Update on Bertieās op. It went very well and I have very dramatic x-rays of the new joint. It went so well that the surgeon took the opportunity also to remove some lumps and bumps that might have been more of a problem in the future.
So the good news is that heās home and he has some very neat incisions with the minimum of protection - just small pieces of dressing. Having had strict instructions that he needs cage rest and must be protected from jumping, running, etc and can only have five 5-minute walks on a lead a day, I put him in his cage in the kitchen which heās been getting used to (I thought) this last week. He was not impressed and knowing youāre supposed to let them ācry it outā and not make a fuss, we took no notice (as much as we could). Three hours later (!) he was having a full-on temper-tantrum. I contacted our vet who said when heās not yelling at you take him out of his cage and put him on a lead and keep him with you while you are sitting quietly having supper / watching TV. Which we did. The good news? Immediate peace and he was like that all evening. Weāve had a tough and noisy night as he had to go back in his cage. The good news? Heās lying beside my as I type. blissfully quiet. Weāve made the kitchen his territory - gated entrances and closed doors - it makes a healing environment where he can move around in a limited space. And the good news is that this can only get easier and better.
Brilliant news the op went well and heās home (and getting used to confinementš)
You are doing all the right things. So glad op was ok and it will be just recovery now. Slow but sure. It will go well!
Bertie looking like a plucked turkey. The dressing down the front of his knee is where the new joint has been put in place. The other bits of dressing are where the surgeon removed lumps and warts which he licked.
Heās beautifully peaceful. 
The weather today and for the next few days is gert lush.
I shall therefore be walking the dog at the beach whilst the temperatures remain so high, as this may be the last time this year I can paddle in the water with him. Whilst heās happy going in the sea in November and December, Iām not so keen to join him.
Great news Sue, is he not wearing one of those great big plastic collars then? Iāve got loads here left over from several dogs.
Even tried it myself once after I discovered how I could hear radio dialogue much better if I cupped my hands behind my ears. Lasted 5 minutes, I donāt blame dogs for hating them. 
Edit: thatāll teach me to rush into print before reading the last post. 
Heās wearing a small, robust neat one with a fancy velcro way of securing it, which heās accepted very well. Having said that, there will come a moment when he feels better and he will then realise that his operation scars are itching and heāll be twisting himself round and licking beyond the edge of the collar. Veterinary staff always fit our dogs with a size too small.
Whenever Smudge our Airedale used to wear them he would crash through bushes with wild enthusiasm and weād find yet another broken collar dangling from his neck.
Interestingly both Smudge and now Bertie was/is going deaf and I think that aspect of wearing a collar didnāt/doesnāt bother them. Also they both tip the collar forward so that is directly in contact with the ground and then hoover up all the delicious smells that are trapped/concentrated within the perimeter of the collar.
I know its a few days old but I think it wonderful that you still believe like so many that the jab will prevent covid.
Both had our Covid jabs this afternoonā¦ now we have to wait 2 weeks to get the Flu jabs ā¦ and weāll be ready to go into battle with any nasties which try to come our way this winterā¦
OHās health is fragile and everything has to be carefully timedā¦
Doc passed him as fit yesterday, so I phoned the pharmacy for an appointment asapā¦ and we were offered todayā¦ seems 2 people had cancelledā¦ what luck.
Weāre back home and celebrating with large mugs of tea and chocolate biscuitsā¦ chocs are a special treat but seemed appropriate todayā¦ 
I hope you are far from me.
Vaccination deniers are a plague on the face of the earth.
Not anti vax, just the covid jab and believing it will stop anyone catching it. Friend caught it 4 weeks after the latest improved jab. Of course its 4x the price so maybe thats the improvement for shareholders.
As you well know, or should do, you can still catch Covid after having had the vaccination.
What it does do is ameliorate the symptoms, which makes it better for everyone, people and hospitals.
Yes, but that isnt what you wrote, sorry just trying to make sure people realise the difference.
Iāll gladly share the chocolate biscuits with one and allā¦ if it gets us back on the
Cheerful News bandwagonā¦ 
Are they Wagon Wheel chocolate biscuitsā¦? 
Well that seemed like a marathonā:grin: thought Iād add a degree of comfort to the new van so today I hand stitched a new steering wheel cover on, and must say, absolutely delighted with the result 
Goshā¦ I remember the originalsā¦ fabulous and nothing like the more modern varietyā¦
Mind you, one had to eat 'em with care when licking the chocolate, to avoid getting splintersā¦
I still havenāt had COVID, in spite of being surrounded by my children, other peopleās children (I rub shoulders with 1000 or so a day) and colleagues who have been seething with it.
I have been vaccinated and fully expected to get COVID only more mildly (was vaccinated in the hope that my rubbish lungs could cope with an attenuated dose).
But nothing. And my blood has been tested for it as well as doing frequent nasal secretion tests.
Iāve been driving the wifeās car for the last couple of days, finding out how stuff works so that I can pass the information on. 
Citroen manuals are a bit rubbish. 
Must confess, I prefer automaticsā¦