Don’t sweat the small stuff

Somehow, I’m always behind, blogging wise. Time to catch up, I think.

Recently , I spent a day playing out in the Baltic Triangle in Liverpool, with good friends. This is a new urban project that is rejuvenating a derelict area, on the outskirts of the city.

It’s all very bohemian, food stalls, bars and flea markets, the weirder the better. Suits me!

The run up to the rescue open day, a week last Sunday, was all a little manic. I had a urban wildlife talk in an art gallery, closely followed by a live radio interview. I was utterly astonished when over a hundred people turned up, just to see a hedgehog! I had a hard time escaping and just about made the interview. Note to self, no more back-to-back committments!

The open day was a huge success. Our best attended to date. Almost a thousand people came through the doors and £7.500 was raised. I took £200 just face painting. The knitted hedgies flew out, too, and raised a pretty penny.

Everyone was delighted as money is tight at the moment so this was a real boost to the coffers.

Seventeen wood pigeons/pigeons have been released. Sixteen went well but one didn’t fly at all, so was caught and returned to the rescue. More time is clearly needed.

Five herring gulls have also been released, hubs did the releasing this time, allowing me to take pictures.

All five swam and flew beautifully.

Herbie’s hutch didn’t remain empty for long. The manager asked if I would care for and eventually release the little hog who inadvertently killed Herbie. He has made a full recovery and is happily trotting about in his temporary home.

Curly cat is gradually acclimatizing to the builders and has taken to going out each day, returning to the lounge each evening.

I also have a Swiss, Italian speaking guest staying for ten days. He is adorable and is spoiling us by cooking endless, delicious meals!

So why …Don’t sweat the small stuff???

Well….

My canon camera has given up the ghost, along with my wildlife camera.

The house is full of dust again, as cutting flags and mixing concrete mean the residue floats in and settles everywhere. I was still battling to clear the dust from the recent bathroom renovations.

My guest put the central heating on a few days ago only to discover that it’s not working. A guy came out, but didn’t have the parts, so no heating until this Thursday.

The builders discovered that the drains are blocked in the back garden, they will be cleared tomorrow.

We received a water bill, and discovered that our usage has soared from £250 to £1.000 a quarter. We got United Utilities out only to discover a leak, a leak under our tiled, concreted kitchen floor! Next week a specialist is coming out to repair it. It’s looking like the kitchen is going to be ripped out and dug up……on and on it seems to go. All this, on top of the garden disruption was beginning to get me down,

until…..

A week last Sunday, daughter got caught up in a police chase that went horribly wrong, resulting in a car hitting hers at 70 mph. A head on collision. Miraculously, she walked away with nothing but whiplash, and a written off car. My heart misses a beat just thinking about what could have happened.

A few days ago, Annie followed me out into the back garden. While I was talking to the builder, Annie wandered through the fence, where a panel is down, and spotted a couple of dogs on the road and ran to meet them. I knew nothing of this until I heard people screaming. She had been hit by a car, thankfully a glancing blow. Again, miraculously, she was completely unscathed.

Someone up there, is looking out for me and mine!!!

These incidents taught me a valuable lesson. People and animals matter. They are all I need. The house can fall down for all I care. I’ll cope with that. Small stuff indeed!!!

And Finally….

I’m having planters built in the back garden.

The dogs soon discovered them!

I wonder how long any plants will last?

 

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36 Comments

  1. What a whirlwind of life, Dina. I’m surprised that you got to your blog at all. But you cut through the craziness to the heart of things, which is that as long as the living beings that we love are doing well, all else is just clutter. Breathe deeply and have a glass of wine (or whatever you partake in).

    • Whirlwind is a good word for the last few weeks, thankfully things are calming down now, long may it continue! Thanks Brenda.xxx

  2. Goodness, I feel tired just reading about your life, I don’t know how you manage it all and cope with your domestic emergencies and have people to stay all at the same time. So glad your lovely daughter is fine and Annie of course.
    I wonder what you are planning on putting in those planters, I don’t hold out much hope for them.

    • I feel tired thinking about past events too, thankfully all is settling down once again. I am so grateful that daughter and Annie are safe…..the relief! I’m thinking big and prickly for the planters. Thanks Chloris.xxx

  3. So much happening! As you say, it’s human and animal life that matters most, but those smaller losses and frustrations can add up. It’s the drip-drip-drip that sometimes frays nerves, and as significantly as the big things.

