Yet again we found ourselves speeding to the vet for repairs (out of hours of course).  Kind Roger the vet peered at previous notes and while wondering aloud if she would be OK with anaesthetic exclaimed “Oh!  She’s done this before!”

He then asked if she was allergic to anything and then having heard the list of items she had managed to consume without any apparent effect (most recently half a stick of rock and a complete container of fish oil tablets – in one evening) decided that she probably wasn’t.

She emerged later with a large bandage and an even larger bill, not much put out and showing hardly any effect of two sedatives and an anaesthetic – ate a hearty meal and settled down comfortably in her bed.

We had been told that the bandage must on no account become wet or dirty as part of one of her pads had had to be cut off together with a bit of bone and the wound might become infected.  We racked our brains and Henry at last hit on the idea of cutting a hole in a tennis ball and fitting it over the paw! (see the pictures).  The only slight hitch was that to begin with she wanted to play with it but has now settled down and is quite used to it.

Harassed of Yew Hurst

Marie-Anne had to return to collect Gemma. She’d gone missing, but  was discovered safe in the larder at Brook Farm.

Queen Victoria always went by train, but this doughty pair will do it on a tandem.

Well, I laughed at the joke but Lesley insisted she was being truthful. I had to jump out of the car, take a photo, inspect the legs, advise on luggage distribution and generally be incredibly impressed. What better than a few days in the sun under pedal with an amiable companion? Sadly techno incompetence prevents me sending the photo from phone to BV….but I do have it for inspection.

Sarah R (of Mudmer)

This being the Forest, nothing was straightforward! My charming  hostess, Daniella teased me with the fact that her son had left his  swimming trunks behind at a Cub Scout Swimming badge event at F.S.M.

Jude said it could be collected from the school, but Daniella said  she was a neighbour and Brook Farm would be closer.

It languished in our post box at the front door for at least three  weeks, no doubt cheering the post man! Daniella had no idea where we  had hidden our post box!

Pretty astonishing to then be invited for lunch!

Ed

Are they all completely bonkers. If we start closing all the places  people collect serious diseases, then most hospitals and schools will have to be closed and a lot of Tandooris.

There is something very odd that with 2,000 children a day visiting  for years, it suddenly went wrong. Don’t close all the farms where  nothing happened! Find out why these children were susceptible. The  answer will be cultural and have something to with not eating a peck  of dirt a day and too much demented germ killing in the home.

Today no peanuts on planes, or petting zoos, tomorrow no fun!

D. Ettol (Miss)

I refer to the letter published in Issue 516 of The Blissford Voice  from your correspondent (name withheld), in which they were complaining about a lack of reality in the publication and that there  might be a certain amount fake names (and dare I say it fictitious  articles). I note that they were also suggesting that there was ‘more  reality when the R.W.G was about’.

Firstly, I should point out that the RWG has always been, how should  I put it, ‘reclusive’. He wouldn’t have been given the title of  Reclusive Web Genius if he had been anything less than reclusive  (should that be anything more than…?). Reclusive is the name.  Reclusive is the game.

Secondly, do I detect that there is a certain amount of fictitious  letters being written complaining about the number of fictitious letters, and if so what kind of double or triple bluff is the  editorial team pulling?

Yours,

R.W.G.