So the adventure begins.

My time with Minty.

Dropped James to his first day of his motorbike licence.

Then headed to Minty's place spent the day with Minty learning the ropes.

Fairly relaxing day, which was needed with the long days leading up to now.

In the afternoon scanning facebook a post came up for the sale of a vehicle which I shared with George.

The owner brought the car out for George to test drive.

Took Minty for a walk then went to work.

After work picked James up from his 2nd day of his motorbike licence.

He passed.

Got to the boys house and Nan with Pa drove us to Bachus Marsh to pick up George's new car we drove back to the boys house and I then drove back to Minty's

Day at work. Finished on time and got home just before dark. The days are getting colder and shorter.

Fran had made a yummy vegetable lasagne for dinner.

Fran & John headed off

Spent the day cuddling with Minty

Another day just spent zoning out. Lots of cuddles with Minty.

We were out on our morning walk, got a couple of pats from passer bys, suddenly Minty sat and looked at me then looked across the road, then looked back at me, and across the road, wagging his tail and body and giving a low deep whine. "What's up Minty" I looked over the road and saw what had caught his eye. A "newspaper" explaining to Minty that this was someone else's newspaper, he wasn't convinced at first but reluctantly accepted it with a final look back and a hummpff.

After our walk today I went out to the boys and spent a few hours sorting through a few more things and a lady came to take some of the plants.

Went for our walk today and just as we got to the turn to do the "short" walk it started to rain lightly. I said to Minty we will do the short walk today and started to turn in that direction. Minty proceeded to sit then lay down and looked up at me, looks like its the long walk. Lucky it didn't rain for very long and we proceeded to enjoy the longer walk.

I put minty out for the day and locked up and put alarm on and went to work. I got home and put alarm off well thought I was but it actually put it on and let Minty in. I found out he had got in and set the alarm off during the day and friends of Fran and John had come around to check everything was ok.

I went to work and came home at lunchtime to check on Minty, I let minty in for the afternoon. Thai for dinner.

Day started slow. Minty let me sleep in until 8.15am. Wow! I got up and put my dressing gown on and stumbled down the path to let him through the gate to get the paper. Being Saturday it was a bigger paper and it tried to get away from him.

He dropped the paper on his bed and waited for his morning treat.

Not quiet awake this morning I crawled back into bed for a bit. Minty lay down beside the bed, my hand draping over the edge of the bed and running my fingers over his soft coat. After a shower I headed down to the Rotary Sausage Sizzle and grabbed a bacon egg sandwich for brunch.

Back at home I got started into some domestic chores and then went out into the garden. Picked some rhubarb to cook later and some lemons for hot lemon and apple cider vinegar drink. A mudlark was splashing and bathing in the bird bath.

Had just finished watering the chillies in the hot house when I noticed Minty on the lawn coughing up some grass. I watched him and he disappeared around the side of the house. I followed to find him laying on the concrete convulsing. I had been warned that he had had an epileptic fit on one other occasion and what to do.

So I remained calm and kept his head off the concrete with my hand whilst trying to reassure him with the other and with a calming voice. I was nervous as I had never seen an animal have a fit before but tried to remain calm. He slowly started to recover and got to his feet. He then paced for some time around in the house and outside. He is now laying quietly at my feet.

Minty let me sleep in until 8.15. I have a warm furry thing that woke me at about 8ish to get his paper. much to his distaste I went back to bed . He curled up on the floor beside me. Freshly picked and squeezed lemon juice, shower , breaky and then, sssshhhhhh, a walk.

Today is a public holiday. We went for our walk and just veged for the day and binged on Grimm episodes all day. I am sure Minty was riveted by the monsters, especially when there was a real scary one and his eyebrow raised just a little.

After several hours of a consulting job I came home took my shoes off and raced to the loo hugging Minty as I went. Emerging from the loo I was greeted with Minty and one of my shoes firmly wedged in his mouth. I am sure he is saying "I am just going to take this, I am sure you wont mind, just so as you cannot go anywhere for a bit"

Laying in bed I can hear the noise of cars on a wet road. I have not seen Minty as yet. Slowly I slide out of bed, Minty looks at me without moving from his warm bed. Giving him a hug I head into the kitchen and squeeze some fresh limes, lemons and oranges and top it up with hot water, with a dash of apple cider vinegar, yummm.

Minty ventures into the kitchen, ever hopeful of any leftovers of food.

Opening the back door he heads to get his morning paper.

Long day at work

Another long day at work.

Was up early to do a work shift. Let Minty out to get his paper and then gave him lots of hugs and hid a couple of treats for him to find whilst I was away.

Back home after my shift Minty and I went for a walk then just spent close time watching some tv, which was needed after several early starts.

Woke up with a awful headache. Took something and hopped back into bed for a bit.

Minty nudged my hand to wake me and I crawled out of bed to let him out to get the paper. Once done I crawled back into bed, much to Minty's distaste. I said to him I was not feeling well and he snuggled down beside my bed. When I got up I put the kettle on and then remembered the electricity was off for most of the day due to works they where doing out in the street. Got showered and dressed and headed out for our walk. Minty must have sensed I was not feeling 100% and we just walked slowly, Minty examining every smell along the way, it was nice out so was a great day for a leisurely stroll.

Woke up, not sure what the time was, Minty was in bed still, quick toilet stop and back to bed, Minty snuggled down next to my bed and we both fell back to sleep.

When I woke, Minty was sound asleep next to my bed, I looked at the time and went wow we both had slept until mid morning.

Time to get the day moving, up, Minty's paper run, shower and start the chores I had planned for today.

Minty came from my room with my woollen hat and looked at me, wagging his whole body, I knew what that meant, it was time for our walk. Putting on my jacket he stepped up the excitement, putting on the shoes he just couldn't hold it anymore, he was super excited this morning for his walk.

Still even with his super excitement he sat calmly as I put the lead on and opened the door. But once out on the sidewalk he was off and I was almost sprinting. Today he was barely stopping to smell the scents. I said to him "slow down a bit" he looked back at me with a quick glance but kept going at a pace. When we got to the area where he has some off the lead time he took off running around and rolling. What ever it was he got it out of his system and sat calmly to have his lead put back on and we briskly, but not as fast as we were, walked back home.

A beautiful day. Both of us eagerly headed off on our walk today, the sun shining.

Minty stopped and sat and waited for his treat before crossing the road. I patted him on the head and said good boy. Looking across the road I had to laugh. An elderly gentleman, holding his wife's hand, ready to cross the road as well in our direction, promptly patted her on the head, and said good girl, she looked at him with a grin and said "where is my treat".

Back home I got the washing out on the line. Changed the cover on Minty's bed. Opened up the doors to let the warm breeze in. Watered the plants that needed a water and Minty and I settled in to enjoy the sunshine.

Very different day to yesterday overcast and cold. It got colder as the day went on.

When Minty went to get the paper this morning he was gone longer than normal so on investigating he was at the gate with his nose poking under, the paper just out of reach. As I approached the gate I heard the sound of high heels on the pavement and as a lady walked past she said oh poor puppy cannot reach his paper and she threw it over much to Minty's delight.

After our walk today we both settled into a restful day. Minty snoring away on the chair. Me trying to get my head into doing some study.

Minty and I lingered in bed, I knew what we had to do but didn't want to start it as today was my last day spending time with Minty and looking after his home. After getting the newspaper we got stuck into tidying up, vacuuming, and packing my gear. Minty knew there was something up.

After everything was done we headed off for our walk. We took it slowly, enjoying the day. Back home we had lots of cuddles.

Fran and John arrived home and Minty was super excited to see them.