No adventures during the night last night, thank goodness. However, I forgot to put away a cushion I was using on my chair. Within a few minutes of my leaving them on their own they had found it and were pulling the zip off the cover. It was my favourite elephant design.... It may be possible to mend it so I've put it in the washing maching first to clean it.
The fencing around the garden will be great once complete. I spent a while throwing bouncy things around the garden for the dogs this morning and it was great that they didn't disappear into hedges and mucky areas as the fencing prevented my mis-throws from landing there. This game managed to exhaust them for a few minutes but I can hear them waking up again.
We're going looking for cheap patio type slabs this morning to make a pathway around the veg garden.
Sunday 25 February 2007
Saturday 24 February 2007
My husband tells me
...that my last blog was very sad. He said it in a post-ironic sort of way that suggested a lack of sympathy. I had politely neglected to say that he slept through all of last night's saga, but I'll add that in now!
Ian is trying to get us to remember quadratic equations from our dim, distant pasts. I remember loving doing them but now haven't a clue how to start. He seems to be doing OK, though. He has pages and pages of figures working out various strange things.
It's been very wet and soggy today. I did a small amount of garden digging but came inside once the rain started and have now done 2 weeks worth of ironing. I think b was a bit surprised to see me with headphones on listening to my MP3 player so I didn't admit that I was listening to Rolf Harris. Perhaps he won't find out...
I am now charging the MP3 player so that it is prepared for my flight to London on Monday. I've managed to avoid work-related travelling since last June so I shouldn't complain. I'd love to avoid it forever, though. I have to go to Londinium and back on Monday and my meetings are close to the airport. I don't remember how many times I have visited Heathrow without getting a chance to get in to London itself.
More daffodils arrived in the house from the market today. Yellow is a really cheerful colour.
Ian is trying to get us to remember quadratic equations from our dim, distant pasts. I remember loving doing them but now haven't a clue how to start. He seems to be doing OK, though. He has pages and pages of figures working out various strange things.
It's been very wet and soggy today. I did a small amount of garden digging but came inside once the rain started and have now done 2 weeks worth of ironing. I think b was a bit surprised to see me with headphones on listening to my MP3 player so I didn't admit that I was listening to Rolf Harris. Perhaps he won't find out...
I am now charging the MP3 player so that it is prepared for my flight to London on Monday. I've managed to avoid work-related travelling since last June so I shouldn't complain. I'd love to avoid it forever, though. I have to go to Londinium and back on Monday and my meetings are close to the airport. I don't remember how many times I have visited Heathrow without getting a chance to get in to London itself.
More daffodils arrived in the house from the market today. Yellow is a really cheerful colour.
Grr....
I'm feeling very grumpy this morning, having had a disturbed night as a result of Leavy's antics. She started off by displaying that she had the runs, though luckily two doses were caught outside. Midnight saw me cleaning up the third off the kitchen floor. At various stages throughout the night Leavy barked. The question was whether she was looking for attention or telling me that she had done another one. I decided it was best to ignore, and the kitchen floor was clean this morning.
Leavy has learnt how to open one of the sliding doors to the kitchen cupboards. This morning she took out our spare plastic bags and they were nicely shredded on the living floor in a period of no more than 10 minutes while I was out of the room.
The garden is a mess as our friendly odd-jobber continues to progress slowly. The trouble is that it makes leaving the dogs outside impossible without supervision as they naturally graduate to the mud in the veg patch.
b rang me yesterday afternoon to tell me there were white balls all over the house. The insulation people returned eventually and spent the afternoon digging out the insulation that escaped into the attic. They didn't have plastic bags, hoover, or any equipment to help. However, they left the place reasonably ball free, considering. They have to return on Monday to collect another 10 bags of polystyrene balls. I haven't dared to look into the attic yet!
The "lads" have gone into town to the do the shopping. I see they have taken 150 euro out of my account in Arthurs Quay so must be parked there. ATM cards are very handy, who needs a GPS to locate people?
Ian has left me his Irish history book in the hopes that I will read it and then it will fall into his brain. Hmm...
