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Miss Molly in England, Taunton (2025)

07/07/2025

Monday, Monday and not only the start of another week but another good day for me.Mum's over the moon.
I had a lie-in this morning, waiting for the sun to chase away some low cloud and when it was making considerable progress I decided to get up.
As soon as I got downstairs we went out and I made straight for the second of my preferred ti**le spots. Ti**le done I was not ready to return home, I had other things on my mind and so we went for a little walk and making this a dual purpose trip I had a 💩...but this one matched yesterday's on the poometer which was disappointing. As we returned to our place we bumped into Sue and had a little chat...Sue remarked how well I looked 😀
Home and breakfast although I only ate the chicken content, after which I snuggled down on the sofa with one eye on the road awaiting the arrival of Gill.
She had just come in the gate when I rushed out into the hall and as mum opened the doors I welcomed her with open paws.
I was a tad disconcerted when she left me to move her car but mum assured me she was coming back. And so she did...and gave me some very welcome morning massaging.
Soon after she and mum left me to go to watch a film.
I played with Percy penguin for a while then fell asleep.
Before I knew it mum and Gill were home and mum served me my lunch...the leftover breakfast with a heap more chicken. Mum and Gill were very impressed that I ate every scrap leaving a totally empty bowl.
Gill left and after mum had a coffee she took me out for a walk to Victoria Park where I enjoyed very intense sniffing and a little running exercise.
With warm temperatures and lots of sunshine it was inevitable that mum and I would spend the rest of the afternoon in the garden and that's where we are.
Mealtime isn't for some time of course so I'll happily continue to soak up the vitamin D until my tummy cries out for food.
If all goes well it seems highly likely I'll be back in the PDSA shop tomorrow as mum's sidekick.
Todays photos, only 2 Im afraid, are one Mum took last night as we watched TV together...plus one of me waiting for Gill this morning.

06/07/2025

A pretty laid back Sunday, weather not too bad, started off quite dull but then the sun appeared to cheer us up and its been warm.
Knowing we had the weekly walk I'd risen at 7.50...this I had calculated would give me sufficient time for a ti**le and a leisurely breakfast before being chauffeured to Higher Holway Open space..well that's what the new board at the entrance says...we are sure it used to say Upper Holway. Mum says " A rose by any other name"
We moreorless all arrived together and there were a number of other dogs already well into their exercise regimes. My first move was of a " business" nature...and on mum's poometer it only managed a 4/10 😞
Simba and I then had a little run together...no play fighting today which is ratger unusual. We greeted the other dogs courteously which pleased our respective mums. No sign of Marley today...but the lovely twin collies were there and we spent a short while with them.
Towards the end of our time there Simba and I applied ourselves to our speciality...excavation . We had selected a spot where the grass is being left unmown and did our best to camouflage ourselves... but the keen eye of mum was able to spot us as her photos reveal.
Back at home I promptly fell asleep..I'd been pretty active for best part of an hour and it had taken it's toll...I'm not as fit as I used to be that's for sure.
I woke an hour or so later and wandered out into the garden where mum joined me and as she began deadheading the roses...its an endless task...I chose a shady spot to continue my slumbers.
When I woke mum was sitting by me reading, I noticed an empty plate on the garden table...seems she'd had a sneaky lunch and I'd missed out ! To compensate she brought out a dish with some chopped up chicken which went down a treat.
We've been inside now for a short time...It's heading towards my meal time and I'll be giving mum the nod when I'm ready to eat. Some of the neighbourhood watch group say it's difficult to get good staff..I have had no problems with mine🤣🤣🤣🤣
Today has been a good one...and noted as such on mum's chart.🐾🐾

05/07/2025

With no annoying window cleaner I was able to sleep undisturbed until 9.45 am! I only got up then as I needed a ti**le!
Across the road we went and today I decided to walk a little further to ti**le spot no2...it was dull and warmish but there was a little moisture in the air.
Compared to the two previous mornings I ate a decent breakfast and then settled down to rest.
Mum was telling me that due to my condition progressing I am going to have good days and bad days, Thursday was definitely a bad day, yesterday was better and so far today promises to be a good one...she is keeping a record.
After she had completed her chores and had her coffee break I was taken out to a " business " commitment...mum marked today's as 6/10 and this was also recorded.
The rest of the morning when some very light showers occurred mum played a guessing game with me...she showed me random photos of me from the vast collection on her phone and I had to guess the location. It was certainly mentally stimulating and I did pretty well.
After lunch, a little chicken and kibbles, the sun magically appeared and mum decreed a little physical exercise would be good for both of us.
It was lovely and warm with the sun shining through breaks in the clouds as we made our way to Vivary Park where the Somerset Armed Forces Day event was being staged. You may recall that a few years ago when we attended the same event I was spooked by the Red Arrows flyover... mum had checked today and discovered that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight scheduled to flyover the park had been cancelled. However I hadn't received that email and as we entered the park I vividly recalled the last time I'd been to the event and after 10 minutes I wanted to leave. Mum could see I wasn't happy so we left and walked down to Cafe Culture where she had a coffee and I had the accompanying biscuit. A very nice gentleman started up a conversation with mum and kindly shared some of his sandwich and crisps with me.
Mum's photos today include two Chelsea Pensioners in their scarlet uniforms who were at the Park...plus a couple of tanks on display, me at Cafe Culture ..and my attitude to my breakfast Thursday and this morning.
Summing up today has been a good one!🐾🐾

