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Loss

On July 7th 2002, in the early hours, our family dog Fred died, following a long illness. We’d been prepared for it for some time, but it was still a blow, as he was only eight years old.

By the early evening of the same day, astonishingly, my father was being rushed to hospital with a massive heart attack. In the early hours of July 8th, after several attempts to revive him, he too passed away. We’d had no warning of this, although the doctor said he had apparently been suffering from a serious, undiagnosed heart condition for a long time. He was 62.

Loss
Fred in 1998.
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The Meaning of Whatever

Hmmm… well, I’m not even sure I have a need to do this blog anymore. But I guess I’ll keep it, at least until a better idea turns up. Maybe I’ll think of a good use for it sometime.

‘What about all your moaning about how crappy life is?’ Yeah, exactly. I’ve noticed that a lot of people use their blogs for that purpose and it makes me think, maybe perversely, that it must be a bit of a naff thing to do! In any case, I’d like to think that my desire to moan is diminishing… I could pretty easily whine about our dog’s illness, or the fact that my social life is, to say the least, minimalistic, but… it’s old. Been there, done it.
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Guestbook Fun

Wow. Last night a so-called old friend of mine induced one of their creepy pals to come here and leave a truly obscene message on my guestbook (which, you’ll be disappointed to hear, has been deleted). [NOTE: Guestbook no longer online.]

Having been slightly debilitated with a touch of flu for a couple of days, and feeling miserable, this was a truly pleasant thing for me to see. Let’s just say that part of the message’s content implied I have sex with dogs… and some of it was even more offensive. *sigh*
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On Friendship and Betrayal

Ho-hum. Not too much to say right now, but trust me, I’ll have a damn good try. The dog wasn’t too well again today, but it doesn’t appear to be anything real bad (relatively speaking; and yep, I know, this blog has become Animal Hospital lately).

Paul Gravett was in town last Thursday, so we met up for a coffee and a look around Birmingham. Me, socialising. But not very much. 🙂
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A Less Than Fond Farewell

I’ve just said what is probably my final goodbye to a mailing list I’ve been a member of on and off since way back in the mists of time (well, 1996). I may rejoin at some point, but I doubt it.

It was mostly a Certain Person’s comments. I have had to put up with two years of sarcasm and thinly-veiled nastiness from this individual, and since we actually used to be (supposedly) friends, this was the last straw for me. I was also rather despairing at someone else’s sulking, re. a debate we’d had. Did someone call this place a lively discussion list? I’m afraid that’s been largely untrue for quite some time. And it seems that, now, if you do try to put some life and opinion into a thread on there, you’re accused of making personal attacks.
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Pet Problems

Monday was a bit of a drama with our poor, ailing pooch, Fred. He seemed in quite a lot of discomfort and losing more blood than usual (usual being in the context of his illness). So off we went to the vet, completely expecting Fred to not be coming home with us. It was really quite traumatic.

However, the vet would not recommend putting him to sleep. The decision was in our hands. He suggested doubling the dose of Fred’s medication, and advised us to monitor his ‘quality of life’—that if he seemed in constant discomfort, that would be an indication that perhaps the time had come.

Well, as it has turned out, this was just a bad day, and the vet was right to be cautious. He’s seemed reasonably okay since then. We all know he won’t be around for too much longer, but it’s no joke to go through the experience of thinking it’s the end… and when it isn’t, knowing you’re going to go through it all again sometime.
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New Year Blues

First entry of the year, eh? What took so long? Well, let’s see… I had this short but gruelling tour of book-signings to promote my latest best-seller, followed by a short break in Italy and a couple of extravagant shopping sprees. I’ve been a bit busy!

Hm. So I tried the interesting version. I don’t think anyone bought it, though. Oh well.
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Happy New Year

The end of the year. Thought I’d make a final entry, since I’m not particularly celebrating it… just coasting through it with mixed feelings and, I guess, a fairly relaxed mood.

New Year’s Eves past: I think of Dec 31st 1998, where it seemed I was in a pretty bad rut and unhappy with almost everything. As midnight struck, I leaned out of the open window of my bedroom and listened to all the parties going on, fireworks, etc., and said to myself, ‘This time next year, things will be quite different.’
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