Morning all - and thank you all so much for your kind words about Busta. It's so very strange here without him, and although I thought that I had prepared myself, it's still left me feeling heartbroken. And I keep forgetting for a split second - putting food down and calling for the other two dogs, I find myself clapping - Buzz couldn't hear us calling him for food, but he could hear clapping and would respond to it. And I keep getting out 3 treats, still. His bed was right next to the sofa seat where I sit - so many times I've put my hand down to fuss him, just as I often used to. As you say, DianeW, it's really almost unbearable.
JM, I feel for you with your doggy and the kids. How youngest would cope was my biggest worry too - she was just 2 when we got Busta, so he had never not been around for her. And you are right, she has taken a lot of comfort from that last night with him. And our other two dogs have been a huge comfort to her (and to each other).
That last morning, before she got up, knowing she was off to Coventry for the night with her big sis, OH and I had decided not to say anything about the discusion we'd had about it probably being time to take him to the vets. We thought it would be kinder to say nothing, until she got home the next day, if the worst happened. But, she had realised during the night that things were not good, and - with hindsight - I actually am glad that she did. It would have been harder for her if we had managed to keep her in the dark, as we had planned - and wrong of us to have done that. She was still hopeful, I think, which is why she agreed to go to her sisters, but there had been some forewarning for her and I think that helped. Be prepared, if the worst happens, JM - youngest here had some questions afterwards - mainly around was Busta scared or distressed, and did it hurt him when the vet gave him the injection. I didn't expect her to ask that, but again with hindsight, I should have. I was unprepared and found talking to her about it quite upsetting, though I think I managed to hide that from her. And thankfully, I could reassure her quite truthfully, on all those questions.
It's a huge relief to see Mil so content at the moment - I don't have the words to say how grateful I am that she is finally free from the agitation and distress that have been such a massive part of her dementia. I wish they would get a move on with the eating assessment though, too, JM - how can such a straightforward issue take so damn long to sort? It's ridiculous!
Work issues, in a nutshell - currently owed over 30 additional hours worked in the last 3 weeks, which were accrued due to an event that I had to take part in, and a series of collossal errors in terms of communication from the organisation, which meant me working nearly half of my so called rest days over that period, in order to prevent a 9 month long project that I have worked my socks off for not being completed by the agreed date (which can't be changed). It also left me on the front line, dealing with 3rd parties, who were also affected by the lack of communication, and it was extremely stressful and unpleasant. Add to that, after agreeing that for once, I could miss two days of meetings in S Wales, due to take place in the two days immediately preceding the completion date, and the celebration event which is scheduled to take place on that date, they are now demanding that I spend at least 12 hours on one of those days attending one of the meetings, after all. Though they still want the project completed in time. I've tried to explain that its physically impossible for me to attend meetings in S Wales and be at the project in N Wales, ensuring its completion, at the same time (and said that I'm amazed that I have even had to explain this!) but feels like I'm talking to a brick wall. So, I've gone over their heads to their boss. Up to him to sort it now. And as I said, I'm job hunting.
This morning, I've been up since 4a.m, as youngest is off to London for full days rehearsal for the Royal Albert Hall show, and she had to be at the pick up point for 5 a.m. Typically, for the first night in about 10 nights, I actually had managed to sleep quite well for once, last night, and being woken by the alarm was not nice!
Pootle day today - try and get my house tidy (barely touched it this last week, due to work) and hopefully, by this afternoon, I plan to be on the sofa, with book, relaxing.
Sending much love to all, as always xxxx