tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61890170481236939442024-03-12T22:52:25.624-07:00Lorna's life in SpainI moved to Spain in January 2008, to begin my new life!Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-86512626347880544382015-06-10T09:52:00.000-07:002015-06-10T09:55:29.369-07:00Happy New Year<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm embarrassed to say it's June and I'm sitting here typing away in my shorts and bra, good job we have no guests and I have the nerve to be blogging about New Years Eve, but here goes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last year I travelled back from Brighton on New Years Eve having been there welcoming my new baby grandson Jaxon into the world, I was shattered on arriving home after a wonderful time so we just went to bed early. This year however Alan had asked me if I fancied going into Cordoba to see the new year in. We had been two years ago and had a great night. It's tough being away from family and friends on these special times and especially as it's my dad's anniversary. I'm often tempted to stay at home and enjoy some quiet time reflecting but I bit the bullet and said yes let's go.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We weren't going to be caught out like last time, expecting bars and a few shops to be open. When we arrived two years ago the city was deserted until around 11.00... yes at night, and nowhere was open to buy a drink! This year we left home later with a bag of drink and some goodies and joined in the fiesta.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We hadn't been there long and the crowds were begining to build. Families that had enjoyed a family meal together and wanted to celebrate the new year with others. Most wouldn't venture out of their homes until midnight had struck. Suddenly we saw a tall figure we recognised, it was our mate Ken, if you have been reading my blogs for a while you may remember Ken the Good Samaritan. He would help us out when our generator conked out, or if ole Frank the car needed a bit of TLC, there was Ken wandering across the square in front of us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We called him over and there we all stayed, three Brits in a Spanish square celebrating the new year, wondering what 2015 would bring us all. We chatted and people watched as the fun loving Spanish arrived, some in the smartest of clothing, others more casual wearing funny hats with balloons and party blowers. All with their bags of posh drinks, snacks and grapes. The excitement was building and the Spanish were getting their grapes and cava ready or in some cases champagne. Most even had champagne glasses with them. As the clock struck midnight the city becomes silent as they begin eating their 12 grapes. Apparently if you manage to eat all 12 grapes on time you are in for a year of prosperity and good luck. Once all the grapes have been eaten you hear calls of “Feliz Año Nuevo!” as everyone hugs and kiss each other, whether you know them or not.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then of course every Spanish city loves it's fireworks and Cordoba is no exeption. They banged and crashed above and all around us for what seemed like ages, and then the dancing began again. Ken, Alan and I stayed for an hour or so more then we headed home, we had a 45 minute journey ahead. It was a fab evening and good to spend it with a friend also.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apologies for the blurry man. Maybe he was dancing fast!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Alan and I, with Ken</b></span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-48678988330080366922015-06-02T12:40:00.002-07:002015-06-02T12:40:58.590-07:00A Grovelling Apology<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here I am yet again grovelling my apologies. The fact that I have even opened this page and began typing is at least a step forward. It's not a woe is me post however it has been a pretty difficult time for me health wise. When it's tough for me it's just as tough for Alan too. Living together 24/7 ain't always easy... God bless him! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not harping on that, I just wanted to say hi and let you know I have lists of blog titles all ready to write abut and post. Many are from last year so I may just try and type them out as word docs and get my butt in gear to get you all up to date with this years goings on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watch this space, and love to you all xxx</span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-83670434664292447102015-02-04T09:33:00.000-08:002015-02-04T09:42:32.166-08:00Christmas in the campo<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last Christmas I had the extremely exciting opportunity to spend Christmas with the family in Brighton as my little grandson Jaxon was born mid December. This year it was back to just the two of us, with our feathered and four legged friends. Obviously I had a wonderful time last year. I was with the kids, the grandchildren, and Frankie's partner Jordan's family were very kind and squeezed another place for me at the dinner table at least twice. It was lovely, and I was very grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It did make me realise however what I really miss at this time of the year are the Christmasses of the past. Especially when the children were young and we would visit family and friends over the festive period. A highlight would always be a trip to my Auntie Jess on Boxing day. We would pick up Uncle Charlie, her brother en route, and usually drop him at the pub first, and he would join us later. We would arrive, usually to the familiar smell of roasting pork which was her favourite. Auntie Jess was in catering and her food was always lovely. If any of you are fans of Peter Kay the comedian, he has me in stitches when he talks about the 'reserve chairs' coming out at Christmas. I would always stifle a giggle when we would be at different heights all around the table with our hats from our crackers. Especially as Auntie Jess and Uncle Charlie being so small their feet wouldn't touch the ground!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just a couple of years before we lost Auntie Jess we turned up on Boxing Day, as planned, although bless her heart she had forgotten she had invited us, even though she had just spent Christmas Day with us. Luckily I had brought all the food. She did hunt through her kitchen cupboards and came tottering out with a few bowls of things. One particular bowl, Mark and Frankie were pondering over, so I decided to dive in first. The taste was vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite work out what it was. I had to ask... "Auntie Jess, if you don't mind me asking, what's in that bowl?" "Oooh I don't know" she replied. "I'll show you the packet" It was a packet of Smash, instant mashed potato, bless her heart. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm digressing again, but it was those days when we played cards with pennies with the neighbours, and we never worried about what was on television, apart from maybe the Morecombe and Wise show. We cannot go back however so we need to start making new memories now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year I was determined to enjoy my Christmas Day and not get too upset about not being with the family, and I did so well - I even put up my Christmas tree. Alan and I don't buy each other presents, however we did treat ourself to something... more news on that in another blog post. We did get a huge bag of Cadbury's chocolate from Alan's auntie, which went down an absolute treat and is still laying on our tummies! On Christmas Day I spoke to both Mark and Frankie on skype which was great, and they were both spending Christmas with their loved ones. Alan and I enjoyed a good roast dinner, we also had a walk by the lake and had a relaxing evening in front of a roaring log fire.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ww hope you had a lovely Christmas. With love from Alan and I and some of the gang!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Galaxy and I</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Big Beautiful Blue</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Carlos</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Our little Miliko</b></span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-79204268988954862072015-01-11T05:12:00.003-08:002015-01-11T05:25:10.790-08:00Celebrating Little Jaxon's First Birthday<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before I knew it I was back on that train to Malaga and dashing back to the UK. It was going to be little Jaxon's birthday. I'm not sure I ever remember a year flying by so rapidy! This time Mark was away working in Liverpool, so no luxury drive down to Brighton, the good ole train it was. Frankie knew I was on the way, but had burnt the dinner, bless her, so she picked me up from the station and we popped to the shops to enable me to chose my own pizza... and yummy it was too!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Pretty Christmas Tree at Malaga Station</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was a real flying visit, as I only had three whole days with the family, so I had to treasure every precious moment. Poor little Jaxon was suffering from a slight tummy bug, as were I think most other people in the UK. A couple of nights prior to my visit he had been sick numerous times during the night. My Frankie is like me and not good with 'sick' but luckily nothing phases Jordan her partner, so she had some help. Poor little Jax also has a floppy larynx and reflux so he struggles with tummy pain and sickness as it is. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The following morning was Jax 's first birthday and of course another school run, after which Frankie and I popped into town to get Jax's birthday present from Alan and I. I was open to options and when she mentioned that he needed his first pair of shoes, I jumped at the chance to get him something useful. As we got into town however, he fell asleep... "Ohhh let's have a hot chocolate and relax first whilst we can" I said to Frankie. No sooner had we drunk the gorgeous hot choc, yes with cream and marshmallows, it has to be done sometimes, and Jax was awake. Time to head for Clarks. He was star and was happy to have his big fat feet measured, admire himself in the mirror and try some shoes on. The new shoes were decided on and were packed up and paid for, and we managed a few more shops until His Lordship started complaining, tyical man, so off we went home again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I timed the trip well as that afternoon was Kaci's first school nativity play and I was going to be able to watch it. It was one of those moments that made me wonder where have the last 20 years have gone. It seemed like no time at all I was watching Mark and Frankie's nativities. I was a very proud nanny Lorna watching Kaci singing away on the odd occasion but spending most of the time seeing the back of her head, as the person behind her seemed to be so much more interesting than her audience. It was lovely to see Chris, Kaci's dad there too as he had managed to take the time of work. During the evening Jordan's mum and dad came over too and we chatted and all enjoyed some chocolate birthday cake which Kaci had chosen. It was all pretty low key sadly as Frankie didn't want to pass any germs round.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The following day was possibly one of the best days I can remember for a very long time. Kaci hadn't seen her little cousin Maisie for a few months, what with the girls starting school and one thing and another. We had arranged to secretly pick Maisie up, we were all going to spend a lovely day together. The girls were so happy to see each other and walked hand in hand like little twins, in their matching coats, and cuddled lots too. It made my heart melt! First stop was Funplex, where the girls could run around and have loads of fun together and Jaxon could sit in a little play area and throw balls around until his heart was content!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sun came out to play and so our next stop was Brighton Pier, a real favourite of mine. The girls had an absolute blast going on all the rides and we met up with our great friend Micklos who is the DJ on the pier. Micklos was one of my fab dance teachers that used to work with me. He has such a huge personality, all the kids loved him. If you are ever on the pier in Brighton, look out for him, he's near the helter skelter!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Our pal Micklos</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My precious girls</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next on the list was something I had been planning for ages. I decided not to buy the girls a main Christmas present this year and to take them to their first pantomime instead. I had booked for Frankie and I and the girls to see Jack Frost's Frozen Christmas at the Pier Pavilion in Worthing. It was a new style panto about how Jack Frost was out to destroy Santa Claus and Christmas. Kaci and Maisie had no idea what to expect and their little faces were a picture. They soon got the hang of booing and cheering along with the rest of the audience, bless them. In the interval little Maisie shed a few tears as she told me she really really didn't like Jack Frost, but thankfully she believed me when I said that the good guys always win in the end, and not to worry. Sure enough Jack Frost turned into a good guy and that was Maisie's favourite part of the panto, and she cheered her little heart out! During the finale the 'snow' fell from the ceiling and I somehow managed to stop myself from being a blubbering wreck but I did struggle to fight back the tears watching their little faces. It was an evening I'll never forget.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On Sunday poor little Jax still wasn't feeling 100% and neither was Jordan, Jaxon's daddy the day before, so I decided to take Kaci into Brighton for some last minute Christmas shoppping and she was an absolute star. We had a treat of a hot chocolate and she chose a boring ole cheese sandwich but luckily some shortbread fingers for us to share too. We spent most of the day in town and I think I wore her out, bless her heart.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kaci fell asleep on the bus</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mark and Laura came over later that evening, the only time I had managed to see Mark as he had been on an exciting job in Liverpool. He works as a detaining officer and a lot of extra man power had be sent to a Liverpool prison due to an incident up there. It was lovely to see them if only for such a short time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The following morning I was up early, I had an earlier than usual plane to catch, I was a little concerned as I didn't feel 100% so unlike me I decided to skip breakfast and head off for a gentle stroll of about 20 minutes to the train station, it felt good to get some fresh air. On arriving the direct train I had spotted on t'internet was delayed and nowhere near, so I was advised to get a train into Brighton where I had the chance of more trains to Gatwick. The train was full of commuters doing their daily trip to work, and due to signal failures and delays plus cancellations of other trains, the one I had to get was heaving. I managed to squeeze in with my cabin luggage and wedged myself in the corner by the door. The doors shut and we were off, it was a short journey of possibly not much more than 10 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the journey began I started to feel extremely hot and uncomfortable. I didn't have any room to take my coat off and there was definitely no where to sit apart from in the first class carriage next to me. A few minutes later and I had that awful feeling that I was going to be sick. What do you do in that situation as an adult? As a child you can get away with throwing up down your coat and everyone feels sorry for you, and even more so whoever has to clean you up, but I'm an adult, it wasn't an option!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was getting hotter and feeling so sick, I was aware that I was breathing deeply, slowly in and out, hoping it would pass. The next thing I knew, a very tall. smart gentleman was helping me up. I had fainted. However, luckily the train was so crowded I didn't land on the floor, I simply slid down the wall. Being a typical Brit I remember apologising and confirming to everyone that I was fine, when seconds later I faintly heard some 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs' and I was being helped up again. The kind, tall smart man insisted I sat in the first class carriage, which was empty, for the rest of the journey. We were in fact just pulling into Brighton station. He told me to stay there as he wanted to get someone to check me over. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did stay there, but only for a couple of minutes. I was cold and clammy and felt pretty poorly, but I knew I would feel better when I got off the train and had some fresh air. I found the toilet and freshened up and splashed some water on my face and set off on what I hoped would be a much less eventful part of the journey. Thankfully it was! I managed to get a seat but low and behold 10 minutes before we were due to stop at Gatwick, the driver announced over the tannoy that a bird had hit his windscreen and smashed it, and he didn't feel it safe to continue the journey. We stopped at the next station, and all had to change trains. Finally I made in to Gatwick Airport. The earlier flight however meant I had no time to spare and rushed to get myself a bottle of lucozade for the flight. I couldn't wait to land at Malaga and luckily Alan was going to be there to meet me this time, as he had brought friends down that were flying to Gatwick. I had a young couple beside me on the flight, so I leant against the window and hoped to sleep as much as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once I get on a flight I rarely move. I don't like travelling, I feel motion sickness very easily. When I'm in a car, I just need to look down at something and I go all of a wobble. I am certainly more used to flying, I used to hate it, and would be very scared of feeling sick on the flight but I seem to be better these days. However the awful feeling returned. I knew I had to get to one of the few toilets on the plane and sods law it was engaged. I wanted to be on my own, I felt so bad but the stewardess asked me to wait back out in the main part of the plane as she was getting trolleys ready for something. God I felt awful, when was this lady going to come out! I stood with my head against the partition, it was cool and it felt good. Luckily possibly only a minute passed and the toilet was vacant, otherwise I think I may have fainted again... what a nightmare. I managed to splash some water on my face and cool myself down, compose myself and hope to sleep the rest of the journey. Luckily I did and before we knew it we were coming into land. Oh my word it was good to see Alan, and even better to be home. Shame it wasn't a great ending to the most magical long weekend!</span></div>
