Slippery Slimey

I mustn't say that's how I feel when I think about himself, or I'll set you all off!

Shhhhh!

It's nearly a year since I took this picture of the lion family at London Zoo in the snow. Since then, the young male (bottom front) has gone to a new home in Poland. The young female, Ruby, remains with mum and dad.




Yesterday, I took a fortuitous rest on a bench next to the keepers' "talk trolley" as they were preparing to give a talk on the lions. I overheard them talking about mum lion Abi and some new cubs! The public doesn't yet know about these 6-week-old additions to the population of this endangered species. But, relentless in my pursuit of the latest animal news, and being a harmless grey-haired woman who probably doesn't know anything about technology and networking, and so not someone to worry about telling these things to, I was able to glean the information that there are two cubs, which will probably be outside within two months, and the size of their heads suggests that there is one of each.

You heard it here first!

Meanwhile, my tooth and its lanced gum infection are doing better, but despite yesterday's lovely warm, sunny weather, I spent 3 daylight hours in bed feeling grotty with a bladder infection and who knows what else. I have a theory that I either swallowed some of the infected material when the gum was lanced, or some of it entered my bloodstream via the lanced hole. Today it' still sunny and warm and I'm feeling much better, so the garden is beckoning once more.

Crazy, but not Scared

He makes me lose my mind.

I'm tying NOT to imagine other fiddling he could do with that middle finger...

Relaxez-vous

At the zoo today, this ring-tailed lemur caught my eye, sitting back and lapping up the warm autumn sun. He looks like a little old man sitting on a rock with his hand on his knee.

Where did Thursday go?

As they get older (they are now 15) Beano (at the back) and Dandy (front right) are harder to get in at night. They are due for their boosters, but it has been impossible for me to make an appointment because I can't be sure they'll be there i the morning for me to put them in their baskets and whisk them off to the vet.

Well, this morning the opportunity arose. Even before I had breakfast I had lugged their large bodies into the vet's and had them sorted.



Back at home, as I finished my breakfast, dentist number 2 phoned to offer to fit me in for a start to my treatment. As I'd already paid a deposit to dentist number 3, I refused, but soon phoned back and accepted.

Suddenly my leisurely trip to the hospital school to sort out my opting back in to teachers' pension scheme was a rush. (That screw up is aother story!)

When I got back on home turf, I managed to get my deposit back from dentist 3, and started treatment with dentist 2. He started to drill out my tooth, where he found a crack across the base that couldn't be seen on x-rays. He's started the root canal filling and lanced the infected area of gum. I have no idea what it's going to feel like when the anaesthetic wears off, but I have to eat on the other side for about 3 weeks till the next phase of treatment - if I forget and bust the tooth altogether, it's curtains!

A Strange Day For Miss Lee

At your service.

Funnily enough, this is on my list to show Alex. Sadly, my copy of The Impostor is Region 1, so unless I treat myself to a new copy, I can't show it to him.

Teeth, Channel 5 and Tough Work

Had to sign up for yet another dentist today as number 2 wouldn't see me without gouging more private money out of me.

So yet another assessment and no treatment till next Thursday. Antibiotics are finished. I'll just have to get by on painkillers and heat pads. Even on the NHS this is going to cost me £200, but it would be more than double for private treatment with the same person.

Tonight should be another episode of Season 8 on Channel 5, but they seem to have dropped it out of the schedule. I've emailed them in protest, I would be honoured if other Brit Vixens joined me.

Meanwhile, my Science Fiction module of work with Alex has taken in The Thirteenth Floor. Work is so tough.

Sleepless nights

And not just In The Wee Small Hours.

For those who recommend the dentist, went last Friday and have been taking antibiotics ever since, to no avail. Swelling is getting worse, not better. Can't go again before Thursday - won't leave Alex in the lurch. Don't have brandy or whisky in the house. Soluble painkillers rubbed in are the best solution, along with oil of cloves, but root filling and crown are in my future.

Anyway, here's some classic Bobby! (How can his hands be simultaneously so big, strong and manly, and so delicate and fine?)