Matthew Grieves

Matthew has been grieving the passing of Skye, so I thought best for him to come over for the weekend and spend time with the Italian Greyhounds. It was a long ride from the East Rand to the North and here is Matthew going through the images of my tribute to Skye on Facebook called "A Life of Skye" while holding a paper cut out of Skye that he made earlier.

O Siyeza Skye

Rest in Peace Skye, the most beautiful brindle and white Whippet I've ever had the honour of sharing a life with, 22 November 2011 to 7 January 2014. May you chase all those wabbits somewhere out there, run free my boy, run free till the time that I'll join you, with you by my side once again. I'll scratch the back of your neck, the place that you love me scratching. I am coming home.

As the words of one of my favourite songs, The Crossing, states, O Siyeza, we are coming, we will arrive soon. Through all the days that eat away at every breath that I take, through all the nights I've lain alone in someone else's dream. Awake all the words in truth we have spoken, that the wind has blown away. It's only you that remains with me, clear as the light of day.

O Siyeza, o siyeza, sizofika webaba noma. O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba. Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama. Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka. We are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon. We are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth. We are crossing over those dark mountains where we will lay down our troubles.

Inside of him a boy looks up to his father for a sign or an approving eye. Oh, it's funny how those once so close and now gone can still so affect our lives. Take me now, hold me close don't let go, I'm coming home.

Sad Skye, Sad Me

Yes I know that Skye has been featured often lately but these have been trying times for our little family.

Skye was admitted back into hospital today, he stopped eating and no matter what I tried, Skye simply wanted to lie down and feel sorry for himself, with his fever and really snotty nose. The vet tested Skye's blood and found that the Biliary has returned, which gives the vet something to work with as she is very concerned about Skye. X-rays found no problems in his lungs and upper respiratory system. Now we need to find what is causing Skye's nasal issues.

I am really down about what Skye is going through.

Last Day of Summer

On the last day of the summer holidays is here and tomorrow is back to work. Skye went back for his daily visit to the vet, who is still no closer to what Skye is suffering from. Skye's fever is still in the 40s˚C and has not broken. His nose is bunged up and his is battling to breathe so much so that he doesn't want to eat on his own therefore I have to hand feed him. Last night was difficult as Skye kept pacing up and down, as he was finding it difficult to breathe lying down. He keeps rubbing his muzzle with his paws. This is a time where I wish he could just blow his nose.

The vet is very concerned because of the immune suppression medication that Skye was on, would have caused him to catch just about anything such as a fungal respiratory bug. Luckily she has allowed Skye to go home but has to go in every day for a status check and more medication.

This afternoon, we had a final braai (a South African barbeque) for the summer on my front lawn, and Skye enjoyed lying in the shade of the large tree in our garden, while I tended to the meat on the braai. Sorry Skye no steak for you, only rice and boiled chicken.

Contagious Yawn

Last night Skye developed a fever and had refused to eat. He has just been weaned off the immune system suppression medicine so it is not a good time for him to catch anything. Here is Patch yawning in sympathy with Skye as both walk around in the garden first thing in the morning. Excuse me; this yawning is contagious, huuuuuuuuuuuuuoooouuuaaaaaaahaaa!!! This is too early for any sensible dog to be up and about, let alone a sick one.

Anyway, our only option was to go straight to the vet. Skye's temperature was 39.4˚C, which is too high, and early signs of inter-cellular bacteria were found in his blood. The vet is not sure if possible Ehrlichiosis is causing it or if his Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia, IMHA, is returning now that he has been weaned off his medicine. Bottom line, Skye's immune system is way down, so he could have picked up any bug.

They say, smooth water comes before the waterfall, but it seems like I have only gotten my head above the water when I find myself back in the rapids. Here we go once again.

Photo Bomb

Skye is starting to put on some weight, although it is not much, I can see the change in his eyes. The rain has stopped and Skye spent most of the day outside with the Italian Greyhounds and a cat called Monkey while I had to mow the lawn.

After an exhausting day in the garden, Skye crashed in his bed. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to take a photo of Skye's recovery but it was no rest for the wicked as Monkey didn't want Skye to get all my attention so she photo bombed.

All I Want for Christmas

All I want is to be home for Christmas. On this terrible Christmas Day, I went to the Veterinary Hospital to visit Skye, and as I walked into the recovery kennels where Skye is kept, I called his name. Skye jumped up, and shook himself. He is looking much better although it is still early days and he is not off the critical list.

I opened the door to Skye's cubicle; sat crossed leg on the floor, Skye promptly climbed onto my lap and buried his face into my side. He didn't want to move from the safety of my arms. Merry Christmas Skye, I never want to let you go. All I want to for Skye to get well and return home as he bouncy self. Woof Woof!

Hospitalised Skye

It is not nice seeing one of your loved ones in hospital, but Skye is getting way better treatment than I could ever give at home although I am dreading the bill at the end of this season of everything that can go wrong, going seriously wrong.

Bah Humbug! I am definitely not into Christmas this year. It may be a time of giving, but all I want to do is lie in my corner, not wanting the world to see how miserable I feel. Seriously, I could do with a little good news.

Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia

Last night was terrible with Skye's health deteriorating fast. Every hour Skye was poo’ing bloody running excrement. He was still drinking lots water but refusing to eat. It was back to the vet for him for the third time in as many days.

