A very French sight. The surgery was packed full of farmers with mud caked boots talking animatedly on their mobile phones. Much waving of arms. Overnight a mystery disease had hit the local duck breeders flocks. A big issue here in the foie gras centre of France. Amid the chaos a hand on 'the fonts' shoulder and a friendly " If you don't mind me working while we talk I'll try to answer your questions ". Five snatched minutes of common sense and guidance. Keep taking the Cortisone. Insulin to be injected once a day. The diabetes probably caught before it did any permanent damage to his eyesight. Signs that the tumour may be metastasizing . No point in changing his diet . Come back in ten days. Reassurance that there was no pain. All this information, and the options open to him, passed to 'the font' across a duck strewn dissecting table . In a foreign land the multiplied comfort of having a caring vet.
Another difficult night for Wilf. The insulin will take time to work. In between pit stops we watch the cricket from Australia. A chance to think of the mystery and charm of blogs. So many comments from folk who've never met Wilf. Comments that are sometimes funny, sometimes helpful, sometimes wistful but always kind. Always kind. The best sort of companions for a long journey.
