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"What have you eaten" Parallel Chat

Hugs for you and your cat. We had two cats from the same litter and after the one cat died from Kidney failure his brother was inconsolable and just dropped dead on my knee a few weeks after - so sudden and a dreadful loss for us all. They were both 17 though and had had very happy lives often playing and adventurous together and loved by our family.
 
We used to have a brilliant cat called Jimmy. He was a big, strong farm cat but a wonderful family pet. He had a good life until he was about 14 but then the vet told us that the strength we had noticed draining away was due to cancer and he was beginning to suffer. He advised putting Jimmy to sleep, to avoid any more suffering. I held him and petted him as the vet gave him a lethal injection and he died, comfortable, in my arms. I'm convinced it was the best we could do for our lovely Jimmy, but it was a sad day for me and for the family.
 
Did have my bacon and eggs today so that's a promising start to the day.
Promising myself to do something with the salmon today before it gets too old to do anything with. I don't seem to be very good at keeping promises to myself these days though.

Just found some old recipes that I developed for the cafe I used to cook for: French onion soup, Pea and Ham soup, Minestrone, Potato, tomato and cabbage soup, which I appear to have called "Paisley soup", a mixed vegetable soup called "Ayrshire broth" and a Lentil soup. All of them in 10 litre quantities. I'll type them up and keep them in my recipe file for future reference - these are just on scraps of paper, in pencil with the workings for costs and profits. Not very professional.
 
We have a "put to sleep" appointment at the vets at 6pm tomorrow (they couldn't do today). Not sure he'll make it though. He's not keeping any food down and isn't really trying to drink. He's been coughing for several months so it's not unexpected, just a bit quicker last few days

Thank you all for your kind thoughts. Yes he's had a lovely life. A grand old chap, totally black and slim, a mini panther.
 
Did a supermarket run early before too hot.
Some yoghurt and seeds and strawberries on return.
Iced coffee with friends
L: lettuce spread with garlic and herbs cheese, small bit of cold salmon. Mini ice cream.
Prepared 2kg green beans for freezer.
D: 3 lamb kofta, green beans, 6 penne pasta, yoghurt and cucumber sauce. Should have been low carb but something sent me from 5 to 10 and back down again in 2 hours.

Currently wearing libre to see if I can lose some weight
 
Those soup recipes sound super duper @Annb. I'll fetch my own coat.
 
On diagnosis, I had to ditch lentils altogether @Annb because their carb content pushed my blood glucose readings up to unacceptable levels. I doubt whether there's anything you could modify to make that one diabetic friendly, but the other recipes all have potential. I particularly like the sound of French onion soup.
 
I did manage to cook the salmon this evening. Nearly forgot though. I was busy dong other things and around 17.00 I thought I'd better make my meal before I forgot. Did a few more bits and pieces and when I looked at the clock again, it was 19.45. Cooked the salmon and threw in 3 tiny tomatoes (too late to start chopping and washing leeks). Finally ate my meal at 20.00. Been trying to get my fluid level up since then - just having my last drink to make 2 litres.

Alistair has been on annual leave this last week and the coming one and finally managed time to call in this afternoon. He has been busy redecorating and doing all the laundry work because DIL has been unwell again. He tells me that Banksie and Archie, the Alsation/American bulldog pup are in serious trouble this time. They and Hugo, the Basset Hound, broke through the fence again and this time, excited by each other, they did attack a passer-by. Alistair saw it happen and stopped them and had to give first aid (a plaster after cleaning the bite) to the victim. Alistair immediately dragged them indoors and repaired the broken fence.

The police were called and they now have 2 days to rehome the 2 bigger dogs or they will be put down. DIL is trying to find separate homes for Banksie and Archie, but Hugo can stay since he only barked and wasn't actually part of the assault but DIL, the official owner of the dogs is now being prosecuted. When the police came the dogs were brought out for them to see how they behaved - no problem, but as they were leaving in their car, Banksie forced another part of the newly repaired fence and chased the police car along the road! So they came back and watched as Alistair repaired the fence again. The dogs are all shut in now and can only get out of the house when on a lead - even into the garden.

The trouble seems to be that the young dog (now quite big) is excitable and excites the other two. Excitable dogs can be dangerous, especially when they work as a pack. Banksie has never been a vicious dog and the family trusted him implicitly, even around their 3 year-old granddaughter but they can't trust him now that he has done this. He needs to be on his own with someone who knows how to calm him down, as does Archie. It would only take someone knowledgeable in training dogs.

Alistair says he never wanted to have to dogs anyway because he knew he didn't have the time to train a dog, or take him for walks. Had Banksie been a smaller dog, it might have worked, but nobody else in the house is strong enough to hold him, so couldn't take him for walks. Archie was the big mistake - a very excitable young dog now growing pretty big.

It does seem a bit unfair that other dogs around the village are equally troublesome and nobody complains to the police. In fact, not long ago, Alistair used his post van to drive off 3 Alsations that were attacking a woman with a small dog on a lead. She legged it into a house nearby and Alistair grabbed the dogs and put them back into their own garden. No complaint was made to the police and the 3 dogs are still there. Alistair, as a postie, has been bitten quite a few times and, although reports are made, no action is ever taken.

I only hope the 2 dogs can be saved and rehomed, but it doesn't look good for them.

