Saturday, 15 August 2015

Riding in style, a doggy story

Howz ya didlin then? It's been a good weather day here, I haven't been very far, except locally in the village. Thought I would kick off with a moan today . Look at this daft shaped plastic bottle that they sell mayo in. You stand it upside down on it's lid so the contents run down to the bottom, and then you should be able to squeeze it out over your meal. Sounds ok in principle, and works ok for the first three or four squirts. Then the mayo sticks to the sides and you have to shake like crazy to get even a small splodge to dribble forth from the nozzle. Nothing for it but to cut the darn thing in half, pierce my food with a fork, and wipe it around the inside. I'll stick to wide neck jars in future. Even though this mayo was only 50p, it's not worth the faff to get it all out. 
My colourful and simple lunch today. celeriac, courgettes, and mushrooms with salad. It was bloomin lovely.

Here's a heartwarming story. I was walking Rocky through the pub car park at lunchtime and came across a dog with a super duper buggy. I'm always on the lookout for interesting and unusual sightings, and like to ask questions. This is Patch the Boxer and he is on holiday here at the caravan park with his owners. They had been a walk and had called in for a thirst quencher.

The story is that Patch lost his hind leg at only a few months old, and found himself in a Rescue Centre. Along came Lyn and hubby and they decided to adopt him, so at 14 months old he had found his forever home. He has lived just about all of his life with three legs and has got on fine.

Now he is ten years old, and he has a bit of arthritis. His back is giving him problems, and he can't walk so far, so he needs a bit of help. But look at him now, he has the very best doggy buggy in the world, nicknamed his chariot. Lyn told me that she gives Patch turmeric in his food, made into golden paste with coconut oil and black pepper, and it has made such a difference to his mobility. Another endorsement for the healing powers of turmeric.

He can sit facing forward or backward. He can have his head poking out the front, or out the top. He has a duvet in it and often climbs in for a sleep. Lyn says it has completely changed their lives. They can now go anywhere in their motorhome and take Patch with them. The chariot will ride over rough ground so they can go to lots of places. 
Isn't he just a darling. He is the only dog at home, but he isn't lonely, his best friend is a pet pig. Howzabout that. Good eh!  I just love a happy doggy story. Thank you Lyn for letting me take the photo's.

This is the Rescue that Patch came from.
The Lincolnshire Essex and Trent Boxer Rescue.

Right, I'm off out now to take my pooch a walk.
Hope you have a lovely Sunday.
Toodle pip

20 comments:

  1. Hi Ilona, I don't have a blog but I love to read your blog every day. This is the first time I have commented but felt moved to tell you about my friend (also called Lyn) who has an English bulldog that she got from a rescue facility. He was only 10 months when she got him and he is completely deaf and has problems with his bag legs which give way without warning. She has worked miracles with him, he is called Arthur. She has taught him sign language and takes him out with a special coat on that tells folk he is deaf and that he can be stroked but not to come at him from behind but to let him see that they are going to stroke him. The story about Patch and this one about Arthur are so wonderful. I really enjoy reading your blog and agree with so much you say. Thank you for being so entertaining, regards Sue H.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for that Susan, what a great story. I have heard before that dogs can learn sign language. It must take a lot of patience to teach them. Your friend sounds like a lovely person. I'm chuffed that you like my blog, thank you.

      Delete
  2. How lovely to see that sweet dog in it's chariot!
    I always cut the bottom off any "squeezy" tubes and plastic containers, shampoo, moisturiser, sauce etc. It's amazing what might get wasted!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank God for animal lovers everywhere. Xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Patch looks like the happiest of dogs! :)
    Did you happen to get the proportions of ingredients for that turmeric mix? Sounds like a very useful thing to know about!
    I make mayo - so simple and delicious - but I once bought tomato ketchup in one of those containers, thinking it would cut down on waste. HA! I ended up doing the same thing as you and Kath did - cutting the bottle open to get the ketchup out. What a nuisance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Quinn. No we didn't go into that in great detail. I remember her saying three teaspoons of turmeric, but she didn't mention how much black pepper and coconut oil. She also said she warms it in a pan and brings it to the boil, and simmers for a few minutes. I haven't read about that method anywhere. She makes it up and keeps it in the fridge. Try the Turmeric Users Group on facebook.

      Delete
  5. What a heartwarming story. Thanks for sharing it, Ilona. I hope all of your animal friends are well and happy today. I enjoy reading here, too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a nice story about Patch and fantastic wheels.

    I don't like any of those containers that come with wide tops for tomato sauce, mayo etc. I think often people (children) squeeze how more than they actually need. I prefer the old fashioned normal bottles or wide mouth top that you do not squeeze.

    Glad you are having such nice weather.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Coconut oil - is there anything that stuff is not good for? Wow! I swear by it. Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  8. Patch is beautiful so glad he found his forever home. And glad he can get out and about .
    Rosezeeta

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great story about Patch and his family. That "chariot" is fantastic, probably pretty expensive but you never know when one might turn up in a skip or car boot sale.

    Have a lovely Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great doggie story. I've seen kiddies riding in those chariots as well, fixed to the back of bicycles. Do you have a bike Ilona? You could take Rocky for a spin! Sauce bottles...damned nuisance aren't they, and those peanut butter jars where it gets stuck in the little bit at the top by the rim and you just can't reach it with a knife or spoon, and I hate wasteage. For the sauce bottles I always do what my nan did, which is pour a little bit of vinegar in to loosen it, shake it all about and hopefully it will all sink to the bottom...or the top depending on which sort of bottle you have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi. Yes I do have a bike, mainly for riding around the village when I want to get anywhere quicker than walking.

      Delete
  11. What a great doggie story. They are as good to Patch as you are to Rocky. Thank goodness for animal lovers all over the world.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, how adorable. I read your blog but I only come on here to comment at the cute dog stories it seems :) What a lovely story.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The daughter of my friend who lives in our old neighbourhood married and got a dog, a lab mix. The dog got an infection which necessitated the amputation of one of his hind legs. After he recovered from the surgery he did not recover his happy nature, he was lethargic and seemed miserable. My frfiend's daughter had the idea of searching local shelters for another three legged dog. She found one and adopted him. It worked a treat. Seeing the new dog managing well on three legs spurred her dog to try and he became happy again.
    When they ( the young couple) took the dogs for walks in the neighbourhood they received a lot of attention, as you may well imagine. After some time they were approached by a lady who asked them if they would be willing to adopt another three legged dog who needed a home. They did! All the dogs looked surprisingly alike. A year or so ago one of the dogs died so this kind young woman searched again and found yet another three legged dog. She sent us a photo of all of them together. One dog is missing a front leg and the other two are missing a hind leg.
    I just love her for doing that! JanF

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a great story, thank you. It's nice to know there are a lot of caring people out there.

      Delete
  14. I made the mistake of buying the same bottles of mayo...never again. I've been using a long-handled sundae spoon to scrape it out, but will resort to your method to get to the last of it. Love your doggie pics. What a great way to transport him.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi.It's so good to hear positive uplifting stories about rescued pets.Patch looks to be a very happy boy on his outing in his schmancy "chariot".Yes ,those bottles are not designed well at all,grrr!We are using up as much as possible from the pantry and freezer lately.So am wistful looking at your nice fresh salad and zucchini-mushroom meal.Yum!Bye for now,D.

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be published after my approval.