My poor boy

This week has been just awful for my poor boy Brownie.
I decided to give him his wormer treatment on Sunday and all seemed well until Tuesday.
The Endolav Plus consisted of a two tablet dose and as I dispensed them I wondered why two tablets were needed as a single dose....why so much potency for a regular worm treatment.
He was very restless for most of Monday and Tuesday and seemed to be in some kind of discomfort.
By Tuesday night my poor boy was vomiting every which way accompanied by diarrhea of the bloody kind.  It was a sleepless and restless night for both of us.
Early Wednesday morning we were at the vet where the poor thing had no less than three injections to settle him down.  His prostate was also checked. We came back home and he spent most of the afternoon digging holes in the garden as if he were trying to overcome his pain????
At first it did seem like he would have settled down but all during the night he paced up and down, up and down and continued his sickly motions.
Another sleepless and restless night for both of us.
Thursday morning he didn't seem to be settling down. He continued vomiting with diarrhea and by then he was looking a bit weak but continued to dig even more holes in the garden  Around 1pm I rushed him back to the vet.  He was immediately placed on a drip and held for observation.
Leaving him with his friend Mousee in the good care of both vets, I came home and tried to concentrate on one of my indoor projects but my concerted effort wasn't paying off at all.
The house was quiet and it was strange later that evening walking up the driveway to clear the mailbox on my own.
Sleep was a foreign friend and I spent most of the early evening watching tv and wondering how he was doing.
This morning I awoke with no pawing alerting me to a new day, no walk around outside to greet the new day....no breakfast banter on what we were going to have for breakfast...just one big void.

Monkee sat in the same position on the floor where he had left him before being rushed to the vet.  Amazingly Monkee held this position without falling over at all.

My first call to the vet at 9am to find out if Brownbie had a good night was met with a  "He's okay you can come down and visit."  Not the words I wanted to hear.
I didn't want to go and let him think he was coming home so I decided to call again around lunch time hoping he'd be discharged by then.
I really didn't want to hear these words.
"You can bring his lunch down since he isn't eating...we want to monitor him some more."  Oh dear.
I'd purchased two large chicken breasts just for him and I steamed a good sized portion and packaged it up and hurried through the door.
Walking down to the infirmary kennels, I caught sight of him before he saw me....he was so happy to see me.  His ears immediately pricked up and a sudden spring was in his step.
I took him outside to have lunch under a shady tree and have a chat with him explaining that he wasn't coming home as yet.
Then the miracle happened.  Both vets caught sight of him "yamming down" the chicken as if there was no tomorrow.
"Dr. Pollard you have got to see this...look at that little one...no wonder he won't eat anything here...look at what he's having for lunch," said  Dr. Huey.
"Wow he's good," replied Dr. Joy as I affectionately call her, "he can definitely go home."
Music to my ears.
Brownie promptly finished his meal and sat looking around with a look of "Can we go now?" on his face
We were given some additional medicine and the patient was discharged.
Big "THANK YOUUU's" were uttered loudly from my lips and we headed home.
As we pulled up at the house, Mr. Brownie sprang out of Beast "quick, fast and in a hurry" and made himself at home immediately.
Christened a few of his favourite areas, had some more chicken, drank copious amounts of water and then settled down for a nap while I watched "Nothing to Declare."

Here he is back at home resting peacefully....I'm so glad he's back.

Since this I have done some research on the wormer and the first two side effects listed are vomiting and diarrhea.  The vet has agreed to change to another wormer since my poor boy had such a serious allergic reaction to the Endolav Plus.  Now that I think about it, the same thing happened last time....never again.

That's what friends are for

A friend of mine was robbed of most of his electrical items..   Even though he knows who it was that did the deed, the police have not been very helpful.  Eyewitnesses have come forward and still nothing can be done.....unbelievable.

I had extras knocking around so today I dropped them off for him.
It brings me so much JOY to see the happiness in people's faces when they receive an unexpected kindness.
Daughter dear hearing the sad story volunteered a radio belonging to her dad....have I raised her right or what!!!
My friend can watch a movie and listen to music tonight and I am happy.

Bloody Hell!

