Flash News

A very big thanks to all for the thoughts and enquiries regarding Flash.

Today let him join Angie, Sultan & Luna for part of their ride out. The Blip was taken as I picked him up in the car. He seemed very pleased and I think realising himself that a 2-hour ride out is no longer possible.

In the afternoon we all set off to the vets luckily being early and managed to be 3rd in line. Within half an hour, the surgery, carpark and street were jammed with patients and their owners. Flash's stitches were removed and all his lumps & bumps felt and squeezed and given the OK. He again had to have some fur shaved on his leg for a blood sample as a further check on his condition - result later this week. His wound area is in good shape if a little tender/red from the dressing. He was great though and not once did we have to put on a coat or neck thingy to stop him scratching and licking, amazing given the length of the wound.

At home, he is to all intents the old Flash. Of course, we are taking things easy when it comes to Frisbees, balls and walks. In the first week, he had a big problem with this, thinking he could & should do what he did before. Now he seems to have realised he has to take it easier. Flash I am sure would like to express his grateful thanks for all your thoughts.

In other news: after the vet, a quick trip to a large electronics shop to look at smartphones. Our 2009 Nokia's could be given new life with new batteries (still have originals) but their operating system is as good as unsupported. This month the email function ceased to work due to security issues and although possible to find an alternative it was unsatisfactory. Just wanted to see what was available, particularly size wise as we need relatively small ones. As it happened, there was a Samsung model on offer so now have a brace of S4 minis (sorry Dave). We also try to have the same model so that we can swap phones easily and know how the other one works.

Then met Kathi at the stables she keeps her horse at. Two lovely "blonde" Quarter horse foals born 2 weeks ago were having a runaround. Only managed a couple of shots before the camera battery died, so no Blip sadly.

Then back home to try and get to grips with cranking up the new phones. The first challenge - they need micro SIM cards and we have the old monster ones, so had to start with scissors, sticky tape... memories of "Blue Peter" ....but it worked despite Angie's anguished "what am I going to do if you don't manage it?". 30 odd Euros and 36 hours saved before we could have had new cards delivered.

Then searched for the handbook......... it seems the days are gone of getting a 500-page handbook in Chinese, Mandarin, Japanese, Suomi, Hungarian etc and that for an electric toothbrush. What on earth do people do who don't have internet? Bad enough for those with internet who when they download the thing, can't be bothered to scroll through and try to understand it. Well, I guess it encourages "learning by doing".