Weekly Blog No 110 – Lottie’s 7th Birthday

Another year has passed and I can’t believe it’s been 2 years since I left my homeland Canada. I’ve talked about things that I missed from Canada before but I know my human Mum’s heart is still in Canada. I know she’s missing her friends dearly.

I guess I am too, I miss my furry friends Oscar & Monty. My crush was Oscar, he was tall, dark and handsome, just like what most woman wish for in the male variety. Monty was pretty submissive in my company but could give a great chase for a big dog. Oscar on the other hand was not only handsome but he had adorable ears, I would like to jump up and bite them. It’s not like my furry friends can jump on a plane and come see me nor I to them. Never mind, I will continue to dream about Oscar chasing me through the snow or rolling around the floor with me. Ahhhhh that’s love.

Oscar

Monty

My update is a couple of months late this year and now I am 7 years old. I’ve been looking after my human mum, she’s not been so good this year. I’m keeping my eye on her and snuggling up with her as much as possible. I’ve started to paw her like a cat to sit on her legs etc, it works every time. Who would have of known, I could act like a cat.

I’ve had some dodgy haircuts this year too, why is it so hard to produce the same cute hair cut. I’ve looked like a floor rug, someone clearly likes scissors and a sheep after shearing. The last cut has made my legs look longer and my body even shorter but not for the better. Paws crossed for a nice cut in 2018.

Guess what, we have moved again, this is now a permanent address, I think my human parents have a gypsy streak in them. I don’t know if I was coming or going. Finally I think they have settled down and I don’t have to deal with the previous neighbours cat crossing my garden. My current neighbours cat has more sense and avoids my garden, he knows my boundary line. However I do have a small human next door shouting doggie doggie, no!!! my name is Lottie.

The new home is cute, I don’t need a map like my Canadian home. Furthermore I don’t get the warm air heating like my Canadian home, its a metal panel fixed to the wall, I think the humans call it a rad. I did like warm air flowing through my fur, it was just like a permanent blow dry

Some of the items in this home verses the Canadian home, say for instance the shower in the U.K. is a like size of a laundry chute. Ridddddiculous. The bathroom hand basin is so small, an ideal size for a cats lick but not a deep filled bubble bath lol. My human parents are changing all those items and making great moves on creating a beautiful home.

Ive been to my human dads workplace on a few occasions and again I’m flooded with kisses and cuddles. They all want to take me home but there’s no way I’m leaving my human parents oh no. My human parents mean the world to me, nevertheless my human dad is still the soft touch in regards treats, let’s just say he’s putty in my paws every time.

I actually go to a dog sitters home when my human mum has medical appointments in London. My dog sitter is lovely and her human daughters and I’m showered with love and affection. The only problem is I won’t eat as I’m pining for my human parents. I know they are coming back for me but my anxiety gets the better of me. If only I could drink wine like humans, they always seem to be more chilled after a couple of sips.

I had better sign off now as I have to snuggle my human mum before she has another op this month. She’s a real superstar, you wouldn’t get me going under the knife 4 times just picking and chopping organs for dandelions(tumours). Them doctors keep dissecting her like a science lab class rat or a frog nowadays. She’s has scars like a patchwork doll but so so brave. I hope they take good care of her otherwise I will have to start sharping up my gnashers, enough said. (Disclaimer: I don’t condone violence)

Until next time and love to you all

Lottie. X ❤️🐾🐾

#letstalkaboutnets

Weekly Blog 109 – Net Cancer Awareness Day

Spread the word on your social media

Today is the day to share this image as it is Net Cancer Awareness Day #raisingawareness #plsshare #netcancer #letsgetthemessageoutthere

Weekly Blog No 108 – Cancer Update

Cancer Update.
Last week I seen the surgeon in London and he further agrees that I need surgery. The goal is another bowel resection and ovary removal. If he feels a resection is not viable then an external bag is the only option. The surgery is mid Nov because we are trying to get my blood pressure under control. (Cancer related) I did scare them a little with a heart rate 115 and repeat readings not much different. He then sent me to pre admission today to avoid additional travel.

 I think I had a full M. O.T. including swabs, bloods, ecg etc etc. Once the nurses had finished I was sent to the anaesthetist who was also very lovely and fully aware of the problems my cancer has caused. Therefore as an extra precaution I will go in a day early for special meds and after surgery I will go into a high dependency unit or icu for at least 24 hrs. Overall it was a successful day.
Roll on operation freedom. 🤞<<<<
gt;

Weekly Blog No 107 – Black Country Living Museum ( Part 2).