I really don't want to write about today's episode but it must be noted.
You see that innocent doggie face above?  Don't be fooled.
This morning I decided I would take Mr. Brownbie for a quick vet visit to have his glands checked.
Loaded him into Beast on the front passenger seat but in two minutes he promptly disappeared into the back of the vehicle to lie on the left car mat with his head tucked under the seat.  Strange I thought, but at least he was lying still.
Arriving at the vet's office, it was tricky getting him out from his hideaway position but it was achieved.
No sooner than we pushed the entrance door we were given our usual warm welcome.
I sat comfortably in a chair with Brownbie on my lap with other clients commenting how well behaved and how cute he was just sitting peacefully "leash-less" on my lap.....he really is a good dog.
Soon it was our turn.
It's always good to see the vet and today as usual he teased me about him wanting to be taken care of the same way I take good care of Mr. B.
The doc cleans Mr.B's glands and checks his ears with no problem.
Mr. Brownbie has a nail on his front right paw that seems to grow faster and longer than the others and I asked to have it trimmed.
I know that Brownie does not like to have his nails trimmed but I steady his head and hold him while the good doc starts to trim the nail.
Next thing I know Brownie has sprang up out of my grip and has delivered two bites on the doc's right hand...I see the blood falling and the exam table is soon covered with healthy drops of red.
I spy the nail clipping at the other end of the table.
Brownie is lying down again as if nothing has happened.
I am shocked and feeling really terrible as the doc rushes to the sink and washes his hand with copious amounts of antibacterial scrub....he continues to let the water wash over his hand for a little while.
"Oh Dr. Huey I'm so sorry!" I cried.  "Brownie  you naughty boy!"
The doc is nursing his hand and drying it with a paper towel.
He makes his notes on the card and says in that ever gentle voice, "Hey little one, what got into you today?" 
I am dying inside, so embarrassed and feeling really bad.
"Can I see your hand?" I ask him, and he extends it for me to see, and tells me not to worry.
I worry.
What I see are two bites across his outer palm where the veins are and I'm wondering how ever will he be able to finish his work today.
As I head outside with the naughty one, I tell the receptionist I will take him home and return to cover the bill.
I drive home with Mr.B. in the vehicle and I talk to him telling him how naughty he has been...you don't bite the hand that cares for you.
Back at home I find a card and write...
"So So Sorry....Forgive Me? Love Brownie" inside and head out to get a nice bottle of wine and the butter cookies that the doc loves...I place them in a gift box.
Back at the office I pay the bill and hurriedly leave the gift for the doc and some extra cookies for the staff...too ashamed to face him.
Later in the afternoon the best vet in the world calls me and thanks me and tell me not to worry that it happens sometimes and that he is okay.
He then quips "You'd better bring him back down to bite me some more if I'm going to get more of these lovely gifts!" to which I laughed.
I felt better....much much better.
Dr. Huey you are the best!

Holetown Festival 2016

Well it serves me right...yes it serves me right for making the decision to go to the Holetown Festival a bit later than I usually do.
I had decided to drive to Speightstown first to run a few errands and go to the festival afterwards.
Who tell me to do that????
Leaving the north of the island and driving back to the west coast venue soon became a headache.
The traffic flow being regulated by the police was just awful and it meant that it took the greater part of an hour to circle the festival and find somewhere to park.
By that time I had missed the old vintage car parade and barely got there to see a teeny bit of the street fair parade....darn.
All was not lost however, I still was able to take a few photos of this cultural affair, so here goes.

 

 

 

 The Queens of the Festival

 

 The sun was hot... so I can understand the kid pannists having a "sit-down" until it was time to join the parade again.

 

Tuk Band

The tuk band musicians were mingling with the crowd playing their sweet music as they went merrily along.

I found a short Youtube video here to give you an idea of the music.

 

 Local handmade jewelry

 

 Local painters displaying their talents on canvas.

 

 Stalls as far as the eye could see.

 

 

  This guy was a bit fishy.

  Locally made grass/reed baskets.

Bags.....bags.........bags....and more bags.

 

 

 Gorgeous batik works adorned the front of this stall.

 Conch shells

 

 Wooden sculptures

 

 My girlfriends at their plant stall.

 

 Mr. Balloon Guy was clowning around as usual.

 

The Queens of the Festival mingling with their subjects.

Sea Urchin shells

Bajan Balmz

There was a menthol herbal salve that should have come home with me.

Herbal Soaps with a heavenly scent.

 

 My friend Ezra in his plant stall.

Will collect my plant from his home....too tired to walk with it today.

 

  YEAH!!! I was still able to see some of the vintage cars parked at the back of the festival and get a really close look.


The Holetown Festival is a yearly event that we all look forward to and therefore it is always crammed "choc a bloc" with visitors.
This year was no exception and the many happy patrons made it quite hard to walk around unhindered, and this lead to many "stop and stare" moments.
Despite this, I still enjoyed my wander around and meeting up with friends I have not seen in a while.

Time to head home and feed you know who.

Itching for a scratch

Now that daughter dear no longer lives here with me and Mr. Brownberts, it is always nice when she comes by to visit us.

Mr. B lines himself up just right by whichever chair she sits in and stares her down until she gives him copious head rubs and ear scritches.

It's like his personal massage.
He sits there with a VERY contented look on his face as he gets all the attention that he wants.

If daughter dear does not stop he would never move.

If she does stop before he's had enough, he paws her from the side of the chair to signal her to continue...it's such a funny sight to behold.
He has us both trained well.
There's no doubt who rules the roost at this homestead.