soapdragon

I've never had any success with sweet peas......even though I choose seeds that are supposed to be excellent croppers they are always sp*****. I've changed compost, position, pots, support and nothing seems to work. I am very good with weeds though.................................... Ha, just re read my post and is has blanked out such an innocent word! Perhaps I should have typed spbottom

With the foliage and flowers having died down I went to unearth my Pink Fir Apple potatoes this afternoon....what a disappointment Only a very few and still really small. They were pot grown as our soil is so bad and, to get enough for supper, I had to excavate two out of our three big tubs. We kept them well watered with a regular organic veg feed so I've no idea why they were so sp*****. Ah well, it will save me bothering next year. And my beautiful orchid..nursed lovingly for 18 months after it's last flowers finished, finally threw up 5 flower spikes but, just as the flowers started to open, it all went floppy (including the leaves) and the beautiful white blooms have shrivelled. It's kept in the same spot all year round and has previously seemed healthy. Watered once a week and fed once a week from when the buds start to form so, again, I'm feeling despondent. OH, on the other hand, is smug about his chilli plant which is going full pelt

Peckingham Palace! Your girls are very lucky!

Lots of lovely rain yesterday, much of it quite heavy. When I went to check the waterbutt though it was only half full as the down pipe/connector thingy was full of moss washed down from the roof............grrrrrrr The poor tomato plants took a bashing too but I'm sure that they'll soon perk up. We have baby beans on the runner plants (my 6 for 50p half dead fete bargain!) so I am hopeful of a few, at least (50p's worth would be a result!)

I hope that you have that photo framed (perhaps in a few weeks time if it's a bit raw just now) as it's really lovely.......how is your other dog coping?

Glad to hear that nothing has happened! Still stressful for you, though so my sympathies!

We had some heavy rain overnight with more promised for tomorrow but, horror of horrors, 32 and 33 degrees for next Tuesday and Wednesday ! Nooooooooo!

We seem to be promised some reasonably heavy rain on Friday and showers on Saturday but, TBH, its going to take much more than that to make a difference to the garden/ground. A few days of heavy rain is really what's needed round here but not breath holding

I find the stepper less painful as its a gliding movement rather than the thud of a foot hitting the ground as with walking. Also the actual 'step' itself is smaller so I'm def carrying on with that and will see what else the GP suggests. I am very active anyway and am finding that the regular Ibuprofen is helping, thank goodness. Interesting to hear about the prehab!

Will be thinking of you tomorrow but hope that you and Toffee have had a lovely day together today.

What happened to Antiques Roadshow? Doh!

I have booked a GP appointment for Wednesday to try and get some answers.......I'm going to compile a list of questions for her! Also I have cut my stepper down to every other day but want to continue as it is less painful than walking and I need to be as fit as possible as it increases the chances of a better outcome from surgery if the muscles are in good shape. I've put myself on Ibuprofen to try and help with the inflammation caused by the bone on bone friction but still feeling very depressed about the whole thing.

Our vet offers an 'at home' too - I just didn't feel that I could justify it for the hamsters(!) but maybe that would be your answer for Toffee? It will cost a little more but would give you peace of mind that you had absolutley minimised her stress. If your vet doesn't offer this then others locally probably will - do what you feel is best, not just for Toffee but for you too. I'm sure she will love her treat filled weekend.

Poor you! This is absolutley the worst part of owning an animal. That said...the fact that she is rubbing her face may well mean that there is pain and it's probably not very nice for her having it bathed/cleaned every day. Equally, although she is eating and drinking now and seems happy in herself she may well deteriorate suddenly and so might it be better to preempt any sharp decline (and associated distress for her) and have her PTS on your terms and when you are in control as to how it happens rather than having to dash to the vet as an emergency with everyone in distress and upset (including, possibly, Toffee). I'm surprised that the vet won't make any comment....I'v always asked what the vet would do if this was their own animal and they've always then looked at it from that viewpoint. Perhaps the fact that they are not giving you a definite NO means that they don't feel that there is anything else that they can do? You clearly love her to bits and I wouldn't mind betting that she has had a totally fabulous life with you. 14 years is really pretty good and you shouldn't feel AT ALL guilty. But you will, as we all do when the time comes, whatever animal we have, but please try and be kind to yourself and recognise that you have Toffee's very best interest at heart. Sometimes the kindest thing to do feels like the cruelest; stay strong. We are all behind you.

Sorry to hear about Matilda but please don't beat yourself up. We recently went through the same thing with our beloved hamster and I still feel guilty for not having him PTS sooner and, on the other hand, having him PTS at all! All you can do is your best for them and know that they have had a lovely life.