Good news and bad. Good news, the Biliary parasite has been vanquished. Very bad news, after successfully taking out the nasty parasite infected red blood cells, his immune system didn't stop there and started taking out his good red blood cells. Skye has been diagnosed with Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia aka IMHA.

The faster Skye was producing replacement blood; his immune system was destroying it plus his liver had stopped working the way it should. We asked if Whippets were susceptible to this IMHA, but the vet said that all dogs get it but because Skye was of the Greyhound family, which have a higher red blood cell count than other type of dogs, this had kept him alive, barely.

It looks like Skye will be booked in hospital for about a week. This means better care and sleep for me. So far, this has been a terrible Christmas but Skye being still alive, has been a gift.

Very Sick Skye

This morning, Skye was not himself, so off to the vet for him. The prognosis was very bad. Skye has been diagnosed with Biliary which is caused by a parasite which is carried by ticks. Skye has had his vaccine against Biliary and there have not been any tick sightings at my home so this has come as a nasty surprise.

At this moment Skye is not in a good way but is stable. Although stable, his body is not fighting off the parasites as he has no fever and now his red and white blood cell counts are very low.

Rained out Skye

It looks like I bought the mist and rain up from the mountains as I woke up this morning with the weather just as gloomy as the mountain passes of yesterday. This was a stay indoors day with the fireplace roaring and a glass of red wine but no fireplace and no red wine so I went out and spent the day with Matthew and Lynda.

My dogs were refusing to leave their cosy home except Skye and Podge who have much thicker coats than the Italian Greyhounds. Skye just wanted to play in the rain and mud, enjoying every moment of it. I was more worried of him getting sick.

Someone to Love

Matthew and I washed all our dogs this morning as this dry warm wind was blowing through. It is their first wash of the season now that is getting warmer. Soon we will be in full blown African summer with the thunderstorms to cool down the insipid heat. But now the lands stay dry and parched will we wait for the summer rains to come. Here is Matthew saying goodbye to Skye before I take him back.

Waste of a Weekend

Here I was in my bed for the whole weekend including Friday, no not that type of fun bed but the sick bed as I have full blown man-flu. It is Day Seven since I handed my cellphone over to Cell C for repairs and now that is far in the back of my mind as I now have to contend with a congested sinus, headaches and coughing as cabin fever was starting to set in.

It was warm outside and I had to get some fresh air, even for a short while. So I took my dogs for a slow shuffle around Emmarentia with lots of stops. I took this photograph while recuperating under a tree next to the spring in upper Emmarentia. While Podge was exploring the stream, Jade was forever trying to get onto my lap, Maxy and Patch keep watch as usual, and Skye wanted to play with everyone.

Dust Bowl Skye

Our garden has not lasted long with our energised Italian Greyhounds and Whippet. Along with the dry August winds, our garden is starting to resemble a bust bowl. Where is that promise of the summer African rains? Somehow this winter is going to end as I hear the distant roar of the lions. Soon I can turn and face the warm tears of summer as the thunder drowns out all, soon. Okay hurry now summer; don't keep us waiting as I throw another on another log onto the fire.

Somewhere

Yes, that cat was somewhere here, I can smell them. Here are three of my scallywags, Patch, Skye and Maxy smelling something tasty, if it is not a cat, it could be some kat fud.

Welcome Kisses

Ahhh it is nice to come home and find the dogs all excited just to see me walk through that door. Home coming like this makes Mondays all worth it. Here is Jade and Skye showering Lynda with kisses meant for me. Traitors!

Walkhaven

It has been quite a relaxing Sunday catching up on sleep deficit, doing minor repairs to my truck and taking my dogs for a walk.

One of few safe places for dogs for dogs to walk off lead and socialise is Walkhaven and that is where we ended up. Here is Skye enjoying himself along the water's edge.

Warm Cold Weekend

A cold snap hit Johannesburg this weekend but it didn't put a spanner in Matthew's weekend of relaxing with no thoughts of homework or exams. Here is Matthew and Skye watching some television first thing in the morning while at the same time keeping warm. I think it is a little too cold to get up but the only thing that would distract them from the action on the box is breakfast.

Skye with Diamonds

"Are those pesky cats back in the kitchen?" wonders Skye as he jumps up on my chair hoping one of the cats would just run for him. "Ahhh please run, please please, just so I can chase you down. Pretty Please."

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies. Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers that grow so incredibly high. Skye with Diamonds.

Ingress Log: This morning I reached L3 after finding liberating a neutral portal. Even after been photographed on my Vespa by XFactor yesterday, no Enlightened black surveillance vans followed me nor did any unexplained abductions happen near yet so I went on out there and found two other neutral portals which were liberated for the Resistance. Later I met another Resistance member, Ilsodas a L2, and both of us easily dispatched a weak L4 Enlightened portal. With our confidence high we took on a nest of strong L6 portals and destroyed all except one as my battery ran out and Ilsodas ran out of xmp.

Getting Along

The pets are slowly getting used to each and dibbing their favourite places. Here is Skye sandwiched between Kitty and Lovely. Getting along is the key for success. I should take my cue from my pets when airing my dealings with Vespa South Africa. The service manager phoned me this afternoon after reading my blog and wanted to know why I was disappointed. Although I felt that he already knew, I told him why but I am not sure anything will come out of it. Anyway I should apologise because I suppose I should have voice my disappointment when I picked up my bike. By the way I think I did, but their answer did not satisfy and left Vespa South Africa very disillusioned.