Friday, September 9, 2011

Snails .





Off to the supermarket for last minute rugby watching necessities - Pringles and Pretzels . It's cool , so while I shop Wilf sleeps happily away in the back of the car with the windows down . You know you're in France when there are thirty different types of canned snails on the shelves .

While were busy scouring the supermarket aisles ' the font ' is off to the opening of the new cinema in the little market town . Fifty years to the day since the old cinema closed down . To start their first season off they're showing ' Rise of the Planet of the Apes ' or ' La planete des Singes ' as it's known here. This movie ' the font ' helpfully informs me is a prequel . When I was a boy no one had thought of prequels - they only had sequels. Another sign of advancing years .

A really good week for Wilf . He's been sleeping all the way through from ten at night until six in the morning without having to get up for pit stops . His head seems to be getting bigger and his body smaller but apart from that you wouldn't have any idea there was anything wrong . No blood this week . He's happy with a simple routine - wherever we go , he goes . Not as difficult as it sounds now that the temperatures are falling and he can curl up on his favourite blanket behind the rear seats . He really needs a trip to the groomers to deal with the staining round his mouth and paws but he finds being left alone with strangers too upsetting . And why , when you're old and blind , should anything interrupt your happiness ?

23 comments:

  1. The cooler weather that has blessedly arrived here has greatly increased Edward's travels as well. He loves to accompany me, but not in the wretched heat. He's been like a three month old for the past three days.

    So happy Wilf is doing well! Such a gift! Fall is a wonderful time for PONs!

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  2. Oh well a little staining won't hurt and I'm sure Wilf doesn't care. Getting cooler is better than getting hotter.

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  3. The Rugby is about to start and we are stocking up on snacks too, but no snails for us. Lucky for us the games are at reasonable hours of the day.

    Smooches Wilfie, stains and all.

    Julie and Poppy Q

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  4. I'd always wondered whether you used a groomer, as it was actually a grooming issue that first led me to your blog back when you were still in Italy. My husband was advocating for giving Cherry a trim to help with the summer heat in Tokyo, and I was very nervous about the idea. But I Googled around for something on "clipped Pons" and lo and behold, I found your posting about how the Boyz seemed to prefer short bangs. So we clipped and all was well. I didn't become a regular then, however,only later when I went back to look for the post again and found you in France. I am so glad that Wilf is still enjoying his life with you.

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  5. So pleased to hear that Wilf's had a good week. What a dear old chap. Could you stay with his at the groomers?

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  6. I've seen some stuff online that gets rid of the stains. Maybe you can do it yourself if you think he really needs it.

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  7. Darling Wilfie, he needs company at the groomers - if you talk to him it would be so easy for him -
    Wilf I love you from Southern Italy Susanne, Daisy and smiling Foxiie

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  8. i like his new color addition... gives him even more character! my zeke did the same thing. i just kept the worst of it trimmed a bit myself. wonder if it's a pon thing. sometimes i thought it not so much a stain but a change in actual hair color! he's happy and that's all that matters. he's such a handsome fellow. i'm glad you're trimming his face. i did that for zeke. they have such expressive eyes.. even blind.
    pretzels and pringles for me. snails.. quel non!
    oh.. think i meant to say hell no! am just not civilized i guess.
    love,
    tammy j

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  9. I remember seeing the 'original Planet of the Apes' at the movie theater when I was growing up at Fort Knox...

    I'm glad that both of us are ending our week on a positive note with our 'seniors!'

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  10. If you are worried about the color and you bathe Wilf, there is a product called "angel eyes" that is supposed to clear up that color on white dogs. I have never used it so can't really say if it does or not. But I can highly recommend a dog shampoo from Isle of Dog (purchase on website) that clarifies the coat and gets it back to its natural color. It doesn't lather up like we expect a shampoo to do but it does a great job. At this stage though, it's more about making him comfortable and I know you're doing that.

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  11. Polar bears...even wee ones, always have a bit of staining around foot and jowl. It's the natural order of things. Perhaps sweet Wilf has been snacking on some of those 'saucy' escargots?

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  12. And he looks so adorable when he gets a little mop-headed! ;) There's just more to tousle.

    I'll take the Pringles and pretzels over snails anyday!

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  13. As I looked at Wilf's photos today, I thought to myself - he looks even happier than usual! I'm glad to read that he's having such a good week. It warms my heart.

    I thought of you yesterday when our septic system had routine maintenance (Ha - I bet you love that mental association, septic = Angus and Wilf!). Both dogs wanted to go out and assist the worker, just like your helpful Wilf!

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  14. Can you get the product and remove the stains at home? Maybe do it in very short, easy to tolerate segments? All of the anxiety generated from a strange locale as well as strange people and sounds could be avoided. When my mum, who has severe Alzheimer's, is bathed I stand in the tub behind her so she is always in contact with me. Might reduce anxiey for Wilf, you know, if he had constant physical contact with you.

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  15. Canned snails are not something I would see in my local store, but then again I have never looked for them. ;) So happy that Wilf had a good week.

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

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  16. My week has not gone the way I planned, so the news that Wilf had a good week was very welcome news!

    May you have more good days and weeks ahead!

    Susan

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  17. Indeed, old dogs need to be happy above all else - and you are ensuring Wilf is :). Good for him being able to sleep through the nights (and you as well). I love fall - everyone is more comfortable after the heat. Off to check on Allie Mae.

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  18. The staining can be left, he's perfect just the way he is!! A little extra to add to the personality then....

    I wish it was cooler here. You'd think we were smack in the middle of July with these ridiculous temperatures. We are breaking records everywhere we go.

    So, will snails be on the menu anytime soon? Enjoy the weekend and keep on going Wilf, handsome boy!!

    With love from your shriveled and dehydrated Canadian pals,
    Dianna along with Tor, Willow and Tucker

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  19. Wilf is at that stage in life where there are more important things than being well-groomed. Like an old person who just wears his favourite slippers all the time, who cares?

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  20. I was driving past our vet's office yesterday and they had the 20 country flag bunting on the front of their building (like the other shops in the village), but they also had one very large flag proudly in their front window. It was for for Scotland, as one of our vets trained in Glasgow. Enjoy the game today against Romania.

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  21. Grooming for health; yes. Grooming for aesthetics; no. Wilf's entitled in the correct sense of that overused word to whatever makes him happy. Including a win for Scotland, it that would make him happy.

    Jed & Abby

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  22. I used to volunteer to hand out food once a week to the poor and homeless. Once, we got snails donated from one of the stores. No one wanted them.

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