Sorcha on Saturday - "Well I thought someone better do an update!!"

(my photos from Spain last week)

Saturday - 25 February ....

Okay, I figured someone better update the blog!

Mom has not been well. Murray has not been taking that well. Clive was been great because when Mom and Murray are not great - he knows and really tries to help.

What's been happening ...

Well, Mom is always having problems with her leg. Her right hip really. She's had lots of operations on it and a hip replacement and then a hip revision and all sorts of other things and then a few weeks ago she got bad again. She got something called bursitis - which really hurts a lot. She got lots of physio on it, which didn't help much. She got a steroid injection which didn't work much. She got really strong anti-inflammatories and painkillers and Dad had a plan!

We would go to Spain for mid-term and the tablets and the heat would make her better!  Well, first day in Spain she took the tablets and had a really bad reaction to them - she went into anaphylactic shock. She had huge swollen gums and lips.  Murray got really upset.  He had been upset anyway because she had to go in a wheelchair at the airport because she couldn't walk through the terminal.  She didn't want a wheelchair but a guy appeared with one and insisted she got into it.

Murray had only just got over Mom needing a wheelchair (he gets really REALLY upset if she's sick) and now she was bright red and looked like someone had hit her in the face!  Anyway, luckily we were with uncle Seamus and he pointed to the pharmacy across the road and a few minutes later Mom's face started to go down when she got an antihistamine.  The rest of the holiday was great - it was, we just kept an eye on Mom and made sure she didn't do too much.

We came home last weekend and she still wasn't feeling great but she kept doing things and wouldn't rest and then she had to go to the doctor the other day again.  The doctor listened to her heart and did an ECG and sent her straight into A&E. But she insisted on going home first to check on Clive and make sure a neighbour would look after him.  Then she drove herself into hospital!!!!  Anyway, lots of tests later and Mom has Pericarditis.

More rest needed and more medication!  Murray came home from school yesterday and found Mom back in her own bed and burst into tears! Murray doesn't get Mom being sick at all.  Two of his friends have lost their Moms and he gets so upset if Mom is in bed!  He really can't accept her not being well!  We told him - Mom is only sick Murray, sick NOT dying!  He's a very sensitive child - he's still upset!

So I have taken charge of the blog for a while to keep everyone updated.  Many thanks to everyone who has been sending us emails and text messages.

Apart from Mom and her problems - we're all good!

Okay, I won't mention the fact that the kitchen nearly went on fire this morning when Murray and Clive came downstairs and tried to make pancakes!  Dad was out playing golf and I was about to go play basketball, Mom was in bed having a rest and the screams started .....

- Sorcha on Saturday!

Taking a break but wishing you all a very happy Valentine's Day in the meantime ....

Murray and Clive are taking a little break ...

Away from the computer and blogging and facebook .....

It has been a most difficult week here with all the controversy over Tony Humphreys and his article in the Irish Examiner last week claiming that 'autism' didn't exist and it was 'cold mothers' that made children autistic.

There has been a huge backlash to that article and many opinions aired on radio, on facebook, on twitter and in the newspapers over the past week on his 'assumptions'.  We have not commented on Clive's blog about it over the past week because Clive's blog has become something very important and personal to Murray and we didn't want to put up comments and links to things that he can not understand or comprehend.

To that end we are still not saying commenting on what we think of the man here on Clive's blog - we will leave that to the very many other wonderful contributors who have blogged about it during the week.

If you do want a very thorough round-up of all that has happened - we suggest a read of I speak of dreams

In the meantime, we think we need a little bit of breathing space to calm our nerves and help Murray's Mom recover her strength (nothing to do with 'silly' media articles but she is having severe problems with her hip revision that she had done after her hip replacement several years ago.)

To that end, we are resting .....

Resting from blogging, from Facebook and from commenting for a while ....

We apologise to all our wonderful friends out there who follow Clive and Murray's story and support us so much but we hope to be back soon.

Until then,

Clive & Co

(Oh, yes Happy Valentine's Day too, in advance!)

What a night - waiting and waiting and then no game ....

Ireland were to play France tonight in the Six Nations ....

The match was set for 9pm French time ....

We were sitting here waiting  .....

Moments before the match was due to start .....

The referee decided the pitch was unplayable!!

We had to put away our hats and jerseys and wait for another day (well until March 2nd)

Major disappointment!

Thankfully Murray's French cousin Soline happened to be visiting us - more about that tomorrow!

- Clive & Co

Wordless Wednesday - The Boys get Spring haircuts ...

Say it from the heart this Valentine's Day with gifts from Irish Guide Dogs ....

Looking for the perfect gift this Valentine's Day ...

Irish Guide Dogs have the perfect gifts!

Irish Guide Dogs have gifts for sale directly from their fundraising shop in Cork from ....

Thursday 09 February, 2012 - Tuesday 14 February, 2012

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind fundraising shop will re-open on the 9th to the 14th February selling a wide range of beautiful gifts for your special someone this Valentine's Day.

The shop is located on Winthrop Street, Cork (next to side entrance of AIB) and is opened daily from 11am to 5pm. 

Or you can purchase online ...