<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-8355961879247468502015-01-06T06:08:00.003-08:002015-01-06T06:15:26.769-08:00Brighton for little Kaci's 5th BIrthday Bash<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My night in the 'urgencias' was certainly conducive to a good sleep on the journey to Brighton, where I was going to celebrate my granddaughter Kaci's 5th birthday. I felt no ill effects from Dolores the previous night, so I slept the whole way on the train to Malaga and then fell asleep again as soon as I got on the plane. That certainly helped speed up the journey. Mark, my son had managed to get the day off from work and came to meet me from the airport, which was lovely, and he took me back to his girlfriend Laura and his new place, and he even cooked me a lovely meal too. It was great to spend a few hours with them, and then they drove me then back down to Frankie, my daughter's where I was staying. It had been such a long 9 months since I had seen the family. They had both planned to come out however coincidentally both got the opportunity to move house, so of course I was very happy for them, but missed them greatly. Frankie had just a month earlier moved into a lovely little house with a garden, which will be just perfect for the grandchildren in the summer!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was sleeping in Kaci's bedroom, and she had been told I wouldn't arive until very late and she had to go to sleep like a good girl, and I would be there in the morning, when she woke up. I was awake early as I'm not used to a lot of traffic noise, and at one point noticed her peering over at me, to check if I was there yet. I said to her "Good morning beautiful" and she smiled and went back to sleep for a little while. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Before we knew it, we were off on the school run. Blimey I don't miss that! Kaci and Maisie, my other gorgeous girlie both started in September, where has that time gone! I did think that with Kaci being at school it would mean Frankie and I could share some quality time together, however little Jaxon at 11 months old is both adorable and a bit of a handful. He doesn't sleep and my Frankie is totally exhausted. She is up most nights 3 or 4 times, sometimes for an hour or 2, and during the day he may sleep for an hour in the morning. Good job he's gorgeous! So I'm not sure it was quality time together, but simply a lovely time together.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the Saturday the weather was lovely and sunny so we had a trip to the pier, it was suprisingly warm for November and we enjoyed all that Brighton Pier has to offer, rides, 2p machines and naughty food! Hence the slight return of Dolores the following day... silly me, but wow that chippy on the pier was scrummy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sunday was Kaci's birthday and we had a great time at Monkey Bizness in Lewes, what a great place for a kids party. We hardly saw the children... that's got to be a bonus, until they were called for their food, and then a monkey came along and we sang happy birthday. I was a little sore with over indulging the previous day, so I had a lovely time in the ball pit with the toddlers. It was super seeing all of Kaci's family there for her birthday, family and friends all both sides, just the way it should be!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A couple of evenings later Mark and Laura came over to Frankie and Jordan's and I cooked for us all, it was the night before Mark's birthday, so Laura brought some lovely cakes and Mark played the game well and pretended to be very suprised as we sang Happy birthday to him, even though he had provided the matches for the candles. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I managed to have a quick check on Uncle Charlie, who I was delighted to see looking very well. He seems to have a good little band of helpers and carers around him at the moment. They are descreet enough that I think he probably thinks they are friends popping in to check on him, so that's all good. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's so difficult managing to divide time with family and friends, and this trip I did only see the family apart from a quick get together for our good friend's granddaughter who celebrated her 2nd birthday whilst we were there. Plus of course now the girls are at school it wasn't so easy to spend time with my little Maisie, but thank goodness we had a lovely time playing after school one day. It was lovely to kiss them all goodbye knowing I would be back again very soon.</span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-46332482348231542232015-01-02T04:35:00.000-08:002015-01-02T04:44:10.702-08:00No Dolores, not tonight!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had some miserable weather leading up to my trip back to Brighton in November. I was so looking forward to my nanny cuddles and kisses. Sadly neither of my children had managed to get out to see us this year and the time between my journey back in March for my granddaughter Maisie's birthday, through to November for little Kaci's birthday seems like a life time. The washing couldn't be done until the last minute as the solar was so low, and it was on an airer in a bedroom, and the miserable weather was our excuse for eating bad food so it should have been no suprise what happened, really.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was around 8pm the night before my flight and we were sitting watching rubbish television, as we have such few channels now. We get Irish channel 4 plus a few oldies like Challenge and Pick. So our TV life revolves around the Channel 4 comedy 8 out of 10 Cats, Bullseye and Family Fortunes, on which Les Dennis looks about 25! We watch the odd downloaded series too, it's not all bad. Anyway, I felt that pain, I knew immediately it was Dolores the gallstone(s) I fidgeted about and walked around but needed to double up really. This couldn't happen now, I had a plane to catch in the morning. I had some strong painkillers prescribed from the hospital so I took one and realised I needed to tell Alan. "I hate to admit to this now", I began," but I've got a pain!" He knew immediately what that meant. The options were to sit tight and see if it passed after a few hours, but risk needing to go to the hospital in the middle of the night for pain relief or go now, hope I could be seen quickly and possibly be back home tucked up in bed by midnight. We decided to do that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We arrived at a particularly busy 'Urgencias' at the Reina Sofia hospital in Cordoba, but you always hope maybe they'll whizz them through fast. No such luck on this occasion. We saw a young beautiful female doctor who looked about 18 and was proud to try out her English on us, which was a great help. She asked me all the normal questions... bomit? deearea? She had a good feel about then the ladies rushed in... as they do. They put the doo dah on my finger, checked my blood pressure, then they tried numerous places to get a little blood out of me. It's usually third time lucky, with a bit of wriggling involved. Eventually the line was in, blood taken out and a pain killer on it's way. Once the pain killer was in, and it works incredibly quickly, I was sent back out to the waiting area for a while. Next stop was an xray, then await to see the pretty little girl again. Time was ticking away, and we were getting concerned. We had to leave home about 7.30 in the morning for me to catch the train from Cordoba to Malaga then my flight to Gatwick, and it was now around 3am! We sat patiently, now and then checking the phone for the time, and sighing. At last we were called back in to see the young doctor. She confirmed it was my gallstones, and or gallbladder. Not to eat fat, or drink alcohol and if I become yellow to go to the hospital in Brighton straight away. We managed a brisk walk back to the car, and arrived home at 6am. Alan decided he would have an hour in bed as he thought it was better than nothing, but I was sure I would feel worse so I finished drying my clother by holding them up to the calor gas fire. Alan's alarm soon burst into song and I was still feeing great... full of drugs, so off we went. With any luck I would sleep most of the journey and see the family very soon! </span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-2563216316220923372014-11-02T11:29:00.003-08:002014-11-02T11:29:32.490-08:00 My Grey Cloak<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have great admiration for writers that can completely bare their soul whilst writing. It's something I've never felt I could do, I always needed to keep a little of me back. If I have been brave enough to click 'publish' on this post, then I feel I have opened up a little more. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have recently published 3 blog posts, although I have many more posts prepared and saved, but I've found it quite hard to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard should I say. I'll try and explain as best I can.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the end of March I had an appointment with the eye consultant. I was diagnosed a few months ago as having sarcoidosis in my eye, which presents itself as uveitis, and I also had inflamation the the retina. I was becoming rather blasé about it. The different tests were a doddle, even the one where she injected dye into my arm, which shot into the blood vessels in my eye and made my mouth feel a little drooly. As were the steroid injections I was having regularly under my eye. I was quite aware than my sight in my right eye wasn't improving but I just thought we would trundle along for a while. Then she hit me with it! She said the treatment wasn't working and I had 2 options, an injection the eyeball or to go on steroid tablets. The needle in the eye was my big fear. I thought she would think I was silly if I ran out the door, so I stayed put, clammy handed and trembling. I immediatly wussed out and said I wanted the steroid tablets. I had read that the injecton of steroids into the eye is very likely to cause cataracts... and that means more injections in the eyeball. Err no thanks!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was pleased when Alan said he thought I had made the right decision. Lots of people in a wonderful and caring facebook group I belong to, are on the steroid Prednisone, so I thought it could help other symptoms that were going on. This is where it gets difficult for me to talk about.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Depression, there you go, I've said it! As a female, I have of course suffered with bursting into tears at inopportune moments, generally feeling down and wanting to stab the odd person in the back, however this was or is very different. I was first aware of it in 2006, I was suffering with eye problems then, and the most extreme tiredness I have ever felt. I was teaching dancing, and I would arrive home and would be asleep within 5 minutes. I didn't look after anyone, feed anyone, to be honest I hardly remember that time in my life. We took Frankie my daughter to Paris for her 18th birthday, it was the perfect present for her, apart from I had no voice at all, and was so very tired. We also had a family holiday of a lifetime in Florida but I felt so ill. After our evening meal we would go back to the hotel, to put me to bed and Alan would go back out with the rest of the family!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Christmas was coming up and Alan and I had a trip to Bluewater shopping centre. On the way home my eyes itched so much I felt I wanted to scratch my eyes out and then it happened very suddenly. It was as though someone threw a dark grey cloak over me, and it stayed there for months.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we moved to Spain because of my illness, (that took 18 months to diagnose after my first symptoms), it was such a relief. I was very sad I could no longer do the job I loved as a dance teacher, but of course this bloody illness also seperated me from my family and friends. It was the decison I made, but at that time I wasn't sure I could sit in a front row seat, and not be a part of the Lorna Roff Dance Centre anymore. It felt less painful to be distance myself. Of course moving to Spain meant I no longer had the pressure of being a competitive dance teacher, so if I felt tired, apart from keeping the house and the multitude of weeds under control, my work load was in fact, pretty easy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until March this year I had never taken any medication for my sarcoidosis. It is not a curable disease and the granulomas that cause the problems, can spring up anywhere in the body, and ideally if you can soldier on through it, it is better off that way. I was however still suffering from boughts of depression, plus a few other problems although for me the depression was the most debilitating!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ooops, I've digressed. OK, back to March and I was put on the prednisone, a huge dose of 80mgs every day. I was quite nervous about taking it. Vainly I wondered how much weight I would put on, although I had heard of a few other nasty side effects too, but my eye sight was so important, it had to be done. You take it with breakfast (so it doesn't keep you awake at night... yeah right) along with a stomach protector and a couple of hours later I already felt different, like I had more energy. Those first few weeks I felt bloody marvellous. Better than I have for many years. I ate like a horse and everything tasted amazing! I would cook slighty more than usual (putting it mildly) but I would have it like two dinners, and I was snacking in between with unsalted nuts and dates. The strange thing about the steroids is that your stomach can be full, but you can find yourself shaking as though your blood sugar is low, and I would feel the need to cram food into my mouth. There are great cartoons about prednisone, I'll share some at the end.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A month later and I returned to the ophthalmologist and she was very happy. Already there had been a significant improvement. We could already begin reducing the steroids, what great news! At first I was dropping 10 mgs every 10 days. I didn't notice any side effects for a while, until I got to around 40 mgs. I then had 2 or 3 days where I would feel very down and tearful, and well as other symptoms I had from my sarcoidosis. From then onwards every time my dose lowered this happened. I knew it would only last a few days whilst my body adjusted to the new dose. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was around the middle of the summer when I reached 20 mgs and that was by far the hardest for me. The feeling down and tearful turned into a major depression. I have only spoken about it on a couple of sarcoidosis posts before and to Alan on ocassions. For me the depression meant the My Grey Cloak went over me and there was a thick barrier between me and the world. Some people can talk about it when they are in that situation, but I prefer not to. I would sit at home staring at the screen of the laptop. I would ocasionally click 'Like' to something on facebook, but I hadn't got the energy or inclination to converse with anyone at all. Alan and I would sit for hours and I would hardly talk to him. He never pressured me, he knows when I'm bad that's just the way it is. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I feel like that, my face looks different... older, obviously miserable but it almost feels like it's being dragged down. My posture changes too, I become round shouldered and I feel a physical weight on my head, neck and shoulders. Everything is such an effort. When I was feeling particularly bad in the summer I did confide in a couple of good friends. I also told my daughter. I had managed to keep it from her before, but I thought she ought to know. What was usually lasting just a few days stretched out for about 3 months. I would wake up, and it was there, My Grey Cloak was already over me. There is a fantastic video on youtube called The Black Dog, it is how someone describes their depession, and it is so accurate. Some people call their depression The Black Dog, for me it's My Grey Cloak. The strangest thing about it is it usually switches off rather like a light switch. It can be anytime of the day, or I guess night, and it's gone. I usually keep rather quiet at first as I have a fear it will come back. Rather like having a tummy bug, you don't want to eat too much as soon as you are feeling better... just in case! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When My Grey Cloak lifted, and of all the strange days for it to happen was when we lost of little Outsider. Now, how weird is that, you wouldn't expect a depression to lift on that day! Since talking more about it to Alan I think what happened was the sarcoidosis symptoms were stronger than the dose of steroids I was on. Some of the old symptoms came back. The headaches, breathlessness, the cough and the extreme tiredness. I would sometimes sleep in the morning, as well as a siesta in the afternoon AND be in bed by 10pm! Some days would also feel I had insects crawling under my skin, and one day I made my arm bleed I scratched it so much, all on top of the depression. The last couple of weeks however I have felt on top of the world again, and life is good. I've even been kept awake in the night with the steroids, it's almost like I have just started taking them. I'm so hoping this will last... please!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you go, an attempt to bare my soul, and why I have not had the energy or mindset to manage my blogposts. If you are suffering and living with depression, can I please say surround yourself with the right person or people. I could not have coped without the patience of Alan, and I so wish he didn't have to go through this with me! </span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-15922317812168348752014-10-27T08:22:00.006-07:002014-10-27T08:35:32.761-07:00Our poor Outsider....It was like a horror film!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The day after we lost of dear Geri we had an invite from our lovely friends Ray and Nikki to see their super new house in the campo and have a bite to eat with them. We knew it would do us good, especially being around their gorgeous little children, who are always very free and easy with their cuddles. So we took them up on their kind invitation. Sitting round the dinner table we were chatting about the different animals that have come into our lives, and Alan stated that we hadn't had any stray animals around for a while.... hmmmm sods law or what! After a lovely relaxing time we them we set off home. As we approached our house we often hear the dogs barking or howling, of course they recognise the car, however this was different, more urgent!