I have warned him to be adamant next time getting a pup is suggested, that it just isn't on. He agrees, but says he thinks, next time he thinks DIL will want a pig. He agrees that that isn't on either. I suggested goldfish, or a budgie. Or grow some pet vegetables in the now ruined garden instead. They don't have the time or the energy to keep pets.
 
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No, I haven't made lentil soup for a long, long time, although I do occasionally add a few lentils to a vegetable soup without any ill effects. In fact, red lentils are about 9% total carb - some of that is fibre, so a bit less and I reckon I could get away with a small portion, but that may not be the case with everyone. I'll have to put some effort into reducing the quantities and make them for just a few servings. Currently the French Onion Soup contains: 8 lb onions, 10L vegetable or beef stock, ¾ lb butter, garlic flavoured croutons and grated cheese, and requires a rather large pot. A bit much for one person to cope with.
 
Oh yikes @Annb , what a horrible situation.
And one I think you predicted when they got their last dog if I remember correctly.
I'll have my fingers crossed the dogs can be rehomed to places that are actually suitable for the types of dogs they are. Those are working dog breeds, not dogs that are happy with a leashed walk around the block a couple of times a day.
 
Things will be as they are, whether he'll make it to the vet or not.
Sometimes end of life isn't pretty, no matter if it's human lives or pets' lives. We can only try our best, and I'll have my fingers crossed you'll be able to keep him reasonably comfortable until the end.
 
And to be honest, Antje, they haven't even been getting that regularly because DIL's health has been so bad, Alistair has been working 18 hour days - no time even for sufficient sleep, never mind walking the dogs.
 
I had a lovely day today!
Late to bed because it took me a long time to wind down from the weekend, but I slept until 11:30 am so all fine now.

Went over to Astrids place with my first coffee to wish her good luck, she had a job interview for an amazing job. She also has her sister and her two grown children and very funny toddler grandchild over for a few days so I had my coffee with them while practising my German, they're from Germany.
After that I went for a long swim by myself, very funny, when I rounded a corner in the canal I met another swimmer coming from the opposite direction!

Back home to wait for Astrids window I'm working on to be in the shade. Tale toughed it out and spent all day on a south facing roof working in the 32 °C weather, but hey, he's in love with her, I'm not, which apparently makes a difference in how you perceive working temperatures when working for a friend as a favour.
Antje77 said:
Astrid and Tale are now very much a couple.
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... and moving fast. Tale has now been added to the family app by Astrids sister, apparently everyone including Astrids children are very happy to add him to the family, no matter that she only left her husband 3 weeks ago. Looks very healthy to me for all involved.

I had two food breaks during my short chore of painting the window: First was breakfast at 3:30 pm, consisting of an ice lolly, and a very nice one at that. Mainly puréed fruit on a stick, no added sugar or sweeteners, about 8 grams of carbs a piece.
Second break was an hour later, a LC toasty provided by Astrid because neither I or Tale had had proper food during the day.
After finishing the window and cleaning up I went back home for a while, until Astrid sent me a text message she was about to pick me up for a swim before dinner.
We had a long and lovely swim with Tale and Astrids sister along as well. A bit of an adventure, there were some people already swimming in our usual spot so we went to the other side of the bridge where it's harder to get in and out of the water, but at least we didn't scare the local youth away with our middle aged fat nakedness.

Chopped veggies for the barbecue, chopped my thumb and thumbnail as well, not bad-bad but still pretty bad. Had and treated a hypo (the chopping thumb made me forget about insulin on board).

Then Astrids 16 year old daughter had a full blown panic attack, wondering if she was already dead (she has a long history), and after a while allowed me to hold her and be with her to wait for it to get somewhat better. It took a long time, but in the end we ate, and had an enjoyable conversation on death, and on how it's impossible to know if what we perceive as reality actually is, and why this is alright for me and why this makes her panic.
Got to love 16 year old philosophists, even if I very much wish her life was a bit easier, the panic attack was ugly and went all the way to physically being lost, clinging to me, pushing me away, flapping hands, hugging herself, and wanting to be held again. So lost, so much pain.

After getting out of it, and after our interesting conversation which really perked her up, she looked me up in a private corner and she thanked me for helping her, saying I did make a difference. I thanked her for letting me in when everything was just confusing and horrible, and told her how much I enjoyed our little philosophy session.
I guess I should become a social worker rather than a gully sucker, too bad you need an education for that.

Off to bed soon, more painting to be done tomorrow!
 
Antje77 said:
How did it go with your cat @MrsA2 ?
I hope he safely arrived at the other side by now, whatever that may be, and that his last day wasn't too bad.
Sending hugs.
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The deed is done. The vet said he had heart failure so we know it was the right decision. He went peacefully and slowly being stroked and loved.

Interesting was my bg. Started going up from 3pm and stayed up until after 6 (aka the deed). Can only be stress related.
 
Very happy to hear the end was peaceful and good, as far as ends go.

I'm with you on the BG, I take extra insulin for endo and dentist visits.
 
Peacefully and loved, perfect.
 
Be extra kind to yourself today - you'll miss him. Pleased though the end was peaceful and you were able to express your love for him at the end.
 
Morning all. a big hug for you @MrsA2, I know how hard it is. I have stopped taking the anti-biotics because I was getting worse by the day. They left a disgusting taste in my mouth as well and as nothing else had changed in my life, it had to be them that caused all the problems I had. I haven't got better overnight obviously but I slept better. To be honest, I suddenly feel like an old woman and I have never felt this way before. But tomorrow is another day. Have a nice day folks.
 
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