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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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Angst Chronicles

Right, to update the last entry: mom came out of hospital the Wednesday after, and she’s more or less okay now. Our dog, Fred, who some of you will know is ill and sadly not going to make it, has been up and down, but holding on. So right now, I guess things are as ‘normal’ as they can be round here.
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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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Goodbye Chrimbo

YES! Christmas is over. Should I be glad? Don’t really know. Anyway, I wish everyone a great New Year.

It wasn’t the worst Christmas ever… I’ve spent a lot of time (maybe too much) re-reading Lord of the Rings, which I had not experienced since… oh, maybe 1985. I figured I should do this if I plan to see the film sometime, as I don’t remember all that much about it and, if I have criticisms, I’d like them to be well informed.
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After the Hiatus

What can I say? I’ve been stranded without a computer for a whole month, which is the longest I’ve gone offline/disconnected… for a few centuries. My computer died, poor old thing. And not gracefully. It belched and seethed and just kinda gave up the ghost. Poof! Bye-bye! Etc.

Actually, it was probably the CPU, which had apparently been running without a fan for a few months—so that was what those funny noises were! And odd how they stopped a while back. Erm, yes. Well, I can’t have looks and brains. Ahem. So, seeing as the thing was generally in a crummy old state anyway, I quickly lost interest in getting it patched up… and £250 I can by no means afford later, I now have a decidedly average but adequate refurbished thingy. It’ll do for a while, anyhoo.
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Movin’ On

Still working on getting rid of my flat. Moved a lot of stuff back home, but will need a van for bigger stuff. Feel a bit stupid to have wasted so much money on a move that never quite worked out, but still. When I finally do move to my own place, I think it basically has to be (a) when I’m more financially stable and independent and (b) somewhere else in the country, probably down South. Meantime, things should be okay-ish here, and at least money will be less tight.

Big decisions! Well, not really. I’m trying to decide if I should have something done with my crappy hair. I’ve been advised to have it shorter and maybe with a fringe. I’m not sure I like this idea…
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Bad News Explained

Okay, so ‘tomorrow’ was a long time coming. But I guess I’ve had a lot on my mind one way or another.

The bad news I mentioned is that our dog, Fred, who is only seven years old, was pronounced terminally ill by the vet. I was really shaken by the news, and on reflection not entirely convinced the vet wasn’t being overly fatalistic—but technically, Fred is mom’s dog, and she has accepted the diagnosis.
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Down in London

Saturday was time to head down London way again. I was planning to go into Ilford while in town, to see my old pal Tim Bateman, but got caught in a rainfall and had to give it a miss. Although I had a nice, long chat with him on the phone, until he started worrying about his bill and rung off! Then I wandered round Waterstone’s for a while and bought a couple of books I couldn’t afford.

The train home was screwed. Surprise! The rail service has become shambolic. I had to get a train into Watford Junction and wait there for almost an hour to get another one into Brum. Then the train at Brum to take me back home was delayed. And since my feet were by then killing me (it was almost midnight), I decided to get a taxi from the station too. Costly, time-consuming and tiring.
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