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was Carlos and Miliko mainly, they were on our big front terrace, Blue and Arthur of course joined in with the commotion, as thats what they do, in true mastin style. Alan went out to check what was going on and called me frantically. There was a kitten, and it wasn't one of ours. She had obviously been out over the fence, made her way through the alpacas and somehow jumped up a high wall that led to our big terrace. Miliko can only open his mouth 18ms due to an accident when he was just a month old. How on eath he manages to catch and suck birds, and even frogs is beyond us, but he does. I didn't think he could harm the kitten with his mouth but he has strong paws and legs and she was only tiny. Carlos on the other hand, is the most nervous and gentle dog you could imagine, but he is a hunter, and it's in his blood. I'm not sure what he would do if he was able to get to our kittens when they are tiny. I hope we never find out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway the kitten had no fear and ran towards the dogs and jumped down into their terrace. It was so lucky Alan was there, he managed to keep them back until I could rush to help, whilst he got stung twice on the head. Poor Alan, the wasps love the taste of him! Pure panic must have set in and she leapt onto the wall where there is a huge drop the other side. Eventually she must have realized she needed to trust us and Alan held up a plank of wood up to her and she gingerly crept down it, onto Alan's shoulder, and into my arms.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At this time we had 3 adult cats and 9 kittens that had developed into one big happy family, with the two females feeding whoever needed feeding, and not just their own. So we put the little kitten down beside them, and it was obvious to us she was possibly only a couple of weeks older than the rest of them. She sat on her own for a while and gingerly a couple of the kittens would get close to her, and would run back to their safety again. We knew she would be ok and safe if she stayed with the rest of the kittens. By the following morning she was one of the family, and being allowed milk from Meeny and Mo like the rest were.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stuck well in, and in the middle</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So that's how the little girl came into our lives. I'm sorry that should have been a blog post in its own right but I've had a bit of a difficult sumer health wise, and I'm just so behind however I'm feeling so much better now, I'm going to try my very best to get you all up to date. You'll be sick of my posts soon!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As most of you know we have holiday rentals where we live, and because we hadn't named this years kittens, for the simple reason that 4 of them were almost identical and there were NINE of them, so most of our guests would tell us the names they gave them. This little kitten had be named 'Outsider' by one guest, as of course she was, and the name stuck.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Outsider visits the new baby alpaca</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our little Outsider was a gorgeous girl, extremely pretty as looked though someone had dabbed a little bit of orange on her black fur, and she had the loudest strangest meow I have ever heard of in a cat, let alone a kitten. She was very tactile and was one of our cuddliest kittens. Suddenly one morning in the beginning of October, we found heartache yet again!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was out with Carlos and Miliko on the big terace, and I heard a noise. I thought at first it was one of the chickens in what we call the indoor outdoor garden. Once they are let out of their chicken room they roam where ever they like. Apart from too close to the dogs, they're not daft! Miliko was very intersted in what or who was making the strange noise. He stood trying to see through the window with his one leg that's shorter than the other just dangling, bless him. I looked and spotted Outsider lying on the table, nothing unual there but I could see there was something not quite right about her. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ok now this is where it be comes rather like a horror film. I have decided to be totally honest about what happened, so please think about if you want to read the details of our dear little Outsiders final hours, or hour!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I rushed round to see her and I could immediately see something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what. She was fine the evening before when I fed them all. My mind was racing. Did she have a chest infection? Had she hurt herself? She she eaten something poisonous? I called to Alan and explained something wasn't right with Outsider. He realised straight away also. I picked her up in my arms and she slumped over to one side, so I tried laying her on the floor. She seemed to have no strength in her legs. We felt her all over and couldn't work out what if anything was painful. All the time she was making an awful crying noise. The other kittens wanted to see her but we managed to keep them away. We were nervous she may have had a disease that could possibly wipe them all out!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alan suggested we take her into the casita in a bucket with a blanket. We thought she was dying and it was just a matter of time. We were gutted! Alan phoned Andres to see if we could take her to the surgery but he was out and he would be back later. We would do what we could to keep her calm and relaxed and of course help if at all possible. We tried her with a little water in a syringe in case she had heat stroke and was dehydrated. She took it and she began to try and be sick although nothing came up. She was clambering to get out of the bucket to we let her out and she threw herself violently at the wall, and ran around as though she was possessed by something. I picked her up to try and calm her down but she bit me hard. I cried out in pain and Alan managed to prise her mouth open to enable me to release my thumb. She was so desperate and I couldn't help her, what a dreadful feeling that was. We tried a few times with the water hoping that maybe if she was sick the problem would be resolved. All the time her breathing was becoming more and more laboured. Time was running out... fast! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Something suddenly clicked. Could she have something stuck in her throat? We could not have managed to look until now, now it was near the end. Alan prised her mouth open. "I can see something" he said urgently. At first he wasn't sure if it was a stick or a piece of plastic. "Quick, get my tweezers!" I replied. He ran and came back with my tweezers, the inevitable was getting closer, we had only seconds. He got the tweezers in and he pulled. He pulled and pulled, it wasn't coming out. At the moment she stopped breathing, we were too damn late! Why oh why hadn't I thought of that before! Although I know we wouldn't have got her to open her mouth. She was gone, but there was still the thought if we could get out the foreign body out maybe she would begin to breath again. So I held her tightly and Alan pulled. We then realised that there had actually been a nasty smell around her, but we couldn't work out what it could be, then we realised .... the foreign object was in fact a dead mouse. What Alan was pulling was the tail. Could we still do it? Goodness knows how big it was, but as Alan pulled as hard as he could the tail came away from the body. That was it, we could do no more.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It really was like a horror film. She was so desperate to tell us she was in distress, crying and literally throwing herself about, whilst she was slowly suffocating. It was one of the worst things we have had to deal with. We realised that even if we had taken her straight to the vet, we would not have made it in time. There are those awful moments though, where you say "What if we had managed to look inside her mouth earlier?" and "what if I had heard her her crying sooner?" We will never know. We only know we hope we never have to go through anything like that again. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we told our vet what happened he was as philosophical as always and said "As a predator, her hunter spirit was stronger than her. She couldn't avoid to try swallow her prey. It's the Law of Nature. I'm sorry so much. You have done everything was in your hands." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He always tries extremely hard to find the right words.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">RIP Outsider. We loved having you in our lives, we wish it had been for longer.</span><br />
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-2170416854588744242014-10-12T06:54:00.000-07:002014-10-12T07:00:41.385-07:00Well what a beautiful little surprise!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At very long last we have some awesome news to share. Our big beautiful Bermuda the alpaca, gave birth to a stunning baby girl on the 29th September. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now most of our longer term holiday bookings have finished, we are still enjoying overnight and weekend breaks from families living in Spain and wanting a little getaway. </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That means we can enjoy a bit of television between guests, for the first time in months. Even though the most exciting channel we can receive by far, is channel 4. The rest are strange programmes with Judge Judy doing her thing most of the day! So on Monday 29th we decided to watch some tv for an hour. Rumour has it that alpacas give birth in the morning, or up until early afternoon, but Alan checked on Bermuda at 5.30pm ... as you do, and when we came down at 6.30 he looked out and very calmly said “There’s a baby!” A baby? A baby what? He was so calm he couldn’t possibly mean a baby alpaca? He bloody did! He grabbed a towel and the iodine, and I grabbed the camera, and the first photo is literally the first moment I saw her. She was already dry and sat cushed beside her mum. Bermuda must have had her, moments after we had gone indoors, typical! She had delivered the placenta too. As we got closer to the cria she leapt up and she walked extemely well, we couldn’t believe it. Alan and I went inside the paddock to check her cord, and to see what sex she was. The cord was long but not bleeding, and we were shocked to see it was a little girl. The only females born to any of our girls have been Lily's two that have died. Once we were happy that all was good we left her with Bermuda and within 2 or 3 minutes of looking for the milk supply, she found it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Naming Bermuda's baby was also one of Alan's crowdfunder rewards, and he contacted Russ and told him the good news a couple of days after the baby was born, and when we were feeling positive that everything was going well. After a little while he came back with the name Gabi. The story behind it is that Russ is originally from Brighton in the UK where we were from also. The nickname of the Brighton and Hove Albion football team is The Seagulls. The Spanish word for seagull is 'gaviota' and in Spain you pronounce the 'v' as a 'b' , so she is our little Gabi, and we love it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I must admit this last week or so, we have realised that this is so different to Lily’s little fella, Milagro, which still breaks our heart, but we must try, as hard as it is to put that behind us and move on. I have to admit when Gabi was born and Alan disappeared to find the scales, I saw Lily look at Gabi, and it upset me so much, I don't mind telling you I shed some tears. It was just all too much. I was worried something would happen to her, plus I knew how broken hearted Lily was, and I could tell the way that she looked at her, she was missing her baby terribly! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gabi weighed 7 kilos the day she was born, so not very big, but she is putting on weight beautifully. We are still weighing her every other day, however she's getting stronger now and she's not so keen on being picked up, although when we do I'm lucky enough to get a nibble on the nose from her. We are now feeling very blessed!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since then she has certainly been giving Bermuda the run around! At dusk we like to sit and watch her discretely as she pronks around the paddock. Chasing kittens, kicking buckets and darting between her mum and Aunite's Lily and Cassandra. I must try and get a video of this, so please check back again in a few days to see if I have been able to add one.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She is a little beauty!</span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-10902093905368082592014-09-23T04:49:00.002-07:002014-09-23T04:49:40.572-07:00Lily's Beautiful Baby Boy<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is going to be a long one ladies and gents. Pour yourself a cuppa or something stronger....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We always knew we would be paranoid when we realised Lily the alpaca was pregnant again. It was almost planned! About a year ago Alan and I had discussed getting the girls pregnant. It was going to be Lily's last attempt as she had sadly lost her last two cria. The previous two were both born a month premature. The first arrived on the day one of my granddaughters was born, and I was in England. She lived for 4 days, and poor Alan had to deal with the nightmare on his own. The second baby lived just a matter of hours and died beside Lily and myself. How on earth were we going to cope if this baby had problems!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The boys must have great hearing or intuition, as a matter of days after we had discussed matings, big Arf the mastin was going ballistic in the middle of the night. Arthur is very good at letting us know when something is going on that we should know about. It may be a kitten close to his lookout point, or an alpaca nibbling a tree it shouldn't, he's always first to inform us. He's a good lad! Alan dashed out in his boxers and found the boys in with the girls. The great thing about living so rural is that you can be in your underwear most of the day and not be seen! I called through the window to see if he needed help. He called back "Can you bring me a t-shirt and a torch. The bloody boys are in with the girls, and I'm having a problem seperating them!" Usually most things can be stopped with a bucket of food, yes even that, and eventually calm was restored. For anyone that doesn't know, alpacas are self induced ovulaters, the females don't have a 'season'. When they mate the egg is released. I remember having this conversation with a young Canadian man, who was delighted to think for about 10 seconds that female alpacas laid eggs!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The deeds had been done and we were doing everything we could to keep the girls, especially Lily, stress free. Alan went back to England for a long weekend at the beginning of June and the day he came back we noticed Lily's rear end, when she was lying down was bulging, like there was a little nose there, just ready to make an appearance. So from then our worries really started. Thankfully that bulge did not make an appearance until Friday August 15th.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had been setting the alarm for 7am, and basically checking the girls, especially Lily about every half hour. The longer she went, the happier we were. On Friday 15th Alan fed the girls to enable him to have a good look at them at 11.30am. At 12 he toddled off again, and came running back panting "She's had the baby!" Sure enough a baby was on the floor of the stable. Lily was standing over it, looking as proud as punch. The cria was flat on the floor, just trying to lift it's head, it was still very wet with the membranes from the birthing sack all over him. Alan dried the cria gently, he checked the cord wasn't bleeding and he put iodine on it. We were rather chuffed to see it was a boy, as Lily's last two cria were girls. We sat on the floor giving them some space, and whilst wondering how we could have missed the birth when we have hardly taken our eyes off her, we watched and waited in awe at the miracle of the birth we had just missed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The minutes went by and this little boy struggled to get to his feet and we gasped and "awww'ed" as he would fall to the floor again. He would summon up all his strength and try again, time after time. Once he was up he would be able to look for the milk supply and hopefully start feeding. Alan and I weren't moving from the floor in the barn anytime soon, although we were getting bitten to smithereens by some sort of blasted nibbling flies that wanted our blood! Alan was getting anxious that the little boy was taking his time standing, and that maybe he would not be able to feed. I tried to calm Alan down reminding him it was very early afternoon, he had the rest of the day until nightfall, before we needed to worry. The last thing we wanted was Lily and her cria to feel any stress from us. Plus I really did think he would get there, eventually.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Time went on, and even I began to worry a little. The little fella was up on his feet but he was struggling to find the udders, and when he did all he seemed to do was lick them. Of course we tried to help him latch on as you would to a human baby but he couldn't seem to get the hang of it. He was exhausted and wanted to sleep, but we knew he would be hungry too. We made a decision to give him powdered colostrum. We knew it wasn't perfect for him but at that stage we thought it was the best option. Like a baby with a bottle for the first time it didn't go perfectly but he did manage to take some. We were then happy for him to have a little sleep. We checked Lily's udders to see if she had milk, and she had it in all 4, although very little was coming out. We collected what we could and the most we got was 4 mls! We guessed we were having to go down the bottle feeding route and Alan did as much research as he could online with regard to which milk he should have.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If any other alpaca owners are reading this, please remember that we live in a very rural part of Spain, and I sometimes question our craziness in having these beautiful animals here. We are lucky in the fact that we have very little humidity, even though we do have very high temperatures. We don't have any goat farms near us that we know of (although in the last couple of weeks we have been informed by our vet that there is one) so we do what we can for our animals, although we know we don't always have the facilities that other alpaca owners have.