The Many Faces of Tia

Firstly, thank you so, so much for your lovely comments and visits over the last week.  You have made me feel so humble and I am so glad you come to share my little ramblings and enjoy the things that catch my eye.  My Extraordinary out of the Ordinary post was a quick one while I was waiting for my bus, it’s amazing what beauty you can pass by without giving it a second glance.  Something I am going to rectify.  I really and truly appreciate you taking time to visit me.  

But what gifts has this week given me?  Well, my shoulder has given me good days and bad days with today being a good day (until my walk!).  Miss Teen's birthday went well and she is happy with all her gifts.  And, our little rescue King Charles Cavalier - Tia went to the vets and had 20 teeth removed! 

Yes, you read that right... 20!!  

We knew when she came to us that she had a problem but we waited for her to settle in and have any other health issues resolved first so, this was that time.  As well as this, and we were prepared for the news, she has Syringomyelia which is the same as our beloved Coco who died in April this year.  Tia's medication has started and she is taking to it very well.  Our wonderful little fighter is still fighting!  So, as I haven't updated you on Tia for quite a while (unless you follow her on Facebook!), this post is going to be a bit Tia heavy with the many faces that she pulled on a very wet, windswept day on the Fens.

The walk started fairly well, the heavy rain had stopped and the sun came out leaving muddy paths but looking at the neat rows in the fields, it did look promising...

Her first look as she run through the muddy puddles was "you're kidding me right?!"

 After two days of being hemmed up at home she had to get some air into those lungs and take her mind off the discomfort of her teeth operation.  Once up on the bank her lungs were certainly full as the gusts of wind nearly blew us back down the bank.

 She thanked me though with this gummy bear smile - or should I say Gruffalo smile (she only has two bottom teeth at the front now!).

Once over the shock of the mud and the wind, good old Tia was back with her cheeky backwards glance to say "come on Mum, let's explore".

The river was very choppy with the incessant wind so we didn't walk too closely otherwise a certain little inquisitive dog may have fallen in.

Usually with these walks, I let Tia decide on which path to take.  She decided to take the slippiest and gave her "I made a mistake but won't let on" look.

She climbed up the ramparts to the underside of the road bridge and looked back to say "come on then".

And when she realised I wasn't going to come up, she decided "I'll explore on my own then".  Oh my goodness, look at the state of her coat!

Tia's view would have been this across the river but she was more interested in something nasty that seemed to be lurking behind one of the concrete slabs.

So, time to move on.  Not this way to Spalding...

... it was this way Tia, back to the car!

The wind was blowing Tia's ears and I thought she was going to take off like Dumbo!  However she was a little concerned about her Mum who had just slipped on the mud and fallen on her bum!  and guess what, used her right arm with the injured shoulder!

Yes Tia, I can see that "silly Mum, I'm so embarrassed" look!!

So, little Tia has certainly changed since June from this nervous and near bald, breeding Cavalier...

to this gorgeous lady!

Yes, she has only 14 teeth left, Syringomyelia and a grade three heart murmur, but she is ours, and we love her and her quirky ways so much.

Don't forget that you can follow her life on her Facebook page (just click on her photo in my sidebar).  There will be ups and downs as she fights with her illnesses, but we will be with her all the way.

Have a wonderful weekend, and be careful on muddy footpaths!

       

The Extraordinary in the Ordinary #1 - The Beauty of a Rusty Gate

 

Sometimes something captures my imagination and I see something extraordinary in the ordinary.  While waiting for the bus this morning on a very grey, foggy and wet start to the day, I noticed this old rusty gate by the church yard that I stand next to each morning while waiting for my transport to arrive.  The droplets of water hanging onto the spiders web which had weaved into the curves of the rusty gate, along with the grave stones in the background.  This image made my heart sing.

 

It's amazing how different something looks when you see the extraordinary within. 

 

Never take things for granted.

 

 

       



Snapshots of London

There's been something wrong, something that I couldn't quite get right in my mind, then the gas lamp was lit in my brain and it hit me!  It's been ages since the last time I jumped off the train at Kings Cross and walked my old home town's roads and bridges.  I needed my London fix!