    I’m so glad you were able to attract a crowd and add some funds to your program. The face painting looks wonderful fun, and of course I wish I had been there to buy a little hog for myself. Not that I need one, mind you. They’re just so cute!

    I laughed at your new planters, and their new fans. You definitely are going to need to devise a way to curb their enthusiasm!

    • People and animals are all that matters, everything else is small stuff, although irritating. When I see what is happening in Houston and India I realize I have much to be grateful for.
      Everyone was thrilled re the success of the open day, hopefully future ones will be as successful. Lol….I will have to pop a hog in the post for you! Dogs will be dogs, they specialize in playing where they shouldn’t. Thanks Linda, hoping all is still well with you.xxx

  4. Wow…. you do live life in the fast lane with all the digging up the garden and completely redesigning it and the radio thang and all the animal rescue stuff… amazing!
    How horrendous for your daughter! I think those police chase things are so awful – so often innocent members of the public get caught up in it…. Thank goodness she is ok…… definitely got one good guardian angel looking after her!!! And poor dig dog too… pelting off into the road little nutter!!! As for the leaking pipe costing you a fortune all trapped under a concrete floor…. flipping typical eh!
    And yes… very wise… don’t sweat the small stuff… and is good to see things in perspective….. wow…. Hope everything sorts itself out Dina! xxxxx

    • Everything always seems to kick off at once doesn’t it? Thankfully all is calming down now. I’m eternally grateful that daughter and Annie are ok, I was furious with the police, they were totally irresponsible putting so many people at risk like that. The gardens are finished now, the builders did a good job flagging but have destroyed a lot of borders, there seems to be concrete and hard core everywhere, still, it’s all sortable, next year they should be lovely. Always good to hear from you, hoping all is well in your world, I do miss hearing about all your adventures. xxx

  5. What happened to your daughter is terrifying – my worst nightmare! So glad she is ok!

  6. WOW!! What a week! Maybe you need to leave the holes in the bricks at the top of the planter and stick in some type of pole to use as a short decorative fence to deter the dogs. I’m so glad everyone is ok at your place!

    • It certainly wasa week and a half! I’m so grateful that all was well with daughter and Annie, and that things are calming down. What a good idea re the fence, the bricks were capped after I took that photo, but some sort of fence may be the way to go. Thanks Casa.xxx

  7. This post leaves me breathless and my heart pounding. Thank goodness your daughter and Annie are both well and safe.

    You’ve a massive amount of stuff to project manage. Is a weee holiday due?

    Xxxxxxx

    • Thanks Menhir, thankfully all was well and things are calming down a little. Sadly, no jollies planned, just a hip replacement.xxx

  8. Just to let you know that I still read your blogs and am sorry you’re having these setbacks etc. We must meet up again sometime. Marian ~x~

  9. lowcarbdiabeticJan

    So many times through life experiences I have found that something will happen to put perspective back in view!
    I so agree people, those we love, those we look after are important.
    Bricks and mortar can be rebuilt, dusted or cleaned …

    Treasure our moments together.

    I do like your new planters but it would seem so do others! LOL!

    Take care my blogging friend.

    All the best Jan

    • It’s good to get a little perspective now and then, wake up calls for sure! Yes, houses can be sorted….look at what is happening in India and Houston, we all have much to be grateful for. Dogs!!! They all seem to want to play where they can’t. Thanks Jan.xxx

  10. Goodness what a roller-coaster post. Your daughter was unfortunate to get caught up in such an incident but thankfully lucky that she’s okay.
    It’s good to see that the rescue open day was such a success and did so well.
    I hope that life settles down a bit for you as I’m sure that you could do with a quieter few months. xx

    • I could do with a little peace and quiet, thankfully the garden flagging is finished along with most of the other jobs. There is a lot of work to be done sorting the gardens… I’m hoping a lot of the trampled plants come back next year. I was furious with the police, it was all utterly reckless, so many people could have been hurt, thankfully all were safe, just damage to cars. Thanks Flighty.xxx

  11. Your open day was a riproaring success, due in no small part to you, Dina – that must be very satisfying indeed. Thank God, literally, for your daughter’s safety, and for Annie’s too. Life is all ups and downs at times. It’s a nuisance about your house and the dirt and mess, but at least you know it’s all necessary and that you can breathe again when it’s all over. Big hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    • Everyone was thrilled with the open day, it was gloriously sunny too! I do hope all future events turn out like that! I’m certainly thanking God for daughter and Annie’s safety. Utterly miraculous! The jobs are slowly getting sorted, one fine day I may get rid of all the dust. Sorting the poor gardens will be the priority. Builders don’t seem to see plants….thanks Gill.xxx