St James School, Salop Street, Eve Hill, Dudley

In 1811 the Church of England established the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor with the aim of setting up a school near to ever parish church. There was 4 schools in Dudley and St James School in Salop St, Eve Hill was built in 1842 just 2 years after the parish church.

Hobbs & Sons Fish & Chip Shop, Hall Street, Dudley

The building housing Hobbs, Fish & Chip Shops and Morralls Menswear Shop was sited originally in Hall Street, Dudley. The building dates back to the 1700’s, however was recladded with pressed brickwork in 1889.

H Morralls Gentlemens Outfitters, Hall Street, Dudley

Originally next door to Hobbs, Fish & Chip Shop at 42 Hall Street, Dudley. From 1935 the shop was a tailors and Gentlemen’s outfitters ran by Archibald Victor Rogers.

4 shops formerly known as 12, 14, 16 & 18 Birmingham Street, Oldbury. In  2005, Black Country LM arranged for the transfer of the block dated around 1850 – 1875

A Hartill Motorcycles, Birmingham Street, Oldbury

in the 1930’s,  Number 14 Birmingham St, Oldbury was Humphrey Bros premises, ho but use to reconstruct 1930’s motorcycles by A Hartill Motorcycles.

Humphrey Brothers Builders Merchant, Birmingham Street, Oldbury

Humphrey Bros were number 12 Birmingham St, Oldbury from 1921 until about 1960 although one time they also occupied 14 and 16. The shop display is dominated by a large fireplace surround of mottled brown,  beige tiles and dark oak. The green basin and wc represents mid 30’s.

A. Preedy & Sons, Birmingham Street, Oldbury

Number 16 was occupied by two small independent tobacconists up to 1932. A Preddy & Sons was a well known wholesaler and retail tobacconists in the west Midlands, established in Dudley in 1868.

The Workers Institute, Lower Hill Street, Cradley Heath 

The Cradley Heath Workers Institute stands as a monument to the struggle of the women chain makers of Cradley Heath who laid down tools in 1910 to strike for a living wage. Focusing on Britain low paid workers and establishing the principle of a minimum wage.

The Boat Dock & Boat Collection

The museum has built the boat dock on a canal branch believed to have been formed by mining subsidence in the middle of the 19th century. The branch  arm formerly joined the canal arm built in 1839 to link the Limekilns with the Birmingham Canal Navigation (BCN).  The second photo is inside a canal narrow boat,

The Penfold Letter Box

Letter boxes arrived on our streets in the 1850’s and the contract for making the first national standard design in 1859 was awarded to Cochrane & Co of Dudley.

Anchor Maker’s  House, Lawrence Lane, Old Hill

This house is one of a pair built around 118 that used to stand on Lawrence Lance, Old Hill. The homes were condemned by the local council in the mid 1970’s. The museum dismantled the property in 1978 and rebuilt it at the museum. The property as a side entry to a back yard.

The Hardware & Ironmongers Shop

The Ironmongers shop and hardware shop occupy two properties, which formerly stood on the corner of Piper’s Row and Tower street in Wolverhampton. The shop contents have been collected to represent a typical hardware shop of the 1930@s. The stock includes a selection of household equipment – tin baths, pots and pans, tableware, lamps, laundry irons and heath equipment.

Veal’s Bakers Shop, Birmingham Street, Oldbury

The Veal’s Bakery shop was carried out at 50 Birmingham Street, Oldbury from the 1870’s. George Veal was a confectioner brought the shop in 1879 and he died in 1884. His wife remarried Arthur Smith and the properties remained in the family until the 1920’s.

Providence Chapel, Darby Hand, Near Netherton.

The Darby Hand New Connexion Methodist Chapel was originally opened on the 29th January 1837. Methodism had emerged in the mid-eighteenth century through preaching of John Wesley (1703 – 1791) who made 15 visits to Dudley and other parts of the Black Country in 1749.

