Rain!

 Tuesday. 8.15 a.m. As I write this, I can hear rain, and see it through my window.

Thursday. 8.10 a.m. It is getting a good deal colder. Well, I suppose it's to be expected, now that we are into October. 

I am taking Alfie to The Groom Room in Pets At Home in Bletchley to have a haircut. I have already put the cage in the back of the car. First, I need to go to the petrol station in Childs Way to diesel in the car, as it is running low. The appointment at The Groom Room isn't until 11 o'clock, but I like to be organised and have things ready beforehand.

4.05 p.m. I went to get fuel at the Mobil station in Childs Way, as mentioned above. It was just after 9 a.m. But done and then came back to Dexter House.

At around 10.35 I left to drive to Pets At Home, and coming out of Strudwick Drive and onto Chaffron Way, I was expecting to get to the Eaglestone roundabout and turn right into Saxon Street as I normally do when driving to Pets At Home. But, coming out of Oldbrook, I immediately discovered that the road was closed off, and I had to make a detour through the estate near Milton Keynes Academy and come out on Grafton Street and make a circuitous journey to get onto Saxon Street and get straight to Bletchley, driving past the football stadium. So, you can imagine the frustration of all this, particularly as I'd left earlier than I needed to, but, considering the extra journey time due to the diversion, it was probably just as well.

When I eventually got to the car park outside Pets At Home, it had begun to rain. I got Alfie out of the back of the car. As usual, he wanted to jump down, and he was barking loudly. I carried him into Pets At Home and walked through to The Groom Room, which is at the back of the store. I went in and the ladies who do the grooming were still working on another dog, but I went through how I wanted Alfie clipped and explained that Alfie had a lump on his side, which they checked out. It doesn't appear to be sinister, but it was a good idea to let them know before they began clipping him. Because he is getting old, his eyesight is poor, and he has problems with his joints, it was decided to reduce any stress to him and just give him a short trim, clear off the mess around his face and, if there was a problem, they would ring me on my mobile, because, when I left, I went into Gregg's, a few doors along from Pets At Home, to have a coffee and salad baguette. Sure enough, barely 15 minutes after I had left The Groom Room, I got a call to say that Alfie was getting stressed and that they would cut short what would normally be around an hour for a grooming session. I returned to discuss things, and they said that they could clear the mess around his face and give him a bit of a bath, which I agreed to, and waited in the vets' area until he was finished. So, I paid for the groom and got another session booked for the first week in January.

Sunday. 2.20 p.m. Yesterday afternoon I went out with the DJI Pocket to experiemnt with taking video footage. I went to Campbell Wharf Marina. It seemed the ideal place to go with the camera. I'd been there on Tuesday, with Pastor Ross. We had coffee in a new coffee shop I've never been to before. Infact, I'd never been to this area of Milton Keynes before. I had been to the canal further on with Alfie, and I think I'd been there with Carol and our dogs. As it turned out, it wasn't an entirely successful mission because it was quite cloudy and overcast and I couldn't find a way to get down to the wharf where the narrow boats were moored. I did get some footage, which I have since viewed, but, as it was just an experimental operation, not entirely a waste of time, becuse I merely wanted to find out how the various features of the camera worked.

Wild and Windy Night

It was very wild and windy last night. I could hear the sound when I woke up during the night. I just hoped the garden fence wass strong enough to withstand the storm and we din't end up having the fence repaired as we had to a couple of years ago and woke up to find part of it laying across the garden. Alfie is spending a lot of time in the rough area at the end of the garden at present. No doubt he has come across something that might possibly be a hedgehog or other small animal which has left it's scent in the grass or rough area where the mower can't go. I'm just concerned that he might get into the old garden shed as he once got inside and got stuck and it took some while to rescue him.

12.45 p.m. Well, as I write this, the wind has dropped and the sun is out. We've been out, into the MK Centre to browse the shops. We walked through the centre, having parked in Debenham's carpark. Actually, I don't think that carpark is part of Debenhams, it's just in the centre and you walk in through Debenham's store. We didn't on this occasion as it looked as if there was a security alert as there were staff standing around near the door so we went into the shopping centre down the escalator and came out opposite the main Debenham's entrance. I don't like these moving staircases as you have to be so careful because if you mis-step you could come down faster than you would normally want. Also, going up I have a real thing about heights so don't want to look down. Sad really. I have to admit that I don't like heights at any price and no matter where.

We walked through the shopping centre and were going to buy something to take home for lunch and went into Gregg's to find sandwiches but we weren't over-impressed by the selection on offer and there was quite a long queue to pay so we gave up and left. We went into W.H.Smith's to find a suitable birthday card for our grandson George, who's birthday is coming up and browsed in the racks, found what we wanted, paid and left. We walked back towards the carpark at Debenham's and went into Waterstone's (there are two branches in Milton Keynes, one in the main shopping centre and the other in Midsummer Place, which also has it's own coffee shop.) A good range of books as usual. It's building up to Christmas so all the newest titles are on offer and on display. Clever that they have books on tables which are laid out so you can pick them up to look at them, which makes it far more tempting to buy. We then went into Marks and Spencer's to get the sandwiches for lunch and returned to the carpark and left to drive the relatively short distance home.