04/07/2025

Today I have got a tiny bit of my sparkle back! After a pretty dire day yesterday I slept exceedingly well and would have continued to do so if it had not been for the arrival of the window cleaner at just gone 8am! I woke with a start as he started to clean our bedroom windows and exercised my vocal chords to indicate my annoyance at being woken up!
Once he had completed his job mum took me over to ti**le patch.
I showed absolutely no interest in my breakfast which mum had served me...there was chicken , beef in gravy and kibbles but I didn't fancy it at all.
After mum had completed her chores we went out and you'll be as pleased as we both were that my " runny tummy" had stopped running .
Given the choice of favourite places to visit I led the way to the Tea Room in Bath Place where I was warmly greeted by Jayne Fulcher . Mum ordered a sausage bap and a coffee. To mum and Jayne's delight I ate quite a substantial amount...well it was exceedingly tasty!
We then walked home through town and bumped into Jenny and Vanessa stopping to have a chat.
Amazingly when we got home I ate the chicken from my breakfast bowl!
It's been a hot and sunny day so it was obvious that the best place to be was the garden. Mum was busy deadheading more roses and planting some coleus plants in the hanging basket which is now outside our front door.
I've kept in the shade and slept whilst mum has been sitting and reading.
I know lots of my readers were concerned about me yesterday .....and I send you this message... There's still life in the ( old) 🐕 ! 🐾🐾

03/07/2025

I've either been careless, forgetful or the victim of a theft....my joie de vivre and mojo are missing....its not been a good day at all.
I was 🤮last night..or possibly early morning...I don't recall exactly but it was discovered by mum when she woke this morning. She was worried I know, I could tell by her voice but I confirmed I wasn't feeling nauseous although I did feel 😞...out of sorts. I then turned over and slept.
It was a good couple of hours later when I joined her downstairs and we went over to ti**le patch. I didn't want any breakfast and as she opened the back door I went out to lie in the garden.
She kept coming out to check on me and told me that she had informed the charity shop that we would not be in today...and I asked her to let Samson know I wasn't up to doing that retraining session this afternoon.
A little later she tried to tempt me to eat by offering a little chicken and I pleased her by managing to eat a little.
She took me out around 11ish, it was a very leisurely walk to Victoria Park and en route I had a 💩, mum said I'd got something beginning with " d" ... which I prefer to call " runny tummy".
A gentle walk around the park where men were cleaning the pavilion and a machine was marking out the American football pitch. Mum took off my lead and suggested I had a little run and exercise but I just couldn't summon up the energy...or the inclination.
On the way home we saw Sue, she came over to see me but I wasn't in a very agreeable mood, she suggested I went home and slept...and that is exactly what I did...out in the garden.
Mum has been a very attentive nurse maid, she's been out here with me and when I'm awake she's been chatting to me and reminiscing over the past nearly 5 years.
It'll be teatime soon , I'll try to eat something, probably that succulent chicken mum cooks for me...I know I've got to keep up my strength but I've got very little appetite today.
Mum had a good look in the house and garden for my missing things and asked Samson to request the neighbourhood watch group to look out for them...I really hope I get them back 🐾🐾

02/07/2025

It was just gone 7 when I woke this morning requesting mum to take me over to ti**le patch..after which I broke my fast with a little chicken, a smidgen of tuna and a large pawful of kibbles.
Mum , in an early telephone conversation was ,as always, talking about me and had said " She's got a lot of moxie"....it wasn't until she'd gone to hang some laundry outside that I had chance to check out what that foreign sounding word meant. I discovered it means determination, perseverance and fighting spirit! Wow that makes me a kind of tough cookie I guess!
We were soon out and off to meet Pat....and as soon as we were almost in Duke Street there was my nemesis...yep the dreaded black cat from the flats!
Today however it took one look at the expression on my face and immediately scaled the wall into Laburnum Court...success!
Our route took us through the Minster Grounds where I attended to a " business" transaction before we got into town and down to the Bridge where we met up with Pat. Walking alongside the river we were all very surprised to see ripe blackberries...and came to the conclusion that the recent hot weather had accelerated their growth.
Entering French Weir I stopped for a slurp of river water before we got to the Weir Cafe. It was perfect sitting outside on the decking in lovely warm sunshine... cooler than previous days but delightful. I didn't have an icecream but was rather gluttonous with the gravy bones Pat and mum produced...Pat just can't resist my soulful expression ..nor me tapping her on her knee for more!
Mum was very pleased to see Carole at the cafe, she and her late husband Pete had spent time with mum and Robert 20 years ago in Mauritius when they had holidayed there for their Ruby wedding anniversary.
It was almost noon when we started the homeward trek and I just had to have another refreshing drink from the river before we left the park.
Once at home I had my lunch...kibbles and chicken served in the garden where I am still lying in a shaded area. Mum popped out to shop but she joined me later and is still here keeping me company.
An ideal day...an outing, a walk and an afternoon of sheer relaxation...perfect!🐾🐾