To purchase any of these gifts online, please click here 

For further details, call Jennifer Foran-Symth on  021 487 8229 or email  jennifer@guidedogs.ie

- Clive & Co

Friday treats - Clive eating ice-cream ...

It's Friday .....

End of the school week ....

Time for a treat ....

Clive and Murray go get ice-creams!

Have a good weekend!

- Clive & Co

Taking a step back into the past ....

Taking an assistance dog into your house and into the life of your autistic child can be a big undertaking ....

Especially if you have never had any experience of dogs and haven't had them as pets growing up. Although its certainly not necessary to have any previous 'dog' experience when applying for an assistance dog - it probably does make the decision easier if you know you like and enjoy dogs.

Murray's Mom grew up with dogs, all sorts of dogs - most of them working dogs but working gun-dogs.

Murray was fascinated by this and didn't really believe that his Mom had known so many dogs ("you must be really old," - he said!).

Anyway, to try and explain to Murray that yes, indeed his Mom knew lots of dogs before Clive came along - we went back into the archives (well, the old photo albums in the cupboard) ...

Here's Murray's Mom sitting in her high chair on her 1st Birthday with four of her cousins and two of Shot's puppies on the blanket.  Murray's Mom grew up with her Mom and Dad and Auntie Anne in the house that her Grandad had built. He also lived with them and so did lots of dogs over the years and over the years lots of puppies.

Murray's Mom was 2 years old in this photo - taken with two labradors that lived a few doors up from her ...

There was a lovely lady Patsy who lived up the road from her who had labradors and bred them.  Murray's Mom used to love going up and playing with the new puppies!

When Murray's Mom made her 1st Holy Communion - she had her photos taken with Bramble - a beautiful Kerry Blue that belonged to her auntie Margaret.  Bramble used to sleep with her when she stayed in auntie Margaret's house and keep her safe.  She was a city girl used to street lights and nights that never really got totally dark and auntie Margaret lived in the middle of the countryside where there was no street lighting and it was really dark at night.  She had been terrified the first time she slept over but then Bramble was allowed to sleep on the bed with her and everything was fine ....

Here's Murray's Mom sitting in the garden in 1969 - when she was two years old and behind her is Shot!

Shot was a Llewellin Setter and the best gun-dog her Grandad ever had.  Her reputation lived on years after she had passed on.  She was an incredible working dog but a dog that didn't much like the neighbours or the laundry boy or the postman.  There were great stories told about the 'nips' that she gave to anyone who strayed into 'her territory' - years ago rules and regulations were a lot more relaxed and Shot never got into any trouble!  No other gun-dog that came before or after her was as good at working according to 'Grandad'.

In the late 1980's / early 90's - Bella was another gun-dog that worked with Murray's great-grandad.  She was a beautiful English Setter, quite shy but determined in her work.

Tara was another great gun-dog that worked with Murray's great-grandad in the early 1980's.  She was a lovely gentle Springer Spaniel who always carried the birds so gently in her mouth.  Murray's Mom remembers pheasants and grouse hanging up in the garage and rabbits being skinned in the kitchen.  Things that Murray and Sorcha don't quite believe now ...

Years later, Murray's Mom got another dog called Shot again!  Only this time, she wasn't anything as good as the first Shot!  In fact, it turned out she was gun-shy!!  Murray's great-grandad didn't want to keep a gun-dog that couldn't work and took her back to the farmer who had sold her to him.  Murray's Mom was having none of it and went back down and bought the dog back!  Great-Grandad wasn't very pleased but Shot lived out her life as a 'pet' dog!

Great-Grandad probably never really forgave us for that - when he was growing up his dogs had always worked. When he moved to the city, he still kept dogs as gun-dogs and went shooting with them. Dogs in his mind were only ever 'working dogs' certainly not pets. He died at 98 years old a year before we got Clive. We often wonder what he would have made of Clive!

Anyway, that was how we explained to Murray this evening that yes indeed, his Mom did grow up with dogs. They might have been different working dogs than Clive but they were working dogs in their own right and some of them were brillant working dogs!

Murray thought about all this and then said ...

"Okay, you knew a lot of dogs.  You are really old"

Thanks Murray!

We want to finish by saying how very sad we were to read about Maggie's passing yesterday.  Maggie and Mitch were two of the very first friends we made blogging and they have always been so supportive of us and left us such lovely comments on our posts over the past four years.  We have loved following their adventures so much - Murray was charmed by the fact that Maggie loved ice-cream and pizza so much (just like him!).  Our hearts really go out to Sue and George and Mitch ....

George's tribute to Maggie earlier today had Murray's Mom in floods of tears - Maggie was a truly special dog that got George (and Sue) through so much.  Murray has added Maggie onto his prayer list and said there's lots of ice-cream in Heaven so Maggie will be okay - we truly hope so!

- Clive & Co

More photos, more birthdays, more things to keep Murray happy!

Murray has been taking a lot of photos in recent days ....

Lots of Tinkerbell ...

Lots more of Clive ....

and then he was delighted to make a collage of Auntie Anne's 70th Birthday!  Auntie Anne celebrated her 70th birthday with us a few days ago - she's Murray's Grand-aunt (his Mom's auntie) - he likes to be exact about these things!

