It’s been a while since I posted, I try not to post too much as I’m sure that I’ll end up writing repetitive crap – if I’m not already doing that.

But I just couldn’t face it last week, I had a work trip to Edinburgh on the horizon, a few other issues at work and the usual minutiae of life to deal with.

I also couldn’t face it as Milo had been ill for quite a few days, he’d been vomiting and then had trouble walking.

Just a week before he’d been racing round the gardens for fun and now – he was wobbling and falling over.

I was terrified.

I had to take him to the vet and she knew that he was ill because he wasn’t a snarling mass – he hates the vets due to a botched operation a number of years ago and she actually calls him ‘monsterface’.

He was so passive that it was more worrying than his mobility problems and throwing up.

She gave him a couple of jabs and he then didn’t move for almost 24 hours and still wasn’t eating.

And he didn’t for days.

I managed to get his arthritis and asthma tablets into him via some corned beef on Tuesday and was ready to charter a flight home if need be.

That wasn’t necessary and we’ll come back to Milo in a while.

Some other things have happened since I last wrote.

The investment company whose employee (he wasn’t an employee when he started this shit) stole a fortune from his clients made contact to say that they were making me an offer of recompense for the money that he stole from Arthur – just another bad thing to happen to the poor old sod.

Police and Thieves

In the end

And they added the interest and the yield on investment that he’d lost.

I accepted, although it’s all going to go to Battersea as my aunt doesn’t really need or want anything, I think she’s starting to wind down and I’ll have to go and see her soon….

Work-wise, I’ve settled down to a routine of looking for improvements while looking at options for a couple of problem children that really aren’t as smart as they imagine, but they’re a sideshow or a small project to have fun with.

And I’m slowly getting my head round things.

It’s still fun and I’m not missing retirement yet, plus the money means that I’m not touching my pension pots at all, so it’s only the fucking war and uncertainty that’s draining them.

And so I went to Edinburgh on Wednesday.

It started well, my train was cancelled due to a tree on the line earlier on its journey so my three and a half hour journey became seven hours with multiple changes.

I barely noticed – it’s a minor issue in comparison.

So I missed that day of the conference, but in truth, it was an international event made up of real experts and I wouldn’t have been missed for a second.

I did get a chance to have a wander and to take in the beauty of one of our greatest cities.

I also had lunch and some wine in a nice cafe before gaining access to my room in a place just off the Royal Mile.

It was slightly bizarre, a fantastic room with a balcony and great views.

Only one small snag

You have to go through the fucking window.

Which I did once, while sober. In the light of day.

Fuck that.

Anyway.

A minor issue, it was a five minute walk from the castle.

And the conference.

I’ve mentioned this previously, but I left school at sixteen with one O Level.

But I’ve worked and lived across the world and in a number of different areas and markets.

And I retired last year.

Or not.

So, all my worries about Milo aside, Wednesday night was a first for me and a memory I’ll treasure.

Firstly.

I was the host (on behalf of my company) for the whole dinner.

INSIDE THE CASTLE.

And we got piped in.

And I sat at a table with a colonel from US Space Force, a colonel from the Canadian army, a commander from the British Navy and a number of VIPs.

My mum died 25 years ago but she was so proud of my early career achievements ( I ran the outsourced IT at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and three more NHS trusts at the time of her dying) but I confess that I thought of her over dinner and hoped she’d approve.

On Thursday, I took myself out and deliberately didn’t ask or meet anybody else.

And some more magic happened.

An ‘X’ person with a mutual interest in good food and dogs suggested a restaurant.

Dear God.

It’s called Rhubarb.

And it’s sublime.

To cap it all ( thank you Mr Parr) a glass of whiskey arrived with his compliments with the cheeses.

I could have cried.

I was shattered and asleep by 2130 and then on the 6:52 home.

To a slightly improved Milo.

And then.

And then.

I got the little bugger to eat some pork pie. And some more.

And some more.

It’s not dog food.

But fuck it.

And I fed him more on Saturday and he was moving both faster and better.

And today I got him to come for a walk.

I fully expected him to flag within a mile and that I’d have to turn round.

He set the pace and was almost running after four miles.

Tough little bastard.

He dozed most of the afternoon, but then, I wasn’t far off.

And as I write this, I have beer on the table, sunlight flooding through the window and both doglets snuggled on the sofa with me.

I didn’t write previously because my mind was dark with presentiment.

But the shapes in the mists of my mind have backed off for now.

This week has been something of a miracle.

And I’m thankful.