Happy New Year

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

Like the photo of the steps leading through the archway, for most of us the way to the top and round the corner is unknown. I wonder what this unknown New Year will have in store for us?

Last year seemed a struggle with health issues for us and I wasn't sure that I would make 2011. Now here we are again standing on the threshold of another year.

When my daughter arrived here for Christmas, my youngest grandson came with a terrible cough and cold and a high temperature and didn't feel well enough to appreciate Christmas. Within a very short time, Deb caught it from Dean and Rick wasn't too well either.

Sam, my son, is now really ill with the same thing but so far, anyway, Harry and I keep chugging on.

Deb goes back to the east coast on Monday so I am hoping that she will feel better for the remaining days.

My little rabbit, Lily, started trying to mount Ash, her foster brother, again and he didn't like it at all. She was one very determined lady. Details of the last time it happened in my post here.

This time she was even more persistent so I rang the vet and asked her if she could spay a 4 month old rabbit as soon as possible.

There was a vacancy for the operation on the very next day.

So off I went last Thursday with my randy little rabbit in a carrier. I was almost tearful to leave her to this awful operation and was wondering how Ash would cope without her, too.

However, Ash enjoyed all the extra pampering and feeding of treats and was only a bit sullen as he sat hunched in his cage waiting for her return.

Three o'clock (the pick up hour) slowly crept round and off we went to collect her from the vets.

We'd had strict instructions that they should not be together for the next ten days so we are back to square one, with the large run divided. The rabbits can see each other and sniff and kiss but that is all.

Lily was very sleepy and tense when we brought her back and she'd been drugged with pain relief and antibiotics.

I knew I had to get her drinking and eating as soon as possible.

I got up in the night and dipped my finger in her drink and let her lick the water off. She refused all food though. She seemed grateful that I was trying to help her.She looked at me for a long time and then came over to be nearer and enjoyed being smoothed. Then she went over to her water bowl and took a few sips.

Next morning she did seem brighter and ate a few mouthfuls of greens and some hay. Just a few mouthfuls.

So the New Year will be a new beginning for her too. Hopefully she will turn into the little sister and companion that Ash needed.

I'd just like to wish you all a very Happy New Year and to tell you all how much it means to me that you follow my blog and faithfully comment.

May the coming year be kind to you all.

Incidentally, it is going to be the year of the rabbit in the Chinese New Year.