Anyway, it was another January birthday for us to celebrate and we had a great day with Auntie Anne and lots of the family.  Many thanks to Paul for taking all the photos!  Thanks also to Charlie (Murray's little cousin) for being the best behaved 18 month old ever!!  Murray was a little concerned about Charlie - he finds it hard to understand that 'little people' can just be 'little people' sometimes and create a bit of noise and fuss!  But Charlie was perfectly happy and Murray was perfectly happy too as a result!

Auntie Anne has minded the house, the children and most importantly Clive and Tinkerbell lots of times .... (can you spot Tinkerbell looking up adoringly at her! - that cat gets spoilt when Auntie Anne is around) ...

Okay, Murray - we finally got all your photos of Clive and Tinkerbell up ....

We got to celebrate Auntie Anne's 70th birthday ...

We got to do a post today!

We had a busy week last week for lots of reasons - it's good to be taking things easy this Saturday and catching up with all our friends blogs ...

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

- Clive & Co

Clive and Murray looking at photos ....

Murray loves looking through his photo albums ....

Checking out all the photos of Clive and himself ...

Once he gets started, it's hard to get him to stop ....

Murray was very anxious for Mom to video him and Clive and then upload it ....

He was a bit hard on Mom too - telling her "you'll do as you're told" (think we need to work on a few things!)

Anyway, Murray wanted to see Clive and himself on his blog before bedtime ....

- Clive & Co

Clive on being able to 'free-run' on Killiney Hill and Killiney Beach ....

Clive loves going to Killiney Hill for a 'free-run' ....

He works hard all week and really enjoys getting the opportunity to have one of his two weekly 'free-runs' on Killiney Hill ....

But things may be about to change ....

The local council Rathdown-Dun Laoghaire have put some very restictive laws in place on Killiney Beach ...

Dogs are meant to be on a leash at all times now on Killiney Beach .... no chance to run into the water and have a swim ....

No chance to chase a ball or run after a stick ....

No chance to sit still and pose for a photo!!

At the moment Killiney Hill is still 'off leash' but for how long ....

They began with the beaches - the Hill could be next!

Please support Dogs Unleashed Ireland .....

DOGS UNLEASHED is a voluntary group of responsible dog owners campaigning to get the ‘dog control’ bye-laws of Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown (DLR) County amended. At present, these bye-laws demand that:

• Dogs must be on a leash at all times in all public parks, except on Killiney Hill and in designated ’dog pens’ in Marlay, Shanganagh, Deerpark and Cabinteely Parks. 
• Dogs are banned from all beaches during the summer months of June to September, 10am-7pm. Outside those times and throughout the rest of the year, dogs must be on a leash at all times. 

Failure to comply with these bye-laws has resulted in on-the-spot fines of €150. 

OUR CONCERNS

A group of concerned individuals started the campaign in March 2011 because:

• It was only then, when DLR wardens started issuing warnings to dog walkers on our beaches that the comprehensive and restrictive nature of these bye-laws became apparent.
• The DLR bye-laws are more punitive than those of our neighbouring councils of Dublin City and Fingal, where dogs are allowed off leash at certain times of the day all year. Furthermore, the national law states that dogs must be ‘under the effective control’ of their owners (see Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992).
• DLR wardens have increased patrolling of beaches and parks, exacting fines from law-abiding citizens who have walked and swum their well-behaved dogs off leash in the same places for years.
• We do not believe that DLR Council’s proposed policy to build more dog pens in public parks is the solution. Together with vets and other professionals, we hold that a healthy dog needs to be allowed to exercise off a leash, to run free and socialise, and be at ease with other dogs. See Public Statement by Vets and other dog professionals
• DLR Council has postponed its proposal to ‘review the designation of Killiney Hill park’ as an off-leash area. But with the increasing number of dog walkers now banished to the Hill, for fear of being fined elsewhere, this review could re-surface.

OUR PROPOSALS

We fully support many aspects of the bye-laws as they relate to such issues as dog fouling and out-of-control animals. See Aims of Friends of Dogs Unleashed. However:

• We want to see the bye-laws relaxed to allow dogs to be walked off leash either in certain parts of our beaches and parks or at certain times. See Submission to DLR Council by Dogs Unleashed 15 Sept. 2011
• We believe that the stringency of the present bye-laws, and the recent spate of fines and warnings to those whose dogs are harming no-one, is counter-productive. The Council should be working with us, not against us, to ensure that pets do not become pests.

Responsible owners have nothing to fear from fair laws and effective enforcement.

Clive and Murray would really be upset if they couldn't enjoy their Sunday mornings on Killiney Hill ....

First it was the local beaches - we would really like to see these local bye-laws amended and we really hope DLR keep Killiney Hill permanently 'off leash'.  We know (as a working partnership) exactly how important it is to have dogs leashed but we also know how important it is to have some areas that dogs (all dogs) can enjoy a 'free-run'!

We hope the Dogs Unleashed Public Support Meeting tomorrow at 3pm in Killiney Castle Hotel is a huge success!

- Clive & Co