Nina's Blog - Thursday 1st August 2024

Yesterday was supposed to be the dog's last day but he's been given an indefinite reprieve. If reprieve is the right word. So now my sister has declared that she wants to spend time alone with the dog, so my presence is no longer required.

So I stayed up until 01:00 this morning trawling hotel sites to find places to stay, leaving here on Sunday.

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ninalanyon · 61-69, T

Thursday 1st August 2024, 14:28

I drove to the nearest Tesla Supercharger this morning because the car is down to 30% charge. On the way back I stopped at my bank to see if they could help with a problem with their app. They weren't any help it seems they can't do anything other than what the customer does. The problem is that for some functions the app demands that I identify myself by taking a picture of my passport, scanning the NFC, and taking a selfie. It then tells me that they failed to match.

The cashier at the bank tried it three times too and it failed every time. Taking my picture of course, not his :-)

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

Thursday 1st August 2024, 12:05

Latest news is that the dog is refusing his painkillers. So my nephew has been dispatched to the vet to buy a gadget for shooting the pills down the dogs throat and my sister is dithering over whether I should leave so that she and her son can have what remains of the dogs life without distractions from extraneous people. Her husband is working away until the middle of the month by which time it surely should be all over.

The dithering also has to do with the fact that she has just bought new phones and wants me to show her how to get them working. Or more likely do it for her.

turbineman40 · 80-89, M

@ninalanyon Sister wants you you to do everything

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@turbineman40 Not just me

22Michelle · 70-79, T

I don't know the specifics of your sister's dog, but whilst it was one of the most upsetting days I can remember it was the easiest decision to make. He was suffering and being able to take away that suffering was the right decision.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@22Michelle He has a huge tumour on his right back leg that extends all over his penis. He's still mobile but it's very hard to say how much he's enjoying life. He's clearly in pain. What I don't understand is that my sister is continuing to dose him with the chemotherapy tablets even though she knows he has only days left. He also gets Tramadol and Pardale pain relief.

The vets seem to be very reluctant to advise that she put him down, she was even going to try radiotherapy at a cost of something like 6 000 GBP. It would have been covered by insurance, mostly.

She always has some kind of huge medical problem with her dogs. I can't prove it but it seems to me that her habit of getting rescue dogs is part of the reason. I've tried in the past to persuade her not to do it because in my opinion it is just propping up the puppy farms.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

Friday 2nd August 2024, 20:26

I didn't get around to posting selfies on Thursday so here they are

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I did a quick round of the charity shops and found a short dress. Unfortunately this one is too short! Better [pictures on another occasion but here it is held up

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ninalanyon · 61-69, T

Thursday 1st August 2024, 14:40

Making up for the failure to get my banking app sorted out by having a nice mocha and an excellent sausage roll at Lynnwood's in Cirencester before heading back to my sister's place.

turbineman40 · 80-89, M

Sounds like a gift of freedom for you. Getting to return home

22Michelle · 70-79, T

One of the good things about a pet is that when they are in pain and suffering you can do the right thing, unlike with Human beings who we insist must suffer and be humiliated until they finally shuffle off.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@22Michelle That's true. On the other hand I think that the effects of assisted suicide on those left behind is woefully under-researched. I suspect that my wife would have welcomed it at some moments during the time she was dying of cancer. But I also feel that it is a discussion that most of us would struggle to have, patients and relatives alike. And I worry that at least until it becomes an ordinary thing in society many of those who are the assistants in such a process will feel lifelong guilt and uncertainty that they did the right thing.

I'm not arguing against it, I'm just not sure I could cope.

22Michelle · 70-79, T

@ninalanyon Having had a mother die slowly and painfully of cancer, lost an aunt and father in law to dementia I'm firmly in the assisted suicide camp. That said if would only for someone who has made it clear they have no wish to suffer the pain and indignity of dragging out what is already inevitable.

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