Three steps forward

As always, Flash was waiting to get out in the morning to feed the horses. I then pulled every trick in the book to occupy him while Angie sneaked out and took off with Rosie and Luna for a ride lasting nearly 3 hours.

For the first hour, Flash knew something was afoot as I wasn't doing the things I would normally do. He didn't relax for a minute. Then the phone rang and I had to leave his side to answer it. It was Farmer Franz calling to see how Flash was. Now when Franz calls one needs time, at least an hour. Flash knows this and switched to "Oh, OK it's Franz and the two of them will be chatting for ages, might as well take a nap" mode. Sure enough, head went down and he slept soundly for the next two hours. After the hour call, I went about doing the things I might do normally indoors and no amount of noise could wake him. Only when Luna & Angie came indoors did he get up, do his typical Yoga like dog stretch, give his "oh it's you" look and give a good tail wag.

Lesson to be learnt - doing everything as normal and he relaxes. Rest of the day followed the same pattern. We did avoid playing frisbee with Luna when he was about. Angie spent more time indoors, despite the good weather, doing everyday jobs- washing, vacuuming etc, all things he knows and makes him feel comfortable.

Also had lots of short walks in the garden. He seemed to be in great shape and it was difficult to see any difference to the healthy Flash we know. Just before this Blip, we had discovered his toys, grabbed them and started to shake and throw them around, taking up where he left off in disgorging/decapitating them. it was difficult to get him to act his age/condition.

Luna has been great towards him. She senses something isn't right, often goes to him but doesn't make any of the usual moves to get him to play with her.

The evening was better than could be expected. Both Luna and Flash were very tired and slept well. Halfway through the night shift now and all OK. Angie will be up in 3 hours. I will try to do everything "as normal" tomorrow and as the weather is due to be cooler and perhaps showery may spend time catching up on paperwork indoors. I think I know what I have to do for Flash to accept not joining Luna for the morning walk. We have to go to the vets in the afternoon to have the dressing changed. So far we haven't had to inflict him with any contraptions to stop licking and scratching the wound. He does so instinctively from time to time but stops the second we say no.

So we have made up the lost ground from yesterday and feeling positive.