Tyser and the V.E.T.'s

Tyser, our lovable 10 year plus collie cross had a trip to the vets today. The first in along time apart from his yearly vaccinations the only other time he needed to go was when he first adopted us and ended up having ehrlichosis, that awful disease from ticks.

But for a while now he has been walking slower, looking a bit stiffer, panting a lot and just slowing down a bit. He had a hair cut a while back which showed up a bit of excess weight he has put on since not going for such longer walks now Franklin is declining. He has had his food changed and restricted in the hope he could loose a few pounds but the weight hasn't really shifted yet.

So today he was booked in for a health check to see if there was any underlying problems which come with old age. His hearts good, ears clear and after a blood test, where we waited 20 minutes for the results, (when we have blood test from the doctors here they take couple of days so next time I may just go to the vets!) he got the all clear but his middle age spread was noted. He hopped, well was encouraged to step on the scales behind him in the photo and weigh in resulted in him now having to go on a serious diet. He has to loose 5 kilos. We discussed the Hill's science diet food but after looking at the ingredients in it and the price I am on the search for an alternative grain free food low in carbs and a fat club to join. Failing that we may well make our own weight loss chart with stars and find a tread mill for dogs. Just as well Freya gave him another hair cut yesterday as the extra hair may of put a few more grammes on.

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2ENJ093 - FRANKLIN

Eight years ago today Franklin came into our family, a rescue dog from the SPA in Rodez we drove to see if they had a dog to re home. He had been there a month after being left tied to a bin in the town centre, chosen because he didn't bark, he came to us to say hello and was completely different from the dog we had lost days before Christmas. 120 Euros he cost, a young boy still a pup, very thin but with a look of take me home please. A collar put round his neck, forms completed, cheque handed over and a kiss from the manager and he was ours. Five minutes down the road in the car he threw up. Five minutes in the house and he had weed up the settee and collected an assortment of treasures including socks, toilet roll inner tubes, tissues and soft toys all placed in a pile under the table and garded. He ate at an amazing speed, fearing he would loose it to our other dogs. Then he started to bark, he has a fine bark on him. He barks for his tea, when a visitor arrives, the ...

Parisot lake

As it is a holiday today here in France (Bastille Day) we took the afternoon off an popped over to Parisot lake for a walk with Sorrel. It has all changed, since the lake was emptied and cleaned up this year you can now swim in it, as well as inflatable toys to play on, a life guard, bikes to hire, a new fenced in play area for small people and a total spruce up. But there is a price we were charged! 3 euros an adult, which I guess is OK if you are using the facilities but Sorrel didn't fancy a dip. The cafe is still open but that would of been too much for Sorrel to cope with being so close to people and music so we opted for a bench to sit on in the shade before walking around the lake. Sorrel opted for being Billy no mates and laying by herself, if be it for a short period of time before bikes and people went by. We are now waiting for the free firework celebrations over the chateau tonight - if we can stay up that late.😃

Lavender

One plant that does grow well around the gites and garden and that I don't seem to be able to kill is lavender. In the summer the bushes are swarming with bees, hummingbird moths, butterflies and other flying insects, lot of holiday photos have been taken by keen photographers, some setting up chairs and waiting for ages with big cameras and lenses waiting for the right moment and right insect to land. It does give a lovely show and smell as well, its picked and placed in vases in the gites by guests. Its very tactile and difficult to pass without a rub of a flower that's if you like the smell. I think its very much like marmite you either love it or hate it, a smell of memories of grans and old aunts who use to get given Yardley's old lavender smellies for presents. I like the smell but it can be quiet overpowering, especially when this year I have finally been able to save the dried flowers. Previous years other things have got in the way and its bee...

The English Paysanne

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