Sorry it’s been so long. I kept meaning to write a post but Gandalf has been, still is in fact, sick and he’s taken pretty much all of my attention.
Gandalf has head tilt caused by a nasty outer ear infection and E.Cuniculi which is a parasite in the kidneys that affects the brain too. We thought we were going to lose him as he got incontinent and couldn’t feel his front paws. He didn’t hop around much for a while and rolled over when he tried but I’m happy to say that with the right medications and attention he’s getting better. He doesn’t roll half as much, he is starting to use a make shift low entry litter tray (ok it’s a box with a puppy pad in it but it works) and he’s hopping around happily. Still got the head tilt and taking panacur and pain meds as well as ear cleaning and meds and eye drops but he’s a champ letting me do all that to him twice a day.
He’s getting his personality back too although he’s still very much wanting cuddles and fusses from us a lot more than usual. As a spoonie the extra care he needs has been testing. His cage needs more cleaning because he pees everywhere, he needs more fresh greens and more monitoring plus the meds, but I wouldn’t see it any other way. He’s a huge part of my life and the thought of losing him was tough. I was in a bit of a stupor mentally for a while just going through the motions and very numb. Not healthy at all but who would be. I’m glad we are through that time.
Another big thing has happened to me recently. A huge thing in fact. And I’ve kept it pretty quiet too. I started volunteering in a nursery! Once a week I’m working in a 2-4 year old room at the nursery my mum works at. It happened by accident really. I’d long been feeling restless because I missed working and feeling useful and like I’m contributing to the world and at the same time mum was telling me how short staffed they were right now and struggling to find suitable new staff. So I said if they’d have me maybe I could come in once a week to give them a bit of relief on a busy day.
Well the boss loved that idea. No idea why anyone would want two Ruffells around but there you go, I’m working! It’s utterly and completely exhausting, wipes me out entirely for at least the next day and takes a day to work up to so one day at work takes three from me really, but it’s so worth it. Being around children again I feel alive. It’s what I’m meant to do. It’s my purpose. Like Thursday when I went in the room within minutes I was asked to read a story and spent 45 minutes ‘trapped’ in the story corner reading to various children and it was a wonderful amazing memory for the day. One child was asking about me before I got in that day, another was fascinated by my hair, several children wanted me to do activities with them. And all the while I feel that I’m helping those children grow in a small way, helping them face their future. I’m a spoonie and I pay for being there physically but it’s a price I’m willing to pay for the happiness and completeness it brings me.
Well, that’s my news. Autumn is here and I’m trying to get out between resting for work and various illnesses in the house. Here’s a pic of the park from a week or two ago. I’m so in love with autumn this year!
Mood – a juxtaposition between relaxed and on edge with energy. Exhausted yet full of life.
Beverage Last Consumed – spiced pumpkin pie tea latte with soya milk
Food Last Eaten – sugar puffs with coconut milk
Show Last Watched – Dr. Who. Am I the only one confused by the amount of stuff happening in the new season?!
Song Last Played – we’ve got classic fm on while lindsay budgets and I blog.
Game Last Played – nature Fluxx
Hobby Last Done – playing on animal crossing
Place Last Visited – riverside park in Chester le street with mum
Current Reading – siege and storm by Leigh bardugo. It’s the second Grishaverse book in the shadow and bone trilogy and it’s amazing. I love the universe so so much.
#PaintSlam’21 – I’ve completely lost track and lost my painting mojo. It doesn’t help that my desk and chair are constantly covered with Michaels stuff. But I’ve just lost the heart to paint. I want to get it back though. I enjoy it and it’s something I could maybe do on rest days.
Tea of the moment – banana bread chai is delicious from bird and blend, but I’m also enjoying Almond and pistachio tea from True Tea that I got in Harrogate. The best cuppa I’ve had lately has to be the pumpkin sticky chai I made the other day though. Delicious!
Recipe of the week – this is a simple one – a tin if Mexican spice from oxo to put on chicken served with creamy mash and veggies. Delicious and nutritious.
Snapshot of my week:
My Spoonie Life 