Alfie Has His Hair Cut

I'd had Alfie booked to go to the groomer's at Pets At Home for about a month. Luckily it had been a really mild and warm day. Infact, it must have been the warmest day so far this year. Being able to get his cage loaded into the back of the car was my main aim early in the morning. I had to make sure he was safely installed in the kitchen first, with the door closed. Any hint of a noise and he'd start yapping. But fortunately he wasn't aware of what I had planned. By about 11.30 I was almost ready to drive over to Bletchley and had to get him on his lead without him having an idea I was about to take him out. A few minutes later and I'd got him ready to go. He had got an idea what I was about to do and began the usual noise. He's just too sharp for me.

I got parked in a convenient spot near Pets At Home and got him out of the car. As usual, all and sundry would have heard that Alfie had arrived. We went in through the Pets At Home store as the Grooming Room is at the back of the building. The lady on reception filled in a form because you have to give your details as to how you want your dog to be groomed. Alfie had quite a lot of knots in his coat as well as some nasty bits under his eyes which needed removing. It seems most dogs get these bits on their faces. We had tried to remove them ourselves but he doesn't like you even attempting. The same with any knots in his coat. He isn't too keen if you try to comb or brush his coat. I think it's probably because it can hurt if you get the comb caught in a knot and it pulls.

I had to spend the next two hours kicking my heels. It didn't seem much point going home, even though it's not that far. I had a refreshment break at Gregg's, as there is a handy branch only a few doors away from Pets At Home. I bought a baguette a drink and some crisps and sat outside at a conveniently placed table. Other people had the idea, no doubt people having their lunch break from work. A couple of starlings came and pinched bits of food that got dropped, and in particular very brave and friendly starling. I managed to get some photos of this little bird on my iPhone.

The friendly starling I had pleasure of seeing at Gregg's

These are such colourful little birds that always congregate where they know there'll be scraps of food. I don't think the other customers of Gregg's were quite as tolerant of them as I was. This one was jumping on spare tables and chairs but eventually flew away when he realised he wasn't going to get anything more to eat.

I had to buy some things for Carol. She likes Nestlé's coffees in sachets that you make up with hot water. Specifically vanilla lattes. There is a Tesco's only a short walk away from where I had parked the car, so I went over and bought these packets. I went back to sit in the car for a while and then browsed in T.K. Maax. It was surprising how quickly the two hours passed. I wasn't going back to Pets At Home too early because I wanted to keep away from the grooming parlour because I knew that if Alfie saw me he would only start making loud barking and yapping noises and it would be difficult for the groomer to do her job properly. 

When I eventually walked through the door in the grooming parlour, I didn't immediately see Alfie. I had a word with the lady who had been grooming him. There was absolutely no sound from Alfie either. He had been a good boy, although he hadn't appreciated being bathed. No surprise, as he doesn't enjoy being bathed, or getting wet! Unlike Poppy, who would dive into the nearest stretch of water whenever she was given the opportunity, and not always at the most convenient. Usually it was freezing cold, muddy and most usually smelly!

Then Alfie was brought in to the reception area. He began barking wildly when he saw me and ran about as he has a tendency to do. He looked so different, clipped really short! Almost a new and completely different dog, having had a long wavy coat for so long. It makes him looks so much better when he's clipped. At least he'll be ready to face the summer months. No more tangles, his face is looking particularly fresh. He can see better without those clumps of hair in the way of his eyes and those nasty black lumps under his eyes are gone. He would never let us deal with those unpleasant bits and where they were are rather red and raw but they should clear up. I paid what was owed and then we went home. I was surprised how quiet Alfie was when he was in the cage in the back of the car as he usually makes little yapping sounds when we're driving anywhere and he's in the car with us.

Alfie, taken on my iPhone. He was rushing around barking and it was difficult to get a decent shot but this was the best shot out of around half a dozen I managed to take of him showing how much was trimmed off by the groomer. I think, if you compare this with earlier photos of him before he was trimmed, I think you'll agree he looks much better.

Alfie- Trimmed!

