Sorry about this. I feel the need to share what happened today with those whom I consider to be cyber friends.
Last night, I finished my post awarding the 14th Photographic Competition on ‘Boadicea’s Chariot‘with:-
‘Captain Lawrence Oates was a fine man, by the way. I intend to follow his example for a while.’
I thank everybody for their kind comments on that post and feel, especially after today’s events, that I should explain. My planned and temporary waygoing was nothing serious but just something that I felt that I had to do for the sake of both myself and Mrs M.
I had a superb holiday in Australia with many utterly memorable events and encounters, all of which will be churned out in future posts. On the flight home and two hours short of Hong Kong, I started to get violent chills and shaking. I knew what it was, having had it before.
The treatment for cellulitis in the lower leg is antibiotics and raising the affected area higher than your heart to reduce the swelling. None of the former on the flight and the latter is not an option when you are in economy class. In any event, I was not about to own up to my illness. I knew it was cellulitis but the Chinese authorities might not have agreed with my diagnosis and I really did not want to be responsible for the quarantining of an entire Jumbo while they established whether or not it was something infectious.
By the time we got to Heathrow 19 hours later, my right leg was three times the normal size and I was delirious. Struggled on to the Embran flight but succumbed once home and ended up in hospital three degrees over normal temperature and with a severely blistered leg. Drip fed full of antibiotics for a week and then sent home for daily leg dressing by a succession of charming practice nurses.
Taking holiday and sick leave together, a total of seven weeks off work. I only went back last week, stir crazy and determined that I was going to do something about it. The plan was to lose a bit of weight, step up my level of exercise and generally get fit for purpose in the hope of warding off future cellulitic episodes.
Which is where Alfie came into my life three weeks ago:-
https://charioteers.org/2011/08/16/whats-it-all-about/
Mrs M’s dog, but I was just as besotted with him as he was with her. He formed part of my Great Plan. I have a completely sedentary job and decided last week that I should spend my leisure hours taking exercise instead of spending said hours posting on the Internet. Alfie was pencilled in for the long evening walks and I had already googled to establish which pubs in the area were dog friendly in case I found myself in need of refreshment as a result of my exertions.
Alfie was a three year old rescue dog, having been picked up as a stray. A lovely nature but we were told that he was highly nervous and liable to take off if not kept on a lead at all times when we were out. We were working on this and could see real progress as he came to trust us both.
I was at work this morning when the phone rang. It was the vet and she put Mrs M on. Mrs M had been on her way out to her Festival Chorus rehearsal. She thought that Alfie was fast asleep at the other end of the flat but the front door stuck slightly and, by the time she opened it, he was through her legs and straight under the passing Land Rover.
She knelt beside him and said his name. He wagged his tail. As she picked him up, he died.
So, it’s still a temporary goodbye. I am going to get fitter even if I will not have Alfie by my side as I do it.
And goodbye to Alfie too. We only knew him for three weeks but we gave him unconditional love and he gave us it right back.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Oh dear, poor you, sounds really grim and so sad about Alfie. He looked like a real sweetie.
Thank you for the explanation, John, and I understand why you won’t be posting here for a while.
I’ll miss you, of course, but your health is much more important.
All the best to you and Mrs Mackie.
Ara
xxxx
Oh, John, so very sorry; such a sad post. My heart goes out to you and Mrs Mackie on the loss of Alfie, absolutely rotten luck for the little chap.
Edinburgh is great for walking and will, I hope, heal you in body and spirit. All best wishes to you and Mrs M. x
Fondest regards to you and Mrs M and condolences for the loss of Alfie – look forward to your return.
Fucking Rats Cocks! (Deal with it Soutie)
This totally sucks Jay Em. Poor Alfie for a start but a massive, heartfelt condolence for you and Mrs Em. You open up to a dog and they reward you with devotion. The two of you must be heartbroken.
Poor ol’ Alfie, if there is any comfort to be had, it is that at least for his final 3 weeks he was a cherished and happy dog.
I am no poet chum, and words fail me just when I need them most. I am so sorry for you and yours, I hope the pain soon fades but the memories remain.
I’m so sorry to hear about your own health and about poor little Alfie. I hope you and Mrs M will at some point feel like going back to the animal shelter to help another stray. Take care!
See Sheona,
Why couldn’t I have come up with something meaningful like that?
Sincere condolences on your loss. Alfie was a wee cracker.
And I’m upset to hear of health problems for you, John. As ever, best wishes to you and your good lady wife.
JW
JM thanks for this long account. Make good use of the break here, both in exercise and well being. Best regards to you and your Mrs at this time and wishing Alfie some good sprinting on higher ground. I have an invitation to Scotland in the next 6 weeks and am looking forward to the change of scenery (Clynder,. Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute). Try and keep wagging your tail!
JM: take good care of yourself. I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to Alfie. It’s difficult when one loses a pet.
I just did an image search on Google for cellulitis. It looks horrible. I hope you have completely recovered and do not have a recurrence.