The Greengrocer’s Shop

 

the building is a replica of two shops out of a row of 3 in Lower Lichfield Street, Willenhall before 1848. The Willenhall shops were originally built as houses and converted into front room shops in the early 1900’s. The greengrocer was owned by Gertrude Adey, wife of Willenhall Locksmiths

Museum employees dressed in period costume

Station Road Cottages, Station Road, Old Hill

The two cottages are replicas of houses which stand albeit mortified on Station Road, Old Hill near the Great Western Railway station. They were built in 1848 and formed part of the Earl of Dudley’s estates. Dwelling of that time were typically 3 rooms, a kitchen, pantry and a bedroom.

The Coal Yard, Station Road, Old Hill

This reconstruction of a Coal Yard is based on evidence collected from several Black Country coal merchants and dealers. Small yards selling coal could be found almost every neighbourhood catering for domestic consumers and small businesses such as bakeries and sweet shops etc. Most people used coal for cooking, laundering and room heating and could consume as much as two hundred weight (over 100 kg) a week.

Limelight Cinema, Harts Hill, Brierly Hill.

The Limelight cinema is an example of a small family run cinema typical of the period 1910 -1920 although it did not open until 30 August 1921. It was owned by John Henry Revill an engineer with Cartwright & Paddock and tucked away behind a row of houses on Vine St, Harts Hill.

Blacksmith’s Shop

The Blacksmith’s Shop its housed in a reconstructed building from the Great Bridge which retains the original corner fireplace. The equipment is from Eliza Tinsley Works in Old Hill.

Anchor Forge, Woods Lane, Cradley Heath

The Museum,s Anchor Forge is set in the 1920’s and preserves the equipment from the last anchor forge to operate in the Black Country. Anchor making was a prominent industry in the Black Country and anchors for some famous ships like the Great Easten, the Titanic and Royal Yacht Britannia.

Peaky Blinders Filming Location for the BBC Drama

 

 

Weekly Blog 106 – Cancer Update

Cancer Update 
On Monday I went to see my Oncologist, following recent tests and a scan. He confirmed that I have a tumour on my right ovary possibly a small one on the left too. (I’ve been questioning my ovaries for a couple of years now). I also have disease in my bowel. I’m been suffering terrible pain due to the bowel and right ovary, I’m on morphine and liquid morphine. However I feel a sense of relief that my concerns have been vindicated. The proposal is ileostomy(bowel to external bag) and remove my ovaries. 

I will still have cancer in other areas, nevertheless this is to eliminate pain and give me a quality of life. Morphine in a cancer patient always represents end of life to me, therefore at some point it’s going to be needed so I don’t want to use all my options at this stage. If I have the op, I hope to come off the morphine until it is required again. 

He’s going to discuss my case with a very experienced surgeon this Wednesday as he feels my case is quiet complex. (I’ve had 3 cancer surgeries already). The surgeon will then send me an appointment to see him and hopefully give me an operation date. 

How do I feel:-

I’m ok, pleased that my concerns have finally been acknowledged. I want to get off morphine and hopefully be somewhat pain free. It’s no fun being in pain all the time with everything else going on. Yes the bag is not a great option but I will take it, if it eliminates pain and gives me more freedom.  

Next week, I’m seeing an ENT Consultant because I appear to have developed a hoarse voice. Now I know this might be attractive to some people, a husky voice but it’s so random. My Oncologist asked my GP to arrange it locally. His concern is its cancer because it’s been going on for a few months, therefore he wants to eradicate the possibility. I hope not, enough is enough. Should it be I will deal with it head on as always. 

Mr Zebrakat as per normal, is with me on every appointment. I would be lost without his continuous support. Thank you Mr Zebrakat for absolutely everything that you do. ❤️

Love to you all 😘x including my Oncologist 

PS I’m just working on Part 2, Black Country Living Museum.  The post will be on by Saturday. 

Weekly Blog No 105 – Black Country Living Museum(Part 1)

The Black Country Living Museum represents the period leading to the industry revolution. The area was rich in coal, ironstone, fireclay and limestone.The Black Country was the biggest contributed of ironstone in the UK due to steam and its canals. The Back Country is know for ‘black by day and red by night’ due its fires of blast  furnaces, forges and kilns. The Black Country dates back to the 1830’s and is a collection of about 20 towns.

Rolfe Street Public Bath, Smethwick

The building was built by the Board of Health and opened in May 1888. There was a shortage of water and lack of space and the expense of baths made it difficult for the average working class family. From the 1840’s Public baths were established through pressure of public reformers.

Bradburn & Wedge Motor Garage

A former horse tram deport in Darlington, Wolverhampton.