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first milestone to cross is always the birth, the next being alive for 24 hours, which Lily's previous baby sadly did not. We were doing well! We knew we would not relax until baby had passed 4 days, and then at a week old we would shout of our joy from the roof tops!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So this 'Little Fella' was bottle feeding, he was enjoying it immensly and made cute moans like a baby does when having milk. We began to be aware that we hadn't seen him have a poo. Although apparently they only do a tiny bit and it can be easy to miss, but something worried us and we discussed it with our vet. He suggested we wait until his second day and if we still hadn't seen anything to try an enema. Alan is not an enema specialist, but it's suprising what you can do when you feel you have too. The strange thing was the tube came out as clean as it went in. The vet suggested to give him a gentle laxative as the milk needed a bit of help moving from his tummy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At first he enjoyed the laxative, we put it in a syringe and he lapped it up, I also thought maybe he was thirsty so we also gave him a little water too which he also enjoyed. All this time he was still trying to feed from his mum, but we didn't think he was managing to get any or much milk. The laxatives and enemas seems to be working and Alan and I began to relax. Especially when we passed day 4! On around Day 8 Alan emailed a lady that had been a part of Alan's crowd funder project last year. He had raised some funds for publicity, and one of the rewards was to name a cria. We had been in touch previously and informed the lady of the birth, but she knew we wanted a few more days before we named him. She was delighted to hear he was doing well and her and her daughter named him 'Milagro' It is Spanish for miracle, and we thought it was the perfect name for our little miracle boy. In fact we even went out for a drink and a bite to eat with friends on day 7. Then sadly things then changed on day 8! The swimming pool hoover had broken, and so we decided to nip into Cordoba and buy a new one as Milagro was doing ok. We would only be a couple of hours, we wouldn't hang about.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We arrived home and made up "Little fella's" bottle, plus whatever else we needed to take out to him. He was also on a general antibiotic, as well as enemas 2 or 3 times a day, plus his liquid paraffin laxative. He seemed ok apart from his little face was soaking wet where his eyes had been streaming. I bathed his eyes in pre boiled water and hoped they would settle or we would need eye drops to add to the routine. Later on that evening, when we went out to do the last feed we had a bit of a shock. Within seconds I could see his eyes looked different. From beautiful solid black eyeballs, they had changed to what looked like a marble. His eyes were cloudy and no longer solid black. Then the most upsetting thing happened, he walked into a wall! We were shocked and upset, and then to top things off, he began walking around in a small circle! After his bottle we watched as he settled down in a cozy cush position and closed his eyes. As worried as we both were we left him and immediately looked online for any ideas what could be wrong! As well as his eyes looking different the skin around them were very red also, and his little nose and mouth. The redness around his eyes could be a symptom of another huge problem called 'sepsis!' Also the fine fleecy hairs around Milagro's eyes and mouth seemed to be falling out. Bless his heart!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alan fairly quickly found something that looked as though it maybe what was causing Milagro the problems he was having. It was called Thiamine deficiency induced polioencephalomalacia (PEM) for short. There are many symptoms of PEM but our little cria was showing signs of the following, which are all symptoms..</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>decreased appetite</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>staggering or unsteady gait</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>elevated head or stargazing</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The acute stage of PEM is typically characterized by</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>blindness</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only thing that made us feel the teeniest bit positive was if we could get some thiamine B1 into the baby he SHOULD be ok! First the hunt for it! On Amazon.com you can buy it for your household pets. Here in Spain it's a totally different story. We could buy it, however only a Vitamin B complex with vitamin B1, with also B6 and B12 too. We had to buy that, and get him started as soon as possivble, whilst trying to source a 'complete' thiamine in the meantime.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Little Milagro remained in this condition for a few days, apart from one of his eyes turned into a red ball! so we decided we needed to get some plasma into him as soon as possible. We hoped our friend Jane in Gaucin would have some although it would have meant a 8 hour round trip and we would need to consider the crias injections etc throughtout that day. As it happened she didn't have any but an other friend Alison in the north of Spain did, and she managed to get some sent to us. Unfortunately it took a day longer than we hoped but we had to be patient. It was delivered straight to our vet, and Andres contacted us and he came straight to us to give the little fella the transfusion. At this point he was still pretty fiesty, which of course was a great sign, but we thought it may prove difficult for a slow dripping transfusion going into his vein.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For anyone that has not had any dealings with alpacas, they are a nightmare to find their veins, especially in the crias. Their jugular vein is hidden behind the oesophagus, therefore all of us, including Andres were hoping it would not be too difficult to find the vein , let alone get the blood plasma into him. We decided to take him into our casita so Lily wouldn't be humming whilst we were dealing with him, which would then of course upset him too. So we gave the ladies a little food and we managed to take him without Lily noticing. Luckily Andes hit the jackpot first time, although little Miligro did wriggle around quite a lot, and in the end the three of us were like statues. I got lucky and managed to sit on Andres's medical box, whilst Alan and Andres had sore knees for the following hour. We all managed to be still enough for Milagro to be calm and just after an hour the procedure was finished. After the canula was removed we took him straight back to his mum, who clucked around him like a mother hen, and he tried to drink from her, something he was still doing regularly even though there was very little, if any milk for him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That evening, although exhausted we mentally allowed ourselves to relax, just a little. We were doing everything we could. Little Milagro was having his thiamine, antibiotics, eye drops and he had now had his blood plasma. I remember saying to Alan "Is that it? Does that really mean he will be ok now?" We had always thought that once he had his plasma he would no longer be susceptible to picking up infections, and once we got the PEM under control he would be ok. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We continued the treatments but the good news was Milagro no longer needed his enemas and we were reducing his laxatives as his digestive system seem to have kick started. He could go to the toilet on his own now, like a big boy, but whilst grunting and groaning like a toddler! At least he could go! We were however concerned the Little Fella's eyes didn't seem to be improving and that was a worry. It did cross my mind, would it be fair to keep him alive if he was blind? Alan had read about a cria that was blind and followed his mum by the tinkling of a bell around her neck. Personally I wasn't sure. He should be able to run, pronk and play and little Milagro would not even walk far, as he had no understanding of where he was in the paddock and when we took them inside for most of the day, due to the heat, he would walk slowly and carefully as he knew there were walls all around him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We never had to make that decision......</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 16 of our beautiful little boys life, and in the afternoon he didn't want his bottle. In the early evening I noticed his breathing had changed, and I have since questioned myself over and over again, why I did not insist on getting the vet out that evening. We telephoned him and he suggested we take his temperature and give him a different antibiotic which would also help his respiratory system, plus another injection to help bring his temperature down. So Alan shot into town and bought them, and it was arranged for Andres to come first thing the following morning. When we first took his temperature it was 40.4. I bathed him with cool water to try and cool him down. During the night we took his tempeature again and it had dropped slightly to 39.6, and he would not take any milk but he took a good drink of water. We were relieved and although his breathing was the same, we thought he had improved slightly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At 9am Alan collected Andres our vet as arranged. The moment he looked at our little boy he shook his head and said "<i>No me gusta</i>" (I don't like) we discussed the treatment we had been doing and he suggested getting an x-ray of Milagro's lungs, at the vetinary hospital at the university in Cordoba and we would decide where we go from there. Alan and I suggested we go immediately, so we took Andres back to his surgery and he telephoned the vetirinary hospital and explained the situation, and told them we were on our way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The drive from Montoro to Cordoba would have taken not much more than 20 minutes. Our little boy was struggling to breathe and it was becoming uncomfortable to see and to listen to. I think in my heart I had thought he wasn't going to get through this, but I didn't say. I stroked him gently as I sat in the back with him, but he was still fairly strong and kept his head up, as I guess it was easier from him to breathe in that position. About 2 minutes before we arrived at the hospital Milagro made a gasping sound, I didn't like it! At around this same time two tears fell. It took me a few seconds to realise they were tears! The first landed on my hand the second on the seat of the car. I said to Alan to go a little faster, I was frightened we were going to lose him. Alan pulled up right outside the door as he took 2 more gasps and put his head on the seat beside me. They were his last breaths! I said quietly to Alan "We're too late" Alan didn't want to believe it, he leapt out of the car and took the baby out and rushed up the stairs. When two young vets saw the limp little baby in Alan's arms they rushed over with their stethoscopes. Alan lay the baby alpaca on the floor, and we all knew it was too late, he had gone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the tears fell from my eyes Alan told me to wait outside. I sat on the stairs and sobbed for about a minute, then pulled myself together, Alan needed support too.There were other people waiting to be seen, goodness knows how they felt. They would have no idea what this little baby was, and then for it to be lying, and not breathing on the floor, I hope it didn't upset any of them too much. The two young vets listened to his heart, they said "We are sorry!" but we knew.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was no mention of keeping the little baby for a necropsy but Alan and I both knew in our hearts we hard to take him home for Lily. So we carefully lay him in the back of the car and Alan held me tight for a few minutes before we climbed in for the long drive home. We were heartbroken once again. I got into the back seat and stroked the little boy most of the way home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When Lily lost her first baby, Alan took it to the veterinary hospital and he didn't bring her home. Lily cried for 2 whole weeks every time she saw Alan, she wanted her baby back, and Alan was the one who took it away. The second baby she lost was with Lily when it died so she cried only for 2 or 3 days. That was the day Alan, I and Andres witnessed the tear that ran from Lily's eye! It wasn't until we were both in the car we admitted to each other that we both wanted to take the baby back to her if the worst was to happen. We know how badly alpacas can grieve. Alan had read online about someone that had covered their baby with a towel and then after a while took the body away. The mother and other alpacas thought the baby was still underneath the towel. It was in the high 30's on day 17 and we could not leave the cria outside too long. Lily had been left inside as they would normally, due to the heat since having her cria. As soon as we opened the gate she quickly moved towards the cria on the ground. Bermuda also seemed quite upset and sniffed the baby for a while and Lily hummed loudly as we knew she would. After about 15 minutes we placed a towel over him and and a little while later Alan took our 'Little Fella' to his final resting place, leaving the towel there. We left the towel for quite a while but maybe it wasn't long enough. At he end of the day it may have eased Lily's pain to think she had her baby with her a little longer, but he was no longer alive, humming for her, and trying to find his milk. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We will do everything in our power to ensure Lily never has to feel this pain again. As for us, the pain becomes harder each time. Losing this beautiful boy, has completely knocked me for six. and I'm not sure how many more times we can also go through this! Fences are being re constructed so no naughty boys will be able to escape!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can I say on behalf of Alan and I how fantastic the alpaca forums have been. We have put many posts on there and have always had helpful advice from people that have gone through similar experiences, or simply want to offer their support to us when it was most needed. Also very grateful thanks to our good friend Ginny Cobb who immediately telephoned us when she saw our first question on a forum, and who was there with us every step of the way. Thank you Ginny. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have decided to only put what I consider nice photos of our little cria. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">RIP Milagro, also known as 'Little Fella' you were just too beautiful for this world!</span><br />
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-91886122055668638512014-08-13T06:45:00.004-07:002014-08-13T06:56:35.338-07:00Kittens.... Somewhere!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a gorgeous cat here called Barb, she was here before we moved in. About a year ago sadly she disappeared. We think possibly she was ill, and she simply took herself off to pastures new. Last spring she had a litter of kittens, they all grew up beautiful and strong. We now had three female cats plus a male. Usually every year Barb would hold some kind of meeting. I imagine it to be a little like a Disney film, where they would sit around her and she would decide who should be the next to leave home. They would have a little spotted hanky on a stick, leaning on their shoulder and off they would go, on their next adventure. Gradually they would all leave and she would give birth to her next litter. This year however with no Barb, the four stayed. We could see the three females were pregnant, we were also a tad concerned we maybe over run with little kitty cats! Last years litter were named Eeny, Meeny, Miny and Mo.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One morning we noticed Eeny's tummy had gone, she had obviously given birth. We looked around as discretely as we could, but saw no signs of any kittens. Next, a couple of days later it was Meeny, again the slightly saggy, empty looking tummy, but also no signs of any kittens. Last but not least was little Mo. Miny is the only male, in case you were wondering, but he wasn't the dad. I think possibly next year he maybe tough enough to give it a go, but there were a couple of larger males that he did try and stand up to, although they won this year. Every evening after feeding the alpacas I would do a little hunt and always came back disappointed. On looking at the new mums occasionally I would suspect they had just been feeding, as their little nipples would appear larger. A couple of weeks later we still had no idea however if the new kittens were doing ok, or indeed how many there were!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We would watch the cats and try and follow them, and one day we had the shock of our lives when we heard meowing from tiny kittens. Would you believe the smallest of the mums, Mo, had brought her 2 tiny kittens to show us. They were in the indoor outdoor garden, and she had left then in a big plant holder. They were there just for 24 hours then she moved them on again. One was grey and quite a good size, the other was black which a strange stumpy tail and a little smaller. You can just make out Little grey kitten but the little black one was hiding in a corner.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It was quite a few days later that Alan noticed Meeny going in and out of a small outbuilding, the same place in fact where she was born just over a year ago. Alan did an impersonation of Bear Grylls and clambered in. Small gap for a big bloke,... sorry Alan! I'm not sure what this building would have been used for in the past, but it has holes in the walls inside it. As Alan shone his torch in, he could see some little wriggling bundles, in one of the holes. He wasn't sure how many, but they were alive and moving around, they seemed to be mainly grey and white, the same as mum. A part solved mystery there.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another week or so went by but there was still no sign of Eeny's kittens, until one evening I spotted her going around behind the pool pump. It's a bit of a wilderness with metre high weeds and there is a small ruin too. I crept in behind her, and she was lying amongst the weeds growling to warn me off. She had her babies there. No idea how many, or if they were ok, but she was protecting something, we had to be patient.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whilst feeding the alpacas one night we spotted in between the bales of hay in the barn, two tiny kittens, the little grey one and little black stumpy Jack, with a stump for a tail. Little Mo was spotted going in and out of the barn, so that was one mystery solved, we now knew where they lived.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now this is where it becomes confusing... Stumpy Jack was nowhere to be seen, but what we