Walking is very therapeutic, physically and mentally. I find climbing our little mountain very rewarding. If you get a good work out every day, you will really start to miss it on the days when you cannot go.
Difficult to know what to add,really,JM, except look after your health first. See ya.
I look forward to your return – when your health improves!
What she said! 😀
I echo everyones comments here, which show the respect, and admiration we all have for you John. Poor Alfie, he’s in doggy heaven now, but the memories, and the love he gave, lives on. As a nurse, I know what you are suffering, so all I can say is, be a good boy, and do as the medics tell you.
Keep in touch dear friend.
I have a feeling that I might just need a little moral support come Sunday the 11th, I was sort of counting on yours 😉
Do pop in from time to time, even if just to comment on my updates 🙂
All the best, JM, i look forward to your return.
So very sorry to read your sad news JM. I can’t really add very much that hasn’t already been said. Do think about another dog though, they are great companions and it will make you get out of the house and exercise.
Take care,
Toc.
Grim.
I take it you must have a town house in Edinburgh for him to have run out and been killed. I have similar in Wales. I found it convenient to erect an airlock of a double gate inside the main door, just a nursery guard actually it stops this happening, you pass through, they don’t.
Nothing worse than losing your dogs when you have all those dreadful relatives one might see further!
Trying to think of a sentiment to be in harmony with those already expressed brought to mind a little story. My last few years in Hong Kong were enriched by the people I was working with, and became good friends. It was just one of those happy chances that a number of people who got on very well together found themselves thrust together by chance – expats and HK-ers alike. One of our number was a Scot – there’s always one, isn’t there? Had there been a good fellowship award to be won amongst us, this guy would have walked it. When the time came for him to move on, we decided to give him a really special send-off. We started the evening by sending a stretch limo to collect him and his good lady, then, when he arrived at the venue, they were greeted by two pipers from the Royal Hong Kong police band in full fig, who piped them in, a disceet veil is drawn over the rest of the evening…
Anyway, with my best wishes for a speedy recovery…
Nice one Bravo.
Aye weel, Ara.
I’ll miss me as well but it’s the right thing to do .Think of me tomorrow morning as I plough a lonely and incredibly slow furrow up and down the chilly (cutbacks!) length of the Leith Victoria Baths.
I hope that the wedding goes well when it comes. Just remember stunning hat and total radiance.
Hi Bilby
I trust that the ‘Edinburgh is great for walking’ reference has nothing to do with our ongoing tram ‘unpleasantness’?
‘Trees’ is good, by the way. Wish that I had thought of that instead of the dreaded diptych.
Thanks pb.
Loading up the mp3 player for all those forthcoming healthy strolls. Brilliant that ‘Round Britain Quiz’ is available at the moment.
[audio src="http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/r4quiz/r4quiz_20110902-1100a.mp3" /]
Haw guru.
Thanks. One day, I am going to come south of that Wall and spend some seriously quality time with you and Beloved. Mrs M would like to come too.
Hi Sheona.
We will be getting another dog. Three weeks was enough to convince me of that.
It might not be a rescue dog. Most people are telling us that nearly every rescue dog has some sort of issue and that we would be incredibly lucky to find another Alfie.
At the moment, it looks like it’s going to be a cross-breed puppy.
Hi grasshopper.
My profound thanks for your comment. Interacting with you is one of my chief joys, cyber-wise,
Not so convinced about William of Orange or any other Netherlanders after the performance of that Dutch waste of space at Hampden this afternoon.
Orange no more!
Hi png
Thanks for your comments both here and on the other Alfie post.
Enjoy your trip to Jockland and best wishes to Kojo and to all of yours.
Good morning CT.
Thank you for your comment, I always enjoy your contributions to the Chariot. They come from a different generation and a different continent and they often give me pause for thought.
Well met Sipu.
As part of getting myself fitter, I have targeted a stroll to the top of Fyrish and to the monument. Walked up there decades ago with my Auntie Ina. I know that it holds memories for you as well. Seem to remember that cwj also posted a stunning photo of it.
Rescue dogs do frequently have behavioural issues, generally because of the fear that their original owners have inculcated in them. They need the care and attention that an experienced and relaxed dog owner can bring. The rewards can be great, but inexperience can sometimes aggravate their problems.
Though I’m sure some will disagree with me, cross-breeds, or bitzers as we call them, often have, in my experience, more relaxed and amenable personalities than highly strung purebreds.
Good luck with everything, JM. 🙂
Thank you Bravo and thank you for #19 as well. Those bloody Jocks get everywhere, in my opinion.
Boadicea, thank you and thank you yet again for the site. I will be back.
G’day Bearsy.
Gutted that you are going to have to wait for my many profound and incisive comments on the Australians and their institutions (with accompanying photos),
Byron Bay and Nimbin were particularly photogenic.
I will definitely have to come back to share them with you.
Val, it’s been a joy to come to know you in the cyberworld.
Thank you and keep posting those fabulous pictures.
Hi Soutie
Whatever else I do, I will be watching the World Cup on every possible occasion.
