I've just had a really awful 24 hours. Since this time last night:

I've found out from my Mum that everything has gone so wrong for her in HK that she's going to be forced to move back to UK within the next couple of weeks.

I've found out that the "respiratory illness" that I've been treating pups for (under vet supervision) for the last 2 weeks, is virtually certainly distemper. Very contagious & a killer for unvaccinated dogs (and vaccines aren't 100% effective). All of my pups & new dogs are affected & there are half a dozen more who are likely to be susceptible. The prognosis? Work bloody hard at medicating them, feeding them, cleaning their discharge from eyes & nose, listen to their coughs & harsh breathing & watch most (if not all) die. One of them, a little pup with dislocated hips, died in my arms from it this morning.

I found a soi pup that had been hit by a vehicle this evening. Rushed it to the vets, with half it's intestines hanging out of it's side, covered with blood. They have it on an IV & are giving it oxygen, but it's gums were bone white (sign of shock & or blood loss). I don't think it'll live.

So, all in all, I'm not a happy bunny. Has anyone had a worse day, today? Might cheer me up to know I'm not the only one feeling cr@p. Share, please....

Hi NR, I am not having a particularly bad day today, but I feel for your charges today.

I have read previously that you have shown great support to your Mother, although I am not sure what is wrong.

I sincerely hope your charges will recover and your mother will receive the care she deserves.

Moss

NR, I dont know what I could possibly say to make you feel better.

All i can say is from reading your posts over time, you seem to me to be kind, caring, fun, and a lady with a lot of strength. Qualities I truly admire.

I too hope for the best regarding your mother and that this testing time for both of you can be resolved in some way.

Try to find some positives in the face of adversity.

Wishing you all the best. Stay strong. x

NR, you are in my prayers.

How's the dog?

Hope things are looking better.

I know its not much but try this . Good luck with everything & hope it all works out.

Hear ya, NR. Don't forget to see the positives everyday, too. That's what keeps us going.

I think that you know already that helping the dogs is mostly going to be sad work and that you have to steel yourself to the negative aspects and think positive in order to do it.

May God bless you for doing something so needed.

Thanks for the thoughts all - but no-one came up with a worse day! Does that mean that mine really was the worst??

Just about to head into the vets to get some more meds & check on the auto accident pup from last night. Not expecting it to be alive, but miracles do sometimes happen. No more deaths here, though one young pup seems close. Found one more dog in the center proper with symptoms (I put him up a couple of weeks ago) so have brought him back down to be with the others. That makes 19 suspected distemper cases & another 6 high risks (not vaccinated). Time taken up with giving meds, cleaning diarrhoea, cleaning eyes & noses (distemper gives discharge from both), but most of the affected dogs are still eating, playing & quite lively, which is good.

Mum's OK. Disappointed & frustrated, but seems to be happier now a decision has been made. And UK will be a lot better for her to keep a check on her health.

Thanks again for all the good wishes.

Chin up mate. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

What you need is a hug..

I am sure the families of those 2 koreans killed in Afghanistan are having worse days than you are having now. And the 21 remaining hostages must feel he11 now. Plenty of people suffering at every corner of the world. I have my problems too.

I am sure even the richest people on earth can feel unhappy at times.

Cheer up! NR! You need to be happy to make the dogs happy. You do know that, do you? The dogs can feel it.

I am sure the families of those 2 koreans killed in Afghanistan are having worse days than you are having now. And the 21 remaining hostages must feel he11 now. Plenty of people suffering at every corner of the world. I have my problems too.

I am sure even the richest people on earth can feel unhappy at times.

Cheer up! NR! You need to be happy to make the dogs happy. You do know that, do you? The dogs can feel it.

Now - If the Koreans were thinking "outside the box" I am sure that a covert mission to kidnap a few Tilibon mullets to be used as a bargaining chip would rectify the situation.

BTW - NR The week before last I had a few bad days strung together. Chin up girl. Things usually work themselves out.

Chin up NR.

I read this this morning, but I was rushing off to Khorat to hopefully sort out a seemingly endless string of bad days I have been having.... and I finally have.

If your Mum is anything like you (and I suspect she is) she will overcome her problems and look back on this time as just a challenge that had to be faced.

The dogs, I had one die of distemper in the UK, it isn't nice. Would I be right in saying that a dog can only contract it once? ..... if so, the ones that do survive should be all the stronger for it.

That probably does nothing to cheer you up right now. And out of our small clan, you may be the one having the worst day at the moment, but I'm sure we have all had them in the past and yet more in the future.

A quote from Morpheus in The Matrix.

"I remember that for 100 years we have fought these machines. I remember that for 100 years they have sent their armies to destroy us, and after a century of war I remember that which matters most... We are still here!"

Here is a song for you

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Some things in life are bad,

They can really make you mad,

Other things just make you swear and curse,

When you're chewing life's gristle,

Don't grumble,

Give a whistle

And this'll help things turn out for the best.

And...

Always look on the bright side of life.

[whistle]

Always look on the light side of life.

[whistle]

If life seems jolly rotten,

There's something you've forgotten,

And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.

When you're feeling in the dumps,

Don't be silly chumps.

Just purse your lips and whistle.