thought was the grey kitten that was brought to us, was trying to climb out of the
chicken out house, so Alan put him in with the other
kittens, in the holes in the wall. Thinking of course they had been moved by their mum. Later that night our little Miliko was barking like crazy, we thought the alpacas
were fighting but it turned out little grey kitten had got himself out of the
chicken out house, and possibly fallen
and was on the floor, far too close for comfort to the little dogs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tried for about an hour to reunite grey kitten with who we thought was it's mum, Little Mo. We were sure it was her grey kitten she had brought to show us. I even had them both on my lap at one point. I fed Mo and put the kitten near her, but she was hissing and spitting at it, and clouted it really hard a couple of times. I was totally at a loss as to what to do, it was horrible to see her turn her back on her kitten. After a little while Meeny wandered into the indoor outdoor garden and she seemed to take a bit of a shine to little grey kitten. To our great relief she seemed to foster her, and fed and washed her at least 3 times that we saw.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Little Beauty</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>With Mo, who doesn't want to know</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Foster mum, Eeny</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">That evening when Alan and I went to feed the animals, little black kitten (Stumpy Jack) that did belong to Mo, peeped out from the bales of hay, with a grey kitten behind it! We had thought maybe the little black one hadn't made it, he was rather tiny. So who was this grey kitten belonging to?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the evening dog walk, Eeny whose kittens we hadn't seen, was in the indoor outdoor garden, and Alan put the baby to her. She immediatly started rubbing her head all over him as though to get her smell onto him and she was trying to pick him up. She struggled for a bit but managed to get hold of him and dragged him off, by the scruff round by the pool filter. It must have been hers all along!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sadly I don't have a photo of Meeny with the kitten as she packed her bags and left home just a couple of days after. Little grey kitten is doing great however. More news on them, very soon.</span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-63881918848328180702014-07-13T13:04:00.001-07:002014-07-14T01:27:42.385-07:00The life and times of our darling Geri<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Little Geri came into my life in August 1998. The cutest little bundle of fun. An 8 week old collie cross Beagle. We had lost our previous dog Teo a couple of months before, and we were desperately missing a dog in our house hold.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had looked at a few rescue centres as it is where I personally prefer to obtain pets from. We found a wonderful place near East Grinstead in the UK called Last Chance Animal Rescue, and we were actually toying between a huge English Mastiff or an 8 week old puppy. In the end the puppy had us. I remember the day we brought her home so vividly. My dear mum had suffered a stroke about 18 months previously, and would often have mini strokes, always at such inconvenient times too! This day was one of them. I remember her sitting down on a chair and her face changing as I was looking at her. I went into slight panic mode and the lovely people at the rescue centre dialled 999. Within minutes an ambulance arrived and the paramedics gave mum a good check over, but it was a slight mini stroke or TIA (transient ischaemic attack) Luckily within a matter of about half an hour she was already starting to feel better. My dear mum loved a trawl around second hand shops, and one time she had a TIA in the Heart Foundation Shop. Another ambulance! Honestly what some people will do for a bit of attention! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So we brought little Geri home and oh boy was she hard work. I'd never had a puppy before, and she would chase us around, nibbling at our heels. She probably thought she was rounding us up, or she was at least trying to. She developed eventually however into a beautiful dog, in every sense of the word. When we moved from our house in Brighton, after we lost my mum, to Peacehaven she had regular walks to the park which was only two minutes away, and to the beach, which also was just a few minutes away. We had 10 great years there. It was a wonderful family home with great Christmasses, one of which Geri ate a large box of chocolates plus most of it's wrapper's that had been left under the tree. Another time my son was trying to stop smoking and Geri ate multiple packets of nicotinell chewing gum. Luckily for us Mark's gf at the time worked in a pharmacy and insisted we telephone our vet as she was concerned it maybe poisonous to her. Good job we did, they insisted we brought her straight in and she had to stay in overnight. They believed her heart would speed up, and then slow down to an alarming rate, and possibly stop. They wanted to put her on a drip to try and control her heart for the night. The following day we brought her home, having been told she had enough nicotine in her to have killed her 10 times over... tough cookie, somehow she got through it! I'm actually smiling whilst I'm typing this as I remember one day Geri came across a partly decomposed seagull, and picked it up and carried it proudly along the seafront promenade. It's wingspan seemed huge and were sticking out horizontally, held together by a part of a skeleton. I chased her to try and get her to drop it, but no way. It was her prize possession she was so proud, I was so embarrassed!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Geri at home in Peacehaven </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The years passed by and my children were growing up fast. When Geri was 10 years old, we made the decision to move here to Spain. Geri had her jabs and her passport photo taken, and we were ready for the off. Crikey did she cry when we left her at Gatwick to go into the hold. I hated thinking about where she would be. Would it be freezing cold? Noisy? Would she be with the luggage? I had no idea. She was a terrible traveller at the best of times, and would cry continuously for the duration of any car journey. We knew that a couple of hours on a plane would be easier than a couple of days driving.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Geri's life here in Spain was basically a lovely outdoors lifestyle. We had a large area that she could simply live outside as much as she wanted. As the years went on she developed arthritis, but I'm sure it would have been so much worse if we had been still living in the UK. When we had our alpacas join us here, she enjoyed spending time with them, although she was understandably nervous at first. Then arrived her best mate in the world, Carlos.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Carlos's first day</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Carlos I found in the bushes outside our house one day, just a few months after we arrived. Carlos and Geri got on like a house on fire. He was, and still is such a gentle soul. Then came along Arthur and Blue the mastins. At about 12 weeks old they were huge bundles of energy, that Geri would try and control but she was still the leader of the pack. Next came little Miliko, again another puppy with endless energy. It was getting a bit too much now and Geri would watch from afar, and have a snooze unless she would feel she needed to let us know the pups were getting out of hand.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Geri's trying to be in control</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>With our little Miliko</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The year after we arrived here, my son and his gf came for a visit. Geri was so incredibly excited to see him, she ran around the small courtyard at top speed, then charged up a flight of stairs then suddenly yelped in pain. We immediately knew she had done something major. She had, she had completely torn her cruciate ligament. I was so upset when I realised she needed an operation. The operation was done at a vetirinary surgery in Cordoba where she had excellent treatment. Alan then spent a chilly April helping her rehabiltate in our swimming pool.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Last visit to the vet after her operation</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sadly a couple of years later, Geri suffered a cruciate ligament problem on the other leg. We think she just knocked over by one of the other dogs. This was not so bad, probably some fibres were torn, but we decided not to put her through the operation this time. She was fine, just a little slower than usual. Having said that she would sometimes run for her dinner as fast as the others would!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our lives were plodding along all very nicely when suddenly a couple of months ago Geri had a bit of a mishap. I did a blog post about it. If you need a little reminder<a href="http://lornaslifeinspain.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/our-geri.html" target="_blank"> click here......</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were well aware that Geri approaching her 16th birthday was very frail now. She was extremely short sighted due to cataracts and totally deaf. Although she would some how spot Miliko running around like a crazy thing if we passed through the old wooden gates into the part the little dogs lived, by our apartment (We had kept the mastins seperate for a while in case Geri got bowled over, which would occasionally happen) To be honest when Geri had this last accident we knew the end wouldn't be to far away. We made her as comfortable as we possibly could. She had her own sofa with the cushions taken off so she could get on and off without too much fuss. Every morning we would wake up and she was alive, would be a bonus. Whoever was up first out of Alan and I would stroke her gently to wake her gradually, pop to the bathroom, which would give her a few minutes to come to. She then had to be supported whilst getting off the sofa. Having said that sometimes she would be up herself, and often we would hear her up and down all night long. Her little claws pitter pattering on the tiles as she would wander around the living room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last Thursday became a nightmare day for us. When we came back from a hospital check up from me, I went to check on her and she was lying on her side in the sun. Luckily it wasn’t too hot! She was trying to get up but couldn’t. She seemed to have a problem with a front leg! We carried her in and gave her an anti-inflammatory pill, some food and water and let her sleep. At first her breathing was very hard and fast, and to be honest I thought her heart may just have stopped at any time. Unfortunately I had an appointment for a CT scan, that same evening, but Geri was sleeping soundly having had the pill. We did discuss Alan staying with her, but in the end he didn't, and luckily she stayed sleeping soundly until we got back. During the night we put cushions beside her sofa in case she tried to get up, and she was up a few times in the night. Part of the time we let her sleep on the floor, on her side where she seemed to be the most comfy. Or we would lift her back onto her sofa after we have helped her have a little toddle.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alan emailed our vet Andres on the Thursday evening and we told him what had happened. He suggested we bring her in the following morning for an anti-inflammatory injection. I was very nervous of what may happen when we took her. Deep down I thought he would say it was just a slight injury to the front leg, suggest giving her the injection and she would be ok for another few months. There was the real worry however he would say it was indeed something major.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The devastating news was that her front leg, that we could see was injured, her shoulder was broken, and possibly dislocated too. Andres explained we could take her to Cordoba to the vet that did her cruciate ligament operation for an x-ray and second opinion if we wished. They could operate on her, but to be honest at 16 she would probably never get through it. Her back legs with her age were so brittle they would never stand up to having all the extra weight on them. Andres did not try and lead us one way or the other, leaving it completely up to us, but we knew she had no quality of life. If she wanted to go anywhere we had to carry her. What a difference a day makes! Andres gave Geri an anti-inflammatory injection, plus he gave us 2 injections for her, for Saurday and Sunday too. We told him we would like to take her home for the weekend and discuss things. Really what we wanted to do was hold her and cuddle her over the weekend, before making that awful desicion. A decision I had never had to make before. When we stepped outside of the door I said to Alan, maybe we should go back and do it now. Alan said "No, let's take her and and give her a lovely weekend at home!" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We hoped after Geri had her anti-inflammatory injection, she would at least have a good night. Alan and I however were both up numerous times in the night. Every movement had us leaping out of the bed to check on her. Sometimes she wanted to get up and we would have to support her tummy, as she would try desperately hard to walk. We realised of course that she would not be feeling much pain but the broken / dislocated shoulder was not going to heal with an anti-inflammatory injection. She was still totally unable to walk without us totally supporting her. Alan and I understood that waiting until after the weekend was not being fair to her. So on the Friday night we emailed Andres, and asked if he would come to our house on the Saturday morning. Andres replied by saying "He respected our decision" and Alan was to pick him up at 9am!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Geri and I spent the time sitting on the floor together whilst Alan went to get him, and I put her on the sofa when he arrived. The whole procedure was so kind and gentle. I've never seen it done before but I won't go into the details in case people find it upsetting, but it was over within about a minute, whilst I sat on the sofa with Geri holding her head in my hands. Andres kept saying how sorry he was, and when the 'procedure' was finished he said "She's sleeping now" and stroked her tenderly. He continued by saying, how all we want to do is to give our pets a lovely life with us, and when they are in pain or discomfort it is good that we can help them too. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Geri and I spent an hour together on the sofa, whilst Alan took Andres home. It was very strange, I kept expecting to see her breathing. Like when you look at them occasionally and they apear to stop breathing, and then they take a deep breath. Actually elderly sleeping relatives tend to do the same! Having lost alpaca cria and know how bereft the mums can become, we decided to bring Miliko and Carlos in to see Geri. We didn't worry about Arthur and Blue as they hadn't seen her for a few weeks. The both suprised us in their own way. Miliko is usually like a whirl wind, we lifted him onto the sofa and he extremely gently sniffed all around her head and face, very loving. Carlos was another matter. When we lifted him up, he wouldn't look at Geri, he turned his head and he looked the other way. We are not sure if he understood or not, but he didn't want to be there, or to see Geri like that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One week on and we have had a busy week. Which I'm sure was a good thing. Alan and I have shared many cuddles (Sorry Alan ) and I have shed many tears. Arthur and Blue spend most of the day and night sleeping... nothing different there, especially this time of the year. Little Miliko seems to have a new liking for baby bats, and seems to always have one in his mouth at the moment, bless him, and bless the poor baby bats. Carlos is very sad, every time we walk passed him we are aware of giving him extra cuddles and more of our time. He's been indoors this afternoon for a siesta, Miliko got thrown out as he tried to bring his bat in, but Carlos has broken into our bedroom and was curled up on our bed. Hopefully he will be ok in a few days time. And Geri, well she's been laid to rest inbetween two lovely olive trees. I know that was a difficult job for Alan.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for 16 wonderful years Geri.</span><br />
