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whisky_priest

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Gowanvale Jonella, "Gemma" RiP 9/11/95 - 5/10/09	[Oct. 6th, 2009\|10:07 am]
I never thought I'd find myself writing an obituary for a dog, but we had to put our labrador Gemma down yesterday and remain absolutely traumatised by the whole thing. I've never owned a pet before although Judith's family had dogs when she was younger. Gemma was a wedding present given to us by her Uncle Howard and Aunt Pam Nightingale, we got her from breeders in Kendal the family had used for a while, Gowanvale Labradors run by Mr and Mrs Concannon. She was a lovely puppy but a typical labrador, we had tons of stuff damaged, carpets peed and pood on, kitchen fitting gnawed and despite all of this, a whole lot of fun, she was a lovely dog, although I regret not taking her to obedience classes. I remember letting her off the lead in a field near our house in Wishaw and struggled to get her to come back, when I eventually got a hold of her she was starting to chew her way through a dead seagull she found. I'll never forget the sight of this thing wagging from the side of her mouth as she ran away from me! She was just over 2 when Barbara was born and loved both girls with all her heart, when I brought Judith home from hospital with Barbara I remember the dog nervously creeping up to her and the baby to investigate this strange new bundle, Barbara moved her arm and the poor dog nearly jumped out of her skin with fright. She bonded with the kids almost instantly and seemed filled with almost maternal pride when we'd put Barbara and later on Mary Kate in the pram at the front of the house to enjoy the very occasional sun. Woe betide anyone with the temerity to walk by our house when Gemma was on guard duty. Her special friends were my Gran and her sister my Auntie Kate, the first time they met her I remember them muttering that the dog didn't like them, almost immediately they became fast friends although I think a quarter pound of chopped pork might have played a major part in winning her over. She was at her most excited when pulling in to Tulloch Road in Shotts and would be practically hyper with excitement when we would get to 120, slobbering with anticipation over whatever my Gran would have in the fridge for her. We all took my Gran's death hard, but I sometimes think that Gemma took it hardest of all. She bore the occasional tail pull from the weans and even one or two nips and slaps with grace and serenity, a wonderful family dog. Always happy to see us, enjoying walks in the neighbourhood, down the Strathy or further afield. When we moved to Motherwell she got to see the rest of the wider family more often. She struggled from time to time and was in real pain for a while when she tore her cruciate ligament in her right hind leg, thankfully our fantastic vet Ms Nardini in Wishaw was able to source an orthopedic veterinary surgeon who managed to repair it. On seeing the bill I said a little prayer of thanks for the pet insurance we'd only taken out a few months before. She hadn't been well for a while and found the wet and cold of winters especially difficult and it was clear from the last couple of weeks that she was struggling with her joints even more than usual, she stopped eating on Saturday, Barbara took her out for a walk on Sunday morning and she collapsed on the pavement outside next door. When we took her to the vet yesterday I think we both knew it was inevitable. Part of me regrets that few of the many people who loved her dearly were able to see her near the end, but with her obvious discomfort it would've been a crime to postpone her suffering. It was quick, painless and merciful and at the end she even seemed happy again. We get her ashes back on Friday. One of the happiest times we spent with her was in the spring of 98, Barbara was a tiny baby and her, Judith, her Dad Derek and I rented a fantastic cottage in Glenfinnan for a couple of weeks, my folks and some dear friends also came up to visit us. Gemma was in her element there, bouncing about the heather, crossing over to Skye on the ferry with us, splashing about in Loch Shiel and anywhere else bigger than a puddle. The kids are off school next week, we'll find a day to go back up, scatter her ashes, and remember her in one of the places she was happiest. But we know she'll live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her.
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Mid-life crisis edition	[Sep. 5th, 2009\|07:43 pm]
I won't bore you with my doings for the last year or so, but I turned 40 at the beginning of August and have been musing on Life and other museable things. Thankfully, I have resisted the urge to buy a motorcycle, but I have embarked on a, possibly, equally doomed task. I am trying to read Joyce's Ulysses for, I think, the seventh time since I turned 18 and bought the book. I think my previous best would have been somewhere around chapter 8, but, either through cussedness or an accreted, deeper understanding of the subject matter I have now made it as far as the end of chapter 12, other a third of the way through. It hasn't been easy, but I am finding it enjoyable. I do now realise that I made a mistake back in 1987 (I think) when I bought my copy, mine is the "Gabler" edition, now apparently roundly condemned as the most inaccurate version of the book, unfortunately, it's now far too late to start on another version, I'll just hold on for grim death and see where the book takes me. Anyone interested in joining in?
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Nervous

[Nov. 11th, 2008|05:02 pm]

[	Tags	\|	diet	]
[	music	\|	The Big Elastic Band; Jimmy Shand's on the Wireless	]

So despite my best intentions, August and September and most of October saw a lot of backsliding. Mrs Whiskypriest and I finally went back to the diet class a fortnight ago to find out the damage, 6 pounds for her and around 12 for me. Not great news, but understandable.

We went back because we are serious about the process and also because we knew we needed to do something to halt the slide before the annual festive bloating begins.

The first week back was full of good intentions, but the last week has been almost entirely faithful. I'll let you know.

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