Leavy has learnt how to open one of the sliding doors to the kitchen cupboards. This morning she took out our spare plastic bags and they were nicely shredded on the living floor in a period of no more than 10 minutes while I was out of the room.
The garden is a mess as our friendly odd-jobber continues to progress slowly. The trouble is that it makes leaving the dogs outside impossible without supervision as they naturally graduate to the mud in the veg patch.
b rang me yesterday afternoon to tell me there were white balls all over the house. The insulation people returned eventually and spent the afternoon digging out the insulation that escaped into the attic. They didn't have plastic bags, hoover, or any equipment to help. However, they left the place reasonably ball free, considering. They have to return on Monday to collect another 10 bags of polystyrene balls. I haven't dared to look into the attic yet!
The "lads" have gone into town to the do the shopping. I see they have taken 150 euro out of my account in Arthurs Quay so must be parked there. ATM cards are very handy, who needs a GPS to locate people?
Ian has left me his Irish history book in the hopes that I will read it and then it will fall into his brain. Hmm...
Wednesday 21 February 2007
Fences, daffodils, and other things
There are no fences around our garden now, but we'll soon have chain link ones designed to keep the dogs well inside. Our non-local friendly odd-job man has appeared to get it all done but is taking his time. Two days have so far been spent in buying materials and knocking down what was already there.
Meanwhile, the dogs are getting a bit fractious. One minute they are the best of friends and the next they are getting at each other. Just like children really!
At least 100 daffodils in full bloom adorn our house at the moment. What a display! They really do brighten things up. Added to that, I'm occasionally getting home when it is still light so it feels like spring has sprung.
b has gone to organic gardening class on his own today. I wimped out so that Ian had someone at home with him to help with the dogs as he hates them getting at each other. Tomorrow I have to go out to a table quiz that is raising funds in aid of an employee who has cancer. That is likely to be a late night.
The Prime Minister of Poland is visiting Ireland at the moment. He has expressed concern that if gayness is promoted the population won't reproduce and the world will come to an end. Interesting fella!
Meanwhile, the dogs are getting a bit fractious. One minute they are the best of friends and the next they are getting at each other. Just like children really!
At least 100 daffodils in full bloom adorn our house at the moment. What a display! They really do brighten things up. Added to that, I'm occasionally getting home when it is still light so it feels like spring has sprung.
b has gone to organic gardening class on his own today. I wimped out so that Ian had someone at home with him to help with the dogs as he hates them getting at each other. Tomorrow I have to go out to a table quiz that is raising funds in aid of an employee who has cancer. That is likely to be a late night.
The Prime Minister of Poland is visiting Ireland at the moment. He has expressed concern that if gayness is promoted the population won't reproduce and the world will come to an end. Interesting fella!
Sunday 18 February 2007
It's sunny
What a beautiful sunny Sunday it is today. We'd better make the most of it as it is due to rain later. b has gone off with the friends who stayed overnight and dogs to see a disused lock on the Plassey-Erinna canal. It'll give the dogs some exercise if nothing else. Then b and friends are heading off to visit marinas leaving Ian and I to mind the dogs.
I think I did too much cleaning and gardening yesterday as I'm very stiff. I definitely need to exercise more.
I think I did too much cleaning and gardening yesterday as I'm very stiff. I definitely need to exercise more.
Saturday 17 February 2007
Ian is home
I decided to clean the house today. Needless to say, I've had a busy day. My sticking power isn't great, though, so the rest is likely to have to wait for another week. The room that took the longest to do was the shower room. I even took a brillo pad to the toilet to see if I could get the lime off it. Anyway, I'm felling a bit virtuous, though the trouble about housework is that it really needs the same again every week and the gleaming look doesn't last for long.
I also lit two bonfires in the garden. I suspect that is against lots of regulations but I could think of no other way to get rid of all the stuff I've cut back this year. I still have two large piles and will light them again tomorrow if the weather is nice. Today was perfect for a bonfire as there was no wind and clear sky.
Ian is home for half term. He has mock Leaving Cert exams after the break so he has brought home lots of books.....
