We've got a groggy doggy.

This started last Monday when Pip's hormones decided to kick in and change her into a fully adult dog. I rang the vet, who said he was closed for the week (12th night etc) so we made an appointment to take her this morning and have all the relevant parts removed. Monty has spent the week following her around but she's not that mature yet to be ready for puppies - luckily!

Yesterday morning J and I sorted out firewood, he logged and cut the big chunks and I restacked the log stores nearest the house, then as promised, it snowed from 4pm until at least midnight and this morning I set off to Cadiar, leaving J here with Monty. Mariano came too, he needed some shopping and was quite happy to wait the 2 hours I needed while Pip was with the vet. The road from the cemetery to Yator has been cleared by the digger and although it was very snowy, muddy underneath and slippery, I managed to get down onto the road with Mariano saying "tranquillo, tranquillo" every time I felt the car lose traction - yes, even the 4x4 loses traction on mud/slush.

We dropped Pip off, got the shopping we needed and then went to the Cadi Bar for a coffee or 2 and lots of Spanish chat for me. By the time these roads are clear, we'll be a lot more fluent! So 1pm, went for Pip, she was still asleep/comatose and the pista is still impassable!! (Where the digger has repaired it, it has absorbed the snow and is very soggy, ankle deep squidge!) When we got back to Yator, I rang J and he walked down with Monty to meet us, Pip was wrapped in 2 blankets to keep her warm and between us we carried her home. 10kgs, 2 kms and boy, did my arms ache when we got here! Plus a rucksack of essential shopping! We both took off coats and jumpers half way so while one carried Pip, the other had the coats etc then we swopped. She has spent the afternoon in her bed, in front of the woodburner, asleep. She woke once to go outside but could barely stand unaided. Just like a new born lamb, all wobbly on her legs. She looks very sad. She has stitches down her tummy, sprayed with turquoise antiseptic. We have to go back on the 25th to have the stitches out. Monty knows something isn't right and keeps going to her, rubbing noses, then sitting by J looking sad too.

The weather forecast we look at now was recommended by Mariano and so far it's been accurate to within an hour! Which I find quite amazing, so if anyone's interested go to

http://www.eltiempo.es/

and then search for either Mecina Bombaron or Yator because we are in the middle so whatever they get, so do we.