Emotional Support Dogs.

And another visit to the doctor…

August 15, 2026

During the week I had a blood test. I told the doctor my iron level was low because I don’t store iron, so I have to take iron tablets to keep the level up. But he wanted to do a blood test to make sure.

Friday I got a text message from the centre asking me to make a ‘non-urgent’ appointment within 3 weeks. (The 3 week time limit makes it sound a bit urgent though).

I know it is low iron because I have this regularly, and I stopped taking the iron before the operation and hadn’t started them again, but I have now.

I had a test when I worked in the hospital, (the benefit of working on the haematology ward). I got in to see the top doctor in that field in the hospital and when the results came back they were not encouraging.

I asked the ward boss what a good iron level should be and he said between 120 and 130. He looked at my results and swore. I managed 3.2.

I’m fairly sure the blood test was just for iron, so I have made an appointment to see him and verify my personal diagnosis. As I have managed to drop below 5 a few times already, I have a very good idea what the problem is.

Apart from that everything is fine. I have got over all the expected problems associated with the operation and I just have a regular meeting with the nurse to discuss what is happening (yes, another blood test).

Now, the dogs are fine. Swagger has been scratching a lot, so he and Lucifer had a shower. First with oatmeal shampoo to soothe the skin, then with a flea shampoo in case they had fleas, and once they were dry, they got a Bob Martin flea spray.

He was still scratching, so I have started him on antihistamine tablets, they seem to be working as they get into his system.

Evie went visiting once, then next visiting day, as I was getting collars out, Evie went to bed, she was NOT going visiting.

Sadly both nursing homes had residents I visited pass away. This is something many people can’t cope with. You visit people and sort of build up a relationship, and then they are gone. I am lucky I worked on the cancer ward (proper name; Haematology/Oncology ward), so people passing away was a regular thing, and sadly, you get used to it.

Now, some advice for people that think they could cope with that. Some dogs DON’T like visiting, so if you think you would like to be a visitor and you get the chance, take your dog on a visit before you make any commitment. Remember Evie does not like visiting and she gets the shakes. I have anxiety as well, so I know wow bad it can make you feel, so I don’t want her to go through that. (You could become a visitor without a dog)

I took her out 1 day last week and as I was signing in on the computer, I could feel the trembling right up through her leash. But I told one of the residents I would bring her in so he could meet her, that’s why she went.

MUSIC TIME

NOT Iron Maiden…but not even close

And another

If God had wanted me to touch my toes, he’s have put them on my knees!

And the news is…

July 30, 2026

Yesterday I had to go and see the prostate nurse to get the results of my blood test, and the result was…

I AM CANCER FREE

Today I went visiting and took Evie because one of the residents wanted to meet her, she was strange. When I got to the home and was signing in I could feel her trembling right through her leash, but the woman on the reception desk came out to meet her and she actually went up to the woman and got patted and stopped trembling.

She was fine for the rest of the visit, but right at the end I noticed that she had a bit of a tremble, but nothing as bad as it was. We were coming home then, it was lunchtime in the home, so Evie said goodbye to the people in that wasr and home we came.

I left Swagger at home for a change because he feels all grotty and definately needs his shower. I will either ramp up the air conditioner, or wait till tomorrow to see if it gets warmer outside. Then all 3 will get their oatmeal wash followed by a flea treatment shampoo followed by good old Bob Martin flea spray.

After watching some cooking documentaries I decided to cook up some rice for myself. 1 cup of rice is enough for 2 bowls full and there is a bit left over. So one day when doing the dogs dinners I added in that bit of rice. The bowls were licked clean. They love their rice and every time I give them some, the bowl is cleared.

MUSIC TIME

1 song, 2 versions.

Version 1…NORMAL

Version 2…MODERN

And our AI feature for today is…

They say Money Talks…

July 28, 2026

Mine just says GOODBYE

What a horrible day it was today. Apart from the miserable weather, it was pension day, Talk about, in one hand and out the other, this week was one of those weeks when everything comes together at the same time.

Apart from the usual bills, I had a larger than normal electric bill, car registration, dog registration and groceries, which were cut to the minimum. I also needed petrol. Of course, when it’s groceries time, dog food is first. Luckily they didn’t need biscuits this week, just the meat. They have plenty of biscuits to use up before I replace them.

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY. It is my urologist appointment to find out if the cancer is gone completely or if there is more to do.

