Cat-stration and mushrooms.

Our most recent medical foray was to the vet to get one of the cats neutered. This teeny-tiny insignificant operation was carried out whilst we waited – indeed Ian held the cat whilst the vet concentrated on the other end, although Ian did go a bit pale at the point when two little things the size of peas were lined up on the table. I am pleased to report that cat and Ian are recovering from their ordeal.

Autumn is well and truly here and this seems to have manifested itself by the countryside going green, flies descending and fungus. The rain has drenched the ground and things are growing green again. It is really quite noticeable and very different to the parched fields of the summer. It is all looking lovely outside but the flies are a nuisance. Apparently it is fly time of year. Ian is on a one-man mission and with his fly swat is busy trying to reduce the fly population. I find it a little unsettling when the said flies are apparently hovering over my head as Ian approaches me with his swat – however so far he has resisted temptation. Hopefully they will start to disappear when it gets colder. Wild mushrooms are growing in the fields and we’ve been told what to look for in the edible ones compared with the poisonous ones. I think that the fact that I cannot get out into the campo at the moment is probably a good thing. I am not sure that I would be completely confident in my ability not to get the wrong sort. Ian has sampled some wild mushrooms in the bar, as he staggered home later I was concerned that he had eaten a toad-stool or poisonous mushroom. However the strong whiff of beer following him allayed any fears.

We’ve had several visitors over the last few weeks and have been going out and about. I’m not very mobile so I have stayed in the car whilst people have visited some of the more inaccessible to crutch-bound people, so I am looking forward to seeing for myself some of the local sites of interest.

Not a lot to report on the ankle front – I have another xray due later this month when I will find out more. I had hoped to be getting back to normal by now and therefore could be wearing my normal shoes however my bad food is still swollen. As the weather is changing, sandals are not really appropriate. Luckily I found a ‘bargain’ at the bottom of a box which I had forgotten about. Before we moved I found a new pair of Dr Marten shoes in a charity shop – ok they were a size too big– but they were a bargain and I just had to have them. Needless to say they were much too big and I couldn’t wear them without them falling off (which resulted in a certain someone saying through pursed lips that annoying phrase about a bargain not being a bargain if it is left at the bottom of a box….grrrrr) - however they are perfect for now. On my bad foot they are big enough to allow for the swelling – and on my good foot a pair of thick socks and some padding means they do not slip. Perfect!