That's the thing.

And...

Always look on the bright side of life.

[whistle]

Always look on the right side of life,

[whistle]

For life is quite absurd

And death's the final word.

You must always face the curtain with a bow.

Forget about your sin.

Give the audience a grin.

Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow.

So,...

Always look on the bright side of death,

[whistle]

Just before you draw your terminal breath.

[whistle]

Life's a piece of <deleted>,

When you look at it.

Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true.

You'll see it's all a show.

Keep 'em laughing as you go.

Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

And...

Always look on the bright side of life.

Always look on the right side of life.

---------------------------------------------------------

I always think of this song when thing go wong for me.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

Hi NR,

My, you certainly have had a time of it!

I'm sorry for the moment you are going through, and only passing through. Think of all the immensely good things you've done, and have faith in yourself.

Hope your feeling more cheery now NR. I also had a pretty bad week last week (not as bad as yours) Mum made redundant, sister broken up with boyfriend (im in China they are in England, so cant do comforting wine drinking). Then had an oversees row with my boyfriend. Followed by going up a mountain, getting drunk with some Kazak locals and leaving a bag with basically all my expensive clothes/trainers/jacket/phone.

Spent two nights not sleeping and generally feeling bad and sorry for myself. Then I thought, well it could be soooo much worse (as it has been before) then vowed to get on with it, and make a list of all the good things that are happening in life at the moment. Havent looked back so far and am feeling on top of the world.

I will try and send some positive vibes your way NR, hope you get them

Hope your feeling more cheery now NR. I also had a pretty bad week last week (not as bad as yours) Mum made redundant, sister broken up with boyfriend (im in China they are in England, so cant do comforting wine drinking). Then had an oversees row with my boyfriend. Followed by going up a mountain, getting drunk with some Kazak locals and leaving a bag with basically all my expensive clothes/trainers/jacket/phone.

Spent two nights not sleeping and generally feeling bad and sorry for myself. Then I thought, well it could be soooo much worse (as it has been before) then vowed to get on with it, and make a list of all the good things that are happening in life at the moment. Havent looked back so far and am feeling on top of the world.

I will try and send some positive vibes your way NR, hope you get them

Sorry to hear of your probs, too, Soph. What're you doing in China? Glad to hear you managed to get on top of it.

Well, another pup died today & looks like all of the unvaccinated dogs are affected (24), so - got an upsetting time ahead. However, gave myself a mental kick up the ar$e & decided that me feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to help anyone. So, I'm feeling more positive, although not exactly brimming with joy Just got to get on with it. And both you & mmt are right Soph, there are always people worse off.

BTW, if anyone was wondering - road accident pup did die, at about 11:30pm on the night of the accident. Not really surprising, sadly; he was a mess.

Fingers crossed for the dogs NR, hope they pull through.

Yes, it's good to know someone is caring for them.

Hope your feeling more cheery now NR. I also had a pretty bad week last week (not as bad as yours) Mum made redundant, sister broken up with boyfriend (im in China they are in England, so cant do comforting wine drinking). Then had an oversees row with my boyfriend. Followed by going up a mountain, getting drunk with some Kazak locals and leaving a bag with basically all my expensive clothes/trainers/jacket/phone.

Spent two nights not sleeping and generally feeling bad and sorry for myself. Then I thought, well it could be soooo much worse (as it has been before) then vowed to get on with it, and make a list of all the good things that are happening in life at the moment. Havent looked back so far and am feeling on top of the world.

I will try and send some positive vibes your way NR, hope you get them

Sorry to hear of your probs, too, Soph. What're you doing in China? Glad to hear you managed to get on top of it.

Well, another pup died today & looks like all of the unvaccinated dogs are affected (24), so - got an upsetting time ahead. However, gave myself a mental kick up the ar$e & decided that me feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to help anyone. So, I'm feeling more positive, although not exactly brimming with joy Just got to get on with it. And both you & mmt are right Soph, there are always people worse off.

BTW, if anyone was wondering - road accident pup did die, at about 11:30pm on the night of the accident. Not really surprising, sadly; he was a mess.

I think Soph is on holiday in China. She mentioned it in the China thread. I am looking forward to seeing her make a report of her holiday.

Are you still angry with me, NR? I swear there was not even a single moment I was thinking of harming you in that Vegie thread. It was exactly because I know you were there that I tried to warn you so as not to upset you.

I stress again, I appreciate you very much for the work you do. I love animals! At least I believe I do.

Good day.

NR, I sympathise with you.

I've had a depressing week visiting old friends and relatives, some of whom are not long for this life.

Then I sat down with a glass of whisky and it occurred to me that life's not so bad if I'm still alive and well enough to offer a little comfort to others.

Every new day you live is a gift although you may not see it that way right now.

Meemiathai,

Neurotic as I may be at times (that's what the orange pills are for ), I don't take much said on this forum to heart. A couple of people (none are Bedlamites) have been really nasty to me, but generally I give as good as I get & enjoy the banter - even if it gets a bit heated. So, no, I'm certainly not angry. Friends?

qwertz, I'm so sorry to hear of the time you've been having. My best wishes for your friends & relatives.

fluffy fuzzy feelings all round? :D :D