Visiting has been fun and easy. One of the residents in one home is a Formula One fan, so I downloaded this years Monaco race (everyone loves Monaco), and because they are a Lewis Hamilton fan, I downloaded the 2007 Canadian race…Hamiltons first win in F1

It was easy on Thursday because there was a virus going around (just a cold or flu), so I was advised not to go upstairs, so I only went to 2 wards and got away early.

I was going to give the hounds a shower today, but it is wet and windy weather, so they are safe until tomorrow hopefully. They have been scratching a lot, so they are going to have a flea control shampoo first, then an OATMEAL shampoo to soothe the skin, then when they are dried a flea spray.

I normally heal quickly, but that slash across my arm by Swagger has scarred.

Meanwhile, the wounds from the operation are all healed and have minimum scarring.

I really need to get out into the garden and cut the grass/weeds. I bought a new whipper snipper because it was cheaper than getting the one I have serviced. Now I have got the petrol and 2 stroke oil and I’m ready to go…but it’s raining.

MUSIC TIME

Lucifer…the song.

Evie…the song.

Swagger…then song.

Still improving, but still not 100%

July 23, 2026

I was lucky today, there was a virus (basicly a cold) at the nursing home, so I was advised not to visit the upstairs wards, so I got an early finish. When I got home I made a coffee but fell asleep before I even drank it.

Certain ways I move still hurts my stomach muscles, but the biggest problem is how tired I get. I have to get my house ready for an inspection, but if I tidy up today, I will have to stay in bed tomorrow.

Fortunately the hounds are fine and can still visit, but Evie is still a problem when I leave her at home. She will go through the bins and pull the rubbish out to get to a food wrapper.

I went out on Wednesday and when I got home Evie had already had her lunch…My TEA!

Pie and Pasty wrappers. **I was looking forward to them too!**

I forgot to shut the gate to the kitchen and she went in and took a pie and pasty off the freezer, opened the packets and ate them. I had to find something else for tea.

1 resident from each home passed away this week. I think this is the part of visiting that some people can’t deal with. Fortunately for me, working on a cancer ward for so long, this is something that you either get used to or leave the job.

At the same time…not all dogs are suited to visiting. Evie is my prime example. When I get ready to go put and put collars on Swagger and Lucifer, Evie will go to bed on her own.

I was asked if I would have 3 dogs again, and the answer (apart from yes) was, if Evie had been a willing visitor, I would only have 1 greyhound. Because she was nervous I got Swagger to try to build her confidence, but it worked backwards and Swagger got nervous.

So Evie got retired and I got Lucifer. And now I think about it, Rassilon was a solo visitor so Swagger could have been too, making Lucifer just an added extra. But he is now a permanent member of the family, and not going anywhere.

(Front to back): Swagger; Evie; Lucifer.

MUSIC TIME

Well, you have to admit it is different!!

Only in America: The Miami Boys Choir…Based in New York!

Nearly better, but not quite.

July 10, 2026

I did 2 visits this week, but I was worn out for the 3rd. I didn’t think it was so tiring, but apparently it is moreso than I thought. Thursday I didn’t wake up until 10.30am. I am supposed to be at the nursing home by 10.00am.

Today I had to go and pick up my medications, then I put them all in their containers at home. Tomorrow I will probably sort them into their daily containers. I take some in the morning and some at night. These containers make it easy once I sort the tablets out.

Tonight I got up to wash my big frying pan so I could get the dogs dinner ready for tomorrow. However, the frying pan still hasn’t been washed, but I have made up 12 tubs of milk jelly. I tend to get distracted…

Of course, my mother used to make milk jelly back in Scotland, so I had to get the recipe off the Internet, but it wasn’t like my mother made. It was edible, but not light and fluffy, so I have modified the recipe to my liking. They should be ready tomorrow for easy snacks (stuff the diabetes).

Tomorrow I will sort out the dogs dinners. I will eventually wash the frying pan (it’s electric, so it won’t go in the dishwasher). I will cook up their pasta and vegetables, then they will get 100 grams of meat and 65 grams of pasta and veg. That goes with 1 cup of biscuits.

You have to follow a strict diet for greyhounds or they will put on weight, and there is nothing worse than seeing a fat greyhound.

I have to be especially careful with Evie, she will eat anything she can get to. She will eat her dinner, come to my room to stare at me eating, but on the way to my room, she checks out the other bowls to see if Swagger or Lucifer have left anything.