01/07/2025

Much more comfortable temperatures today..although still in the high twenties, but with considerable cloud cover it has been far more bearable.
It's been something of a nothing day...and I assure you I'm not complaining. I need these quieter days to ensure my batteries are well charged to enable me to cope with more active days.
For the third week I signed in at the PDSA charity shop to keep mum company as she fulfilled her volunteer role. There was a different lady there today called Sarah and like the others she is very pleasant. I've got the hang of sorting donations now..thanks to mum who tells me what she is doing with each donation she sorts. I find it very interesting indeed.
We left a little earlier today as mum had an important call to make and when we reached home I had a little chicken and caught up with some sleep out in the garden. Mum , unsure of exactly how hot it might get, decided not to take me out into town when she went to meet Lynne and I was perfectly content to rest at home.
While she was out Samson rang, he wanted my advice on a problem regarding a problem with of one of our surveillance agents. He explained the misdemeanor and after due consideration we both came to the conclusion that the agent should be suspended and requested to undertake an intensive retraining exercise after which reinstatement would be considered. I offered to provide the relevant retraining this coming Thursday afternoon. I am really looking forward to being involved again if only on an ad hoc basis.
Tomorrow we have a walk with Pat early morning as she is unavailable Thursday, just as well I've been conserving my energy today🐾🐾

30/06/2025

One would have thought that,bearing in mind my birthday country where I spent just over 2 years, I would be OK with the hot weather we are currently experiencing here. Not so...nearly 5 years here means I've become totally unaccustomed to these high temperatures. I just feel totally drained.
Thanks to some very convenient cloud cover this morning I was able to go out which was a huge relief as mum had warned me that it might have been too hot for my tootsies to walk on the pavements..and indeed too hot altogether for me to be out. The Minster grounds were lovely and cool as we walked towards town..it was here we met Alice Leonard...a friend and neighbour and had a brief chat.
Onward then to meet one of my besties Roz Banwell in The Tea Room , Bath Place. She of course had brought those tasty sugar free biscuits and mum , bless her cotton socks shared some of her sausage bap with me. Tummy full I laid down comfortably between Roz and mum as they chatted.
When we eventually reached home...we kept bumping into people mum knew en route.... I had a very light lunch and found a shady spot in the garden to have a post lunch nap.
Mum popped out to meet friends at lunchtime but joined me in the garden on her return...she was telling me how earlier today, while I was still asleep, a murder had been committed in our back garden! She had found a massacred young pigeon...I was shocked but guessed immediately that the culprit must have been one of the neighbouring felines I have often caught the scent of in our garden! I just hope it was not one of the feline contingent of the neighbourhood watch group!
I have yet to have my main meal...we have been indoors for a while as its cooler here for me. Looking ahead to temperatures for tomorrow I think Ill be chauffeured to the charity shop and when mum meets her friend later I shall be staying in the relative cool here.🐾🐾

29/06/2025

After another rather steamy night I was reluctant to get up, it was 8.25 when mum called me rather frantically as we had our usual Sunday walk date with Gill, Marianna and Simba. I was whisked out for a quick p*e, had a bite of breakfast and ushered into the car in under 10 minutes!
On the short journey to the regular rendezvous I had just time to gird my loins to face what lay ahead.
I was , in fact, quite energetic though regularly taking time out between active bouts to catch my breath.It was good to catch up with Marley, our digging apprentice who is " in season" and consequently kept on her lead to avoid any unwanted attention..nudge, nudge , wink, wink!
Neither Simba nor I were in a digging mood, preferring to just run around chew on sticks and have treats. He and I indulged in a little playfighting which gave me the opportunity to reiterate my domination! girl power rules!
Weather-wise the sun had not woken up early either and although warm it was not yet too hot to enjoy our activities.
It's amazing how quickly the time goes when you are enjoying oneself and all too soon it was home time.
After a drink and some kibbles I slept soundly eventually waking around 2 ish for a late lunch. The sun finally put in an appearance as the mercury rapidly rose and after another ti**le walk I found a shaded spot in the garden while mum deadheaded roses and pulled up pesky weeds.
We shall be off soon to see the menfolk which means I'll get TUC crackers to sustain me as my main meal will be served a little later than usual🐾🐾