Our house is full of daffodils. I reckon b must have cleared the market stall of everything that was left. I don't have enough vases to put them in so I've put the closed ones into a bucket for the moment.
b has gone to collect some friends from the airport. They are staying overnight and then he brings them to visit various waterways locations they want to explore before bringing over their narrow-boat later in the year. They need to find a suitable marina as a base and so have a few appointments tomorrow to see them. b will return home on Monday, having left them to a Dublin train at Carrick-on-Shannon. Ian and I will hold the fort hear with the dogs.
I also lit two bonfires in the garden. I suspect that is against lots of regulations but I could think of no other way to get rid of all the stuff I've cut back this year. I still have two large piles and will light them again tomorrow if the weather is nice. Today was perfect for a bonfire as there was no wind and clear sky.
Ian is home for half term. He has mock Leaving Cert exams after the break so he has brought home lots of books.....
Our house is full of daffodils. I reckon b must have cleared the market stall of everything that was left. I don't have enough vases to put them in so I've put the closed ones into a bucket for the moment.
b has gone to collect some friends from the airport. They are staying overnight and then he brings them to visit various waterways locations they want to explore before bringing over their narrow-boat later in the year. They need to find a suitable marina as a base and so have a few appointments tomorrow to see them. b will return home on Monday, having left them to a Dublin train at Carrick-on-Shannon. Ian and I will hold the fort hear with the dogs.
Sunday 11 February 2007
I said I wouldn't talk dogs this week, but...
Here they are, this dysfunctional pack of dogs:
Leavy's hind leg that she doesn't use:
Leavy's hind leg that she doesn't use:
How has Sunday come around so quickly?
I'm exhausted and getting small dizzy spells today. Maybe it is because the world is turning so quickly as I can't understand how we've reached Sunday so soon again. Where did the week go?
Yesterday I was in Waterford again for yet another committee. It went on the longest of the ones I've chaired but I think it was useful for clearing the air. I sit listening to all views and sides and assumptions and prejudices but find it difficult to transmit them on to those who have different views, assumptions and prejudices. Hence a meeting where everyone gets a chance to air them, and my role was to ensure that people said out loud what they have been saying in private. This was worthwhile. I'm tired, though!
A dog trainer came yesterday and b spent 4 hours with her learning how disfunctional their behaviour is. Oh dear. I wonder does this apply to how we have brought up our children too. The same methods seem to have produced pretty good offspring so far!
This week b and I are actually going out on Valentine's Day. The fact that we are going to an organic gardening class may not appeal to all romantics but I'm looking forward to it. We are goin to learn how to grow veggies in a 4ft x 4ft area, which is just about what we might be able to manage.
Yesterday I was in Waterford again for yet another committee. It went on the longest of the ones I've chaired but I think it was useful for clearing the air. I sit listening to all views and sides and assumptions and prejudices but find it difficult to transmit them on to those who have different views, assumptions and prejudices. Hence a meeting where everyone gets a chance to air them, and my role was to ensure that people said out loud what they have been saying in private. This was worthwhile. I'm tired, though!
A dog trainer came yesterday and b spent 4 hours with her learning how disfunctional their behaviour is. Oh dear. I wonder does this apply to how we have brought up our children too. The same methods seem to have produced pretty good offspring so far!
This week b and I are actually going out on Valentine's Day. The fact that we are going to an organic gardening class may not appeal to all romantics but I'm looking forward to it. We are goin to learn how to grow veggies in a 4ft x 4ft area, which is just about what we might be able to manage.
Monday 5 February 2007
Happy birthdays
Three generations of birthdays fall today in the Haughton household. My father is 87, my brother is 49 and my niece is 14. There have been birthday cakes and cups of tea up there, with my parents going out for their annual lunch in Enniskerry.
Next week is Gran's birthday. Then our birthday season starts in March, with Ian achieving the big one eight. He might even get to vote in the elections this year if he manages to get on the register in time.
Next week is Gran's birthday. Then our birthday season starts in March, with Ian achieving the big one eight. He might even get to vote in the elections this year if he manages to get on the register in time.