*Swagger and Lucifer are probably a bit bigger, but they are not racing now.*

I watched some videos of Korean food factories, it made me fancy rice, so I cooked up 1 cup of rice. I add a cup-a-soup for extra flavour (Dutch Curry is incredible), and I steam frozen vegetables, which I add when the rice is cooked.

One day I thought I would try adding soy sauce, but I didn’t have any. I did have some Worcestershire Sauce…ADDICTED!!

I will also add other things in with the veggies to steam up before adding it in. Believe it or not I added a frozen meal. Again, addictive. I just have to remember what meals I have used so I can buy them again.

As I am writing this, as the dishes are getting washed (I love that dishwasher), I have my headphones on so I can listen to my music LOUD without disturbing the neighbours. I have some old 50s music on at the moment, which is where I heard this song as part of a medley, but YouTube had it on it’s own, so see if you enjoy it like I do.

MUSIC TIME

It’s borderline, but FUNNY!!

And Now, the very rare and dangerous Northern English martial art of Ecky-Thump

Finally, we go visiting.

July 6, 2026

At last we get to go out and visit again. Lucifer had a sore paw yesterday and was limping, and I thought I was going to have to take Evie and let him rest.

But much like the cartoon, you touch that leg and it’s all better!

Anyway, breakfast and 3 showers later and we are ready to go out. Why 3 showers? 1…Lucifer. 2…Swagger. 3…finally ME. All smelling nice for our visit, which is going to be longer than normal.

Lucifer with his dressing gown. *He was first to shower.*

Evie was lucky today. Because Lucifers leg got better, she didn’t get a shower.

I am still getting sore when I walk around too much or do anything even a bit strenuous, so I will go in early and I can spend time sitting down with the residents.

I have a gift for one of the women, she is a Formula One fan in particular, Lewis Hamilton. So I have downloaded some races for her to watch. First this years Monaco Grand Prix, because everyone loved Monano. Second is the 2007 Canadian GP, which was Hamilton’s first F1 win. I know she will enjoy those.

Also during the race was this…

Believe it or not, he survived this crash and went on to win the Le Mans 24 hour race

I’ve got the air conditioner on to keep the dogs warm and dry. It is only 15^o outside, so they are inside. The trouble is, I am going to need another shower before we go out because I am sweating so much.

I think there might be a slight infection because a couple of times I have woken up and found that I had been sweating so much the sheets on the bed were soaked, and I had to change the bedding…at 2.00 in the morning!

So, I will get ready for my visit. I will leave an hour early so I can rest when I am visiting. Sadly, I am one resident short. They passed away suddenly while I was off.

MUSIC TIME

Masato Honda playing the EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument). This is why I bought one.

Just a quick positive thought.

June 29, 2026

Taking this advice, I started looking at my life, the good and the bad.

As a visitor to nursing homes I get to see the sad side of life. People who were perfectly normal and active suddenly struck down with dementia and cant remember me or Swagger and Lucifer, sometimes within weeks.

People who seem perfectly fine one day have passed away before I get to the next visit.

Personally (and I never actually worried about it), I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I take the medication and just carry on as I did before. BUT…

Having diabetes means I have to have a blood test every 6 months.

It was through one of these blood tests that they found the cancer.

So what could have been seen as something bad, turned into something good.

It is becoming clearer to me that regular check-ups are a good thing and can save a lot of problems down the track.

If I hadn’t had a regular blood test, that the doctor can compare, I wouldn’t have found out about the cancer so soon, I would have gone on unknowing and without treatment it could have spread. When diagnosed it is classified into one of 5 groups.

1 means that it can wait and watch. 5 means there is a very good chance it had spread. I was a 4. That means I could have gone to stage 5 and not known and it could have spread, making treatment a lot harder.

As it is, I have been cleared by the nurses, but I have a doctors appointment on the 29/07/26 where he will look at the final blood test results and (hopefully) give me the all clear.

If the PSA level is .1 or 0, everything is perfect and that’s what I want.

So, even if you feel fine, a blood test is ALWAYS a good place to start to find things you may not know about, even if you feel fine

Like James Brown I Feel Good. And in the weeks to come I am going to get better. At the moment I still get tires and sore very quickly, but when I consider what was done inside me, it all seems logical. After all I had one of these wandering around INSIDE of me for a few hours.

So todays important message…

You live and learn

June 28, 2026

On Thursday I went to the hospital for a check up and everything was fine, so the catheter came out. Oh what a relief that was.

On Friday I decided to go to the nursing home I normally go to on Thursdays, but I didn’t take the dogs. I wanted to drop off a copy of their vaccination certificates and I had a gift for one of the residents.

