Day 31 - Baggy's Feeling Almost Normal.

Baggy is almost feeling normal today. Debby, Abby and Baggy have all been out to lunch with our friend Lorraine. Back to the village that Baggy lived in before moving up to Suffolk. We drove past Wesley's old yard, where Grotty Groom spent many hours. Baggy hasn't seen Lorraine for over three-and-a-half years, but it's one of those amazing friendships where we could have seen each other yesterday. It was Abby's first outing too since her double-bunion removal, but we had all made a bit of an effort and you couldn't tell that two of us were not exactly fully fit. That is until you noticed Baggy's arm propped on her sheepskin coat on the arm of her chair and Abby's feet propped up under the table. Then Abby cut up Baggy's food for her, even though she was good and deliberately had "soft" food (salmon and dauphenoisse potatoes, with fancy cabbage). Then she attempted to eat it left-handed. There were five pillows in the car for the journey. So we got a couple of odd looks but it was lovely to be out.

When we got home, both dogs were by the front door waiting for us. Minty Mutt lost the plot when he saw Furry Mama. He was whimpering and talking and spinning in little circles before throwing himself on the floor to have his tummy tickled. He was delighted when he realised that Baggy was getting changed to go out for a walk with Debby and Pickle. It was pitch black, in a village with narrow footpaths, a single track road and not one street lamp, so had Furry Mama not gone, Minty Mutt would have had to stay at home. We went out for an hour again. Debby is right. Minty seems to have found a second wind. The more he's going out the more mobile he's becoming. He was even trying to beat Pickle to the ball. No chance. But he tried. At one point, in the pitch black, Pickle lost the ball. All you could see was the flashing red light on her collar as she tried to sniff it down. Minty Mutt saw his opportunity and went charging (okay an old man "charge") over to get it. His superior sniffing abilities found it instantly. He came trotting back to Debby and Furry Mama, ball in mouth, while Pickle carried on trying to find it. He was soooooooo pleased with himself. If a dog could grin, he was grinning! It was lovely to see. Weirdly he doesn't smell as much now either. When Furry Mama is back home we'll see whether he is still willing to walk as much without Pickle to encourage him.

Baggy's arm has survived the day. It's still really rather painful, but it does seem to be slightly better today. The bruising however is horrendous. No wonder it hurts. Baggy's left arm was not anywhere near this bad. Her stomach on the other hand is lots better. Baggy is definitely on the mend and feeling almost normal today (if Clever Bird ignores the pain)........