Sunday 4 February 2007
The phone is now fixed
Leavy managed to chew up the phone connection today. Goldie had eaten all the books that were on the small table in the living room a couple of days ago so that was all that was left on it. So now the phone has been put in a more permanent position, properly wired, out of harm's way.
What a week it has been! This morning saw all of us going for an early morning walk in the frost, my first with the 3 dogs. They were all very good and energetic. Leavy gets excited when other dogs are on our road, though, and we haven't worked out how to stop her escaping. Someone advised a ring fence thing that beeps and gives a shock to stop her going near it but I priced that in the Co-op shop and the cheapest is 256 euros, a bit much for something that would teach her within a couple of days and then no longer be necessary.
It was a full day in Waterford for me yesterday, but the committee meetings were reasonably productive. We've to meet again next week, which is a nuisance, but at least I'll get to see Ian again. He went out with B and the dogs and fell in love with Leavy too. It seems that collies are renowned for their intelligence and it is certainly obvious that she is very intelligent.
Next week I promise to talk about something other than dogs.
What a week it has been! This morning saw all of us going for an early morning walk in the frost, my first with the 3 dogs. They were all very good and energetic. Leavy gets excited when other dogs are on our road, though, and we haven't worked out how to stop her escaping. Someone advised a ring fence thing that beeps and gives a shock to stop her going near it but I priced that in the Co-op shop and the cheapest is 256 euros, a bit much for something that would teach her within a couple of days and then no longer be necessary.
It was a full day in Waterford for me yesterday, but the committee meetings were reasonably productive. We've to meet again next week, which is a nuisance, but at least I'll get to see Ian again. He went out with B and the dogs and fell in love with Leavy too. It seems that collies are renowned for their intelligence and it is certainly obvious that she is very intelligent.
Next week I promise to talk about something other than dogs.
Friday 2 February 2007
Those dratted dogs
Two large brown jobs greeted me this morning in the kitchen, though I had a rest from anything yesterday. I cleared them up, had my cup of coffee and then had a shower. As I dressed I heard a big bang and could hear the dogs playing downstairs. Goldie and Leavy had managed to get down the large plastic container of treats that is in a cupboard in the kitchen and were helping themselves to them....
Later in the day Leavy escaped 3 times, on one occasion getting as far as the river car park before she was found. She is very obedient and comes straight away when called, but is a bit too nimble to be held into our garden. What fun! Pippa rebelled today and refused to come out of the water when on her walk - she had to have a noose dangled around her to fetch her back in.
Yesterday B decided to go up to the attic to search for the dog guard for the car. Imagine his surprise when he couldn't open the attic hatch and found polystyrene balls falling down on him. It seems as if this job we got done before Christmas extended from the walls into the attic and we probably have huge quantities of polystyrene all over it. At the moment we can't even get in to see it. The guy who did the job is coming to explore it next week. The stuff in the attic isn't very valuable, but the water tank could do without having polystyrene filling it up.
So, another working week over. Tomorrow is school committee day. B is bringing the dogs down to Waterford so that Ian can meet Leavy and bring her for a run on the beach.
Later in the day Leavy escaped 3 times, on one occasion getting as far as the river car park before she was found. She is very obedient and comes straight away when called, but is a bit too nimble to be held into our garden. What fun! Pippa rebelled today and refused to come out of the water when on her walk - she had to have a noose dangled around her to fetch her back in.
Yesterday B decided to go up to the attic to search for the dog guard for the car. Imagine his surprise when he couldn't open the attic hatch and found polystyrene balls falling down on him. It seems as if this job we got done before Christmas extended from the walls into the attic and we probably have huge quantities of polystyrene all over it. At the moment we can't even get in to see it. The guy who did the job is coming to explore it next week. The stuff in the attic isn't very valuable, but the water tank could do without having polystyrene filling it up.
So, another working week over. Tomorrow is school committee day. B is bringing the dogs down to Waterford so that Ian can meet Leavy and bring her for a run on the beach.
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