Trebah gig

Well, the gig was great. The weather was perfect (apart from the midges) - warm and no wind, we all enjoyed the singing, and Trebah is such a magic place, we were honoured to be the first choir to perform there. The audience was just the right size - the amphitheatre couldn't hold many more - and I think we all had a good night. To finish it off, we went to the Seven Stars in Penryn for a drink on the way home.

There is much on the news at the moment about Dignitas, and the right to die. I heard a very moving interview with Melanie Reid on Radio 4 yesterday, who is a tetraplegic following a horse riding accident in 2010. She spoke very eloquently and movingly and I think someone like her should be an advisor to those politicians making laws about what we can and can't do with the end of our lives.

Having been close to several people who have taken their lives, I have the utmost sympathy with them (rather than for them). I strongly believe we should be able to do what we want to make our lives as comfortable as possible. Particularly as we grow older. I look at Moll who is only ten but showing signs, and I know that I will do whatever I can to make her life fun, special and pain free. I hope that my nearest and dearest will do the same for me.

A gig

We're doing a gig at Trebah Gardens on Friday evening in aid of Dementia UK. It's Dementia Awareness Week and the gig is to fund specialist nurses (Admiral nurses) in Cornwall. So far the lady who's organising the gig has raised £60,000 to pay for two of these nurses, as her father died of dementia so she's been through the very difficult journey.

An amphitheatre has been built at Trebah gardens and we are to be the first people to perform there, so it's very exciting. Trouble is, a lot of people are away for the bank holiday weekend, or busy, or can't afford it. It's also the same night that Kate Rusby is singing at Hall for Cornwall (dammit).

So if any of you are around on Friday 22nd, and can afford £12, we can promise pasties, a drink or two, a trip round the gardens and an hour of so of good singing. Do come and join us!

Words, eye care and ageing dogs

The trouble with words is that you never know whose mouths they've been in.
Dennis Potter, dramatist (1935-1994)

I can go along with this as I’ve been doing some work to do with eye care in Western Australia. To start with I knew nothing about WA and very little about optometry (though I have worn contact lenses since I was 17 so I have scant knowledge/interest in eye care).

Now I know a lot more. My brain cells have been severely - but enjoyably - stretched and I would love to go to Perth. Just my sort of climate and an outdoor life I would love. Don’t know that it would suit Moll though…..

On that note, dear girl has the beginnings of cataracts, though my lovely vet said it’s not interfering with her vision much at the moment and shouldn’t too much as she gets older (she’s 10 now). While the operation for human cataracts improves by the moment, it’s not so good for dogs so that’s not an option. She’s visibly slowed down a little - though I guess by 70 (in human years) she’s entitled to - but still remains as irascible and loving as ever.

Wherever we go, people always comment on her. Mr B says “she’s a very clever dog,” while Pip used to tell everyone, “she’s very bright you know”. I just think of her as my Moll, and one of the mainstays of my life.

I never knew dogs could snuggle into your life and steal your heart like this.

Life's too short to chew...

I've been doing more driving which has definitely helped my self confidence. So much so that I drove nearly all the way back from our last break, as Mr B was exhausted after several bad nights. Sinusitis is still a problem, but he doesn't want to see the doctor. No comment.

Recently we reviewed a dog friendly house in Dartmouth for Your Dog magazine. I don't get paid for these trips, but they are like mini adventures. While we may know roughly where we're going, we never know what the accommodation will be like, or what the atmosphere will be. Most places tend to be well fitted out, aiming for the luxury holiday market, but some just have no atmosphere, and can be very lacking in the kitchen department.

We usually take my steamer and wok, as we cook rather than eating out,but at one place, the table mat stuck to the wok when we put it on the table. mr B was mortified, but I pointed out that the purpose of a mat is to hold heat, rather than melt at the prospect. The owners agreed, apologised, and promised to get some better mats.

This house was lovely and felt just like a home, rather than a holiday let. It was very comfy and had everything we needed, as well as being a ten minute walk from town which Moll didn't enjoy at all. Despite living in a town, we nearly always walk out of town, where she can run along grass or sand, so she takes a pretty dim view of pavements. When we arrived at the house, we unpacked and as usual Moll inhaled her tea in a manner of seconds. "Slow down," said Mr B (to no effect). "Why does she eat so quickly?" Which is rich coming from him, who eats nearly as quickly as Moll does.

We looked at her and laughed. "Life's too short to chew," I said.