28/06/2025

Another late start to my day, I'm getting quite reluctant to " rise and shine" with mum at 6 am, I much prefer to linger in sleep mode.
It must have been just after 9 that I was requested to put in an appearance downstairs and although the sun had not yet arrived I acceded to mum's request and went down and straight across to p*e...once again mum said it was sufficient to float the Queen Mary. She sure is given to exaggeration!
Breakfast this morning was the usual pouch of wet food surrounded by kibbles and adorned with a modicum of cooked chicken. My tummy was well satisfied and we went out to meet Corinne, she and mum worked together in Continuing Education. I had not met her previously and was a tad apprehensive but soon warmed to her especially when she bought an apricot flapjack with the coffees. She was accompanied by her sweet dog called Zelda...similar colouring to me but very petite in comparison. Like me, Zelda is extremely well behaved and although we did not get very close I certainly liked her.
We had sat outside The Shed until a sharp shower had us scurrying inside where we stayed despite the sun soon making an appearance.
It really was a very pleasant encounter.
Mum and I then walked home, deciding in Middle Street to saunter through town as opposed to going straight home. It was pretty busy and there was plenty to attract my attention. Coming through Eastgate Gardens I was pleasantly surprised to see a tree,which some 2 months ago was only just partly dressed, now fully clothed and looking very smart.
Home and a little chicken before going into the garden , it's been a tad cooler today but I still sat in the shade. Mum went out to meet friends at lunchtime but on her return joined me. We are still in the garden....enjoying yet another warm summer's day.
I have just had a tummy rumble reminding me that it needs replenishing and I'm hoping mum heard it as well and will be serving up my main meal very soon.
Walkies and exercise with Simba tomorrow so an early night for me!🐾🐾

27/06/2025

Phew what a sizzler of a day, 29° and I've had to come in from the garden to the relative cool of the house.
I had a lie-in this morning, we had no specific plans and I was quite content to stretch out and sleep for as long as my bladder would allow.
When I needed to go out then up I got and padded downstairs where mum , in the throes of her daily chores, swiftly walked me over to ti**le patch. Breakfast followed and I then wandered out into the garden where although warming up I felt comfortable enough to lie under the shade of the parasol.
Mum joined me when she took her coffee break...and had a long telephone conversation with a friend. Feigning sleep I listened to what she was saying as it was all about me. It seems I'm a real trouper ? And I'm defying the odds?
and exceeding expectations? I tucked all these comments away in my head and determined to check them out later when mum was out to lunch.
Mum , having finished her call and coffee took me out to Victoria Park.
Once again I had slept through the recycling collections...and empty containers are of no interest so there was no stopping and seeing what they had held.
Our trip coincided with school morning playtime..which is very noisy and it was good to get into the park where the noise was less evident.
I had a very limited exercise session before we had a walk around . A tent has arrived at the far end of the playing fields. In the wildflower area we were really excited to see loads of apples on one tree...there's also baby currants on the red flowering currant bush.
Home and a light lunch...mum went out to have a Italian meal with "girls" she was at Grammar school with and I fell asleep in the garden until it got too hot. I haven't had a chance to check out what mum meant earlier but will do later 🐾🐾

26/06/2025

It's been a beautiful warm and sunny afternoon...after a weather wobble this morning...when after a good enough start there was rain..but as mum says the gardens need it..they may well do but getting wet on our walk to the shop this morning was definitely not needed.
Yes another morning assisting mum at the PDSA shop..I'm getting the hand of things there now...and whilst I can't actually participate in sorting and labelling I have a pretty fair understanding of what items can be put out for sale...and those which are put back for winter stock.
When we got home I had a little chicken and a much needed sleep, I need to stay awake during my time at the shop as I am still learning all about the sorting process.
All too soon it seemed that it was time to go out to meet Pat and take our usual route to the Weir Cafe, I am really not up to a romp in Longrun anymore and quite happy to have the decent walk to French Weir and back.
We started off sitting out on the front decking where I enjoyed my weekly icecream but it got a tad too hot for my liking and at my instigation we move over to the shaded area where I was more comfortable just sitting and watching the world go by as mum and Pat conversed about all matter of things. Mum took just two photos today... of me with my beloved Pat...my honorary mum.
Walking home I had to stop , in the street and have a 💩...my third today! Yes folks its either that damn lymphoma thingy or the steroids which are starting to change my bowel habits.
I've just eaten a fairly substantial meal of turkey with potatoes and carrots, some kibbles and a tiny topping of chicken....but as is now a habit I shall be demanding several helpings of delicious chicken between now and bedtime...🐾🐾

Miss Molly in England