Shingles

Today, having been to my welsh class this morning, I am now at Dad's in Bristol. I am here because one of his 89th birthday presents on Monday was shingles so, as you can imagine, he's not feeling 100%. Not that that stopped him trekking outside in the wind and cold yesterday to battle with the garage doors!
So this afternoon, we are sitting in the living room and he has the television on...
watching a boring war programme on the Yesterday channel. (Oh boy, the producers of that channel have a lot to answer for!)
"I could go back home," I mused aloud, "but the trouble is, the same channel would probably be on there too."
On a positive note, I was able to say to my tutor this morning, 
"Y bore ma, dwi'n mynd i Frysti i weld Tad. Mae gynno fo shingles."
My tutor was impressed - "Da iawn!" she said.
Little things...


Clever!!!

Some good news from clever Elder Daughter. She passed her exam!! So now she has a few more letters after her name: 
MBChB, MRCP(UK), MRCP (Geriatric Medicine)
It' s all in the genes, of course!

An old dog

Sometimes on my walks with the dogs, I see a couple with a beautiful, if elderly rough collie dog. Although the dog is lovely, he is obviously now having problems with his back legs, as he walks stiffly and slowly, but the other noticeable thing about him is that he always wears a muzzle. On the rare occasions that I have been able to get within talking distance, the lady has explained that he doesn't like other dogs, he is a rescue dog and at the age of ten years or more, it's too late to retrain him now.
His growling and aggressive stance when another dog comes near is evidence indeed that he prefers them to keep their distance and I have frequently turned back and taken another route when I've seen him approaching,  in order to minimise his discomfort and that of his owners, but I am impressed with the couple's patience. They took him on, presumably knowing of his problem, and have devoted  time, energy and love towards providing him with a comfortable home and regular exercise.
His behaviour might not be the best and who knows what he experienced in his earlier life, but he is a lucky dog.

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...