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-40694553383922165392014-07-01T09:42:00.002-07:002014-07-01T13:50:55.293-07:00It's Time for some new Chickens... Yippee!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our original girls were down to just two, Auntie Mabel and Auntie Marjorie-Jess. Yes you've got it, we are not a hundred percent which she is, so she now has joined the prestigious double barrelled group. We decided to wait until spring, when the weather was reasonable and also when Greyhound man's dogs were not lurking. Grehound Man works on some of the land around us and is named as he has greyhounds... you would never have guessed! He's not our favourite person. He leaves his dogs in the house that he uses when he's here for a few days at a time, and we know for a fact he doesn't come back and feed them every day. To be honest if his dogs are hungry and they come looking for chickens what can we say, nothing, the poor dogs. So we hadn't see GM for a while so we thought we would do a chicken shopping trip.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Auntie Marjorie-Jess and Auntie Mabel, before their new play mates arrived</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We went to the same place in Cordoba we bought our last ones from. Well when we eventually found it again. We arrived about 20 minutes before siesta, struggled to find somewhere to park the car as two dogs were sprawled across the allocated parking area. We expected to look at a 'menu' as previously, but no this time we were allowed to follow the two young men and see for ourselves. We explained that we lived in the campo and wanted the chickens just for eggs, we wouldn't be eating them. We 'Ooohed and ahhhed' over some pretty ones but were put firmly in our places and told we need strong campo chickens, that would be hardy. True of course. There was also a gorgeous little Silkie but it was a male, and we really just want females, so he was out of the equation too. A pure white egg was shown to us, proving some of the chickens were already laying. That didn't matter to us, we knew it would take them a few weeks to settle in their new home before laying again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We chose our new girls, two of each, white, brown and black, and watched whilst they were unceremoniously hauled out of their cages, and shoved into a big box. It always looks so undignified but I'm sure upside down is maybe the way it should be done.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A hour back home in the car, and we took them straight round to there newly cleaned out chicken room. Even the boys knew something was going on!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For a few mornings we kept the new girls in, Alan would pop round and manage to let Auntie Mabel and Auntie Marjorie-Jess out, to give them some peace from these new youngsters. Luckily they all seemed to get along just great, with no squabbles that we were aware of. A few days later we opened the rustic old doors and let them feel the fresh air on the faces and be free for the very first time. Wonderful! </span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-46688821023748101102014-06-06T13:05:00.000-07:002014-06-06T13:05:11.751-07:00Eye Eye!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are up to date with my gnashers, now my other problem, my eye. I have been going to the eye department every month at the Reina Sofia University Hospital in Cordoba, and really cannot fault any part of my treatment. After a few months of steroid eye drops, which haven't worked, I went onto a course of four steroid injections under my eye. When I attended the next appointment I thought it was simply going to be the same again. These injections have caused me no problems at all, although it's rather a strange feeling as you can feel the steroid fluid fill the baggy bit under your eye, as the contents are being flunged in. It remains puffy for a few hours, but it's not painful. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had a shock when my consultant, that I see every time, informed me the treatment was not working (which of course I was aware of) but she wanted to try a different treatment. She said those words I had been dreading (in Spanish of course!!) "We need to change the treatment. You need a steroid injection into your eye, or we need to try some steroid tablets!" GULP!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was something Alan and I had discussed may happen at some point, but we have been waiting for an appointment from the rheumatologist.... ok that's something to complain about, as we have been waiting a few months now. I wussed out of the injection in the eye. I know people say you have drops in it, and you don't see the needle coming etc, but I couldnt find the words to ask her! When I said to Alan "Did you think I was a big baby?" He said he thought I had done the right thing. We had discussed it would be a idea to have a consultation with a rheumy consultant first, and he or she would be looking at my sarcoidosis as a whole, and not just in my eye. That didn't make me feel so bad. I was prescribed a huge dose of 80 mgs every day, along with a stomach protector, and a vitamin D pill also to help prevent osteoperosis. This is a bit of a concern as it is a known fact that people with sarc should not take Vitamin D, but once again, I struggled to find the words and took the presciptions knowing that at some point I can ask another consultant. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of we went to our pharmacist friend, armed with pages of prescriptions and a new stage of my life as a 'pill popper' has begun. That first month I was taking 6 tablets a day! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The steroid pill I have been prescribed is Prednisone. Apparently has many side effects, especially when reducing the doseage. I have purposely tried to avoid looking at these, as I don't want to be looking for what could be a side effect, if you know what I mean. One of the the main problems with them is that they make you want to eat your body weight in food. I have looked up why your appetite increases so much, and it seems to give a false adrenaline. For me I can feel very shaky, almost like I'm low in sugar, but even when eating, this feeling doesn't always go away. I have also had palpitations that wake me during the night, and I will be awake for a good couple of hours, plus severe hot sweats, again especially at night time. Of course 'me age' doesn't help, but I never had that before these pills. However..... I have felt better than I have physically for years. I was aware after just a few days, I wasn't reaching for headache pills. I have suffered with headaches most of my adult life. Not migraines but severe enough to take tablets most days. In the three months of taking the steroids so far, I had one slight headache one day, that's fantastic for me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My consultant saw me one after a month as usual, when all the normal tests were done on my eye. Although I could see no difference with my sight, the scan of my retina showed an improvement during that first month, which was fabulous. We were able to already begin to reduce the Prednisone already! I am now taking 40 mgs a day, which is still very high, and my doseage is lowered every ten days. Until next week when I only drop 5 mgs. Off to the hospital again on Tuesday next week, so let's hope she's still happy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have now sadly put on about three quarters of a stone in weight. Having said that, if I hadn't of been doing the 5 x 50 challenge, (I shall tell you more about very soon) it would have been sooo much worse. I also now have, well I don't think it could be described as a moon face... more Sponge Lorna Square Face!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My eye after an injection under it</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Strange pupil shape, after drops to dilate my eye</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sorry about the smudged mascara!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Some great jokes for people on steroids!</b></span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-31956647282496259152014-05-24T11:01:00.002-07:002014-05-24T11:05:52.150-07:00Teeth Update March... All Done Wooo Hooo! <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3e454c; line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I said in my last blog post, which was about my trip to Brighton for Maisie's birthday, I had to extend my holiday slightly... terrible shame. When I had gone back in December for Baby Jaxon's birth, I had the bite registration plus impressions done. That was all ok apart from as my old nan would have said "I'm a good 'ealer!" Whenever the posts of the implants had to be exposed for impressions to be made, the skin on my gums would grow over the posts again very quickly. This meant I would have to have lots of injections to numb my mouth (as I'm a coward with pain, but I'm fine with injections) to expose the posts again. Well this was done however the laboratory were not completely happy with the results. We considered finding an English speaking dentist here, but then thought it was better to just extend my stay in Brighton so the same procedure could be done again, and then hopefully the implants would be all sorted for my return back to Spain at the end of the week. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just a little reminder.... For a few years I had a problem on the left top side of my mouth, with old crowns, and a chipped front tooth that was failing very quickly. I knew eventually something sensible would need to be done but I was dreading the thought of what. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first consultation when the decision was made, not just to do a couple of extractions but four, and I would need a partial denture was a tough one. As a child I had a brace and hated the feeling of it on the roof of my mouth. It made me feel sick whilst eating, and I never kept it up. I feared I would feel the same way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The extraction process and drilling into the jaw bone for the implants caused me very few problems. I was sedated, although I think I remember most of what was going on, but I really couldn’t have cared less what was being done.... it’s good stuff, you know! Having to be without a partial denture for just a few days was difficult. I felt old and ugly but hey it was only a few days, then I got a phone call a day earlier than I was expecting to say it was ready.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The denture looked amazing and it was great to have teeth again, even falsies. I have to admit I felt rather down wearing them though. I couldn’t eat lots of things, even a nice salad would be too crunchy, and I really hated that feeling of the plastic in the roof of my mouth. It rather felt like a made to measure shoe horn!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because I live in Spain, I opted for a dentist in the UK I trusted, and of course could understand. It did mean that the length of time between the first appointment with extractions to the final fitting of the implants was a year. It would probably have been around 6 months if I had lived locally, with healing time included. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well I now have had my new implants for a couple of months and I find it difficult to find the words to describe how they have changed my life! I feel much more confident just knowing I don’t have a denture, AND I can eat and totally enjoy my food again. I would advise anyone considering for a moment about getting implants, that ok it’s not the nicest of procedures. I wouldn’t say painful as there can always be a top up of injections to anaesthetise any pain. I did feel a little wiped out after long procedures in the dentist chair.... BUT ... Is it worth it? Totally! Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Would I go through it again? Yes I would!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is this an advertisment for implants? Well it wasn't meant to be! </span></span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-31247018714583363222014-05-22T04:03:00.003-07:002014-05-22T04:03:59.377-07:00Brighton for the Beautiful Maisie's Birthday<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The beginning of March saw me budget-airline-hopping back to the UK, to celebrate my beautiful granddaughter Maisie's fourth birthday. I had been in touch with Maisie's mummy lots before the trip, and I was over the moon to be invited to watch Maisie in both her swimming and ballet lesson during the week. Getting permission to watch a ballet lesson is a pretty big deal too, so I was very grateful!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had actually booked to travel to Brighton the week after Maisie's birthday as I knew Mark, my son was having Maisie that following weekend. I also sneakily extended my stay as my dental procedure needed another appointment too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I arrived on the Friday, and was very happy to hear that plans had been made for Maisie to have a sleep over at my daughter Frankie's house with Kaci. They are so alike, they think are are total princesses, so girly, into hair and nails and all things pretty. It was great for me to read them both a bed time story that first night. Plus at four years old they are not yet thinking about staying up all hours chatting, they were happy to just turn over and go to sleep!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the Saturday we celebrated Maisie's birthday. First stop was to meet up with Mark and Maisie, plus a good friend of Mark and Frankie's, Martin and his little boy Dillon. Dillon is two weeks younger than Maisie. Mark and Martin were in the same year as each other at school and were mates, but he will always be remembered by me for looking after Frankie when she had too much to drink one night when she was under age, naughty girl! Martin looked after her and brought her home... good lad! It was great they were able to share the day with us. The Sea Life centre was the first port of call and the kids loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next stop the pier and chips! It had to be done, and it didn't disappoint! It's one of the few things I miss here, chip shop chips... yummy! The kids had a great time on a few of the rides too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a super day all together Kaci went to her daddy for the rest of the weekend, which gave me time to have lots of cuddles with my gorgeous new grandson Jaxon. Little Jaxon was 3 months old, and had already changed so much. Bless his heart he has had a few health problems too. He has been suffering with reflux, and a flappy or floppy larynx. In other words he kept bringing his milk back up, and he had terible tummy ache since he was born. Poor little mite was always crying, and almost constantly bringing his knees up in pain. It must have been so difficult for Frankie. Time after time at the doctors they told Frankie there was nothing wrong. Eventually one day Frankie, going on her mum's intuition, paid a visit to the children's accident and emergency department at the the local childrens hopsital. A doctor diagnosed it within a couple of minutes. At least that put her mind at rest and they are keeping an eye on him, plus he has some medication too to try and control it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The following day the sun was shining brightly and Mark, Laura (Mark's girlfriend) and Maisie all came over to Frankie and Jordan's flat and we had a lovely walk along the seafront. Although I have to admit these days, I see the sunshine and expect some heat from it. Yes I know it was only March. So a hot chocolate was the order of the day, before heading back again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The holiday flew by, as it always does. I loved spending my time with my children and gorgeous grandchildren. It was great to be able to let Frankie have that extra hour in bed some mornings. It's not easy with two little ones. As for me, I loved my early morning wake up calls. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I watched little Maisie in her swimming lesson, although she had a few tears, I think she was tired after a busy day at nursery. Her ballet she got totally stuck into and concentrated really hard, bless her, even though I was watching. Good girl Maisie, Nanny was very proud of you!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As always I managed to catch up with a few special friends, not all of course... some are already on my list for next time. I, of course managed to see Uncle Charlie, who thankfully was keeping well. It was my job, this trip, to try and organise him a free buss pass. What an ordeal! Having tried three different offices in town, we were told "I can see your uncle is over 65, but I'm afraid if he doesn't have a passport, driving licence or birth certificate with him, we cannot issue him with a free bus pass!" Uncle Charlie's answer to this was "Tell the lady I swam the channel, a couple of months ago... and I did it in record time!" Bless him! Still no free bass pass So we went back to his pub instead!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Kaci and I had a little scoot along the seafront one morning. Well Kaci scooted and I walked and we enjoyed an ice cream together, whist her mummy had a bit of time with Jax. She wanted to wear her Spanish flamenco dress, but it was a bit nippy so she was wearing lots of other clothes underneath it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two more exciting things to do before travelling back to sunny Spain, the first was the final part of my implants (yes, the teeth still) the second was a lovely night with the family. As I'm not the worlds best cook, Jordan (Frankie's boyfriend) who is a very good cook, offered, or maybe I even asked him, if he would cook something nice on my last evening. We invited Mark and Laura over too. It was a really lovely evening, and the food was lovely, thanks Jordan. It really finished off a lovely holiday. Thanks so much for having me!</span></div>
Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-18919300403085354732014-05-12T13:03:00.001-07:002014-05-12T13:09:14.871-07:00Our Geri<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One evening a few weeks ago now (as I'm so behind ... sorry) the dogs were going bananas! There had been a stunning cream mastin wandering around at the bottom of our track. We were unsure if it was the one belonging to one of our neighbours, Rafa. We could see one on the hills with him earlier during the day, or was it another, that had just turned up?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After last years summer guests left, Alan and I decided to move upstairs for some comfort during the winter. The last couple of years we have used the same apartment throughought the year but it's not great in winter. There is a fire place for an open fire, but depending on which way the wind blows, most nights we had to have a window open as we were getting smoked out. Defeating the object really!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were sleeping upstairs, Arthur and Blue, the mastins were in the big kitchen. This is the best place for our Big Arf as he knows he's off duty, and sleeps all night unless something wakes him. The little ones, Geri, Carlos and Miliko were sleeping in our bottom apartment, where we normally sleep. Carlos and Miliko sleep on one sofa, and Geri on another. We removed the cushions from hers so it's not so high. She likes to jump on and off the sofa, all night long. Mainly to have the odd drink during the night, and to have a potter around, and at nearly 16 years old she could just manage this leap without too many problems. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a noisy night with the dogs, the following morning I found Geri lying on the floor with her back legs totally in the splits, the following morning. Her breathing was fast and shallow and her heart going really fast. I thought she'd lost all the power in her legs. Our poor Geri is totally deaf, and practically blind with cataracts. I carefully picked her up, bringing her little legs gently together and lay her on her sofa, whilst I lay next to her. I knew Alan would come looking for me if I wasn't back in the kitchen thinking about breakfast, pretty soon... and this he did. When Alan found us laying on the hairy Geri sofa, I was really thinking the worst but Alan, ever calm said "We'll let her rest, see if she wants a little food or water, and we'll give her an anti inflammatory." She suprised us by eating a little, so the pill was no problem then we rested her for a hour. We stayed with her and got her up after an hour, but still she had no strength in her legs. She had a little more food and drink, which was a good sign, then we rested her again and she slept quite soundly. The next time when she woke up we carried her outside, and stood her up. Previously we had been standing her on the tiles inside the apartment. I kept one hand under her tummy as a bit of support, whilst Alan spent most of the time trying to distract 'The nightmare that is Miliko' from getting excited seeing her, and bowling her over with affection. After about 10 minutes of me practically crawling around on all fours supporting her, I took my hand away, and she walked a bit. We took her back indoors again, so not to over do it, where she slept for another couple of hours... well she is an old lady! When it was time to take her out again, we still carried her, and after just a few minutes of me supporting her, she took off and almost ran round the corner, squatted and weed. We were delighted!