  12. It never rains but it pours. There’s always something which helps put things into perspective though, thank goodness that both your daughter and Annie got off so lightly, things could have been so much worse. I do hope they’re both recovering from their near misses. Hope all the other things get sorted out soon, it’s an inconvenience and an expense I’m sure you could do without but try not to stress about it, it will all get sorted in the end.

    • How true Jo….sometimes a little perspective is called for. I was so relieved that daughter and Annie were safe. Miraculous! I am switching off re all the repairs, just hoping to straighten the gardens out a little before winter.xxx

  13. You are so right about not sweating on the small stuff … People & animals & gardens are all that matter! But we are constantly replacing/ fixing stuff around the house… & that job never ends & really annoys me. Well done on raising so much money, that is amazing .. But also raising awareness about wildlife, especially for kids, SO good! You can chill with a glass of wine now… 💕

    • Yes….people, animals and gardens! My poor gardens have taken a total battering, I have a lot of work to do sorting them out, probably next year now. Household jobs are endlessly annoying aren’t they? Sometimes I think I’d prefer to live in a camper van or boat….but then I’d miss the garden. Thanks Gerrie.

  14. Oh, Dina, I just got tears in my eyes reading about your daughter and Annie. So very, very glad they’re both OK…and a great hooray for the rescue’s fund-raising success! Looks like Mr. Buddy’s back…and having fun.

    That renovation-in-process part of Liverpool looks like so much fun to explore! There have got to be a lot of hidden treasures there.

    Happy to read about all the successful releases and a new Hedge-in-residence.

    Glad you have such a wonderful and perceptive guest…and a good cook, to boot! I hate to think about all the bills involved in righting the ship, but how glorious and wonderful it will be when all is completed! I can’t wait to see the new yard, either! Wow: life is always something, isn’t it! And yes, family, friends, 4-leggeds…all that matters.

    Blessings on you and yours, dear one.

    • Thanks Kitty, I was SO relieved that all was well with daughter and Annie, that’s all that matters to me. It’s funny how things all go wrong at the same time…now the dishwasher has broken. Things aren’t made to last I suppose. I hope all your renovations are going well….time for that new blog now I think!!! Love to you all….always.xxx

  15. So glad that your daughter and Annie are okay; you must wake up in a cold sweat just thinking about it. Glad that the open day went so well too, it’s definitely money for a good cause. Good luck with all the renovations and the dust; it will all be worth it in the end. I love the new planters – is that a dog rose?! :O) xx

  16. I totally agree with the animals and people statement. Sounds like you are becoming quite a celebrity.

  17. I’m so sorry… seems that with the swiss-italian cook, troubles did arrive, though don’t despair, tomorrow is another day!
    Give him the vacuum cleaner… he knows well how to use it! At least, you may get rid of some dust inside the house. Your daughter was at the wrong place at the wrong time, God was looking down! Happy to know that Annie is as well ok…
    Really, a lot of things going on, all of a bunch!
    Hugs and kisses to all, indeed!
    :-)claudine

    • Our Swiss Italian cook discovered the problem, thank goodness he did, it would have been much worse if it had been left undetected, so that was a blessing. Thank goodness Daughter and Annie were OK, that’s all that matters isn’t it? Things always seem to break down in multiples around here….at least they all get fixed at the same time. Onwards and upwards eh, yes, every moment is new and tomorrow is another day. Hugs and kisses to you.xxx

  18. Wow. You’ve had anything BUT the small stuff — I’m so so so glad your daughter is okay. Her guardian angel is doing his job! And also pleased to hear that Annie didn’t suffer any lasting harm in accident! It’s too bad you haven’t a money tree planted in the garden — those bills sound positively enormous. I’m sorry to hear about your Canon. Maybe it can be repaired?

    • Daughter certainly does have a cracking guardian angel. It was such a relief seeing her safe and well. Things always seem to go wrong at the same time around here for some reason…..a money tree would come in handy!!! I am hoping my canon can be repaired, I’m using hubs old nikon at the moment, it’s sooooo heavy!xxx

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