Just Gilly

  It was my birthday yesterday. Unexpectedly very low key. A mixture of covid, Libby's health and my age? Normal for 50+…? I thought about birthdays many moons ago when I was a kid. I always had a party. Of course these were the days when parties happened in your home. Guests gave you a gift, and they left with just a slice of cake and maybe (if they were very lucky) a balloon! The birthday girl/boy got the bumps - remember them? When were the bumps outlawed then? And you ate sandwiches, crisps, iced gems and jelly & ice-cream. You played games like pass the parcel and musical statues. And it was great. Everyone was happy! My parents had a great game for parties. A child stood on a plank, blind folded. The plank was lifted until the child could reach up and touch the ceiling. Then they had to jump off. The brave ones who did found out the plank was only a couple of inches off the ground and the 'ceiling' was just a book held over their heads! They loved it.  My mum was ...

Distraction, distraction, distraction has been the name of the game this week. Otherwise I'd have drowned in my thoughts. I've been sleeping, lots, as much as I can. I've been eating, lots, as much as I can. No real surprise there though. I even bought a box of Toffifee's which I have never bought in my life before! I've been baking - today I shall try cinnamon rolls which I've never done before (I do have a kit mind you lol). I've been reading - a new Jack Reacher (best distraction ever) and I've also swapped my monthly from Woman & Home to Good Housekeeping - my life is just rock n roll. I've been trying different TV. My hubby has got me on The IT Crowd from 2006! It's funny, especially after a glass of wine or three. We've also tried Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but not so successfully. The most exciting distraction this week has been my exercises. I've started very specific exercises. And no, I'm not training for a marathon. I have sta...

  Libby has been to Edinburgh for her scan and blood tests. She has stage 4 cancer (anal gland carcinoma) and she has tumours on several lymph nodes and it has also spread to her lungs. We have discussed surgery, radiotherapy and drugs with the vets. We have made the impossible decision not to go down that route but to let nature take its course. The treatments would only have given her a few extra months (not guaranteed) and she's happy and oblivious just as she is. She has 4-6 weeks. We had only had her a couple of weeks when we had a holiday planned. The breeder agreed to have her back for the week. Holiday over hubby went to pick her up. She was in a kennel with her sister. But which one was Libby?? Luckily we had already chipped her. A quick visit to the vet confirmed he had successfully recognised his own dog! Good start lol. We started training straight away. Sitting and waiting for her food - her little back legs going 10 to the dozen but not going anywhere as we held her b...

  Libby has terminal cancer. I make no apologises that this week's post is all about her. To be honest she has completed dominated my week and I've thought of nothing else.  This has happened so fast. We found a lump on Libby's bum under her tail. We thought it was a blocked anal gland, or cyst. Vet wanted to aspirate and send samples to the lab. At this point she told me she thought it was cancer and probably inoperable. A few days later it was confirmed. We were devastated. I presumed we'd get past her birthday but would we have another Christmas? Then last Friday I took her to see the surgical vet who examined her and told me she couldn't remove the tumour, and she could feel a second tumour on a lymph node so the cancer had spread. She told me Libby had about 6-8 weeks left. I was floored. She wouldn't even get to her birthday at the end of July! I don't remember much else. Chemo and radiotherapy was mentioned. I was adamant that wasn't right for her...