BEB

Bean Emergency Blip.

One tail. Four paws. 20 claws.

It has been a Blip-free day, taken up instead with gardening at G's, then dashing around Chez Mima ahead of a forecast afternoon and overnight deluge, to flood-proof everything that requires it.

At 1 o'clock it was time to head into town for Bean to visit the vet. She has an irritable claw/toe on her back left foot which she has been licking incessantly for a few days. No diagnosis was forthcoming: the vet is as puzzled as I am. Treatment is anti-inflammatory tablets and a twice daily wash in light brine. And stern words to stop her licking it. 

Fortunately she really hates being told off (even mildly) and I have only had to tell her "Non!" three times and she has stopped.

While we were at the vet, she gave Bean the once-over and awarded her the equivalent of a gold medal for a strong heart, glossy coat and waggy tail. As usual she charmed all the staff with her wiggling and leaning on them while they fondled her ears. She is a delightful dog.

I admit to extreme bias. 

I was surprised at the vehemence of the comments yesterday about a local farmer who burnt off uprooted hedging. I assume that the regulations and acceptability of controlled farm fires are different in NZ to elsewhere. 

He was doing nothing wrong, either legally or ethically. It was simply unfortunate that the weather conditions meant that the smoke settled on top of the village all morning.

The holes that he has made in his hedges are to enable access by larger farm machinery, which is perfectly permissible. The hedges themselves are a monoculture of 8m tall macrocarpa, which would have been planted maybe 20 years ago. 

There are strict regulations around burning anything. He will have received permits from FENZ (Fire and Emergency New Zealand) to burn the piles, which would have been inspected by a fire inspector before the permit was issued. 

Even I have to apply for a fire permit in drier conditions, although I usually wait until wetter weather arrives.

Speaking of which, the rain started at 4.30 as we drove home from town. The forecast biblical deluge has been downgraded to steady soaking rain for the next two days. It should be perfect for seeping into the soil to increase its moisture and get everything growing even faster once the sun returns on Saturday.

It looks as though that teetering pile of fabric will finally be sorted out tomorrow then... 

And I'll catch up with Blips.