This time though, my usual steadfast and reliable camera was going to have to stay at home and I was going to give my phone a test.  You see, I had a near miss in my car a few weeks ago and after x rays and a scan, it appears I have been walking around with a torn tendon and a broken bone in my shoulder!  Don't worry, I will survive and just thank my blessings that it wasn't a lot more serious. But, let's get back to the phone, it's great for quick shots and after editing with PicMonkey, here's what me, Miss Teen and a new one to you all, her friend Mr J decided to do on this warm autumn's day.

Firstly we felt the need to pop off to Oxford Street to look in the Lush store.  That distinctive, welcoming smell of home made toiletries, trying things out and being dazzled by the array of colour, smells and textures really is a wonderful experience.

How could you not go in to such a store.  Every Lush I have been in has always been so friendly and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.

Oxford Street was busy, as usual, and above our heads the Christmas decorations were being put into place.  The picture I didn't get was of the workmen abseiling down the larger stores with strings of lights, ready to cloak them in curtains of light.

I suppose we could have stayed a bit longer but our original plan was to go along to Camden Town, so back down into the very warm underground and across London to this vibrant area.

It didn't disappoint!  No Santas this time (my last post is here), but extremely busy, probably more than it was last time.

The Mad Hatter was still here (I apologise to this family for putting this shot on who decided to take a selfie, but they were brilliant weren't they!).

The street was as vibrant as ever with its array of shops.

And of course, Camden Lock.  No narrow boats passing, just the odd duck and people jostling.

It was lunch time, and the diversity of the shops reflects with the diversity of food on offer too.  Very cramped, a 'just go with it' moment!  The trouble with diversity of street food, is that when you are hungry it makes decisions so, so hard!

Shall we go with Peruvian? Turkish? Mac and Cheese? Shrimp? Thai? Kebab? Quinoa (why?)? So many more, all offering a sample for you to try, and all cooked fresh.  

We went around again and nearly went for Peruvian as we hadn't tried that before - until I realised there were red kidney beans in there.  No, that decided that one.  Then, Jamaican!  Yes, that was the one with its jerk chicken and fried plantain.  It was delicious and perfectly cooked.  With bellies full, it was then time to have a look around the various markets.

The Stables Market is amazing and this is where I really missed by old faithful camera!  The original details are still there amongst the stalls, and to look down each alley was a sheer delight, not just with the colour and selection of goods on the stalls, but also the carvings and nostalgia associated with this area.  This is where the injured horses that were pulling the canal boats would be treated in the horse hospital in Victorian times.

Of course, you can't come to Camden without seeking out Amy Winehouse's statue!

I think because it was so crowded (and missing my camera), I was losing steam.  It was time to head off to the Thames, after all, I can't come to London without waving hello to the Thames could I?!

On the tube again, poor Mr J! and off at the Embankment with a quick walk across Hungerford Bridge to the South Bank.  

Again, another vibrant area of the City with various street acts and of course, the typical touristy views.

With the sun heading down it was time to think of home.  So let's walk some more!!  Across Westminster Bridge.

Down Whitehall and past Downing Street.

Down the Mall and into Green Park looking back at Buckingham Palace.

It was tiring (especially having to stand for a while on the train home!!), but we all thoroughly enjoyed it and my London fix was accomplished.

On other news, we have a birthday coming up... Miss Teen is going to be 16 next week!  I can't believe where the time has flown and how my baby has grown.  I'll be thinking about all the years while I carve the pumpkins and get the house ready for Halloween and the trick or treaters (or as she used to call them 'trickle treaters'.

I will do my best to catch up with you all this week once my painkillers settle in and give me a little bit of comfort... and sleep! And I can sit back on the bus and indulge myself in some blog reading while someone else drives!  I am thinking positively and as this street artist so brilliantly wrote...

You have to smile at the mirror for the mirror to smile back.

Have a Happy Halloween

ps. I am sorry for the photos and the variety of shapes, this post nearly didn't make it into blogland!