Bit of a dilemma on the 11th. I do want the Bokke to win the trophy if Scotland fail to get to the final for some reason but I do not want to upset janh1 about the Welsh thing.
Thanks zen. Keep those music clips coming,They are one of the mainstays of the site, in my opinion.
Thanks toc. You’re absolutely right about the companionship. We only had him for three weeks but I looked forward to coming home from work for the welcome which he gave me every time.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the welcome which I get from Mrs M for the avoidance of doubt and in case she reads this.
Good evening CO.
A main door off New Town flat. Not a town house. It opens onto a short bridge over the basement area with a gate to the pavement. Unfortunately, Alfie’s size meant that he was able to go straight through the bars of the gate.
I quite like most of my rellies, to be fair, although the step mother-in-law can be a bit of a trial.
Whatever, Grim indeed about Alfie and thanks for the comment. I will be back if only in the hope that you will, one day, repeat the tale of the Falls Road, the fur coat and stiletto heels and the cut glass English accent.
No pressure, of course, but this is about the fifth time that I’ve asked and I’m not a well man, you know?
Right then, I’m off.
Thanks to all Cherished Authors, past and present. for the enjoyment which they have given me over the years. I will be back before you know it.
Thanks also from Mrs M for all your comments hereon. As you can appreciate, I had to show her this post and ask her to approve it pre-publication. The subject is too raw for any other possibility.
Sorry for clogging up the system with individual replies but you all deserved nothing less, in my opinion.
Last weekend we met a chap exercising his dogs in a park in Cambridge. Five Cairn terriers, a breed that was very common in my youth, but which I hadn’t seen for ages. Five bundles of energy and very friendly too. We were asked if we would be interested in a puppy, but our habit of wandering around precludes pet ownership. It wouldn’t be fair on the animal. But a Cairn or a Westie might enjoy your company, JM, and that of Mrs M – perhaps even a Scottie dog.
Get well soon Jay Em.
You will be sorely missed. 😦
Hear hear, Furry.
Nothing to do with the dire tram situation, John, just happy memories of walking miles and miles in your fair city and, in particular, Arthur’s Seat (in the slipstream of two wolf hounds, which belonged to others, unfortunately).
As for the competitions, there hasn’t been much enthusiasm for some months. Not your fault at all; it was a good, challenging theme. “Trees”: everyone can snap a tree … and those who enjoy a challenge can go forth and find a special tree.
I’m glad you and Mrs M have decided to have another dog. Happy walking, John. Hope you soon feel fit and well.
Sorry about the quote thingy. Not sure how it works.
Thanks for the edit. 🙂
Excuse me, but a little advice on the leg cellulitis problem…
1. Get your circulation checked with a doppler assessment, if you haven’t already. 6 monthly, if needed.
2. If appropriate with the results of said assessment, get measured for and wear suitable support socks / stockings. Compression hosiery can reduce any chronic lymphoedema, and new guidelines have reduced the level at which it can be usefully employed.
3. If this is a recurrent problem have a starter pack of suitable anti-biotic when travelling- or even for general use as needed, prescribed by your usual doctor. Catch it early to prevent the scenario you describe.
4. Maintain good skin condition and integrity at all times: skin well moisturised and free of skin plaques. Use of a soap substitute rather than soap, (eg hydromol . balneum etc… various available on prescription) may be helpful.
5. Have you been checked for diabetes? If not get a check.
6. Make sure your feet are in good condition…. fungal infection of the toes seems to predispose to cellulitis.
7. If you can’t get to your toes, get someone else to check them!
Sorry… the nurse in me took over there for a moment.
I am so sorry to hear about the dogs demise. So sad.
I do hope you don’t leave us for long.
TTFN rather than goodbye?
Thanks, Pseu, most kind of you. We can’t go losing Charioteers for lack of care! 🙂
Shame he may not see it though….
Hi Pseu
Popping in to say any thanks for this, particularly #1 and #2, My doctor has never mentioned circulation as a possible cause for re-occurence and I will hit him with ‘doppler assessment’ next time I see him.
#2 duly noted and I will never be without emergency anti-biotics again after my recent experience.
On #5, I definitely do not have diabetes at the moment – lots of blood tests when I was in hospital. I have been checked for it regularly from youth as several relatives had it, although I remember you said in one of your comments that there was now a lot of doubt as to whether it runs in families.
#4 and #6 being dealt with. The visiting nurse left me a vast supply of soap substitutes and they are making a great improvement to the affected areas. To support the theory about fungal conditions predisposing one to attack, I did have Athlete’s Foot when I had my first bout of cellulitis.
‘7. If you can’t get to your toes, get someone else to check them!’
May you be forgiven! Mind, it helps that I am double-jointed. Smiley thing.
Thanks again for all your advice. TTFN it is.
Glad you found it. The practice nurse can probably do a doppler assessment…. it requires half an hour of rest before it is done, in lying position, then simply a BP reading on your arm is compared with one on your leg, using doppler sounding to give accurate readings. The quality of the sound can also help is defining the diagnosis.