.  Now she had no idea who she was with or where she stood.  For the first week I slept downstairs with her.  The second week I dragged her up and showed her where my side of the bed was.  And that's where she slept for the next 10 years.

[Laxie]

We live in the 'busy' part of the village.  There were 20 kids growing up here at the same time.  And Lily minded the lot.  She's a 'herding' breed and that's just what she did.  When I'd take the kids and their friends up to the field with Lily, she'd make sure they never got too far away.  I knew what she was at, but the kids thought she was playing a game of 'tag'.  When she'd round up one of them, the rest would shout to the poor misfortune, "You're it!" 

They loved her for getting involved and she just loved them for being loved.