Due to Circumstances – The Bookshelf Cafe News

It’s been one of those months, or rather spells, when everything I’ve planned has been put on hold ‘due to circumstances’, as they say here in the Netherlands.

The first of these was one I mentioned in my last post: Zoe’s illness. The poor little mite has had a rough ride, which didn’t just end with her operation and obligation to wear the dreaded Cone of Shame to stop her scratching her operation wound (see last post).

First, the dreaded cone of shame

Shortly after I wrote my last blog, she developed a reaction to the antibiotics she’d been taking and proceeded to expel everything she’d eaten from both ends. Not so nice for her or me, given the numerous excursions to the outside world during the night, as well as the times she didn’t make it.

An anti-nausea injection from the vet last Thursday failed to help, and in fact it simply got worse, so yesterday, I took her back again. The vet was mystified as to why she was still being sick and having the runs, and he couldn’t imagine what the cause might be other than an allergic response. He gave her another injection and suggested a diet of plain pasta in small portions at frequent intervals. I should say Zoe, who loves her food, was not impressed by such restrictions at all but it seems to have done the trick in settling her upset tummy.

Hopefully, she’s on the mend at last and will soon be back to normal. I’ve missed my little bundle of nonsense. The poor little thing has been ill for over three weeks now, but her new ‘airline pillow’ is a relief after the cone. She can at least scratch her ears again, which probably reduces her stress levels somewhat.

This situation, in turn, has held up other plans to work more on painting the Hennie H. However, Zoe’s illness wasn’t the only reason for the delay. In all honesty, it’s just been too hot for painting. Half the problem with maintaining a boat is having the right weather conditions to work in. If it’s too cold, the paint doesn’t dry or set properly; if it’s too hot, the same applies; and if it’s neither of these, then it’s raining. Ideal conditions for painting barges come few and far between, but we are beginning and we will get there eventually.

Meanwhile, I’ve been killing time by preparing to re-plaster the wall of my terrace at the Crumbly Cottage. As with every project I begin, I find it’s taking me far longer than expected because there’s so much more that needs to come off before I can hope to apply any cement rendering to the wall. The preparation takes patience, something I have in short supply but need to stock up on; this is a job that will not be hurried. Right now, the wall is an interesting mix of textures and hues worthy of an abstract painting, and will probably become even more so as I scrape and chip the old paint and plaster off it.

That said, the weather forecast is promising for my DIY duties over the next few days, so I’ll gather up my precious pup, settle her on a cushion on deck and see what can be done to repair the paintwork on our Shoe. We’re hoping to leave for our holiday in a week or so, but we can always work on the way as well.

Where are we going? I’ll give you a hint. If you’ve heard of the film Bienvenue Chez les Ch’tis, we are aiming for the town where the film takes place. More on that next time, but for now, enjoy the rest of your week allemaal!

Here are a few prettier pics to brighten up the post: