Into battle!

 

This is the Iron Age sword, one of only three in the country of this type, and two of them are in Wales, which was found locally to Builth Wells, but the owner doesn't wish to say exactly where (even though it was found 30 years ago) in case there are metal detectorists all over his land.  The other sword was found not far away, at Cwmyoy, up near Llantony Priory in the Black Mountains.  It has been examined closely by Cardiff Museum, who think that both swords came from the same maker.  How exciting to have proof of the Iron Age presence around Builth, although obviously they were all over Wales and indeed Britain. Many hills round here have hill forts on top of them. I hope you can read the details below.

Well, I have had a stressful few days.  For the past week or so, Alfie hasn't been eating his biscuits.  I have bought several different sorts, getting ever more expensive.  I have had to give him all sorts of different sachets - he was very fussy over those - but now we are on the Sheba (expensive) sort, in gravy he is wolfing those down.  I was worried sick it was end-game Kidney problems - the boys are 16 this year.  I have been losing sleep worrying about him, and so off to the vet it was today.  He had the full blood test (e.g. that is the most expensive sort too) and it included Thyroid function.  The vet has just phoned back to say can I bring him down tomorrow as their blood machine threw a hissy fit (as it does sometimes) and recorded he had no red bloodcells . . .  So Poor Boy, he has to go back tomorrow morning for more bloods so we get the full picture.  From what they took, Thyroid function seems good and although Urea levels above average, Kidney function seems just within limits but we will have the full picture tomorrow and he will probably have to have a change of biscuits (I have 4 packs of the Purina Urinary care ones, which he can't eat at present).  However, he DOES have Gingivitis and very inflamed gums and is booked in next week for scaling and possible tooth removal.  This is all really going to hit my bank account - nearly £400 with the op, today's examination and blood test.  Jeepers.  I will have to put a red light over the door at this rate!!  It is just as well I have a full freezer and lots of tins in the food cupboard.

So this morning to take my mind off things I went out and had a good clearing of the area at the end of the bank, just before it reaches the pond.  There are three "raised beds" here, and I may as well use them so have been cutting back wild briar roses and brambles, and hoiking out the Lemon Balm and Marjoram which was everywhere.  I will need more bags of bark - £10 each I noticed, when I went to Hay and Brecon Farmers to get more wooden pellet cat litter.  Ah well, needs must.

I had to really be brave to take Alfie to the vet, because having to deal with the possibility of him having to be pts had turned me inside out.  I just cannot deal with the thought of death yet. Losing Keith is still so close to the surface of my memory.  I had to bite my lip and control my breathing so as not to  burst into tears at the vets, and have been crying on and off this morning.  When the time does come, it will be here at home, after the ghastly experience with a terrified Theo, who was so scared with the background noises (heavy slamming doors etc) and fought the anethstetic.  That still haunts me.  Keith would always come in with me and tell me to sit outside when the time for the final injection came.  I find it very difficult to have to stand up and be counted now and go in alone when the time has come.  With Ghengis it was obvious he needed to go immediately, and I coped better with that.  Danny was here then too, and dug his grave and buried him for me. Being brave is hard.