One of the buses used at the museum.

The Conway Garage, Near Fighting Cocks, on Wolverhampton to Dudley Road. 

The Garage belong to Alexander Broome 1903 – 1987. Alex was apprenticed to the Sunbeam Motor Company until 1919 and then transferred to the company’t experimental racing team in the 1920’s.

War Memorial 

The war memorial consisting of a bronze British solider. Originally erected in 1923 at William Butlers, Springfield Brewary, Wolverhampton to commentate those who had fallen in the First World War and those who served and survived.

Cast Iron Houses, Birmingham Road, Dudley. 

Typical new style of council houses, designed to provide fresh air, light using llarge windows, gas lighting, a coal fired kitchen range, indoor wc and a fitted bath with running hot and cold water.

Newcomen Engine

In 1712, Thomas Newcomen (1663 – 1729) from Dartmouth in Devon invented the world successful steam engineer in, which mechanical work was achieved by a piston moving cylinder.
Toll House

The Toll House was built in 1843, it stood at the Littleworth Gate, Woodsetton on the Sedgley to Tividale Turnpike Road, which was authorised by Act of parliament in 1841.

 

Jesushah House, Coopers Bank, Gornal Wood. 

It was probably built around 1847 when Cooper Bank consisted of a few cottages scattered around the coalmines, quarries and brickworks in the area. in 1881, the cottage was occupied by Benjamin Meredith, a bricklayer from as early as 1900’s – 1984.

 

Lench’s Oliver Shop, Toss, blackheath

Lench’s Oliver shop was built between 1908 and 1910 by Onan Lowe, an oddworker. Oddwork is a Black Country Term for making of miscellaneous  small items of wrought iron by hard.

Oliver is a spring loaded hammer operated by a treadle, which allowed the blacksmith to guide or manipulate the metal being forged with both his hands as they worked. The tension cam from an overhead ash pole or a large metal spring ensuring the hammer heads returned to the upright position.

Part 2 will follow in a few days. Enjoy

Weekly Blog No 104 – Dudley Zoological Gardens, UK

After being so ill the previous week Mr Zebrakat took me away for a mini break. If that meant staying in a hotel room for most of our visit, that was going to be ok. The aim of the break was a change of  scenery. As i was feeling stronger this week and only dealing with pelvic pain and not migraines, we decided to go to Dudley Zoo.

Dudley Zoo is 40 acres surrounding a 11 century castle and was opened in 1937 by the 3rd Earl of Dudley. Most of the animals are linked to international breeding and conservation programmes.

Some of the photos taken during our visit.

Camal – Bactrian

Guanaco

Chimpanzee

This chimp looked so cute sleeping

Rhea

Tortoise

Lemur – Black & White Ruffed

Tragopan

Kangaroos

Sheep –  Barbary

Capybara

Giraffes

Tiger

Kookaburra

Flamingos

A lovely zoo with so many animals to see, therefore a worthy trip for adults and children.

Next weeks blog is Black Country Museum

 

Weekly Blog No 103 – Cancer Update/Lighting

When I’m having a good day, I will try to be very productive. My level of productivity is nothing to what it used to be. However I’m very realistic too, therefore I don’t have any expectations in regards completing tasks on a daily or weekly basis. 

Following my appointment with my Oncologist last week, there could be another cancer surgery in the not distant future. This will be my fourth cancer surgery to date. Nevertheless this all depends on an additional scan and surgical meeting. My body had been through enough trauma already. Let’s see what happens. 

I had a Neurology appointment this week due to a recent development of migraines. They only thing that appears to kill the migraines is  either Coke or Pepsi. My Neurologist has prescribed 2 new meds to combat the pain. I have to give it a few months, if that is unsuccessful she has recommended an injection to the head. I would like to avoid that one to be honest. 

In the meantime, house renovations must continue. I’m looking for lighting at the moment and I want to find something unique, compliments the interior and achieves the desired effect. My first port of call is an external light, most properties in the U.K. will have a wall light outside the door. I’m looking for a porch light that hangs down from my open porch ceiling. I want to light up my entrance door and not the street as wall lights seem too. 

Bathroom lighting is my next goal. I want good lighting near the vanity mirror. Excellent lighting for make up application and when Mr Zebrakat is shaving would be beneficial. I will have an appropriate ceiling light as well so that both options can be used.  I’m considering something spectacular for the hall entrance and maybe wall lights over the stairs, like I did in Canada. It is an added feature to the walls that don’t usually accommodate anything.