I went to the ward and was talking to some of the residents, and stayed long enough to get my cup of coffee and some cake. Sadly, during my absence, one of the residents I used to visit passed away. The same happened at the other nursing home.

Anyway, the result was, my thoughts of going visiting on Monday have now long gone. All the muscles around the op site told me that it was too soon to be doing too much, so at least another week off.

I am still applying good old Germolene to the wounds. The nurse said they are a bit red and to keep an eye on them. Germolene is the right stuff. Antiseptic and Anaesthetic, helps any infection and reduces the pain (only the big scar in the middle hurts).

*Between me and the dogs, we must be keeping the company in profit*

As I am finding out, you use your stomach muscles a lot more than you think. Even a cough or sneeze goes through those muscles.

I’m supposed to tidy the house up for an inspection, but the time I’ve had off and now the recovery time make it hard to do anything strenuous. Anyway, I will hide stuff in cupboards or in the garage. Out of sight is out of mind.

I also have to mow the yards, but that means getting the mower fixed. I have no way of getting the ride-on mower to the shop, so I will have to get my big heavy duty mower serviced very soon.

Music Time

Chuck Mangione recently passed away

The instrument Chuck plays is a Flugelhorn

Many years ago I had the LP “Feels SO Good” and I used to play along on my clarinet. I have to admit, the 2 instruments together sounded really good. I guess one of the benefits of not being able to read music is that I play by ear, and once I play a song a few times it is stuck.

He wrote only the words to this song.

I believe the music was written by Gloria Gaither. Mark CAN NOT read music, so he thought it best that he didn’t write it.

(For those that recognise, you can hear David Phelps voice powering over the whole lot)

tRump looking after himself Vs a REAL President looking after his wife

Friday and what a relief. I can walk again.

June 26, 2026

Wednesday I had to go and have some scans to check that all the joins are still connected after the operation, the good news was, they were.

Thursday was a trip to the hospital to get the catheter removed, and after 2 weeks I was desperate to have it out, because it was painful. But the nurse has to check the scans to make sure all the tubes are connected and holding in place, and the nurse was very pleased with them, so out it came.

Friday, with my newfound pain free freedom I went for a quick visit to the home I normally visit on Thursday, but I didn’t take the dogs. I just had the dogs vaccination certificates in to keep them legal for visiting. And keeping them legal costs me $300.00.

Then I took a gift up to one of the residents. I noticed that when she was having her mean the staff put a napkin around her neck, so I bought an adult bib with the saying “Someone put my cape on backwards”. She was so pleased with it. It is so good to see how something that costs about $5.00 can bring so much happiness.

I stayed there for longer than I had planned, but I did get my coffee and cake. I don’t even have to ask now, the carer just automatically gives me a coffee and cake, or cakes if I have the dogs with me. She even remembers how I have my coffee.

MUSIC TIME

One of my favourite singers.

But getting down takes a special voice. Geoff Castellucci has that voice

Roll on Thursday

June 24, 2026

when the catheter is gone and the leg bag retired, I will be able to get some sleep. I didn’t get any last night…AGAIN. I might take a sleeping tablet and some paracetamol and try for some sleep this afternoon.

I know it was cold last night, Swagger came INTO the bed. Normally he doesn’t like being under the covers, but last night in out 2 degrees, he forced himself.

When I got up for a coffee, the hounds came into the lounge because I had the air conditioner on heat. They all settled down, but the surprise was Lucifer. Normally NONE of the dogs will use that bed.

Of course Swagger injured himself again during the week. Big drops of blood outside the back door. Where it came from I have no idea, but when I eventually found the wound, it was so small I could have easily missed it.

But it still isn’t as good as mine. I must be healing because it is itching. Luckily I still have the cream I was prescribed for the itching when I had the rash on my back, so at least I have some relief.

The big wound and a little one beside it.

I have to go for another scan this afternoon, and once again, there will be NO privacy. I have to have a ‘tracer dye’ and it goes through the catheter, and I am NOT looking forward to that, or tomorrow when the Catheter is removed. This is not an operation you have is you are shy!!

MUSIC TIME

I think I have worked out why I can’t read music. Now I have to see someone about that. I can’t do this.

I put a CD on this morning and this song was playing…several times.

I don’t know what they are saying, but I love the energy of the performance.

I know tRump considers himself the Son of God, but this is most likely how it would have been.

The lives of 3 Adopted Greyhounds.