Ok, the blood tests are back and Toms haemoglobin is very low. That explains why he has been very breathless and not getting enough air in his lungs, very tired and today faint. This morning he woke up feeling well as he slept apart from our 4 a.m cuppa. He was raring to go but then got faint just after getting dressed. He recovered and has spent his morning writing his next Manx Tails entry.

Anyway, I now need your help if possible to give me some suggestions on how I can get his blood levels up for next Tuesday, Haemoglobin especially. To make the task more difficult, green vegetables are out, Guinness at a push and he does suffer with a sore throat. Preferably natural food rather than vitamins which can interfere with the chemo and perhaps some recipes with which to tempt a husband who says he isn't fussy, but will reduce the list of food acceptable drastically. I have to take Skipper out now. It's a beautiful day and the cruel wind has dropped. I have no asthma problems today and so I will enjoy the walk.

Don't forget the suggestions please.

The walk

I took skipper into the park today and what a difference to yesterday. Although there was a slight breeze, it was gorgeous. The rooks followed me as far as the childrens playground and I threw bits of bread to them. They can't come beyond there in the park as that is crow territory. There a around 3 families of crows and they have the park divided up from the rookery inwards. The 1st family go almost to the middle gate, the second family stop short of the bullring and the 3rd has the rest of the park. The territory stretches across the park as well almost like a line has been drawn and no crow encroaches without a good thumping.Skipper and I were the only people in the park which was great. I sat on Norman Sloans bench and just watched and listened to all around me. A military helicopter came over and that execised Skipper for me as he chased it out of the park. As I had made my way through the park I had made sure each family of birds had been fed. It is easy to see the large birds calling and following me around, but often the smaller birds are also having a meal but are not so obvious. Over time I have become aware of the robins, blackbirds, thrushes and chaffinches etc that wait for me in the bushes. They are more trusting now and they make sure I don't miss them. Looking across the fields, the sun was shining on the hills and there was snow on the tops. It wasn't thick, just enough to give a patchwork quilt effect with white, purple and greens. The river gently made its way to the harbour beyond the park boundary and the moorhens gave away their positions with their cries. After sunning myself for a while and trying to persuade a robin to land on me, I decided I'd better entertain Skipper a better and so I walked on whilst calling him right and left etc making him run after nothing. I walked through the bull ring which is a skate park. A few wood pigeons were startled and flew off when they heard me. The trees are large fir tree's and I didn't see the pigeons until they freaked out. I know one of the trees is being investigated by the herons for nesting. It is the tallest tree in the park. They will probably change their minds and nest further up the river like they did last year. It was a shame to see broken glass in the skatepark. Older children tend to use the back of the equipment as drinking dens at night and get some sort of pleasure at smashing the glass everywhere afterwards.

Skipper and I made our way towards home where he met another dog with a similar nature to himself and they got on fine as long as they weren't on leads. Once on a lead, Skipper barks at everything that moves. I believe that is nervous aggression. Anyway, as I sit updating this blog in our bedroom, the sun is going down and shining on Golden Meadow mill, the river and trees in beautiful reds and gold.

Tomorrow tom see's the specialist and so we may have something to report.

Bye for now