The kitchen will have a combination of island lights, a suitable lighting fixative over the dining table and downlighters. I did like my lighting arrangement in my Canadian home. I was only using the lighting in the space that I was using. 
In the living room I’m going to remove the existing wall lights and just go with razzmatazz light fitting in the middle of the ceiling. I want to create an ambience of coziness with table lamps rather than a room full of bright lights whilst was tv.

I’m still considering our bedroom and the other rooms lighting options. I don’t want do bobby basic, as I believe lighting does finished a room. In my Canadian home everyone would comment on my lighting as they enter. It’s the smaller things that draw your eye, not necessary the wall colour.  

If anyone can recommend retail stores with amazing lighting please do.  

Weekly Blog No 102 – Local Dog Show

Yesterday we went to a local dog show with the hope that we could enter Lottie into some of the categories. Oh my, it was a dog fest with more cross breeds than pedigrees. Dont they say owners can look like their pets, maybe there is some truth in that saying.

We entered Lottie into 2 categories as the rain looked promising. 1. Prettiest Bitch and 2. Best Crossbreed.  There was 5 rosettes to be won in each category.  I actually did think Lottie would win one in the prettiest bitch category as everyone was saying how pretty she was. We had people stop us to stroke Lottie. Yet she didn’t win in either category. Never mind there is always next year.

The event was good fun and proves that people are very passionate about their pets. The grey sky never put a hindrance on the day and the show went on even when there was a sprinkle of rain. Enjoy looking at some of pets who attended the day. X

Weekly Blog No 101 – Vegetable Garden

This year, my goal was to do a vegetable garden. As I had the space down the bottom of garden, it was worth a shot. In February/March, I started to grow from seeds, tomatoes and brussels sprouts. In the meantime, I got Mr Zebrakat to start making raised wooden beds.

Everything I was attempting was a complete learning curve. I did the seeds in seed trays and watering the seeds was crucial. There was even an element of excitement when you see a sea of green coming through the soil. Little leaves started to protrude through and develop into a dainty like stem. Once I had seedlings I would transfer them into seed/cutting trays. Seeds definitely need a lot of attention and perseverance. Outdoor seeds seem less demanding. Now in seeing my crop of veggies, I think I would attempt seeds again but on a smaller scale as I will explain later.

Indoor Seeds

Seedlings

I needed the wooden raised beds, therefore I got Mr Zebrakat to show me his carpentry skills. My request was wooden tubs with legs to reduce bending. Most of my raised were 4ft X 2ft. I painted the outside of the beds with a Ronseal paint. I filled the bed with a layer of gravel for drainage and to stop mould. Then a layer of organic compost and then a moisture control soil and I had read raised beds dry out quicker. That does appear to be the case, however we have had extreme heat wave days.

Raised Vegetable Beds

I attempted to plant vegetable companions to avoid diseases etc. For example Brussels with tomatoes.  Potatoes with cauliflower. I brought cauliflower plants the only plant I didn’t grow from seed and caterpillars took revenge. The perfect yellow and black inserts were all over the back of the leaves. I was so disappointed, nevertheless it’s the only way to learn. Therefore, to eliminate the problem I removed them all. Goodbye cauliflower.

I then sow carrots from seed directly into the beds and are ready in 12 weeks. They are doing fine, however are being smothered by tomato plants.  Brussels are still growing and I’m learning they take a while. My early potatoes are taking shape in spite of picking some to early. My first crop of potatoes tasted wonderful.  I actually pulled the potatoes when the plant flowered, I have since you don’t pull them until the flower has died. Someone else told me to let them flower twice before gathering the next crop.  well today I have collected the remaining crop. I shall plant some more potatoes in the next couple of days.

Potatoes

I actually over planted my tomatoes. It’s like a jungle of plants and restricting my walking around the beds. I have learned, I don’t need so many plants next time around and I will support the individual plants. Although my tomatoes are taking shape as you can see from the photos its definitely a lesson learned.

Over Crowded Tomatoes

Carrots Smothered

Tomatoes Showing

When spaces become vacant in the beds, I will plant some other vegetables. I would like to try courgettes, cabbage and salad items. If anyone has any tips please share them with me.