Why not?
Hive just not got the time.
I don’t think I’ll take up beekeeping…
Sleep well, Beagle dog
We had to say goodbye to our beagle last night. It was horrible. It still is. But the scan she had yesterday morning showed an aggressive spinal tumour, which wasn’t even visible 5 weeks ago, but which had grown and already spread to her lungs, and there was clearly no option of treatment or recovery. She’d not been well for a while with other stuff, but this was very sudden and unexpected.
We brought her back from the vet, and spent a last afternoon together at home. She lay on her favourite couch, she snorfed all around the back garden, she enjoyed copious amounts of chicken, biltong, and a lot of cheese. A lot of cheese. We all stayed with her all afternoon and gave her all the fuss she could have wanted.
And then we had to let her go. An absolutely devastating experience, but she deserved that respect and she deserved not to struggle or suffer.
It’s always so hard to deal with these things, and it’s important to concentrate on all the happy times we had together. Amongst many other things, I’ll always remember our long weekend walks on the beach in Agulhas – she was the best listener sitting on the rocks by the lagoon – and her ever-willing assistance with the crusts of my Butler’s pizzas.
It’s also worth pointing out that those few hours yesterday afternoon were merely a concentrated version of the life and the love that we had given her. And it wasn’t a one-way street (ok, to be fair, the cheese was): she was the most loving, understanding companion; incredibly gentle and endlessly patient, especially with the kids and their friends. Never judgmental, just always there with unconditional love and a little nuzzle as she slipped her head under your arm and onto your lap.
It was almost eleven years ago that Project Colin began. I wasn’t sure then, but she quickly worked her way into our hearts and lives (and the fridge whenever possible), and the house already feels incredibly empty without her. We’re devasted.
Of course, we have millions of photos and videos of her, but the one above is the one that hangs in the bar, and reminds us to take some time out once in a while, step back from the real world and just relax.
Live life like Colin.
Never forget the seahorse…
I was scrolling through some old photos on my phone this afternoon, when I came across this…
It’s actually a chicken nugget from a buffet at a birthday party at a restaurant in Kalk Bay, back in April 2022.
But it really does look like a seahorse. Or a knight from a chess set that has crispy, deep-fried pieces.
It was apparently considered remarkable enough at the time to record for posterity. (Alcohol may have been involved.)
And apparently still remarkable enough to make it into a blog post 3 years later. And I’m completely sober at the moment.
Beagle Rollercoaster Confusion Continues
Not an actual beagle rollercoaster. Although that would be a sight, wouldn’t it?
But no.
Sadly, we’re still struggling with the beagle’s health. And the bigger problem is that no-one can decide exactly what is wrong with her. High temperature, lack of appetite, general floppiness – and yet all her tests keep coming back negative for everything.
She’s been spending time at the vets for the last couple of days, enjoying some lovely IV fluids and antibiotics while they poke and prod as necessary. I took her there this morning, and carried her in, such was her drowsy, weakened state. And when we went to pick her up this evening, the head vet explained to us just how worried they were about Colin’s condition. It was a sobering listen. And then she went to go and get the patient, and we were duly amazed at the perky, waggy-tailed dog that walked out from the back.
Eh?
And then when we got our beagle home, we offered her a piece from the rotisserie chicken (BBQ flavour), we’d got for the family dinner. Long story short, half the chicken (half our dinner) was gone in a few minutes. And some cheese. Some pork biltong. And then some other chicken purposefully bought for – and previously ignored by – the beagle.
The first food she’s had in three days.
Right now, she’s contentedly snoring away on the couch next to me.
I don’t pretend to understand what’s going on. I just want her better.
But for more than 2 days in a row this time.
Just Yorkshire things
Here’s the headline that piqued my interest:
Of course he does.
And here’s the quote which drew me in:
Mr Trevelyan said: “Those who know me well know I was eventually going to build a giant curlew.”
Of course they did.
It’s all good, though. Mr Trevelyan – an ex-puppetmaker, obviously – is raising awareness of the loss of habitat, land-use changes and climate pressures on the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) – by walking 53 miles (that’s 85.29km) dressed as a curlew.
He crafted the 10ft-long (3m) costume of a Eurasian Curlew – Europe’s largest wading bird – out of polystyrene and bamboo.
It’s an admirable endeavour. Although not without its dangers:
It’s got a 4ft-long curved bill…
[the costume, not the actual bird]
[Jesus. Can you imagine?]
…which I’m quite worried about snagging in trees on the way, or tripping over and it snapping, but I’ve got a splint and I’ve got strong tape in case that happens.
But that’s not even the most dangerous bit.
It’s very lightweight luckily, but I am a bit worried about getting up on the tops because it’s quite windy today.
Actual Curlews can fly. 3m long bamboo and polystyrene costumes of Curlews aren’t meant to.
Still, if you’re going to die in a horrific freak gust of wind/giant Curlew costume-related accident, it’s a beautiful part of the world for it to happen. Just look at those views (only mildly spoiled by the ubiquitous massive beak).
You can follow Mr Trevelyan’s journey on his IG, and you can donate to his (and the Curlews’) cause here.