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Obviously we moved back downstairs that same day, there was no way we could risk that happening again, we were feeling so guilty as were were not sure how long she had been in that position for. The barking from the other dogs was of course them trying to let us know something was wrong. They are always right too! Bless her, she did take a few days to recover but she is doing well. I thought we were going to lose her that morning. </span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-77378868448659757462014-05-05T10:07:00.000-07:002014-05-05T10:13:35.773-07:00Bless my Uncle Charlie<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regular readers of my blog will remember me mentioning visiting my Uncle Charlie, when I'm in Brighton. He is some character! He is my mum's brother, and she followed him at school. Unfortunately his reputation meant she had a bit of a raw deal! Uncle Charlie and my dear mum were two of seven children, a good catholic family from Glasgow. U.C was the sickly one of the family and as a youngster was in and out of hospital with health problems, I'm not sure exactly what but I do know he only has one kidney. Would you believe he is the only one of that generation alive.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember very clearly when he and his dad, my papa, came down from Scotland to live with us. Papa was becoming frail and U.C just happeened to still be living at home. U.C however has always liked a bit of a drink, so he didn't stay too long. I'm sure mum would have encouraged him to find a place of his own. I remember us having great fun together. For a while I started judo and he was only 4ft 9 short, and we would do judo together, in the living room. U.C travelled the world fighting for his country during the war. He says he was in the SAS, I'm not sure if they had an 'SAS' in those days, or if he was in an elite group that was similar. Even now he loves to talk about his paratrouping days. He loves to remind us he was always first to leave the plane, and last to land, due to his height and weight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This February he reached the grand age of 93. He is doing well but getting a little more confused, as you are allowed at that age. A couple of months ago, I had a panic phone call one morning from Frankie. She is first point of call with any worries with him. He has a carer once a week, plus people doing quick calls twice a day, mainly to ensure he is eating. Touch wood this works well most days. I received the call from Frankie it was to say U.C hadn't been at home for his evening meal. That is quite unusual as he tends to go to the pub Monday to Saturday with a day off on Sunday however he's usually home by late afternoon. Luckily he goes to a regular pub where everyone knows him. He doesn't realise it's a gay bar (that's why he left his last regular) everyone is so friendly towards him, and the bar staff really look out for him. I'm not sure what goes through his mind when he sees the occasional act performing there. Regulars are called 'Sally Vate' and 'Miss Jason' possibly he blames it on his cataracts! Anyway.... Frankie received a phone call to say he wasn't at home, so she didn't worry too much thinking he had just stayed for a slightly longer session than usual. The following morning another phone call came through, he wasn't there and his bed hadn't been slept in. Could this have meant he had been out all night?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Frankie phoned this hospital, he is quite a regular sadly. He does have the odd fall, and is quite well known to the staff. This day however there was no sign of him. The next call was to the police station, plus Frankie and I both put his photo on facebook, and it zoomed around Brighton in no time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was distraught! We know he will not live for ever but it was devastating to think he may have collapsed somewhere in the street and been there all night. The next couple of hours went passed in slow motion. Things weren't looking good. I then got a quick message from Frankie, "He's in hospital, but we don't know how he is yet!" At least we knew where he was. There wasn't much of a jigsaw to piece together but apparently he had fallen in the street and some kind soul had phoned an ambulance. It seemed a little strange that when Frankie initially phoned the hospital they had no record of him being a patient, they simply said he was between wards? Luckily he was back home the same day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Low and behold he did the same thing again a month later, however this time, he was missing for dinner and breakfast once again. No signs of U.C in the hospital and once again the community police kept a look out for him. Facebook pleas were posted and shared all over the Brighton community. The bar has a facebook page and the regulars were aware he was missing once again. Mid afternoon I received a message "Charlie's just walk into the bar, and he's fine!" No one could get out of him where he had been! He was totally unaware that half of Brighton had been looking for him. He just sat at his favourite table and ordered a double brandy (they always give him a single) and spent the rest of the afternoon there! </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He is a worry to us all!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My dear Uncle Charlie and I</b></span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-4797904942924594112014-03-24T08:54:00.001-07:002014-03-24T09:02:31.275-07:00Christmas in Brighton (Gulp, are we really in March?)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I found out my daughters baby was due mid December a decision had to be made. It took seconds, to be honest it was a no brainer. Alan immediately said I must go. He knew it was where I wanted to be. There was a chance of course that the baby could be late, so the plan was that I would arrive five days after Frankie's due date, and come back to Spain on New Years Eve. Although more than anything I wanted to be in Brighton, I also felt bad that Alan would be here home alone over the Christmas period. Our good friends Pat and Pedro said he had to join them for Christmas dinner, which was so kind of them. It was good to know he would be with friends.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coincidently my great mate Jo was spending Christmas on holiday with her hubby and gorgeous daughters, and was desperate for a house sitter. This worked really well as I could spend the days with the family, then disappear to give them some peace. I could catch up with Alan online during the evenings too without appearing to be too rude plus I could house sit, in a beautiful house too I might add!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As my first grandson had already arrived, it was just a case of enjoying him and my lovely family to the max. He was certainly gorgeous and Kaci although just four, was simply the proudest big sister in the world! Cuddling him whenever she could, feeding him and dashing around getting things ready for mummy when he was being changed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As always time is so precious but I managed to squeeze in a few special friends. I was over the moon to meet up with two lovely friends that live in Germany, they were spending Christmas in Brighton. I was so happy we could have a quick drink together.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chris Jens and I.</b><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Of course I was staying with a four year old. Obviously that meant Christmas had been an extremely exciting prospect for months. Stockings had to be laid out, and even some glittery oats or similar was left in a trail outside, to ensure the reindeer knew where we would be. It had been a few years since I had enjoyed being round little ones at Christmas, and it certainly didn't disappoint. It is hard to beat that magical look that says "Santa's been!" Father Christmas stockings were opened first thing, and then other presents from family and friends a little later.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>You have to dress up as a princess on Christmas Day!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Kaci's own baby</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Christmas Day I was extemely happy to be invited to Jordan's mums house, that's Frankie's boyfriend, and spend time with Shelley's lovely family. I must admit as I come from a small family it was slightly daunting at first, but I had a lovely time with a very nice Christmas dinner. I was made feel very welcome and it was lovely for all the children to play together, and see them all beautifully dressed up for the special day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On Boxing Day, Kaci went over to spend time with her daddy, and his side of the family. My son Mark also saw his beautiful Maisie too. My heart really does go out to families with parents not living together. I can see the difficulties from both sides having both my son and daughter living apart from their childrens mummy or daddy. Also on a selfish note it does mean that the family can never spend a Christmas with us here in Spain, as the other parent must be taken into consideration, of course. However amicable things are, there will be times when the other parent want to spend special times with the child and cannot, and that is heart breaking. It was wonderful to catch up with Mark, Laura and Maisie on Boxing Day morning.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My two beautiful Rapunzels </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The weather on Boxing Day was fabulous, with gorgeous blue skies, so we took the opportunity for a stroll along the seafront before a scrummy cold lunch at Shelley's. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the highlights for me was being able to invite Mark and his lovely girl friend Laura, Frankie and Jordan and the babies to Jo's house for some wine and nibbles. The girls played great together and it gave us all time for a last get together before my journey home. Oh dear, I do hate goodbyes. Thank goodness it's Maisie's fourth birthday in March and we shall be getting together soon.</span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-52346094409490801192014-02-24T05:27:00.003-08:002014-02-24T05:33:07.373-08:00From Sequins to Sunshine<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I am so behind with my blog posts, I'm sure this is old news to you.... but "I have an ebook out... Yipppeee!" This was mainly due to an arm twisted up my back by Alan. Since publishing his books, many people have stated their disappointment that there were no photos in his books, so Alan, in his infinite wisdom encouraged me to work at tidying up my blog posts, of Year 1of us moving here to rural Spain, living off grid with our animals. Just a tad different to living in the cosmopolitan city of Brighton, and doing 'normal' jobs. There are lots of photos included, of our house, family and animals of course. My intelligent beautiful fabbie girl</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">friend </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">editor </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">dotted the 'i's' and crossed the 't's', Alan formatted it for publication, and we were off. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is only a blog, some parts are exciting, other bits not so, but such is life. I now have 18 reviews, sixteen are 5 star, one 3 star, which was very acceptable, and a hugely embarrasing 1 star. I must admit that didn't upset me as much as I thought it may. When Alan has received the occasional bad review, I feel awful for him, protective I guess. Which must have been how my daughter felt when she wrote a reply underneath one of Alan's bad reviews. The person writing it had said they didn't like Alan or I. Quite what I had done, I'll never know. Frankie wrote stating what wonderful people we were with great hearts, bless her. Maybe it's for the better than her reply seemed to get lost in cyber space, never to be read again. Alan had always said we are putting ourselves out there, so we have to accept the bad reviews.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love writing my blogs posts. Some are easier to write than others. I try and be as honest as I can, but I am quite a private person. I'm trying to be more open with my writing, but it can be difficult to sometimes find the correct words, if you are missing family, or not feeling well, but I'm getting braver at baring my soul.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are one of the kind people that have read my ebook, and you have five minutes to spare to write a review, good or with constructive critism, I would be so grateful. Just to let you know I have started on Year 2. I must admit the first half seems pretty dull, but gets more exciting as time goes on. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember a teaching video from Len Goodman (from Strictly Come Dancing, and Dancing with the Stars), at the end he said "If you enjoyed this video please tell all your friends. If you didn't, just keep it to yourself" I like that. If you feel like doing that with my ebook, I would be very happy, thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the link if you want to be nosey.</span><br />
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-72982419860627187162014-02-17T11:24:00.000-08:002014-02-23T02:40:14.459-08:00Welcome to the World Baby Jaxon<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alan reached over to the bed side cabinet to check the text message that beeped in the middle of the night. I knew immediately it was the news I had been anxiously waiting for. As I thought, it was Frankie my daughter, she had been in labour for just over an hour. I texted her back straight away, and I told her I would turn my laptop on. I brought it into the bedroom, and we shared a very special few hours just the two of us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had booked to go to Brighton on December 17th. Of course there was a risk I may not arrive in time for the labour. When Frankie had Kaci four years ago I was present at the birth, and apart from the birth of my own children, that was certainly one of the happiest days of my life. I desperately hoped I would already be in Brighton, but I realize now, for selfish reasons. I dreamt of being one of the first to see my first grandson, and I also hoped to take Kaci to see her baby brother. I imagined opening the door and her running in first, with a huge smile on her face, but it wasn't to be.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would become very emotional thinking of my little girl having a baby, and me not there to give some sort of support, and I really hoped baby would wait. It was strange however, when I heard she was in labour, although of course I hoped and prayed everything would be ok, my main thoughts and worries were about my baby...... yes she's 25 but still my baby of course!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately I had an appointment at the eye hospital that morning. Another injection under the eye for me, but that was nothing compared to giving birth. Frankie had gone into hospital about 7am so news was then understandably more sporadic. As we approached the hospital car park the phone rang, it was Frankie's mobile, but it seemed to cut off quickly. I rang straight back and got the answer machine.... gutted! I had no idea how things were progressing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I sat waiting in the crowded hospital waiting room, my thoughts were only on one person. At last the phone rang. I grabbed it from Alan and rushed out of the department to try and find a quieter spot. Baby was born, he needed a little oxygen but he was gorgeous and healthy. Unfortunately the placenta hadn't been delevered and so poor Frankie, after only have gas and air, now had to under go an epidural in order for the placenta to be removed, after other attempts had failed. Bless her! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jaxon (Jax) Browning had come into the world weighing 7lb 5oz with a shock of dark hair. I'm delighted to report mummy and baby were out of hospital the following day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>My beautiful daughter and baby grandson</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Very proud daddy</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Big sister Kaci,who is totally in love</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Jackson</b></span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-85994070784452244692014-02-13T05:48:00.001-08:002014-02-13T05:48:39.147-08:00Spain Buddy Interview<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was very chuffed to be an interviewee on one of THE best websites for expats in Spain. Spain Buddy. It has fun pages, like crosswords puzzles to help improve your Spanish, some great recipes, and excellent advice for anyone considering relocating to Spain, just for starters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Click the link to take you to my interview. Think you know me? But do you know what sandwich filling I would be?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>http://www.spainbuddy.com/expat-interview-dec-no-4-lorna-penfold/#more-10048</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This link below takes you to the home page. Happy browsing!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>http://www.spainbuddy.com</i></span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-43317291353170110532014-02-03T05:57:00.004-08:002014-02-03T12:35:21.371-08:00Implant Update... Yes the Tooth Variety!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another personal one here.... I hold my hands up and admit it, I am in the process of having a few implants. If you need a reminder of my first appointment, including the first lot of gorey bits, please check out my first post about it at the link here... (No yucky photos you will be pleased to know).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>http://lornaslifeinspain.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ever-thought-of-having-implants.html</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There I was enjoying my break with the family, but I had that horrible feeling hanging over me. That feeling in the pit of your stomach, that can only mean one thing .. a trip to the dentist! Now I am one of the worlds biggest wusses when it comes to visiting that place. No matter how lovely they are, let's be honest there are much nicer places to be. Imagine my horror when confirming my appointment, and I was told those horrifying words 'No Lorna, we won't be giving you any sedation, this time!' At first I thought he was joking. Sadly not. The big day arrived and I slid in pretending to be brave, hoping that maybe in an hour or so, it would be over.