New bed arrived

A new bed arrived for C's room today. It's very high compared to the last one, so she'll have to jump up onto it. It's amazing how much dust and gunge had collected under the old bed - she's lucky she wasn't at home to clean it up!

This was a big week for foreigners helping us out. A group of Russian women spring-cleaned our house on Tuesday, including making our cooker look like new on the inside. I dread to think what chemicals must have been used for that.

The bed was delivered by a Polish guy, who helped Dad to lug it up the stairs. Ian had music being pumped into his ears so didn't hear their shouted requests for help.

Eating out with some people from the CIPD on Thursday we were served in Luigi Malone's by Chinese waitresses.

Today, though, there was a big moment. I have been calling into filling stations to get my left front tyre pumped up for weeks now, as it has a slow puncture. I actually got around to getting it fixed this morning. It took all of 10 minutes, including the waiting to get it done, which is definitely a lot less time than I have spent pumping it up since it got the puncture. And, the person who fixed it was Irish!

Next weekend is a bank holiday weekend, and there is a barge rally at Meelick. We will take the opportunity to show off our newly painted boat which, as it happens, has to be brought through Meelick on its way back to home base. It could be a good gathering there, though poor Goldie won't like it as he still has a buster collar around his neck to stop him scratching his eye. The shame of having it on in front of other dogs may just be too much!

The Limerick Animal Welfare people were at Superquinn today with a ginormous dog. Take Goldie, double him in size, and add loads of extra hair... The person who fostered Pippa before we took her was there. She recently got a new dog the same colour as Pippa, and has called her Pippa as well.

Tomorrow is Munster QM - the final of the 3 meetings where I'm expecting to be lambasted. The last 2 went fine, so let's hope this one does too.

Reminder to self - -- car insurance needs to be renewed this weekend.

One meeting down

The first of the Newtown meetings is over and I'm still alive, though probably not covered in roses. Life goes on, though, and all children are happy.

It's foggy outside this morning, as it was yesterday, but looks set to be a nice day. I hope I can get out in the garden this afternoon, though stupidly agreed to "take lunch" with a friend after Meeting, so that will delay things a bit. Bells are chiming outside, so it must be nearly 9.30am and all Church of Ireland people are being called to church.

Goldie has just taken his last antibiotic tablets. I've also given him a dose of Metacam so he is beginning to calm down from the awful itchiness his sore eye must bring. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to scratch what itches, and the big dish collar around his neck is hampering him somewhat! Leavy is being mischievous, and I've already had to clean up from her misdeeds overnight. Pippa is being her normal quiet self, and isn't even asking me to throw a ball for her. Of course, the men of this household are sleeping soundly.

A really exciting happening in this village went and happened while I was out of the country. We now have a ginormous SuperValu shop alive and open. It's very exciting. The village hasn't known anything this exciting since... well, since. There are at least 200 new houses on sale in the area at the moment so Castleconnell is obviously THE place to be. Aren't you jealous, millions of readers that don't live here?