Alfie has been in  desperate need of a trim at the grooming parlour. His coat grows quickly and needs trimming at least every six months or so. He gets a rather nasty matted bit on each of his eyes (I think most dogs seem to get this, for whatever reason.) Try doing this yourself and he growls. It must be rather uncomfortable if you do manage to remove it. I expect it stings. I had him booked in at Pets At Home in Bletchley this morning at 9 o'clock. I managed to get him into the cage in the back of the car without too much trouble. (How does he know that something is going on, even when I'm extra-careful to get the cage out of the spare bedroom and into the car, which I did yesterday afternoon, and have his lead in my trousers pocket where he couldn't possibly see it? He's so clever. I think he'd worked something out when I eventually got the lead on him.) I left at 8.40 which gave me more than enough time to get to the retail park at Bletchley. There were other dogs arriving with their owners as I parked the car opposite Pets At Home and then managed to get in at a little bit before 9. It was going to take the groomers an hour to do their work, so I decided to stay a the retail park as it wasn't really worth going home and then driving back, so I had a wander around T.K. Maxx to look at their selection of clothes and then got a coffee and bit of cake in Gregg's and sat in my car to eat and drink. Then, just before 10 I returned to Pets At Home. 

Alfie- after his grooming session today

There was a family with their large boxer dog waiting in the place where customers wait for their pets to be collected. I know it was best not to open the door (I could see this beast through the glass door.) and as the dog wasn't on its lead, I thought it best to wait as I didn't want to be responsible for it running off if I opened the door. Also, I was being careful not to let Alfie see me as he would respond with yapping and barking is he saw me. It could make the staff's job even more difficult if he began responding accordingly. I eventually got inside and saw Alfie and he looked really neat and tidy, with a bandana around his neck (which each customer's dog gets after they've been groomed. The last time he got a bow tie.) I paid and then we left, Alfie leading the way back to the car. We drove home and Alfie was silent. He does make a certain amount of noise when he first goes in the cage, making little yaps. I got him home and took the above photographs.  Not the easiest subject for a photograph. He just won't sit still. As soon as I get the camera out he seems to know he'll get attention. He kept coming towards the camera, which made it difficult to frame a decent shot. As you can see from the above photographs. Without his fringe, he can now see clearly and I have to say he looks a good deal tidier. Not too short because he needs his coat during the cold winter months.

Hottest Day Of The Year

They had forecast this as being possibly the hottest day of the year so far. I can well believe it, because, as I write this (at 10.47 a.m.) the sun is out in full force. Carol and I have been into the Central Shopping Centre (Centre MK as it's called) and parked the car in Debenham's multi-storey car park, as it's the best place to park as you are more or less guaranteed a place, even though you have to pay. It was virtually empty when we arrived at around 8.45, having dropped Sam off at Maplin's where he recently started working. We walked down through Debenhams and out into the shopping centre. We were going to Boot's opticians, and they have a branch outside their main store, but it didn't open until 9.30, so we walked to the main branch and upstairs, where I made an appointment for my eye-test for 9.00 a.m. on Monday. We browsed for new glasses and selected three frames, so I will order these once my eyes are tested. You should get a second pair, for reading, when you get the distance glasses as theres a 'buy one, get one free' offer on in Boot's. We went into Marks and Spencer as Carol was looking for a skirt. We went up several floors on the escalator, and found it exceptionally hot the further up the building you went. There must have been something wrong with the air conditioning in Marks and Spencer, and they had several industrial air conditioning units dotted around the various floors, one of which we stood in front of to get the benefit of the cooling air.
Several other people came to enjoy the breeze from the air conditioning unit. But it was far too hot to remain inside the store, so we left, to find it a good deal cooler at the lowest level. It would be a good idea if Marks and Spencer was to rectify the fault in their cooling system, especially on a Saturday, which would, no doubt, have been their busiest shopping day of the week, and even more so with the current state of the country's economy. We left the building and walked to Gregg's, bakers, confectioners, call it what you will, and purchased two delicious-looking buns, with icing and surmounted with glace cherries, which we later consumed at home with our coffee. We browsed in W.H.Smith and then B.H.S. and then returned to Debenham's and went up on the escalator to the carpark. When you enter the carpark you have to take a ticket at the barrier, which rises to admit your vehicle, and then, on leaving, you put the ticket in another machine which tells you conveneitly how much you have to pay, and it returns the original ticket to you, which you then use in the machine at the barrier to let you out of the carpark.
Both our dogs can't cope with warm weather. Alfie, in particular. I must have mentioned that we took the dogs to Marston Mortaine where there is a country park, when it was exceptionally hot, and Alfie almost collapsed and died because it was so hot. It was very distressing, but we got him home and he got over it. Things are not helped by our neighbours, whose dog barks at our dogs through the fence, which sets Alfie off, barking and generally getting really wound up. So we have to call him into the house, but our beloved neighbours make no attempt to stop their dog behaving in this fashion. Dogs being dogs, I suppose it's in their nature to behave like this, territorial behavior or something, but we don't want our dogs getting over-hot. So, it end up with them having to come indoors and the French windows into the garden shut, to stop them going outside, which is rather unfair on them, particularly as they enjoy pottering around the garden.