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The procedure for my second stage was started by sticking numerous injections into my mouth. Into my gums, the roof of my mouth, that was a stinger, and the one that feels like it's going up your nose. I had already had huge quanties of anaesthetic by the time it was the 'up the nose one' , so I wasn't sure where they were going in the end. That was fine by me! The next step was to re-expose the implants. This is done by making small incisions into the gum... (I know, I know) and a small extension is fitted to the implants. The gums are stitched up again leaving the small posts out, in preperation for step 3.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll be honest it wasn't a vary nice procedure, obviously, but I did it. I did moan a couple of times and they dosed me up a little more.... good good! I was aware of the suturing, not because I felt any pain what so ever, only from the suture thread tickling my lip. I did however make a complaint to my denist at the end, and suggested they use code words instead of cut, scalpel and suture - in a joking manner of course, brrr they still make me shiver! To be honest having that done without sedation made me pretty proud of myself. Go me!</span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-90690916884194777272014-01-21T08:03:00.001-08:002014-01-21T08:09:57.312-08:00Kaci's 4th birthday and I'm in Brighton!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">November saw me packing my mini case for a long weekend in Brighton. Celebrating the crazy Kaci's birthday... oh yes she is! Funny, cute, beautiful with a dash of crazyiness thrown into the mix too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had such a lovely suprise to be met at the airport by Frankie my daughter, Kaci, and a rather huge baby bump. That was a complete shock as Alan, my friend Jo, and Frankie had concocted a plan, and I was expecting Jo to meet me. So it was wonderful to have little Kaci running to meet me out of arrivals. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had asked Kaci prior to me going over, if she would like a Spanish dress, as I knew she would be receiving lots of other toys and pretty clothes from family and friends. She decided she would like that very much. Mark, Laura and my other gorgeous granddaughter Maisie alll came over the evening I arrived. We had a lovely evening together and Franke cooked a lovely curry for us all. I decided to give Kaci her birthday presents that evening, just to spread it out a bit. Plus of course I thought she may want to wear her dress for her party the following day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yes she did!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I was unsure of Maisie's plans for the weekend, so I was over the moon to be able to pick her up from her mummy on the Saturday. We went to watch Kaci's ballet lesson, then on to enjoy Kaci's party. Jordan's mum, Kaci's Grandma Shelley, had suggested to Frankie that the party was held at her house which is larger than Frankie's, which was very kind of her.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>At Grandma Shelley's</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Pass the Parcel.... </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After lots of opening prezzies, scrummy party food, pass the parcel and a change into a Rapunzel dress, it was then time for Kaci to go to her daddy for even more celebrations. Another change of outfit, and this time back into the Spanish with the high heels was in order...... She had as many dress changes as a super model that day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That left just a couple of days for me to have another major dental trip... more news on that in my next blog post, and admire that beautiful baby bump and enjoy my time with Frankie. I wonder if he would wait for me? My first grandson is due on December 12th and I fly back on the 17th... who knows!</span></div>
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<br />Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189017048123693944.post-86145588105346347732014-01-15T11:10:00.001-08:002014-01-15T11:10:44.691-08:00An Interview for Costa Women<div class="xg_headline" style="background-color: #f5f2eb; border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ok so this is a sneaky cheeky blog post. There maybe some bits and bobs you didn't know about me here though!</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was rather chuffed to be asked to take part by Ali Meehan thw Costa Women boss lady. You can join the Costa Women website very easily. It's fun and informative.</span></div>
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<a href="http://costawomen.ning.com/"><span style="color: #073763;">http://costawomen.ning.com/</span></a></div>
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<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I was having some health problems. After 2 years of doctor and hospital visits I was diagnosed with an illness called Sarcoidosis. It was making working difficult, and most days I was driving to work in tears feeling ill and exhausted. One day we were walking the dog along the beach near we lived, and I said to my partner Alan, “I’m not sure how long I can carry on like this.” We decided we needed a complete change of lifestyle. Alan suggested moving to Spain to breed alpacas! Initially he wanted to move to Florida. He would be happy selling Coca Cola in Seaworld, I had a 24 year old son and a 19 year old daughter and that was too far away. We needed somewhere closer.</span></div>
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<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Before Spain you were…?</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We lived in Peacehaven, just outside Brighton on the south coast. I was mum to Mark and Frankie and life was great until I started to feel unwell. For over 30 years I had been a dance teacher. I taught everything from teeny, tiny tots to line dancing for my more mature ladies with a huge amount of sequins in between. It was a career I loved, and I had thought I would continue dancing for many years.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How did you choose</b> <b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Montoro, Cordoba to live?</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Well maybe Montoro chose us. Alan wouldn’t let me come on the first viewing trips as he knew I would fall in love with everything as I was desperate for a change. Estate agents kept showing him white boxes, with a chippie on one corner and an English pub on another. We know some people want that but we really didn’t. He had seen the Olive Mill on line and loved it. We were looking for something with land, and character, and the Olive Mill had both. It also had the added bonus of being off grid, which meant our bills and living expenses would be minimal. The first time we were staying in the hotel in Montoro, it was actually the local feria and we joined in the towns celebrations. We were totally unaware that life in Spain seems to be practically one long fiesta. There is always a party on or being prepared for.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And now you do something a little different… tell us more about your farm</b></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Well, it all started in Prague. We were enjoying a weekend break, and being animal lovers we used to like to visit zoos and farms as often as possible. We took the opportunity whilst in Prague, and during our visit we were approached by a strange looking animal. He was a goofy, brown, and a fairly ugly looking alpaca. We now know they shouldn’t be kept on their own, they need company of their own kind, but this little guy sowed a bit of a seed. We rather fell in love with alpacas that day. Alan must have done some googling and found out that it was possible to make a living breeding these lovely animals. So, when we were discussing ideas for a new direction, Alan said to me, “Why don’t we move to Spain and breed alpacas?”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Which has also spun into a writing career for your husband! Tell us how that started?</b></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It started out innocently enough. You know how it goes, you sit around the dinner table telling your guests about the Spanish neighbour doing drunken impressions of a friend riding a horse whilst having an epileptic fit, whilst being forced to drink strong home brewed wine. Plus the story of taking one of the dogs to the local vet to be castrated. When asking when to pick him up the vet shakes his head and tells you how to hold the dog’s legs whilst he prepares the operating equipment. On one of these occasions somebody said to Alan, “Why don’t you write a book?” The idea percolated for a while, and Alan wrote 50 pages and asked a few trusted friends for their opinion. They seemed to enjoy it, so he carried on. He was able to find out lots of info on the internet about self publishing, and then, once it went on sale, people actually started buying it. Much to his surprise and of course delight! We receive emails from people all over the world who have read the books. The title of the first one,<a href="http://www.amazon.es/Seriously-Mum-Whats-Alpaca-ebook/dp/B009X9VE1I/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?tag=smarturl-es-21" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Seriously Mum, What’s an Alpaca?</a> Came from when we told my daughter about our plans, and her reaction was, “<a href="http://whats-an-alpaca.com/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">What’s an Alpaca?</a>” The sequel which he has just published is called <a href="http://www.amazon.es/Seriously-Mum-Wheres-that-Donkey-ebook/dp/B00GOH84PG/?tag=smarturl-es-21" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Seriously Mum, Where’s that Donkey?</a></span></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What has been your greatest challenge to starting the farm?</b></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our original plan was to breed and sell the alpacas. We have realised since moving here however, and I’m sorry if this offends anyone, but in our area many of the Spanish are not great with animals. We often have visits from the neighbours horses' who do not worry about secure fencing for their animals, and prefer to hobble them instead. This is distressing to see. Of course the crisis has hit everyone, and people do not have the money to spend that maybe they would have before these difficult times. Most alpaca owners breed their animals annually but we rested our girls for a couple of years as we cannot keep increasing our herd with no one to sell to.</span></div>
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<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Advice for Women just moving to Spain who want to do something different?</b></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My main advice to women moving to Spain, firstly has nothing to with work. My daughter was 19 when we came here, she also came with us, with her boyfriend. My son was already in a relationship and stayed in Brighton. My daughter struggled with the rural lifestyle and they returned home. Just be prepared ladies it is difficult being away from the family. If you become a grandparent, it can be very tough too. Think about that seriously. If my gorgeous grandgirlies had of been born before we left England, I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be here now.<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Be flexible! We are on plan C at least. It’s is no good living the way we do, and worry about sexual equality. We have pretty much our own roles in life. I can cut wood with the chain saw, and light the fire and of course push a wheelbarrow full of alpaca poo, if I really wanted to, but I tend to sort the washing and deal with more of the household chores.</span></div>
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<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Charity Dog book – tell us more about that project</b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last year we had a dog dumped outside our house. It wasn’t the first and we know it won’t be the last. A lady called Maria, from a rescue called <a href="http://www.anewdayspain.com/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">A New Day in Spain</a>, contacted us and said she thought she may be able to find a home for the little fella. We went down to see Maria and her husband and we gobsmacked to find them caring for over 50 dogs on just their UK pension. All we could offer to help was a small donation and a bag of dog food from Mercadona. Since then, Alan has tried to come up with a viable way to raise some money for these rescue centres that are all over Spain, often run by people just like Maria. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TakeMeHomePorFavor?fref=ts" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Take Me Home, Por Favor</a> was born. Alan invited people to send in their stories of rescued dogs. They are now being put together in a collection and will be released as a book, with all royalties being donated to rescue centres here in Spain. Alan hopes to have it ready before Christmas. So watch this space!</span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And Zumba! </b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oh yes! I was missing dancing, plus I felt I needed to get fitter. I used to teach Latin American dancing plus other styles and I loved the music. I decided to take an instructors course and threw myself into it. I have a regular little group of lovely ladies. It hasn’t been easy though, Montoro is a very traditional little town and the majority of ladies would not dream of doing any other exercise apart from their regular walk around the town.</span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now you must tell us what you do to relax!</b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We enjoy the simple things in life. We love meeting up with friends, walking the dogs, and even the alpacas. The cats join us when we take the alpacas for a walk. Also a couple of new hobbies for me, in the last couple of months I have been learning Sevillana dancing, which I totally love, and I have also been doing a little crystallizing of shoes, phone cases etc, which I find very therapeutic, and I love a bit of glitter, I’m a bit of a magpie!</span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Favourite quote and why?</b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Simple and one of the most well known “Treat people like you would like to be treated” As a dance teacher when parents would discuss partnership problems etc, I would always say that to them.</span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Something you will achieve in 2014</b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God willing I will have my first grandson who is due in the next couple of weeks! Like all of us, it would be great to earn a bit more money, please! Continue to improve my Sevillana dancing as rumour has it we will be dancing at the Cordoba feria. ALSO year 1 of <a href="http://lornaslifeinspain.blogspot.com.es/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">my online blog</a> is in the process of being edited, to be published with lots of photos as an ebook. So people will be able to read my side of the story as well as Alan’s. </span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who, or what, inspires you?</b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I think I would have to say my parents. They brought me up in a loving family, and encouraged me to study hard, and supported me during my professional dance teacher training, and taught me to work to achieve success. I was trying to think of someone totally inspiring, but no it had to come back to my mum and dad. They are both in a better place now and they are probably looking down at me thinking I’ve gone bonkers. Yes bonkers but happy!</span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What gift do you most hope Santa brings you?</b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">First and foremost my little grandson to be fit and healthy of course. This year I will be in Brighton with the family to welcome him into the world. I’ll be looking forward to spending time with my little girlies that are 3 and 4, and of course my son and daughter. Alan will be here alone as he needs to be here with the animals, and I will of course miss him. He will be well looked after by our friends here and fed much better than I would feed him!</span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If they made your life into a film, who would play you and what would the film be about?</b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Felicity Kendal of course, as we are trying very hard to live “The Good Life”. Not always successfully, but we try! Shame we don’t have a Margot in our lives!</span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Where can we find out more about Alpacas, the farm, the Books etc. </b></span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You can find me on my facebook page Lorna Penfold <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lorna.penfold.7" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.facebook.com/lorna.penfold.7</a> </span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and on my Lorna’s Life in Spain page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LornasLifeInSpain" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.facebook.com/LornasLifeInSpain</a> </span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My online blog can be found at <a href="http://lornaslifeinspain.blogspot.co.uk/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://lornaslifeinspain.blogspot.co.uk/</a> </span></div>
<div class="ColorfulList-Accent11" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alan can be contacted through his facebook page for his books <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whatsanalpaca" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.facebook.com/whatsanalpaca</a> or follow him on Twitter @alpacabook</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="font-size-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.2 !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thank you <a href="http://costawomen.ning.com/profile/LornaPenfold" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b5601a; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lorna Penfold</a></span></div>
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Lorna Penfoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018833242210242693noreply@blogger.com0